High speed transmission connector

Abstract

A high speed transmission connector including several signal contact pairs arranged in a parallel array, each including a pair of signal contacts constituting a balanced transmission line; several ground contacts, each being arranged between two signal contact pairs arranged in the parallel array; and an electro-insulating body supporting the signal contact pairs and the ground contacts. Each signal contact is provided with a contacting section at one longitudinal end for conductive contact with a corresponding signal contact of a counterpart connector, a board connecting section at another longitudinal end for connection with a conductor on a circuit board, and an attaching section between the contacting section and the board connecting section for an attachment to the body. All of the board connecting sections of the signal contacts are disposed along a first lateral surface of the body. The signal contacts of the signal contact pairs are individually covered, at least partially, by materials having dielectric constants different from each other, in certain regions defined between board connecting sections and attaching sections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-out perspective view showing a high speed transmission connector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a contact of the high speed transmission connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing schematically the connecting configuration of the signal contact pair of the high speed transmission connector of FIG. 1 with another conductor;

FIG. 4 is a view showing schematically the connecting configuration of the ground contact of the high speed transmission connector of FIG. 1 with another conductor;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing main characteristic portion of the high speed transmission connector of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing main characteristic portion of the high speed transmission connector of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A high speed transmission connector comprising: a plurality of signal contact pairs, said signal contact pairs being arranged in a parallel array, and each of said signal contact pairs including a pair of signal contacts comprising a balanced transmission line;a plurality of ground contacts, each of said ground contacts being arranged between two of said signal contact pairs arranged in said parallel array, said plurality of signal contact pairs and said plurality of ground contacts being alternately arranged relative to each other; andan electro-insulating body supporting said plurality of signal contact pairs and said plurality of ground contacts in a mutually insulated arrangement;wherein each of said signal contacts of said plurality of signal contact pairs is provided with a contacting section at one longitudinal end for a conductive contact with a corresponding signal contact of a counterpart connector, a board connecting section at another longitudinal end for a connection with a conductor on a circuit board, and an attaching section between said contacting section and said board connecting section for an attachment to said body;wherein all of board connecting sections of said signal contacts of said plurality of signal contact pairs are disposed along a first lateral surface of said body; andwherein said pair of signal contacts of said plurality of signal contact pairs are individually covered, at least partially, by materials having dielectric constants different from each other, in certain regions, each region being defined between said board connecting section and said attaching section of each signal contact.

2. A high speed transmission connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein a material covering at least one of said regions of said pair of signal contacts is a part of said body.

3. A high speed transmission connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein a material covering one of said regions of said pair of signal contacts is air.

4. A high speed transmission connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein said region of one of said pair of signal contacts, covered by a first material having a higher dielectric constant, is smaller in cross-sectional area than a region of another signal contact covered by a second material having a lower dielectric constant.

5. A high speed transmission connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of ground contacts is provided with a pair of contacting sections at one longitudinal end for a conductive contact with a corresponding ground contact of a counterpart connector, a pair of board connecting sections at another longitudinal end for a connection with a grounding potential on a circuit board, and an attaching section between said contacting sections and said board connecting sections for an attachment to said body; wherein all of board connecting sections of said ground contacts are disposed respectively along said first lateral surface and a second lateral surface of said body, opposite to said first lateral surface; and wherein each of said plurality of ground contacts is shaped in such a manner as to conceal said pair of signal contacts of each of said plurality of signal contact pairs as seen in a direction of said parallel array, when said plurality of signal contact pairs and said plurality of ground contacts are disposed at proper positions on said body.