Abstract: Communication system including a circuit board having opposite board sides and mounting areas located on at least one of the board sides. The circuit board includes conductive traces that extend along the circuit board between corresponding mounting areas. The circuit board has mounting holes extending therethrough. The communication system also includes board connectors mounted to the circuit board at the mounting areas. The board connectors are communicatively coupled to one another through the conductive traces. The communication system also includes cable connectors secured to the circuit board and positioned at the mounting holes. The communication system also includes communication cables interconnecting corresponding cable connectors to one another.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mating with a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a housing and electrical contacts held by the housing. The electrical contacts are configured to mate with corresponding mating contacts of the mating connector. A sense pin is held by the housing and is configured to mate with a corresponding mating contact of the mating connector. The sense pin extends a length that includes a tip segment and a sensing segment. The tip and sensing segments have different electrical characteristics. The tip segment includes a tip of the sense pin. The tip segment extends between the sensing segment and the tip such that the sensing segment is offset from the tip along the length of the sense pin. The sensing segment is configured to indicate that the electrical contacts and the mating contacts are de-mated by more than a predetermined de-mating distance.

Abstract: A cable assembly including first and second header connectors. The first header connector has mating and loading sides and includes electrical contacts. The mating side is configured to mate with a first module connector. The second header connector has mating and loading sides and includes electrical contacts. The mating side of the second header connector is configured to mate with a second module connector. The cable assembly also has a cable bundle including communication cables that extend between the loading sides of the first and second header connectors and that connect the electrical contacts of the first and second header connectors. The cables are substantially twist-free between the first and second header connectors when the first and second header connectors face in substantially opposite directions and the first and second module connectors have an orthogonal relationship.

Abstract: A communication module including a circuit board having leading and trailing ends and a module axis extending therebetween. The communication module also includes a support wall that is coupled to the circuit board proximate to the leading end. The support wall extends transverse to the module axis and has a wall opening. The communication module also includes an electrical connector that is held by the support wall within the wall opening and has a mating face. The communication module also includes a board interconnect coupled to the circuit board. The communication module also includes a flex cable assembly that is coupled at one end to the array of electrical contacts and at an opposite end to the board interconnect. The electrical connector is permitted to float within the wall opening relative to the support wall.

Abstract: A daughter card assembly including a daughter card having a leading edge. The daughter card includes signal contacts that are disposed along the leading edge, wherein the leading edge is configured to be inserted into a card cavity of a receptacle connector during a mating operation. The daughter card assembly also includes a power module that is coupled to the daughter card. The power module includes a module housing having a module cavity and a cavity opening that provides access to the module cavity. The power module also includes a power contact that is disposed within the module cavity and projects through the cavity opening. The power contact is configured to engage a corresponding electrical contact of the receptacle connector during the mating operation. The power contact is deflected by the electrical contact into the module cavity as the power contact and the electrical contact engage each other.

Abstract: A daughter card assembly including a daughter card having a leading edge. The daughter card includes signal contacts that are disposed along the leading edge, wherein the leading edge is configured to be inserted into a card cavity of a receptacle connector during a mating operation. The daughter card assembly also includes a power module that is coupled to the daughter card. The power module includes a module housing having a module cavity and a cavity opening that provides access to the module cavity. The power module also includes a power contact that is disposed within the module cavity and projects through the cavity opening. The power contact is configured to engage a corresponding electrical contact of the receptacle connector during the mating operation. The power contact is deflected by the electrical contact into the module cavity as the power contact and the electrical contact engage each other.

Abstract: A cable assembly including first and second header connectors. The first header connector has mating and loading sides and includes electrical contacts. The mating side is configured to mate with a first module connector. The second header connector has mating and loading sides and includes electrical contacts. The mating side of the second header connector is configured to mate with a second module connector. The cable assembly also has a cable bundle including communication cables that extend between the loading sides of the first and second header connectors and that connect the electrical contacts of the first and second header connectors. The cables are substantially twist-free between the first and second header connectors when the first and second header connectors face in substantially opposite directions and the first and second module connectors have an orthogonal relationship.

