Claims
- 1. An electrical connector module comprising:a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; wherein the one or more plastic retainer strips are molded onto the signal conductors and the reference conductor element, thereby securely attaching the one or more plastic retainer strips to the signal conductors and the reference conductor element.
- 2. The module of claim 1, wherein each pair of adjacent signal conductors has one of the first reference conductors therebetween.
- 3. The module of claim 1, wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that each of the signal conductors has a pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and has one of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
- 4. The module of claim 3, wherein a space between each of the signals and the pair of the first reference conductors adjacent the signal conductor is substantially free of solid or liquid materials.
- 5. The module of claim 4, wherein a space between each of the signals and the one of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto is substantially free of solid or liquid materials.
- 6. The module of claim 3, wherein the reference conductor element includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors is attached.
- 7. The module of claim 6, wherein the second reference conductors each includes a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip.
- 8. The module of claim 1, wherein the parts of the first reference conductors that are not in the first plane, are not in contact with the second reference conductors, with gaps thereby between the second reference conductors and the parts of the first reference conductors.
- 9. The module of claim 1, wherein the one or more plastic retainer strips include two retainer strips at opposite respective ends of the module.
- 10. An electrical connector module of comprising:a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane, a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; wherein the second reference conductors are wider than the first reference conductors; and wherein the first reference conductors have width in the first plane greater than a thickness of the first reference conductors.
- 11. An electrical connector element comprising:1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another; wherein the one or more plastic retainer strips are molded onto the signal conductors and the reference conductor element, thereby securely attaching the one or more plastic retainer strips to the signal conductors and the reference conductor element.
- 12. An electrical connector element comprising:1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another; wherein the cover has holes therein which are operatively configured to receive a protrusion on one, of the retainer strips of each of the modules.
- 13. The electrical connector element of claim 11, wherein at least one of the retainer strips of each of the modules has one or more dovetail members, and wherein the cover has slots operatively configured to receive the dovetail members.
- 14. The electrical connector element of claim 11, wherein each of the reference conductor elements includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors of the corresponding module are attached, and wherein the second reference conductors each include a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip.
- 15. The electrical connector element of claim 11, wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that multiple of the signal conductors each have a pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and each have a pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom, and on opposite sides thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
- 16. The electrical connector element of claim 1, wherein the parts of the first reference conductors that are not in the first plane, are not in contact with the second reference conductors, with gaps thereby between the second reference conductors and the parts of the first reference conductors.
- 17. An electrical connector element comprising:1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a: reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another, wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that multiple of the signal conductors 1) each have a pair of the first reference is conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and 2) each have a pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom, and on opposite sides thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane; wherein each of the multiple signal conductors 1) is in the same module as the first reference conductors adjacent thereto, 2) is the same module as one of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto, and 3) is in a different module from the other of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto.
- 18. The electrical connector element of claim 17, wherein a space between each of the multiple signals and the pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto is substantially free of solid or liquid materials.
- 19. The electrical connector element of claim 18, wherein a space between each of the signals and the pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto is substantially free of solid or liquid materials.
- 20. An electrical connector element comprising:1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another; wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that multiple of the signal conductors 1) each have a pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and 2) each have a pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom, and on opposite sides thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane; wherein each of the reference conductor elements includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors of the corresponding module are attached, and wherein the second reference conductors each include a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip.
- 21. An electrical connector comprising:1) a first electrical connector element which includes a plurality of modules and a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another, wherein each of the modules includes: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a second electrical connector element operatively configured to mate with the first electrical connector element, the second electrical connector element including rows of substantially parallel conductors operatively configured to mate with the signal conductors and the first reference conductors.
- 22. The electrical connector of claim 21, wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that multiple of the signal conductors each have a pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and has a pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom, and on opposite sides thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein each of the multiple signal connector 1) is in the same module as the first reference conductors adjacent thereto, 2) is the same module as one of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto, and 3) is in a different module from the other of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto.
- 23. The electrical connector element of claim 22, wherein a space between each of the multiple signals and the pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto is substantially free of solid or liquid materials, and wherein a space between each of the signals and the pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto is substantially free of solid or liquid materials.
- 24. The electrical connector element of claim 22, wherein each of the reference conductor elements includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors of the corresponding module are attached, and wherein the second reference conductors each include a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip.
- 25. The electrical connector of claim 24, wherein the at least one metal strip includes first and second metal strips at respective opposite ends of the reference conductor element.
- 26. An electrical connector element comprising:1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another; wherein the cover has a plurality of interior walls separating an interior space of the cover into a plurality of individual areas, and wherein the modules are inserted into respective of the individual areas.
- 27. The electrical connector of claim 25, wherein the first reference conductors are not in contact with the second reference conductors except at the metal strips.
- 28. The electrical connector of claim 21, wherein the parts of the first reference conductors that are not in the first plane, are not in contact with the second reference conductors, with gaps thereby between the second reference conductors and the parts of the first reference conductors.
- 29. A method of making an electrical connector module, comprising:making a reference conductor sheet having plural reference conductors, several of the reference conductors being in a substantially common plane of the sheet and several other of the reference conductors having portions out of the plane of the sheet, placing the reference conductor sheet relative to a plurality of signal conductors such that the several reference conductors are spaced away from the signal conductors and the several other reference conductors are between the signal conductors; and molding at least one plastic retainer onto the reference conductor sheet and the signal conductors, thereby attaching the at least one plastic retainer to the reference conductor sheet and the signal conductors.
- 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the signal conductors are in a first plane, and the several reference conductors have the portions in a second plane spaced apart from the first plane.
- 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the making the reference conductor sheet by includes cutting a sheet of conductor material and pressing the portions of the several other reference conductors out of the plane of the sheet.
- 32. An electrical connector module comprising:a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; and a reference conductor element which includes: a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; wherein the reference conductor element includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors is attached; and wherein the at least one metal strip includes first and second metal strips at respective opposite ends of the reference conductor element.
- 33. The module of claim 32, wherein the second reference conductors each includes a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strips.
- 34. The module of claim 32, wherein the first reference conductors are not in contact with the second reference conductors except at the metal strips.
- 35. The module of claim 32, further comprising one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element, wherein the one or more plastic retainer strips are molded onto the signal conductors and the reference conductor element, thereby securely attaching the one or more plastic retainer strips to the signal conductors and the reference conductor element.
- 36. An electrical connector element comprising:1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules Including: a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane; b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes: i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors; and ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane; and c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element; and 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another; wherein each of the reference conductor elements includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors of the corresponding module are attached; wherein the second reference conductors each include a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip; and wherein the at least one metal strip includes first and second metal strips at respective opposite ends of the reference conductor element.
- 37. The electrical connector element of claim 36, wherein the first reference conductors are not in contact with the second reference conductors except at the metal strips.
Parent Case Info
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/191,519, filed Mar. 23, 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Provisional Applications (1)
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|
60/191519 |
Mar 2000 |
US |