Claims
- 1. An electrical connector comprising:
a first connector piece comprising:
a first array of conductive elements, each conductive element having a first end adapted for being electrically connected to a first circuit board and a second end at which is disposed a first mating contact; and a plurality of first plates disposed between rows of conductive elements of said array of conductive elements; and a second connector piece comprising: a second array of conductive elements, each conductive element having a first end adapted for being electrically connected to a second circuit board and a second end at which is disposed a second mating contact; and a plurality of second plates disposed between columns of conductive elements of said second array of conductive elements and perpendicular to said plurality of first plates when said first connector piece and said second connector piece are mated.
- 2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of first plates is substantially planar and includes:
a first end at which is disposed a plurality of spring-force contacts, said plurality of spring-force contacts being displaced from the plane of said each of said plurality of first plates; a second end adapted for being electrically connected to said first circuit board; and a pair of wings disposed at opposing edges of said first end, said pair of wings being displaced from the plane of said each of said plurality of first plates.
- 3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of second plates includes:
a first end adapted for being electrically connected to said second circuit board; and a second end adapted to be received by one of said plurality of spring-force contacts from said each of said plurality of first plates.
- 4. The electrical connector of claim 2, said first connector piece further comprising:
a plurality of insulative housings, each of said insulative housings supporting a row of said first array of conductive elements.
- 5. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of first plates further includes:
a plurality of eyelets; and each of said plurality of insulative housings is adapted to receive said plurality of eyelets from one of said plurality of first plates.
- 6. The electrical connector of claim 5 further comprising:
a metal stiffener supporting said plurality of insulative housings.
- 7. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the first and second array of conductive elements are electrically grouped in pairs to provide a differential signal therefrom.
- 8. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein the plurality of spring-force contacts electrically engage said second plate.
- 9. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein of said plurality of first plates is partially housed in insulative material and said insulative material defines a plurality of cavities, each adapted to support one of said first mating contacts.
- 10. An electrical connector with a first connector piece having a plurality of columns of first signal conductors and a second connector piece having a plurality of columns of second signal conductors adapted to mate to the first signal conductors when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are mated, characterized in that the connector further comprises:
a first plurality of plates, each disposed between adjacent rows of signal conductors in the first connector piece; a second plurality of plates, each disposed between adjacent columns of signal conductors in the second connector piece; and a first plurality of mating contacts on the first plurality of plates, wherein when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are mated, each of the first plurality of plates is perpendicular to and makes contact with each one of the second plurality of plates.
- 11. The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of second plates is substantially planar and includes:
a first end at which is disposed a plurality of second mating contacts, said plurality of mating contacts being displaced from the plane of said each of said first plurality of plates; a second end adapted for being electrically connected to a first circuit board; and a pair of wings disposed at opposing edges of said first end, said pair of wings being displaced from the plane of said each of said first plurality of plates.
- 12. The connector of claim 11 further comprising:
a stiffener; and a plurality of insulative housings, each of said plurality of insulative housings supporting one of said plurality of columns of second signal conductors, each of the insulative housings having a front face facing the first connector piece and a rear portion attached to the stiffener.
- 13. The electrical connector of claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of second plates further includes:
a plurality of eyelets; and each of said plurality of insulative housings is adapted to receive said plurality of eyelets from one of said plurality of second plates.
- 14. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of first plates includes:
a first end adapted for being electrically connected to a second circuit board.
- 15. A shielding arrangement for an electrical connector including a plurality of signal conductors, the arrangement comprising:
a first plurality of plates disposed in a first piece of said connector; and a second plurality of plates disposed in a second piece of said connector and perpendicular to said first plurality plates when said first piece and said second piece of said connector are mated; wherein each one of said plurality of signal contacts is disposed within one of a plurality of grid cells formed by said mated first and second plurality of plates.
- 16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of first plates is substantially planar and includes:
a first end at which is disposed a plurality of first mating contacts, said plurality of mating contacts being displaced from the plane of said each of said first plurality of plates; a second end adapted for being electrically connected to a first circuit board; and a pair of wings disposed at opposing edges of said first end, said pair of wings being displaced from the plane of said each of said first plurality of plates.
- 17. The arrangement of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of first plates further includes:
a plurality of eyelets; and each of said plurality of insulative housings is adapted to receive said plurality of eyelets from one of said plurality of second plates.
- 18. The arrangement of claim 17 wherein each of said plurality of second plates includes:
a first end adapted for being electrically connected to a second circuit board; and a second mating contact adapted to be received by one of said plurality of first mating contacts from said each of said plurality of second plates.
- 19. An electrical connector comprising:
an array of signal conductors; and a plurality of plates disposed between columns of said array of signal conductors, each of said plates including:
a tail portion adapted to be attached to a circuit board; and a plurality of mating contacts disposed along a length of said each of said plates.
- 20. An electrical connector comprising:
an array of signal conductors; and a plurality of plates disposed between rows of said array of signal conductors, each of said plates including:
a tail portion adapted to be attached to a circuit board; a plurality of mating contacts; and a pair of wings, each disposed at an edge of said each of said plates.
- 21. A method for providing cross-talk shielding to an array of signal conductors in an electrical connector, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of plates disposed in a grid pattern, each of said signal contacts being isolated from abutting signal conductors by two or more of said plates and wherein providing a plurality of plates includes:
providing a first set of said plurality of plates in a first piece of the electrical connector; and providing a second set of said plurality of plates in a second piece of the electrical connector.
- 22. A method for providing cross-talk shielding to a grid array of signal conductors in an electrical connector, the method comprising:
providing a shield plate between each signal conductor and an abutting signal conductor in a longitudinal direction in a first piece of the electrical connector; and providing a shield plate between each signal conductor and an abutting signal conductor in a latitudinal direction in a second piece of the electrical connector.
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application 60/179,722 filed Feb. 3, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60179722 |
Feb 2000 |
US |