A compact connector operable at data rates up to and beyond 200 Gbps includes a component that presses on high speed signal contact beams to deflect them into a preloaded state. The component may be attached to ground and/or low speed signal contact beams. Those contact beams may be preloaded by engaging their tips to features within the connector. When those contact beams are deflected into a preloaded state, the component presses against the high speed signal contact beams, deflecting them into a preloaded state. Tips on the high speed signal contact beams are not required for preloading and may be shortened relative to a conventional design to reduce stubs on high speed signal paths, which increases operating frequency of the connector. The component may include a conductive portion that connects ground contacts associated with the high speed signal terminals, which improves high frequency performance without additional components.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to an electrical connector and, more specifically, to a high-speed electrical connector with preloaded signal contacts with short beam tips.

Electrical connectors facilitate separable electrical connections. For example, components that are each electrically coupled to a connector may be coupled to each other via the connectors. In a data center, for example, servers and networking equipment may be arranged in racks. Each of these electronic devices may include connectors that mate with connectors terminating cables. When connectors terminating the cables are mated with the connectors of the electronic equipment, the cables connect the electronic devices. Inside each of the electronic devices, the connectors may be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) with other components that generate or process signals passed over the cables and through the mated connectors.

The connectors mounted within an electronic device may be configured as receptacle connectors. Each receptacle connector may have a port that includes signal contact beams interlaced with ground contact beams. The port may have an opening with rows of signal and ground contact beams on opposite sides. A mating connector, which may be configured as a plug connector, may have a component that fits within the opening of the port. The mating component of the plug connector may have rows of contact pads on opposite surfaces that align with the signal contact beams and the ground contact beams of the port. Such a mating component may be implemented as a printed circuit board, often called a paddle card.

Insertion of this mating component deflects the contact beams lining the opening of the port. As the beams are deflected, they generate a spring force against the contact pads on the mating component. The contact beams are shaped such that the amount of force generated at each contact pad is sufficient to form a reliable electrical connection between the beams and the pads.

In some connectors, the contact beams may be preloaded. Preloaded contact beams are shaped such that, in their rest states, they would extend into the opening of the port. The tips of these contact beams, however, are restrained from extending into the opening. Otherwise, a mating component inserted into the port could stub on the tips of the contact beams, which might prevent correct mating of the connector and the inserted component or might damage the connector. To restrain the tips of the contact beams, a connector housing may have a feature, sometimes called a preload shelf, adjacent to the opening of the port. The tips of the signal and ground contact beams may be hooked on this shelf such that they do not extend into the opening. Hooking the beams on the preload shelf requires the contact beams to be deflected from their rest state. As a result, the contact beams generate a force even before the mating component is inserted into the port. When the mating component is inserted, there is additional deflection of the beams, which increases the force generated by the contact beams. Preloading may increase the contact force for each beam relative to a connector without preloading or may enable the same amount of contact force with smaller components that move the contact beams a smaller amount.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a connector includes a port with an opening, the port including a plurality of contact beams disposed in a row, the plurality of contact beams including a plurality of first type contact beams and a plurality of second type contact beams. The connector also includes a component. The component is mechanically coupled to the first type contact beams and the second type contact beams, electrically coupled to the second type contact beams, and insulated from the second type contact beams.

Optionally, the connector also includes a housing including a plurality of channels aligned with respective contact beams of the plurality of contact beams.

Optionally, the contact beams of the plurality of contact beams each includes a proximal portion, a curved portion, a tip and a distal portion between the curved portion and the tip. The distal portions of the plurality of contact beams are disposed in respective channels of the plurality of channels, and the curved portions of the plurality of contact beams extend into the opening.

Optionally, the distal portions of the first type contact beams are engaged with the housing such that the first type contact beams are deflected to a preloaded position.

Optionally, the component urges the second type contact beams into a deflected state such that the second type contact beams are deflected into a preload position based on the first type contact beams being deflected into a preloaded position.

