Serpentine Ground Shield for High-Speed Connector Crosstalk
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed connectors face challenges in reducing crosstalk between closely spaced signal terminals, which affects signal integrity, and existing solutions like large metal shields increase cost and size while complicating impedance control.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed connector design featuring individual ground shields for each differential signal pair, arranged in a 'triad' configuration with enlarged ground terminals acting as pseudo-shields, providing enhanced isolation and reducing crosstalk without the need for large metal shields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If signal terminals are spaced closer together to reduce connector size, then connector size is reduced, but crosstalk between adjacent differential signal terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ground shielding function into multiple segments by using individual ground terminals for each differential signal pair instead of a single continuous shield. Each ground terminal is positioned adjacent to its associated signal terminals, creating localized segmentation that maintains isolation while reducing overall connector size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making ground terminals have different dimensions than signal terminals, specifically with larger surface area ground terminals positioned strategically adjacent to signal terminals. This local enhancement of ground reference area provides better crosstalk isolation at critical locations without uniformly increasing the entire connector size.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If large metal shields are used between adjacent sets of differential signal terminals to reduce crosstalk, then crosstalk is reduced, but connector size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential shielding function from large continuous metal shields and implements it through smaller individual ground terminals. By taking out only the necessary ground reference elements and positioning them adjacent to each differential signal pair, the solution maintains crosstalk isolation while eliminating the bulk and cost of large shields.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive large metal shields with smaller, more cost-effective ground terminals that perform the essential grounding and isolation function. These smaller ground terminals achieve the same protective effect against crosstalk at reduced material cost and connector overall size.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If large metal shields are used to reduce crosstalk, then crosstalk is reduced, but impedance control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grounding system into individual ground terminals associated with each differential signal pair, which simplifies impedance control compared to large continuous shields. Each segmented ground terminal can be independently optimized for its local impedance requirements, making overall impedance management more straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the surface area of ground terminals relative to signal terminals. The larger ground terminal surface area is specifically designed to maintain proper impedance characteristics while providing effective crosstalk isolation, optimizing both electrical performance and signal integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A high speed connector with reduced crosstalk utilizes individual connector support frames that are assembled together to form a block of connector units in a vertical arrangement. Each such unit supports an array of conductive terminals that are arranged in two spaced-apart rows. The rows have differential signal terminal pairs separated from each other by larger intervening ground shields that serve as ground terminals. The ground shields are arranged in alternating fashion within each row of terminals and they are closely spaced together so as to define within the rows of each connector unit, a horizontal serpentine pattern of ground shields that cooperate to act as a single “pseudo” shield within each pair of terminal rows.