Contact geometry for contacts in high speed data connectors
View Patent ↗A connector system includes a first connector element and a second connector element. The first connector element includes a first contact that has a first contact region and a first wipe region. The second connector element includes a second contact that has a second contact region and a second wipe region. When the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first contact region makes a first point electrical contact with the second wipe region such that the first contact does not form a first tuned electrical stub.
1. A connector system comprising:
a first connector element including a first contact that has a first contact region, a first wipe region, and a first ramp region positioned between the first contact region and the first wipe region, the first ramp region including a first non-conductive layer; and
a second connector element including a second contact that has a second contact region, a second wipe region, and a second ramp region positioned between the second contact region and the second wipe region, the second ramp region including a second non-conductive layer, wherein:
when the first connector element is partially mated with the second connector element, no electrical point contact between the first contact and the second contact is made;
when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first contact region makes a first point electrical contact with the second wipe region such that the first contact does not form a first tuned stub; and
when the first ramp region and the second ramp region engage, no electrical point contact between the first contact and the second contact is made.
2. The connector system of claim 1 wherein further, when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the second contact region makes a second point electrical contact with the first wipe region such that the second contact does not form a second tuned stub.
3. The connector system of claim 1 :
the first connector element further including a first connector housing configured to secure the first contact; and
the second connector element further including a second connector housing configured to secure the second contact.
4. The connector system of claim 1 wherein, when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first connector housing and the second connector housing form a male-female pair.
5. The connector system of claim 1 wherein, when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first connector housing and the second connector housing form a hermaphroditic pair.
6. The connector system of claim 1 wherein, when the first connector element is being mated with the second connector element, but prior to when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first ramp region and the second ramp region engage to lift the first contact region over the second wipe region and to lift the second contact region over the first wipe region.
7. A connector comprising:
a contact that includes a contact region, a wipe region, and a ramp region positioned between the contact region and the wipe region; and
a housing configured to secure the contact, wherein:
when the connector is partially mated with another connector, no electrical point contact between the contact and the other connector is made;
when the connector is mated with another connector, the contact region makes a point electrical contact with a wipe region of the other connector such that the contact does not form a tuned stub;
when the connector is being mated with the other connector, but prior to when the connector is mated with the other connector, the ramp region and another ramp region of the other contact engage to lift the contact region over another wipe region of the other contact; and
the ramp region includes a non-conductive layer such that when the ramp region and the other ramp region engage, no electrical point contact between the contact and the other contact is made.
8. The connector of claim 7 wherein, when the connector is mated with the other connector element, the housing and a housing of the second connector form a male-female pair.
9. The connector of claim 7 wherein, when the connector is mated with the other connector element, the housing and a housing of the second connector form a hermaphroditic pair.
10. A method comprising:
providing, on a first contact of a first connector element, a first contact region, a first wipe region, and a first ramp region positioned between the first contact region and the first wipe region, the first ramp region including a first non-conductive layer;
providing, on a second contact of a second connector element, a second contact region, a second wipe region, and a second ramp region positioned between the second contact region and the second wipe region, the second ramp region including a second non-conductive layer; and
mating the first connector element with the second connector element, wherein:
when partially mated, no electrical point contact between the first connector element and the second connector element is made;
when mated, the first contact region makes a first point electrical contact with the second wipe region such that the first contact does not form a first tuned stub;
when the first ramp region and the second ramp region en age, no electrical point contact between the first contact and the second contact is made.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein further, when mated, the second contact region makes a second point electrical contact with the first wipe region such that the second contact does not form a second tuned stub.
12. The method of claim 10 :
providing, on the first connector element, a first connector housing configured to secure the first contact; and
providing, on the second connector element, a second connector housing configured to secure the second contact.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein, when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first connector housing and the second connector housing form a male-female pair.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein, when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element, the first connector housing and the second connector housing form a hermaphroditic pair.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
engaging the first ramp region with the second ramp region to lift the first contact region over the second wipe region and to lift the second contact region over the first wipe region, prior to when the first connector element is mated with the second connector element.