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. A dielectric insert is provided between the columns of terminals to thereby influence the broadside coupling between pairs of terminals.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A high speed connector, comprising: a plurality of first and second connector elements, each of the first and second connector elements including cross braces that respectively support first and second columns of conductive terminals, each of the terminals including a contact portion,

We claim: 1. A high speed connector, comprising: a plurality of first and second connector elements, each of the first and second connector elements including cross braces that respectively support first and second columns of conductive terminals, each of the terminals including a contact portion, a tail portion and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the first and second columns of terminals being supported by cross braces of each of said first and second connector elements in a spaced apart fashion such that said first and second columns of terminals from each other separated by an intervening space, said terminals being arranged in pairs within a pair of each of said first and second connector elements, said terminals of said first column being aligned with said terminals of said second column so that one terminal of said first column is broadside coupled to a corresponding terminal of said second column, the broadside coupled terminals defining pairs of differential signal terminals, and said intervening space being filled with a dielectric material that affects the broadside coupling of the differential signal pairs of said terminals through said dielectric material, said first and second connector elements further including a plurality of ribs vertically interspersed between said terminals of said first columns of terminals and also interspersed between said terminals of said second columns of terminals to deter coupling between edges of said terminals in said first columns of terminals and between edges of said terminals in said second columns of terminals; and a housing with a hollow interior that receives front ends of said connector elements and holds them together in alignment with each other, wherein the housing including openings formed therein in alignment with said terminal contact portions, the openings having a H-shape when viewed from a front end of said housing. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein each of said connector elements is formed from two opposing halves. 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein said dielectric material is formed into a separate insert and interposed between the two opposing halves. 4. The connector of claim 2, wherein said dielectric material is formed as part of one of said two opposing halves. 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein pairs of terminals in adjacent connector elements are separated by an intervening air space. 6. The connector of claim 5, wherein said terminals of each of said pairs in each of said connector elements are spaced apart from each other a first distance and adjacent pairs of terminal are spaced apart from each other a second distance, said second distance being greater than said first distance. 7. The connector of claim 1, wherein outer sides of said terminals of each of said connector elements are open to air. 8. The connector of claim 1, wherein said terminal tail portions include compliant pins, the compliant pins being offset from said terminal body portions so that pairs of compliant pins of pairs of terminals are spaced apart a greater distance than the distance separating corresponding pairs of terminal contact portions. 9. A high speed connector, comprising: a plurality of first and second connector elements, each of the first and second connector elements including cross braces that respectively support first and second columns of conductive terminals, each of the terminals including a contact portion, a tail portion and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the first and second columns of terminals being supported by cross braces of each of said first and second connector elements in a spaced apart fashion such that said first and second columns of terminals from each other separated by an intervening space, said terminals being arranged in pairs within a pair of each of said first and second connector elements, said terminals of said first column being aligned with said terminals of said second column so that one terminal of said first column is broadside coupled to a corresponding terminal of said second column, the broadside coupled terminals defining pairs of differential signal terminals, and said intervening space being filled with a dielectric material that affects the broadside coupling of the differential signal pairs of said terminals through said dielectric material, said first and second connector elements further including a plurality of ribs vertically interspersed between said terminals of said first columns of terminals and also interspersed between said terminals of said second columns of terminals to deter coupling between edges of said terminals in said first columns of terminals and between edges of said terminals in said second columns of terminals; and a housing with a hollow interior that receives front ends of said connector elements and holds them together in alignment with each other, wherein the housing including openings formed therein in alignment with said terminal contact portions, the openings having a H-shape when viewed from a front end of said housing, said terminal contact portions including bifurcated contact arms, the contact arms being arranged in corners of the H-shaped openings. 10. The connector of claim 9, wherein said terminal tail portions include compliant pin portions. 11. A high speed connector, comprising: a plurality of connector elements, each of the connector elements supporting first and second columns of conductive terminals, each of the terminals including a contact portion, a tail portion and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tai portions together, the first and second columns of terminals being supported within each of said connector elements in a spaced apart fashion by an intervening space, said terminals being arranged in pairs within each of said connector elements, said terminals of said first column being broadside aligned with said terminals of said second column, and said intervening space being filled with a dielectric material affecting broadside coupling of pairs of said terminals; and, a housing with a hollow interior that receives front ends of said connector elements and holds them together as a group of connector elements, the housing including a plurality of openings disposed therein, each of the openings having a H-shape when viewed from a front end of said housing, and the terminal contact portions being aligned with said openings. 12. The connector of claim 11, wherein said terminal contact portions include bifurcated contact arms, the contact arms being arranged in corners of the H-shaped openings. 13. The connector of claim 11, wherein said terminal tail portions include compliant pin portions.