초록 ▼

A connector interface may include an arrangement of contacts in a first connector, and a corresponding, complementary arrangement of contacts in a second connector mating with the contacts of the first connector. The contacts may be signal contacts or ground contacts. When the connectors are mated,

A connector interface may include an arrangement of contacts in a first connector, and a corresponding, complementary arrangement of contacts in a second connector mating with the contacts of the first connector. The contacts may be signal contacts or ground contacts. When the connectors are mated, a ground may be established between the connectors by the mating of the ground contacts from the respective connectors. The ground contacts in the first connector may be shaped to bridge together an array of ground contacts in the second connector when the connectors are mated. Such bridging tends to establish a continuous ground along the array of ground contacts, creating a more robust ground than in an otherwise identical connector.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A first connector configured to engage a complementary second connector, the second connector comprising a plurality of first and second ground contacts, arranged such that each first ground contact is positioned adjacent to a second ground contact, the first connector comprisin

What is claimed: 1. A first connector configured to engage a complementary second connector, the second connector comprising a plurality of first and second ground contacts, arranged such that each first ground contact is positioned adjacent to a second ground contact, the first connector comprising: a connector housing; and a plurality of third ground contacts that are each adapted to make a first point of contact with a respective one of the first ground contacts and simultaneously make a second point of contact with a respective one of the second ground contacts, such that adjacent ground contacts are electrically connected to each other so as to form a continuous ground path across the plurality of third ground contacts. 2. The first connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the third ground contacts has a first curved portion that is adapted to make the first point of contact with the respective first ground contact and a second curved portion that is adapted to make the second point of contact with the respective second ground contact. 3. The first connector of claim 2, wherein at least one of the third ground contacts has a generally s-shaped portion. 4. The first connector of claim 2, wherein the second curved portion has a larger radius of curvature relative to the first curved portion. 5. The first connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the third ground contacts interconnects the first and second ground contacts. 6. The first connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the third ground contact establishes a continuous ground between the respective first and second ground contacts. 7. The first connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the third ground contacts has a resilient portion that is adapted to exert a respective normal force on each of the respective first and second ground contacts during mating of the first and second connectors. 8. An electrical connector system, comprising: a first electrical connector comprising a first array of first ground contacts arranged along a second direction; a second electrical connector comprising a second array of second ground contacts arranged along the second direction, wherein the second ground contacts engage the first ground contacts so as to establish a continuous ground path across the first and second arrays of first and second ground contacts along the second direction. 9. The electrical connector system of claim 8, wherein the second array of second ground contacts comprises at least one second ground contact shaped to make contact with an adjacent second ground contact, thereby establishing the continuous ground. 10. The electrical connector system of claim 8, wherein the first ground contacts are arranged broadside-to-broadside relative to one another along the second direction and the second ground contacts are arranged broadside-to-broadside relative to one another along the second direction. 11. The electrical connector system of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector system further comprises a third array of electrical contacts arranged along a first direction that is perpendicular to the second direction. 12. The electrical connector system of claim 11, wherein the electrical contacts in the third array are arranged edge-to-edge along the first direction. 13. The electrical connector system of claim 11, wherein each of the first ground contacts is housed in a respective leadframe assembly, and the continuous ground is established across a plurality of leadframe assemblies. 14. A first connector configured to engage a complementary second connector, the second connector comprising first and second ground contacts positioned adjacent to one another, the first connector comprising: a connector housing; and an adjacent pair of third ground contacts that are each adapted to receive a different one of the first and second ground contacts, wherein each of the third ground contacts expand toward each other upon receiving the first and second ground contacts, respectively, such that the third ground contacts make contact with each other so as to establish a continuous ground path between the first and second ground contacts. 15. The first connector of claim 14, wherein the third ground contacts do not contact each other prior to receiving the first and second ground contacts. 16. A first connector configured to engage a complementary second connector, the first connector comprising: a connector housing; and a first IMLA supported by the connector housing and a second IMLA supported by the connector housing and disposed adjacent to the first IMLA, each IMLA including a leadframe housing that retains an array of ground contacts and signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts of the first and second IMLAs each defines a mounting portion configured to engage a substrate, and a contact portion connected to the mounting portion, and the contact portion of at least a select ground contact of the ground contacts of the first IMLA is electrically connected with the contact portion of a select ground contact of the ground contacts of the second IMLA so as to establish a common ground across the contact portions of the select ground contacts of the first and second IMLAs. 17. The first connector as recited in claim 16, wherein the second connector comprises first and second ground contacts, and the select contact of the first IMLA is adapted to make a first point of contact with the first ground contact of the second connector, and simultaneously make a second point of contact with the second ground contact of the second connector. 18. The first connector of claim 17, wherein the select ground contact of the first IMLA has a generally s-shaped portion having a first curved portion that is adapted to make the first point of contact with the first ground contact of the second connector and a second curved portion that is adapted to make the second point of contact with the second ground contact of the second connector. 19. The first connector of claim 18, wherein the second curved portion has a larger radius of curvature relative to the first curved portion. 20. The first connector of claim 16, wherein the second connector comprises first and second ground contacts, and the select ground contacts of the first and second IMLAs are each adapted to receive a different one of the first and second ground contacts of the second connector, such that each of the select ground contacts expand toward each other upon receiving the first and second ground contacts of the second connector so as to make contact with each other.