Plug Connector Impedance Tuning for Lower Return Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Plug-in connectors often experience undesirable signal reflections due to mismatches in characteristic wave impedance, which are difficult to compensate for without increasing space requirements or introducing additional points of contact, leading to reduced transmission quality.
Innovation Solution
The plug-in connector is designed with specific sections of conductor or contact elements having a mismatched characteristic wave impedance, allowing targeted adjustments to compensate for impedance deviations, achieved by altering geometry parameters such as width, thickness, and distance, to minimize reflections and meet return loss requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the characteristic wave impedance of all components is matched to the rated impedance, then signal transmission quality is improved, but the design flexibility and ease of manufacture are reduced due to strict geometric constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific impedance section with different geometric parameters (width, thickness, or spacing) than the standard conductor elements. This localized modification allows the specific section to compensate for impedance deviations caused by contact elements, while the rest of the connector maintains standard geometry for ease of manufacture. The locally modified section acts as an impedance transformation zone that reconciles the conflict between overall impedance matching and manufacturing flexibility.
2Reliability
If additional components are added to compensate for impedance deviations, then transmission properties are improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the impedance compensation function with the existing conductor elements by creating a specific section with modified geometric parameters. Instead of adding separate compensation components, the impedance transformation is achieved by modifying the dimensions (width, thickness, or spacing) of a section of the existing conductor elements. This integration approach maintains transmission quality while avoiding additional components and the associated complexity and space requirements.
3Reliability
If the geometry parameters of conductor elements are modified to compensate for impedance deviations, then return loss is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters (width, thickness, or spacing) of a specific section of the conductor elements to achieve the desired impedance transformation. By changing these physical parameters, the specific section creates the necessary impedance deviation to compensate for deviations caused by contact elements. This approach improves return loss while using geometric modifications that can be manufactured with standard tolerances, rather than requiring additional precision compensation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A plug connector (1) for connection of a data line, having a plug housing (2) with one or more connection elements (3) each connection element being for connection of a respective wire of the data line. The connection elements have one or more contact elements (4), and one or more conductor elements (5), via each of which a connection element (3) is electrically conductively connected to a contact element (4). Return damping of the plug connector (1) is reduced in that at least one portion (6) of the individual conductor elements (5) or at least one portion of the individual contact elements (4) is designed and arranged such that the wave impedance of the portion (6) is purposefully mismatched so that the value of the wave impedance deviates from the nominal wave impedance of the data line.