Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. The circuit board has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. Signal pathways are provided on the first surface. The signal pathways have signal pathway ends abutting a mounting end of the circuit board. First ground pathways are provided on the first surface. The first ground pathways are positioned adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. The first ground pathways have first ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. One or more second ground pathways are provided on the second surface. The one or more second ground pathways have second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. The positioning of the signal pathway ends, the first ground pathway ends and the second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end reduces crosstalk between signal pairs.

Abstract: A circuit board for use in a modular electrical connector. The circuit board has a first surface and an oppositely facing second surface. Signal pathways are provided on the first surface. The signal pathways have signal pathway ends abutting a mounting end of the circuit board. First ground pathways are provided on the first surface. The first ground pathways are positioned adjacent at least one of the signal pathways. The first ground pathways have first ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. One or more second ground pathways are provided on the second surface. The one or more second ground pathways have second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end of the circuit board. The positioning of the signal pathway ends, the first ground pathway ends and the second ground pathway ends abutting the mounting end reduces crosstalk between signal pairs.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a cable having wire pairs and contacts in contact pairs. The contacts of the contact pairs may be simultaneously crimped to the corresponding wires by a crimp tool. Pair holders hold the contact pairs with an overmolded body molded around supporting bases of the contacts of the contact pair to fix relative positions of the contacts. The cable connector includes a pair shield having shield elements forming shield pockets receiving wire pairs, contact pairs, and pair holders. The cable connector includes a retainer having a retainer cavity that receives the wire pairs and the pair shield. The retainer includes a contact support to support the pair holders and the contact pairs. The cable connector includes an outer shell having an outer shell cavity that receives the retainer and provides electrical shielding for the contact pairs.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a cable having wire pairs and contacts in contact pairs. The contacts of the contact pairs may be simultaneously crimped to the corresponding wires by a crimp tool. Pair holders hold the contact pairs with an overmolded body molded around supporting bases of the contacts of the contact pair to fix relative positions of the contacts. The cable connector includes a pair shield having shield elements forming shield pockets receiving wire pairs, contact pairs, and pair holders. The cable connector includes a retainer having a retainer cavity that receives the wire pairs and the pair shield. The retainer includes a contact support to support the pair holders and the contact pairs. The cable connector includes an outer shell having an outer shell cavity that receives the retainer and provides electrical shielding for the contact pairs.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use in an electrical connector system which controls cross talk and signal radiation. The electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of modules. The modules have mating ends and mounting ends. Signal contacts are positioned in the modules. The signal contacts extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends and are arranged in pairs to carry differential signals. Ground contacts are positioned in the modules. The ground contacts extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends. Respective ground contacts of the ground contacts are positioned adjacent to respective signal contacts of the signal contacts. Ground plates are positioned in the modules. The ground plates extend between the mating ends and the mounting ends, the ground contacts are electrically connected to the ground plates.

Abstract: A shield member for use in a modular electrical connector. The shield member includes mounting sections and shielding sections. The mounting sections are for mounting to a substrate. The shielding sections have first sections and second sections. The second sections are positioned in a different plane than the first sections. Transition sections extend between the first sections and the second sections. Substrate receiving slots are provided in the first sections and the second sections. Resilient portions are provided on either side of the substrate receiving slots. Contact surfaces extend into the substrate receiving slots. The resilient portions cause a normal force to be applied to the contact surfaces to maintain the contact surfaces in mechanical and electrical engagement with respective ground traces of modules of the modular electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly which controls cross talk and signal radiation. Signal pathways are provided on modules in a first connector housing, with the signal pathways being arranged in differential pairs. Second ground pathways are positioned between side surfaces of the modules and respective signal pathways of the signal pathways. Signal contacts are positioned in the second connector housing. Second ground contacts are positioned in the second connector housing. The second ground contacts are positioned between side surfaces of the second modules and respective signal contacts of the signal contacts. The second ground pathways engage the second ground contacts of the second modules to balance the differential pairs of signal pathways to optimize impedance and shielding of the signal pathways.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a conductive shell, a dielectric holder, and electrical contacts. The conductive shell defines a cavity. The dielectric holder is disposed within the cavity. The electrical contacts are mounted to the dielectric holder within the cavity and are arranged in pairs. The pairs include multiple pairs in a cancellation arrangement and an isolated pair spaced apart from the pairs in the cancellation arrangement. A separation distance from the isolated pair to a closest neighboring electrical contact of the electrical contacts is greater than respective separation distances from each of the pairs in the cancellation arrangement to corresponding closest neighboring electrical contacts of the electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a base that includes first and second side edges, and a forward edge that extends between the first and second side edges. At least one contact arm extends from the forward edge of the base for making electrical contact with a contact pad. Each of the first and second side edges defines one or more protrusions configured to engage an interior portion of a connector housing for securing the electrical contact within the connector housing. The one or more protrusions on the first side edge are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the one or more protrusions on the second side edge such that respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the first side edge are misaligned with respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the second side edge.

