Abstract: A connector assembly includes a cage member for EMI containment for a pluggable module having a cage sleeve defining a chamber, a base coupled to the cage sleeve, and a cage liner received in the chamber. The cage liner defines a module cavity configured to receive a pluggable module. The cage sleeve extends between a front end and a rear end and includes a plurality of cage walls defining the chamber and surrounding a communication connector at or near the rear end. The cage liner is electrically connected to the cage sleeve and surrounds a mating perimeter of the pluggable module. The cage liner extends a majority of a length of the pluggable module within the chamber to provide EMI shielding for the pluggable module. The cage liner provides an electrical path between the pluggable module and the cage sleeve.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing including panels defining a pluggable module cavity and providing EMI shielding for the module cavity. A gasket assembly is provided at the bottom of the receptacle housing. The gasket assembly has a bottom plate, a hinge plate rearward of the bottom plate and a rear plate extending from a rear of the hinge plate providing EMI shielding for the module cavity. The bottom plate provides EMI shielding at the bottom of the receptacle housing and the rear plate provides EMI shielding at a back end of the receptacle housing. The hinge plate is hingedly coupled between the bottom plate and the rear plate to change relative positions of the bottom plate and the rear plate during assembly to the circuit board.

Abstract: A feed-through adapter assembly includes a bezel cage configured to receive a pluggable module. Walls of the cage are manufactured from a metal material and provide electrical shielding for the pluggable module. A feed-through connector is received in the bezel cage and is positioned at or near a rear end of the cage member. The feed-through connector has a feed-through connector housing holding a contact assembly. The contact assembly has a plurality of feed-through contacts defining a first board mating interface configured to mate with and be electrically connected to a circuit board of the pluggable module and a second board mating interface configured to mate with and be electrically connected to a circuit board of a cable connector. The first and second board mating interfaces are substantially identical.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, signal modules, and ground plates. The signal modules and ground plates are arranged in a pattern that includes ground plates flanking corresponding pairs of signal modules within the housing. The signal modules have a dielectric body and signal conductors held within the dielectric body. The signal conductors include contact beams protruding from a front edge for electrical termination. Each ground plate has contact beams aligned with the contact beams of the signal modules to provide shielding therebetween. Each signal module has a lateral thickness that is greater than a thickness of each ground plate. The signal conductors of each signal module are offset relative to a central plane of the signal module such that contact spacings between adjacent contact beams are uniform. Optionally, ground tie bars extend through the signal modules and ground plates to electrically common the ground plates.

Abstract: A pluggable connector includes a lead frame and a holder. The lead frame defines a first conductor array of ground conductors and signal conductors, a second conductor array of ground conductors and signal conductors, and a transition region that interconnects the first and second conductor arrays. The transition region includes a ground tie bar and distal tips of the ground conductors in the first and second conductor arrays that extend from the ground tie bar. The holder is defined by first and second holder members that have respective outer sides and inner sides. The inner sides face one another and define a seam. The first holder member holds the first conductor array of the lead frame, and the second holder member holds the second conductor array of the lead frame. The transition region of the lead frame extends across the seam at a front end of the holder.

Abstract: A latch for latching a connector to a device includes a body comprising a hub, an actuator extending from the hub, a latch pin extending from the hub and a return spring extending from the hub, the actuator and/or the latch pin. The latch pin is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, wherein the latch pin is configured to latch the connector to the device when the latch pin is in the latched position. The actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator moves the latch pin between the latched position and the unlatched position. The return spring is configured to bias the latch pin to the latched position. The actuator, the latch pin and the return spring are integrally integrally formed as a single, unitary body.

Abstract: Pluggable connector including a contact array of electrical contacts for engaging corresponding contacts of a communication component. The pluggable connector also includes a connector housing having a mating end configured to mate with the communication component. The connector housing includes a first housing shell and a second housing shell that oppose each other and are coupled together to define a housing cavity therebetween. The contact array is disposed within the housing cavity. The first housing shell includes a plug collar that surrounds the contact array at the mating end. The plug collar has a leading edge and a back edge. The second housing shell interfaces with the back edge of the plug collar such that the plug collar extends from the second housing shell to the mating end.

Abstract: An EMI gasket for a cage member of an electrical connector assembly includes a base having a metal body section configured to extend along a wall of the cage member. The EMI gasket includes external spring beams extending from the base. The external spring beams are configured to be received in an opening of a bezel mounted to a front end of the cage member and configured to engage the bezel to electrically connect the EMI gasket to the bezel. The external spring beams extend from base ends at the base to distal ends opposite the base ends. The EMI gasket includes a tie bar at the distal ends connecting the distal ends of the external spring beams together. The tie bar has a flange extending outward therefrom. The flange is configured to stop loading of the bezel onto the front end of the cage member.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, signal contacts and ground contacts, and a ground bus bar. The housing has a first side wall and a second side wall that define a socket at the front end of the housing. The socket is configured to receive a mating connector therein. The signal and ground contacts are held in the housing and interspersed along at least one of the first or second side wall. The signal and ground contacts extend into the socket to mate with corresponding mating signal contacts and mating ground contacts, respectively, of the mating connector. The ground bus bar is coupled to the housing at the first side wall of the socket. The ground bus bar includes spring contacts that extend into the socket and are configured to engage corresponding mating ground contacts of the mating connector to electrically common the mating ground contacts.

Abstract: A pluggable connector includes a plug body having a cavity and at least one latch and a cable assembly having electrical contacts and at least one cable terminated to corresponding electrical contacts. The cable assembly has a cable support body engaging and surrounding each electrical contact and each cable. The positions of the electrical contacts and cable are fixed relative to the cable support body. A retention clip is separately provided from and removably coupled to the cable support body. The retention clip has at least one retention tab extending therefrom being received in the cavity such that the retention tab engages the corresponding latch of the plug body to retain the cable assembly in the cavity.

