Connector

A connector includes a housing and a plurality of contact module assemblies in the housing, wherein each contact module assembly includes a first signal contact module where a first signal contact body is inserted in a first resin molded part, a second signal contact module where a second signal contact body is inserted in a second resin molded part, and a ground plate, wherein the ground plate is sandwiched between the first signal contact module and the second signal contact module, so that a microstrip line structure is formed, and wherein, in the microstrip line structure, the first signal contact body and the second signal contact body form a stripline conductor, the first resin molded part and the second resin molded part form a dielectric board, and the ground plate forms a common ground conductor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a connector, and more specifically, to a right angle type socket connector which is used for high speed transmission to electrically connect a cable with a print wired substrate for a communication apparatus or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a communication apparatus includes a print wiring substrate in it, on which is mounted a right angle type socket connector at an edge of the print wiring substrate. A socket part of the right angle type socket connector is configured to stick out from an opening of a panel of the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus is used with a condition in which the plug of a cable end is connected to the right angle type socket connector.

The right angle type socket connector includes numerous contact parts which project in the front side and are arrayed vertically and horizontally, and includes numerous terminal parts which project and are arranged vertically and horizontally.

The contact part is where the arrayed contacts of the plug are connected. The terminal part includes arrayed terminals which are connected to the terminals of the print wiring substrate by solder or press-fitting. The contact part and the terminal part are arranged at a right angle from a side view of the socket connector.

In recent these years, with an increasing capacity of signal transmission, communication systems are required to increase the transmission speed of signals and place shields between signals to be transmitted. It is also required to increase the impedance of signal transmission lines.

As a socket connector forms part of the signal transmission lines, the shielding of individual signals, which signals propagate along the transmission lines of signal contacts, is required to increase the impedance of individual signal transmission lines for socket connectors.

For example, a conventional socket connector includes plural contact module assemblies. The individual assemblies have mounted a print wiring substrate with a small size and approximately rectangular shape. The contact module assemblies are configured to face each other. Signal transmission lines are formed on a print wiring substrate as a pattern, and it is possible to increase shielding characteristics of signals and impedance of the signal transmission lines with a suitable design of a print wiring substrate.

In addition to the print wiring substrate, the contact module assembly needs to provide a contact part arranged by plural contact parts and a terminal part including terminal elements, and those are respectively fixed on individual sides of the print wiring substrate by soldering. Further, the module needs a cleaning treatment and inspection of the condition of the module after soldering. Thus, such a contact module assembly needs process steps for construction.

Further, inFIG. 1,FIG. 2A, andFIG. 2Bin Japanese Published Patent Application 2003-522386, it is shown that a first half wafer and a second half wafer are stacked to form a unit wafer, and plural unit wafers are placed to face each other and arranged in a socket. The first half wafer has an approximate shape of a small piece of a half plate which is configured by a first signal element and a ground connection element by insert molding. The second half wafer has an approximate shape of a small piece of half plate which is configured by insert molding. The fabrication process of the socket connector is easier than that of the print wiring substrate described above.

Patent document 1 Japanese Published Patent Application 2003-522386.

The following are issues. A wafer includes a first signal element and a second signal element facing each other, and a ground element having a line shape arranged between adjacent first elements. Thereby, it is difficult for the ground element to shield the first element and the second element.

Further, both the first and second elements are entirely surrounded by resin, and increasing its impedance is difficult. Further, the first and second elements are not formed to have microstrip line structures, which make it difficult to design the impedance for fitting a specification of a connector.

One aspect of the present invention may provide a connector for reducing the issues above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a novel and useful apparatus and method solving one or more of the problems discussed above.

