Abstract: A number of connectors and related methods that allow for high data rate transmissions are described. An example connector includes a housing and a wafer. The water includes signal conductors, a ground conductors, a flexible shield, and a rigid shield. The flexible shield includes terminal end portions, cantilever spring end portions, and a flexible shield body between the terminal end portions and the cantilever spring end portions. The flexible shield body covers a first portion of the ground conductors, and the rigid shield covers a second portion of the ground conductors.

Abstract: Input/output (I/O) connectors (1) for conducting data at high data rates, (e.g. 112 gigabits per second or more) are provided with protective shields (4, 5, 6) to provide increased mechanical strength and signal integrity.

Abstract: The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. Some assemblies include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.

Abstract: A server rack with a plurality of compute nodes is positioned in a facility that includes a spine and the server rack includes a middle of rack ((OR) switch located near the middle of the server rack, vertically speaking. The MOR switch includes a plurality of ports that are connected via passive cables to the compute nodes provided in the server rack. In an embodiment the passive cables are configured to function at 56 Gbps using non-return to zero (NRZ) encoding and each cable may he about of less than 1.5 meters long. An electrical to optical panel (EOP) can be positioned adjacent a top of the server rack and the EOP includes connections to the MOR switch and to the spine, thus the EOP helps connect the MOR switch to the spine. Connections between adjacent server racks can provide for additional compute bandwidth when needed.

Abstract: The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. Some assemblies include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.

Abstract: A server rack with a plurality of compute nodes is positioned in a facility that includes a spine and the server rack includes a middle of rack (MOR) switch located near the middle of the server rack, vertically speaking. The MOR switch includes a plurality of ports that are connected via passive cables to the compute nodes provided in the server rack. In an embodiment the passive cables are configured to function at 56 Gbps using non-return to zero (NRZ) encoding and each cable may be about or less than 1.5 meters long. An electrical to optical panel (EOP) can be positioned adjacent a top of the server rack and the EOP includes connections to the MOR switch and to the spine, thus the EOP helps connect the MOR switch to the spine. Connections between adjacent server racks can provide for additional compute bandwidth when needed.

Abstract: The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. Some assemblies include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.

Abstract: A server rack with a plurality of compute nodes is positioned in a facility that includes a spine and the server rack includes a middle of rack (MOR) switch located near the middle of the server rack, vertically speaking. The MOR switch includes a plurality of ports that are connected via passive cables to the compute nodes provided in the server rack. In an embodiment the passive cables are configured to function at 56 Gbps using non-return to zero (NRZ) encoding and each cable may be about or less than 1.5 meters long. An electrical to optical panel (EOP) can be positioned adjacent a top of the server rack and the EOP includes connections to the MOR switch and to the spine, thus the EOP helps connect the MOR switch to the spine. Connections between adjacent server racks can provide for additional compute bandwidth when needed.

Abstract: Input/output (I/O) connectors (1) for conducting data at high data rates, (e.g. 112 gigabits per second or more) are provided with protective shields (4, 5, 6) to provide increased mechanical strength and signal integrity.

Abstract: A server rack with a plurality of compute nodes is positioned in a facility that includes a spine and the server rack includes a middle of rack (MOR) switch located near the middle of the server rack, vertically speaking. The MOR switch includes a plurality of ports that are connected via passive cables to the compute nodes provided in the server rack. In an embodiment the passive cables are configured to function at 56. Gbps using non-return to zero (NRZ) encoding and each cable may be about or less than 1.5 meters long. An electrical to optical panel (EOP) can be positioned adjacent a top of the server rack and the EOP includes connections to the MOR switch and to the spine, thus the EOP helps connect the MOR switch to the spine.

Abstract: The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. Some assemblies include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.

Abstract: The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. The assemblies which include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.

Abstract: The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. The assemblies which include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.

Abstract: A connector includes terminals with contacts. In an embodiment the contacts are positioned in a vertical connector similar to an edge card connector but with a differential pair aligned in a vertical direction. Thus the connector can provide edge-coupled differential pair in a high-density configuration.

Abstract: A server rack with a plurality of compute nodes is positioned in a facility that includes a spine and the server rack includes a middle of rack (MOR) switch located near the middle of the server rack, vertically speaking. The MOR switch includes a plurality of ports that are connected via passive cables to the compute nodes provided in the server rack. In an embodiment the passive cables are configured to function at 56. Gbps using non-return to zero (NRZ) encoding and each cable may be about or less than 1.5 meters long. An electrical to optical panel (EOP) can be positioned adjacent a top of the server rack and the EOP includes connections to the MOR switch and to the spine, thus the EOP helps connect the MOR switch to the spine.

Abstract: A connector is provided that includes a first housing that supports first terminal bricks. The first housing can mate with a second housing that supports second terminal bricks that are configured to mate with the first terminal bricks. The first housing and first terminal bricks can be adjusted so that a variety of spacing requirements can be meet by the combination of the first and second housings while allowing for reduced tooling investment.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing with a plurality of electrically conductive terminals therein. Some terminals may include a terminal support projection that engages the housing to maintain the position of a contact section of the terminals relative to the housing. Others terminals may have a tool engaging shoulder configured to be engaged by a tool to force press-fit tails of all of the terminals into a circuit member. The housing may include a locking structure for certain the terminals that permits the terminals to be inserted into the housing with little or no force and then securely lock the terminals in the housing. One or more ground plates may be included for electrically connecting a plurality of the terminals. The ground plates may have resilient tabs that contact at least some of the terminals and the tabs may be thinner than a body portion of the ground plate.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing with a plurality of electrically conductive terminals therein. Some terminals may include a terminal support projection that engages the housing to maintain the position of a contact section of the terminals relative to the housing. Others terminals may have a tool engaging shoulder configured to be engaged by a tool to force press-fit tails of all of the terminals into a circuit member. The housing may include a locking structure for certain the terminals that permits the terminals to be inserted into the housing with little or no force and then securely lock the terminals in the housing. One or more ground plates may be included for electrically connecting a plurality of the terminals. The ground plates may have resilient tabs that contact at least some of the terminals and the tabs may be thinner than a body portion of the ground plate.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing with a plurality of electrically conductive terminals therein. Some terminals may include a terminal support projection that engages the housing to maintain the position of a contact section of the terminals relative to the housing. Other terminals may have a tool engaging shoulder configured to be engaged by a tool to force press-fit tails of all of the terminals into a circuit member. The housing may include a locking structure for certain the terminals that permits the terminals to be inserted into the housing with little or no force and then securely lock the terminals in the housing. One or more ground plates may be included for electrically connecting a plurality of the terminals. The ground plates may have resilient tabs that contact at least some of the terminals and the tabs may be thinner than a body portion of the ground plate.

Abstract: A connector includes terminals with contacts. In an embodiment the contacts are positioned in a vertical connector similar to an edge card connector but with a differential pair aligned in a vertical direction. Thus the connector can provide edge-coupled differential pair in a high-density configuration.