Abstract:
An electrical connector terminal has an elongated wire board mounting portion that fits axially in a terminal opening in a wiring board. An elongated, generally planar wire connecting portion has an axis in common with that of the mounting portion and is formed to connect with an outside lead. A shoulder portion between the mounting portion and the wire connecting portion has a first section extending from a base of the wire connecting portion and normally of the wire connecting portion, wherein the terminal is held stable when the first section is restrained by a part outside the plane of the wire connecting portion. A second section of the shoulder portion diverges from an end of the first section and extends parallel to the wire connecting portion. An end of the second section provides a desired coupling with a confronting end of a shoulder portion of a like connector terminal.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, an electrical connector terminal includes an elongated wire board mounting portion having an axis, wherein the mounting portion is formed to fit axially in a terminal opening in a wire board. An elongated generally planar wire connecting portion has an axis the same as the axis of the mounting portion and is formed to connect electrically with an outside wire lead. A shoulder portion is formed between the mounting portion and the wire connecting portion, wherein the shoulder portion has a first section that extends from a base of the wire connecting portion in a direction normal to the wire connecting portion so that the terminal will be held stably relative to the wire board when the first section of the shoulder portion is restrained by an outside part at a position outside the plane of the wire connecting portion. The shoulder portion also has a second section that diverges from an end of the first section farther from the wire connecting portion, and the second section extends in a direction that is parallel to the wire connecting portion. An end of the second section of the shoulder portion is dimensioned and arranged to provide a desired amount of coupling in association with a confronting end of a second section of a shoulder portion of a like connector terminal. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, an electrical connector terminal arrangement includes a wire board, and at least a first connector terminal and a second connector terminal mounted on the wire board. Each terminal includes an elongated wire board mounting portion having an axis, wherein the mounting portion is formed to fit axially in a terminal opening in the wire board, an elongated generally planar wire connecting portion having an axis the same as the axis of the mounting portion and formed to connect electrically with an outside wire lead, and a shoulder portion formed between the mounting portion and the wire connecting portion. The shoulder portion has a first section that extends from a base of the wire connecting portion in a direction normal to the wire connecting portion so that the terminal will be held stably relative to the wire board when the first section of the shoulder portion is restrained by and outside part at a position outside the plane of the wire connecting portion, and a second section that diverges from an end of the first section farther from the wire connecting portion, wherein the second section extends in a direction that is parallel to the wire connecting portion. An end of the second section of the shoulder portion of the first terminal is aligned with and spaced from an end of the second section of the shoulder portion of the second terminal to obtain a desired coupling between the first and the second connector terminals. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, an electrical connector terminal block includes a housing, a wire board supported in the housing, a base wall supported in the housing in the vicinity of the wire board, a first connector terminal, and a second connector terminal mounted on the wire board. Each of the first and the second connector terminals includes an elongated wire board mounting portion having an axis, wherein the mounting portion is formed to fit axially in a terminal opening in the wire board, an elongated generally planar wire connecting portion having an axis the same as the axis of the mounting portion and formed to connect electrically with an outside wire lead, and a shoulder portion formed between the mounting portion and the wire connecting portion. The shoulder portion has a first section that extends from a base of the wire connecting portion in a direction normal to the wire connecting portion, so that the first and the second connector terminals are held stable relative to the wire board when the first section of the shoulder portion of each terminal is restrained by said base wall at a position outside the plane of the wire connecting portion of each terminal. The shoulder portion also has a second section that diverges from an end of the first section farther from the wire connection portion, and the second section extends in a direction that is parallel to the wire connecting portion. An end of the second section of the shoulder portion of the first terminal is aligned with and spaced from an end of the second section of the shoulder portion of the second terminal in such a manner as to obtain a desired coupling between the first and the second connector terminals. