Electrical connectors – With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision – Grounding of coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-14
2004-02-17
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With circuit conductors and safety grounding provision
Grounding of coupling part
C439S941000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06692272
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in general to electrical connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to a high speed connector for connecting between two electrical devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As the speed of electronics increases, connectors are desired that are capable of high speed communications. Most connectors focus on shielding to reduce cross talk, thereby allowing higher speed communication. However, focusing on shielding addresses only one aspect of communication speed.
Therefore, a need exists for a high speed electrical connector design that addresses high speed communications, beyond the use of shielding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to a high speed electrical connector wherein signal conductors of a differential signal pair have a substantially constant differential impedance along the length of the differential signal pair.
According to an aspect of the invention, an electrical connector is provided. The electrical connector comprises a first conductor having a first length and a second conductor having a second length. The impedance between the first and second conductor is substantially constant along the first and second length allowing high speed communications through the connector. The first and second conductors may form a differential signal pair having a differential impedance or a single ended pair having a single ended impedance.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first conductor comprises a first edge along the length of the first conductor and the second conductor comprises a second edge along the length of the conductor. A gap between the first edge and the second edge is substantially constant to maintain a substantially constant impedance.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the electrical connector comprises a plurality of ground conductors and a plurality of differential signal pairs that may be arranged in either rows or columns.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a first portion of the first conductor is disposed in a first material having a first dielectric constant and a second portion of the first conductor is disposed in a second material having a second dielectric constant. A first portion of the second conductor is disposed in the first material and a second portion of the second conductor is disposed in the second material. The gap between the first conductor and the second conductor in the first material is a first distance and the gap between the first conductor and the second conductor in the second material is a second distance such that the impedance is substantially constant along the length of the conductors.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for making an electrical connector. A plurality of conductors are placed into a die blank, each conductor having a predefined substantially constant gap between it and an adjacent conductor. Material is injected into the die blank to form a connector frame.
The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: WO 01/29931 (2001-04-01), None
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Houtz Timothy W.
Hull Gregory A.
Lemke Timothy A.
Smith Stephen B.
Abrams Neil
FCI Americas Technology Inc.
Woodcock & Washburn LLP
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