Connectors with ground structure

Claim 1

An electrical connector for electrically and mechanically interconnecting a circuit assembly having a plurality of contact regions and a mating connector having first side walls, a plurality of first contact portions arranged in rows and columns within the first side walls and at least one second side contact portion, the electrical connector comprising: a plurality of electrical contact elements wherein: each of the contact elements has a first contact and a second contact, the first contacts are arranged in rows and columns for contacting the first contact portions, and each one of the contact elements includes a middle portion configured such that their second contacts extend at an angle with respect to the first contacts, a housing including: a conductive base having a plurality of passages arranged in rows and columns extending through the base, the contact elements positioned in the passages, a plurality of insulative blocks positioned in the passages, the having passages, the contact elements being in the block passages such that their first contacts are on a first side of the base in a contact region and their second contacts are on a second side of the base, and conductive baffles positioned between and spaced from columns of the middle portions of the contact elements, the baffles being connected to the conductive base.