Abstract: A cage can include a thermal plate positioned so as to be aligned with a bottom of a channel. An adjustable biasing system is provided to urge a module toward the thermal plate. The adjustable biasing system may be a riding heat sink. The thermal plate may include a fin to help increase its surface area. A housing with a card slot aligned with the channel can be provided in the cage to provide a receptacle that has a card slot aligned with the channel. A receptacle so configured allows for greater thermal energy to be removed from a module.

Abstract: A connector housing includes a plurality of wafers containing terminal dedicated to either ground signals or differential signals. Terminals in adjacent wafers can be arranged to provide broadside coupled differential signal pairs. Terminals dedicated for use as ground terminals can be wider than the signal terminals to provide shielding between adjacent differential signal pairs. The signal terminals of each differential signal terminal pair can a constant width from their contact portions to a location proximate their tail portions and the terminals diverge from broadside alignment and increase in their width until they end at the terminal tail portions.

Abstract: A shield for a connector that can provide a card-receiving slot is disclosed. The shield includes sides that provide an enclosure. The shield includes a fastener that is held in place by a retaining notch in a bottom of the shield. The retaining notch is configured to support the fastener in place and restrain it from unintended translation or rotation.

Abstract: A connector subassembly is provided that may be utilized for both internal and external applications. The subassembly includes a housing that supports a plurality of wafers with terminals. The housing includes engagement members to secure the housing to either the shield or the guide frame. The engagement members can include an angled portion that allow the housing to form a dovetail joint with the guide frame and/or a multi-faceted portion to engage a fastener.

Abstract: A connector utilizes a latching assembly that has a structure that connects horizontal movement of an actuator to vertical movement of a latching arm. A latching member is provided that grips the exterior of the connector and has a cantilevered latching arm that extends from the member over a mating portion for connection. In its simplest form the latching member includes a continuous retaining collar that fits over the exterior of the connector and exerts a clamping force on the connector so as to retain the latching member in place.

Abstract: A shield for a connector that can provide a card-receiving slot is disclosed. The shield includes sides that provide an enclosure. The shield includes a fastener that is held in place by a retaining notch in a bottom of the shield. The retaining notch is configured to support the fastener in place and restrain it from unintended translation or rotation.

Abstract: A connector utilizes a latching assembly that has a structure that connects horizontal movement of an actuator to vertical movement of a latching arm. If desired, a 2X ganged plug can be inserted into any two adjacent bays of a ganged receptacle assembly that includes at least three bays.

Abstract: A shield is provided for use with a connector assembly that includes for sides that form an enclosure, one of the sides being a baseplate. The shield can include a plurality of guides positioned on the baseplate and the plurality of guides can be arranged in a pattern. Each guide can be formed by making two slits in the bottom plate so as to define a body portion of the guide and the body portion can be extended in the enclosure. Each guide can be supported by the baseplate at opposite ends of the body portion.

Abstract: A connector of horizontal construction includes at least a pair of first and second halves that are mated together along a common mating line. A plurality of mating blades are supported in a vertical arrangement within a mating portion of the connector. The connector includes two distinct fasteners for holding the housing halves together. A fastener can be provided as a horizontal attachment member that extends widthwise in the mating portion in a space between the circuit cards. A second fastener can be provided as an exterior retainer that engages at least part of the outer circumference, or perimeter of the connector.

Abstract: A connector utilizes a latching assembly that has a structure that connects horizontal movement of an actuator to vertical movement of a latching arm. A latching member is provided that grips the exterior of the connector and has a cantilevered latching arm that extends from the member over a mating portion for connection. In its simplest form the latching member includes a continuous retaining collar that fits over the exterior of the connector and exerts a clamping force on the connector so as to retain the latching member in place.

Abstract: A connector of horizontal construction includes at least a pair of first and second halves that are mated together along a common mating line. A plurality of mating blades are supported in a vertical arrangement within a mating portion of the connector. The connector includes two distinct fastenings means for holding the housing halves together. A first fastening means is provided as a horizontal attachment member that extends widthwise in the mating portion in a space between the circuit cards. A second fastening means is provided as an exterior retainer that engages at least part of the outer circumference, or perimeter of the connector.

Abstract: A connector utilizes a latching assembly that has a structure that connects horizontal movement of an actuator to vertical movement of a latching arm. A latching member is provided that grips the exterior of the connector and has a cantilevered latching arm that extends from the member over a mating portion for connection. In its simplest form the latching member includes a continuous retaining collar that fits over the exterior of the connector and exerts a clamping force on the connector so as to retain the latching member in place.

Abstract: A shield for a connector that can provide a card-receiving slot is disclosed. The shield includes sides that provide an enclosure. The shield includes a fastener that is held in place by a retaining notch in a bottom of the shield. The retaining notch is configured to support the fastener in place and restrain it from unintended translation or rotation.

Abstract: A connector includes a cage that has two side walls, a top cover and a rear wall that are combined to form a hollow enclosure. The enclosure is separated into two module-receiving bays by at least one spacer with a top and bottom wall that extends between the sidewalls to form a central portion between a top and bottom bay, the central portion acting as an air passage between a front face and the sides of the connectors. Air openings are formed in the sidewalls of the cage assembly and they communicate with the central portion. The bottom wall of the spacer is provided with a large opening that extends a substantial distance of module-receiving bay and provides an air flow path from the air openings to the bottom module-receiving bay.

Abstract: An connector assembly is provided that may be utilized for vertical applications on a circuit board. The assembly includes a housing that supports a plurality of wafers that in tern support a plurality of terminals. The housing includes a base and a nose and can have two slots in the nose and the terminals extend to both slots. A guide frame can be positioned on the housing to help support the housing. The terminals can be arranged in a row on both sides of the two slots. The tails of the terminals can be configured with respect to the slots so as to provide desirable performance.

Abstract: A connector and circuit board assembly includes terminals in a connector that are mounted to vias in a circuit board. Signal and ground terminals are thus coupled to signal traces and ground planes in the circuit board. Additional pinning vias that are aligned with the ground vias may be provided in a circuit board to help improve electrical performance at the interface between the terminals in the connector and the signal traces in the circuit board. A signal collar may allow pairs of signal traces to be split and routed around two difference sides of a via before rejoining while maintaining close electrical proximity that provides for relatively consistent electrical coupling between the traces in the pair of signal traces.

Abstract: A shield is provided for use with a connector assembly that includes for sides that form an enclosure, one of the sides being a baseplate. The shield can include a plurality of guides positioned on the baseplate and the plurality of guides can be arranged in a pattern. Each guide can be formed by making two slits in the bottom plate so as to define a body portion of the guide and the body portion can be extended in the enclosure. Each guide can be supported by the baseplate at opposite ends of the body portion.

Abstract: A guide frame is provided that can be mounted to a circuit board and includes an opening that can receive a connector therein. The guide frame can include a pair of retention members disposed on opposing sides of the opening that are configured to couple to engagement members on the connector. The guide frame may include a flange that is configured to engage a plug connector that mates with the connector.

Abstract: A connector subassembly is provided that may be utilized for both internal and external applications. The subassembly includes a housing that supports a plurality of wafers with terminals. The housing includes engagement members to secure the housing to either the shield or the guide frame. The engagement members can include an angled portion that allow the housing to form a dovetail joint with the guide frame and/or a multi-faceted portion to engage a fastener.

Abstract: A shield for a connector that can provide a card-receiving slot is disclosed. The shield includes sides that provide an enclosure. The shield includes a fastener that is held in place by a retaining notch in a bottom of the shield. The retaining notch is configured to support the fastener in place and restrain it from unintended translation or rotation.