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the drawing: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector terminal housing or block in which connector terminals of the present invention may be used; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of electrical connector terminals of the first embodiment of FIG. 2, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of electrical connector terminals of the second embodiment of FIG. 3, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of electrical connector terminals of the third embodiment of FIG. 4, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of electrical connector terminals of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 5, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of electrical connector terminals of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 6, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of electrical connector terminals of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 7, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a modified connector terminal of FIG. 6, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a modified connector terminal of FIG. 7, mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; FIG. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of an electrical connector terminal mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing; and 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal mounted on a wire board within a terminal housing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows an electrical connector terminal housing  10 , in which electrical connector terminals of the invention any be assembled. For purposes of illustration and without limitation, the housing  10  surrounds two rows  12 ,  14  of connector terminals, wherein the terminals are accessible between a number of terminal wire guide posts  16 . In the disclosed embodiments, the connector terminals are insulation displacement connector (IDC) terminals. Each IDC terminal has an axially directed vertical slot for receiving one or more outside wire leads, and for cutting through insulation about the leads to establish electrical contact as the leads are urged downward between a pair of the posts  16  and into the terminal slot. Pairs of the posts  16  together define vertical channels  18  within which associated IDC terminals are received and captured. The posts are spaced apart enough to allow outside wire leads to be urged downward between them and into a terminal slot. 
     The terminal housing  10  contains a printed wire board (not shown in FIG. 1) that is supported within the housing. The electrical connector terminals are mounted on the wire board and are restrained from movement by parts of the terminal housing  10 , including, e.g., a base wall  20  of the housing as explained below. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of a first embodiment of an electrical connector terminal of the invention. In FIG. 2, an electrical connector terminal  22  is formed, e.g., from a sheet of phosphor bronze or beryllium copper, typically about 0.016 inch thick. The terminal  22  has a wire connecting portion  24  which, in the illustrated embodiments, has an insulation displacement connector (IDC) configuration and lies within a plane  25 . The wire connecting portion  24  is typically about 0.085 inches wide at the top, and about 0.200 inches overall height. 
     Terminal  22  also has an elongated, wire board mounting portion  26  having an axis A. In the disclosed embodiments the wire board mounting portion  26  is formed to be press fit axially into a terminal opening in a wire board (not shown in FIG.  2 ). The mounting portion  26  has two opposed curvilinear sections  30 , forming an elongated, open needle-eye configuration about the axis A of the mounting portion. The height of the mounting portion  26  is typically about 0.093 inches, and the width of the mounting portion is typically about 0.036 inches. 
     A shoulder portion  28  extending from one side of the terminal  22  is formed and dimensioned to project in a direction normal to the plane  25  of the wire connecting portion  24 , and to join the wire connecting portion  24  and the mounting portion  26  to one another. In FIG. 2, the shoulder portion  28  is generally C-shaped, as viewed from above, and has sections  34 ,  36 , that extend in planes  35 ,  37  that are substantially parallel to the axis A of the mounting portion  26 . Because part of the shoulder portion  28  (section  34 ) projects normally of the plane  25  of the wire connecting portion  24 , the terminal  22  can be held stably on a wire board to which the terminal  22  is mounted by allowing the shoulder portion including both sections  34 ,  36  to be restrained by parts of the terminal housing  10 , at positions outside the plane  25  of the wire connecting portion  24 . See FIG.  8 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the shoulder portion  28  projects about 0.150 inches from the wire connecting portion  24 . As mentioned, both of the