Right-Angle Electrical Connector Segmented Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connector systems face challenges in maintaining precise angular alignment and efficient signal transmission when forming right-angle connections, leading to potential issues with coplanarity and impedance matching.
Innovation Solution
The design features electrical contacts with segmented structures that are angularly offset between 75 degrees and 105 degrees, allowing for separate coupling of signal and ground segments to form angled contacts, which are then aligned and bent to maintain coplanarity and improve impedance matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional electrical connector systems form right-angle connections, then angular alignment is achieved, but coplanarity and impedance matching deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact is divided into multiple segments (first segment and second segment) that can be independently positioned and coupled. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized for its specific function - the first segment for mounting alignment and the second segment for mating alignment - thereby resolving the coplanarity issue while maintaining angular alignment capability
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric member acts as an intermediary element between the first and second segments of the electrical contact. This dielectric member provides a mounting surface that enables precise angular positioning of the segments relative to each other and to the circuit board, facilitating both coplanarity and impedance matching while maintaining the right-angle connection geometry
2Measurement precision
If conventional electrical connector systems form right-angle connections, then angular alignment is achieved, but impedance matching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different segments of the electrical contact are designed with different local qualities - the first segment is optimized for mounting with specific geometric characteristics, while the second segment is optimized for mating with specific geometric characteristics. This local differentiation allows each segment to maintain optimal electrical characteristics for its specific function, thereby improving overall impedance matching in the right-angle connection
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrical contacts are bent to form angles, then angular connection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than bending a single continuous electrical contact, the invention segments the contact into separate pieces that are coupled together. This approach simplifies manufacturing by allowing each segment to be fabricated independently using standard processes, then assembled in the desired angular configuration, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining angular connection capability
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector has a row of signal contacts, and a ground shield disposed inwardly from the signal contacts. Each of the signal and ground contacts has a first segment and a second segment. Each first segment defines a mounting end that can mount to a first electrical component, and each second segment defines a mating end that can mate with a second electrical component. The first and second segments of each signal contact and the ground contact are angularly offset from one another so as to define an angle of between 75 degrees and 105 degrees between the first and second segments. The first and second segments of each signal contact and the ground contact can be coupled to one another to define the angle. Alternatively, the signal and ground contacts can be bent along a common bend line that intersects the signal contacts and the ground contact.