EP0492944A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A high density connector system
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1991-12-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A high density, high frequency connector system (10) has first and second mating connector members (12, 70) each member including a multi-row array of signal contact members (52, 102) disposed in columns, each said signal contact member being secured in a respective passageway. A multi-row array of ground contact members (58,110) is disposed between the columns of signal contact members (52, 102) each of the ground contact members (52, 102) having at least a body section secured in a respective profiled slot (42, 94). Each profiled slot (42, 94) has a width selected to be greater than the thickness of the ground body section and means for maintaining the respective ground body sections centered within the respective otherwise wider slot to define air reservoirs of a controlled width on both sides of each ground contact member.
Inventors
- 👤 James Lee Fedder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/646; H01R13/6473; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A system (10) for establishing an array of ground connections between first and second mating connectors (12,70) of a connector assembly requiring impedance control, each of the first and second connectors (12,70) of said assembly including a dielectric housing (14,72) a multi-row array of signal contact members (52,102) disposed in columns in respective housings (14,72) each said signal contact member (52,102) being secured in a respective passageway (38,92) thereof, and a multi-row array of ground contact members (58,110) disposed in said housing (14,72) between said columns of signal contact members (52,102) and between said rows of signal contact members (52,102); each of said ground contact members (58,110)has at least a body section (60,112) secured in a respective profiled slot (42,94) said slot (42,94) having a width selected to be greater than the thickness of said ground body section (60,112); and means for maintaining said respective ground body sections (60,112) centered within said respective otherwise wider slot (42,94) to define air reservoirs of a controlled width on both sides of each said ground contact member (58,110); whereby the signal contact members (52,102) may be closely spaced in the connectors (12,70) in a manner necessarily reducing the amount of dielectric housing structure between adjacent signal contact members (52,102) in a row thereof, and the connector impedance assuredly controlled by precisely defined air reservoirs on each side of each ground contact member (58,110).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 1 further characterized in that said ground contact member (58,110) has a unitary body section (60,112) and said means for maintaining said ground body section within said slot (42,94) comprises snugly fitting recesses portions at the ends thereof and a plurality of spaced oppositely facing first and second vertical ribs extending into said slot (42,94) and against opposite sides of the ground body section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a transverse body section of said ground contact member (58,110) is disposed in said respective slot such that said section intersects all rows of said signal contact members (52,102) and is spaced between respective columns thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a transverse body section of said ground contact member (58,110) is disposed in said respective slot such that said section intersects at least two of said plurality of rows of said signal contact members (52,102) and is spaced between respective columns thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said ground contact member (59,110) has a first transverse body section (60,112) including a bifurcated portion having arms (62,115) extending outwardly in the same plane as the body section, each of said arms being disposed in a respective slot that intersects at least two of said plurality of rows of said signal contact members (52,102) and is spaced between respective columns thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
228 words
An improved electrical connector (12) for use in a connector system requiring impedance control, the connector including a housing (14) having a multi-row array of signal contact members (52) disposed in columns thereof, each said signal contact member (52) being secured in a respective passageway (38) of said housing (14); a multi-row array of ground contact members (58) disposed in respective slots (42) within said housing (12), said ground contact members 58 being positioned between said columns of signal contact members (52) and between said rows of signal contact members, the improvement characterized in that: each said ground contact receiving slot (46) is profiled to receive at least a body section (60) of said respective ground contact member (58), said slot (46) having a width selected to be greater than the thickness of said around body section (60); and means for maintaining said respective ground body section (60) centered within said respective otherwise wider slot to define air reservoirs (46) of a controlled width on both sides of each said ground contact member (58), whereby the signal contact members (52) may be closely spaced in the connector (12) in a manner necessarily reducing the amount of dielectric housing structure between adjacent signal contact members in a row thereof, and the connector impedance assuredly controlled by precisely defined air reservoirs on each side of each ground contact member (58).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improved connector of claim 6 wherein saids ground contact member (58) has a unitary body section (60) and said means for maintaining said ground body section (60) within said slot (42) comprises snugly fitting recesses portions (44) at the ends thereof and a plurality of spaced oppositely facing first and second vertical ribs (48) extending into said slot (42) and against opposite sides of the ground body section (60).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved connector of claim 6 wherein a transverse body section (60) of said ground contact member (58) is disposed in said respective slot (42) such that said section intersects all rows of said signal contact members (52) and is spaced between respective columns thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The improved connector of claim 6 wherein a transverse body section (60) of said ground contact member (58) is disposed in said respective slot such that said section (60) intersects at least two of said plurality of rows of said signal contact members (52) and is spaced between respective columns thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improved connector of claim 6 wherein said ground contact member 58 has a first transverse body section (60) including a bifurcated portion having arms (62) extending outwardly in the same plane as the body section (60), each of said arms (62) being disposed in a respective slot that intersects at least two of said plurality of rows of said signal contact members (52) and is spaced between respective columns thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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