High frequency cable connector for twisted pair cables

Abstract

A new cable connector for twisted pair cable usable for high frequency applications is presented in this paper. An elastic conductive matrix as an interface between cable and printed wiring board (PWB) is pressed against the ends of the copper wires of the cable, and a land grid array on the PWB, thereby making the connections. The shielding braid of the cable is lengthened by a tube structure up to the same plane as the end of the copper wires, where the shielding is connected to an earth plane on the PWB. This not only gives a sound basis for good electromagnetic interference (EMI) behavior, but can also serve as an adequate structure for a dc barrier of common-mode currents in the shielding of twisted pair cables. A washer-formed capacitor between the earth of the PWB and the shielding tube structure would probably be the only addition needed.Measurements, performed on two connectors and the connected twisted pair cable, confirmed the hypothesis of how the performance of the new cable would be improved in the high frequency range compared to the SOFIX cable connector.Index Terms-Elastomer interconnect, high frequency, MPI, signal connector, twisted pair cable.

Solder connections for high frequency applications between flexible and rigid printed circuit boards

“…The columns are squeezed in between two surfaces to be electrical connected and can be used in a great variety of applications, for example sockets for different packaging, as well as board to board and PCB to back-plane connectors. The author has used MPI as part of a cable connector for high frequency use [1]. MPI connectors are available in standard pitches of 1.27 mm, 1.00 mm, and 0.80 mm.…”

“…An immense quantity of data is transmitted to the equipment by means of cable or optical fiber. One way to smooth the progress of the data-flow through improved cable connectors toward the printed circuit boards (PCB) has been reported by Siebert [1]. Most recent technology enhancements have provided the means for this alteration of the telecom technology to embrace data transfer in general.…”

Performance Testing of Twisted Pair Cables

“…Twisted pair cables used for transport of telecommunication services consist of bundles of copper wire pairs connecting a wire center to customers [6]. Twisted pair cables also are commonly used for the connections between the different parts of the system in the telecom field [7]. Twisted pair cables are well known for computer networks designers and installers.…”

High-speed board-to-board interconnects utilizing flexible foils and elastomeric connectors

“…The advantage of using Flex-foil cables is that they can easily be designed and processed with standard printed circuit board techniques. However, connectors to cables can be a limiting factor for signal integrity, because they cause characteristic impedance mismatching, resulting in reflections and distortions of signals [3][4][5].…”