High frequency cable connector for twisted pair cables

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 washerformed 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.