Backplane connector

Claim 2

An organizer for a backplane connector comprising: a first extending portion comprising a plurality of first openings, wherein the plurality of first openings are configured to receive at least one first projecting member from a first side of a plurality of leadframe assemblies, and wherein an end of the first extending portion is configured to by proximate a mating connector side of the plurality of leadfreame assemblies; and a second extending portion connected to the first extending portion, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings configured to receive at least one second projecting member from a second side of the leadframe assemblies, and wherein the second extending portion comprises at least one contact section configured to be electrically connected to a portion of a printed circuit board.

Claim 3

The organizer of claim 1 wherein the organizer is configured to provide electromagnetic shielding.

Claim 4

The organizer of claim 1 wherein the first extending portion and the second extending portion are substantially perpendicular to one another.

Claim 5

The organizer of claim 1 wherein the organizer is configured to maintain the plurality of leadframe assemblies parallel and adjacent to each other.

Claim 6

The organizer of claim 1 wherein the organizer is formed by a stamping process.

Claim 7

The organizer of claim 1 wherein the organizer comprises a scored line section along a middle portion of the organizer.

Claim 8

An organizer for a backplane connector comprising: a first extending portion comprising a plurality of first openings, wherein the plurality of first openings are configured to receive at least one first projecting member from a first side of a plurality of leadframe assemblies; and a second extending portion connected to the first extending portion, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings configured to receive at least one second projecting member from a second side of the leadf rams assemblies, wherein the plurality of second openings are staggered with respect to one another, and wherein the second extending portion comprises at least one contact section configured to be electrically connected to an electronic component.

Claim 9

An organizer for a backplane connector comprising: a first extending portion comprising a plurality of first openings, wherein the plurality of first openings are configured to receive at least one first projecting member from a first side of a plurality of leadframe assemblies; and a second extending portion connected to the first extending portion, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings configured to receive at least one second projecting member from a second side of the leadf rams assemblies, wherein the plurality of second openings are staggered with respect to one another, and wherein the second extending portion comprises at least one contact section configured to be electrically connected to an electronic component.

Claim 10

An electrical connector comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed leadframe assemblies, wherein the leadframe assemblies are supported by an organizer as in claim 1 .

Claim 11

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of adjacently disposed leadf rams assemblies, wherein each of the leadframe assemblies comprises a first side comprising at least one first projecting member, and wherein each of the leadf rams assemblies comprises a second side comprising at least one second projecting member; and a first retainer comprising a first extending portion and a second extending portion, wherein the first extending portion comprises a plurality of first openings which receive the at least one first projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings which receive the at least one second projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, and wherein at least one of the first projecting members or the second projecting members is in electrical contact with the first retainer.

Claim 12

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of adjacently disposed leadf rams assemblies, wherein each of the leadframe assemblies comprises a first side comprising at least one first projecting member, and wherein each of the leadf rams assemblies comprises a second side comprising at least one second projecting member; and a first retainer comprising a first extending portion and a second extending portion, wherein the first extending portion comprises a plurality of first openings which receive the at least one first projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings which receive the at least one second projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, and wherein at least one of the first projecting members or the second projecting members is in electrical contact with the first retainer.

Claim 13

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein one of the at least one first projecting members is a hook and another one of the at least one first projecting members is an alignment feature.

Claim 14

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein one of the at least one second projecting members is a hook and another one of the at least one second projecting members is an alignment feature.

Claim 15

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein one of the at least one first projecting members is a first latch, and wherein one of the at least one second projecting members is a second latch.

Claim 16

The electrical connector of claim 12 wherein the first latch is configured to be deflected by a material thickness of the retainer.

Claim 17

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the second projecting member of one of the plurality of leadf rams assemblies is staggered from the second projecting member of another one of the plurality of leadframe assemblies.

Claim 18

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of leadf rams assemblies further comprises an undercnt region along the second side.

Claim 19

The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein the undercut region is configured to allow shield deflection during assembly of the electrical connector.

Claim 20

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the retainer comprises a scored line section along a middle portion of the retainer.

Claim 21

The electrical connector of claim 9 further comprising a second retainer adjacently disposed to the first retainer.

Claim 22

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein an orientation of the at least one first projecting members are disposed generally opposite to that of an orientation of the at least one second projecting members.

Claim 23

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein each of the leadframe assemblies has a terminal side opposite the first side and a mating side opposite the second side.

