Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (12) and circuit boards (13) carried by the housing. The circuit boards extend parallel to each other in spaced-apart relationship. The circuit boards include signal tracks (14) that provide electrical paths through the connector. The electrical paths extend from a mating interface (16) at one end of the connector to a mounting interface (17) at another end of the connector. The circuit boards include a first type (1) and a second type (2), the first type having circuitry arranged in a first pattern, and the second type having circuitry arranged in a second pattern which is different than the first pattern.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a bore having a perimeter and a total depth. An electrically conductive barrel extends around at least a portion of the perimeter of the bore and along a predetermined depth of the bore, the predetermined depth being less than the total depth of the bore. The barrel has an end that terminates at a countersunk portion of the bore. A contact includes a body having first and second ends. The first end includes a compliant section that is positioned in the barrel, thereby forming a separable interface between the contact and the circuit board. The second end extends out of the barrel and interfaces with an electrical component. Protrusion of the first end out of the barrel is minimized. The above relationships are used to decrease capacitive loading.

Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board is provided that simultaneously optimizes impedance and interference within the multi-layer circuit board and a controlled impedance connector to which it is attached. The multi-layer circuit board includes at least one signal circuit layer, a plurality of signal contacts grouped in differential pairs and located on one signal circuit layer, and a plurality of ground contacts located on at least one ground circuit layer. The signal contacts are arranged in a pattern, or matrix, in which differential pairs of signal contacts are staggered in rows of the pattern. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each differential pair of the multi-layer circuit board is more tightly coupled to a ground contact than to any other signal contact. The multi-layer circuit board, also includes a plurality of signal trace segments arranged in pairs. Both signal trace segments of a pair are equal in length and connect to signal contacts via linear routing channels.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (12) and circuit boards (13) carried by the housing. The circuit boards extend parallel to each other in spaced-apart relationship. The circuit boards include signal tracks (14) that provide electrical paths through the connector. The electrical paths extend from a mating interface (16) at one end of the connector to a mounting interface (17) at another end of the connector. The circuit boards include a first type (1) and a second type (2), the first type having circuitry arranged in a first pattern, and the second type having circuitry arranged in a second pattern which is different than the first pattern.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (12) including a front housing portion (20) having a front wall (21) and a plurality of parallel apertures (22) extending through the front wall. A plurality of circuit boards (13) extend through respective ones of the apertures. Each of the circuit boards has a mating edge (42), and the mating edges are aligned forwardly of the front wall for connection with a mating electrical connector. The housing includes a separate organizer (30) attached to the front housing portion. The organizer has a plurality of slots (33) that are spaced-apart in correspondence with the plurality of apertures, and the circuit boards have mounting edges that are received in respective ones of the slots. The front housing portion comprises upper and lower grooved shrouds extending forwardly from the front wall. The circuit boards comprise a notch in the top edge which receives a corresponding projection.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing (12) that carries a plurality of circuit boards (13) in a parallel, spaced-apart array. The circuit boards are of two different types. One type has a keying recess (60) that is keyed to a land (39) in the housing, and the other type has a keying recess (62) that is keyed to a web (40) in the housing.