sections  34 ,  36  of the shoulder portion  28  extend in planes  35 ,  37  that are substantially parallel to the axis A of the mounting portion  28 . Also, while the plane  35  of section  34  is generally perpendicular to the plane  25  of the wire connecting portion  24 , the plane  37  of the shoulder portion section  36  is generally parallel to the plane  25  of the connecting portion  24 , and the mounting portion  26  is joined at a free end of the shoulder portion section  36 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an electrical connector terminal  50 , according to the invention. Terminal  50  has a wire-connecting portion  52  which may be formed the same as or similar to the connecting portion  24  in FIG. 2, and which lies within a plane  53 . The terminal  50  also has a generally “C”-shaped shoulder portion  54  as viewed from above, with sections  56 ,  58  that lie in planes  57 ,  59  that are normal to the plane  53  of the wire connecting portion  52  at either side of the connecting portion. Terminal  50  also has a wire board mounting portion  60 , which may be formed the same as or similar to the mounting portion  26  of terminal  22  in FIG.  2 . In FIG. 3, shoulder section  56  is joined at its free end to the mounting portion  60 . The planes  57 ,  59  of the shoulder sections  56 ,  58 , also extend parallel to the axis A of the wire board mounting portion  60 , and sections  56 ,  58  project in the same direction a distance of about 0.100 inches normal to the plane  53  of the wire connecting portion  52 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an electrical connector terminal  70  of the invention. Terminal  70  has a wire connecting portion  72  that lies within a plane  73 . A shoulder portion  74  of the terminal forms a single arm  76  that projects from one side of the terminal normal to the plane  73  of the wire connecting portion  72 . Arm  76  is joined at its free end to a wire board mounting portion  78 . The shoulder arm  76  lies in a plane  77  that coincides with the axis A of the mounting portion  78 , and the arm  76  is positioned about, e.g., 0.050 inches to the side of connecting portion  72 . 
     FIG. 5 is a view of a fourth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal  90  according to the invention. Terminal  90  has a wire connecting portion  92  that lies in a plane  93 , and a shoulder portion  94  having sections  96 ,  98  that project from either side and in opposite directions from the wire connecting portion  92 . The shoulder portion sections  96 ,  98  lie in planes  97 ,  99  which are normal to the plane  93  of the connecting portion  92 . A wire board mounting portion  100  is joined at a bottom edge of the shoulder portion  94 , and the axis A of mounting portion  100  coincides with an axis T of the connecting portion  92  of the terminal. Each of the planes  97 ,  99  of the shoulder sections  96 ,  98  are also parallel to the axis A of the mounting portion  100 . Each section  96 ,  98  stands about, e.g., 0.060 inches high, and projects, e.g., about 0.080 inches from wire connecting portion  92 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view of a fifth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal  110  according to the invention. Terminal  110  has a wire connecting portion  112  that lies in a plane  113 , and a shoulder portion  114  that projects normal to the plane  113  of the connecting portion. The shoulder portion  114  also lies in a plane  115  that is generally perpendicular to the axis A of a wire board mounting portion  116 , the latter being joined at a free end of the shoulder portion  114  opposite the wire connecting portion  112 . Ninety degree bends in the terminal  110  at either end of the shoulder portion  114  have a typical radius of, e.g., about 0.030 inches. 
     FIG. 7 is a view of a sixth embodiment of an electrical connector terminal  130  according to the invention. Terminal  130  has a wire connecting portion  132  that lies in a plane  133 , and a shoulder portion  134  that projects normally of the plane  133  of the connecting portion  132  by a distance of, e.g., 0.100 inches. The shoulder portion  134  lies in a plane  135  that is generally perpendicular to the axis A of a wire board mounting portion  136 , the latter being joined via a 90 degree bend  137  at a side corner of the shoulder portion  134  opposite the wire connecting portion  132 . The width of the bend  137  may be about, e.g., 0.050 inches. 
     FIG. 8 is a view of an inside portion of the terminal housing  10  in FIG. 1, in which connector terminals  140 ,  142  corresponding to the first embodiment of FIG. 2 are mounted on a wire board  144 . The wire board  144  is supported within the housing  10 , and the base wall  20  of the housing is supported above and parallel to the wire board. 
     A mounting portion  146  of terminal  140  is received in a terminal opening  148  in wire board  144 . Portions of the wall of opening  148  may be plated to establish electrical contact between the terminal  140  and other conductors on or within the wire board  144 . Terminal  142  also has a mounting portion  152  which is received in a terminal opening  154  in the board  144 . 