Claim 24

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of adjacently disposed leadframe assemblies, wherein each of the leadframe assemblies comprises a first side comprising at least one first projecting member, and wherein each of the leadframe assemblies comprises a second side comprising at least one second projecting member; and a first retainer comprising a first extending portion and a second extending portion, wherein the first extending portion comprises a plurality of first openings which receive the at least one first projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings which receive the at least one second projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, and wherein at least one of the first projecting members or the second projecting members is in electrical contact with the first retainer; wherein a pair of the plurality of leadfrarne assemblies combines to form a slot configured to receive a guide post from a mating electrical connector.

Claim 25

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of adjacently disposed leadframe assemblies, wherein each of the leadframe assemblies comprises a first side comprising at least one first projecting member, and wherein each of the leadframe assemblies comprises a second side comprising at least one second projecting member; and a first retainer comprising a first extending portion and a second extending portion, wherein the first extending portion comprises a plurality of first openings which receive the at least one first projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, wherein the second extending portion comprises a plurality of second openings which receive the at least one second projecting members of each of the leadframe assemblies, and wherein at least one of the first projecting members or the second projecting members is in electrical contact with the first retainer; wherein a pair of the plurality of leadfrarne assemblies combines to form a slot configured to receive a guide post from a mating electrical connector.

Claim 26

A backplane connector comprising: a plurality of first leadframe assemblies, wherein each of the first leadframe assemblies comprises a recessed portion along a mating side of the leadf rams assembly; a plurality of second leadframe assemblies, wherein each of the second leadframe assemblies is disposed adjacent to one of the first leadframe assemblies, and wherein each of the second leadframe assemblies comprises a recessed portion along a mating side of the second leadframe assembly; and a leadframe assembly retainer connected to the plurality of first leadframe assemblies and the plurality of second leadframe assemblies, wherein the first leadf rams assemblies and the second leadf rams assemblies are fixedly disposed adjacent to one another, wherein the recessed portions of the first leadframe assemblies and the second leadframe assemblies combine to form a plurality of slots configured to receive a plurality of guide posts from a mating electrical connector, and wherein a width of each of the slots is greater than a width of the individual recessed portions of the first and second leadf rams assemblies.

Claim 27

A backplane connector comprising: a plurality of first leadframe assemblies, wherein each of the first leadframe assemblies comprises a recessed portion along a mating side of the leadf rams assembly; a plurality of second leadframe assemblies, wherein each of the second leadframe assemblies is disposed adjacent to one of the first leadframe assemblies, and wherein each of the second leadframe assemblies comprises a recessed portion along a mating side of the second leadframe assembly; and a leadframe assembly retainer connected to the plurality of first leadframe assemblies and the plurality of second leadframe assemblies, wherein the first leadf rams assemblies and the second leadf rams assemblies are fixedly disposed adjacent to one another, wherein the recessed portions of the first leadframe assemblies and the second leadframe assemblies combine to form a plurality of slots configured to receive a plurality of guide posts from a mating electrical connector, and wherein a width of each of the slots is greater than a width of the individual recessed portions of the first and second leadf rams assemblies.

Claim 28

The backplane connector of claim 22 wherein the first leadframe assemblies and the second leadframe assemblies each further comprise a plurality of electrically conductive contacts, wherein terminal ends of the conductive contacts extend from a terminal side of the leadf rams assemblies, wherein the terminal ends are configured to engage with a circuit board, and wherein a first side, opposite the terminal side, comprises at least one projecting member.

Claim 29

The backplane connector of claim 23 wherein the projecting members are press-fitted to the leadframe assembly retainer.

Claim 30

The backplane connector of claim 22 wherein the first leadframe assemblies and the second leadframe assemblies each further comprise a plurality of electrically conductive contacts, wherein mating ends of the conductive contacts extend from a mating side of the leadf rams assemblies, wherein the mating ends are configured to engage with a mating electrical connector, and wherein a second side, opposite the mating side, comprises at least one projecting member.

Claim 31

The backplane connector of claim 25 wherein the leadframe assembly retainer snap-fits over the projecting members.

Claim 32

The backplane connector of claim 25 wherein the at least one projecting mewber is a latch.

Claim 33

The backplane connector of claim 25 wherein the at least one projecting member of the first leadframe assembly is staggered from the at least one projecting member of the second leadframe assembly.

Claim 34

The backplane connector of claim 22 wherein the leadframe assembly further comprises a first mating member and a second mating member, wherein the first mating member and the second mating member extend from the mating side.

Claim 35

The backplane connector of claim 22 wherein the leadf rams assembly retainer is configured to provide electromagnetic shielding.