More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention may provide a connector including a housing and a plurality of contact module assemblies in the housing, wherein each contact module assembly includes: a first signal contact module where a first signal contact body is inserted in a first resin molded part; a second signal contact module where a second signal contact body is inserted in a second resin molded part, and a ground plate, wherein the ground plate is sandwiched by the first signal contact module and the second signal contact module, so that a microstrip line structure is formed, and wherein, in the microstrip line structure, the first signal contact body and the second signal contact body form a stripline conductor, the first resin molded part and the second resin molded part form a dielectric board, and the ground plate forms a common ground conductor.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there are several effects as follows.

(1) The connector has an assembled structure and includes a microstripe line structure. A first signal contact and a second signal contact form a signal transmission line, so that the impedance of the signal transmission line is easy to design for adapting for a specification of the connector.

(2) A ground plate is sandwiched between the first signal contact and the second signal contact, which improves the signal-shielding effect between the first signal contact and the second signal contact.

(3) The effects of paragraphs (1) and (2) provide high speed signal transmission.

(4) A contact module assembly is configured by placing a ground plate between a first signal contact module and a second signal contact module, which provides easy construction.

(5) A ground plate is configured as a common ground conductor; thus, only a single ground plate may be used, so that the number of parts may be reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention is described below, with reference toFIG. 1throughFIG. 24.

FIG. 1shows a perspective diagram of a socket connector10according to a first embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to a print wiring substrate20on which to mount the connector10, and a cable connector31of an end of a cable30to insert in and connect to the connector10.FIG. 2shows the connector10in an exploded perspective view. The connector10is a right angle type which is suitable for single transmission.

X1-X2, Y1-Y2, and Z1-Z2indicate the directions in width, length, respectively, and height of the connector10. Y2indicates the front, and Y1indicates the back.

FIG. 3shows a plan view of the socket connector10.FIG. 4shows a front view of the socket10, andFIG. 5is a bottom view of the connector10.FIG. 6shows a cross-sectional view of the connector10along the line VI-VI inFIG. 3.

For all figures, some signs for crowded parts are omitted. Plural identical parts are indicated with branch numbers.

Further, when an entire part is indicated for unspecified identical individual parts in the present specification, reference numbers and letters with no branch number are used.

The connector10includes a contact module assembly40tightly inserted in a housing11from the Y1side and plural (number n) contact module assemblies40-1through40-nare arranged in X1-X2direction facing each other. A shield cover (not shown) covers a projection part of the contact module assembly40, which projects from the housing11to the Y1side, and an arrangement sheet35.

The housing11is a resin molded part. The housing11includes a rectangular frame12in the X1-X2direction. Ratchet arms13and14project from corresponding sides of the frame12in the Y2direction. Bosses15and16(seeFIG. 3) project from corresponding sides of the frame12in the Z2direction.

The front of the connector10, in the frame12, is provided with first and second signal contact parts45,145, and ground contacts72, which are arranged as a matrix by a staggered arrangement in the X-Z plane as shown inFIG. 4. On the bottom of the connector10, there are first and second signal terminal parts46,146(signal terminal parts46,146), and ground terminals73, having press-fit structures, with a staggered arrangement as a matrix in the X-Y plane, as shown inFIG. 5. The arrangement sheet35includes the first and second signal terminal parts46,146, and the ground terminals73which are tightly bound on the sheet35to be arranged as a matrix shape.

The bosses15and16(seeFIG. 3) of the connector10are fitted into holes21and22(seeFIG. 1) of the print wiring substrate20for positioning, with a position of detaching the arrangement sheet35, and the signal terminal parts46-1,146-1, and the like, and the ground terminal73-1and the like are press fit into terminal holes23of the print wiring substrate20to mount the connector10on the print wiring substrate20and fixed without soldering.

[Schematic Diagram of Contact Module Assembly40Structure]

FIG. 7(A)is a perspective schematic diagram of the contact module assembly40viewed from the X1side, also showing its exploded view.FIG. 7(B)is a perspective schematic diagram of the contact module assembly40viewed from the X2side.FIG. 8shows a projection-drawing of the contact module assembly40.

