Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6520807
-
Patent Number
6,520,807
-
Date Filed
Friday, November 12, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 18, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Bradley; P. Austin
- Nguyen; Truc
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 439 676
- 439 417
- 439 894
- 439 404
- 439 941
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An electrical connector system, comprising: an electrical connector; a plurality of wires extending from the connector and arranged in a plurality of twisted pairs; and an insert separating the wires defining each of the twisted pairs. A method of reducing cross-talk in an electrical connector system that produces an unwanted cross-talk, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical connector with a plurality of wires extending therefrom and arranged in a plurality of twisted pairs; providing an insert; placing the insert between the wires defining each of the twisted pairs. The insert causes the wires to produce a compensating cross-talk that offsets the unwanted cross-talk. A method of using an electrical connector that exhibits an acceptable level of cross-talk within a desired frequency range, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical connector system that is unable to exhibit the acceptable level of cross-talk within the desired frequency range, the system including: an electrical connector; and a plurality of wires extending from the connector and arranged in a plurality of twisted pairs; separating the wires defining each of the twisted pairs; and operating the connector system within the desired frequency range. As a result, the connector system exhibits the desired level of cross-talk.
Description
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 exhibit low cross-talk.
2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments
Consumer demand for higher speed electronic devices affects all of the components used in an electronic device. As an example, the electrical connectors used in these electronic devices must be designed so as to ensure that the connectors will operate at these increased speeds without, for example, affecting signal integrity or interfering with any nearby components. In addition to the demand for increased operating speed, the design of the electronic device typically requires that the electrical connector occupy the same, if not less, area within the device.
One concern with operating electrical connectors at high speeds (e.g. approximately 100 MHz and above) is controlling 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 techniques currently exist to improve cross-talk performance in an electrical connector system. Some techniques reduce the amount of cross-talk created by the system (hereinafter called unwanted cross-talk). For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,035 describes an insert placed within a modular jack plug housing. The insert locates the conductors of each pair close to each other, while separating the pair from other pairs to reduce the amount of cross-talk generated by the system. At the location of the insert, the conductor wires are no longer arranged as twisted pairs.
Other techniques deliberately introduce a cross-talk to the system (hereinafter compensating cross-talk) that reduces, or offsets, any unwanted cross-talk generated by the system. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,479 describes an insert placed within a cable connector housing. The insert aligns the wires in a side-by-side orientation to create the compensating cross-talk.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,818 describes a modular jack receptacle using insulation displacement contacts on lead frames. Selected conductors crossover each other within the receptacle housing.
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. Capacitive coupling between adjacent unlike paths produces a compensating cross-talk to reduce the unwanted 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. The arrangement of the paths ensures that one path of a pair overlies at least two paths, each from a different pair.
While these techniques can help reduce, or even prevent, cross-talk, further increases in the operating speeds of electronic devices continually demand additional measures for cross-talk prevention or cross-talk prevention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector system with features for cross-talk compensation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low cross-talk electrical connector system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reducing cross-talk capable of being used with current electrical connectors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reducing cross-talk that does not require extensive redesign of current electrical connector systems.
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; a plurality of wires extending from the connector and arranged in a twisted pair; and an insert separating the wires defining each of the twisted pairs.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by a method of reducing crosstalk in an electrical connector system that produces an unwanted crosstalk, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical connector with a plurality of wires extending therefrom and arranged in a plurality of twisted pairs; providing an insert; placing the insert between the wires defining each of said twisted pairs. The insert causes the wires to produce a compensating cross-talk that offsets the unwanted cross-talk.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by an electrical connector system having an electrical connector with at least two twisted pairs of wires extending therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises an insert placed between the wires defining each of the twisted pairs.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by a method of using an electrical connector that exhibits an acceptable level of cross-talk within a desired frequency range, comprising the steps of: providing an electrical connector system that is unable to exhibit the acceptable level of cross-talk within the desired frequency range, the system including: an electrical connector; and a plurality of wires extending from the connector and arranged in a plurality of twisted pairs; separating the wires defining each of the twisted pairs; and operating the connector system within the desired frequency range. As a result, the connector system exhibits the desired level of cross-talk.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the specification and the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a top view of an electrical cable assembly, in partial schematic, utilizing the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a detailed perspective view, in partial phantom, of one electrical connector of the cable assembly shown in
FIG. 1
b;
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in
FIG. 2
taken along line III—III;
FIG. 4
is a rear, perspective view of part of the electrical connector shown in
FIG. 2
before installation of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of the insert of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of the insert after installation on the wires extending from the electrical connector shown of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 7
is a top view of the insert after installation on the wires extending from the electrical connector of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view, taken along line VIII—VIII in
FIG. 7
, of the insert after installation on the wires;
FIG. 9
displays a graph of the NEXT, measured from the end shown in
FIG. 3
, of an electrical cable assembly without the present invention;
FIG. 10
displays a graph of the NEXT, similarly measured from the end shown in
FIG. 3
, of an electrical cable assembly with the present invention installed;
FIG. 11
is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the insert of the present invention;
FIG. 12
is a cross-sectional view, taken along line XII—XII in
FIG. 11
, of the insert shown in
FIG. 11
after installation on the wires extending from the electrical connector shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 13
is a schematic of the wire assignments for the sub-assembly shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 14
is a schematic of another possibility for wire assignments for the sub-assembly shown in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 15
is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the insert of the present invention; and
FIG. 16
is a cross-section view of the insert taken along line XVI—XVI in
FIG. 15
after installation on the wires.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing cross-talk in an electrical connector system. Generally speaking, the apparatus provides cross-talk reduction in signal lines at a location preferably outside of the electrical connector housing. As will be described in more detail below, the apparatus introduces a compensating cross-talk that preferably offsets most of the unwanted cross-talk created in other areas of the connector system. Importantly, the present invention could be part of a connector system that provides compensating cross-talk at other areas, such as within a connector or within a substrate (such as a multilayer board).