Abstract: An electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector includes a first region having a first length in a longitudinal direction, and a second region having a second length in the longitudinal direction that is greater than the first length. The first region is arranged to contact a first arm of the connector and the second region is arranged to contact a second arm of the connector. The first length being smaller than the second length results in a beneficial increases the impedance of the electrical contact pad. A chamfered edge of the contact pad results in an additional beneficial increase in the impedance of the electrical contact pad.

Abstract: An electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector includes first, second and third regions. The first region is connected to a trace. The second region is adjacent to the first region and has a width less than the first region. The third region is adjacent to the second region and has a width that is greater than the second region. The third region is sized to make contact with a connector. Having the width of the second region be smaller than the width of the first and third regions increases an impedance of the electrical contact pad.

Abstract: A shroud that forms part of an electrical connector for securing a plurality of circuit wafers within the electrical connector includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a plurality of vertical members extending between the top and bottom walls that define a plurality of slots for receiving the plurality of circuit wafers. Each vertical member includes a first side that faces a second side of an adjacent vertical member. The first side defines top, middle, and bottom surface regions that are spaced apart from the second side of the adjacent vertical member by a first distance, and first and second recessed surface regions between the top, middle, and bottom surface regions that are spaced apart from the second side of the adjacent vertical member by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. The first and second recessed surface regions are positioned so as to prevent direct contact between the vertical members and one or more high-frequency traces disposed on the plurality of circuit wafers.

Abstract: An electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector includes first, second and third regions. The first region is connected to a trace. The second region is adjacent to the first region and has a width less than the first region. The third region is adjacent to the second region and has a width that is greater than the second region. The third region is sized to make contact with a connector. Having the width of the second region be smaller than the width of the first and third regions increases an impedance of the electrical contact pad.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a base that includes first and second side edges, and a forward edge that extends between the first and second side edges. At least one contact arm extends from the forward edge of the base for making electrical contact with a contact pad. Each of the first and second side edges defines one or more protrusions configured to engage an interior portion of a connector housing for securing the electrical contact within the connector housing. The one or more protrusions on the first side edge are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the one or more protrusions on the second side edge such that respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the first side edge are misaligned with respective centers of each of the one or more protrusions on the second side edge.

Abstract: An electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector includes a first region having a first length in a longitudinal direction, and a second region having a second length in the longitudinal direction that is greater than the first length. The first region is arranged to contact a first arm of the connector and the second region is arranged to contact a second arm of the connector. The first length being smaller than the second length results in an increase in the impedance of the electrical contact pad as compared to typical contact pads which tend to correspond to low impedance regions.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a plurality of electrical conductors. The electrical connector includes a terminal subassembly having terminals configured to be electrically connected to the electrical conductors. The terminal subassembly has an insulator holding the terminals. The terminal subassembly has a mating interface where mating surfaces of the terminals mate with a mating connector. The mating interface of the terminal subassembly is approximately flat. The electrical connector also includes a metal shell holding the terminal subassembly. The metal shell has the cross-sectional shape of an oval.