Abstract: Linking cable connector includes a lead frame held in an interior cavity of a cover. The lead frame includes conductive leads arranged side by side in a row and extending between a first end and an opposite second end of the lead frame. At least some adjacent conductive leads are spaced on a first lead pitch at the first end, and are spaced on a second lead pitch at the second end. The second lead pitch is less than the first lead pitch. The conductive leads engage and electrically connect to corresponding wire conductors of a first cable harness at the first end of the lead frame, and the conductive leads engage and electrically connect to corresponding wire conductors of a second cable harness at the second end of the lead frame such that the leads provide conductive paths between the first and second cable harnesses.

Abstract: Pluggable connector having a connector housing with a receiving space that opens to a leading end of the connector housing. The pluggable connector includes an edge interface that is positioned within the receiving space and has a mating edge. The pluggable connector also includes a guard assembly that is coupled to the connector housing and includes a front wall and a spring member that operably engages the front wall. The front wall has an edge slot. The spring member is biased to hold the front wall in a forward position with respect to the edge interface. The front wall compresses the spring member as the front wall moves from the forward position to a displaced position. The mating edge moves through the edge slot and clears the front wall as the front wall moves to the displaced position.

Abstract: Printed circuit includes a planar substrate having opposite sides and a thickness extending therebetween. The sides extend parallel to a lateral plane. The printed circuit also includes a plurality of conductive vias extending through the planar substrate in a direction that is perpendicular to the lateral plane. The conductive vias include ground vias and signal vias. The signal vias form a plurality of quad groups in which each quad group includes a two-by-two array of the signal vias. Optionally, the printed circuit also includes signal traces that electrically couple to the signal vias. The signal traces may form a plurality of quad lines in which each quad line includes four of the signal traces. The four signal traces of each quad line may extend parallel to one another and be in a two-by-two formation.

Abstract: Cable assembly including a mating connector having a plurality of communication terminals. The mating connector is configured to mate with a system connector of a communication system during a loading operation. The cable assembly includes a trailing sub-assembly having an intermediate connector and an external cable that is terminated to the intermediate connector. The cable assembly also includes a flexible cable extension having signal pathways that are terminated to and extend from the intermediate connector to the mating connector. The intermediate connector communicatively interconnects the signal pathways and the external cable. The mating connector is configured to engage a guide track when inserted into the communication system and slide along the guide track toward the system connector along a non-linear path. The flexible cable extension permits the signal pathways to bend while transferring an operative force for mating the system connector and the mating connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cage member having a plurality of walls comprising side walls and an end wall defining a port configured to receive a pluggable module that is electrically connected to a communication connector housed within the cage member. The port has an airflow channel along the end wall allowing airflow through the port along the pluggable module. Standoff features extend from at least one of the end wall and the side walls. The standoff features extend into the airflow channel and are configured to engage the pluggable module and locate the pluggable module relative to the communication connector for mating thereto and locate the pluggable module relative to the airflow channel.

Abstract: Cable connector including a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis between a mating side and a loading side of the connector body. The connector body is oriented with respect to a mating axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cable connector also includes electrical conductors having body segments that extend through the connector body between the mating and loading sides and contact beams that project from the mating side. The contact beams have mating interfaces that are configured to directly engage corresponding electrical contacts of a mating component during a mating operation. The contact beams are shaped to extend along the longitudinal axis away from the mating side and along the mating axis such that the mating interfaces form a two-dimensional (2D) array that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the mating axis.

Abstract: Cable assembly including a carrier board having a terminating side and a mounting side that face in opposite directions. The terminating side includes a contact array of electrical contacts. The mounting side includes a mating array of electrical contacts. The contact array and the mating array are interconnected to each other through conductive pathways of the carrier board. The contact array along the terminating side overlaps with the mating array along the mounting side. The carrier board is configured to be mounted onto an electrical component having a two-dimensional array. The cable assembly also includes a plurality of cables having cable end portions that are coupled to the carrier board. The cable assembly includes a shield assembly that extends over the terminating side and covers the cable end portions and the contact array.

Abstract: Cable connector including a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis between a mating side and a loading side of the connector body. The connector body is oriented with respect to a mating axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cable connector also includes electrical conductors having body segments that extend through the connector body between the mating and loading sides and contact beams that project from the mating side. The contact beams have mating interfaces that are configured to directly engage corresponding electrical contacts of a mating component during a mating operation. The contact beams are shaped to extend along the longitudinal axis away from the mating side and along the mating axis such that the mating interfaces form a two-dimensional (2D) array that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the mating axis.

Abstract: A plug connector includes a circuit card and a guide frame mounted to the circuit card. The circuit card is held by a housing. The circuit card includes a front edge and opposing outer edges. The circuit card defines a datum hole in a first surface. The circuit card further includes a set of contact pads along the first surface proximate to the front edge. The contact pads are registered relative to the datum hole. The guide frame has a base that has a post. The guide frame includes a frame member that extends from the base. An outer wall of the frame member is registered relative to the post. The post is received in the datum hole of the circuit card such that the outer wall of the frame member is registered relative to the contact pads, independent of locations of the outer edges of the circuit card.

Abstract: A busbar connection system includes a busbar and a busbar connector having a base and first and second flexible mounting arms extending from the base. The base is secured to the busbar. The first and second flexible mounting arms each have termination portions extending therefrom. The termination portions are configured for mechanical and electrical termination to an electrical component. The flexible mounting arms allow relative movement between the busbar and the electrical component.

