Wire-to-Board Connector Bypass Routing Signal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed data transmission over FR4 circuit boards is plagued by signal loss and noise issues, especially at speeds above 10 Gbps, necessitating the use of more expensive materials or amplifiers, which increase costs and power consumption, making it difficult to design efficient and cost-effective electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of bypass cable assemblies that utilize twin-ax cables with differential signal transmission lines to connect chips directly to external interfaces, bypassing circuit board traces, thereby maintaining consistent geometry and impedance while reducing signal loss and noise, and allowing the use of low-cost materials like FR4 for circuit boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If FR4 circuit board material is used for signal transmission lines, then cost is reduced, but signal loss increases at high data transmission speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the high-speed signal transmission function from the FR4 circuit board material and relocates it to a separate coaxial cable assembly. The coaxial cable carries the high-speed signal directly from the chip to the connector, bypassing the lossy FR4 transmission lines entirely, while the FR4 board retains only low-speed control and power signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coaxial cable as an intermediary component between the chip and the external connector. This intermediary transmission medium provides a low-loss path for high-speed signals, eliminating the need for high-speed signal routing through the FR4 board material.
2Reliability
If amplifiers and equalizers are added to correct signal losses in FR4 boards, then signal integrity is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for signal correction components by extracting the high-speed signal path from the FR4 board. Since the coaxial cable inherently maintains signal integrity without requiring amplifiers or equalizers, these additional components become unnecessary, simplifying the overall device design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If signal transmission lines are routed with multiple turns and bends on the circuit board, then connection flexibility is improved, but signal reflection and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coaxial cable acts as an intermediary that provides inherent shielding and controlled impedance, preventing signal reflection and noise even when the cable is routed with bends and turns. The shielded structure of the coaxial cable protects the signal from external interference and maintains signal integrity despite physical routing challenges.
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 solution effectively reduces signal loss and noise, frees up board space, and lowers power consumption, enabling high-speed data transmission at 10 Gbps and above with lower costs and improved 'green' design values by using bypass cables instead of circuit board traces.
Implementation Method 1
twin-ax cables with differential signal transmission lines to connect chips directly to external interfaces
Implementation Method 2
the contact portions spread apart from one another along a common linear path on the circuit board to provide a wiping action
Data Source
AI summary
A wire to board connector is provided for connecting cables of cable bypass assemblies to circuitry mounted on a circuit board. The connector has a structure that maintains the geometry of the cable through the connector. The connector includes a pair of edge coupled conductive signal terminals and a ground shield to which the signal terminals are broadside coupled. The connector includes a pair of ground terminals aligned with the signal terminals and both sets of terminals have J-shaped contact portions that flex linearly when the connector is inserted into a receptacle. In another embodiment, the signal terminal contact portions are supported by a compliant member that may deflect when the connectors engage contact pads on a substrate.