Recognizing that the present invention could operate in any suitable electrical connector system,
FIG. 1
provides one example of such an electrical connector system, in partial schematic. The electrical connector system could be a cable assembly
100
with a first end
101
(shown in schematic) and an opposite second end
103
. Cables
107
extend between first end
101
and second end
103
.
Since a detailed discussion of first end
101
is unnecessary for an understanding of the present invention, only a brief description follows. First end
101
could utilize conventional components, including one or more receptacle connectors (not shown). The receptacle connectors could mount to, for example, a bulkhead (not shown) of an electronic device (not shown) such as a multiplexer, router, switch or network server. As an example, the receptacle connector could be a Category-5, 25-pair PCB-mounted Telco connector such as part number 92509 available from FCI Electronics of Valley Green, Pa.
The receptacle connector at first end
101
can through hole mount on a printed circuit board (PCB) using known techniques. Cables
107
preferably secure to pads/vias (not shown) on the opposite end of the PCB (not shown), also using known techniques. Cable
107
could be secured to the PCB with, for example, tie-wrap (not shown) to provide strain relief.
Various traces (not shown) on or within the PCB connect the pads/vias with the through holes to which the receptacle connector mounts. Signal conditioning components, such as common mode chokes could engage the traces in any known manner to help control EMI by filtering out common mode noise.
A cover (not shown) can secure to the PCB using known fasteners (not shown). The cover would protect the connector, PCB, signal conditioning components, the solder joints between the pads and wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
and the solder joint between the pads and the conductive sheath of cable
107
. The cover could also receive tie-wrap (not shown) to provide an additional level of strain relief to cables
107
.
The second end
103
of cable assembly
100
will now be described in detail. Second end
103
includes one or more connectors
127
that plug on to, for example, headers (not shown) on a backplane (not shown). As an example, connector
127
could be a 2×4 box connector, such as part number A0329312 also available from FCI Electronics.
Wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
terminate at respective contacts (not shown) within connector
127
using known techniques. While
FIG. 5
shows connector
127
having unused positions (i.e. connector
127
has eight positions, but only receives four wires), the connector could have any suitable arrangement or could use an entirely different connector.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
can form twisted pairs
109
,
111
upon exiting connector
127
. Each of the pairs
109
,
111
has a series of twists T.
A cover
129
can partially surround connector
127
, preferably the rear end of connector
127
. Cover
129
helps protect the portion of wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
located therein. The remainder of cable
107
extends from cover
129
.
A strain relief element
135
surrounds cover
129
and a portion of cable
107
extending from cover
129
. Strain relief element
135
helps prevent damage to the contacts or to the connection between the contacts and wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b.
Strain relief element
135
could be heat shrinkable tubing, or any other suitable structure.
Connector
127
can include a polarization tab
133
. Tab
133
can ensure proper orientation during mating by interacting with corresponding structure (not shown) on the mating connector.
If desired, and as shown in phantom in
FIG. 1
, a larger housing
143
could be used to arrange a plurality of connectors
127
and covers
129
together. Housing
143
could be any conventional housing. Alternatively, cover
129
could be enlarged to accept more than one connector
127
.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, the present invention comprises an insert
137
. Preferably made from a block of a suitable dielectric material such as a thermoplastic. Insert
137
includes grooves
139
along opposed surfaces such as sidewalls
141
. Grooves
139
receive selected wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
after exiting connector
127
. Grooves
139
are located a distance C apart.
Insert
137
also has a length L. Distance C and length L are chosen to provide the desired amount of compensating cross-talk. Increasing either length L or distance C increases the amount of compensating cross-talk. Insert
137
can also have any suitable height H to fit within the space provided by cover
129
and to provide adequate space for grooves
139
.
FIGS. 6-8
display insert
137
positioned between wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b.
