Abstract: A connector brick for a cable communication system includes a header frame including end spacers and side spacers defining a header opening. The header frame is configured for mating with a circuit card. A plurality of cable connectors are received in the header opening and connected to the header frame. Each cable connector has cables extending therefrom. Each cable connector has a header holding signal contacts at a mating end of the header and configured for mating with a corresponding card connector of the circuit card. Float mechanisms extend from the header frame. The float mechanisms allow limited movement in at least two directions of the header frame. The float mechanisms allow alignment of the header frame with the circuit card. The cable connectors float with the header frame as a unit for mating with the corresponding card connectors.

Abstract: An electrical power contact includes a mating segment having a mating interface at which the electrical power contact is configured to mate with a mating contact. The mating segment includes an electrically conductive base layer, and an electrically conductive outer layer that includes the mating interface. The mating segment also includes a circuit protection layer that extends between the base layer and the outer layer. The circuit protection layer provides an electrical pathway between the base layer and the outer layer. The circuit protection layer includes a selectively conductive material that is configured to open the electrical pathway between the base layer and the outer layer when an electrical current above a predetermined threshold is passed through the circuit protection layer.

Abstract: A wire lug connector includes a lug having a termination end configured to be terminated to a conductor of a wire. The lug has a conductive base at a mounting end configured to be mounted to a substrate. The base has a plurality of compliant pins extending from a bottom of the base. The compliant pins are electrically connected to the conductor by the base. The compliant pins are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to the substrate. The compliant pins may have double ended press-fit sections at opposite heads and tails of the compliant pins that are press-fit into corresponding openings in the base and vias in the substrate.

Abstract: A connector brick for a cable communication system includes a header frame including end spacers and side spacers defining a header opening. The header frame is configured for mating with a circuit card. A plurality of cable connectors are received in the header opening and connected to the header frame. Each cable connector has cables extending therefrom. Each cable connector has a header holding signal contacts at a mating end of the header and configured for mating with a corresponding card connector of the circuit card. Float mechanisms extend from the header frame. The float mechanisms allow limited movement in at least two directions of the header frame. The float mechanisms allow alignment of the header frame with the circuit card. The cable connectors float with the header frame as a unit for mating with the corresponding card connectors.

Abstract: An electrical cable includes at least one conductor assembly. Each conductor assembly includes at least one inner conductor that extends along a length, an insulator, and a shield layer. The insulator engages and surrounds a surface of the at least one inner conductor. The insulator is composed of a dielectric material. The shield layer engages and surrounds an outer perimeter of the insulator. The shield layer is formed of a conductive plastic material to provide electrical shielding for the at least one inner conductor and flexibility.

Abstract: An electrical power contact includes a mating segment having a mating interface at which the electrical power contact is configured to mate with a mating contact. The mating segment includes an electrically conductive base layer, and an electrically conductive outer layer that includes the mating interface. The mating segment also includes a circuit protection layer that extends between the base layer and the outer layer. The circuit protection layer provides an electrical pathway between the base layer and the outer layer. The circuit protection layer includes a selectively conductive material that is configured to open the electrical pathway between the base layer and the outer layer when an electrical current above a predetermined threshold is passed through the circuit protection layer.

Abstract: An electrical cable includes at least one conductor assembly. Each conductor assembly includes at least one inner conductor that extends along a length, an insulator, and a shield layer. The insulator engages and surrounds a surface of the at least one inner conductor. The insulator is composed of a dielectric material. The shield layer engages and surrounds an outer perimeter of the insulator. The shield layer is formed of a conductive plastic material to provide electrical shielding for the at least one inner conductor and flexibility.

Abstract: A connector brick for a cable communication system includes a header frame including end spacers and side spacers defining a header opening. The header frame is configured for mating with a circuit card. A plurality of cable connectors are received in the header opening and connected to the header frame. Each cable connector has cables extending therefrom. Each cable connector has a header holding signal contacts at a mating end of the header and configured for mating with a corresponding card connector of the circuit card. Float mechanisms extend from the header frame. The float mechanisms allow limited movement in at least two directions of the header frame. The float mechanisms allow alignment of the header frame with the circuit card. The cable connectors float with the header frame as a unit for mating with the corresponding card connectors.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane having a plurality of openings extending between a front and a rear of the backplane. The backplane has mounting locations proximate the openings. Mounting blocks are coupled to the front of the backplane at corresponding mounting locations. The mounting blocks are secured to the backplane by fasteners. A cable rack is coupled to the rear of the backplane and has a tray with a frame surrounding a raceway and spacers coupled to the tray. The spacers hold corresponding cable connectors and are secured to corresponding mounting blocks to position the spacers and cable connector assemblies relative to the backplane. The cable connectors are received in corresponding openings in the backplane and are held in position relative to the backplane by the spacers and mounting blocks.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane and a chassis supporting the backplane. A cable rack is coupled to the chassis and backplane. The cable rack includes upper trays and lower trays each having a frame and cable connector assemblies held by the corresponding frame. The upper trays have upper tray guides configured to interact with corresponding upper chassis guides on the upper support for supporting the upper trays relative to the backplane. The lower trays have lower tray guides configured to interact with corresponding lower chassis guides on the lower support for aligning the lower trays to the backplane. The upper trays have upper hanging guides and the lower trays have lower hanging guides coupled to corresponding upper hanging guides to support the lower trays with the corresponding upper trays relative to the backplane.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane having a plurality of openings therethrough and a plurality of mounting blocks. A cable rack is coupled to a rear of the backplane and includes a tray having a frame surrounding a raceway. Spacers are coupled to the tray that are secured to corresponding mounting blocks to position the spacers relative to the backplane. Cable connector assemblies are held by the tray. Each cable connector assembly has a plurality of cables extending between at least two cable connectors. The cables are routed in the raceway. Each cable connector assembly is positioned between and supported by corresponding spacers on opposite sides of the cable connector assemblies. The spacers allow limited movement of the cable connectors in at least two directions to allow alignment of the cable connectors within corresponding openings in the backplane.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane having board areas surrounding a connector opening with holes in the board areas along the connector opening. Stiffeners are coupled to corresponding board areas along a front of the backplane. The stiffeners have bores aligned with corresponding holes in the backplane. A cable rack is coupled to the rear of the backplane. The cable rack has a tray with a frame surrounding a raceway and spacers coupled to the tray that hold corresponding cable connectors. The spacers have guide pins extending therefrom that pass through the holes in the backplane into corresponding bores in the stiffeners to position the spacers relative to the stiffeners and the backplane. The cable connectors are received in the connector opening in the backplane and held in position relative to the backplane by the spacers and stiffeners.