FIG. 10is an enlarged cross-sectional diagram ofFIG. 8(A)taken along line X-X.FIG. 11is an enlarged cross-sectional diagram ofFIG. 8(B)taken along line XI-XI, andFIG. 12is an enlarged cross-sectional diagram ofFIG. 8(A)in view of a line XII-XII.FIG. 13is an enlarged cross-sectional diagram ofFIG. 8(A)taken along line XIII-XIII.FIG. 14is an enlarged diagram of a part encircled by a line XIV inFIG. 7(A).

As shown inFIG. 7, the contact module assembly40includes a ground plate70sandwiched between first and second signal contact insert molded modules41and141as a unit assembly and having a microstrip line on the first signal contact insert molded module41side and another microstrip line on the second signal contact insert molded module141side.

[Structure of First Signal Contact Insert Molded Module41]

FIG. 15(A),FIG. 15(B), andFIG. 16show the first signal contact insert molded module41(first module41).FIG. 16is an enlarged cross-section drawing at an encircled part ofFIG. 15(A)taken along line XVI-XVI.FIG. 17shows a perspective diagram of a first signal contact frame42.

For forming the first signal contact insert molded module41, the first signal contact frame42is set on a die (not shown) of a resin molding machine (not shown) and synthetic resin is injected into the die for insert molding so that one side of a first signal contact member43is covered with the resin and the another side is exposed. Then the member is removed from the die and finally the contact frame42is removed to complete the module41. The first signal contact insert molded module41includes first signal contact members43-1through43-4, and a first resin molded part50(seeFIG. 16).

For the contact module assembly40shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8, the first signal contact members43-1through43-4form striplines of the microstrip line structure and the first resin molded part50forms a dielectric substrate of the microstrip line structure.

The first signal contact frame42includes first signal contact members43-1through43-4formed by four lines arranged at a pitch p1, and whose edges are connected to the frame42, as shown inFIG. 17. The first signal contact members43-1through43-4include first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4, having approximately L shapes, first signal contact parts45-1through45-4at an edge Y2of the first signal contact body44, and first signal terminal parts46-1though46-4at an edge Z2of the first signal contact body44. The first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4include approximately square cross sections with sides A. The first signal contact parts45-1through45-4include conventional pin shapes. The first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4include press-fit pin shapes.

A first resin molded part50includes planes51X1on the X1side and52X2on the X2side, with an approximately rectangular shape. The first resin molded part50includes a maximum thickness B (corresponding to thicknesses of projection parts53,54, and55), which is approximately twice the thickness of the above side A.

The plane51X1includes the projection parts53,54,55along Y1, Y2, and Z2directions, respectively. An inner part of the first resin molded part50, a large part surrounded by the projection parts53,54, and55includes a concave part having a thickness B1less than the thickness B above.

As for the plane51X1including the above shape, there is the following structure: (1) the first signal contact body44-1and the like is placed at about the center of the thickness B, a thickness E from the bottom of the first signal contact body44-1and the plane52X2is set as a predetermined value, and one side is placed on the same plane with the51X1plane; (2) The entire peripheral part of the first signal contact body44is surrounded by the projection parts54and55for both edges; (3) The first signal contact part45projects from an approximate thickness center of the first resin molded part50; (4) The first signal terminal part46projects from an approximate thickness center of the first resin molded part50. Further, the convex shapes of the projection parts53,54, and55play a role to improve the mechanical strength of the first signal contact insert molded module41.

For the contact module assembly40, the thickness E above corresponds with a dimension between the first signal contact body44and the ground plate70, in which the dimension related to a factor that determines the impedance of the first signal contact body44.

On the projection part53, a stop through-hole56is formed through the projection part53at an approximately center height of the first resin molded part50. On the Z2end of the projection part54, a stop through-hole57is formed.

The plane52X2includes a square stop projection58next to the through hole56on the Z1end.

