Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at frequencies at or above 112 GHz, with high density. Such connectors may be formed with fine features molded into portions of the connector housing to support closely spaced signal conductors. The signal conducts may nonetheless be accurately positioned, which leads to uniform impedance and other electrical characteristics that enable high frequency operation through the use of skeletal members that restrain bowing and twisting of housing components that position, directly or indirectly, the signal conductors. The skeletal members may be simply incorporated into the housing components by stamping a metal skeleton from a metal sheet in conjunction with one or more carrier strips. The housing component may be overmolded around the skeleton and then severed from the carrier strips.

Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at frequencies at or above 112 GHz, with high density. Such connectors may be formed with fine features molded into portions of the connector housing to support closely spaced signal conductors. The signal conducts may nonetheless be accurately positioned, which leads to uniform impedance and other electrical characteristics that enable high frequency operation through the use of skeletal members that restrain bowing and twisting of housing components that position, directly or indirectly, the signal conductors. The skeletal members may be simply incorporated into the housing components by stamping a metal skeleton from a metal sheet in conjunction with one or more carrier strips. The housing component may be overmolded around the skeleton and then severed from the carrier strips.

Abstract: A direct mate orthogonal connector for a high density of high speed signals. The connector may include right angle leadframe assemblies with signal conductive elements and ground shields held by a leadframe housing. The leadframe assemblies may each have signal mating ends extending from the signal conductive elements and ground mating ends extending from the ground shield. High frequency performance may be achieved with features on the leadframe housing and on the ground shield. The features may be simple to form yet ensure the positional relationship between the contacts points of the ground mating ends and the contact points of the signal mating ends to sustain forces generated during operating the connector to mate with another connector and/or mount to a board.

Abstract: An interconnection system that is safe, reliable and compact. Mating connectors include complementary projections. Terminals in each connector have opposed beams, with portions of the beams of each terminal embedded in adjacent projections. In mating connectors, the terminals are oriented 90 degrees with respect to each other, such that the terminals of one connector fit between beams of the other. Two beams of each terminal press on opposing sides of a mating terminal, creating four points of contact, for reliable operation. The projections extend beyond the distal tips of the terminals and preclude accidental contact between the terminals and a human finger. Contact force may be controlled by altering the shape of openings cut in the terminals near the base of the beams, enabling the terminals to be formed simply by stamping a sheet of metal and further enabling the beams to be short to provide a compact connector.

Abstract: An interconnection system that is safe, reliable and compact. Mating connectors include complementary projections. Terminals in each connector have opposed beams, with portions of the beams of each terminal embedded in adjacent projections. In mating connectors, the terminals are oriented 90 degrees with respect to each other, such that the terminals of one connector fit between beams of the other. Two beams of each terminal press on opposing sides of a mating terminal, creating four points of contact, for reliable operation. The projections extend beyond the distal tips of the terminals and preclude accidental contact between the terminals and a human finger. Contact force may be controlled by altering the shape of openings cut in the terminals near the base of the beams, enabling the terminals to be formed simply by stamping a sheet of metal and further enabling the beams to be short to provide a compact connector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool that is useful for assembling a composite connector from a plurality of individual connectors, mounting the composite connector having a plurality of right angle tails extending therefrom into openings therefor formed in a substrate, and stiffening the substrate to prevent bowing of the same. The tool comprises a body having a plurality of slots therein. The slots are sized appropriately to receive nonremovably the tails of various forms.