Abstract: A busbar connection system includes a busbar and a busbar connector having a base and first and second flexible mounting arms extending from the base. The base is secured to the busbar. The first and second flexible mounting arms each have termination portions extending therefrom. The termination portions are configured for mechanical and electrical termination to an electrical component. The flexible mounting arms allow relative movement between the busbar and the electrical component.

Abstract: Cable assembly including a carrier board having a terminating side and a mounting side that face in opposite directions. The terminating side includes a contact array of electrical contacts. The mounting side includes a mating array of electrical contacts. The contact array and the mating array are interconnected to each other through conductive pathways of the carrier board. The contact array along the terminating side overlaps with the mating array along the mounting side. The carrier board is configured to be mounted onto an electrical component having a two-dimensional array. The cable assembly also includes a plurality of cables having cable end portions that are coupled to the carrier board. The cable assembly includes a shield assembly that extends over the terminating side and covers the cable end portions and the contact array.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a housing configured to be coupled to a mating connector. The connector has signal contacts held in signal contact openings. The signal contacts are arranged in arrays of quad groups. Each of the quad group has a set of four contacts arranged in row pairs and column pairs. The signal contacts of each quad group are configured to carry relational signals with each other signal contact in the quad group. Each signal contact is configured to electrically couple to a signal contact of the mating connector. The connector also includes ground shields held in corresponding ground shield openings. The ground shields have walls surrounding a corresponding quad group of signal contacts and provides electrical shielding from adjacent quad groups of signal contacts. The ground shields have mating ends for mating with corresponding ground contacts of the mating connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a housing configured to be coupled to a mating connector. The connector has signal contacts held in signal contact openings. The signal contacts are arranged in arrays of quad groups. Each of the quad group has a set of four contacts arranged in row pairs and column pairs. The signal contacts of each quad group are configured to carry relational signals with each other signal contact in the quad group. Each signal contact is configured to electrically couple to a signal contact of the mating connector. The connector also includes ground shields held in corresponding ground shield openings. The ground shields have walls surrounding a corresponding quad group of signal contacts and provides electrical shielding from adjacent quad groups of signal contacts. The ground shields have mating ends for mating with corresponding ground contacts of the mating connector.

Abstract: Communication system including a circuit board having opposite board sides and mounting areas located on at least one of the board sides. The circuit board includes conductive traces that extend along the circuit board between corresponding mounting areas. The circuit board has mounting holes extending therethrough. The communication system also includes board connectors mounted to the circuit board at the mounting areas. The board connectors are communicatively coupled to one another through the conductive traces. The communication system also includes cable connectors secured to the circuit board and positioned at the mounting holes. The communication system also includes communication cables interconnecting corresponding cable connectors to one another.

Abstract: Pluggable connector having a connector housing with a receiving space that opens to a leading end of the connector housing. The pluggable connector includes an edge interface that is positioned within the receiving space and has a mating edge. The pluggable connector also includes a guard assembly that is coupled to the connector housing and includes a front wall and a spring member that operably engages the front wall. The front wall has an edge slot. The spring member is biased to hold the front wall in a forward position with respect to the edge interface. The front wall compresses the spring member as the front wall moves from the forward position to a displaced position. The mating edge moves through the edge slot and clears the front wall as the front wall moves to the displaced position.

Abstract: Straddle mount connector including first and second plug members each having a member housing and electrical contacts held by the member housing. Each of the member housings has a base portion and a mating segment that projects away from the base portion to a distal edge. Each of the mating segments has an inner plug side and an outer plug side that face in respective opposite directions. The mating segments of the first and second plug members are coupled to each other along the inner plug sides and form a common straddle plug that is configured to be inserted in a mating direction into an edge connector. The common straddle plug projects away from a board edge of the circuit board in the mating direction. The electrical contacts of the first and second plug members extend along the outer plug sides of the corresponding mating segments for communicatively engaging the edge connector.

Abstract: A cable contact module of a cable connector assembly includes a dielectric frame, signal contacts, and a ground frame. The signal contacts, held by the dielectric frame, include contact beams that extend from a front of the dielectric frame and electrically connect to signal contact pads on a mating circuit card. The signal contacts are terminated to corresponding cables that extend from a rear of the dielectric frame. Each cable includes at least one center conductor housed within a cable shield. The ground frame includes a ground plate and integral ground beams. The ground plate is mounted to the dielectric frame and engages the cable shields of the cables. Each ground beam extends from a front edge of the ground plate into a void defined between adjacent pairs of the contact beams. The ground beams are configured to electrically connect to ground contact pads on the mating circuit card.

Abstract: Straddle mount connector including first and second plug members each having a member housing and electrical contacts held by the member housing. Each of the member housings has a base portion and a mating segment that projects away from the base portion to a distal edge. Each of the mating segments has an inner plug side and an outer plug side that face in respective opposite directions. The mating segments of the first and second plug members are coupled to each other along the inner plug sides and form a common straddle plug that is configured to be inserted in a mating direction into an edge connector. The common straddle plug projects away from a board edge of the circuit board in the mating direction. The electrical contacts of the first and second plug members extend along the outer plug sides of the corresponding mating segments for communicatively engaging the edge connector.

Abstract: A cable for use with a conductor sorting system includes multiple conductors and a cable jacket. Each conductor is elongated along a conductor axis between a first end and a second end. Each conductor is marked with a barcode identifier proximate to the first end of the conductor. The barcode identifier is specific to the associated conductor such that the barcode identifier on one conductor differs from the barcode identifier of at least one other conductor. The cable jacket surrounds the multiple conductors along at least part of the length of the conductors.