Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A shielded electrical connector for mating
with a complementary connector along a mating axis,
comprising: a dielectric housing having a mating portion; an outer conductive shield surrounding at least
the mating portion of the housing; a cross-shaped ground plate structure disposed in
the mating portion of the housing when the electrical
connector is mated with the complementary connector, the
cross-shaped ground plate structure defining four plate
edges and four quadrants; at least one terminal mounted in the mating
portion of the housing in at least some of the quadrants
defined by the cross-shaped ground plate structure; and a pair of outboard terminals mounted in the
mating portion of the housing, a contact portion of each
outboard terminal being located generally between said
shield and one of said plate edges of the cross-shaped
ground plate structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The shielded electrical connector of claim 1,
including two pairs of outboard terminals mounted in the
mating portion of the housing, each pair being generally
between said shield and one of a pair of opposite plate
edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The shielded electrical connector of claim 2,
wherein said cross-shaped ground plate structure includes
first and second generally planar ground plates, said first
ground plate being generally perpendicular to said second
ground plate, and said pairs of outboard terminals lying
generally in the plane of said first ground plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The shielded electrical connector of claim 1
wherein said mating portion of said housing includes a
generally rectangular base having a predetermined first
thickness and a pair of wing portions having a
predetermined second thickness and extending from opposite
sides of said rectangular base, said second thickness being
less than said first thickness, said at least one signal
terminal being mounted in said rectangular base and one of
said outboard terminals being mounted along each of said
wing portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The shielded electrical connector of claim 2
wherein said mating portion of said housing includes a
generally rectangular base having a predetermined first
thickness and a pair of wing portions having a
predetermined second thickness and extending from opposite
sides of said rectangular base, said second thickness being
less than said first thickness, said at least one signal
terminal being mounted in said rectangular base and the
terminals of each pair of said outboard terminals being
mounted along opposite sides of one of said wing portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The shielded electrical connector of claim 5,
wherein said cross-shaped ground plate structure includes
first and second generally planar ground plates, said first
ground plate being generally perpendicular to said second
ground plate, and said pairs of outboard terminals lying
generally in the plane of said first ground plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The shielded electrical connector of any of
the foregoing claims, wherein the electrical connector is
a right angle connector, said ground plate structure
includes a generally planar horizontal plate and a
generally planar vertical plate, said at least one terminal
includes a right angle portion generally perpendicular to
said mating axis, and said contact portions of said
outboard terminals are located generally along the plane of
the horizontal plate.