Abstract: A circuit card assembly includes an electrical connector having a housing mounted to a PCB. The housing has a mounting end and a mating end extending between a front and a rear. The housing has a cavity at the mating end configured to receive a second electrical connector. The housing holds deflectable contacts having spring beams at the mating end having mating interfaces. The circuit card assembly includes a contact actuator in the cavity engaging the spring beams and moving the spring beams between compressed positions and released positions. The mating interfaces of the spring beams are spaced apart from the second electrical connector in the compressed positions and are configured to engage and electrically connect with the second electrical connector in the released positions.

Abstract: A contact module includes a dielectric holder holding signal contacts having mating portions extending forward of the dielectric holder. A shield structure is coupled to the dielectric holder providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts. The shield structure has first and second ground shields having corresponding mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder. The shield structure has ground blades extending between the first and second ground shields having mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder at least one of above or below the mating portions of the signal contacts. The ground blades electrically connect the mating portions of the first ground shield and the mating portions of the second ground shield immediately forward of the mating end of dielectric holder.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a circuit card assembly includes a receptacle housing and a mating housing movable relative to the receptacle housing in a connector mating direction. The electrical connector includes contact modules each having a leadframe having signal contacts with a mating conductor, a mounting conductor and a flexible conductor between the mating conductor and the mounting conductor. Each contact module includes an inner dielectric body and an outer dielectric body separate and discrete from the inner dielectric body. The flexible conductors extend between the inner and outer dielectric bodies to allow relative movement of the inner dielectric body in the connector mating direction relative to the outer dielectric body.

Abstract: A communication system includes a receptacle connector assembly and a pluggable module. The receptacle connector assembly includes a receptacle cage and a communication connector received in the receptacle cage and mounted to a host circuit board. The communication connector includes a connector housing holding contacts and extending between a front and a rear with a bottom of the connector housing mounted to the host circuit board and a longitudinal card slot open at a top of the connector housing. The pluggable module is received in the module channel in a loading direction and includes a module body and a plug board having a mating edge. The plug board is held in the module body in a vertical orientation with the mating edge at a bottom of the plug board being received in the card slot with the contact pads electrically coupled to corresponding contacts of the communication connector.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first circuit card assembly having a first PCB and a first electrical connector with first contacts and a second circuit card assembly having a second PCB and a second electrical connector with second contacts. At least one of the PCBs include a slot configured to receive the other PCB when mated in a board mating direction. The first electrical connector is mated to the second electrical connector in a connector mating direction perpendicular to the board mating direction. The first contacts are mated to the second contacts in a contact mating direction as the first PCB and the second PCB are mated in the board mating direction and as the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are mated in the connector mating direction. The contact mating direction is non-parallel to the board mating axis and non-parallel to the connector mating axis.

Abstract: A circuit card assembly for a communication system includes a PCB having a slot receiving a second PCB of a second circuit card assembly in a board loading direction. An electrical connector is mounted to the PCB having a receptacle housing and a mating housing movable within the receptacle housing in a connector loading direction along a connector loading axis parallel to the board loading direction. The mating housing is movable in the receptacle housing in a connector mating direction along a connector mating axis perpendicular to the connector loading axis. Contacts of the electrical connector are mated with contacts of the second electrical connector in a contact mating direction parallel to the connector mating axis.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first circuit card assembly having a first PCB including a first slot and a first electrical connector mounted to the first PCB along the first slot and having a first mating end. The communication system includes a second circuit card assembly having a second PCB and a second electrical connector mounted to the second PCB and having a second mating end. The first and second circuit card assemblies are mated along a board mating axis parallel to the first slot with the first PCB oriented perpendicular to the second PCB. The first and second mating ends are oriented parallel to the board mating axis. The second PCB is received in the first slot to align the second mating end with the first mating end.

Abstract: A contact module includes a dielectric holder holding signal contacts having mating portions extending forward of the dielectric holder. A shield structure is coupled to the dielectric holder providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts. The shield structure has first and second ground shields having corresponding mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder. The shield structure has ground blades extending between the first and second ground shields having mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder at least one of above or below the mating portions of the signal contacts. The ground blades electrically connect the mating portions of the first ground shield and the mating portions of the second ground shield immediately forward of the mating end of dielectric holder.

Abstract: A communication system includes first and second circuit card assemblies mated such that first and second PCBs move relative to each other along a board mating axis parallel to a slot in the first PCB with the first PCB oriented perpendicular to the second PCB and with first and second mating ends of first and second electrical connectors oriented parallel to the board mating axis. The first and second circuit card assemblies are mated such that the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector move relative to each other along a connector mating axis perpendicular to the board mating axis. First mating interfaces of first contacts are mated to second mating interfaces of second contacts in a contact mating direction non-parallel to the board mating axis and non-parallel to the connector mating axis.

