Abstract: An assembly for terminating a high speed cable with an EMI braided shield, The assembly a shell housing, a crosstalk shield and a constant force spring. The shell housing has a mating end and a conductor receiving end. A recessed portion is provided proximate the conductor receiving end, the recessed portion has an outer diameter. The crosstalk shield is provided in the shell housing. The constant force spring is positioned in the recessed portion of the shell housing. The constant force spring has an opening with an inner diameter which is less than the outer diameter of the recessed portion. The constant force spring is circumferentially wrapped about the EMI braided shield to mechanically and electrically secure the EMI braided shield to the recessed portion of the shell housing.

Abstract: A panel-mountable header connector includes conductors and a housing. The housing holds the conductors in a cavity of the housing. The housing has a front end and a rear end. The housing has a latch set and a stop feature which define a panel mounting zone therebetween. The panel mounting zone is configured to align with an opening in a panel when the housing is mounted to the panel. The latch set is configured to engage a front side of the panel, and the stop feature is configured to engage a rear side of the panel to retain the panel in the panel mounting zone. At least one of the latch set or the stop feature is stepped such that a width of the panel mounting zone is variable to accommodate the panel having one of multiple thicknesses.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a cavity. A wafer stack is received in the cavity. The wafer stack includes a plurality of electrical wafers arranged parallel to each other within the cavity. Each wafer includes a first edge and a second edge. Each wafer includes at least one trace between the first and second edges. The electrical connector includes a flex harness including a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs). The FPCBs are electrically connected to corresponding wafers.

Abstract: Configurable guide hardware is provided for aligning two associated connectors that are mounted on different circuit cards. The guide hardware includes a guide receptacle that is mounted to one of the circuit cards. The guide receptacle includes a housing that defines a channel and a keyway ring that is held in the channel. The guide receptacle is configured to receive a pin of a guide plug in the channel through a central opening of the keyway ring. The keyway ring includes a receptacle keying feature along an inner perimeter. The keyway ring is selectively positionable to locate the receptacle keying feature in multiple pre-defined angular orientations relative to the housing. The pin of the guide plug may also be selectively positionable in multiple pre-defined angular orientations.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a cavity. A wafer stack is received in the cavity. The wafer stack includes a plurality of electrical wafers arranged parallel to each other within the cavity. Each wafer includes a first edge and a second edge. Each wafer includes at least one trace between the first and second edges. The electrical connector includes a flex harness including a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs). The FPCBs are electrically connected to corresponding wafers.

Abstract: A connector system includes a cartridge having a cavity configured to hold one or more connector modules therein. The cartridge has a port opening to the cavity. The cartridge receiving the one or more connector modules through the port. The connector system includes a release mechanism housed in the cavity. The release mechanism configured to eject the one or more connector modules when actuated. The connector system includes a release button exposed beyond the cartridge and operably coupled to the release mechanism. The release button being pressed to an actuated position to activate the release mechanism. The release button is configured to be in a locked position to avoid inadvertent activation thereof.

Abstract: A connector system includes a cavity configured to hold a connector module. The cartridge has a port opening to the cavity. The cartridge removably receives the connector module through the port. The connector system also includes an ejector mechanism. The ejector mechanism has a slider latch movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the cartridge. The slider latch has a profiled groove configured to cam therein. The slider latch has a linear gear. The ejector mechanism includes a rotatable handle having a circular gear configured to engage the linear gear to cause the slider latch to move as the rotatable handle is rotated between a closed position and an open position. The profiled groove engages the cam to secure the connector module to the connector assembly when the rotatable handle is in the closed position and unlock the connector module when in the open position.

Abstract: Configurable guide hardware is provided for aligning two associated connectors that are mounted on different circuit cards. The guide hardware includes a guide receptacle that is mounted to one of the circuit cards. The guide receptacle includes a housing that defines a channel and a keyway ring that is held in the channel. The guide receptacle is configured to receive a pin of a guide plug in the channel through a central opening of the keyway ring. The keyway ring includes a receptacle keying feature along an inner perimeter. The keyway ring is selectively positionable to locate the receptacle keying feature in multiple pre-defined angular orientations relative to the housing. The pin of the guide plug may also be selectively positionable in multiple pre-defined angular orientations.

Abstract: A connector system includes a cartridge having at least one cavity configured to hold connector modules therein. The connector system also includes at least one slider latch housed in the cartridge. The at least one slider latch is movable in a longitudinal direction and has at least one groove configured to receive a cam of a corresponding connector module to secure the connector modules to the cartridge. The at least one slider latch has a biasing member operably coupled thereto. The biasing member biases the slider latch in a biasing direction. The biasing member forces the at least one slider latch to return to a latched position after the cam is received in the profiled groove. The connector system also includes a discharge mechanism configured to move a discharge slider.

Abstract: A panel-mountable header connector includes conductors and a housing. The housing holds the conductors in a cavity of the housing. The housing has a front end and a rear end. The housing has a latch set and a stop feature which define a panel mounting zone therebetween. The panel mounting zone is configured to align with an opening in a panel when the housing is mounted to the panel. The latch set is configured to engage a front side of the panel, and the stop feature is configured to engage a rear side of the panel to retain the panel in the panel mounting zone. At least one of the latch set or the stop feature is stepped such that a width of the panel mounting zone is variable to accommodate the panel having one of multiple thicknesses.