At the Y2end of the Z1and Z2side planes of the first resin molded part50, a guide projection59is formed to fix the housing11(seeFIG. 15).

[Structure of First Resin Molded Part50and First Signal Contact Frame42]

The first signal contact body44-1is fixed on the first resin molded part50, which surrounds and buries a Z1side plane44-1Z1, a Z2side plane44-1Z2, and an X2side plane44-1X2of the first signal contact body44-1, as shown inFIG. 16as enlarged. The X1side plane44-1X1is exposed from the plane of51X1. This is to obtain predetermined impedance, which is discussed below. The projection parts53and54and the entire peripheral part of the first signal contact body44-1are surrounded by the resin. Thus, two edges of the first signal contact body44-1are surrounded and fixed by resin. In the Y1side part of the projection part54, facing a thin part of the first resin molded part50, there are plural slits60formed in the projection part54. At the slit60, the first signal contact body44is exposed and the exposed part of the first signal contact body44is extended to Y2direction (SeeFIG. 12andFIG. 14). Thus, the first signal contact insert molded module41is formed to have predetermined mechanical strength and includes extended exposed parts of the first signal contact body44.

Likewise for the first signal contact body44-1above, the other first signal contact bodies44-2,44-3, and44-4are formed in the first resin molded part50and include parts exposed from the X1side.

On the plane51X1of the first resin molded part50, first grooves61-1through61-4are formed along the inside of the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4(for individual first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4at the Z2side and the Y2side). Individual grooves61-1through61-4include dimensions of a width C and a depth D. The width C approximately corresponds with the pitch p1above, being approximately twice the dimension A above. The dimension of the depth D is slightly longer than the dimension A. For the connector10, the grooves61-1through61-4, next to the plane exposing the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4of the contact module assembly40, are formed to make an air layer (free space)201-1and the like shown inFIG. 6.

The first signal contact parts45-1through45-4project from the edge plane at the Y2side of the first resin molded part50and align with pitch p1, and the first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4project from the edge plane at the Z2side and align with a pitch p2.

On the plane52X2of the first resin molded part50, at the Y2edge plane and at positions adjacent first signal contact parts45-1through45-4or a close position to the Z2side compared to the first signal contact parts45-4, slits62-1through62-4are formed.

Likewise, a Z2side edge plane of the plane52X2forms slits63-1through63-4at positions of the first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4and the Y2side from the first signal terminal part46-4. The slits62-1through62-4are formed to insert the bent part of the root of the ground terminals73-3and the like.

[Structure of Second Signal Contact Insert Molded Module141]

FIGS. 18(A), (B), andFIG. 19show the second signal contact insert molded module141(second module141).FIG. 19shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the part ofFIG. 18(A)taken along line XIX-XIX.FIG. 20shows a second signal contact frame142.

The second signal contact insert molded module141is formed to have approximately plane symmetry to the first signal contact insert molded module41at the plane51X1, where individual corresponding parts are indicated by part numbers with 100 added.

The second signal contact insert molded module141is formed of an insert resin molded module and includes second signal contact members143-1through143-4and the second resin molded part150.

The second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4are exposed from a plane151X2at the X2side of the second contact insert molded module141.

When the first signal contact insert molding module41and the second signal contact insert molded module141are stacked, and when those modules are seen from the X1side, the second signal contact members143-1through143-4are formed to shift by a half pitch p1toward Z2side compared to the first signal contact members43-1through43-4(SeeFIG. 8(A)andFIG. 10). The second signal contact parts145-1through145-4are formed at positions set off from the first contact parts45-1through45-4by a half pitch p1toward Z2side. This is to embody a staggered structure for the first signal contact parts45-1through45-4and the second signal contact parts145-1through145-4in the contact module assembly40, as shown inFIG. 9. The second signal terminal parts146-1through146-4are formed at positions set off from the first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4by a dimension of a quarter pitch p2toward Y2side (SeeFIG. 5andFIG. 8(C)).

