Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
A receptacle connector for mating to an opposing plug connector, the opposing plug connector having an insulative housing supporting a plurality of terminals and an outer conductive shell, the receptacle connector comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals including at least one pair of differential signal terminals, said terminals each including contact portions and tail portions and body portions that interconnect said contact and tail portions together; a conductive outer, hollow shell that at least partially encloses the housing and said terminals and defines a hollow receptacle into which the opposing plug connector may be inserted so that an outer surface of said opposing plug connector outer shell abuts an inner surface of said receptacle connector outer shell, the terminal contact portions being disposed within the receptacle connector outer and the terminal body portions being supported by said housing within said shell; said shell including at least one depression formed therein and disposed adjacent to said housing and the depression being further aligned with a body portion of at least one pair of said differential signal terminals, said depression having a front edge proximate to a front edge of said housing, the depression front edge forming a stop surface against which a leading edge of said opposing plug connector outer shell abuts when said opposing plug connector outer shell is fully inserted into said receptacle connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
A receptacle connector for mating to an opposing plug connector, the opposing plug connector having an insulative housing supporting a plurality of terminals and an outer conductive shell, the receptacle connector comprising: an insulative housing supporting a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals including at least one pair of differential signal terminals, said terminals each including contact portions and tail portions and body portions that interconnect said contact and tail portions together; a conductive outer, hollow shell that at least partially encloses the housing and said terminals and defines a hollow receptacle into which the opposing plug connector may be inserted so that an outer surface of said opposing plug connector outer shell abuts an inner surface of said receptacle connector outer shell, the terminal contact portions being disposed within the receptacle connector outer and the terminal body portions being supported by said housing within said shell; said shell including at least one depression formed therein and disposed adjacent to said housing and the depression being further aligned with a body portion of at least one pair of said differential signal terminals, said depression having a front edge proximate to a front edge of said housing, the depression front edge forming a stop surface against which a leading edge of said opposing plug connector outer shell abuts when said opposing plug connector outer shell is fully inserted into said receptacle connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The receptacle connector of claim 1 , wherein said depression is formed as a dimple in said shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The receptacle connector of claim 2 , wherein said dimple has a body portion that is collinear with said opposing plug connector outer shell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
The receptacle connector of claim 2 , wherein said dimple has a body portion and said receptacle connector outer shell has a first inner surface that is spaced apart from said terminal contact portions a first distance and said dimple defines a second inner surface of said receptacle connector outer shell, different than the receptacle connector outer shell first inner surface, the receptacle connector outer shell second inner surface being spaced closer to said terminal body portions than said receptacle connector outer shell first inner surface is spaced from said terminal contact portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The receptacle connector of claim 4 , wherein said dimple extends over said body portions of said differential signal terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The receptacle connector of claim 4 , wherein said dimple is rectangular in configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
A connector for use in high speed applications, the connector comprising: an insulative housing, the housing having a body portion with a front face and a support portion extending forwardly of the body portion front face; a plurality of conductive terminals supported by said housing, the terminals including body portions supported in said housing body portion and contact portions supported by the housing support portion, the contact portions being exposed forwardly of said housing front face, the terminal tail portions being exposed proximate a rear end of said housing; a metal shell covering said housing, the metal shell having a body portion that is spaced from said terminal contact portions a first distance, and said metal shell further including a plurality of non-flexable depressions formed therein and disposed in opposition to said terminal body portions, the depressions each having a bottom portion that is spaced from said terminal body portions a second distance, the second distance being less than said first distance, whereby said depressions affect impedance of said terminals in said body portions; wherein said non-flexible depressions include front edges that provide a stop surface for an opposing mating connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
A connector for use in high speed applications, the connector comprising: an insulative housing, the housing having a body portion with a front face and a support portion extending forwardly of the body portion front face; a plurality of conductive terminals supported by said housing, the terminals including body portions supported in said housing body portion and contact portions supported by the housing support portion, the contact portions being exposed forwardly of said housing front face, the terminal tail portions being exposed proximate a rear end of said housing; a metal shell covering said housing, the metal shell having a body portion that is spaced from said terminal contact portions a first distance, and said metal shell further including a plurality of non-flexable depressions formed therein and disposed in opposition to said terminal body portions, the depressions each having a bottom portion that is spaced from said terminal body portions a second distance, the second distance being less than said first distance, whereby said depressions affect impedance of said terminals in said body portions; wherein said non-flexible depressions include front edges that provide a stop surface for an opposing mating connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said depression bottom portions are disposed adjacent said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said terminals are spaced apart from each other widthwise along said housing support portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector of claim 9 , wherein said depressions are spaced apart from each other widthwise along said shell.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of claim 9 , wherein said depressions are spaced apart from each other widthwise along said shell and each of said depressions is aligned with a pair of terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said depressions are rectangular in shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said metal shell includes four depressions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said depressions are disposed in a top portion of said metal shell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connector of claim 7 , wherein said depressions are disposed in top and bottom portions of said metal shell.