Serial Electrical Connector Integrating Coaxial Cable Within Audio Plug
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current connectors for portable devices separate low-speed and high-speed signals, requiring multiple ports and cables, which increases device size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A serial electrical connector that integrates a coaxial cable with a standard audio plug design, featuring multiple metal contacts and a conductive shield, allowing both low-speed and high-speed signals to be transmitted through a single connector, maintaining the form factor of an audio port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cables and connectors are used for low-speed and high-speed signals, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines low-speed and high-speed signals into a single connector by integrating a coaxial cable (for high-speed signals) within the hollow cylindrical space of an audio plug (for low-speed signals). This merging approach maintains separate signal paths for reliability while reducing the number of external cables and connectors, thereby decreasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coaxial cable is inserted into and fills the hollow cylindrical space formed in the center of the audio plug. This nesting configuration allows the high-speed coaxial cable to be housed within the low-speed audio plug structure, enabling both signal types to travel through a single connector without interfering with each other, thus maintaining reliability while simplifying the overall system.
2Reliability
If multiple ports and cables are used for different signals, then signal transmission quality is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple signal transmission functions into a single connector assembly. The audio plug handles low-speed signals while the nested coaxial cable handles high-speed signals, allowing both to be transmitted through one connector rather than requiring separate ports and cables, thus reducing device size while maintaining signal quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By nesting the coaxial cable within the audio plug's hollow cylindrical space, the patent eliminates the need for separate external cables and connectors. This compact nested configuration reduces the overall volume required for multiple signal connections while preserving the distinct transmission paths needed for high-quality signal delivery.
3Device complexity
If a single connector is used for both low-speed and high-speed signals, then device size is reduced, but signal transmission reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The single connector is segmented into distinct functional zones: the audio plug contacts (tip, ring, sleeve) for low-speed signals and the coaxial cable with its conductor and shield for high-speed signals. This segmentation within the unified connector maintains separate signal paths, preventing interference and preserving transmission reliability for both signal types.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested configuration physically separates high-speed and low-speed signal paths while keeping them within a single connector. The coaxial cable's inherent shielding and the audio plug's contact structure create isolated transmission channels, ensuring that combining functions in one connector does not compromise signal integrity or reliability.
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
Enables simultaneous transmission of low-speed and high-speed signals over a single cable, reducing device size and complexity while maintaining compatibility with conventional audio ports, supporting data rates above 5 Gbps and backward compatibility with existing TRS/TRRS standards.
Implementation Method 1
The coaxial cable may include a conductor, an insulator layer surrounding the conductor, and a conductive shield surrounding the insulator layer
Implementation Method 2
an engagement element being disposed at a tip of the audio plug and configured to electrically connect the audio plug to the connector jack
Data Source
AI summary
A serial electrical connector includes a connector plug and a connector jack. The connector plug includes an audio plug with a hollow cylindrical space formed in the center thereof; a coaxial cable being inserted into and filling the space; and an engagement element being disposed at a tip of the audio plug and configured to electrically connect the audio plug to the connector jack.