Shielded electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector element of the type having a plurality of conductive signal contacts disposed in columns, the signal contacts being elongated with an elongated axis and being adapted to mate with conductive contacts in a mating connector element, the electrical connector comprising at least one conductive shield disposed between adjacent columns of signal contacts, the shield having means for engaging one of said conductive contacts in said mating connector element and at least one elongated opening separate from the means for engaging running parallel to the elongated axis of said conductive signal contacts, wherein the shield comprises a conductive plate substantially in one plane and the means for engaging one of said conductive contacts in said mating connector element comprises a contact portion attached to the plate out of said plane, the contact portion being adapted to mete with a conductive contact in a mating connector element.

Claim 3

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the at least one elongated opening comprises a plurality of elongated openings.

Claim 4

The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein each column of signal contacts comprises a plurality of contacts and the elongated openings are centered between adjacent ones of the plurality of contacts.

Claim 5

The electrical connector of claim 1: a) additionally comprising an insulative housing having columns of first shaped cavities and second shaped activities between the colts of first shaped cavities; b) wherein the columns of conductive signal contacts are inserted in the first shaped cavities; and c) wherein the shield is inserted in one of the second shaped cavities.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 1 additionally comprising an insulative housing and wherein the signal contacts and shield are partially embedded within the insulative housing, the elongated openings in the shield being free of insulative material of the housing.

Claim 7

The electrical connector of claim 1: wherein the at least one elongated opening comprises an elongated opening in the plate on each side of the contact portion.

Claim 8

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the elongated opening comprises a hole through the shield, the hole being surrounded by the shield.

Claim 9

An electrical connector of the type having a plurality of contacts disposed in rows and columns embedded in an insulative housing, the connector comprising a plurality of conductive plates in the insulative housing between adjacent ones of said columns of said contacts, the plates having tab portions extending between contacts in adjacent ones of said rows.

Claim 10

An electrical connector of the type having a plurality of contacts disposed in rows and columns embedded in an insulative housing, the connector comprising a plurality of conductive plates in the insulative housing between adjacent ones of said columns of said contacts, the plates having tab portions extending between contacts in adjacent ones of said rows.

Claim 11

The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein each plate is connected to at least one of said contacts.

Claim 12

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein two of said plates are connected to the same one of said contacts.

Claim 13

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein each tab portion extends away from the contact connected to the plate to which the tab is attached.

Claim 14

The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the plurality of contacts are pin receptacles.

Claim 15

The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the plurality of conductive plates are connected to tail portions adapted to be attached to a printed circuit board.

Claim 16

The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the electrical connector is attached to a printed circuit board having a plurality of traces thereon, at least some of the traces being ground traces, and wherein each of the plates is electrically connected to a ground trace.

Claim 17

The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein each of the tabs is formed by bending the tab portion perpendicular to the plate.

Claim 18

The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein each plate includes an aperture adjacent the tab portion.

Claim 19

A two piece electrical connector comprising: a) a first housing having a plurality of cavities disposed in rows and columns formed therein; b) a first plurality of contact elements, each disposed in one of the cavities; c) a second housing adapted to mate with the first housing; d) a second plurality of contact elements attached to the second housing, the second plurality of contact elements positioned to be inserted into the cavities when the first and second housings are mated; e) a plurality of shield members, each positioned between adjacent columns of said cavities, and each having a means comprising an aperture in the shield member for adjusting the capacitance between each shield member and at least one of the first plurality of contact elements, wherein each shield comprises means for shielding contacts in adjacent rows.

Claim 20

A two piece electrical connector comprising: a) a first housing having a plurality of cavities disposed in rows and columns formed therein; b) a first plurality of contact elements, each disposed in one of the cavities; c) a second housing adapted to mate with the first housing; d) a second plurality of contact elements attached to the second housing, the second plurality of contact elements positioned to be inserted into the cavities when the first and second housings are mated; e) a plurality of shield members, each positioned between adjacent columns of said cavities, and each having a means comprising an aperture in the shield member for adjusting the capacitance between each shield member and at least one of the first plurality of contact elements, wherein each shield comprises means for shielding contacts in adjacent rows.

Claim 21

The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein the aperture comprises a rectangular aperture.

Claim 22

The electrical connector of claim 17 wherein the means for shielding comprises tabs integrally formed from the shield member.

Claim 23

A printed circuit board assembly incorporating the connector of claim 17 comprising: a) a first printed circuit board having the first housing attached thereto; and b) a second printed circuit board having the second housing attached thereto.

Claim 24

A two piece electrical connector comprising: a) a first housing having a plurality of cavities disposed in rows and columns formed therein; b) a first plurality of contact elements, each disposed in one of the cavities; c) a second housing adapted to mate with the first housing; d) a second plurality of contact element attached to the second housing, the second plurality of contact elements positioned to be inserted into the cavities when the first and second housings are mated; e) a plurality of shield members, each positioned between adjacent columns of said cavities, and each having a means comprising an aperture in the shield member for adjusting the capacitance between each shield member and at least one of the first plurality of contact elements wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises pin receptacles and the second plurality of contacts comprises pins and each of the plurality of shield members is electrically connected to one of the pin receptacles.

Claim 25

A two piece electrical connector comprising: a) a first housing having a plurality of cavities disposed in rows and columns formed therein; b) a first plurality of contact elements, each disposed in one of the cavities; c) a second housing adapted to mate with the first housing; d) a second plurality of contact element attached to the second housing, the second plurality of contact elements positioned to be inserted into the cavities when the first and second housings are mated; e) a plurality of shield members, each positioned between adjacent columns of said cavities, and each having a means comprising an aperture in the shield member for adjusting the capacitance between each shield member and at least one of the first plurality of contact elements wherein the first plurality of contacts comprises pin receptacles and the second plurality of contacts comprises pins and each of the plurality of shield members is electrically connected to one of the pin receptacles.

Claim 26

The electrical connector of claim 21 wherein selected ones of the shield members are integrally formed from the same conductive sheet.