High density coax connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector (22,24) comprising a first and a second electrically conductive housing (22,24), the first electrically conductive housing (22) having at least one row of first passages (12) therein, each first passage (12) extending from a first surface (32) to a second surface (28) of the first housing (22), the second electrically conductive housing (24) having at least one row of second passages (14) therein, each second passage (14) extending from a first surface (30) to a second surface (34) of the second housing (24), each second passage (14) is at an angle relative to the first and the second surface (30,34) of the second housing (14), such that as the first and second housings (22,24) are brought together the passages (12,14) of the respective housings (22,24) align to form terminal receiving passages (12,14) which extend through the connector (22,24), the terminal receiving passages (12,14) having a bend at the juncture of the housings (22,24), terminals (18) positioned in the passages (12,14), each terminal (18) having a first end (50) proximate the first surface (32) of the first housing (22) and a second end proximate the second surface (34) of the second housing (24), the electrical connector being characterized in that: the terminals (18) are configured to follow the shape of the terminal receiving passages (12,14), such that bends (64) are provided in the terminals (18) to allow high speed transmission of a signal transmission across the terminal (18) while minimizing reflection of the signal, thereby ensuring that the high speed signal is properly transmitted across the terminals (18) of the connector (22,24), the first and the second housings (22,24) are metallized plastic such that the properties of the surface layers of the first and the second housings (22,24) have conductive characteristics; dielectric sleeves (48) are coaxially positioned around the terminals (18), portions of the sleeves (48) cooperate with walls of the passages (12,14) and with the terminals (18) to provide spacing between the housing (22,24) and the terminals (18), the dielectric sleeves (48) having spaces provided therein, the spaces providing air gaps which allows the characteristic impedance to be such as to permit the high speed signals to be transmitted properly across the terminals (18).

Claim 3

An electrical connector (22,24) as recited in claim 1 characterized in that the first ends (50) of the terminals (18) are formed into a fork, the fork having arcuate surfaces (60) on one side thereof, the surfaces (60) act as a lead-in when the electrical connector (22,24) is mated to a mating electrical connector (26).

Claim 4

An electrical connector (22,24) as recited in claim 1 characterized in that the dielectric sleeves (48) proximate the first end of the terminals (18) are cylindrical in configuration.

Claim 5

An electrical connector as recited in claim 3 characterized in that the dielectric sleeves 48 have projections (52,54) which cooperate with walls of the passages (12) to provide an interference fit, maintaining the terminals (18) in the passages (12,14), the projections (52,54) also providing an air gap over most of the length of the terminals (18), allowing for controlled impedance.

Claim 6

An electrical connector (22,24) as recited in claim 1 characterized in that the bends (64) are angles which are in the range from one hundred degrees to one hundred seventy degrees.

Claim 7

An electrical connector assembly (2) for connecting conductive areas of a first substrate (4) to conductive areas of a second substrate (6), the connector assembly characterized in that: a first electrical connector (22,24) having electrically conductive housing means (22,24), the housing means (22,24) having at least one row of first terminal receiving passages (12,14) extending from a first surface (32) of the housing means (22,24) to a second surface (34) of the housing means (22,24), the terminal receiving passages (12,14) having a bend therein, first terminals (18) located in the terminal receiving passages (12,14) and having essentially the same configuration as the terminal receiving passages (12,14), the first terminals (18) having a mating end (50) proximate the first surface (32) of the housing means (22,24) and a board engagement end proximate the second surface (34) of the housing means (22,24), dielectric means (48) surrounding the first terminals (18) in the first terminal receiving passages (12,14), the dielectric means (48) insulating the first terminals (18) from the housing means (22,24) and providing spacing to properly position the first terminals (18) in the first terminal receiving passages (12,14); a second electrical connector (26) having electrically conductive housing member means (26), the housing member means (26) having at least one row of second terminal receiving passages (16) extending therethrough, second terminals (20) located in the second terminal receiving passages (16), a mating end (88) of the second terminals (20) cooperating with the mating end (50) of the first terminals (18), dielectric material means (90) surrounding the second terminals (20) in the second terminal receiving passages (16), the dielectric material means (90) insulating the second terminals (20) from the housing member means (26) and providing spacing to properly position the second terminal (20) in the second terminal receiving passages (16); the housing means (22,24) and the housing member means (26) are metallized plastic such that the properties of surfaces of the housing means (22,24) and housing member means (26) have conductive characteristics; and, the dielectric means (48) and the dielectric material means (90) have spaces provided therein, the spaces provide air gaps which allow the characteristic impedance to be such as to permit high speed signals to be transmitted properly across the first and the second terminals (18,20).

