Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrical contact module is provided. First, a lead-frame of electrical conductors is formed, wherein at least one supporting strip is formed in the lead-frame of electrical conductors in such a way as to maintain the electrical conductors in a predetermined position with respect to each other. Then, the lead-frame of electrical conductors is over-molded with a first dielectric material, thereby obtaining a first over-molded lead-frame. At least one aperture is formed in the first over-molded lead-frame so that the at least one supporting strip is accessible. The at least one supporting strip in the first over-molded lead-frame is removed after completion of the over-molding step. A second dielectric material is then over-molded with the first over-molded lead-frame in such manner as to fill the at least one aperture and a space left between the electrical conductors after removal of the at least one supporting strip.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating body, a plurality of terminal units, a plurality of insulating lump units, and a plurality of shielding units. The insulating body has a plurality of receiving holes arranged thereon. Each of the insulating lump units has a terminal fixing slot for mounting the corresponding terminal unit there-through. Each of the shielding units is respectively disposed on the periphery of the corresponding insulating lump unit without contacting the terminal unit mounted thereon. The terminals are disposed in the receiving holes of the insulating body. The insulating lump units can prevent shorting between the terminals and the shielding units, while the shielding units can enhance the anti-EMI capability of the instant connector.

Abstract: Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a plurality of terminal grooves therein and a plurality of terminals received in said terminal grooves. The terminals comprise a plurality of first terminal groups and second terminal groups which are configured as a same structure and alternatively arranged. Each of said first and second terminal groups comprises at least a base portion and an opening portion thereon. The base portion of the first terminal group faces to the opening portion of the neighboring second terminal group, while the opening portion of the first terminal group faces to the base portion of the neighboring second terminal group.

Abstract: A differential connector has a plurality of rows. Each row includes a plurality of signal conductors provided as differential pairs. Each signal conductor has a first contact end connectable to a printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion having a first width. For each differential pair, one first contact end lies along a first line parallel to the plurality of rows and the other first contact end lies along a second line parallel to and spaced from the first line. The differential connector further includes a plurality of ground conductors, with each ground conductor corresponding to a differential pair. Each ground conductor has a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion having a second width that is at least twice the first width.

Abstract: In a media gateway, a single RTM is placed in bi-directional communication with a active TPM and also in bi-directional communication with a backup TPM. This is accomplished in part by implementation of a signaling and control bus interface between the LIU/Framer hardware of the RTM and the control processing unit (CPU) of the TPM. This interface provides for arbitration between multiple control sources, and for snooping of the input connection state and signaling information between the LIU/Framer and any other control entity. The interface also prevents contention by multiple control sources driving signal information to the LIU/Framer device.

Abstract: A Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) is partitioned into Line Cards, I/O Cards, and a midplane to provide enhanced Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability. Each I/O Card provides a cabling interface for coupling an assigned Line Card to other portions of a Hybrid-Fiber-Coax Network. A plurality of RF signals is coupled via connectors between each Line Card and a corresponding I/O Card, via the midplane. This permits a Line Card to be removed for servicing without requiring recabling of the corresponding I/O Card. Preferably, a rectangular-multi-pin collinear connector-cascade (Line Card jack, midplane double-plug, and I/O Card jack) is used to couple the plurality of RF signals. The connector-cascade is configured with protective RF ground pins adjacent and surrounding each of a plurality of RF signal pins.

Abstract: Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a plurality of terminal grooves therein and a plurality of terminals received in said terminal grooves. The terminals comprise a plurality of first terminal groups and second terminal groups which are configured as a same structure and alternatively arranged. Each of said first and second terminal groups comprises at least a base portion and an opening portion thereon. The base portion of the first terminal group faces to the opening portion of the neighboring second terminal group, while the opening portion of the first terminal group faces to the base portion of the neighboring second terminal group.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes an electrical connector and a plurality of termination devices. The electrical connector includes an insulative support wafer, a plurality of interlocking plates attached to the support wafer and defining a plurality of cavities, and at least one electrical contact positioned within a cavity. Each cavity is sized for accepting a termination device. At least one of the interlocking plates is electrically conductive. The at least one electrical contact is supported by the support wafer, electrically isolated from the interlocking plates, and configured to mate with a socket contact of the termination device. Each termination device includes an electrically conductive outer shield element having a front end and a back end, the shield element having a latch member extending therefrom, an insulator disposed within the shield element, and a socket contact supported within and electrically isolated from the shield element by the insulator.

Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) defining a number of passageways (10) and shielding holes (14) arranged among the passageways, a conductive covering (5, 6) provided on a top surface of the insulative housing, a dielectric covering (7, 8) provided on a top surface of the conductive covering, a number of electrical contacts (2) receiving in the passageways and comprising a number of signal contacts (22) and grounding contacts (21), and a plurality of conductive elements (3) received in the shielding holes (14) and electrically connected to the grounding contacts (21) through the conductive covering (5, 6), the conductive elements (3) being insulated from the signal contacts (22).

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and contact modules held in the housing. Each of the contact modules has a first chicklet and a second chicklet coupled together to form a corresponding one of the contact modules. Contacts are held in the contact modules and arranged in differential pairs. A first contact in each of the differential pairs is held by the first chicklet and a second contact in each of the differential pairs is held by the second chicklet.

Abstract: A multipolar plug connector for establishing contact with a multilayer board includes signal contacts that are assigned a first and at least one second screen contact element and are arranged adjacent to the signal contact. Recesses are provided at least on the uppermost Layer of the multilayer board which are suitably sized so as to receive and to lead through at least two screen contact elements assigned to neighboring signal contacts.

Abstract: A high density backplane connector (100) includes a group of terminal pairs (17, 18, 27, 28) arranged along a first direction. Each terminal pair includes a first terminals (12, 22) and a second terminals (14, 24) substantially aligned with each other along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first terminal has a first engaging portion (124, 224) and a first tail portion (125, 225). The second terminal has a second engaging portion (144, 244) extending beyond the first engaging portion and a second tail portion (145, 245). The first and second tail portions of the terminal pairs are arranged substantially in a line.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) defining a number of passageways (10) and shielding holes (14) arranged among the passageways, a conductive covering (5, 6) provided on a top surface of the insulative housing, a dielectric covering (7, 8) provided on a top surface of the conductive covering, a number of electrical contacts (2) receiving in the passageways and comprising a number of signal contacts (22) and grounding contacts (21), and a plurality of conductive elements (3) received in the shielding holes (14) and electrically connected to the grounding contacts (21) through the conductive covering (5, 6), the conductive elements (3) being insulated from the signal contacts (22).

Abstract: The present invention is to provide each of pairs of transmission contact terminals in contact units are arranged between each of two adjacent ground contact terminals. A pair of shielding pieces of each of contact plate is formed to separate fixed terminal portions of the pair of transmission contact terminals of one of the contact unit from those of the adjacent one of the contact unit.

Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a set of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing and arranged in one row, and a metal shell (3) covering the insulative housing. The contacts (2) consist of a first type of grounding contacts (G) and a second type of a set of pairs of differential contacts (21, 22, 23, 24). The metal shell has a receiving space (30) for receiving a matchable plug.

Abstract: A connector includes a wiring board; a lead configured to connect the wiring board electrically to an external board; a conductive layer configured to connect the lead to the wiring board so as to allow the lead to move in predetermined directions relative to the wiring board when the conductive layer is melted; and a reinforcement member configured to reinforce a mechanical connection of the wiring board and the external board.

Abstract: Electrical connectors having improved impedance characteristics are disclosed. Such an electrical connector may include a first electrically conductive contact, and a second electrically conductive contact disposed adjacent to the first contact along a first direction. A mating end of the second contact may be offset in a second direction relative to a mating end of the first contact. Offsetting of contacts within columns of contacts provides capability for adjusting impedance and capacitance characteristics of a connector assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board having vias each extending at least partially through the circuit board along parallel via axes and an electrical connector configured to be mounted on the circuit board. The electrical connector includes a plurality of variable depth signal terminals configured to extend different depths into respective vias of the circuit board. The signal terminals each have a terminal axis, and the signal terminals are arranged in pairs carrying differential pair signals. The signal terminals of each pair extend to the same depth in the respective vias of the circuit board. The terminal axes of the signal terminals of each pair are offset with respect to the corresponding via axes along a majority of the signal terminals within the vias.

Abstract: Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a plurality of terminal grooves therein and extending along a mating direction. A plurality of terminals are designated as signal terminals and grounding terminals and respectively received in said terminal grooves in a manner of two neighboring signal terminals adjacent to one grounding terminal which are designated as a terminal group. The grounding terminal and signal terminals which are in a same terminal group face to each other through a path defined therebetween so as to control impedance of the electrical connector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printed board connector reinforced with a circuit board, and the printed board connector includes an insulating casing, a plurality of signal modules, and a plurality of metal shielding elements. The insulating casing includes a rib. The rib extends a plurality of insulating shielding walls downwardly and the signal modules are received between the insulating shielding walls and are tightly mounted in the rib. The metal shielding elements are received between the insulating shielding walls and are tightly mounted in the rib and the signal modules. When a user presses the printed circuit connector to connect with a circuit board, the rib guides and positions the signal modules and the metal shielding elements, moreover, the rib enhances the strength of the assembling with the circuit board.