Optionally, the plurality of contact beams is a first plurality of contact beams. The row is a first row. The connector also includes a second plurality of contact beams disposed in a second row of signal contact beams and ground contact beams. The second plurality of contact beams includes a plurality of first type contact beams and a plurality of second type contact beams. The connector also includes a second component mechanically coupled to the first type contact beams and the second type contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams, electrically coupled to the second type contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams, and insulated from the second type contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams.

Optionally, the housing further comprises a second plurality of channels aligned with respective contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams.

Optionally, the contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams each comprises a proximal portion, a curved portion, a tip and a distal portion between the curved portion and the tip. The distal portions of the second plurality of contact beams are disposed in respective channels of the plurality of channels. The curved portions of the second plurality of contact beams extend into the opening, and the distal portions of the first type contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams are engaged with the housing such that the first type contact beams are deflected to a preloaded position.

Optionally, the second component urges the second type contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams into a deflected state such that the second type contact beams are deflected into a preload position based on the first type contact beams of the second plurality of contact beams being deflected into a preloaded position.

Optionally, the first plurality of contact beams and the second plurality of contact beams comprise mating portions of a plurality of contacts. The plurality of contacts also include mounting portions disposed in a plurality of rows at a mounting face of the connector. The mounting face couples the connector to a printed circuit board (PCB).

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a connector includes a housing with an opening. The connector also includes a contact assembly disposed within the housing including an insulative portion and a plurality of contacts disposed in a row. Each contact of the plurality of contacts includes a beam with a proximal portion mechanically coupled to the insulative portion and a cantilevered portion. The cantilevered portion includes a contact portion extending into the opening, and a distal portion extending beyond the contact portion. The plurality of contacts comprises first type contacts and second type contacts, and the first type contacts have longer distal portions than the second type contacts. The contact assembly also includes a component with an insulative portion. The component is attached to the first type contacts and the insulative portion of the component abuts the second type contacts.

Optionally, the component further includes a conductive portion attached to the first type contacts.

Optionally, the conductive portion and the insulative portion of the component are attached.

Optionally, the insulative portion is plastic overmolded on the conductive portion such that the conductive portion and the plastic are attached.

Optionally, the first type contacts are ground contacts.

Optionally, the second type contacts are signal contacts.

Optionally, the second type contacts are disposed within the row in pairs, with each pair bounded on two sides by a ground contact.

Optionally, the opening has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The contact assembly is a first contact assembly. The component is a first component. The plurality of contacts are a first plurality of contacts. The row is a first row and the first plurality of contacts in the first row are arranged at the first side of the opening with the first plurality of contacts between the first component and the first side of the housing. The connector also includes a second plurality of contacts, including the first type contacts and the second type contacts, disposed in a second row, parallel to the first row, arranged at a second side of the opening, and a second component including an insulative portion. The second component is attached to the first type contacts of the second plurality of contacts; and the insulative portion of the second component abuts the second type contacts of the second plurality of contacts.

Optionally, the housing includes a first preload shelf at the first side of the opening; and a second preload shelf at the second row at the second side of the opening.

Optionally, the distal portions of the first type contacts of the plurality of contacts of the first row engage the first preload shelf in a deflected state such that the first type contacts in the first row are in a preloaded condition. The distal portions of the first type contacts of the plurality of contacts of the second row engage the second preload shelf in a deflected state such that the first type contacts in the second row are in a preloaded condition.

Optionally, the second type contacts in the first row are deflected in a first direction away from a centerline of the opening based on mechanical coupling to the insulative portion of the first component and on mechanical coupling of the first component to the first type contacts in the first row. The second type contacts in the second row are deflected away from the centerline of the opening in a second direction, opposite the first direction, based on mechanical coupling to the insulative portion of the second component and on mechanical coupling of the second component to the first type contacts in the second row.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of assembling a connector including a housing with an opening including a mating port, and a row including a plurality of contact beams including first type contact beams and second type contact beams with each of the plurality of contact beams including a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a curved portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, includes deflecting the plurality of contact beams from a rest state and positioning the plurality of beams within the housing such that the curved portions of the plurality of contact beams extend into the opening. The method also includes engaging the distal portions of the first type contact beams with the housing such that the first type contact beams are held in a preload state and the second type contact beams are held in a preload state by a component mechanically coupled to the first type contact beams and the second type contact beams.

