Receptacle Connector Spring Beam Bends for Signal Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed electrical connectors suffer from signal transmission degradation due to antenna-like stub segments in their spring beams, which increase signal loss and electrical resistance at the mating interface.

Innovation Solution

The receptacle connector design features deflectable spring beams with bends located at the front ends, ensuring that the distal tips and arms are positioned rearward of the bends, eliminating the need for lead-in portions that could act as stubs, and allowing the spring beams to extend continuously from the arm to the distal tip, preventing mechanical stubbing during plug connector loading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If lead-in portions are added to spring beams to guide plug connector alignment, then ease of operation is improved, but signal transmission performance deteriorates due to antenna-like stub segments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplug connector alignmentVSAvoidsignal transmission performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the lead-in portion from the spring beam structure, extracting the harmful stub segment that causes signal loss while retaining the essential contact function. The spring beam extends continuously from the contact location to the distal tip without any protruding lead-in sections that would act as antennas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the spring beam forward with lead-in portions to guide alignment, the patent inverts the approach by positioning the bend at the front end and having the distal tip extend rearward. This reverses the conventional geometry to eliminate the harmful forward-extending stub while maintaining alignment guidance through the bend position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If spring beams extend forward with lead-in portions to prevent mechanical stubbing, then reliability is improved, but electrical resistance increases due to stub segments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical protectionVSAvoidelectrical resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the lead-in portion that extends forward from the contact location, eliminating the stub segment that increases electrical resistance. The spring beam is redesigned to extend continuously rearward from the contact location without any forward-protruding sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional spring beam geometry by positioning the bend at the front end and extending the distal tip rearward instead of forward. This reversal eliminates the harmful forward-extending stub while maintaining the spring beam's mechanical protection function through proper positioning of the bend.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If lead-in portions are used to guide plug connector loading, then ease of operation is improved, but signal loss increases due to antenna effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplug connector loading guidanceVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the lead-in portion that extends forward from the contact location, extracting the antenna-like stub segment that causes signal loss. The spring beam is redesigned to extend continuously rearward from the contact location without any forward-protruding sections that would radiate energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the spring beam forward with lead-in portions to guide loading, the patent inverts the geometry by positioning the bend at the front end and having the distal tip extend rearward. This reversal eliminates the harmful forward-extending stub while maintaining loading guidance through the bend position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances signal transmission performance by eliminating extraneous conductive paths that could cause signal loss and resonance, resulting in improved impedance matching and reduced electrical resistance at the mating interface.

Implementation Method 1

The contacts include deflectable spring beams exposed in the card slot and configured for electrical connection with the plug connector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10027046B1Receptacle connector with stub-less contacts

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH

AI summary

A receptacle connector includes a housing and a plurality of contacts held in the housing. The housing extends between a front end and an opposite, rear end. The housing defines a card slot that is open at the front end for receiving a mating plug connector into the card slot through the front end. The contacts include deflectable spring beams exposed in the card slot and configured for electrical connection with the plug connector. Each of the spring beams extends continuously from an arm to a distal tip. The spring beams include bends between the arms and the distal tips. The bends are located at front ends of the contacts such that the distal tips and the arms of the spring beams are disposed rearward of the bends.