Electrical connector with frequency-tuned groundplane
View Patent ↗An electrical connector with a frequency-tuned groundplane is disclosed. The connector includes a signal medium to communicate an electrical signal and a frequency-tuned groundplane medium to communicate a reference voltage (i.e., ground). The groundplane medium differentially supplies the reference voltage to the groundplane second end, responsive to the frequency of the electrical signal. In one aspect, the first groundplane layer conductive trace includes a transmission line pattern, and the second groundplane layer conductive trace is connected to the first groundplane layer conductive trace through a plurality of conductive vias. For example, the first groundplane layer may include a plurality of conductive patches, some of which have a via connection to the second groundplane layer conductive trace.
1. An electrical connector comprising:
a signal medium to convey an electrical signal; and
a groundplane medium adjacent the signal medium and having a first groundplane end connected to a ground in a first device segment of a wireless communication device and having a second groundplane end connected to a ground of a second device segment of the wireless communication device movable relative to the first device segment of the wireless communication device, the groundplane medium configured to have a first groundplane medium impedance between the first groundplane end and the second groundplane end at a first frequency and a second groundplane medium impedance between the first groundplane end and the second groundplane end at a second frequency.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the groundplane medium is configured to conduct more ground current through the groundplane medium at the first frequency than at the second frequency.
3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the signal medium comprises a signal layer of a flexible dielectric material with a conductive trace; and
wherein the groundplane medium comprises:
a first groundplane layer of flexible dielectric material with a first layer conductive trace, the first groundplane layer disposed on a first side of the signal layer; and
a second groundplane layer of flexible dielectric material with a second layer conductive trace in electrical communication with the first layer conductive trace, the second groundplane disposed on a second side of the signal layer opposite the first side.
4. The electrical connector of claim 3 , wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises a conductive trace pattern; and
wherein the second layer conductive trace is connected to the first layer conductive trace through a plurality of conductive vias.
5. The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises a conductive trace pattern;
wherein the second layer conductive trace is connected to the first layer conductive trace through a plurality of conductive vias; and wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises:
a first plurality of conductive patches; and
a second plurality of conductive patches connected to the second layer conductive trace through the plurality of vias, each of the first plurality of conductive patches capacitively coupled to the second groundplane layer conductive trace through at least one of the second plurality of patches.
6. The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises a conductive trace pattern;
wherein the second layer conductive trace is connected to the first layer conductive trace through a plurality of conductive vias; wherein the first layer conductive trace pattern includes a plurality of patches, each patch having an inductance associated with its length and a via connection to the second layer conductive trace; and
wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises the plurality of patches, placed consecutively lengthwise, capacitively coupled by a first spacing.
7. The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein the first spacing has a shape selected from the group comprising a straight line, a stepped pattern, and a saw-toothed pattern.
8. The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises a conductive trace pattern;
wherein the second layer conductive trace is connected to the first layer conductive trace through a plurality of conductive vias; and wherein the first layer conductive trace includes a plurality of patches, each patch having a width and a via connection to the second layer conductive trace; and
wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises the plurality of patches, placed consecutively widthwise, capacitively coupled by a second spacing.
9. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first groundplane end is connected to a ground in a first half of a wireless communication device and wherein the second groundplane end is connected to a ground of a second half of the wireless communication device movable relative to the first half of the wireless communication device.
10. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the signal medium is connected to an antenna in the second device segment of the wireless communication device.
11. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein groundplane medium prevents ground current flow between the first device segment and the second device segment of the wireless communication device at the second frequency.
12. A wireless communication device comprising:
a first device segment comprising an antenna;
a second device segment comprising electrical circuitry and movable relative to the first device segment; and
an electrical connector connected to the electrical circuitry and the antenna and comprising:
a signal medium connected between the electrical circuitry and the antenna and configured to convey an electrical signal between the electrical circuitry and the antenna; and
a groundplane medium adjacent the signal medium and having a first groundplane end connected to ground of the antenna and having a second groundplane end connected to ground of the electrical circuitry, the groundplane medium configured to have a first groundplane medium impedance between the first groundplane end and the second groundplane end at a first frequency and a second groundplane medium impedance between the first groundplane end and the second groundplane end at a second frequency.
13. The wireless communication device of claim 12 , wherein the groundplane medium is configured to conduct more ground current through the groundplane medium at the first frequency than at the second frequency.
14. The wireless communication device of claim 12 , wherein the signal medium comprises a signal layer of a flexible dielectric material with a conductive trace; and
wherein the groundplane medium comprises:
a first groundplane layer of flexible dielectric material with a first layer conductive trace, the first groundplane layer disposed on a first side of the signal layer; and
a second groundplane layer of flexible dielectric material with a second layer conductive trace in electrical communication with the first layer conductive trace, the second groundplane disposed on a second side of the signal layer opposite the first side.
15. The wireless communication device of claim 14 , wherein the first layer conductive trace comprises a conductive trace pattern; and
wherein the second layer conductive trace is connected to the first layer conductive trace through a plurality of conductive vias.
16. The wireless communication device of claim 12 , wherein the electrical circuitry comprises a transmitter.
17. The wireless communication device of claim 16 , wherein the electrical circuitry comprises a receiver.