Abstract: A circuit card assembly for a communication system includes a PCB having a slot receiving a second PCB of a second circuit card assembly in a board loading direction. An electrical connector is mounted to the PCB having a receptacle housing and a mating housing movable within the receptacle housing in a connector loading direction along a connector loading axis parallel to the board loading direction. The mating housing is movable in the receptacle housing in a connector mating direction along a connector mating axis perpendicular to the connector loading axis. Contacts of the electrical connector are mated with contacts of the second electrical connector in a contact mating direction parallel to the connector mating axis.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a circuit card assembly including a PCB includes a mating housing having a mating end movable relative to the PCB and contact modules coupled to the mating housing including signal contacts having a mating conductor, a mounting conductor and a flexible conductor. The flexible conductor is flexible to allow relative movement of the mating conductor relative to the mounting conductor. The flexible conductor has a bent portion changing shape. The contact modules have ground contacts providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts. The ground contacts include covers extending along and providing shielding along at least one side of the bent portion of the corresponding signal contact.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first circuit card assembly having a first PCB including a first slot and a first electrical connector mounted to the first PCB along the first slot and having a first mating end. The communication system includes a second circuit card assembly having a second PCB and a second electrical connector mounted to the second PCB and having a second mating end. The first and second circuit card assemblies are mated along a board mating axis parallel to the first slot with the first PCB oriented perpendicular to the second PCB. The first and second mating ends are oriented parallel to the board mating axis. The second PCB is received in the first slot to align the second mating end with the first mating end.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and a plurality of conductors held within the housing. The conductors are configured to electrically connect to mating conductors of a mating connector. The conductors each extend a length between a mating end and a mounting end of the respective conductor. One or more of the conductors include a copper alloy core, a copper plating layer, and a protective outer layer. The copper plating layer surrounds the copper alloy core, and is composed of a different material than the copper alloy core. The protective outer layer is disposed on and surrounds the copper plating layer. The protective outer layer is composed of a non-conductive polymeric material.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and contact modules having signal contacts with signal pins and a ground shield providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts with ground pins. The connector assembly includes a conductive gasket compressible between the bottoms of the contact modules and the circuit board. The conductive gasket has a top and a bottom facing the circuit board. The conductive gasket has signal openings extending therethrough receiving corresponding signal pins in spaced apart locations to electrically isolate the signal pins from the conductive gasket. The conductive gasket at least partially fills a space between the bottoms of the contact modules and the circuit board to provide electrical shielding for the signal pins between the bottoms of the contact modules and the circuit board.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and contact modules having signal contacts with signal pins and a ground shield providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts with ground pins. The connector assembly includes a conductive gasket compressible between the bottoms of the contact modules and the circuit board. The conductive gasket has a top and a bottom facing the circuit board. The conductive gasket has signal openings extending therethrough receiving corresponding signal pins in spaced apart locations to electrically isolate the signal pins from the conductive gasket. The conductive gasket at least partially fills a space between the bottoms of the contact modules and the circuit board to provide electrical shielding for the signal pins between the bottoms of the contact modules and the circuit board.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first circuit card assembly having a first PCB and a first electrical connector with first contacts and a second circuit card assembly having a second PCB and a second electrical connector with second contacts. At least one of the PCBs include a slot configured to receive the other PCB when mated in a board mating direction. The first electrical connector is mated to the second electrical connector in a connector mating direction perpendicular to the board mating direction. The first contacts are mated to the second contacts in a contact mating direction as the first PCB and the second PCB are mated in the board mating direction and as the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are mated in the connector mating direction. The contact mating direction is non-parallel to the board mating axis and non-parallel to the connector mating axis.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a circuit card assembly including a PCB includes a mating housing having a mating end movable relative to the PCB and contact modules coupled to the mating housing including signal contacts having a mating conductor, a mounting conductor and a flexible conductor. The flexible conductor is flexible to allow relative movement of the mating conductor relative to the mounting conductor. The flexible conductor has a bent portion changing shape. The contact modules have ground contacts providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts. The ground contacts include covers extending along and providing shielding along at least one side of the bent portion of the corresponding signal contact.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution system includes a first bus bar and a clamp mounted to the first bus bar. The clamp includes a fixed base and a movable plate that define a track therebetween along a broad face of the first bus bar. The track receives a second bus bar therein such that the broad face of the first bus bar engages a corresponding broad face of the second bus bar. The clamp includes a lever connected to both the movable plate and the first bus bar. Pivoting movement of the lever in a locking direction forces linear movement of the movable plate relative to the first bus bar towards the fixed base such that respective inner sides of the movable plate and the fixed base sandwich the second bus bar therebetween to secure the second bus bar in engagement with the first bus bar.

Abstract: A communication system includes first and second circuit card assemblies mated such that first and second PCBs move relative to each other along a board mating axis parallel to a slot in the first PCB with the first PCB oriented perpendicular to the second PCB and with first and second mating ends of first and second electrical connectors oriented parallel to the board mating axis. The first and second circuit card assemblies are mated such that the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector move relative to each other along a connector mating axis perpendicular to the board mating axis. First mating interfaces of first contacts are mated to second mating interfaces of second contacts in a contact mating direction non-parallel to the board mating axis and non-parallel to the connector mating axis.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution system includes a first bus bar and a clamp mounted to the first bus bar. The clamp includes a fixed base and a movable plate that define a track therebetween along a broad face of the first bus bar. The track receives a second bus bar therein such that the broad face of the first bus bar engages a corresponding broad face of the second bus bar. The clamp includes a lever connected to both the movable plate and the first bus bar. Pivoting movement of the lever in a locking direction forces linear movement of the movable plate relative to the first bus bar towards the fixed base such that respective inner sides of the movable plate and the fixed base sandwich the second bus bar therebetween to secure the second bus bar in engagement with the first bus bar.