Optionally, the first type contact beams have longer distal portions than the second type contact beams, and the distal portions of the second type contact beams are not engaged to the housing when the second type contact beams are held in the preload state.

Optionally, engaging the distal portions of the first type contact beams with the housing includes engaging tips of the first type contact beams to a preload shelf.

Optionally, the housing comprises a plurality of channels. Tips of the first type contact beams are engaged to the housing within channels of the plurality of channels when in the preload state. Tips of the second type contact beams are cantilevered within channels of the plurality of channels when in the preload state.

The foregoing features may be used, separately or together in any combination in any of the foregoing embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventors have recognized and addressed the need for both high-frequency operation and sufficient mating force to form reliable connections in a compact connector. Within the connector, contacts may include beams that may be preloaded to provide a desired mating force without requiring all of the beams to have tips that engage other structures, such as a preload shelf, for preloading. In some examples, contacts within the connector may be arranged in one or more rows. Within each row, a first type contact may have longer distal portions than a second type of contact. One or more components may be attached to multiple of the first type contacts. That component may have an insulative portion that abuts the second type contacts.

The component may deflect one or more of the second type contacts for preloading. In some examples, the first type contacts may be preloaded by engaging their tips to a structure, such as a preload shelf of a connector housing, that holds them in a deflected state. In some examples, the second type contacts may be high speed signal contacts. Optionally, the first type contacts may be ground contacts and/or low speed signal contacts that are less susceptible to a loss of signal integrity than high speed signal contacts.

Use of such a component for preloading high speed signal contacts enables the distal portion of the contact beam to be short. The portion of the contact beam between the contact portion, designed to make contact to a pad of a mating component, and the tip of the beam may impact the integrity of signals on those contacts. That portion may form an electrical stub. Degradation of signal integrity in a connector as a result of a stub may increase with stub length and frequency. Shortening the stub length, such as results from eliminating the portion at the tip that might otherwise engage a preload shelf, enables higher frequency operation of the connector. With a component as described herein, a desired contact force may nonetheless be achieved through preloading.

In some examples, ground contact beams are retained in a deflected state for preloading by their tips engaging the connector housing. To preload the signal contact beams, a component may mechanically couple the signal contact beams to the ground contact beams. The component may be attached to the ground contact beams by welding, for example, and mechanically coupled to the signal contact beams. Thus, when the ground contact beams are preloaded through retention of their tips within the housing, the mechanical coupling of the component to the signal contact beams deflects the signal contact beams and results in preloading of the signal contact beams, as well.

Optionally, the component may have a conductive portion and an insulative portion. The conductive portion may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to the first type contacts and may serve as a support for the insulative portion. The conductive portion, for example, may be stamped from a sheet of metal and welded to the first type contacts. The insulative portion may be attached to the conductive portion, such may result from over molding plastic on the conductive portion.

In some examples, the conductive portion of the component may electrically connect ground contacts that separate high speed signal contacts. Such a configuration may increase signal integrity instead of or in addition to improvements resulting from shorter distal portions of high speed signal contacts. As the same component may enhance signal integrity in multiple ways, a significant improvement in signal integrity may be provided in a small volume, supporting miniaturization of the connector.

Techniques as described herein may be used in a connector with contact beams, such as a receptacle connector. Such a connector, for example, may have contact beams positioned according to the OSFP standard. The beams may be shaped to provide an insertion force of 40N or less, such as between 30-40 N, and an extraction force of 30N or less, such as between 20-30 N. The connector may be configured to support data rates of up to 200 Gbps per channel, using PAM4 modulation.

An example of such a connector in which one or more of the techniques described herein may be applied is shown inFIG.1.FIG.1is a perspective view of a connector100that shows a port110configured to receive a mating component of a plug connector (not shown). In examples in which the connector is designed to meet the OSFP standard, the mating component may be a paddle card of a transceiver. The paddle card may be removably inserted into the opening135of port110, here configured as a slot, to form electrical connections to the contacts210. As shown, the contacts210are arranged in two rows212A,212B on opposite sides of opening135. In the exemplary connector100inFIG.1, the row212A of contacts210may be referred to as the top row and row212B of contacts210may be referred to as the bottom row, as row212A is further from mounting face120than row212B.