Claim 8

An electrical connector assembly (2) for connecting conductive areas of a first substrate (4) to conductive areas of a second substrate (6), the connector assembly characterized in that: a first electrical connector (22,24) having electrically conductive housing means (22,24), the housing means (22,24) having at least one row of first terminal receiving passages (12,14) extending from a first surface (32) of the housing means (22,24) to a second surface (34) of the housing means (22,24), the terminal receiving passages (12,14) having a bend therein, first terminals (18) located in the terminal receiving passages (12,14) and having essentially the same configuration as the terminal receiving passages (12,14), the first terminals (18) having a mating end (50) proximate the first surface (32) of the housing means (22,24) and a board engagement end proximate the second surface (34) of the housing means (22,24), dielectric means (48) surrounding the first terminals (18) in the first terminal receiving passages (12,14), the dielectric means (48) insulating the first terminals (18) from the housing means (22,24) and providing spacing to properly position the first terminals (18) in the first terminal receiving passages (12,14); a second electrical connector (26) having electrically conductive housing member means (26), the housing member means (26) having at least one row of second terminal receiving passages (16) extending therethrough, second terminals (20) located in the second terminal receiving passages (16), a mating end (88) of the second terminals (20) cooperating with the mating end (50) of the first terminals (18), dielectric material means (90) surrounding the second terminals (20) in the second terminal receiving passages (16), the dielectric material means (90) insulating the second terminals (20) from the housing member means (26) and providing spacing to properly position the second terminal (20) in the second terminal receiving passages (16); the housing means (22,24) and the housing member means (26) are metallized plastic such that the properties of surfaces of the housing means (22,24) and housing member means (26) have conductive characteristics; and, the dielectric means (48) and the dielectric material means (90) have spaces provided therein, the spaces provide air gaps which allow the characteristic impedance to be such as to permit high speed signals to be transmitted properly across the first and the second terminals (18,20).

Claim 9

An electrical connector assembly (2) as recited in claim 6 characterized in that each connector (22,24,26) has power and ground busses (100,102,104,106) positioned proximate outside surfaces thereof, the power and ground busses (100,104) of the first connector (22,24) being in alignment with respective power and ground busses (102,106) of the second connector (26) such that electrical engagement is provided between corresponding busses when the connectors (22,24,26) are mated.

Claim 10

An electrical connector assembly (2) as recited in claim 6 characterized in that camming means (118) is provided to cam the first terminals (18) of the first electrical connector (22,24) into electrical engagement with the second terminals (20) of the second electrical connector (26).

Claim 11

An electrical connector assembly (2) as recited in claim 8 characterized in that a power and a ground bus (100,104) of the first electrical connector (22,24) is electrically engaged to a respective power and ground bus (102,106) of the second electrical connector (26) before the first terminals (18) of the first electrical connector (22,24) are cammed into electrical engagement with the second terminals (20) of the second electrical connector (26).

Claim 12

An electrical connector assembly (2) as recited in claim 6 characterized in that the housing means (22,24) of the first connector (22,24) has two parts, a support member (24) and a mating member (22), the bend occurring proximate the juncture of the two members.