Shielded Plug Connector Module With Grounded Peripheral Cage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug connector modular systems face challenges with insufficient electrical shielding of individual plug connector modules, leading to interference from external electrical and magnetic fields, which affects the quality of electrical signals, especially for high-frequency signals.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a plug connector module with a substantially cuboidal insulation body surrounded by a peripheral shield element that covers more than 50% of the module's area, and an at least partly metal plug connector modular frame with a shield element that has outwardly directed contact tabs for electrical connection to the frame, ensuring effective shielding and grounding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a plug connector module uses a metal or partly metal modular frame, then electrical shielding and grounding are improved, but the complexity of the frame structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield element is designed as a separate component that can be inserted into the modular frame, dividing the shielding function from the structural frame. This allows the frame to maintain its mechanical function while the shield element provides the electrical shielding, reducing the complexity of integrating both functions into a single metal frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug connector module combines different materials - the frame can be made of plastic or metal while the shield element is made of electrically conductive material. This composite approach allows optimization of each component for its specific function (structural support vs. electrical shielding) without requiring the entire frame to be metal, thus reducing overall complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a peripheral shield element covers more than 50% of the module area, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but the volume and weight of the module increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shield element is designed as a thin-walled cage-like structure that provides extensive shielding coverage (>50% of module area) while maintaining minimal volume occupation. The thin-film approach allows the shield to wrap around the module effectively without adding significant bulk, achieving high shielding effectiveness with minimal volume increase.
3Reliability
If the shield element has outwardly directed contact tabs for electrical connection, then grounding effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The contact tabs are designed with elastic or flexible properties that allow them to deform and make reliable electrical contact with the modular frame's grounding points. This dynamic contact mechanism compensates for minor positioning variations during assembly, maintaining grounding effectiveness without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances for contact tab placement.
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 configuration significantly reduces interference from external electrical and magnetic fields, ensuring high-quality signal transfer and minimizing the negative impact of high-frequency interference on the plug connector module's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plug connector module (1, 1') with a substantially cuboidal insulation body (10, 10') surrounded by a peripheral shield element (15, 15')
Implementation Method 2
an at least partly metal plug connector modular frame (2) with a shield element that has outwardly directed contact tabs for electrical connection to the frame
Data Source
AI summary
In order to improve the shielding of a plug connector module (1, 1′) and of a plug connector modular system equipped therewith, in particular against high-frequency interference fields, the insulation body (10, 10′) of said module is form-fittingly surrounded all around by a shielding element (15, 15′). This additionally allows the earth connection of a metal plug connector modular frame (2) to a shield transfer element (14, 14′) of the plug connector module (1, 1′) and thus also an earth connection to a mating connector. Thus the shield element (15, 15′) itself is also earthed all around and at multiple points, and as a result can suppress the effect of in particular high-frequency electrical and/or magnetic interference fields particularly well.