FIG.2is a perspective view of the connector100ofFIG.1with the housing130removed to show contact assemblies240A and240B, each with one row of contacts210. The connector100includes a mounting face120. The mounting face120may facilitate mounting the connector100on a substrate, such as a printed circuit board (not shown). Ends of the contacts210within the connector100are exposed at the mounting face120. In this example, the exposed mounting portions230of the contacts210are shaped for surface mount soldering to a printed circuit board (PCB) to facilitate electrical connection via the connector100to components on the PCB, for example. As shown, the interface port110and mounting face120are at orthogonal faces of a housing130of the connector100. Techniques as described herein may be applied to connectors with contact beams in other configurations. For simplicity of description, the mounting face120may be referred to as the bottom or lower surface of connector100. However, a connector may be used in any orientation.

In the example illustrated, connector100includes, in addition to housing130, one or more contact assemblies. Each contact assembly may hold one or more rows of contacts. The contact assemblies may be held within the housing130such that contact portions216are exposed in opening135and mounting portions230are exposed at the mounting face120.

In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, there are two contact assemblies240A and240B having the same general construction. Each has one row of contacts210, rows212A and212B respectively, in this example. The contacts210are held in one or more insulative portions, such as insulative portions220A and222A for contact assembly240A and insulative portions220B and222B for contact assembly240B.

Each of the contacts210has a mating end that includes contact portion216and a mounting end that includes mounting portion230joined by an intermediate portion that is held within the insulative portions of a contact assembly.

In the example illustrated, each of the mating ends of each of the contacts is a beam with a base, here with a proximal portion214protruding from insulative portion220A or2220B. Each of the mating ends includes a proximal portion214, a contact portion216, and a distal portion218. In the example illustrated, each of the contacts has similar proximal portions214and contact portions216. In the example illustrated, the contact portion216of each contact210is curved, creating a convex surface that can press against a contact pad on a mating component. The contact portion216of each contact210may extend into the opening135where it can press against a pad on the mating component.

A distal portion218of each of the contacts extends beyond the contact portion216. As can be seen inFIG.2, some of the contacts210have longer distal portions than others, such that there are a first type of contact320and a second type contact330as indicated inFIG.3, with the first type contact320having longer distal portions218than the second type contact330.

Contact assemblies240A and240B differ in that contact assembly240A is a lower contact assembly configured to fit in housing130with its contacts exposed along a lower surface of opening135. In contrast, contact assembly240B is an upper contact assembly configured to fit in housing130with its contacts exposed along an upper surface of opening135. For both contact assembly240A and240B, the contacts include contact portions216, here provided by a convex surface extending into opening135. The contact portions216on the contacts210of the lower contact assembly240A face upwards while the contact portions216on the upper contact assembly240B face downward. As shown inFIG.2, the contact portions216of the top row212A of contacts210and the contact portions216of the bottom row212B of contacts210are mirror images of each other. As such, an apex of each contact portion216in the top row212A and an apex of each contact portion216in the bottom row212B are the closest part of the two rows212A,212B to each other. Similarly, each of the contact assemblies240A and240B includes a component310to facilitate preloading. The component310biases contact tips into the surfaces that bound opening135. Accordingly, component310of the lower lead assembly is above the contacts210of the lower contact assembly240A, whereas component310of the upper lead assembly is below the contacts210of the upper contact assembly240B.

FIG.3is a perspective view of lower contact assembly240A without insulative portion220A. Contact assembly240A may include shields, here shown as shields340,342,344and346. In this example, groups350A and350B of contacts210on each end of the row212A are designated for carrying high speed signals, whereas a group352of contacts210in the central portion of the row212A is designated for low speed signals. In this example, shields340and344are connected to first type contacts320within group350A at one end of the row and shields342and346are connected to first type contacts320within group350B at the other end of the row. In this example, the row212A of contacts210, at least in the segments designated for high speed signals, has pairs of second type contacts330bounded on each side by a first type contact320. Each of the shields340,342,344and346is corrugated with peaks and valleys. The valleys may be attached (e.g. by welding) to the first type contacts and the valleys may be over, but separated from, the pair of second type contacts. Though not shown for simplicity, contact assembly240B may have shields in corresponding locations.

