Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) includes an insulating housing (12) and assembled thereto a plurality of terminal modules (30) and electrically conductive shields (60) therebetween. Each terminal module (30) includes an alternating pattern of first and second contacts (42,44), the intermediate portions (50) thereof being formed at selected locations therealong such that the intermediate portions of the first contacts (42) are encapsulated in the insulating web (54) proximate a first side surface (32) and the intermediate portions of the second contacts (44) are encapsulated in the web (54) proximate the second major surface (34) of the module. In the assembled connector (10), the first contacts (42) are spaced more closely to shield (60) along surface (32) and the second contacts (44) are spaced more closely to shield (60) along surface (34) thereby assuring primary coupling between each signal contact (40) and a respective ground shield (60) rather than to an adjacent signal contact (40).

Abstract: A method for making an electrical article includes: providing a conductive lead frame having a first contact section (129) adapted to be electrically and mechanically secured to a discrete second conductive member (144) and a holding section proximate the first contact section (129) adapted to hold a portion of the discrete second conductive member (144); positioning a discrete second conductive member (144) on the holding section with a first connecting end (146) in engagement with the first contact section (129)of the lead frame; terminating the second member (144) to the contact section (129), the lead frame and the second conductive member (144) defining a subassembly; overmolding the subassembly with dielectric material at least over portions of the lead frame and the second conductive member; and removing at least the holding section from the overmolded subassembly thereby defining an electrical article.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) includes an insulating housing (12) and assembled thereto a plurality of terminal modules (30) and electrically conductive shields (80) therebetween. Each terminal module (30) has a plurality of contacts (36) including a mating contact portion (38), a conductor connecting portion (42) and an intermediate portion (40) therebetween with some or all of the intermediate portions encapsulated in an insulative web (56). Each of the modules (30) has an electrically conductive shield (80) mounted thereto. The connector assembly (10) is characterized in that each shield (80) includes at least a first resilient arm (98) in electrical engagement with a selected one of the contacts in the module to which the shield (80) is mounted and at least a second resilient arm (99) extending outwardly from the module and adapted for electrical engagement with an other selected contact in an adjacent terminal module (30) of the connector assembly (10).