Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for use with a motherboard and a daughterboard in a backplane configuration is disclosed. The motherboard connector has an insulative housing with a plurality of signal pins and a plurality of power contacts. A ground bus having upstanding posts is located beween rows of signal pins. A daughterboard signal connector is separate from the daughterboard power, and the daughterboard signal connector has a plurality of ground blades which are matable with the ground bus between adjacent upstanding ground posts. Thus, a substantially constant spacing of signal contacts relative to ground can be maintained through the right angle motherboard/daughterboard connector.

Abstract: A high speed, high density, controlled impedance connector for use between printed circuit boards is disclosed. The connector provides for both power and signal transmission. Closely spaced signal terminals are surrounded by dielectric sleeves positioned in an array, and the plural dielectric sleeves are in turn surrounded by an outer unitary cast conductive housing. The essentially coaxial configuration of the contacts permits minimal variations in the impedance along the length of the signal paths in the connector. The connector is fabricated by first positioning the dielectric sleeves in spaced relationship on prescribed centerlines and subsequently casting or molding the conductive outer housing around the sleeve array.

Abstract: A coaxial electrical connector assembly including an insulative housing having a ground plate with a plurality of apertures sized to receive signal contacts without contact with the ground plate and other apertures sized to engage ground terminals is disclosed. Tabs formed by slits are deflected by the ground terminals inserted into these apertures. This coaxial connector can be employed as an input or output to signal and ground pins used in a backplane connector which form part of a backplane connector assembly for interconnection of a plurality of daughterboards to a motherboard.

Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including signal interconnection, ground interconnection, and power interconnection means in both a motherboard connector and a daughterboard connector is disclosed. The motherboard connector consists of a single connector having signal terminals, ground terminals, and power terminals. The daughterboard connector assembly consists of a daughterboard signal housing having signal and ground terminals and a separate daughterboard power housing positioned on the opposite surface of the daughterboard from the daughterboard signal connector subassembly. Power terminals in both the motherboard connector and the daughterboard connector are oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard so that daughterboards having varying thicknesses can be employed. This invention can be used in a connector having a cast metallic outer shield or in a connector having a conventional insulative outer housing.

Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including a motherboard connector and power and signal daughterboard connectors is disclosed. The motherboard connector has a signal section and a power section. Individual signal contacts are located in the signal section of the motherboard connector. A laminated power bus is located in the power section of the motherboard connector which is on the opposite side of the daughterboard from the signal section. Each of a plurality of separate busses in the laminated power bus has tabs extending from one edge and bent at right angles relative to the bus so that the tabs extend orthogonally relative to the daughterboard. This configuration permits daughterboards having different thicknesses to be mated inserted into the same motherboard connector. The laminated power bus permits power to be delivered externally of the motherboard to the daughterboards.