Abstract: Electrical connector assembly including an electrical connector having signal contacts and ground contacts that are coupled to a connector housing and disposed along a mounting side of the connector housing. The electrical connector assembly also includes a contact organizer that is positioned along the mounting side of the connector housing. The contact organizer has signal windows and ground passages extending therethrough that are defined by respective inner surfaces of the contact organizer. The ground contacts engage the inner surfaces of the ground passages when the contact organizer is held in a pre-loaded position away from the mounting side. The contact organizer moves to a seated position against the mounting side when the electrical connector is mounted to the circuit board. Each of the signal contacts is surrounded by an air gap that exists between the signal contact and the inner surface of the corresponding signal window.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder and electrically shielded by the conductive holder. The frame assembly has a plurality of receptacle signal contacts having mating portions extending from the conductive holder. The receptacle signal contacts are arranged in differential pairs carrying differential signals. Ground shields are received in the conductive holder between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground shields have grounding beams extending along the mating portions of the receptacle signal contacts. The grounding beams are arranged on four sides of each differential pair of the receptacle signal contacts.

Abstract: A contact module includes a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder with receptacle signal contacts arranged in differential pairs. A ground shield is received in the conductive holder between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground shield has a mounting end with ground pins extending from a mounting edge at the mounting end of the ground shield. Forces are imparted on the ground pins during coupling with a circuit board. The mounting end has a plurality of bearing surfaces proximate to the ground pins. The bearing surfaces engage at least one of the conductive holder and the frame assembly to transfer the forces between the ground shield and at least one of the conductive holder and the frame assembly.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes contact modules each having a wafer, a first ground frame extending along a first side of the wafer and a second ground frame extending along a second side of the wafer. The wafer has a dielectric body holding a plurality of signal contacts. The first ground frame has beams extending from a front of the first ground frame. The second ground frame has shields at least partially surrounding corresponding mating portions of the signal contacts. Each first ground frame is mechanically and electrically connected to an adjacent second ground frame of an adjacent contact module. Each second ground frame is mechanically and electrically connected to an adjacent first ground frame of an adjacent contact module.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder. The frame assembly includes a first frame and a second frame, each frame having at least two frame members each supporting a differential pair of receptacle signal contacts and being separated by a gap. The first and second frames are interested such that at least one frame member of the first frame is received in a corresponding gap of the second frame between frame members of the second frame and such that at least one frame member of the second frame is received in a corresponding gap of the first frame between frame members of the first frame.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes contact modules each having a wafer, a first ground frame extending along a first side of the wafer and a second ground frame extending along a second side of the wafer. The wafer has a dielectric body holding a plurality of signal contacts. The first ground frame has beams extending from a front of the first ground frame. The second ground frame has shields at least partially surrounding corresponding mating portions of the signal contacts. Each first ground frame is mechanically and electrically connected to an adjacent second ground frame of an adjacent contact module. Each second ground frame is mechanically and electrically connected to an adjacent first ground frame of an adjacent contact module.

Abstract: A contact module includes a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder with receptacle signal contacts arranged in differential pairs. A ground shield is received in the conductive holder between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground shield has a mounting end with ground pins extending from a mounting edge at the mounting end of the ground shield. Forces are imparted on the ground pins during coupling with a circuit board. The mounting end has a plurality of bearing surfaces proximate to the ground pins. The bearing surfaces engage at least one of the conductive holder and the frame assembly to transfer the forces between the ground shield and at least one of the conductive holder and the frame assembly.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder. The frame assembly includes a first frame and a second frame, each frame having at least two frame members each supporting a differential pair of receptacle signal contacts and being separated by a gap. The first and second frames are interested such that at least one frame member of the first frame is received in a corresponding gap of the second frame between frame members of the second frame and such that at least one frame member of the second frame is received in a corresponding gap of the first frame between frame members of the first frame.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder and electrically shielded by the conductive holder. The frame assembly has a plurality of receptacle signal contacts having mating portions extending from the conductive holder. The receptacle signal contacts are arranged in differential pairs carrying differential signals. Ground shields are received in the conductive holder between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground shields have grounding beams extending along the mating portions of the receptacle signal contacts. The grounding beams are arranged on four sides of each differential pair of the receptacle signal contacts.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly and a contact module coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder having a first side wall and an opposite second side wall. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second side walls. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a frame assembly that is received in the chamber. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame that supports the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A plurality of ground clips are received in the chamber and extend from the front of the conductive holder. The ground clips are mechanically and electrically connected to the conductive holder.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly and a contact module coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder having a first side wall and an opposite second side wall. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second side walls. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a frame assembly that is received in the chamber. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame that supports the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A plurality of ground clips are received in the chamber and extend from the front of the conductive holder. The ground clips are mechanically and electrically connected to the conductive holder.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module that includes a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts and disposed between the conductive holder and the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A front housing receives the contact module therein. The front housing has a plurality of clip supports at a rear of the front housing. A rib clip is held by the clip supports. The rib clip has a plurality of grounding fingers that extend therefrom that are configured to engage corresponding header shields of a header assembly. The rib clip includes a plurality of mounting tabs that extend therefrom for engaging the conductive holder to electrically connect the rib clip to the conductive holder.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder has a first side and an opposite second side. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second sides. A frame assembly is received in the chamber of the conductive holder. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A ground lead frame is received in the chamber between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground leadframe has grounding members that extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination to header shields of the header assembly.

