Ribbon Cable Connector With Segmented Contact Receptacles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ribbon cable connectors experience undesired signal transmission between contact element receptacles due to current flow, which is not effectively addressed by existing designs.

Innovation Solution

The ribbon cable connector features separated contact element receptacles with extended creepage distances, achieved through walls and insulating elements that prevent signal migration by lengthening the air gaps between contact elements, ensuring no current flow and preventing unwanted signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If contact element receptacles are placed adjacent to each other in a ribbon cable connector, then the connector can transmit multiple signals simultaneously, but undesired signal transmission occurs between contact elements due to current flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission capacityVSAvoidsignal isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connector housing is divided into separate compartments by partition walls that physically segment the contact element receptacles. Each receptacle is isolated within its own compartment, preventing electromagnetic interference and undesired current flow between adjacent contact elements while maintaining the ability to transmit multiple signals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Partition walls and insulating materials serve as intermediary barriers between adjacent contact element receptacles. These intermediaries block the path of undesired current flow while allowing the connector to maintain its signal transmission function, effectively mediating between the need for signal capacity and signal isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If creepage distances between contact elements are increased to prevent signal migration, then signal isolation improves, but the connector size and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal isolationVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing creepage distances in the horizontal plane between contact elements, the solution transitions to a vertical dimension by introducing partition walls that extend downward into the connector housing. This creates separate three-dimensional compartments, achieving signal isolation through vertical segmentation rather than horizontal spacing, thus maintaining a compact connector design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls are integrated within the connector housing structure, with compartments nested within the overall connector body. This nested arrangement achieves signal isolation without adding external complexity or increasing the connector's external dimensions, as the isolating structures are contained within the existing housing framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11545774B2Ribbon cable connector, connector assembly and use of a connector

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GMBH

AI summary

A ribbon cable connector for attachment to an end of a ribbon cable comprises a plurality of contact element receptacles adapted to receive a plurality of contact elements. A pair of adjacent contact element receptacles is separated from one another.