Shielded Data Line Grounding via Protruding Contact Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for connecting shielded data lines to circuit boards in high-speed data transmission applications are costly and space-intensive, requiring individual contacting of drain wires which can lead to short circuits and alignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A contact connection method where shielded data lines are directly pressed against a protruding ground contact zone on the circuit board, eliminating the need for drain wires and using a clamping element to ensure reliable grounding, with the ground contact zone extending over the entire width of the board for efficient and compact assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual drain wires are used to contact each shielded data line, then reliable grounding of each data line is achieved, but production costs increase and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual drain wire contacts are merged into a single common ground contact zone. The ground contact zone serves as a common grounding point for all shielded data lines, eliminating the need for separate drain wires for each line while maintaining reliable grounding through the collective contact of multiple shields against this single zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The common ground contact zone serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides grounding for all shielded data lines, acts as a reference plane for signal integrity, and eliminates the need for individual drain wire routing. This universal contact zone replaces multiple specialized drain wire functions.
2Reliability
If individual drain wires are routed to terminal locations, then each data line can be grounded, but alignment precision is required and space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual alignment requirements for separate drain wires are merged into a single alignment requirement for the common ground contact zone. All shielded data lines contact this single zone, eliminating the need for precise individual alignment of each drain wire to its specific terminal location.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground contact functionality is segmented from individual wire-level contacts to a zone-level contact. Instead of requiring each drain wire to align with a specific point, the entire ground contact zone provides a distributed contact area that is more tolerant of alignment variations.
3Reliability
If drain wires are used for each data line, then complete shielding contact is achieved, but production costs and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is simplified by merging multiple individual drain wire installation steps into a single step where all shielded data lines are contacted to the common ground contact zone simultaneously. This reduces assembly complexity and production costs while maintaining shielding effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex task of individually routing and contacting multiple drain wires is extracted and replaced by the simpler common ground contact zone approach. The invention removes the need for individual drain wire management while preserving the essential shielding function.
4Volume of moving object
If a protruding ground contact zone is used, then compact design is achieved, but the ground zone must extend over the entire board width
Solution Approach 1:
The ground contact zone is extended in the longitudinal direction (protruding like a tongue) rather than requiring full width coverage in the transverse direction. This dimensional transformation allows the ground zone to serve all data lines while maintaining a compact overall plug footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground contact functionality for all data lines is merged into a single protruding tongue structure. This consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate ground contacts across the board width into one unified structure that extends longitudinally.
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
This method reduces manufacturing and connection costs, enhances production reliability by eliminating short circuits, and allows for a more compact design by eliminating the need for drain wires, while ensuring reliable grounding without the need for precise alignment.
Implementation Method 1
the shielding is suitably fixed to the ground contact zone and pressed against the ground contact zone
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
With the contact connecting of preferably a number of shielded conductor pairs (4) to a board (2) in particular of a plug (36) for high-speed data connections, the board (2) is formed of multiple layers and comprises a conductor path tier (18) and a ground tier (26). A ground contact zone (28) of the ground tier (26) projects, in a tongue-like manner, towards the connected conductor pairs (4). In the region of the ground contact zone (28), the individual conductor pairs (4) are pressed in contact against the corresponding pair shielding (10) thereof. To this end, in particular a clamping element (32) is provided that is also used to achieve the shield contacting.