Abstract: Electrical connector including a connector housing having a mating side that faces in a mating direction. The mating side configured to engage a mating connector. The electrical connector also includes an electrical contact held by the connector housing. The electrical contact includes a common body section and first, second, and third contact beams that are arranged along the mating side and have respective contact bases coupled to the body section. Each of the first, second, and third contact beams extend in the mating direction from the respective contact base to a respective distal end. Each of the first, second, and third contact beams has a beam length that is measured from the respective contact base to the respective distal end. The beam lengths of the first, second, and third contact beams being different from one another.

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 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: Electrical connector including a connector housing having a mating side facing in a mating direction along an engagement axis. The mating side extends along a lateral axis and an orientation axis that are perpendicular to each other and the engagement axis. The connector housing also includes first and second end sides facing in opposite directions along the lateral axis and a top side facing in a direction along the orientation axis. The top side extends between the first and second end sides and is substantially planar from the first end side to the second end side. The electrical connector also includes first and second mating regions that are defined by the first and second end sides, respectively. Each of the first and second mating regions includes electrical contacts and a guide feature, wherein at least some of the electrical contacts and the guide feature are aligned with one another.

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. 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 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 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: 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: 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: Electrical connector including a connector housing having a mating side facing in a mating direction along an engagement axis. The mating side extends along a lateral axis and an orientation axis that are perpendicular to each other and the engagement axis. The connector housing also includes first and second end sides facing in opposite directions along the lateral axis and a top side facing in a direction along the orientation axis. The top side extends between the first and second end sides and is substantially planar from the first end side to the second end side. The electrical connector also includes first and second mating regions that are defined by the first and second end sides, respectively. Each of the first and second mating regions includes electrical contacts and a guide feature, wherein at least some of the electrical contacts and the guide feature are aligned with one another.

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: Electrical connector including a connector housing having a mating side that faces in a mating direction. The mating side configured to engage a mating connector. The electrical connector also includes an electrical contact held by the connector housing. The electrical contact includes a common body section and first, second, and third contact beams that are arranged along the mating side and have respective contact bases coupled to the body section. Each of the first, second, and third contact beams extend in the mating direction from the respective contact base to a respective distal end. Each of the first, second, and third contact beams has a beam length that is measured from the respective contact base to the respective distal end. The beam lengths of the first, second, and third contact beams being different from one another.

Abstract: A heat sink includes a base having a structure side and an opposite environmental side. The structure side of the base is configured to thermally communicate with a structure for absorbing heat from the structure. A cooling fin extends a height outwardly from the environmental side of the base. The cooling fin extends a cord length along the base from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the cooling fin. The cooling fin includes the cross-sectional shape of an airfoil along at least a portion of the height of the cooling fin to increase the velocity of a flow of air along the cord length of the cooling fin.

Abstract: A connector assembly including an actuator body that extends along a central longitudinal axis between a pair of connector ends. The actuator body is movable along the longitudinal axis and has an actuator cam feature. The connector assembly also includes an assembly frame that is operatively coupled to the actuator body and is movable along a mating axis that is non-parallel relative to the longitudinal axis. The assembly frame defines a connector compartment and has a frame cam feature that is positioned to engage the actuator cam feature. The actuator and frame cam features slidably engage each other when the actuator body is moved along the longitudinal axis thereby moving the assembly frame along the mating axis. The connector assembly also includes a mating connector that is held by the assembly frame within the connector compartment. The assembly frame is configured to move the mating connector in a mating direction.

Abstract: A connector assembly including an assembly housing having a leading end, a back end, and an interior cavity extending therebetween. The interior cavity opens to the leading end. The connector assembly also includes a communication connector that is disposed in the interior cavity proximate to the leading end and movably held therein. The connector assembly also includes a board connector located a distance away from the communication connector. The connector assembly also includes a flexible cable assembly that has communication cables extending between and communicatively coupling the board connector and the communication connector. The communication connector is configured to engage a mating connector when the communication connector and the mating connector are mated along a mating axis. The communication connector and the cables are permitted to float relative to the assembly housing when the communication connector mates with the mating connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cage member with walls that define an upper port and a lower port. The cage member has openings in a front thereof for receiving pluggable modules. A receptacle connector is received in the cage member proximate to a rear thereof. The electrical connector assembly includes a printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface. The printed circuit board has at least one thermal vent that extends therethrough between the first and second surfaces. At least one thermal vent provides cooling for the lower port.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cage member with walls that define an upper port and a lower port. The cage member has openings in a front thereof for receiving pluggable modules. A receptacle connector is received in the cage member proximate to a rear thereof. The electrical connector assembly includes a printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface. The printed circuit board has at least one thermal vent that extends therethrough between the first and second surfaces. At least one thermal vent provides cooling for the lower port.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes contact modules each holding a plurality of contacts with dielectric frames surrounding corresponding contacts. The contacts are arranged as differential pairs each having a positive contact and a negative contact. The contacts are arranged along rows and columns with the positive and negative contacts of each pair being in the same row. The contacts are divided into a first group of contacts and a second group of contacts. The contacts within the first group of contacts have a first row pitch and the contacts within the second group of contacts have a second row pitch. A void is provided between the first group of contacts and the second group of contacts having a width at least twice the first row pitch and at least twice the second row pitch.

Abstract: A connector assembly including an assembly housing having a leading end, a back end, and an interior cavity extending therebetween. The interior cavity opens to the leading end. The connector assembly also includes a communication connector that is disposed in the interior cavity proximate to the leading end and movably held therein. The connector assembly also includes a board connector located a distance away from the communication connector. The connector assembly also includes a flexible cable assembly that has communication cables extending between and communicatively coupling the board connector and the communication connector. The communication connector is configured to engage a mating connector when the communication connector and the mating connector are mated along a mating axis. The communication connector and the cables are permitted to float relative to the assembly housing when the communication connector mates with the mating connector.