USB 3.0 Cable Connector Assembly with Split Tongue Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing USB 3.0 cable connector assemblies face challenges with complex structures, high manufacturing costs, and susceptibility to cross-talk due to their design, which complicates assembly and stability, especially with the trend of miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
A cable connector assembly design featuring an insulative housing with split tongues, a metallic shell, and a spacer that supports contacts, including grounding wires to prevent cross-talk, and a configuration that allows for easy soldering and stable assembly, adhering to the USB 2.0 standard for compatibility and low profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a spacer is assembled to the insulative housing with tail portions of contacts disposed in corresponding grooves, then contacts can be soldered easily and cross-talk is reduced, but the combination between spacer, insulative housing and metallic shell becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retaining wall as an intermediary structure formed on the insulative housing that actively engages with the spacer. This retaining wall protrudes into the interior space and cooperates with the spacer's configuration to provide positive mechanical interlocking, thereby stabilizing the combination between spacer, insulative housing and metallic shell while preserving the ease of soldering benefits
2Productivity
If USB 3.0 connector is designed with two groups of contacts for high speed data transmission, then data transmitting efficiency is improved, but structure becomes complex and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the contacts into two distinct groups: first contacts for USB 2.0 compatibility and second contacts for USB 3.0 high-speed transmission. This segmentation allows each group to be optimized independently while sharing common structural elements like the insulative housing, metallic shell, and spacer, thereby reducing overall complexity compared to a completely redesigned USB 3.0 connector
Solution Approach 2:
The insulative housing and metallic shell are designed to serve dual purposes: accommodating both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 contact groups, and providing structural support for both connection types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate housing structures, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining high-speed data transmission capability
3Ease of operation
If contacts are designed with tail portions extending beyond insulative housing, then electrical connection with cable is achieved, but cross-talk occurs between contacts for high speed data transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-speed signal transmission function into a dedicated second contact group that is physically separated from the USB 2.0 contacts. By providing specialized grooves in the spacer for the tail portions of second contacts and positioning them distinctively, the design isolates high-speed signals from potential interference sources, thereby reducing cross-talk while maintaining electrical connection capability
Data Source
AI summary
A cable connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2), a metallic shell (3) enclosing the insulative housing and a spacer (5). The insulative housing includes a first tongue (121) and a second tongue (122). The contacts comprise a plurality of first contacts held in the first tongue and a plurality of second contacts held in the second tongue. At least one of the contacts comprises a main body (2210), a pair of horizontal soldering portions (2212) and a pair of connecting portions (2214) the cable has a group transmitting high speed signal, and the group of cable defines two grounding wires (623) connected with the corresponding soldering portion.