Abstract: A latch is provided for latching a connector to a device. The latch includes a body having an actuator and a latch pin. The latch pin is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch pin is configured to latch the connector to the device when the latch pin is in the latched position. The actuator extends from the latch. The actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator moves latch pin between latched position and the unlatched position. The actuator and the latch pin are integrally fabricated from a same sheet of material as a continuous structure such that the body is a single, unitary body.

Abstract: A plug connector includes a circuit card and a guide frame mounted to the circuit card. The circuit card is held by a housing. The circuit card includes a front edge and opposing outer edges. The circuit card defines a datum hole in a first surface. The circuit card further includes a set of contact pads along the first surface proximate to the front edge. The contact pads are registered relative to the datum hole. The guide frame has a base that has a post. The guide frame includes a frame member that extends from the base. An outer wall of the frame member is registered relative to the post. The post is received in the datum hole of the circuit card such that the outer wall of the frame member is registered relative to the contact pads, independent of locations of the outer edges of the circuit card.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, signal contacts and ground contacts, and a ground bus bar. The housing has a first side wall and a second side wall that define a socket at the front end of the housing. The socket is configured to receive a mating connector therein. The signal and ground contacts are held in the housing and interspersed along at least one of the first or second side wall. The signal and ground contacts extend into the socket to mate with corresponding mating signal contacts and mating ground contacts, respectively, of the mating connector. The ground bus bar is coupled to the housing at the first side wall of the socket. The ground bus bar includes spring contacts that extend into the socket and are configured to engage corresponding mating ground contacts of the mating connector to electrically common the mating ground contacts.

Abstract: A pluggable connector includes a plug body having a cavity and at least one latch and a cable assembly having electrical contacts and at least one cable terminated to corresponding electrical contacts. The cable assembly has a cable support body engaging and surrounding each electrical contact and each cable. The positons of the electrical contacts and cable are fixed relative to the cable support body. A retention clip is separately provided from and removably coupled to the cable support body. The retention clip has at least one retention tab extending therefrom being received in the cavity such that the retention tab engages the corresponding latch of the plug body to retain the cable assembly in the cavity.

Abstract: A latch is provided for latching a connector to a device. The latch includes a body having an actuator and a latch pin. The latch pin is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The latch pin is configured to latch the connector to the device when the latch pin is in the latched position. The actuator extends from the latch. The actuator is configured such that movement of the actuator moves latch pin between latched position and the unlatched position. The actuator and the latch pin are integrally fabricated from a same sheet of material as a continuous structure such that the body is a single, unitary body.

Abstract: Pluggable connector including a connector housing having a mating end that is configured to engage a communication component during a mating operation. The pluggable connector also includes a coupling mechanism that is attached to the connector housing. The coupling mechanism includes a component latch and a biasing finger that engages the component latch. The component latch is rotatable about a pivot axis between open and closed positions and has an operative end that moves relative to the connector housing when the component latch is rotated about the pivot axis. The biasing finger engages the component latch at a contact area that is generally between the pivot axis and the operative end when the component latch rotates from the closed position toward the open position. The biasing finger provides a biasing force at the contact area for rotating the component latch toward the closed position.

Abstract: Pluggable connector including a contact array of electrical contacts for engaging corresponding contacts of a communication component. The pluggable connector also includes a connector housing having a mating end configured to mate with the communication component. The connector housing includes a first housing shell and a second housing shell that oppose each other and are coupled together to define a housing cavity therebetween. The contact array is disposed within the housing cavity. The first housing shell includes a plug collar that surrounds the contact array at the mating end. The plug collar has a leading edge and a back edge. The second housing shell interfaces with the back edge of the plug collar such that the plug collar extends from the second housing shell to the mating end.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, signal modules, and ground plates. The signal modules and ground plates are arranged in a pattern that includes ground plates flanking corresponding pairs of signal modules within the housing. The signal modules have a dielectric body and signal conductors held within the dielectric body. The signal conductors include contact beams protruding from a front edge for electrical termination. Each ground plate has contact beams aligned with the contact beams of the signal modules to provide shielding therebetween. Each signal module has a lateral thickness that is greater than a thickness of each ground plate. The signal conductors of each signal module are offset relative to a central plane of the signal module such that contact spacings between adjacent contact beams are uniform. Optionally, ground tie bars extend through the signal modules and ground plates to electrically common the ground plates.

Abstract: Pluggable connector including a connector housing having a mating end that is configured to engage a communication component during a mating operation. The pluggable connector also includes a coupling mechanism that is attached to the connector housing. The coupling mechanism includes a component latch and a biasing finger that engages the component latch. The component latch is rotatable about a pivot axis between open and closed positions and has an operative end that moves relative to the connector housing when the component latch is rotated about the pivot axis. The biasing finger engages the component latch at a contact area that is generally between the pivot axis and the operative end when the component latch rotates from the closed position toward the open position. The biasing finger provides a biasing force at the contact area for rotating the component latch toward the closed position.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided for latching a pluggable electronic module to a receptacle assembly. The latch assembly includes a yoke assembly having an actuation end that is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A lever is operatively connected to the yoke assembly to move the actuation end of the yoke assembly between the latched and unlatched positions. A latch element is operatively connected to the actuation end of the yoke assembly. The latch element is movable along a latch axis between an extended position and a retracted position as the actuation end is moved between the latched and unlatched positions, respectively. The actuation end of the yoke assembly is configured to float along the latch axis relative to the latch element.