Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. Signal pathways is provided on a first surface. First ground pathways is provided on the first surface adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. Second ground pathways are provided on a second surface in line with the signal pathways. Vias extend from the first ground pathways through the circuit board to the second ground pathways, thereby placing the first ground pathways in electrical engagement with the second ground pathways. The first ground pathways, the vias and the second ground pathways extend along multiple pairs of the signal pathways and form cavities around the multiple pairs of the signal pathways to provide electrical shielding for the multiple pairs of the signal pathways.

Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. The circuit board has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. Signal pathways are provided on the first surface. The signal pathways have signal pathway ends abutting a mounting end of the circuit board. First ground pathways are provided on the first surface. The first ground pathways are positioned adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. The first ground pathways have first ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. One or more second ground pathways are provided on the second surface. The one or more second ground pathways have second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. The positioning of the signal pathway ends, the first ground pathway ends and the second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end reduces crosstalk between signal pairs.

Abstract: A socket contact includes a main body extending along a longitudinal axis between a mating end and a terminating end of the socket contact. The main body has a first side and a second side. The main body has a front and a rear extending between the first side and the second side. The socket contact includes a contact tail at the terminating end configured to be terminated to a circuit board. The socket contact includes a mating socket at the mating end. The mating socket includes a first beam and a second beam opposite the first beam. The mating socket includes a third beam longitudinally offset from the first beam and longitudinally offset from the second beam.

Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. The circuit board has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. Signal pathways are provided on the first surface. The signal pathways have signal pathway ends abutting a mounting end of the circuit board. First ground pathways are provided on the first surface. The first ground pathways are positioned adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. The first ground pathways have first ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. One or more second ground pathways are provided on the second surface. The one or more second ground pathways have second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. The positioning of the signal pathway ends, the first ground pathway ends and the second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end reduces crosstalk between signal pairs.

Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. Signal pathways is provided on a first surface. First ground pathways is provided on the first surface adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. Second ground pathways are provided on a second surface in line with the signal pathways. Vias extend from the first ground pathways through the circuit board to the second ground pathways, thereby placing the first ground pathways in electrical engagement with the second ground pathways. The first ground pathways, the vias and the second ground pathways extend along multiple pairs of the signal pathways and form cavities around the multiple pairs of the signal pathways to provide electrical shielding for the multiple pairs of the signal pathways.

Abstract: A socket contact includes a main body extending along a longitudinal axis between a mating end and a terminating end of the socket contact. The main body has a first side and a second side. The main body has a front and a rear extending between the first side and the second side. The socket contact includes a contact tail at the terminating end configured to be terminated to a circuit board. The socket contact includes a mating socket at the mating end. The mating socket includes a first beam and a second beam opposite the first beam. The mating socket includes a third beam longitudinally offset from the first beam and longitudinally offset from the second beam.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use in an electrical connector system which controls cross talk and signal radiation. The electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of modules. The modules have mating ends and mounting ends. Signal contacts are positioned in the modules. The signal contacts extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends and are arranged in pairs to carry differential signals. Ground contacts are positioned in the modules. The ground contacts extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends. Respective ground contacts of the ground contacts are positioned adjacent to respective signal contacts of the signal contacts. Ground plates are positioned in the modules. The ground plates extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends, the ground contacts are electrically connected to the ground plates.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly which controls cross talk and signal radiation. Signal pathways are provided on modules in a first connector housing, with the signal pathways being arranged in differential pairs. Second ground pathways are positioned between side surfaces of the modules and respective signal pathways of the signal pathways. Signal contacts are positioned in the second connector housing. Second ground contacts are positioned in the second connector housing. The second ground contacts are positioned between side surfaces of the second modules and respective signal contacts of the signal contacts. The second ground pathways engage the second ground contacts of the second modules to balance the differential pairs of signal pathways to optimize impedance and shielding of the signal pathways.

