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An electrical connector assembly suitable for use in a matrix assembly. The electrical connector assembly has two connectors, each assembled from wafers. The individual wafers are sheilded and separate shield pieces are positioned in one connector transverse to the wafers in that connector. Addition

An electrical connector assembly suitable for use in a matrix assembly. The electrical connector assembly has two connectors, each assembled from wafers. The individual wafers are sheilded and separate shield pieces are positioned in one connector transverse to the wafers in that connector. Additionally, wafers in at least one of the connectors includes a compliant portion that allows the two connectors to be self-aligning.

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1. A matrix connector comprising:a) a plurailty of subassemblies, each having a plurality of conductive elements disposed in a column such conductive element having a mating contact portion;b) a plurality of first type shields each first type shield member disposed parallel to and adjacent a column

1. A matrix connector comprising:a) a plurailty of subassemblies, each having a plurality of conductive elements disposed in a column such conductive element having a mating contact portion;b) a plurality of first type shields each first type shield member disposed parallel to and adjacent a column of conductive elements in a subassembly;c) a plurality of second type shields, each electrically connected to at least one first type shield, said second type shields having portions disposed between adjacent mating contact portions of signal conductors on the same subassembly, andd) wherein each of the first and second type shields have edge and the electrical connection between a first type shield and a second type shield is provided by a contact comprising:i) a first opening along an edge of a selected one of said first or second type shields, the opening sized to receive an edge of the other of said first or second type shields; andii) a second opening in the selected one of the shields, the second opening spaced from the first opening by a portion of the selected shield, thereby creating a beam that is pressed into the other of said shields when inserted into the first opening. 2. The connector of claim 1 additionally comprising an organizer comprising an insulative housing attached to the subassemblies. 3. The matrix connector of claim 2 wherein the insulative housing has a plurality of slots formed therein and each of the subassemblies has an insulative portion which include a tab engaged in one of the slots. 4. The matrix connector of claim 1 additionally comprising an organizer made of metal holding the subassemblies in parallel. 5. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein each of the subassemblies has an insulative portion molded around the plurality of conductive elements. 6. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein the conductive elements in each of the subassemblies has a mating contact portion that comprises a pin. 7. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein each of the subassemblies has a first face and a second face with the mating contact portions of the conductive elements extending from the first face and with the first face and the second face are orthogonal to each other. 8. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein the contact comprises a third opening in the selected one of the shields creating a second beam in the selected one of the shields passing into the other of said shield in opposition to the beam. 9. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein first type shields each comprise a contact tail, adapted for making electrical connection to a printed circuit board, whereby the second type shields are electrically connected to the printed circuit board through shields of the first type. 10. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein each of the second type shields is connected to each of the first type shields. 11. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein each of the second type shields includes a plurality of contact regions, adapted to make electrical connection to a shield in a mating electrical connector. 12. The matrix connector of claim 1 additionally comprising a the cap made of an insulator, wherein the mating contact portions of the conductive elements is disposed within the cap. 13. The matrix connector of claim 12 wherein the cap comprises a plurality of side walls adapted for receiving a mating connector therebetween. 14. The matrix connector of claim 1 wherein each of conductive elements additionally comprises a contact tail and the connector additionally comprises a printed circuit board, with the contact tails electrically connected to the printed circuit board. 15. The matrix connector of claim 14 in a matrix assembly comprising a first plurality of boards mounted parallel to said printed circuit board and a second plurality of printed circuit boards mounted perpendicular to said board. 16. A matrix connector assembly comprising:a) a first connector, comprising:i) a plurality of first type subassemblies, each having an insulative portion and each with a plurality of conductive elements embedded therein, each conductive element having a mating contact portion extending from a first face of the insulative portion and a contact tail extending from a second face of the insulative portion, each of the first type subassemblies disposed in parallel with the mating contact portions disposed in a rectangular array in a mating area;ii) a plurality of first type shields each first type shield disposed parallel to and adjacent at least one of the first type subassembly;iii) a plurality of second type shields, each electrically connected to at least one first type shield, said second type shields having mating portions disposed in the mating area between adjacent mating contact portions of signal conductors on the same subassembly; andb) a second connector, comprising:i) a plurality of second type subassemblies, each having an insulative portion and each with a plurality of conductive elements embedded therein, each conductive element having a mating contact portion extending from a first face of the insulative portion and a contact tail extending from the insulative portion, each of the first type subassemblies disposed in parallel with the mating contact portions disposed in a second rectangular array in a second mating area;ii) a plurality of third type shield members, each third type shield member disposed parallel to and adjacent a second type subassembly, each third type shield having a mating portion extending into the second mating area;c) wherein, when the first connector and second connector are mated, the mating contact portions of the first connector make contact with the mating contact portions of the second connector and the mating portion of the second shield contacts the mating portion of the third shield. 17. The matrix connector assembly of claim 16 wherein the first connector includes a front housing having side walls bounding the mating area. 18. The matrix connector assembly of claim 17 wherein the front housing comprises an insulator and the plurality of second type shields are attached to the front housing in parallel with a side wall. 19. The matrix connector of claim 17 wherein each of the second type shields is connected to each of the first type shields. 20. The matrix connector of claim 17 Wherein each of the first type shields includes at least one slot therein with a compliant portion therein, with a second type shield inserted in the slot and making connection to the compliant portion. 21. A matrix connector assembly comprising:a) a first connector comprising:i) a plurality of first type subassemblies, each of the first type subassemblies having a plurality of signal conductors aligned in a column;ii) a plurality of first type shields, each of the first type shields disposed in parallel with a column of signal conductors of one of the plurality of first type subassemblies, each of the first type shields disposed between columns of signal conductors in adjacent first type subassemblies;iii) a plurality of second type shields connected to the first type shields; andb) a second connector comprising:i) a plurality of second type subassemblies, each of the second type subassemblies having a plurality of signal conductors aligned in a column;ii) a plurality of third type shield., each of the third type, shields disposed in parallel with a column of signal conductors of one of the plurality of second type subassemblies, each of the third type shields disposed between columns of signal conductors in adjacent second type subassemblies;iii) wherein the third type shields are electrically connected to the second type shields in the first connector. 22. The matrix connector assembly of claim 21 wherein the second type shields and the third type shields have planar portions that are aligned in parallel and a single second type shield electrically connects to a single third type shield at a plurality of points over the pl anar portions. 23. The matrix connector assembly of claim 22 wherein each of the first type subassemblies includes an insulative portion and the plurality of signal conductors is embedded in the insulative portion. 24. The matrix connector assembly of claim 23 wherein each of the first type shields is disposed between the insulative portion of adjacent first type subassemblies.