The second grooves161-1through161-4are formed on the plane152X2and along the outside of individual second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4(at Z1side and Y1side to individual second signal contacts144-1through144-4).

The plane151X1forms a stop hole158to correspond to the stop projection58.

For the contact module assembly40shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8, the second signal contact members143-1through143-4form strip conductors of the microstrip line structure, and the second resin molded part150forms a dielectric substrate of the microstrip line structure.

[Shape of Ground Plate70]

FIGS. 21(A)and (B) show the ground plate70.FIG. 22shows a side view of the ground plate70from the Y2direction, andFIG. 23is a side view of the ground plate70from the Z2direction.

The ground plate70forms a ground conductor of the microstrip line structure. As the ground plate70is used in common for an X1side ground conductor of the microstrip line structure and an X2side ground conductor of the microstrip line structure in the contact module assembly40, a single ground plate70is enough for the contact module assembly40, as described below.

The ground plate70includes a ground plate member71, plural ground contact members72that project from the Y2side projection part71Y2of the ground plate member71to the Y2direction, and plural ground terminals73that project from the Z2side projection part71Z2of the ground plate member71to the Z2direction.

The ground plate member71has a size and a shape to entirely cover the first and second signal contact bodies44and144, and has almost the same size and shape as the first module41and the second module141(SeeFIG. 7). The ground contact member72includes a conventional pin shape and the ground terminal member73includes a press fit shape.

The ground contact members72are aligned with a pitch p3, and individual contact members72are bent at each base part to the X2side and the X1side respectively, forming a staggered shape as shown inFIG. 6.

The ground terminal members73are bent at each base part of the terminal member73to the X2side and the X1side respectively and form a staggered shape for approximately the X2side and the X1side as shown inFIG. 6.

The ground terminal73includes ground terminal members73-1and73-8at corresponding edges in the Y1-Y2directions and pairs of ground terminal members73-2,73-3,73-4,73-5,73-6, and73-7in between the two terminal members (seeFIG. 21).

Further, a first fixing part74is formed by bending an end of the ground plate member71to the X1direction on the Y1side projection part71Y1and a second fixing part75is formed by bending another end of the ground plate member71to the X2direction on the Y1side projection part71Y1(seeFIG. 21).

The ground plate member71forms another second fixing part76on a the Y2side projection part71Y2bending to the X2direction and another first fixing part77on the Y2side projection part71Y2bending to the X1direction.

Further, extended parts78through81are formed on a projection part71Z2extended in the Z2direction, and the extended parts78through81are formed between the ground terminal members73-1and73-2, and between the members73-3and73-4, between members73-5and73-6and between members73-7and73-8, respectively.

[Structure of Contact Module Assembly40]

The contact module assembly40is provided as a unit structure formed by stacking a pair of the first and second signal contact insert molded modules41and141with the ground plate70sandwiched between the modules41and141, as shown inFIG. 7.

The contact module assembly40is assembled, for example, where the second module141is put with its plane151X1facing upward on a work table and the ground plate70is pressed onto the second module141. Then the first module41is pressed onto the ground plate70having its plane51X1facing upward and all of them are tightly pressed. No soldering is necessary. Also, a cleaning treatment, which would be needed if the soldering were performed, is not necessary. Therefore, assembling the contact module assembly40is simple.

FIG. 12shows an assembled configuration of the ground plate70and the first and second modules41and141. As shown inFIG. 13, for the ground plate70and the second module141, a second fixing part75of the ground plate70is pressed to fit into a stop hole156and a second fixing part76is pressed to fit into the stop hole157for fixing their positions.

A bottom part of the ground contact member72bent toward the X2side is fit into a slit63and a bottom part of the ground terminal73bent toward the X2side is fit into a slit63.

