초록 ▼

A high speed connector includes a plurality of wafer-style components in which two columns of conductive terminals are supported in an insulative support body, the body including an internal cavity disposed between the two columns of conductive terminals. The terminals are arranged in horizontal pai

A high speed connector includes a plurality of wafer-style components in which two columns of conductive terminals are supported in an insulative support body, the body including an internal cavity disposed between the two columns of conductive terminals. The terminals are arranged in horizontal pairs, and the internal cavity defines an air channel between each horizontal pair of terminals arranged in the two columns of terminals. The terminals are further aligned with each other in each row so that horizontal faces of the terminals in the two rows face each other to thereby promote broadside coupling between horizontal pairs of terminals.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A high speed connector, comprising: a plurality of wafer-style connector elements, each of the elements including an insulative housing taking the form of a skeletal frame that supports a plurality of conductive terminals in a vertically aligned orientation, the frame including housing

We claim: 1. A high speed connector, comprising: a plurality of wafer-style connector elements, each of the elements including an insulative housing taking the form of a skeletal frame that supports a plurality of conductive terminals in a vertically aligned orientation, the frame including housing material disposed between adjacent horizontal edges of the terminals that supports said terminal in said vertical orientation, vertical sides of said terminals being open to air, each of said wafer connector element housings including a rib that extends around a perimeter thereof and which extends transversely to a body portion of each housing so as to define a recess on each side of said wafer connector elements such that when two wafer connector elements are mounted adjacent to each other, an air cavity is defined therebetween, said terminal including termination portions at first ends thereof and contact portions at second ends thereof, the contact portions each including a pair of contact arms extend out from a body portion of a respective terminal; and, a housing that receives front ends of said wafer connector elements and holds them in position for mating to a header, the housing including a plurality of slots that engage projections on said wafer connector elements, said housing including openings formed therein in alignment with said terminal contact portions, the openings having a H-configuration when viewed from a front end of said housing, the H-shaped openings providing an air dielectric between opposing terminal contact portions of said connector elements. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein each of said wafer connector elements is formed from two opposing halves. 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said terminal contact arms extend in opposite directions to each other. 4. An electrical connector assembly for differential signal applications, comprising: a plurality of connector elements, each of the connector elements supporting a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in two columns of terminals, the terminals including contact portions extending from a first edge of said connector elements, tail portions extending out from a second edge of said connector elements, and body portions supported by said connector elements and interconnecting together the terminal contact and tail portions, each of the terminal contact portions including a pair of contact arms cantilevered out from said connector element first edges; the two columns of terminals cooperatively forming a plurality of pairs of associated terminals, the terminals of each pair being aligned broadside with each other within said connector elements from said terminal contact portions to said terminal tail portions, individual air channels being disposed in said connector elements between terminals of each of said pairs of associated terminals and extending completely through said connector elements from said first to second edges thereof; and, a mating header member that mates with said connector, the header member including an insulative base portion with a plurality of openings formed therein, each of the openings supporting a conductive terminal therein, the terminals including blade contact portions and tail portions at opposite ends thereof, the blade contact portions being arranged within said header member so that said connector contact arms slide against when said connector and header member are mated together, the header member terminal tail portions including compliant pin tail portions, the compliant pin tail portions being offset from a centerline of said blade contact portions. 5. An electrical connector for differential signal applications, comprising: a plurality of connector elements, each of the connector elements supporting a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in two columns of terminals, the terminals including contact portions extending from a first edge of said connector elements, tail portions extending out from a second edge of said connector elements, and body portions supported by said connector elements and interconnecting together the terminal contact and tail portions; and, the two columns of terminals cooperatively forming a plurality of pairs of associated terminals, the terminals of each pair being aligned broadside with each other within said connector elements from said terminal contact portions to said terminal tail portions, individual air channels being disposed in said connector elements between terminals of each of said pairs of associated terminals and extending completely through said connector elements from said first to second edges thereof said connector further including a cover member that encloses the first edge of at least one connector element, the cover member including pairs of slots that receive said terminal contact portions therein, the pairs of slots being interconnected by intervening openings that open to said air channels separating said pairs of terminals. 6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said tail portions include compliant pins, the compliant pins being arranged offset from said terminal body portions such that a spacing between said two columns of compliant pins of one connector element is greater than a spacing between said two columns of said terminal body portions of said one connector element. 7. The connector of claim 5, wherein said terminal pairs in adjacent connector elements are spaced apart from each other by an air space. 8. The connector of claim 5, further including a cover member that encloses the first edges of a plurality of connector elements, the cover member including pairs of slots disposed in a mating face thereof, the slots receiving terminal contact portions therein of associated terminal pairs therein, the pairs of slots being interconnected by intervening openings that open to said air channels separating said pairs of terminals. 9. The connector of claim 5, wherein each of said connector elements is formed from two connector element halves, each of the connector element halves supporting one of said terminal columns. 10. The connector of claim 9, wherein each of said connector element halves includes a skeletal framework supporting one of said terminal columns. 11. The connector of claim 9, wherein said terminals of each of said columns are spaced apart in edgewise fashion by ribs of said connector element opposing halves. 12. The connector of claim 9, wherein each of said opposing halves includes a plurality of standoff portions, some of the standoff portions including posts projecting outwardly therefrom and others of said standoff portions including holes extending therein, the posts being received within said holes when said opposing halves are joined together to form a single connector element. 13. The connector of claim 5, wherein each of said terminal contact portions include a pair of contact arms cantilevered out from said connector element first edges. 14. The connector of claim 13, further including a cover member that encloses the first edges of a plurality of connector elements, the cover member including a plurality of H-shaped openings disposed therein, the contact arms of an associated pair of terminals partially occupying four corners of the H-shaped openings. 15. The connector of claim 13, further including a mating header member that mates with said connector, the header member including an insulative base portion with a plurality of openings formed therein, each of the openings supporting a conductive terminal therein, the terminals including blade contact portions and tail portions at opposite ends thereof, the blade contact portions being arranged within said header member so that said connector contact arms slide against when said connector and header member are mated together. 16. The connector of claim 15, wherein said header member includes a pair of end walls, the end walls including grooves that engage said connector elements to guide said connector elements into said header member. 17. The connector of claim 15, wherein header member terminal tail portions include compliant pin tail portions, the compliant pin tail portion being offset from a centerline of said blade contact portion. 18. The connector of claim 15, wherein said base portion openings include channels that extend between pairs of said terminals. 19. The connector of claim 18, wherein said header member openings are H-shaped, each of the openings including a pair of parallel leg portions interconnected by a cross portion, pairs of said header member terminals being received within said leg portions of each opening and said cross portion defining an air channel between said pair of header member terminals. 20. The connector of claim 18, wherein each of said header member terminals include a compliant pin tail portions, the compliant pin tail portion being offset from a centerline of said blade contact portion, and said header member base portion openings a re H-shaped, the compliant pin portions of opposing pairs of contacts being disposed in angled, opposing corners of said H-shaped openings.