     When assembled as shown, planar wire connecting portions  156 ,  158  of the terminals  140 ,  142 , are captured within corresponding channels  160 ,  162  formed by adjacent terminal wire guide posts  163 ,  165 ,  167 . Terminals  140 ,  142 , also have confronting shoulder portions  164 ,  166 , whose bottom edges are substantially flush with the wire board  144 , and whose top edges are restrained from upward movement by the base wall  20  of the terminal housing. 
     FIG. 8 shows that the present terminal construction affords stability to the terminals  140 ,  142  when mounted on the wire board  144 . Wear or fracture at the necks of the mounting portions  146 ,  152  that could result from applied forces or bending moments about the mounting portions, are avoided by restraining the projecting shoulder portions  164 ,  166  between the wire board  144  and the base wall  20  of the terminal housing, outside the plane of the wire connecting portions  156 ,  158 . 
     Due to the proximity of shoulder portions  164 ,  166  to one another, it will be appreciated that a degree of capacitive coupling, e.g., on the order of 1.0 picofarads, may be introduced between the terminals  140 ,  142 , particularly where the shoulder portions are closely spaced parallel to one another using known plate capacitor formulas. In addition, due to the extended lengths of the shoulder portions,  164 ,  166  and their proximity to one another, mutual inductive coupling may be introduced between the shoulder portions of adjacent terminals  140 ,  142 . Such coupling, which may typically be in the order of about 0.3 nanohenries, can operate toward reducing or compensating for crosstalk among signal paths carried by terminals  140 ,  142 , and other terminals on the wire board  144 . Capacitive or inductive coupling between shoulder portions of terminals mounted on the wire board  144 , may also obviate the need for configurations of wire traces on several layers of the board, and allow the wire board to have only a single layer. 
     A desired amount of mutual inductance may be produced at the shoulder portions of two terminals, using known parallel plate conductor formulas. See, e.g., F. W. Grover, Inductance Calculations; Working Formulas and Tables, at page 34, where the mutual inductance M between two parallel plates of equal height, length and thickness, is given by 
     
       
           M= 0.002( l )[log e (2 l/d )−log e    k− 1+ d/l−d   2 /4 l   2 ] 
       
     
     where: 
     l=length of each plate 
     d=plate spacing 
     log e  is a tabulated term describing geometric mean distance 
     Using the above formula, for a plate thickness of 0.016″, height of 0.100″, length of 0.200″ and spacing of 0.084″, M=0.3 nanohenries. 
     FIG. 9 is a view of a portion of the terminal housing  10 , with connector terminals  200 ,  202  mounted on a wire board  204  which is supported within the terminal housing  10 . The terminals  200 ,  202  correspond to the second connector terminal embodiment of FIG.  3 . Mounting portions  206 ,  208  of the terminals are received in corresponding terminal openings  210 ,  212  in the wire board  204 . The terminals have planar wire connecting portions  214 ,  216  that are captured within corresponding channels  218 ,  220  formed by terminal wire guide posts  219 ,  221 ,  223 . Shoulder portions of the terminals have adjacent arms  222 ,  224  that are aligned parallel to one another, so that some degree of capacitive coupling may also be established between the adjacent terminals  200 ,  202  for purposes of crosstalk compensation or reduction. Bottom edges of the shoulder portions are substantially flush with the wire board  204 , and top edges of the shoulder portions are restrained from upward movement by the base wall  20  of the terminal housing. Because mounting portions  206 ,  208  are joined to non-adjacent arms  223 ,  225  of the terminal shoulder portions, signal currents are directed through the non-adjacent arms so that substantially no inductive coupling is produced between parts of the adjacent terminals  200 ,  202 . 