The first signal contact insert molded module41is assembled with the ground plate70ofFIG. 11stacked. As shown inFIG. 13, a first fixing part74is pressed to fit into a stop hole56. A first fixing part77is pressed to fit into a stop hole57, as shown inFIG. 12. Further, a stop projection58is pressed into a stop hole158, so that the first module41is positioned and fixed to the ground plate70and the second module141, as shown inFIG. 13. A bottom part of the contact part72bent toward the X1side is pressed to fit into a slit62, and a bottom part of the contact part73bent toward the X1side is pressed to fit into a slit62.

Although the bottom parts of the ground contact members72and ground terminals73are projected toward the plane of the ground plate71, those projected parts are placed within the slits62,162, so that the projected parts are not blocked by the bottom parts of the contact parts72and73. Thus the first module41, the second module141and the ground plate70tightly fit together, as shown inFIG. 10.

As shown inFIGS. 12 and 13, the ground plate70and the first module41are fixed with two stop parts apart from each other, that is, the first fixing part74is fixed into the stop hole56at the Y1side and the first fixing part77is fixed into the stop hole57at the Y2side.

The ground plate70and the second module141are fixed with two stop parts apart from each other, in which the second fixing part75is fixed into the stop hole156at the Y1side and the second fixing part76is fixed into the stop hole157at the Y2side.

The first module41and the second module141are fixed through the ground plate70and fixed by using the stop projection58and the stop hole158.

[Configurations of First Signal Contact Bodies44-1Through44-4, the Second Signal Contact Bodies144-1Through144-4, and Ground Plate70]

As shown inFIG. 10, the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4face on the ground plate70via the first resin molded part50. The first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4constitute striplines, the first resin molded part50constitutes a dielectric substrate, and the ground plate70constitutes a ground conductor. The first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4, the first resin molded part50and the ground plate70constitute a microstrip line structure. The transmission line including the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4provide impedance required by the specification of the socket connector40(a contact module assembly40) ofFIG. 1by adjusting the size E (seeFIG. 16) and the like accordingly.

Likewise, as shown inFIG. 10, the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4face the ground plate70via the second resin molded part150. The second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4constitute striplines, the second resin part150constitutes a dielectric substrate, and the ground plate70constitutes a ground conductor. The second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4, the second resin molded part150and the ground plate70constitute a microstrip line structure. The transmission line including the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4provide impedance required by the specification of the socket connector40(contact module assembly40) ofFIG. 1by adjusting the dimension E and the like according.

Therefore, the contact module assembly40includes microstrip line structures on both sides X1and X2, and the individual stripline structures are provided with the ground plate70as a common ground conductor.

The backsides of the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4and the second signal contact bodies144through144-4, not facing the ground plates70, are exposed to the air having a dielectric constant 1.00, and an electromagnetic field is formed in a free space over the first resin molded part50and the second resin molded part150. This structure is appropriate to tune the impedance.

[Configurations of First Signal Contact Bodies44-1Through44-4, the Second Signal Contact Bodies144-1Through144-4, First Grooves61-1Through61-4, and Second Grooves161-1Through161-4]

FIG. 8(A)andFIG. 10show that the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4face the X1side of the contact module assembly40and the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4face the X2side of the contact module assembly40.

The X2side of the contact module assembly40corresponding to the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4includes the second grooves161-1through161-4. The X1side of the contact module assembly40corresponding to the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4includes the first grooves61-1through61-4.

A view of the contact module assembly40from the X1side, in which the first molded module41stacks on the second molded module141, shows that the signal contact bodies44-1through44-4and the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4are alternately aligned. The backsides of the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4are provided with the second grooves161-1through161-4along the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4. The first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4correspond to the second grooves161-1through161-4. Further, the backsides of the first grooves61-1through61-4are provided with the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4along the second grooves161-1through161-4. The first grooves61-1through61-4correspond to the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4.

