Non-conductive material with peaks and valleys surrounding a plurality of electrical contacts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPaul Herbert DeVries, Zinovy Royzen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Technologies for reducing the risk of fluid-induced electrical shorting in electrical connectors are provided. An electrical connector comprises a non-conductive member interposed between a first end and a second end of the connector that supports electrical contacts configured to conduct an electrical signal through the non-conductive member. The non-conductive member further has one or more peaks disposed on a surface of the non-conductive member between adjacent contacts.
Claims15
An electrical connector comprising:
- a non-conductive member interposed between a first end and a second end of the electrical connector and configured to support a plurality of electrical contacts, the plurality of electrical contacts configured to conduct electrical signals through the non-conductive member, the non-conductive member having one or more peaks disposed on a surface of the non-conductive member between at least one pair of adjacent electrical contacts, and the non-conductive member having valleys disposed on the surface of the non-conductive member, wherein each electrical contact of the at least one pair of adjacent electrical contacts being located in the valleys and one of the one or more peaks forming a ridge surrounding each electrical contact,
- wherein the non-conductive member comprises a dielectric material of one of glass or ceramic and forms a pressure boundary between the first end and the second end of the electric connector.
A method for reducing a risk of a fluid-induced electrical short between contacts in an electrical connector, the method comprising:
- providing a non-conductive member comprising a dielectric material of one of glass or ceramic between the contacts of the electrical connector;
- disposing one or more peaks on a surface of the non-conducting member forming a ridge surrounding each of the contacts, where the one or more peaks comprise the dielectric material of one of glass or ceramic;
- disposing valleys on the surface of the non-conductive member, wherein each contact of the electrical connector being located in the valleys;
- and
- forming a pressure boundary between a first end and a second end of the electric connector by providing the non-conductive member between the first and second end of the electrical connector.
A system comprising:
- a shell;
- a plurality of contacts configured to conduct electrical signals;
- and
- a non-conductive member interposed between a first end and a second end of the shell and configured to support the plurality of contacts, where the non-conductive member comprises
- a peak disposed on a surface of the non-conductive member between at least one pair of adjacent electrical contacts, the peak forming a ridge surrounding each electrical contact, and
- valleys disposed on the surface of the non-conductive member, wherein each electrical contact of the at least one pair of adjacent electrical contacts being located in the valleys such that a leak-path distance along the surface of the non-conductive member between the pair of adjacent contacts is greater than a linear distance between the pair of adjacent contacts,
- wherein the non-conductive member comprise a dielectric material of one of glass or ceramic and forms a pressure boundary between the first end and the second end of the shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.