Abstract: An electrical contact that is particularly suitable for use in high speed, grid array connectors is disclosed. The contact includes a retention member extending along a length thereof. The retention member is adapted to retain the contact within a connector base and to deform upon insertion of the contact into the base to cause a generally straight edge to be formed along a portion of the contact that includes the length along which the retention member extends. Thus, a generally uniform impedance profile may be created between adjacent contacts along the respective portions that are inserted into the connector base.

Abstract: A contact assembly for use in an electrical connector. The contact assembly includes an insulative contact block defining a plurality of apertures therethrough. The contacts assembly also includes a plurality of dual beam contact terminals. Each plurality of dual beam contact terminals extends through an aperture in the contact block wherein the dual beam contact terminals are seated within the aperture of the contact block at an inwardly directed tension that maintains a desired spring rate on the contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector according to the invention includes a linear contact array of electrically conductive contacts and a lead frame into which the contacts at least partially extend. The contacts may be selectively designated as either ground or signal contacts such that, in a first designation, the contacts form at least one differential signal pair comprising a pair of signal contacts, and, in a second designation, the contacts form at least one single-ended signal conductor.

Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.

Abstract: The invention provides a high speed connector wherein differential signal pairs are arranged so as to limit the level of cross talk between adjacent differential signal pairs. The connector comprises lead frame assembly having a pair of overmolded lead frame housings. Each lead frame housing has a respective signal contact extending therethrough. The lead frame housings may be operatively coupled such that the signal contacts form a broadside-coupled differential signal pair. The contacts may be separated by a gap having a gap width that enables insertion loss and cross talk between signal pairs to be limited.

Abstract: Lightweight, low cost, high density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance controlled, high-speed, low interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors, such as low insertion loss. Signal contacts and ground contacts within the connectors can be scaled and positioned relative to one another such that a differential signal in a first differential signal pair produces a high field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair and a low field near an adjacent signal pair. Consequently, cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to acceptable levels for the particular application. In such connectors, the level of cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to the point that the need for (and cost of) shields between adjacent contacts is unnecessary, even in high speed, high signal integrity applications.

Abstract: An electrical connector mountable to a substrate. The electrical connector comprises a housing, a surface mount contact secured to the housing and adapted to surface mount to the substrate, and a non-surface mount hold down secured to the housing and adapted to mount to the substrate. The surface mount contact includes a fusible element, for example, a solder ball, a plurality of which may form a matrix array. The connector may be a ball grid array connector. A method of mounting an electrical connector to a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate, and an electrical connector having a contact and a hold down. The method further comprises securing the contact to the substrate, placing the hold down into the substrate, and securing the hold down to the substrate. A method of preventing the skewing of an electrical connector when being mounted to a substrate.

Abstract: An electrical contact that is particularly suitable for use in high speed, grid array connectors is disclosed. The contact includes a retention member extending along a length thereof. The retention member is adapted to retain the contact within a connector base and to deform upon insertion of the contact into the base to cause a generally straight edge to be formed along a portion of the contact that includes the length along which the retention member extends. Thus, a generally uniform impedance profile may be created between adjacent contacts along the respective portions that are inserted into the connector base.

Abstract: A connector mates to a header having a plurality of header contacts arranged into a plurality of header rows, where the header contacts in each header row include signal contacts and ground contacts in a pre-determined arrangement. The connector is complementary to the header and has a housing and a connector row corresponding to each header row. Each connector row is mounted as a sub-assembly to the housing to form the connector and has a plurality of connector contacts, a row block, and a row shield. Each connector contact of the connector row corresponds to a header contact. The row block securely holds each connector contact in the connector row. The row shield electrically shields the connector contacts of the connector row from an adjacent connector row.

Abstract: An electrical connector according to the invention includes a linear contact array of electrically conductive contacts and a lead frame into which the contacts at least partially extend. The contacts may be selectively designated as either ground or signal contacts such that, in a first designation, the contacts form at least one differential signal pair comprising a pair of signal contacts, and, in a second designation, the contacts form at least one single-ended signal conductor.

