Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-14
2001-06-26
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C174S250000, C174S261000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250968
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connector systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to electrical connector systems that minimize cross-talk.
2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments
The continuous increase in the operating speeds of electronic systems and the miniaturization of electrical connectors demand greater control of cross-talk. Cross-talk occurs when electromagnetic energy transmitted through a conductor in the connector causes electrical currents in the another conductor in the electrical connector. Near-end cross-talk (NEXT) travels in a direction opposite to the signal in the conductor. As an example, ANSI/EIA/TIA/568A Category 5 requirements limit pair-to-pair NEXT to −40 dB at 100 MHz. Some applications require such cross-talk performance, but measured on a power sum basis.
Various attempts have been made to control cross-talk within the connector. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,479 describes an electrical connector in which a mating portion of the connector produces a “positive” cross-talk. Another portion of the connector arranges the conductors side-by-side in a plane to produce a “negative” cross-talk. The “negative” cross-talk cancels out the “positive” cross-talk.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,770 describes a modular jack in which adjacent conductor wires are crossed over for a portion of a length along an insert. The cross-talk produced in the cross-over portion cancels out the cross-talk produced in the portions of the conductor wire that are not crossed-over.
Various attempts have also been made to control cross-talk outside of the connector. British Patent Application GB 2 314 466 describes a compensation pattern on a multi-layer board (MLB) to which contacts from an electrical connector secure. The pattern uses vertically aligned arrays of conductive paths. Capacitive coupling between adjacent unlike paths produces a cross-talk that reduces the cross-talk produced by the connector. The pattern also staggers adjacent paths on a layer in order to allow coupling between non-adjacent paths.
European Patent Application number EP 0 854 664 also describes a compensation pattern on an MLB to which the electrical connector contacts connect. A portion of the conductive paths extend along one layer, while the remainder extends along another layer vertically spaced therefrom. The arrangement of the paths ensures that one path of a pair overlies at least two paths, each from a different pair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector system that exhibits suitable cross-talk characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compensation pattern on a multi-layer circuit substrate that reduces cross-talk in the connector to a desired level.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a compensation pattern on a multi-layer circuit substrate that inductively and capacitively couples various differential signal pairs in order to reduce cross-talk to a desired level.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multi-layer circuit substrate with a compensation pattern having relatively small dimensions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multi-layer circuit substrate with a compensation pattern sized to fit within a shield that surrounds the electrical connector secured to the circuit substrate.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multi-layer circuit substrate with a trace pattern that compensates for adjacent and non-adjacent conductors.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in one aspect of the present invention by an electrical connector system, comprising: an electrical connector having a plurality of signal contacts and in which the signal contacts exhibit unwanted cross-talk; and a circuit substrate engaging said connector. The substrate has a plurality of layers; and at least first, second and third traces on the circuit substrate, each corresponding to a respective signal contact. The first trace includes: a first portion on at least one of the plurality of layers and adjacent a portion of the second trace in order to produce a first compensating cross-talk; a second portion on at least one other of the plurality of layers and adjacent a portion of the third trace in order to produce a second compensating cross-talk. The first and second compensating cross-talks offset the unwanted cross-talk to provide an acceptable cross-talk.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by a circuit substrate for creating compensating cross-talk that minimizes unwanted cross-talk in signal contacts of an electrical connector. The substrate comprises a board having a first layer, a second layer, a plurality of inner layers between said first and second layers, and a ground plane on at least a lower surface of said board; at least first, second and third traces on the inner layers, the first trace having portions adjacent the second and third traces in order to produce a first and a second compensating cross-talk, respectively. The first and second compensating cross-talks offset the unwanted cross-talk to produce an acceptable cross-talk.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by a method of reducing unwanted cross-talk in an array of at least three conductors, comprising the steps of: introducing a first compensating cross-talk by inductively and capacitively coupling a first conductor and a second conductor adjacent the first conductor; and introducing a second compensating cross-talk by capacitively coupling the first conductor and a third conductor once removed from the first conductor. The compensating cross-talks offset the unwanted cross-talk to produce an acceptable crosstalk.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5287066 (1994-02-01), Liron et al.
patent: 5700167 (1997-12-01), Pharney et al.
patent: 5797764 (1998-08-01), Cooulombe et al.
patent: 5961349 (1999-10-01), Paagman
patent: 6107578 (2000-08-01), Hashim
patent: 0 856 853 A1 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 0 880 202 A2 (1998-11-01), None
patent: 2 331 873 (1999-06-01), None
patent: WO 94/05092 (1994-03-01), None
Berg Technology Inc.
Gilman Alexander
Hamilla Brian J.
Page M. Richard
Paumen Gary F.
LandOfFree
Electrical connector system with cross-talk compensation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electrical connector system with cross-talk compensation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electrical connector system with cross-talk compensation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436800