Component310, which may serve to preload second type contacts330, is shown engaged to the contacts210of contact assembly240A. In this example, component310is attached to first type contacts320by welding, for example, and abuts the second type contacts330. While each of the contacts210may have the same general configuration, first type contacts320have a longer distal portion218than second type contacts330. The first type contacts320may be, for example, ground contacts or low speed signal contacts, while the second type contacts330with the shorter distal portion218may be high speed signal contacts. The longer distal portion218of the ground contacts320facilitates preloading and does not negatively affect signal integrity to the same extent that distal portions218of the same length would have on high speed signal contacts. In the example illustrated, component310is mechanically coupled at a proximal portion214of contacts210.

FIG.4is a partially exploded view of the lead assembly ofFIG.3, showing that component310may include multiple portions. Component310in this example includes two conductive portions410and an insulative portion420. In this example, each of the conductive portions410aligns with a group350A or350B of contacts210of the contact assembly240A with contacts330designated for high speed signals. While the exploded view ofFIG.4shows the conductive portions410and insulative portion420of the component310, the component310may be secured in the connector100as an integral component. The insulative portion420, for example, may be attached to one or more conductive portions410. The insulative portion may be overmolded on the conductive portions, for example, such as is illustrated inFIGS.5A and5B.

The conductive portion410of the component310may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to only first type contacts320. Such a connection may be formed by welding or soldering, for example. In the example illustrated, each conductive portion410includes rails450extending parallel to the row of contacts210. The rails450are joined by crossbars460. The crossbars460may align with first type contacts320, which may be ground contacts. In this example, the crossbars460include flattened portions, which may be attached to respective ground contacts, such as by welding. In this example, the crossbars460are U-shaped with the flattened portions at the bottom of the U and the rails450attached to the crossbars460at the opposite end of the U such that the rails450are offset from the ground contacts as well as the signal contacts in the same row. Such a conductive portion410may be formed by stamping and forming a sheet of metal.

AsFIG.4shows, the insulative portion420may be molded over one or more conductive portions410. In this example, insulative portion420is molded over the rail450that is closest to the distal end of the contacts210. The rail450may provide mechanical integrity to the insulative portion420and/or may interconnect the first type contacts320to which the crossbars460are attached. In the example shown, the insulative portion420spans an entire row212A (as shown) or212B of contacts210.FIGS.5A and5Bshow a component310from opposite perspectives. Regardless of whether the insulative portion420spans the entire row or a portion, the insulative portion420may have segments510that align with second type contacts330, which in this example are signal contacts, and abut those signal contacts. These segments510are between the crossbars460and may be reinforced by a rail450of the conductive portion410. Segments510may have sufficient mechanical integrity to transfer a preload force to the signal contacts.

FIG.6is a perspective view of a connector100. Call out6shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the interface port110taken along line6-6. Housing130includes a plurality of channels620A and620B. A mating portion of each of the contacts may be, at least in part, positioned in a respective channel, with first type contacts320positioned in channels620A and second type contacts330positioned in channels620B. In this example, channels620A are longer than channels620B to accommodate the longer distal portions218of the first type contacts320.

Call out6reveals that housing130includes features for preloading the first type contacts320. In this example, those features are provided by preload shelf610, with segments that align at least with first type contacts320. A similar cross segment, preload shelf610, spans the second row212B of contacts that are not visible inFIG.6. In this example, preload shelf610spans at least the channels620A that receive the first type contacts320. In the example illustrated, preload shelf610spans the distal portions of the channels620A. The elongated tips of the first type contacts320may engage preload shelf610, which may hold the first type contacts320in the preloaded position.

