Abstract: An electrical connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a central body portion with a front face, a rear face and at least three rows of terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween and including a top row, a middle row and a bottom row. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages and include top terminals received in at least some of the passages in the top row, middle terminals received in at least some of the passages in the middle row and bottom terminals received in at least some of the passages in the bottom row. All of the terminals have tail portions projecting rearwardly from the body portion beyond the rear face thereof. A pair of juxtaposed wire guide members include a top wire guide member having a top surface with wire-receiving channels for aligning a plurality of electrical wires with the tail portions of the top row of terminals.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for terminating the metallic shield of a high speed cable which includes an inner dielectric inside the metallic shield, as well as a system for effecting the method. At least a portion of the outer jacket of the cable is removed to expose a portion of the metallic shield. An insulating member is positioned between the metallic shield and the inner dielectric of the cable. The cable then is positioned on a conductive terminating member having a portion in registry with the exposed portion of the metallic shield outside the insulating member. The metallic shield is soldered to the portion of the terminating member, as the insulating member protects the inner dielectric from the heat of the soldering step.

Abstract: A grounding electrical connector system includes first and second mateable connector modules each having dielectric blocks mounting a plurality of terminals and a ground plate. The ground plates of the connector modules interengage with one another in a cross-shaped grounding configuration therebetween. The terminals of the connector modules are located in spaced dispositions such that a pair of mating terminals from each connector module is located in each of four quadrants defined by the cross-shaped grounding structure of the interengaging ground plates.

Abstract: A grounding electrical connector system includes first and second mateable connector modules each having dielectric blocks mounting a plurality of terminals and a ground plate. The ground plates of the connector modules interengage with one another in a cross-shaped grounding configuration therebetween. The terminals of the connector modules are located in spaced dispositions such that a pair of mating terminals from each connector module is located in each of four quadrants defined by the cross-shaped grounding structure of the interengaging ground plate.