Abstract: An electrical connector with an insert assembly used to retain contact in an electrical connector. The insert assembly includes a rear insert and a front insert. The rear insert has a rear insert front surface, a rear insert rear surface and a rear insert outer surface. The rear insert outer surface extends between the rear insert front surface and the rear insert rear surface. Rear insert contact-receiving openings extend from the rear insert front surface to the rear insert rear surface. Latches are provided in the rear insert outer surface and are provided in alignment with respective rear insert contact-receiving openings. The latches are integrally formed in the rear insert outer surface. The latches are positioned proximate to the rear insert contact-receiving openings thereby allowing the latches to deform into the rear insert contact-receiving openings.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a base that includes first and second side edges, and a forward edge that extends between the first and second side edges. At least one contact arm extends from the forward edge of the base for making electrical contact with a contact pad. Each of the first and second side edges defines one or more protrusions configured to engage an interior portion of a connector housing for securing the electrical contact within the connector housing. The one or more protrusions on the first side edge are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the one or more protrusions on the second side edge such that respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the first side edge are misaligned with respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the second side edge.

Abstract: A grounding connector includes a shell having a mating end and a mounting end. The shell defines a cavity open at the mating end configured to receive a mating component. The shell has a base at the mounting end having a plurality of contact channels open to the cavity. Grounding contacts are received in corresponding contact channels. The grounding contacts have mating ends and compliant portions opposite the mating ends. The mating ends are positioned in the cavity for mating with the mating component. The compliant portions are received in the contact channels to mechanically and electrically connect each of the grounding contacts to the shell and to each other through the shell.

Abstract: A press-fit circuit board connector including a housing and mating and mounting contact assemblies received in the housing. The mating contact assembly having mating contacts having mating pins defining a pin mating interface. The mounting contact assembly having an interposer circuit board and mounting contacts electrically connected to the interposer circuit board. The mounting contacts have press-fit mounting pins at mounting ends of the mounting contacts. The interposer circuit board is received in the cavity with the press-fit mounting pins of the mounting contacts arranged at the mounting end for press-fit termination to the host circuit board.

Abstract: A shroud that forms part of an electrical connector for securing a plurality of circuit wafers within the electrical connector includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of vertical members extending between the top and bottom walls that define a plurality of slots for receiving the plurality of circuit wafers. Each vertical member includes a first side that faces a second side of an adjacent vertical member. The first side defines top, middle, and bottom surface regions that are spaced apart from the second side of the adjacent vertical member by a first distance, and first and second recessed surface regions between the top, middle, and bottom surface regions that are spaced apart from the second side of the adjacent vertical member by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. The first and second recessed surface regions are positioned so as to prevent direct contact between the vertical members and one or more high-frequency traces disposed on the plurality of circuit wafers.

Abstract: A grounding connector includes a shell having a mating end and a mounting end. The shell defines a cavity open at the mating end configured to receive a mating component. The shell has a base at the mounting end having a plurality of contact channels open to the cavity. Grounding contacts are received in corresponding contact channels. The grounding contacts have mating ends and compliant portions opposite the mating ends. The mating ends are positioned in the cavity for mating with the mating component. The compliant portions are received in the contact channels to mechanically and electrically connect each of the grounding contacts to the shell and to each other through the shell.

Abstract: A terminal assembly includes a terminal having a wire barrel configured to be crimped to a wire and a mating segment configured to be mated to a mating component. The terminal assembly includes a wire retention seal received in the wire barrel. The wire retention seal has a terminal mounting flange engaging the wire barrel to axially secure the wire retention seal to the terminal. The wire retention seal has a wire retention sleeve defining a wire bore configured to receive an end of the wire. The wire retention sleeve is configured to interfere with the wire to axially retain the wire retention seal on the end of the wire prior to crimping the wire barrel to the wire.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a base that includes first and second side edges, and a forward edge that extends between the first and second side edges. At least one contact arm extends from the forward edge of the base for making electrical contact with a contact pad. Each of the first and second side edges defines one or more protrusions configured to engage an interior portion of a connector housing for securing the electrical contact within the connector housing. The one or more protrusions on the first side edge are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the one or more protrusions on the second side edge such that respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the first side edge are misaligned with respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the second side edge.

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 wearable connector includes a housing having a base and a shroud that extends from the base. The shroud includes a tunnel having an open end and an interior surface. The open end of the tunnel is configured to receive a mating connector therein. The base is configured to be mounted to a wearable article. Terminals are held directly by the shroud such that mating segments of the terminals extend at least one of directly on or through the interior surface of the tunnel. The tunnel of the shroud is configured to receive the mating connector into the tunnel through the open end such that the mating segments of the terminals mate with mating terminals of the mating connector within the tunnel.

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.