Abstract: A communication module including a circuit board having leading and trailing ends and a module axis extending therebetween. The communication module also includes a support wall that is coupled to the circuit board proximate to the leading end. The support wall extends transverse to the module axis and has a wall opening. The communication module also includes an electrical connector that is held by the support wall within the wall opening and has a mating face. The communication module also includes a board interconnect coupled to the circuit board. The communication module also includes a flex cable assembly that is coupled at one end to the array of electrical contacts and at an opposite end to the board interconnect. The electrical connector is permitted to float within the wall opening relative to the support wall.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a dielectric body and electrical contacts held by the dielectric body. The electrical contacts have a pair of signal contacts with respective mating ends configured to engage a communication connector and also with respective wire-terminating ends. The wire-terminating ends are located proximate to each other in a cable-termination region and are configured to mechanically and electrically couple to corresponding signal conductors of a cable. The electrical connector also includes a ground shield having a cover extension that extends over the cable-termination region. The cover extension is configured to shield the cable-termination region.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a dielectric body and electrical contacts held by the dielectric body. The electrical contacts have a pair of signal contacts with respective mating ends configured to engage a communication connector and also with respective wire-terminating ends. The wire-terminating ends are located proximate to each other in a cable-termination region and are configured to mechanically and electrically couple to corresponding signal conductors of a cable. The electrical connector also includes a ground shield having a cover extension that extends over the cable-termination region. The cover extension is configured to shield the cable-termination region.

Abstract: A straddle mount connector includes a housing that has a mating end and a mounting end configured to be mounted to an edge of a circuit board. Contacts are held by the housing with the contacts extending from the mounting end that are configured to be terminated to the circuit board. The contacts are arranged at the mating end and are configured for mating with a corresponding mating component. A comb extends from the mounting end of the housing that has a plurality of fingers separated from one another by a gap. The comb is positioned such that the fingers are positioned between corresponding contacts and the contacts are positioned within corresponding gaps.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a jack having a mounting end and a mating. The mounting end is configured to be mounted to a card assembly. The mating end has jack contacts. A plug is provided having a mating end and a sensor end. The mating end has plug contacts. The mating end of the plug is configured to be inserted into the mating end of the jack such that the plug contacts engage the jack contacts. A sensor is provided having a lead. The lead is configured to be inserted into the sensor end of the plug to electrically couple the sensor to the card assembly.

Abstract: A straddle mount connector includes a housing that has a mating end and a mounting end configured to be mounted to an edge of a circuit board. Contacts are held by the housing with the contacts extending from the mounting end that are configured to be terminated to the circuit board. The contacts are arranged at the mating end and are configured for mating with a corresponding mating component. A comb extends from the mounting end of the housing that has a plurality of fingers separated from one another by a gap. The comb is positioned such that the fingers are positioned between corresponding contacts and the contacts are positioned within corresponding gaps.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a jack having a mounting end and a mating. The mounting end is configured to be mounted to a card assembly. The mating end has jack contacts. A plug is provided having a mating end and a sensor end. The mating end has plug contacts. The mating end of the plug is configured to be inserted into the mating end of the jack such that the plug contacts engage the jack contacts. A sensor is provided having a lead. The lead is configured to be inserted into the sensor end of the plug to electrically couple the sensor to the card assembly.

Abstract: A straddle mount connector includes a housing that has a mating end and a mounting end configured to be mounted to an edge of a circuit board. The housing has a top and a bottom. The housing has an upper mounting feature extending from the mounting end proximate to the top and a lower mounting feature extending from the mounting end proximate to the bottom. The upper and lower mounting features are configured to extend into an opening through the circuit board to secure the housing to the circuit board. Contacts are held by the housing and extend from the mounting end and are configured to be terminated to both sides of the circuit board. The contacts are arranged at the mating end and are configured for mating with a corresponding mating component.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes an electrical connector having an outer end and a plurality of pins at the outer end. The connector assembly also includes a mating adapter having a mating interface and a mounting interface. The mating interface engages the outer end and the mounting interface is configured to engage a circuit board. The mating adapter has conductors extending between the mating interface and the mounting interface. The conductors receive corresponding pins of the electrical connector. The mating adapter has surface mount elements arranged on the mounting interface that are electrically connected to corresponding conductors and are configured to be terminated to the circuit board to electrically interconnect the electrical connector and the circuit board.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tag includes a substantially flat portion having two faces and a length and a height, wherein the length is between about 1 inch and about 2½ inches. The height is between about ? inch and about 1 inch. The tag also includes at least one first member coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion, the at least one first member being adapted for mounting in an opening of a surface of an electronics system thereby creating a removable coupling between the at least one first member and the surface of an electronics system when mounted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tag includes a substantially flat portion having two faces and a length and a height, wherein the length is between about 1 inch and about 2½ inches. The height is between about ? inch and about 1 inch. The tag also includes at least one first member coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion, the at least one first member being adapted for mounting in an opening of a surface of an electronics system thereby creating a removable coupling between the at least one first member and the surface of an electronics system when mounted.