Vertical Connector Assembly for High-Frequency Signal Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching coaxial cables to circuit boards are limited in providing a secure, separable, and efficient electrical connection, particularly in handling high-frequency signals.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly with an insulative housing and terminals that make physical contact with wires, allowing secure attachment to a circuit board via press-fit portions and contact portions, while maintaining a majority of the terminal length outside the housing for enhanced stability and signal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coaxial cables are soldered directly to the circuit board, then a secure electrical connection is achieved, but the connection is not separable and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly divides the connection system into separate modules: a vertical connector with terminals that can be independently attached to the circuit board, and cables that can be separately connected. This segmentation enables both secure electrical connection and separability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical connector acts as an intermediary component between the circuit board and the cables. It provides press-fit portions that securely attach to the circuit board while maintaining separable connections, thus achieving both reliable electrical connection and adaptability without requiring direct soldering.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If terminals are fully enclosed in the housing, then protection is improved, but accessibility for connection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing provides protection for the terminals while specific regions of the terminals (contact portions and press-fit portions) remain accessible. This local differentiation allows the housing to protect terminals from harmful factors while maintaining ease of operation for connection and disconnection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If terminal length inside housing is increased, then structural stability is improved, but signal transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design extends terminal length in the vertical dimension (outside the housing) rather than increasing length inside the housing. This dimensional optimization allows structural stability to be maintained while improving signal transmission efficiency by having more terminal length available for effective electrical contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly for electrically connecting a plurality of wires to a circuit board is described. The connector assembly includes a vertical connector that includes an insulative base having pluralities of substantially parallel first and second base channels formed on respective opposing first and second major surfaces of the base. The vertical connector further includes pluralities of first and second terminals in registration with the respective first and second base channels, each first and second terminal including a contact portion for making contact with a wire, and a press-fit portion for being inserted into a conductive via of a circuit board. At least a majority length of each first and second terminal is disposed outside the housing. Each first and second terminal is secured in the connector at least in part by virtue of making physical contact with a corresponding wire.