Shielded Connector Isolation Using Composite Enclosures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shielded connectors require labor-intensive terminations to reduce external crosstalk and noise between signal cable connectors, making them inefficient for widespread implementation.

Innovation Solution

A shielded connector system using shield enclosures made from materials like ABS plastic with stainless steel fibers and aluminum foil, which can be easily manufactured or retrofitted, providing effective isolation through snap-fit engagement and minimal material thickness for reduced noise and crosstalk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional shielded connectors are used to reduce external crosstalk and noise between connectors, then signal quality is improved, but installation complexity and labor intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal crosstalk and noiseVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield enclosure is nested within the connector housing, with the shield sheet positioned between adjacent connectors and the conductive material forming an integrated shielding structure. This nested configuration provides effective electromagnetic shielding while maintaining a compact, pre-assembled unit that requires minimal installation effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The shield enclosure utilizes composite materials including conductive plastic material (combining plastic with conductive fillers), metal foil, and conductive adhesive. These composite materials provide effective electromagnetic shielding in a thin, lightweight structure that is easy to manufacture and install without complex termination procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional shielded connectors with complex terminations are used, then external crosstalk is reduced, but manufacturing and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal crosstalk between connectorsVSAvoidinstallation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield enclosure is pre-assembled with the shield sheet and conductive material integrated into the connector housing before installation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex on-site terminations and assembly steps, allowing for rapid deployment while maintaining effective shielding against external crosstalk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shield enclosure is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be quickly installed and removed without requiring specialized tools or skilled labor. This approach prioritizes installation speed and simplicity over long-term reusability, allowing for rapid deployment in high-volume installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If thin shield materials are used in the shield enclosure, then ease of manufacture and retrofitting is improved, but shielding effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturability and retrofittingVSAvoidnoise and crosstalk isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shield enclosure employs composite materials including conductive plastic material with conductive fillers, metal foil layers, and conductive adhesive. These composite structures achieve effective electromagnetic shielding in thin configurations, combining the advantages of ease of manufacture with adequate shielding performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding effectiveness is optimized by adjusting parameters such as the thickness and conductivity of the conductive material, the spacing between shield elements, and the configuration of the shield enclosure. These parameter optimizations allow thin materials to achieve adequate shielding performance while maintaining ease of manufacture and installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The shielded connector system effectively reduces external crosstalk and noise between adjacent connectors without the need for labor-intensive terminations, enhancing signal quality and data rates, and can be applied to various connector types and existing equipment.

Implementation Method 1

shield enclosures to reduce crosstalk and noise transmitted between adjacent signal cable connectors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentUS7273396B2Connector isolation shielding system and method

Publication Date: 2007.09.25 LEVITON MFG CO INC

AI summary

Implementations of a shielded connector system involve connector isolation shielding using shield enclosures to reduce crosstalk and noise transmitted between adjacent signal cable connectors. These implementations allow for manufacture of new equipment and also retrofitting of existing equipment for connector isolation shielding using standard connector configurations without specialized labor intensive terminations for cable and for connectors required of conventional approaches.