Shielding Piece Contact Structure for Low-Loss Backplane Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-speed backplane connectors face challenges in optimizing the structure of contact between the shielding piece and the ground terminal, leading to issues of insertion loss and crosstalk resonance.
Innovation Solution
A shielding piece with a main body and a contact portion connected by a connecting portion or elastic arms is used in a female connector, creating a larger contact area and multiple signal loop paths to reduce inductance and enhance contact stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shielding piece uses a traditional contact structure with the ground terminal, then the structure is simple, but the contact area is small leading to high inductance and insertion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding piece is divided into a main body and a separate contact portion that can be independently optimized. The contact portion is specifically designed with an extended structure to increase contact area with the ground terminal, while the main body maintains its shielding function. This segmentation allows the contact area to be enlarged without complicating the overall shielding structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion extends in a direction perpendicular to the main body's shielding surface, utilizing the third dimension to increase contact area. By extending the contact portion toward the ground terminal, the design achieves larger contact area without increasing the footprint area, effectively reducing inductance while maintaining structural compactness.
2Area of stationary object
If the contact portion extends far from the main body to increase contact area, then the contact area increases, but the loop path becomes longer increasing insertion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion extends only to the necessary degree to achieve sufficient contact area with the ground terminal, rather than extending maximally. This partial extension is optimized to provide adequate contact area for reducing inductance while keeping the extension length minimal to maintain short loop paths and reduce insertion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion acts as an intermediary element between the main body and the ground terminal. It provides the necessary contact area for electrical connection while maintaining a compact geometry that minimizes the loop path length, effectively mediating between the conflicting requirements of contact area and loop path length.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple contact structure is used, then the manufacturing is easy, but the contact stability is poor leading to crosstalk and resonance
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the contact function from the shielding function into distinct portions, the design achieves improved contact stability through the specialized contact portion geometry. The contact portion can be designed with features that enhance mechanical and electrical contact stability while the main body maintains its shielding function, and both can be manufactured using standard processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion's geometric parameters (such as extension length, width, and orientation) are optimized to achieve stable contact with the ground terminal. By adjusting these parameters, the design achieves reliable electrical connection and reduced crosstalk while maintaining compatibility with existing manufacturing processes and materials.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology of this application relates to a shielding piece, a female connector, and a connector assembly. The shielding piece includes a main body and a contact portion, and the contact portion is connected to the main body by using at least two elastic arms or a connecting portion. The connecting portion surrounds the contact portion, and forms, jointly with the contact portion, a convexity protruding from the main body. The at least two elastic arms are connected to the main body at a periphery of the contact portion along different directions, and a gap is formed between the main body and the at least two elastic arms. The contact portion is configured to abut against a ground terminal of a male connector.