Abstract: A modular connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end and a mounting end opposite the mating end. The mating end is configured to be mated with a header connector and the mounting end is configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The housing has a plurality of individual chambers separated by chamber walls. Contact assemblies are received in corresponding chambers. Each contact assembly has a dielectric body holding a differential pair of receptacle signal contacts configured to be terminated to the circuit board and mated with corresponding header signal contacts of the header connector. Each contact assembly has a ground shield coupled to an exterior of the dielectric body providing electrical shielding for the differential pair of receptacle signal contacts from other pairs of receptacle signal contacts.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly held by the conductive holder. The conductive holder has a first holder member and second holder member coupled to the first holder member. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second holder members divided into a plurality of channels by first tabs of the first holder member and second tabs of the second holder member. The first tabs have posts extending therefrom and the second tabs have holes receiving the posts of the first tabs. Each post has a plurality of termination points with the corresponding tab. The first and second holder members are electrically connected to one another at the termination points. The first and second tabs pass between contacts of the frame assembly to provide electrical shielding therebetween.

Abstract: A modular connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end and a mounting end opposite the mating end. The mating end is configured to be mated with a header connector and the mounting end is configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The housing has a plurality of individual chambers separated by chamber walls. Contact assemblies are received in corresponding chambers. Each contact assembly has a dielectric body holding a differential pair of receptacle signal contacts configured to be terminated to the circuit board and mated with corresponding header signal contacts of the header connector. Each contact assembly has a ground shield coupled to an exterior of the dielectric body providing electrical shielding for the differential pair of receptacle signal contacts from other pairs of receptacle signal contacts.

Abstract: A header connector includes a header housing holding a plurality of header signal contacts and header ground contacts at least partially surrounding corresponding header signal contacts. A ground bracket is coupled to the header housing. The ground bracket is electrically conductive. The ground bracket is electrically connected to each of the header ground contacts to electrically common each of the header ground contacts.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly. A plurality of contact modules are coupled to the front housing. Each contact module includes right and left conductive shells. Each conductive shell holds a frame assembly including a plurality of contacts that extend from the conductive shell for electrical termination. A commoning clip is coupled to the plurality of contact modules. The commoning clip has grounding beams extending forward of the right and left conductive shells for electrical connection to header shields of the header assembly. The commoning clip includes a plurality of openings in a rear thereof with barbs along sides of the openings. Each opening receives right and left conductive shells of a corresponding contact module with the barbs engaging the right and left shells to electrically connect the commoning clip to both the right and left shells of each contact module.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly. A plurality of contact modules are coupled to the front housing. Each contact module includes right and left conductive shells. Each conductive shell holds a frame assembly including a plurality of contacts that extend from the conductive shell for electrical termination. A commoning clip is coupled to the plurality of contact modules. The commoning clip has grounding beams extending forward of the right and left conductive shells for electrical connection to header shields of the header assembly. The commoning clip includes a plurality of openings in a rear thereof with barbs along sides of the openings. Each opening receives right and left conductive shells of a corresponding contact module with the barbs engaging the right and left shells to electrically connect the commoning clip to both the right and left shells of each contact module.

Abstract: A connector system having right angle, board-mounted header and receptacle connectors includes both a power interface and a signal interface for transmitting power and data signals there between. Optionally, the connectors may have features that allow the corresponding circuit boards to be offset. The connectors may have features that provide guidance for alignment of the header and receptacle connectors. The connectors may have features to enhance the electrical performance of the conductors defining the signal paths through the connector system. The connectors may have features that orient the components of the header and receptacle connectors for mounting to the circuit boards to maintain the true positions of the contacts for mounting to the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a receptacle connector having a receptacle housing holding a plurality of receptacle signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals. The receptacle housing has a front face. The system includes a header connector coupled to the receptacle connector. The header connector includes a header housing holding a plurality of header signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals and mated with corresponding receptacle signal contacts. The header housing has a front face that opposes the front face of the receptacle housing when coupled thereto with a gap being defined between the front faces. Gap fillers are provided within the gap. The gap fillers are conductive and include deflectable spring fingers. The gap fillers provide impedance control for the header signal contacts along the gap.

