Cross-talk canceling technique for high speed electrical connectors

Claim 2

An electrical connector comprising: a connector housing; a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the housing, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity, opposite to said first polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each column of differential contact pairs; wherein each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 3

The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising: a ground contact disposed at the top of one column of differential contact pairs and a ground contact disposed at the bottom of an adjacent column of differential contact pairs.

Claim 4

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is a right angle connector.

Claim 5

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is a vertical connector.

Claim 6

The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising: a lead frame, each lead frame containing one column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts.

Claim 7

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the connector is adapted to pass signals above 1 Gb/s.

Claim 8

The connector of claim 1 wherein an aspect ratio of gap to pitch between the columns of differential pairs is less than 0.3.

Claim 9

The connector of claim 1 wherein the offset between adjacent columns varies along the length of the differential pair.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 1 wherein the offset is a full pitch.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 1 wherein said connector housing further comprises separable plug and receptacle housings.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 1 wherein no shields are positioned between said columns.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 1 wherein no grounds are positioned between said columns.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 1 , further comprising ground contacts at the top and bottom of at least one of said columns.

Claim 15

An electrical system comprising: a first electrical device; a second electrical device; an electrical connector for electrically connecting the first electrical device to the second electrical device, the connector comprising: a connector housing; a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the housing, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity, opposite to said first polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each column of differential contact pairs; wherein each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 16

An electrical system comprising: a first electrical device; a second electrical device; an electrical connector for electrically connecting the first electrical device to the second electrical device, the connector comprising: a connector housing; a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the housing, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity, opposite to said first polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each column of differential contact pairs; wherein each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 17

The electrical system of claim 14 wherein one of the first and second electrical devices further comprises: a plurality of adjacent columns of vias for electrically connecting the device to the connector wherein the adjacent columns of vias are offset from one another by a distance that differs from the offset between columns of differential contact pairs and ground contacts of the connector.

Claim 18

An electrical connector comprising: a plug comprising: a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the plug, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each column of differential contact pairs; wherein each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair; and a receptacle electrically connected to the plug comprising: a second plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the receptacle, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity; and a second plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each second plurality of columns of differential contact pairs; wherein each second column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 19

An electrical connector comprising: a plug comprising: a plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the plug, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each column of differential contact pairs; wherein each column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair; and a receptacle electrically connected to the plug comprising: a second plurality of columns of differential contact pairs disposed within the receptacle, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity; and a second plurality of ground contacts wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair within each second plurality of columns of differential contact pairs; wherein each second column of differential contact pairs and ground contacts is offset from an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 20

The connector of claim 16 wherein the receptacle is adapted to connect to a cable.

Claim 21

A plug for an electrical connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of lead frames contained within said housing, each said lead frame comprising: a column of contacts arranged as: a plurality of differential contact pairs having terminal pins at both ends thereof, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts having ground pins at both ends thereof, wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair; wherein said differential contact pairs and ground contacts of each said column are offset from those of an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 22

A plug for an electrical connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of lead frames contained within said housing, each said lead frame comprising: a column of contacts arranged as: a plurality of differential contact pairs having terminal pins at both ends thereof, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity; and a plurality of ground contacts having ground pins at both ends thereof, wherein a ground contact is disposed between each differential contact pair; wherein said differential contact pairs and ground contacts of each said column are offset from those of an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 23

The plug of claim 18 wherein no shields are positioned between said lead frames.

Claim 24

The plug of claim 19 wherein no grounds are positioned between said lead frames.

Claim 25

The plug of claim 18 wherein at least one of said columns of contacts includes a ground contact at the top and bottom of said column.

Claim 26

An electrical connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of lead frames contained within said housing, each said lead frame comprising: a column of contacts arranged as: a plurality of differential contact pairs having terminal pins at both ends thereof, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity, opposite from said first polarity; and wherein said differential contact pairs of each said column are offset from those of an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.

Claim 27

An electrical connector comprising: a housing; a plurality of lead frames contained within said housing, each said lead frame comprising: a column of contacts arranged as: a plurality of differential contact pairs having terminal pins at both ends thereof, each differential contact pair including a first signal contact for transmitting a signal having a first polarity and a second signal contact for transmitting a signal having a second polarity, opposite from said first polarity; and wherein said differential contact pairs of each said column are offset from those of an adjacent column such that multi-active cross-talk is reduced with respect to each differential contact pair.