Stacked Modular Jack Shielding for High-Speed Signal Integrity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing modular jack connectors for high-speed networks lack complete shielding between adjacent ports, which is necessary for effective signal conditioning and electromagnetic compatibility, particularly in Ethernet networks.

Innovation Solution

A modular jack connector design featuring vertically stacked ports with a horizontal shield plate and vertical shield plate between contact modules, providing comprehensive shielding and signal conditioning through a housing with a horizontal mother PCB mounting, and incorporating a horizontal shield plate between the upper and lower contact modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shielding plates are added between adjacent ports to improve electromagnetic compatibility and signal conditioning, then the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic compatibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding structure is divided into multiple segments: vertical shield plates positioned between adjacent ports and horizontal shield plates positioned between stacked ports. This segmentation allows complete electromagnetic shielding without requiring a single complex shield, reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shield plates act as intermediary elements between adjacent signal ports and stacked signal ports. These intermediaries block electromagnetic interference without requiring direct modification of the signal paths themselves, achieving electromagnetic compatibility while keeping the overall structure modular and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If vertically stacked ports are implemented to increase port density, then space is optimized but shielding between ports becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing areaVSAvoidsignal conditioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding approach transitions from horizontal plane shielding to three-dimensional shielding by adding vertical shield plates between stacked ports. This dimensional change allows effective shielding in the vertical direction while maintaining compact horizontal footprint, optimizing both space utilization and signal conditioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Shielding is applied locally at specific locations where electromagnetic interference occurs: vertical shield plates between adjacent horizontal ports and horizontal shield plates between stacked vertical ports. This localized approach provides necessary signal conditioning without adding unnecessary complexity throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8337246B2High speed stacked modular jack having shielding plate

Publication Date: 2012.12.25 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

A modular jack (100) comprising a housing (200) defining an upper port and a lower port vertically stacked under the upper port, and a contact module (400) assembled to the housing. The contact modules each comprises a first vertical PCB (46) and a second vertical PCB (47) extending along a front-to-rear direction, a vertical shield plate (50) disposed between the first vertical PCB and the second vertical PCB, a mating module, and a horizontal shield plate (418) disposed between the upper contact module and the lower contact module. The horizontal shield plate is disposed below the upper row of ports and above the lower row of ports and connecting the vertical shield plate.