[Arrangement of First Signal Contact Parts45-1Through45-4, Second Signal Contacts145-1Through145-4, and Ground Part72-1Through72-8]

As shown inFIG. 9, the first signal contact parts45-1through45-4and the second signal contact parts145-1through145-4are arranged as a first staggered shape and the ground contacts72-1through72-8are arranged as a second staggered shape opposite to the first staggered shape. The staggered shapes are arranged as two lines.

For the X1side row, the first signal contact parts45-1through45-4and the ground contacts72line up alternately. For the X2side row, the second signal contact parts145-1through145-4and the ground contacts72line up alternately.

[Arrangement of First Signal Terminal Parts46-1Through46-4, Second Signal Terminal Parts146-1Through146-4, and Ground Terminal Members73-1Through73-8]

As shown inFIG. 8(C), the first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4and the second signal terminal parts146-1through146-4are arranged as a third staggered shape and the ground terminal members73-1through73-8are arranged as a fourth staggered shape opposite to the third staggered shape. The staggered shapes are arranged as two lines.

For the X1side row, odd numbered ground terminal members73-1,73-3,73-5and73-7and the first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4are alternately arranged in a line. For the X2side row, even numbered ground terminal members73-2,73-4,73-6and73-8and the second signal terminal parts146-1through146-4are alternately arranged in a line.

[Configuration of First Signal Contact Bodies44-1Through44-4, Second Signal Contact Bodies144Through144-4, Ground Plate71and Extended Part78Through81]

As shown inFIG. 7(A)andFIG. 11, the ground plate member71has approximately the same size as the first resin molded parts50and150. The space between the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4and the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4are sealed by the ground plate member71.

The extended part78is located at a position44-1a(seeFIG. 11) near the first terminal part46-1of the first signal contact44-1and located at a position144-1a(seeFIG. 11) near the second signal terminal part146-1of the second signal contact144-1. The extended part78provides a shield between the positions44-1aand144-1a.

The extended part79shields between the positions44-2aand144-2a. The extended part80shields between the positions44-3aand144-3a. The extended part81provides a shield between the positions44-4aand144-4a.

Thereby, the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4are shielded from the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4for their entire length.

Further, the first signal contact bodies44-1through44-4and the second signal contact bodies144-1through144-4form microstrip line structures by existence of the extended parts78through81even for parts near the first and second signal terminal parts46,146, so that microstrip line structure is provided for their entire length.

[Configuration of Adjacent Contact Module Assembly40in Connector10]

Individual contact module assemblies40are inserted into the frame12of the housing11to reach the end (not shown) of the frame12, and arranged in direction of X1-X1facing each other with no separation. The projection parts59and159of the first and second modules41,141are pressed to touch the ceiling and the bottom of the frame12. Individual contact module assemblies40are fixed with the housing11by friction caused between the projection parts59,159and the frame12.

With reference toFIGS. 4,5and6, assembled configurations of adjacent contact module assemblies40-1,40-2and40-3(first, second and third contact module assemblies40-1,40-2and40-3) are described.

Shield and Impedance of Transmission Line from First Signal Contact Part45-2of Second Contact Module Assemblies40-2Through First Signal Contact Body44-2, First Signal Terminal Part46-2, Second Signal Contact Part145-2, Second Signal Contact Body144-2and Second Signal Terminal Part146-2
<First Signal Contact Part45-2and Second Signal Contact Part145-2>

As shown inFIG. 4, the first signal contact part45-2is located between the ground contact72-2at the Z1side, the ground contact72-4at the Z2side, the ground contact (the ground contact of the third contact module assembly40-3) at the right side and the ground contact72-3at the X2side.

The second signal contact part145-2is located between the ground contact72-3at the Z1side, the ground contact72-5at the Z2side, the ground contact72-4(the ground contact of the second contact module assembly40-2) on the right side and the ground contact of the first contact module assembly40-1on the left, X2side.