Abstract: A connector interface may include an arrangement of contacts in a first connector, and a corresponding, complementary arrangement of contacts in a second connector mating with the contacts of the first connector. The contacts may be signal contacts or ground contacts. When the connectors are mated, a ground may be established between the connectors by the mating of the ground contacts from the respective connectors. The ground contacts in the first connector may be shaped to bridge together an array of ground contacts in the second connector when the connectors are mated. Such bridging tends to establish a continuous ground along the array of ground contacts, creating a more robust ground than in an otherwise identical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) has an insulative housing (10) including a number of receiving passages (100), a number of terminal modules (20) mounted to the insulative housing and located adjacent to another and shielding plates (3). The terminal module has a base (22) including a first side (223), a plurality of terminals (21) secured to the base and a spacer (23) received to the insluative housing. The shielding plates have at least a first shielding plate (30) assembled to the first side (223) of the terminal module and including a number of tines (31) connected to a printed circuit board, and a second shielding plate (40) assembled to the first side of neighboring terminal module and having a connecting section (41) connected to the first shielding plate.

Abstract: A connector with a filter function includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; a plurality of first terminal lines formed on the first surface of the first substrate, each of the first terminal lines being further arranged periodically and repeatedly with a predetermined periodic unit pattern; a case connected to one side end of the first substrate; a second substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other and disposed in the case; and a plurality of second terminal lines having a periodic unit pattern, formed on the first surface of the second substrate, and electrically connected to the first terminal lines on the first substrate.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first and second connector (A, B) engaged with each other. The first connector includes a first housing (20) with a middle plate (205), a number of first contacts (50) arranged into the first housing, a shield shell (10) surrounding the first housing. The second connector includes a second housing (60) defining a receiving slot (603), in which the middle plate of the first housing is seated, a number of second contacts (80) electrically connected to the first contacts in the receiving slot, a grounding element (70) assembled into the second housing and engaged with the shield shell.

Abstract: A plurality of contacts are assembled at prescribed spacings in a longitudinal direction of a receptacle body. Each contact has a meandering curved part in the intermediate portion for elastically contacting the corresponding contact. A ground member extending in a longitudinal direction of the receptacle body and passes through the inner area of the respective meandering curved parts of the contacts is combined with the receptacle body. The ground member is arranged at a position equally distant from the respective parts of the meandering curved part.

Abstract: A contact module is provided for an electrical connector. The contact module includes a lead frame. The lead frame includes first and second differential pairs of terminals. Each of the terminals extends between a mating edge portion and a mounting edge portion. A first dielectric body surrounds at least a portion of the first differential pair of terminals. The first dielectric body includes a first dielectric constant. A second dielectric body surrounds at least a portion of the second differential pair of terminals. The second dielectric body includes a second dielectric constant that is different than the first dielectric constant of the first dielectric body.

Abstract: A cassette includes a housing having a plurality of plug cavities that are separated from adjacent plug cavities by shield elements. The cassette also includes a contact subassembly having a circuit board and a plurality of contacts arranged in contact sets coupled to the circuit board. The contact sets are configured to mate with different plugs. The contact subassembly is loaded into the housing such that the contact sets are received in different plug cavities, wherein the contact sets are separated from adjacent contact sets by the shield elements.

Abstract: A conductive contact holder and a conductive contact unit with improved corrosion resistance and with excellent durability are provided. To this end, there is provided: a holder substrate having a first opening that accepts a signaling conductive contact that inputs and outputs a signal to and from a circuitry, and a second opening that accepts a grounding conductive contact for supplying a ground potential to the circuitry; a first holding member that is inserted into the first opening to hold the signaling conductive contact; and an insulating coat that is made of an insulating material, and covers at least one surface of the holder substrate.

Abstract: Each of the ground contact terminals of a contact unit has a pair of bifurcated terminals located on opposite sides of a pair of transmission contact terminals formed adjacent to each other.

Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.