Abstract: A connector system includes a cavity configured to hold a connector module. The cartridge has a port opening to the cavity. The cartridge removably receives the connector module through the port. The connector system also includes an ejector mechanism. The ejector mechanism has a slider latch movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the cartridge. The slider latch has a profiled groove configured to cam therein. The slider latch has a linear gear. The ejector mechanism includes a rotatable handle having a circular gear configured to engage the linear gear to cause the slider latch to move as the rotatable handle is rotated between a closed position and an open position. The profiled groove engages the cam to secure the connector module to the connector assembly when the rotatable handle is in the closed position and unlock the connector module when in the open position.

Abstract: A connector system includes a cartridge having at least one cavity configured to hold connector modules therein. The connector system also includes at least one slider latch housed in the cartridge. The at least one slider latch is movable in a longitudinal direction and has at least one groove configured to receive a cam of a corresponding connector module to secure the connector modules to the cartridge. The at least one slider latch has a biasing member operably coupled thereto. The biasing member biases the slider latch in a biasing direction. The biasing member forces the at least one slider latch to return to a latched position after the cam is received in the profiled groove. The connector system also includes a discharge mechanism configured to move a discharge slider.

Abstract: A connector system includes a cartridge having a cavity configured to hold one or more connector modules therein. The cartridge has a port opening to the cavity. The cartridge receiving the one or more connector modules through the port. The connector system includes a release mechanism housed in the cavity. The release mechanism configured to eject the one or more connector modules when actuated. The connector system includes a release button exposed beyond the cartridge and operably coupled to the release mechanism. The release button being pressed to an actuated position to activate the release mechanism. The release button is configured to be in a locked position to avoid inadvertent activation thereof.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a plurality of electrical conductors. The electrical connector includes a terminal subassembly having terminals configured to be electrically connected to the electrical conductors. The terminal subassembly has an insulator holding the terminals. The terminal subassembly has a mating interface where mating surfaces of the terminals mate with a mating connector. The mating interface of the terminal subassembly is approximately flat. The electrical connector also includes a metal shell holding the terminal subassembly. The metal shell has the cross-sectional shape of an oval.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided for mating with a mating contact. The electrical contact includes a base extending a length along a central longitudinal axis, and an arm extending a length outward from the base along the central longitudinal of the base. The arm includes a first mating bump and a second mating bump. The first and second mating bumps have respective first and second mating surfaces. The arm is configured to engage the mating contact at each of the first and second mating surfaces to establish an electrical connection with the mating contact. The first mating surface of the first mating bump is spaced apart along the length of the arm from the second mating surface of the second mating bump.

Abstract: An assembly is configured to retain a plurality of electrical modules and mate with a shroud having a plurality of connecting interfaces configured to mate with the plurality of electrical modules. The assembly includes a frame having at least one shroud-securing bracket and at least one bay configured to retain at least one of the plurality of electrical modules, and at least one keying insert retained within at least one insert passage of the at least one shroud-securing bracket. The at least one keying insert includes at least one adjustable keying feature that is configured to be adjusted to different positions in order to accommodate a reciprocal alignment post of the shroud.

Abstract: An RF module includes a contact insert having a separable shielding body retaining an RF contact. The RF contact includes an RF mating tip connected to a signal tail. The mating tip and the signal tail extend out of shielding body. The shielding body includes first and second body members. The RF contact is positioned within the first body member and the second body member is removably secured to the second body member so that at least a portion of the RF contact is contained between the first and second body members. The RF module may also include a grounding block. The contact insert may be removably secured within the grounding block.

Abstract: A system for communicating between multiple electrical components includes a first printed circuit board (PCB) having first and second opposed layers and a plurality of plated through-holes extending between the first and second opposed layers. The system also includes a plurality of mating contacts, wherein each of the plurality of mating contacts is retained within one of the plurality of plated through-holes. Each of the plurality of mating contacts may include a first end portion that outwardly extends from the first layer, and a second end portion that outwardly extends from the second layer. The system may also include a first connector assembly having a plurality of interconnecting contacts retained therein. The plurality of interconnecting contacts mate with the first end portions of the plurality of mating contacts when the first connector assembly connects to the first PCB.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical connector comprises steps of providing a series of generic lead frames each having an array of contacts arranged in a common generic pattern, removing from one of the generic lead frames a first subset of the contacts to form a first pattern of contacts having a first spaced-apart relationship, removing from another of the generic lead frames a second subset of the contacts to form a second pattern of contacts having a different second spaced-apart relationship, wherein the first and second patterns are selectively obtained from the generic pattern, and loading the first and second patterns of contacts into a housing.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided for mating with a mating contact. The electrical contact includes a base extending a length along a central longitudinal axis, and an arm extending a length outward from the base along the central longitudinal of the base. The arm includes a first mating bump and a second mating bump. The first and second mating bumps have respective first and second mating surfaces. The arm is configured to engage the mating contact at each of the first and second mating surfaces to establish an electrical connection with the mating contact. The first mating surface of the first mating bump is spaced apart along the length of the arm from the second mating surface of the second mating bump.