Recessed Contact Connector Layout for Direct ESD Grounding
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance electrical connectors, particularly those used in digital night vision helmet mounted displays, face challenges in meeting stringent requirements for ESD protection without compromising signal integrity, performance in EMI environments, reliability, power, weight, and size, while avoiding complex connector assemblies and ESD diodes.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design with a surface-mounted copper ground plate and internal plated pads, where the ESD arc path is directed to the copper ground plate instead of the plated pads, eliminating the need for ESD diodes and maintaining signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ESD diodes are used for electrostatic discharge protection, then ESD protection is improved, but signal integrity and performance in EMI environments deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes ESD diodes from the connector assembly entirely and replaces them with a surface-mounted ground plate on the PCB that provides direct ESD arc paths to ground. This extraction of the harmful ESD diode component eliminates their detrimental impact on signal integrity while maintaining ESD protection through the ground plate's low-impedance path to ground.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface-mounted ground plate acts as an intermediary element between the electrical contacts and ground. It provides a low-impedance path for ESD arcs to reach ground directly, preventing arcs from reaching signal contacts. The ground plate mediates the ESD discharge process, channeling it away from sensitive signal paths while maintaining signal integrity.
2Reliability
If ESD diodes are used for electrostatic discharge protection, then ESD protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ESD protection function into the existing ground plate structure on the PCB rather than using separate ESD diode components. The ground plate simultaneously serves as both the grounding element and the ESD protection mechanism, eliminating the need for additional ESD diodes and reducing overall connector assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface-mounted ground plate performs multiple functions: it provides the standard grounding function for the connector and simultaneously serves as the ESD protection mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ESD diode components, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive protection.
3Reliability
If ESD diodes are used for electrostatic discharge protection, then ESD protection is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes ESD diode components from the connector assembly and replaces them with a surface-mounted ground plate that provides ESD protection through the PCB structure. This extraction eliminates the additional weight of ESD diodes while maintaining protection functionality through the ground plate's direct arc path to ground.
4Reliability
If ESD diodes are used for electrostatic discharge protection, then ESD protection is improved, but size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ESD protection function into the existing ground plate structure on the PCB rather than using separate ESD diode components. The ground plate simultaneously serves as both the grounding element and the ESD protection mechanism, eliminating the need for additional ESD diodes and reducing overall connector assembly size.
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
The solution provides effective ESD protection with a shorter arc path to the ground, ensuring signal integrity, reduced complexity, low weight, and small form factor, while eliminating the need for ESD diodes.
Implementation Method 1
a surface-mounted ground plate for providing a direct arc path for protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD)
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrical connector (100) for high speed and high-performance applications requiring protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD). In embodiments, the electrical connector includes a dielectric housing (102) having a plurality of cavities (110) descending from a top surface of the housing, a copper ground plate (112) mounted atop or proximal to the top surface and having a plurality of perforations (114) corresponding in number and position to the plurality of cavities, and a plurality of electrical contacts (116) each positioned at depth in one of the cavities such that the electrical contacts are recessed relative to the copper ground plate such that, in use of the electrical connector, a shortest path of ESD is to the copper ground plate and not any of the electrical contacts.