Abstract: An electrical connector may include a first connector with electrically-conductive contacts. The contacts may have blade-shaped mating ends, and may be arranged in a centerline. The electrical connector may include a second connector with electrically-conductive receptacle contacts, which may also be arranged in a centerline. The connectors may be mated such that the mating portion of a first contact in the second connector may physically contact of a corresponding blade-shaped mating end of a contact in the first connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multipolar plug connector (10a, 10b) for establishing contact with a multilayer board (40), which comprises signal contacts (11a, 11b; 12a, 12b) that are assigned a first and at least one second screen contact element (17a, 17b, 17a?, 17b?; 18a, 18b, 18a?, 18b?) and are arranged adjacent to the signal contact (11a, 11b; 12a, 12b). The plug connector (10a, 19b) is characterized in that recesses (54, 54?, 54?) are provided at least on the uppermost layer (41) of the multilayer board (40) which are suitably sized so as to receive and to lead through at least two screen contact elements (17a?, 17b?; 18a, 18b) assigned to neighboring signal contacts (11a, 11b; 12a, 12b).

Abstract: An electrical contact assembly holder includes a body having a cable interface. A contact holder is attached to the body on a side opposite from the cable interface and is provided with a plurality of contacts arranged in rows. Each of the contacts has a base that secures the contact to the contact holder. At least one electrically conductive plate is disposed inside the body and extends substantially parallel to the contacts from the cable interface to the base of the contacts. The electrically conductive plate is electrically connected to the contacts and has recesses that receive the contacts to separate the rows of the contacts. A resilient tab extends from the electrically conductive plate to an outside of the electrical contact assembly holder. The resilient tab is electrically conductive and is configured to engage a shielding shell of a connector that receives the electrical contact assembly holder.

Abstract: A conductive-contact holder base accommodates at least a signal conductive-contact that is a conductive contact for performing input and output of a signal for a predetermined circuit configuration and a ground conductive-contact that is a conductive contact for supplying a ground potential to the predetermined circuit configuration. A holder base is formed of a conductive material, including a first opening for accommodating the signal conductive-contact; and a second opening for accommodating the ground conductive-contact while maintaining an electrical connection with the ground conductive-contact. An insulating member covers an inner surface of the first opening.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a header and a plurality of electrical cable terminations. Each of the cable terminations includes an electrically conductive housing, at least one signal contact positioned within an interior of the housing and electrically insulated from the housing, and at least two ground contacts extending from an exterior of the housing. The cable terminations are configured to mate with the header such that, for each cable termination, the signal contacts engage corresponding ones of the plurality of signal pins, and the ground contacts engage corresponding ones of the plurality of ground pins when the header and cable terminations are in a mated configuration.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a header and a carrier assembly attachable with the header. The header includes a leading end having a plurality of signal pins that are insertable into an electronic device and a stripline ground plate extending from the leading end toward a mating end. The carrier assembly is coupleable with the mating end of the header and includes a plurality of termination devices. Each termination device includes a cable terminated to a contact that electrically couples with one of the signal pins of the header, an insulator disposed around the contact, and a tubular shield disposed around the insulator. When the carrier assembly is connected to the header, the tubular shield contacts the stripline ground plate to commonly ground each signal pin/contact connection within the electrical connector system.

Abstract: A pluggable connector that includes a housing having an inner surface that defines a housing cavity. The housing cavity extends along a central axis to an opening of the housing cavity. The opening is sized and shaped to mate with a mating connector moving along the central axis. The connector also includes a plug insert that is positioned within the housing cavity. The plug insert extends along the central axis and forms contact cavities therein that extend parallel to the central axis. The plug insert has an outer surface that is separated from the inner surface of the housing by a spacing. The connector also includes differential pairs. Each differential pair has two mating contacts that extend parallel to each other along a contact plane of the differential pair and within corresponding contact cavities. The contact planes of at least two adjacent differential pairs are perpendicular to one another.

Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.

Abstract: A connector system including a header connector with a header body having an internal surface and an external surface. A plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings extend from the internal surface to the external surface of the header body. A plurality of signal pins are inserted into the plurality of first openings to form an array of pin contacts extending from the internal surface of the header body. A plurality of shield blades are inserted into the plurality of second openings. Each of the plurality of shield blades has at a first end thereof a generally right angle shielding portion configured to be disposed adjacent to a corresponding signal pin. The first ends of the plurality of shield blades are substantially coplanar with the internal surface of the header body.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a carrier having opposite first and second sides. A plurality of contacts are held in the carrier. Each contact includes a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The first conductive element defines a conductive path configured to electrically connect an electrical component on the first side of the carrier to an electrical component on the second side of the carrier. The second conductive element provides an electrostatic shield for the first conductive element.