Abstract: A header connector includes a header housing holding a plurality of header signal contacts and header ground contacts at least partially surrounding corresponding header signal contacts. A ground bracket is coupled to the header housing. The ground bracket is electrically conductive.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end being configured for mating with a mating connector assembly. The housing holds a plurality of contacts configured for mating with corresponding contacts of the mating connector assembly. The housing has horizontal alignment features at the mating end for horizontally aligning the housing with the mating connector assembly. The housing has vertical alignment features at the mating end for vertically aligning the housing with the mating connector assembly. The vertical alignment features are separate from the horizontal alignment features.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly has a front housing configured to be mated with a header assembly. A contact module is coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder that has an open first side and a closed second side. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second sides. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. A frame assembly is received in the chamber through the open first side. The frame assembly includes a first dielectric frame that has a plurality of contacts and a second dielectric frame that has a plurality of contacts. The first and second dielectric frames both are received in the chamber of the conductive holder. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A ground shield is coupled to the conductive holder and closes the open first side. The ground shield is electrically connected to the conductive holder.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly and a contact module coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder that has a first side and an opposite second side. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. The conductive holder holds a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame that supports the contacts. The dielectric frame is received in the conductive holder. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A first ground shield is coupled to the first side, is electrically connected to the conductive holder and has grounding beams and grounding fingers that extend forward of the front of the conductive holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header shield of the header assembly.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly for a midplane connector system has a receptacle housing having openings receiving signal contacts and ground shields of a header assembly. The receptacle assembly includes contact modules coupled to the receptacle housing that each have a leadframe, a dielectric frame and a ground shield. The leadframe has signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals that are generally arranged along a leadframe plane with mating portions at ends thereof that have at least two points of contact electrically connected to a corresponding signal contact of the header assembly. The dielectric frame holds the signal contacts. The ground shield is coupled to a side of the dielectric frame and has ground tabs extending into the dielectric frame to provide electrical shielding between the pairs of signal contacts and grounding beams electrically connected to ground shields of the header assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a receptacle connector having a receptacle housing holding a plurality of receptacle signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals. The receptacle housing has a front face. The system includes a header connector coupled to the receptacle connector. The header connector includes a header housing holding a plurality of header signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals and mated with corresponding receptacle signal contacts. The header housing has a front face that opposes the front face of the receptacle housing when coupled thereto with a gap being defined between the front faces. Gap fillers are provided within the gap. The gap fillers are conductive and include deflectable spring fingers. The gap fillers provide impedance control for the header signal contacts along the gap.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end being configured for mating with a mating connector assembly. The housing holds a plurality of contacts configured for mating with corresponding contacts of the mating connector assembly. The housing has horizontal alignment features at the mating end for horizontally aligning the housing with the mating connector assembly. The housing has vertical alignment features at the mating end for vertically aligning the housing with the mating connector assembly. The vertical alignment features are separate from the horizontal alignment features.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly for a midplane connector system has a receptacle housing having openings receiving signal contacts and ground shields of a header assembly. The receptacle assembly includes contact modules coupled to the receptacle housing that each have a leadframe, a dielectric frame and a ground shield. The leadframe has signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals that are generally arranged along a leadframe plane with mating portions at ends thereof that have at least two points of contact electrically connected to a corresponding signal contact of the header assembly. The dielectric frame holds the signal contacts. The ground shield is coupled to a side of the dielectric frame and has ground tabs extending into the dielectric frame to provide electrical shielding between the pairs of signal contacts and grounding beams electrically connected to ground shields of the header assembly.

Abstract: A connector system having right angle, board-mounted header and receptacle connectors includes both a power interface and a signal interface for transmitting power and data signals there between. Optionally, the connectors may have features that allow the corresponding circuit boards to be offset. The connectors may have features that provide guidance for alignment of the header and receptacle connectors. The connectors may have features to enhance the electrical performance of the conductors defining the signal paths through the connector system. The connectors may have features that orient the components of the header and receptacle connectors for mounting to the circuit boards to maintain the true positions of the contacts for mounting to the circuit board.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a front housing having a mating end and a loading end. The front housing has pockets at the loading end separated by separating walls having slots therethrough open at rears thereof. The front housing receives contact modules in corresponding pockets each having a holder holding a plurality of contacts between first and second side walls. The holders have embossments extending from the first side walls proximate to the fronts of the holders. The embossments are loaded into corresponding slots through the rears of the separating walls to control positions of the contact modules with respect to the front housing.

Abstract: A latch for securing a circuit card assembly to a circuit board mounted card edge connector includes first and second arms disposed on opposite ends of the card edge connector. The first and second arms define a reception space that receives the circuit card assembly. The first arm has a deflectable spring latch that is movable between a released position and a latched position. The circuit card assembly is secured by the spring latch in the latched position. The second arm has a latch hook that is configured to hook around and engage a portion of the circuit card assembly during mating of the circuit card assembly and the card edge connector. The latch hook defines a pivot point for pivoting the circuit card assembly into the card edge connector during mating of the circuit card assembly and the card edge connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector system may include a plurality of wafer assemblies. Each wafer assembly may include a first overmolded array of electrical contacts defining a plurality of apertures; a second overmolded array of electrical contacts configured to be assembled with the first overmolded array of electrical contacts, the second overmolded array of electrical contacts defining a plurality of apertures; and a conductive ground bracket positioned in the wafer assembly between the first overmolded array of electrical contacts and the second array of electrical contacts. The conductive ground bracket defines a first array of ridges, each ridge of the first array of ridges positioned in an aperture of the first overmolded array of electrical contacts. The conductive ground bracket defines a second array of ridges, each ridge of the second array of ridges positioned in an aperture of the second overmolded array of electrical contacts.