     FIG. 10 shows connector terminals  300 ,  302  mounted on a wire board  304  that is supported within a portion of the terminal housing. The terminals correspond to those of the third embodiment of FIG.  4 . Mounting portions  306 ,  308  of the terminals are received in corresponding terminal openings  310 ,  312  in the wire board  304 . Planar wire connecting portions  314 ,  316  of the terminals are captured within corresponding channels  318 ,  320  formed by terminal wire guide posts  319 ,  321 ,  323 . As shown in FIG. 10, shoulder portions  322 ,  324  of the terminals remain separated relatively far apart, so that the shoulder portions may not contribute significantly toward capacitive coupling between the terminals  300 ,  302 . Bottom edges of the shoulder portions are substantially flush with the wire board  304 , and top edges of the shoulder portions are restrained from upward movement by the base wall  20  of the terminal housing. 
     FIG. 11 shows connector terminals  400 ,  402  of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 5) mounted on a wire board  404  that is supported within a portion of the terminal housing  10 . Mounting portions  406 ,  408  of the terminals are received in corresponding terminal openings  410 ,  412  in the board  404 . Planar wire connecting portions  414 ,  416  are captured within corresponding channels  418 ,  420  formed by terminal wire guide posts  419 ,  421 ,  423 . Shoulder portions  422 ,  424  of the terminals project normally and in opposite directions from the plane of the wire connecting portions  414 ,  416 . Arms of the shoulder portions that extend inwardly of the housing  10  are restrained from upward movement by the housing base wall  20 . The remaining arms extend beneath and are restrained by bottom surfaces of the wire guide posts over the wire board  404 . 
     FIG. 12 is a view of electrical connector terminals  500 ,  502  of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 6) mounted on a wire board  504  that is assembled within a portion of the terminal housing  10 . Mounting portions  506 ,  508  of the terminals are received in corresponding terminal openings  510 ,  512  in the wire board  504 . Planar wire connecting portions  514 ,  516  are captured in corresponding channels  518 ,  520  formed by terminal wire guide posts  519 ,  521 ,  523 . Shoulder portions  522 ,  524  of the terminals project in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the mounting portions, and are restrained from upward movement by the housing base wall  20 . An insulative strip or step  525  may be disposed on the wire board directly beneath and in contact with terminal shoulder portions to restrain downward movement of the shoulder portions and their associated terminals. 
     FIG. 13 is a view of connector terminals  600 ,  602  according to the sixth embodiment (FIG. 7) mounted on a wire board  604  that is supported within a portion of the terminal housing  10 . Mounting portions  606 ,  608  of the terminals are received in corresponding terminal openings  610 ,  612  in the board  604 . Wire connecting portions  614 ,  616  of the terminals are captured within corresponding channels  618 ,  620  formed by terminal wire guide posts  619 ,  621 ,  623 . Shoulder portions  622 ,  624  of terminals  600 ,  602  project in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the mounting portions, and are restrained from upward movement by the base wall of the terminal housing  10 . An insulative strip or step  625  may be disposed on the wire board directly beneath and in contact with the terminal shoulder portions to restrain downward movement of the shoulder portions and their associated terminals. 
     FIG. 14 shows two modifications of the terminal embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 12. To obtain a larger degree of restraint by the base wall  20  of the terminal housing, terminal  700  at the left in FIG. 14 is formed to have two fingers  712 ,  714  that project upward from either side of the neck of the mounting portion  716 . Top surfaces of the fingers  710 ,  714 , are dimensioned to be co-planar with shoulder portion  718  of the terminal, so that both fingers  712 ,  714  together with the shoulder portion  718  will be disposed substantially flush with a bottom surface of the base wall  20 . 
     Terminal  750  at the right in FIG. 14 is formed to have two fingers  752 ,  754  that project in-line from either side of the neck of the mounting portion  756 . Bottom surfaces of the fingers  752 ,  754  are dimensioned to be substantially flush with the top surface of a wire board  758  on which the terminal  750  is mounted. Thus, a larger degree of restraint of the terminal  750  is provided by the wire board  758 , with respect to that obtained in the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 12. 
