Abstract: A connector includes conductive pins inserted into apertures in a housing. The pins may include a single groove or a pair of opposing grooves in which ribs of the housing are disposed. The ribs may conform to the shape of the grooves to retain the pins in the housing apertures. The apertures may includes an extended side opening that opens onto an upper surface of the housing to enable a contact beam and shielding bar to be inserted from the top. Solder balls may be disposed on an underside of the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.

Abstract: Complementary contact and contact block designs are disclosed that help prevent movement of a contact received in the contact block when an electrical connector is press-fit or otherwise connected to a printed circuit board. A protrusion may be included on one or both beams of a dual beam contact, and a contact cavity may be formed in the contact block. The protrusion and the contact cavity may include complementary shapes such that the protrusion abuts a wall within the contact cavity, preventing the contact from moving relative to the contact block as the electrical connector is connected to a printed circuit board. The protrusion and a wall of the contact cavity additionally may include other complementary shapes (e.g., a radius or angle shape) such that a length of the protrusion abuts the contact cavity wall, providing a longer load bearing surface.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array is arranged in a first pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts. The second linear array is arranged in a second pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts that is different from the first pattern. The signal contacts define differential signal pairs. The signal contacts in the first linear array are elongated along a direction along which the first linear array extends.

Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a linear array of electrical blade contacts is disclosed. Each contact may have a free-ended mating portion that extends from a mate surface of a dielectric base. The first linear array may include a first signal contact, a second signal contact positioned adjacent to the first signal contact and forming a differential signal pair therewith, and a ground contact positioned adjacent to the second signal contact. The first signal contact, the second signal contact, and the ground contact may each be elongated in a direction along the linear array.

Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.

Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first linear array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second linear array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing; electrical contacts connected to the housing; an outer shield connected to the housing; and at least one inner shield mounted along a portion of a front side of the housing. The inner shield includes a general C shaped substantially unvarying and uniform front end, and two legs extending reward from the front end. Each leg comprises a rear end with a portion which extends into the housing to attach the rear end to the housing. The front end of the inner shield is not directly mechanically attached to a front of the outer shield.

Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.

Abstract: Lightweight, low cost, high density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance controlled, high-speed, low interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors, such as low insertion loss. Signal contacts and ground contacts within the connectors can be scaled and positioned relative to one another such that a differential signal in a first differential signal pair produces a high field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair and a low field near an adjacent signal pair. Consequently, cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to acceptable levels for the particular application. In such connectors, the level of cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to the point that the need for (and cost of) shields between adjacent contacts is unnecessary, even in high speed, high signal integrity applications.

Abstract: An electrical connector, comprising: a dielectric base; a plurality of ground or power contacts in the dielectric base; a plurality of signal contacts in the dielectric base and angled relative to the ground or power contacts; and a plurality of solder balls secured to the mounting ends of the ground or power contacts and the signal contacts. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; a plurality of contacts in the apertures; and a plurality of solder balls secured to the mounting ends of the contacts. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing with a mating face positionable adjacent a mating connector and a mounting face positionable adjacent a substrate; at least one contact extending between the mating face and the mounting face of the insulative housing and including a tail portion; and a solder mass secured to the tail portion for securing the electrical connector to the substrate.

Abstract: A contact assembly including an insert molded contact block, a plurality of dual beam signal contact terminals extending through the contact block and a plurality of dual beam ground contact terminals extending through the contact block wherein a portion of each ground contact terminals has an encapsulated formed area within the contact block. The contact block includes a core disposed between the beams of each of the second plurality of dual beam contact terminals.

Abstract: A contact assembly including an insert molded contact block, a plurality of dual beam signal contact terminals extending through the contact block and a plurality of dual beam ground contact terminals extending through the contact block wherein a portion of each ground contact terminals has an encapsulated formed area within the contact block. The contact block includes a core disposed between the beams of each of the second plurality of dual beam contact terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a first conductor and a second conductor. A respective first portion of each conductor is disposed in a first material and a respective second portion of each conductor is disposed in a second material that is different from the first material. The respective first portions axe disposed a first distance apart and the respective second portions jog relative to each other such that an impedance between the first portions is substantially die same as an impedance between the second portions. For example, the conductor pairs may be at one spacing (d1) at portions in air (160) and at a second spacing (d2) at portions that pass through a different dielectric material, such as polymer (150).

Abstract: Lightweight, low cost, high density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance controlled, high-speed, low interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors, such as low insertion loss. Signal contacts and ground contacts within the connectors can be scaled and positioned relative to one another such that a differential signal in a first differential signal pair produces a high field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair and a low field near an adjacent signal pair. Consequently, cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to acceptable levels for the particular application. In such connectors, the level of cross talk between adjacent signal contacts can be limited to the point that the need for (and cost of) shields between adjacent contacts is unnecessary, even in high speed, high signal integrity applications.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a first conductor having a first length and a second conductor having a second length. The impedance between the first and second conductor is substantially constant along the first and second length to allow high speed communications. The impedance between the first and second conductors may be controlled by controlling the spacing between the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A contact having a retention portion, a tail portion and a pair of beams. The beams each have a first portion which displaces the beam from opposite sides of the plane of the retention portion and a second portion extending from, and canted relative to, the first portion. The second portions interact to receive a mating contact therebetween.

Abstract: An optical connector comprising a ferrule, optical conductors, and epoxy. The ferrule has an optical conductor receiving area and guide pin receiving areas. The ferrule comprises at least two ferrule members having shaped surfaces on outer lateral sides which form the guide pin receiving areas. The ferrule members comprise mating projections and recesses proximate the outer lateral sides and between the optical conductor receiving area and the guide pin receiving areas which form epoxy seals. The optical conductors having portions located in the optical conductor receiving area. The epoxy is located in the optical conductor receiving area to connect the portions of the optical conductors to -the ferrule. The epoxy seals prevent the epoxy from flowing into the guide pin receiving areas.

Abstract: An electrical connector mountable to a substrate, including: a frame mountable to the substrate; a housing supported by the frame; and a plurality of contacts extending through said housing and mountable to the substrate. A socket for connecting an electrical component to a substrate, including: a housing; a frame; and a cover. The housing includes: a contact mountable to the substrate and adapted to engage a terminal of the electrical component, and guidance structure. The frame is mountable to the substrate and supports the housing. The cover movably secures to the frame and includes: guidance structure that corresponds to the guidance structure on the housing so that the cover aligns with the housing and can move between a first and a second position; and an opening so that the contact can engage the terminal of the electrical component.