Abstract: A balanced transmission cable connector includes a balanced transmission cable including a plurality of pair electric wires, each of the pair electric wires including a first signal wire, a second signal wire, and a drain wire; a contact assembly body having an insulative block body where first and second signal contacts and a ground contact are alternately arranged in a row direction, the first and second signal contacts facing each other in a line direction, the block body having a rear surface side where first and second signal wire connecting parts being parts of the first and second signal contacts and a drain wire connecting part and a plate-shaped part being a part of the ground contact project; a first groove part where the first signal wire connecting part is provided; a second groove part where the second signal wire connecting part is provided; a slit and an insulative spacer.

Abstract: A mini plug connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a metal shell. The insulative housing has a base, a tongue and a plurality of mounting holes. The tongue protrudes from the base and has a top, a space and at least one top elongated recess. The space and the at least one top elongated recess are defined in the top of the tongue. The terminals are mounted respectively through the mounting holes. The metal shell covers the insulative housing. The at least one top elongated recess prevents the insulative housing from being defective and deforming when the insulative housing is manufactured by an injection molding process.

Abstract: An electrical coupler includes a connector receptacle having multiple modules. The modules each include a pair of signal conductors and a ground plane or shield, held together by a dielectric module body. The shields are between the pairs of conductors in adjacent modules, and provide electrical shielding between the pairs of signal contacts of different modules. The signal conductors and the shields may be coupled to a board, such as a circuit board. The receptacle may be an angled receptacle, such as a right angle receptacle. The signal conductors of each pair in the receptacle may have a predetermined amount of skew, having different effective electrical lengths. This may allow signal paths through the receptacle and the board to have a combined electrical path that is substantially the same for the signal conductor pair of one of the modules.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide each of pairs of transmission contact terminals in contact units are arranged between each of two adjacent ground contact terminals. A pair of shielding pieces of each of contact plate is formed to separate fixed terminal portions of the pair of transmission contact terminals of one of the contact unit from those of the adjacent one of the contact unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector, comprises a housing; a base body having a tongue piece, one surface of the tongue piece is provided with a plurality of first terminal slots, the other surface of the tongue piece is provided with a plurality of second terminal slots, and a gap is provided in the middle portion of the tongue piece; a first terminal assembly respectively received in the first terminal slots; a second terminal assembly respectively received in the second terminal slots; and a grounding piece inserted in the gap of the tongue piece, a contact portion is provided by extending from the end of the grounding piece, when assembly the contact portion is in contact with a grounding terminal of any said terminal assemblies mentioned above, so effects of grounding and prevention of static electricity can be achieved.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and a lead frame held by the housing. The lead frame includes a terminal extending along a length between a mating end portion and a mounting end portion. The terminal is at least partially surrounded by a dielectric core extending a length along at least a portion of the length of the terminal. The dielectric core is metallized such that the core is at least partially surrounded by an electrically conductive shell.

Abstract: A contact module is provided for an electrical connector. The contact module includes a lead frame. The lead frame includes first and second differential pairs of terminals. Each of the terminals extends between a mating edge portion and a mounting edge portion. A first dielectric body surrounds at least a portion of the first differential pair of terminals. The first dielectric body includes a first dielectric constant. A second dielectric body surrounds at least a portion of the second differential pair of terminals. The second dielectric body includes a second dielectric constant that is different than the first dielectric constant of the first dielectric body.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a carrier assembly and a header. The carrier assembly includes a plurality of shielded connectors and a coaxial cable terminated to each of the shielded connectors. The header includes opposed grounding plates each having ground tabs configured for attachment to a circuit board and a plurality of pins disposed between the opposed plates in a stripline configuration. The coaxial cables of the carrier assembly electrically communicate with the circuit board through a stripline configuration of pins in the header.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing defining a connector mating interface. The housing holds a plurality of contact modules that cooperate to define a connector mounting interface. Each contact module contains signal leads and ground leads arranged in an alternating pattern of individual ground leads and pairs of signal leads positioned side-by-side with respect to a thickness of the contact module. The signal and ground leads have respective mating contacts proximate the mating interface and respective mounting contacts proximate the mounting interface. The mating and mounting contacts within each contact module are arranged in one of first and second contact patterns different from the pattern of the signal and ground leads. The mating and mounting contacts in adjacent contact modules are arranged in respective different ones of the first and second contact patterns.