Abstract: An alignment pin is provided. The alignment pin includes an alignment member that is configured to extend from a surface of a circuit board. The alignment member has a flange that engages an electronic module. The flange aligns and retains the electronic module on the circuit board. A coupling member extends from the alignment member. The coupling member is configured to be through hole mounted to an aperture in the circuit board. The coupling member has a retention feature that creates a press-fit between a surface of the aperture and the coupling member. The coupling member has a cross-sectional width at the retention feature that is greater than a diameter of the aperture. The retention feature accommodates a press-fit with apertures having different diameters.

Abstract: A wafer assembly of an electrical connector system may include a metal center ground plane and a plurality of plastic ribs overmolded on the metal center ground plane. The plastic ribs may be positioned in a configuration that forms a plurality of electrical contact channels on the metal center ground plane. An array of electrical contacts may be positioned substantially within the plurality of electrical contact channels. In some implementations, the electrical connector system may also include a wafer housing and a header module that include guidance components that align the header module with the wafer housing when the wafer housing mates with the header module. The electrical connector system may also include a power contact that passes through aligned openings in the wafer housing and the header module to provide a power transmission path between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: An electrical connector system may include a center housing that defines a plurality of first electrical contact channels on a first side face of the center housing and a plurality of second electrical contact channels on a second side face of the center housing. A first array of electrical contacts is positioned substantially within the plurality of first electrical contact channels on the first side face of the center housing. A second array of electrical contacts is positioned substantially within the plurality of second electrical contact channels on the second side face of the center housing. The first array of electrical contacts is paired with a third array of electrical contacts to form a first plurality of differential pairs of electrical contacts. The second array of electrical contacts is paired with a fourth array of electrical contacts to form a second plurality of differential pairs of electrical contacts.

Abstract: An alignment pin is provided. The alignment pin includes an alignment member that is configured to extend from a surface of a circuit board. The alignment member has a flange that engages an electronic module. The flange aligns and retains the electronic module on the circuit board. A coupling member extends from the alignment member. The coupling member is configured to be through hole mounted to an aperture in the circuit board. The coupling member has a retention feature that creates a press-fit between a surface of the aperture and the coupling member. The coupling member has a cross-sectional width at the retention feature that is greater than a diameter of the aperture. The retention feature accommodates a press-fit with apertures having different diameters.

Abstract: A connector and cable assembly is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a ribbon cable having an end that includes an electrical conductor. The assembly also includes an electrical connector that includes a dielectric body comprising a circuit side, a cable side that is opposite the circuit side, and a contact opening that extends through the body. The electrical connector also includes an electrical contact having a cable segment and a tail extending from the cable segment. The electrical contact is held within the contact opening such that at least a portion of the cable segment extends along the cable side of the body and at least a portion of the tail projects from the circuit side of the body. The cable segment is electrically connected to the electrical conductor of the ribbon cable. The tail is configured to be separably mated with the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and substantially identical contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a plurality of sets in the housing. The contacts are configured to electrically couple with the mating connector. Each set of contacts is arranged to communicate a different type of data signal with the mating connector. Optionally, the contacts are formed as substantially identical pins. The different sets of contacts may concurrently communicate the different types of data signals.

Abstract: A connector and cable assembly is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a ribbon cable having an end that includes an electrical conductor. The assembly also includes an electrical connector that includes a dielectric body comprising a circuit side, a cable side that is opposite the circuit side, and a contact opening that extends through the body. The electrical connector also includes an electrical contact having a cable segment and a tail extending from the cable segment. The electrical contact is held within the contact opening such that at least a portion of the cable segment extends along the cable side of the body and at least a portion of the tail projects from the circuit side of the body. The cable segment is electrically connected to the electrical conductor of the ribbon cable. The tail is configured to be separably mated with the printed circuit board.