Edge card connector assembly with tuned impedance terminals

Claim 1

A connector for providing a connection between a circuit board and an opposing electronic element, the circuit board having a plurality of conductive traces disposed thereon and the opposing electronic element including a male portion having a plurality of conductive members disposed thereon, comprising: an insulative connector housing having first and second ends interconnected by an intervening body portion, the first end being a mating end including a receptacle portion for mating with said opposing electronic element and the second end being a mounting end for mounting said connector housing to said circuit board, the connector housing including a plurality of first and second terminal-receiving cavities; a plurality of conductive terminals disposed in said cavities, the terminals being arranged in distinct sets of first and second terminals, the first and second terminals including contact portions for contacting a corresponding conductive member of said opposing electronic element, mounting portions for mounting said terminals to a circuit board, body portions interconnecting the terminal contact and mounting portions together, and retention portions for retaining said terminals in place within said connector housing, the terminal retention portions being disposed intermediate said terminal contact and terminal mounting portions, each of the first cavities receiving a single first terminal therein and each of the second cavities receiving a single second terminal therein and said second terminals including two retention portions disposed thereon intermediate said second terminal contact and mounting portions; and, said second terminal retention portions including openings disposed therein, the openings being centrally located within said terminal retention portions and being of sufficient size so as not to weaken the retention of said second terminals within said connector housing by said terminal retention portions.