Differential electrical connector with improved skew control
An improved electrical connector is provided by compensating for skew in signal conductors of a differential pair while ensuring a uniform impedance along the differential pair. Skew is equalized by regions of lower dielectric constant preferentially positioned adjacent the longer conductor of each pair. Impedance along the length of the signal conductor is equalized by a compensation portion in the first conductor that offsets for a change in impedance associated with the change in dielectric constant adjacent the longer conductor. The compensation portion may be a widening in the first conductive element relative to a nominal width of the conductive element. The skew compensation portion may be along a longer edge of the longer conductor and the impedance compensation portion may be along the shorter edge of the longer conductor.
1. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of conductive elements comprising intermediate portions held within the housing, the plurality of conductive elements comprising at least one pair comprising a first conductive element and a second conductive element, the first conductive element being longer than the second conductive element,
wherein:
the housing comprises a first region of a first dielectric constant and a second region of a second dielectric constant;
the second dielectric constant is lower than the first dielectric constant;
the second region is preferentially positioned over the first conductive element for a distance along a length of the first conductive element;
the first conductive element comprises a widened portion adjacent the second region; and
the second conductive element is jogged adjacent the second region.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the second region comprises an opening filled with air.
3. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of conductive elements further comprises a third conductive element adjacent the second conductive element; and
the third conductive element comprises a jogged portion around the widened portion.
4. The electrical connector of claim 3 , wherein:
the third conductive element is wider than the first and second conductive elements.
5. The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein:
the first and second conductive elements are configured as a differential pair and the third conductive element is configured as a ground conductor.
6. The electrical connector of claim 5 , wherein:
the ground conductor is a first ground conductor; and
the plurality of conductive elements further comprises a second ground conductor adjacent the first conductive element.
7. The electrical connector of claim 6 , wherein:
the first ground conductor, the second ground conductor and the differential pair are disposed in a plane.
8. The electrical connector of claim 7 , wherein:
the plane comprises additional conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements sized and configured to form a plurality of differential pairs in the plane.
9. The electrical connector of claim 8 , wherein:
the housing comprises a housing of a wafer.
10. The electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein:
the electrical connector additionally comprises a plurality of like wafers.
11. The electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein:
the electrical connector comprises a right-angle connector.
12. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
widened portion is sized to compensate for an impedance discontinuity associated with the second region.
13. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of conductive elements further comprises a third conductive element having a uniform edge-to-edge spacing with respect to the first conductive element over the intermediate portions of the first conductive element and the third conductive element.
14. The electrical connector of claim 13 , wherein:
an edge of the first conductive element and a facing edge of the third conductive element are free of jogs.
15. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second conductive elements are configured as a first differential pair, and the electrical connector further comprises:
a third conductive element and a fourth conductive element configured as a second differential pair; and
an electrically lossy material portion disposed between the first differential pair and the second differential pair.
16. An electrical connector comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of conductive elements comprising intermediate portions held within the housing, the plurality of conductive elements comprising at least one pair comprising a first conductive element and a second conductive element, the first conductive element being longer than the second conductive element,
wherein:
the housing comprises a first region of a first dielectric constant and a second region of a second dielectric constant;
the second dielectric constant is lower than the first dielectric constant;
the second region is positioned with a larger portion over the first conductive element than over the second conductive element;
the first conductive element comprises a widened portion adjacent the second region; and
the second conductive element is configured to provide a constant spacing with respect to the first conductive element adjacent the widened portion of the first conductive element.
17. The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein:
the second region comprises an opening filled with air.
18. The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein:
the plurality of conductive elements further comprises a third conductive element adjacent the second conductive element; and
the third conductive element comprises a jogged portion around the widened portion.
19. The electrical connector of claim 18 , wherein:
the third conductive element is wider than the first and second conductive elements.
20. The electrical connector of claim 19 , wherein:
the first and second conductive elements are configured as a differential pair and the third conductive element is configured as a ground conductor.
21. The electrical connector of claim 20 , wherein:
the ground conductor is a first ground conductor; and
the plurality of conductive elements further comprises a second ground conductor adjacent the first conductive element.
22. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein:
the first ground conductor, the second ground conductor and the differential pair are disposed in a plane.
23. The electrical connector of claim 22 , wherein:
the plane comprises additional conductive elements of the plurality of conductive elements sized and configured to form a plurality of differential pairs in the plane.
24. The electrical connector of claim 23 , wherein:
the housing comprises a housing of a wafer.
25. The electrical connector of claim 24 , wherein:
the electrical connector additionally comprises a plurality of like wafers.
26. The electrical connector of claim 25 , wherein:
the electrical connector comprises a right-angle connector.
27. The electrical connector of claim 26 , wherein:
the widened portion is sized to compensate for an impedance discontinuity associated with the second region.
28. The electrical connector of claim 26 , wherein:
the second conductive element is jogged adjacent the second region.
29. The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein:
the first and second conductive elements are configured as a first differential pair, and the electrical connector further comprises:
a third conductive element and a fourth conductive element configured as a second differential pair; and
an electrically lossy material portion disposed between the first differential pair and the second differential pair.