Likewise, the other first signal contact parts45-1,45-3,45-4, and the other second signal contact parts145-1,145-3, and145-4are located in the same manner as the signal contact parts45-2and145-2described above.

Therefore, the first signal contact parts45-1through45-4and the second signal contact parts145-1through145-4are individually arranged so that the ground contacts are located between the adjacent signal contacts which are thus shielded.

As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the first signal contact body44-2is shielded from the second signal contact bodies144-1and144-2by the ground plate70and the extended part79for its entire length.

The exposed part of the first signal contact body44-2faces the groove161-2of the third contact module assembly40-3, and the exposed part of the first signal contact body44-2faces an air layer200-2. Thereby, the impedance of the first signal contact body44-2is provided to be higher than a case where the first signal contact body44-2is entirely surrounded by resin, so that the predetermined impedance is obtained.

The first signal contact body44-2forms a stripline conductor, the first resin molded part50forms a dielectric substrate, and the ground plate70forms a ground conductor. The first signal contact body44-2, the first resin molded part50and the ground plate70form a microstrip line structure where an electromagnetic field is formed crossing over the first resin molded part50and the free space.

Likewise for the first signal contact body44-2as described above, the other first signal contact bodies44-1,44-3and44-4are shielded from the second signal contact bodies144of the same contact module assembly40by the ground plate70and the extended parts78,80, and81for its entire length. Further, the exposed parts of the first signal contact bodies44-1,44-3and44-4individually face the grooves161-1,161-3and161-4of the third contact module assembly40-3. Both sides of the exposed parts of the first signal contact bodies44-1,44-3,44-4have air layers200-1,200-3and200-4, so that a predetermined impedance is obtained. Likewise the other first signal contact bodies44-1,44-3and44-4form microstrip lines in the same manner described above.

As shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the second signal contact body144-2is shielded from the first signal contact bodies44-2and44-3by the ground plate70and the extended part79for their entire length.

The exposed part of the second signal contact body144-2faces the groove61-1of the first contact module assembly40-1, and the exposed part of the second signal contact body144-2faces an air layer201-2. Thereby, the impedance of the second signal contact body144-2is made to be higher than a case where the first signal contact body144-2is entirely surrounded by resin, so that the predetermined impedance is obtained.

Further, the second signal contact body144-2forms a stripline conductor, the second resin molded part150forms a dielectric substrate, and the ground plate70forms a ground conductor. The second signal contact body144-2, the second resin molded part150and the ground plate70form a microstrip line structure where an electromagnetic field is formed crossing over the second resin molded part150and the free space.

Likewise for the second signal contact body144-2as described above, the other second signal contact bodies144-1,144-3and144-4are shielded from the first signal contact bodies44of the same contact module assembly40by the ground plate70and the extended parts78,80, and81for their entire length. Further, the exposed parts of the second signal contact bodies144-1,144-3and144-4individually face the grooves61-1,61-3and61-4of the first contact module assembly40-1. Both sides of the exposed parts of the second signal contact bodies144-1,144-3,144-4have air layers201-1,201-3and201-4, so that a predetermined impedance is obtained.

Likewise the other second signal contact bodies144-1,144-3and144-4form microstrip lines by the same manner described above.

<First Signal Terminal Parts46-1Through46-4and Second Signal Terminal Parts146-1Through146-4>

As shown inFIG. 5, the first signal terminal parts46-1through46-4and the second signal terminal parts146-1through146-4are arranged in a staggered shape and located between the ground terminals73-1through73-8which are aligned in an approximately staggered arrangement.

Modified Example

As shown inFIG. 24, for the first signal contact body44, the exposed part44amay be formed as a concavity by a dimension S from the plane51X1of the first resin molded part50. Likewise, the second signal contact body144may be formed as a concavity from the plane of the second resin molded part150

Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teachings herein set forth.

This patent application is based on Japanese Priority Patent Application No. 2008-048199 filed on Feb. 28, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.