Retractable Electrical Connector Contacts for High-Speed Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors experience signal transmission issues due to the formation of stub portions and impedance changes, which lead to signal degradation and attenuation, especially at high data transfer rates.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates retractable signal and ground contacts with biasing elements, eliminating stub portions by ensuring face-to-face contact engagement and minimizing impedance changes through dielectric overmold material matching the cable insulation, allowing for reliable high-speed signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wipe-based contacts are used to establish electrical connection, then the connectors can be easily manufactured and assembled, but stub portions are formed that cause signal degradation at high data transfer rates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having contacts that slide and wipe against each other during mating, the invention inverts the approach by using push-type contacts where the contact tips engage in a push-to-connect manner. This eliminates the formation of stub portions that occur with wipe-based contacts, thereby resolving the signal degradation issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs spring-loaded contacts that are movable between retracted and extended positions. The contacts are biased by springs to automatically extend and engage with mating contacts, providing dynamic adaptation during mating and operation. This dynamic mechanism eliminates stub portions while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
2Device complexity
If traditional electrical contacts are used with fixed positions, then the connector structure is simple, but impedance changes occur that degrade signal transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses spring-loaded contacts that can dynamically adjust their position. The contacts are biased by springs to maintain optimal electrical connection and consistent impedance characteristics during mating and operation, eliminating the impedance changes that occur with fixed-position contacts while adding only minimal structural complexity.
3Reliability
If contacts are made retractable with biasing elements, then stub portions are eliminated and signal transmission improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs spring-loaded contacts where springs provide the biasing force to extend contacts to engagement positions. This dynamic mechanism eliminates stub portions and improves signal transmission while adding only simple spring elements and movable contact structures, representing a manageable increase in complexity for significant performance gains.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the state of contacts from fixed to movable by introducing spring biasing elements. This parameter change enables contacts to dynamically adjust their position, eliminating stub portions and improving signal transmission while the added complexity is limited to the spring mechanisms and movable contact assemblies.
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 solution reduces signal attenuation and enables higher signal transmission rates and quality, along with increased contact density by avoiding stub formation and impedance variations.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing elements are configured to bias the signal contacts toward the extended position
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a housing, electrical signal contacts, and biasing elements. The signal contacts are terminated to one or more electrical cables. The signal contacts are held by one or more contact units within the housing. The signal contacts are movable relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The retracted position is disposed closer to a back end of the housing than the extended position. The biasing elements are configured to bias the signal contacts toward the extended position. The signal contacts are pins with an end face at a distal end of each respective pin. The end faces of the signal contacts are configured to abut against end faces of corresponding mating signal contacts of a mating connector.