     FIG. 15 shows two modifications of the terminal embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 13. To obtain a larger degree of restraint by the base wall  20  of the terminal housing, terminal  800  at the left in FIG. 14 is formed to have two fingers  812 ,  814  that project upward from either side of the neck of the mounting portion  816 . Top surfaces of the fingers  812 ,  814  are dimensioned to be co-planar with shoulder portion  818  of the terminal, so that both fingers  812 ,  814  together with the shoulder portion  818  will be disposed substantially flush with a bottom surface of the base wall  20 . 
     Terminal  850  at the right in FIG. 15 is formed to have two fingers  852 ,  854  that project in-line from either side of the neck of the mounting portion  856 . Bottom surfaces of the fingers  852 ,  854  are dimensioned to be substantially flush with the top surface of a wire board  858  on which the terminal  850  is mounted. Thus, a larger degree of restraint of the terminal  850  is provided by the wire board  858 , with respect to that obtained in the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 13. 
     FIG. 16 is a view of a seventh embodiment of a connector terminal  900  mounted on a wire board  902  that is supported in a portion of the terminal housing  10 . Three aligned terminals  900  each have wire connecting portions  908  that lie in a plane  909 . The terminals  900  also have shoulder portions  904  with first sections  906  that project in planes  907  normally of the planes  909  of the wire connecting portions  908 , and wherein the planes  907  of the shoulder portion sections  906  are substantially parallel to the axes A of mounting portions  910  of the terminals. The shoulder portions  904  terminate with second sections  912  that diverge outwardly from the first sections  906  and in-line with one another in a plane  913  that is parallel to the plane  909  of the connecting portions  908 . Top and bottom edges of the shoulder portions  904  of the left and right terminals  900  in FIG. 16, are restrained between the wire board  902  and the base wall  20  of the terminal housing. The shoulder portion  904  of the center terminal  900  in FIG. 16 is restrained between the wire board  902  and a bottom surface of terminal wire guide posts  914 ,  916  within which the center terminal  900  in FIG. 16 is captured. Some capacitive coupling between confronting ends  920 ,  922  of the second shoulder portion sections  912  of the non-adjacent left and right-most terminals  900  in FIG. 16, may be produced for the purpose of reducing or compensating for crosstalk among signal paths carried by the non-adjacent terminals  900 . 
     FIG. 17 is a view of an eighth embodiment of a connector terminal  1000  mounted on a wire board  1002  that is supported within a portion of the terminal housing  10 . Shoulder portions  1004  of three aligned terminals  1000  project normally of wire connecting portions  1006 , and are formed with elongated flat finger sections  1008 ,  1010  that extend in-line from either side of terminal mounting portions  1012 . The shoulder portions  1004  including the finger portions  1008 ,  1010  extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axes of the mounting portions  1012 . 
     The left and right terminals in FIG. 17 are mounted so that the finger sections  1008 ,  1010  will be disposed substantially flush with a bottom surface of the base wall  20  of the terminal housing  10 , thus restraining movement of the two terminals  1000  upwardly. The center terminal  1000  in FIG. 17 is mounted so that the flat finger sections of its shoulder portion are disposed substantially flush with a bottom surface of terminal wire guide posts  1014 ,  1016  within which the center terminal  1000  is captured. Upward movement of the center terminal  1000  is thus restrained by the bottom surface of the guide posts acting against the finger sections  1008 ,  1010  of the of the terminal. An insulative strip or step  1020  may be disposed on the wire board directly beneath and in contact with the terminal shoulder portions to restrain downward movement of the shoulder portions and their associated terminals. Some capacitive coupling between confronting finger section  1010  of the left-most terminal  1000  in FIG. 17, and the finger section  1008  of the right-most, non-adjacent terminal  1000 , may be produced to reduce or compensate for crosstalk among signal paths carried by the non-adjacent terminals  1000 . 
     While the foregoing description represents preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention pointed out by the following claims.