Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a shielding cage member having a plurality of walls including a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall and side walls. The walls define an upper port and a lower port configured to receive pluggable modules therein. The cage member has openings in a front thereof for receiving the pluggable modules. The side walls include airflow openings on opposite sides of the cage member. A receptacle connector is received in the cage member proximate to the rear and is accessible through the upper port and the lower port. A separator member extends between the upper and lower ports that have an upper plate and a lower plate with a channel therebetween. The airflow openings are aligned with the channel and provide airflow through the channel. EMI screens cover the airflow openings to limit EMI passage through the airflow openings.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly is provided for a pluggable module. The heat sink assembly includes a heat sink having a module side and an end surface that intersects the module side. The module side is configured to thermally communicate with the pluggable module. A holder extends from the end surface of the heat sink. A thermal interface material (TIM) layer extends on the module side of the heat sink. The TIM layer is configured to engage the pluggable module. The TIM layer includes an end that is engaged between the end surface and the holder of the heat sink.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a shielding cage member having a plurality of walls including a top wall, a lower wall, a rear wall and side walls. The walls define an upper port and a lower port configured to receive pluggable modules therein. The cage member has openings in a front thereof for receiving the pluggable modules. The side walls include airflow openings on opposite sides of the cage member. A receptacle connector is received in the cage member proximate to the rear and is accessible through the upper port and the lower port. A separator member extends between the upper and lower ports that have an upper plate and a lower plate with a channel therebetween. The airflow openings are aligned with the channel and provide airflow through the channel. EMI screens cover the airflow openings to limit EMI passage through the airflow openings.

Abstract: A heat sink assembly is provided for a pluggable module. The heat sink assembly includes a heat sink having a module side and an end surface that intersects the module side. The module side is configured to thermally communicate with the pluggable module. A holder extends from the end surface of the heat sink. A thermal interface material (TIM) layer extends on the module side of the heat sink. The TIM layer is configured to engage the pluggable module. The TIM layer includes an end that is engaged between the end surface and the holder of the heat sink.

Abstract: Resilient electrical interconnects are provided which have a non-uniform cross section which achieves an increased range of deflection and a predetermined relationship between compression force and deflection of the interconnect, and between resistance and deflection of the interconnect. A smaller cross sectional area decreases the spring rate, or compression force, of the interconnect during compression. Increased range of deflection and reduced spring rate enables improved compensation for surface irregularities and facilitates mounting of integrated circuit or other devices having large arrays of interconnects. The non-uniform cross section is provided by a single or compound slope, or alternatively a nonlinear curve, from the end of smaller cross-section to the end of larger cross-section.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect comprising a non-conductive substrate having respective opposite surfaces and a plurality of apertures formed therein extending between the respective opposite surfaces, and a corresponding plurality of elastic conductive interconnect elements located within the plurality of apertures, in which each elastic conductive interconnect element extends between the respective opposite surfaces of the substrate. Each elastic conductive interconnect element is formed of a non-conductive elastic material having a quantity of conductive flakes and a quantity of conductive powder granules interspersed therein. The interconnect elements can be integrally molded in the substrate or separately formed and inserted in the substrate.

Abstract: Several different types of electrically conductive elastomers are disclosed along with the methods for their fabrication. In one particular embodiment, a layered composition is disclosed which comprises a substrate, a first layer, and a second layer. The substrate is formed of a non-conductive elastic material and it has an outer surface. The first layer, which is formed with a non-conductive elastic material, is grafted to the outer surface of the substrate. The second layer, which is formed with a non-conductive elastic material having a quantity of conductive flakes interspersed therein, is grafted to an outer surface of the first layer. The second layer can further be formed with a quantity of rounded or jagged conductive particles interspersed in the non-conductive elastic material such that some of the conductive particles are present along an outer surface of the second layer. Alternatively, a quantity of rounded or jagged conductive particles may be imbedded in an outer surface of the second layer.