Electrical connector with component grounding plate

Claim 2

An electrical connector comprising: an electrical connector shell; a grounding plate in said shell in electrical contact therewith; a plurality of apertures in said plate; a plurality of electrical contact elements and other electrical components positioned in said shell; said other components each including a central conductor and outer conductive surface surrounding and spaced from said central conductor, said components being mounted in selected apertures in said grounding plate; said outer conductive surfaces being in electrical contact with said grounding plate; and means within said shell electrically connecting said central conductors to selected ones of said electrical contact elements.

Claim 3

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said electrical contact elements extend through selected apertures in said grounding plate.

Claim 4

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 2 including: an electrical filter assembly surrounding at least one of said contacts and being in electrical contact with said grounding plate.

Claim 5

An electrical conductor as set forth in claim 1 wherein: at least one of said electrical contact elements includes separate and spaced pin and socket ends; an insulator in said shell separating said pin and socket ends; and said electrical connecting means connecting in series said pin and socket ends to the central conductor of one of said components.

Claim 6

An electrical conductor as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said electrical connecting means comprises a printed circuit board slidably mounted within said shell; and an insulator in said shell separating said grounding plate from said board.

Claim 7

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said printed circuit board embodies a plurality of contact openings aligned with the central conductors of said components; said insulator being formed with passages therethrough aligned with said contact openings; and said central conductors extending through said passages into said contact openings.

Claim 8

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said components are frictionally mounted in said grounding plate.

Claim 9

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said grounding plate comprises a metal disc formed with a plurality of peripheral spring fingers frictionally and electrically engaging the inner surface of said shell.

Claim 10

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 whereiN: said contact elements are arranged in a circular array coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said shell; and said electrical components are arranged in a generally circular path surrounding said circular array of contact elements.

Claim 11

In an electrical connector having a shell containing a grounding plate and an electrical contact element passing through said plate, the improvement which comprises: an electrical component other than an electrical contact element mounted in said plate; said component including a first conductor and a second conductor, said first conductor being in electrical contact with said plate; and means other than said plate located within said shell electrically connecting said second conductor to said electrical contact element.

Claim 12

In an electrical connector having a shell containing a grounding plate and an electrical contact element passing through said plate, the improvement which comprises: an electrical component other than an electrical contact element mounted in said plate; said component including a first conductor and a second conductor, said first conductor being in electrical contact with said plate; and means other than said plate located within said shell electrically connecting said second conductor to said electrical contact element.

Claim 13

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said electrical connecting means comprises a printed circuit board removably mounted in said shell.

Claim 14

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said electrical component comprises an electromagnetic pulse absorber.

Claim 15

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 12 including: a filter element surrounding said contact element and being electrically connected to said plate.

Claim 16

An electrical connector comprising: an electrical connector shell; front and rear insulator plates positioned in said shell; a relatively flat, thin grounding plane sandwiched between said insulator plates, said plane embodying peripheral fingers frictionally engaging the inner surface of said shell; a plurality of electrical contact elements having opposite ends extending beyond opposite sides of said insulator plates; said grounding plane being formed with a plurality of apertures therein bordered by integral tangs; a plurality of electrical components other than electrical contact elements frictionally positioned in said apertures, said components each including a central conductor and outer conductive surface, said central conductor extending through said rear insulator plate; and a printed circuit board coplanar with and adjacent to said rear insulator plate, said board embodying conductive strips electrically connecting selected contact elements and inner conductors of said components.

Claim 17

An electrical connector comprising: an electrical connector shell; front and rear insulator plates positioned in said shell; a relatively flat, thin grounding plane sandwiched between said insulator plates, said plane embodying peripheral fingers frictionally engaging the inner surface of said shell; a plurality of electrical contact elements having opposite ends extending beyond opposite sides of said insulator plates; said grounding plane being formed with a plurality of apertures therein bordered by integral tangs; a plurality of electrical components other than electrical contact elements frictionally positioned in said apertures, said components each including a central conductor and outer conductive surface, said central conductor extending through said rear insulator plate; and a printed circuit board coplanar with and adjacent to said rear insulator plate, said board embodying conductive strips electrically connecting selected contact elements and inner conductors of said components.