Preferably, each groove
139
of insert
137
receives one wire from each twisted pair
109
,
111
. Specifically, grooves
139
receive non-adjacent wires from each twisted pair
109
,
111
. As an example,
FIG. 8
shows that wires
109
a,
111
b
reside within one groove
139
, while wires
109
b,
111
a
reside in another groove
139
. In order to ensure such an arrangement, one of the twisted pairs preferably retains a twist T between insert
137
and connector
127
, while insert
137
resides between connector
127
and twists T on the other twisted pair as shown in FIG.
7
.
With this arrangement, the wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
create a compensating cross-talk that offsets most of the unwanted cross-talk created by connector
127
and its mating connector (not shown).
FIGS. 9 and 10
display the benefits of using the present invention.
FIG. 9
demonstrates measured NEXT (measured at the end of the connector shown in
FIG. 3
) for a connector system that does not utilize insert
137
. The graph shows the electrical cable assembly exhibits NEXT of less than approximately −24 dB across a frequency range of 1 to 100 MHz. In certain situations, this level of NEXT may be unacceptable.
FIG. 10
displays the results for the same electrical cable assembly (also measured at the end of the connector shown in FIG.
3
), but using a simulated insert
137
having length L of 0.55″ and a distance C of 0.25″. The use of simulated insert
137
reduced NEXT to less than approximately −42 dB across a frequency range of 1 to 100 MHz. This level of NEXT is preferably acceptable during operation of cable assembly
100
within this frequency range.
FIGS. 11 and 12
demonstrate an alternative embodiment of the insert. Generally similar, the only difference between insert
137
and insert
137
′ resides in the shape of grooves
139
/
139
′. Rather than a side-by-side arrangement with grooves
139
of insert
137
, grooves
139
′ of insert
137
′ allow for the superposition of the wires. Although not shown, any other suitable arrangement could be used.
The present invention can be utilized in a pre-designed, and even a pre-assembled, electrical connector system. Since the connector system is pre-designed/pre-assembled, the wiring assignments are predetermined. Thus, no change in the wiring assignments could be made. For example, wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
must be placed in the specific locations shown in FIG.
13
. The insert
137
/
137
′ is placed between wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
as shown in
FIGS. 6-8
.
In situations other than the pre-assembled/pre-designed connector systems described above (i.e. in situations where the location of the wires could be changed), the present invention could achieve additional cross-talk reduction. For example, rearranging the location of wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b
in connector
127
to the arrangement shown in
FIG. 14
would reduce unwanted cross-talk even without using an insert. The use of an insert would reduce total cross-talk to a level lower than the cross-talk level that could be achieved in the arrangements shown in
FIG. 6-8
.
FIGS. 15 and 16
display another alternative embodiment of insert
137
″ suitable for this situation. As with the other inserts
137
/
137
′, insert
137
″ is placed between wires
109
a,
109
b,
111
a,
111
b.
The only difference between insert
137
′ and insert
137
″ resides in the location of grooves
139
′/
139
″. Rather than located on the side, grooves
139
″ of insert
137
″ are located on upper and lower surfaces of the block. Despite the different location of grooves
139
″ on insert
137
″ when compared to the other inserts
137
/
137
′, wires
109
a,
111
b
still travel along one groove
139
″ and wires
109
b,
111
a
travel along the other groove
139
″.
While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. An electrical connector system, comprising:an electrical connector, said electrical connector creating a first cross-talk; first and second twisted pairs of wires extending from said connector; and a dielectric insert comprising first and second opposed surfaces; wherein a first wire of said first twisted pair and a first wire of said second twisted pair correspond to a first surface of said insert and a second wire of said first twisted pair and second wire of said second twisted pair correspond to said second surface of said insert such that the wiring contributes towards creating a compensating cross-talk to said first cross-talk.
- 2. The electrical connector system according to claim 1, wherein said insert has a predetermined length, said predetermined length contributes towards creating said compensating cross-talk.
- 3. The electrical connector system according to claim 2, wherein said insert separates said wires to a predetermined spacing, said predetermined spacing further contributing towards creating said compensating cross-talk.
- 4. The electrical connector system according to claim 3, wherein said compensating cross-talk is substantially equal to said first cross-talk.
- 5. A method of substantially reducing the cross-talk in a connector, comprising the steps of:providing an pre-constructed electrical connector system having an electrical connector with at least first and second twisted pairs of wires, each wire of said twisted pairs of wires terminated to a contact and extending from the connector; providing an insert having first and second opposed surfaces: placing a first wire of said first twisted pair and a first wire of said second twisted pair adjacent said first surface of said insert and a second wire of said first twisted pair and second wire of said second twisted pair adjacent said second surface of said insert.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 854 664 |
Jul 1998 |
EP |
2 314 466 |
Jun 1997 |
GB |
2344706 |
Jun 2000 |
GB |
9-35788 |
Feb 1997 |
JP |