Right-Angle Electrical Connector With Vertical Ground Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector designs with Insert Molded Leadframe Assemblies (IMLAs) face challenges in minimizing crosstalk and achieving high signal density, particularly in daughter printed circuit board applications, where orthogonal midplane footprints do not allow for routing and are not suitable for high-speed connectors.
Innovation Solution
The design features a right-angle electrical connector with ground and signal contacts forming differential signal pairs, where the first ends are mounted to a daughter printed circuit board with elongated antipads oriented perpendicular to each other, allowing for zero footprint crosstalk and higher signal density, and accommodating larger ground pins for mechanical advantage and reduced reflection losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If orthogonal midplane footprints are used for electrical connectors, then manufacturing is simplified, but routing is not allowed and signal density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar orthogonal footprint to a three-dimensional vertical configuration. The electrical connector contacts are arranged in multiple vertical levels within the housing, with first ends at a first side and second ends at a second side perpendicular to the first side. This vertical stacking enables bi-directional trace routing and significantly increases signal density while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the standardized housing structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional footprint designs are used, then manufacturing is easier, but crosstalk cannot be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
By moving from a two-dimensional planar layout to a three-dimensional vertical arrangement, the patent achieves superior electromagnetic isolation. The vertical stacking of differential signal pairs at different levels, combined with strategic ground contact placement, creates natural shielding and reduces crosstalk between adjacent signals while maintaining ease of manufacture through the modular housing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements differentiated contact arrangements for different signal requirements. Ground contacts are positioned to provide localized shielding for specific differential signal pairs, and the vertical arrangement allows different regions of the connector to be optimized for their specific signal integrity requirements while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ground contacts are placed between differential signal pairs, then signal isolation is improved, but contact density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical three-dimensional arrangement allows ground contacts to be positioned between differential signal pairs in the vertical dimension without sacrificing horizontal contact density. Multiple rows of contacts can be stacked vertically, maintaining high overall contact density while achieving superior signal isolation through the ground contacts' strategic placement in the vertical arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector including a housing; ground contacts; and signal contacts. The signal contacts are differential signal pairs. The electrical connector is a right angle connector. First ends of the ground contacts are in a center row. First ends of a first one of the each differential signal pair are on a first side row at a first side of the center row. First ends of a second one of the differential signal pairs are on a second side row at a second opposite side of the center row. At least one of the first ends of the ground contacts is provided between the first ends of two of the differential signal pairs. An assembly is provided including the electrical connector and a printed circuit board having the electrical connector mounted thereon. The printed circuit board includes through-holes with a shared single antipad one of the differential signal pair.