Abstract: A wire lug connector includes a lug having a termination end configured to be terminated to a conductor of a wire. The lug has a conductive base at a mounting end configured to be mounted to a substrate. The base has a plurality of compliant pins extending from a bottom of the base. The compliant pins are electrically connected to the conductor by the base. The compliant pins are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to the substrate. The compliant pins may have double ended press-fit sections at opposite heads and tails of the compliant pins that are press-fit into corresponding openings in the base and vias in the substrate.

Abstract: Backplane communication system including a backplane and a rack assembly having an array of electrical connectors with respective mating ends. The backplane communication system also includes a plurality of guide pins that each have a cross-sectional diameter taken transverse to an axis of the guide pin. The backplane interfaces with the rack assembly such that the guide pins extend through guide holes of the backplane and the electrical connectors are aligned with mating windows. Each of the guide pins has a leading segment that extends through the corresponding guide hole and a trailing segment that is disposed within the corresponding guide hole. The cross-sectional diameter along the trailing segment is greater than the cross-sectional diameter along the leading segment.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane and a cable rack coupled to the backplane. The cable rack includes first and second trays having first and second frames. A plurality of cable connector assemblies are held by the cable rack each having a plurality of cables extending between a first cable connector and a second cable connector. The first cable connector is coupled to the first frame and the second cable connector is coupled to the second frame with the cables routed in first and second raceways of the first and second trays. Float mechanisms are connected between the first and second frames that allow limited movement between the first and second trays. The float mechanisms allow alignment of the cable connectors with corresponding openings in the backplane.

Abstract: Electrical contact having a body portion and a compliant contact tail that is coupled to the body portion and configured to be inserted into a plated thru-hole (PTH). The contact tail extends from the body portion along a central axis to a leading end. The contact tail includes first and second compliant regions that are located between the leading end and the body portion. The contact tail has a joint region that joins the first and second compliant regions. Each of the first and second compliant regions is dimensioned to mechanically engage the PTH when inserted therein. The joint region is dimensioned smaller than the first and second compliant regions such that the joint region moves freely through the PTH.

Abstract: An electrical bridge is provided for electrically connecting first and second electronic modules that include first and second external chassis, respectively. The electrical bridge includes a rigid housing extending along a fixed path from a first end to a second end, and first and second electrical contacts held by the housing. The first and second electrical contacts are positioned at the first and second ends, respectively, of the housing. An electrical pathway is defined within the housing from the first electrical contact to the second electrical contact such that the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected. The first and second ends of the housing are configured to be mounted to the first and second external chassis, respectively, such that the first and second electrical contacts are configured to mate with, and thereby electrically connect to, the first and second electronic modules, respectively.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane having a plurality of openings therethrough. A cable rack is coupled to a rear of the backplane, which includes a tray and spacers coupled to the tray that have guide pins. Cable connector assemblies are held by the tray. Removable dust caps are coupled to corresponding cable connectors each having a distal end and guide walls extending therefrom that guide mating of the cable rack with the backplane. The distal end of each dust cap is received in a corresponding opening in the backplane. The guide walls guide the cable rack relative to the backplane such that the guide pins of the spacers are aligned with guide holes of the backplane and such that the cable connectors are aligned with the openings of the backplane. The removable dust caps are removed after the cable rack is coupled to the backplane.

Abstract: A cable backplane system includes a backplane having a plurality of openings therethrough and a cable rack coupled to a rear of the backplane. The cable rack includes a tray having a frame surrounding a raceway and a brick held by the tray. The brick has side spacers at opposite sides of the brick and plates coupled to the side spacers that support a plurality of cable connector assemblies. Each cable connector assembly is positioned between and supported by corresponding plates on opposite sides of the cable connectors with the cable connectors positioned in corresponding openings in the backplane. The plates each include a hem folded over at a rear of the plate. The hem has an edge positioned rearward of the cable connectors and supporting the cable connectors from retreating from the openings in the backplane.

Abstract: Backplane communication system including a backplane and a rack assembly having an array of electrical connectors with respective mating ends. The backplane communication system also includes a plurality of guide pins that each have a cross-sectional diameter taken transverse to an axis of the guide pin. The backplane interfaces with the rack assembly such that the guide pins extend through guide holes of the backplane and the electrical connectors are aligned with mating windows. Each of the guide pins has a leading segment that extends through the corresponding guide hole and a trailing segment that is disposed within the corresponding guide hole. The cross-sectional diameter along the trailing segment is greater than the cross-sectional diameter along the leading segment.