Multi-row connector with ground plane board

Claim 1

The combination of: an electrical connector having an insulative shell, a plurality of spaced metallic connector pins arranged in at least two parallel rows of said connector pins in said shell, said pins being adapted on one end thereof to mate with a like plurality of similarly arranged pins in another connector, said pins having the other ends thereof protruding from the backside of said insulative shell and being adapted to have the ends of electrical wires electrically secured thereto, and an insulative board of substantially rectangular shape having first and second opposed planar surfaces, said board having at least one metallic foil strip formed on at least one of said surfaces, said board having an edge thereof interposed between adjacent ones of said parallel rows of said connector pins, said edge of said board having portions thereof abutting said backside of said insulative shell, said surfaces of said board being positioned substantially perpendicular to said backside of said insulative shell and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said connector pins, said surfaces of said board extending above said backside of said insulative shell in the space between said adjacent ones of said parallel rows of said connector pins; said at least one metallic foil strip being electrically connected to one of said connector pins, said board providing a means for securing and electrically terminating the shields surrounding said electrical wires by soldering said shields to said at least one metallic foil strip.