Abstract: High speed waveguide-based data communication systems are disclosed. Such systems may include separable electrical connectors, forming signal propagation paths between electronic assemblies with one or more waveguides.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection system with an adapter mounted in an opening within a connector interface of a panel of an electronic enclosure is described. A sealing member may be used to prevent passage of foreign matter, such as liquid, gas or dust particles into the enclosure and into the mating region between the adapter and a mating plug connector. The sealing member may comprise a base and a sidewall configured to wrap around an outer border of the adapter. The sealing member may be configured to form a first sealing interface with the panel, and a second sealing interface with the plug connector. The first and second sealing interfaces may be orthogonal to each other. The sealing member may be made of an elastic material.

Abstract: In various embodiments, compact connector designs may be provided that have reduced board pitch (e.g., 1.80 mm, 1.50 mm, 1.27 mm, etc.), but are still capable of accommodating large electrical conductors (e.g., 1.4 mm, 1.1 mm, 0.9 mm, etc.). In this manner, PCB footprint may be reduced (e.g., by 50% when a staggered connector configuration is used), while adequate current carrying capacity may be maintained (e.g., 2 A, 3 A, 4 A, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, one or more other advantages may be achieved, such as ruggedness (e.g., vibration endurance), error proofing, configuration flexibility, ease of manufacturing, ease of assembly, and/or lowered costs.

Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at or above 112 Gbps. Effectiveness of shielding along the signal paths through the mating electrical connectors may be enhanced through the use of one or more techniques, including enabling two-sided shielding, connections between shield members and between shield members and grounded structures of printed circuit boards to which the connectors are mounted, and selective positioning of lossy material. Such techniques may be simply and reliably implemented in high density connector using one or more techniques. An electrical connector may include core members held by a housing together with leadframe assemblies attached to the core members. The core members may include features that would be difficult to mold in a housing and may include both shields and lossy materials in locations that would be difficult to incorporate in a leadframe assembly.

Abstract: High speed waveguide-based data communication systems are disclosed. Such systems may include separable electrical connectors, forming signal propagation paths between electronic assemblies with one or more waveguides.

Abstract: High current, light, and low-cost electrical power terminals that can withstand many mating cycles. A socket or a pin may be formed from a monolithic metal sheet, which may be stamped and formed into a terminal with a hollow portion, such as a cylindrical barrel. Features defining the radius of the barrel may be stamped in the sheet with high precision. The socket and the pin are shaped such that the positions of the mating contact surfaces of each terminal, and therefore the interference between them, are positioned based on these features. The terminals may have a low and precise interference, enabling the terminals to be designed with a low contact force that enables a long lifespan, such as 10,000 mating cycles. The terminals may have a high current capacity, such as 50 A or higher, and may be used in high current applications, such as a charging station or an electric vehicle, or in an application that calls for charging or discharging a battery.

Abstract: A direct mate orthogonal connector for a high density of high speed signals. The connector may include right angle leadframe assemblies with signal conductive elements and ground shields held by a leadframe housing. High frequency performance may be achieved with members on the leadframe that transfer force between a connector housing, holding the leadframe assemblies, and a portion of the leadframe housing holding the signal conductive elements and the shields near their mounting ends. Core members may be inserted into the housing and mating ends of the conductive elements of ground shields may be adjacent the core members, enabling electrical and mechanical performance of the mating interface to be defined by the core members. The core members may incorporate insulative and lossy features that may be complex to form as part of the connector housing but may be readily formed as part of a separate core member.

Abstract: An I/O connector assembly configured for making a cabled connection to an interior portion of a printed circuit board for at least some signals passing through the I/O connector. The I/O connector assembly may be assembled by mounting a cage to a printed circuit board. A receptacle connector, including cables extending from a rear of the connector, may be inserted through an opening in the top or rear of the cage. The receptacle connector may be positioned in the cage by at least one retention member on the cage. A plug, mating to the receptacle connector, also may be positioned by a retention member on the cage. Positioning both the plug and receptacle relative to the cage reduces the tolerance stackup of the assembly and enables the connectors to be designed with shorter wipe length, which enables higher frequency operation.

Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at or above 112 Gbps. Effectiveness of shielding along the signal paths through the mating electrical connectors may be enhanced through the use of one or more techniques, including enabling two-sided shielding, connections between shield members and between shield members and grounded structures of printed circuit boards to which the connectors are mounted, and selective positioning of lossy material. Such techniques may be simply and reliably implemented in high density connector using one or more techniques. An electrical connector may include core members held by a housing together with leadframe assemblies attached to the core members. The core members may include features that would be difficult to mold in a housing and may include both shields and lossy materials in locations that would be difficult to incorporate in a leadframe assembly.

Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at frequencies at or above 112 GHz, with high density. Such connectors may be formed with fine features molded into portions of the connector housing to support closely spaced signal conductors. The signal conducts may nonetheless be accurately positioned, which leads to uniform impedance and other electrical characteristics that enable high frequency operation through the use of skeletal members that restrain bowing and twisting of housing components that position, directly or indirectly, the signal conductors. The skeletal members may be simply incorporated into the housing components by stamping a metal skeleton from a metal sheet in conjunction with one or more carrier strips. The housing component may be overmolded around the skeleton and then severed from the carrier strips.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing and electrical conductor plating. The housing includes a first member and a second member. The first member is made of plastic and forms at least one first contact receiving channel therein. The second member is attached around the first member, and the first and second members form at least one second contact receiving channel therebetween. The electrical conductor plating is on the first member. The electrical conductor plating includes at least one first section along the at least one first contact receiving channel and at least one second section along an exterior side of the first member at the at least one second contact receiving channel. The first and second sections of the electrical conductor plating are electrically separate from one another.

Abstract: An I/O connector assembly configured for making a cabled connection to an interior portion of a printed circuit board for signals passing through the connector. The assembly may include a receptacle connector, a cage and cables, terminated to conductive elements of the terminal subassemblies, extending through the cage to the midboard. The terminal subassemblies may have first type conductive elements configured for mounting to the printed circuit board and second type conductive elements configured for terminating cables. Features may be included for precise positioning of the receptacle connector formed with the terminal subassemblies relative to the cage such that connector to connector variation in the positioning of the contact portions of the conductive elements in the terminal subassembly is provided. A mating plug may be designed with low wipe, which improves high frequency performance of the mated connector system.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection system with an adapter mounted in an opening within a connector interface of a panel of an electronic enclosure is described. A sealing member may be used to prevent passage of foreign matter, such as liquid, gas or dust particles into the enclosure and into the mating region between the adapter and a mating plug connector. The sealing member may comprise a base and a sidewall configured to wrap around an outer border of the adapter. The sealing member may be configured to form a first sealing interface with the panel, and a second sealing interface with the plug connector. The first and second sealing interfaces may be orthogonal to each other. The sealing member may be made of an elastic material.

Abstract: A midboard cable connector assembly with a board connector and a cable connector. The board connector has terminals precisely positioned with respect to engagement features. A cable connector likewise has terminals precisely positioned with respect to complementary engagement features. When the connectors are pressed together for mating, the terminals of one or both connectors deform, generating a force that separates the connectors until the engagement features engage and block further backward motion. As the mating position is defined by the locations of the engagement features, the connectors can be designed with low over travel and a resulting short stub length, which promotes high frequency performance. High frequency performance is further promoted by a ground conductor interconnecting the beams forming mating contact portions of ground terminals, reducing the length of unconnected segments and by a cable clamp plate with complaint compression features that reduce distortion of the cables.

Abstract: A power terminal includes first and second conductive sheets. The first conductive sheet includes a first joining portion, first fingers extending from the first joining portion, and a first mounting portion extending from the first joining portion and configured to mount to a substrate. The first fingers have hooked ends connected to the first joining portion by first beams. The second conductive sheet includes a second joining portion, second fingers extending from the second joining portion, and a second mounting portion extending from the second joining portion and configured to mount to the substrate. The two second fingers have curved ends connected to the second joining portion by second beams. The hooked ends and the curved ends include contact surfaces configured to contact a same side of a card. At least one of the first and second mounting portions includes at least two mounting tails.

Abstract: An I/O connector assembly configured for making a cabled connection to an interior portion of a printed circuit board for at least some signals passing through the I/O connector. The I/O connector assembly may be assembled by mounting a cage to a printed circuit board. A receptacle connector, including cables extending from a rear of the connector, may be inserted through an opening in the top or rear of the cage. The receptacle connector may be positioned in the cage by at least one retention member on the cage. A plug, mating to the receptacle connector, also may be positioned by a retention member on the cage. Positioning both the plug and receptacle relative to the cage reduces the tolerance stackup of the assembly and enables the connectors to be designed with shorter wipe length, which enables higher frequency operation.

Abstract: A sealable FFC connector includes a housing, a plurality of contacts, a sealing member, and an actuator. The housing includes a slot configured to receive a mating component. The contacts are held in the housing and are configured to be in electrical contact with the mating component when the mating component is in a mated position in the slot. The sealing member includes at least a portion supported by the housing. The actuator is coupled to the housing and is movable from an opened position, in which the mating component may be inserted in the slot, to a closed position, in which a biasing force is applied on the sealing member such that, when the mating component is in the mated position in the slot, the sealing member provides a seal to prevent moisture and debris from entering the slot.

Abstract: A midboard cable connector assembly with a board connector and a cable connector. The board connector has terminals precisely positioned with respect to engagement features. A cable connector likewise has terminals precisely positioned with respect to complementary engagement features. When the connectors are pressed together for mating, the terminals of one or both connectors deform, generating a force that separates the connectors until the engagement features engage and block further backward motion. As the mating position is defined by the locations of the engagement features, the connectors can be designed with low over travel and a resulting short stub length, which promotes high frequency performance. High frequency performance is further promoted by a ground conductor interconnecting the beams forming mating contact portions of ground terminals, reducing the length of unconnected segments and by a cable clamp plate with complaint compression features that reduce distortion of the cables.