Abstract: A contact assembly for use in an electrical connector. The contact assembly includes an insulative contact block defining a plurality of apertures therethrough. The contacts assembly also includes a plurality of dual beam contact terminals. Each plurality of dual beam contact terminals extends through an aperture in the contact block wherein the dual beam contact terminals are seated within the aperture of the contact block at an inwardly directed tension that maintains a desired spring rate on the contacts.

Abstract: A connector mates to a header having a plurality of header contacts arranged into a plurality of header rows, where the header contacts in each header row include signal contacts and ground contacts in a pre-determined arrangement. The connector is complementary to the header and has a housing and a connector row corresponding to each header row. Each connector row is mounted as a sub-assembly to the housing to form the connector and has a plurality of connector contacts, a row block, and a row shield. Each connector contact of the connector row corresponds to a header contact. The row block securely holds each connector contact in the connector row. The row shield electrically shields the connector contacts of the connector row from an adjacent connector row.

Abstract: A high speed electrical connector configured to reduce the incidence of cross-talk is disclosed. The connector includes a connector housing and a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs and ground contacts. Each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Abstract: A high speed electrical connector configured to reduce the incidence of cross-talk is disclosed. The connector includes a connector housing and a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs and ground contacts. Each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Abstract: Lightweight, low cost, high density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance controlled, high-speed, low interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors, such as low insertion loss. Signal contacts and ground contacts within the connectors can be scaled and positioned relative to one another such that a differential signal in a first differential signal pair produces a high field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair and a low field near an adjacent signal pair. Consequently, cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to acceptable levels for the particular application. In such connectors, the level of cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to the point that the need for (and cost of) shields between adjacent contacts is unnecessary, even in high speed, high signal integrity applications.

Abstract: An electrical connector mountable to a substrate. The electrical connector comprises a housing, and a surface mount contact and hold down both secured to the housing. The hold down may be a surface mount hold down. A ball grid array connector comprising a housing, a plurality of contacts secured to the housing, a plurality of fusible elements secured to the contacts for mounting the connector to a substrate, and a hold down secured to the housing. The hold down may be a surface mount hold down. A method of mounting an electrical connector to a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate and an electrical connector having a contact and a hold down, and securing the contact and the hold down to the substrate. The contact may be secured to a surface of the substrate. A method of securing an electrical connector to a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate and an electrical connector having a contact and a hold down, and mounting the contact to the substrate.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a header and a receptacle adapted to mate with the header. The header comprises an insulative body and multiple-length contact pins arranged in columns. Tails connected to the contact pins are press fit or soldered to a printed circuit board or back plane such that tails of adjacent columns are offset by one-half pitch. The receptacle comprises a column of m contacts that extend through an insulative lead assembly and tails oriented at a right angle to the contacts that also extend through the insulative lead assembly. The tails are press fit or solder to a printed circuit board, such as a daughter board. The receptacles are adapted to be stacked together in n layers to form an m x n array of contacts that is housed within a receptacle housing.

Abstract: An electrical power connector comprising a housing, a first power contact, and a second power contact. The first contact is connected to the housing. The first contact comprises at least two contact beams. The second contact is connected to the housing. The second contact comprises at least two contact beams located outside and generally parallel to the contact beams of the first contact. The second contact comprises a separate connection section for each of the contact beams. The first and second contacts are located in close proximity relative to each other of less than about 30 mils (0.8 mm) along a majority of their lengths.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interface for an electrical cable comprising the steps of providing an electrical connector having a block section, inserting a bare conductor into the block section, and crimping the block section on the bare conductor. The block section of the electrical connector has at least one conductor receiving hole formed in a first end of the block section. The bare conductor of the electrical cable is inserted into the conductor receiving hole of the block section. The block section is made from deformable, conductive material wherein crimping the block section deforms a conductor receiving hole to clamp the conductor inside the hole.

Abstract: A receptacle for an electrical connector comprising a housing having a first face and a second face, a plurality of electrical terminals each extending from the first face to the second face, and a plurality of longitudinal sides interposed between the first face and the second face. Conductive shielding is superimposed over at least some of the longitudinal sides, and includes latches extending into the housing and proximal to at least some of the electrical terminals.