As shown in the example ofFIG.6, preload shelf610may span a row212A or212B of contacts210. In such a configuration, segments of the preload shelf610may align with second type contacts330in the row. However, as the second type contacts330have shorter tips than the first type contacts320, the second type contacts330may not engage the preload shelf610.

FIG.7shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the interface port110, taken along the line7-7inFIG.6. The cross-sectional view inFIG.7shows the distal portion218of a first type contact320held under the preload shelf610. Because of the relatively longer distal portions218of the first type contacts320(e.g., ground contacts), as compared with the relatively shorter distal portions218of the second type contacts (e.g., high speed signal contacts), the distal portions218of the first type contacts320are held under the preload shelf610while the distal portions218of the second type contacts330do not extend enough to be held under the preload shelf610. Rather, as described above in connection withFIGS.3-5B, deflection of the first type contacts320into a preloaded state may cause component310to press against the second type contacts330, deflecting them into a preloaded state. Accordingly, the component310preloads the second type contacts330based on the preloading of the first type contacts320and the mechanical coupling of the component310to both the first type contacts320and the second type contacts330.

Components310are shown attached to the contacts210of a row in a location in which they do not interfere with a mating component inserted into opening135. In the example illustrated inFIG.7, the proximal portions214extend from respective insulative portions220A and220B of the contact assemblies and bend towards the centerline of opening135. Components310are attached to a portion of the proximal portions214offset from the contact portions. In this configuration, a mating component inserted into opening135will first contact the contact portions216, which will further deflect the beam forming the mating portion of the contact210, which in turn will move component310out of the path of the mating component as it is inserted into opening135.

FIG.8is a cross-sectional view through a plane parallel to the sectional plane illustrated in callout6. In this example, however, the sectional plane is between the tip of the first type contact and the tip of the second type contact such that the distal portions218of the first type contacts320are shown in cross section while the tips of the shorter distal portion218of the second type contacts330are visible. The sectional plane ofFIG.8is on the proximal side of preload shelf610, such that preload shelf610is not visible in this view.

A connector using techniques as described herein may be assembled according to a method that results in both first type contacts and second type contacts being preloaded without the second type contact beams directly engaging to the connector housing. According to such a method, one or more rows of contacts may be inserted into a connector housing with an opening comprising a mating port, such as opening135.

One or more rows of contacts may be inserted into the housing with contact portions, such as contact portions216, extending into the openings. The contacts may be formed to have a rest state in which the tips of the beams would extend into the opening, too. However, the contacts may be preloaded by deflecting the beams from this rest state in a direction towards a surface of the housing bounding the opening. An assembly tool, for example, may be used to deflect the beams as the contacts are inserted into the housing.

The tips may be secured in this position, such as is illustrated inFIG.1. InFIG.1andFIG.6, for example, the tips of the rows of contacts are not visible because they are behind the front surface of the housing. In this state, the tips will not interfere with a mating component inserted into the opening and the beams will be preloaded.

The contacts may be inserted into the housing in groups, such as one row at a time. In the example ofFIG.2, for example, one contact assembly may be inserted at a time or multiple contact assemblies may be held together, such as is illustrated inFIG.2, and inserted into the housing together.

For a connector with first type contact beams and second type contact beams, different mechanisms may be used to secure the first and second contact beams in their preloaded states. Distal portions of the first type contact beams may be engaged with the housing such that the first type contact beams are held in a preload state. The second type contact beams may be held in a preload state by a component mechanically coupled to the first type contact beams and the second type contact beams. Component310, for example, may hold the second type contact beams in a preload state.

In some examples, the first type contacts may have longer distal portions than the second type contacts. These longer distal portions may engage with the housing. The distal portions of the first type contact beams may be engaged to a preload shelf, for example.

In some examples, the housing may have a plurality of channels. Tips of the first type contact beams may be engaged to the housing within channels of the plurality of channels when in the preload state. In contrast, the distal portions of the second type contact beams may not be engaged to the housing when the second type contact beams are held in the preload state. For example, tips of the second type contact beams are cantilevered within channels of the plurality of channels when in the preload state.

As an example, component310was illustrated as having two parallel rails450with an insulative covering on one of the rails. In other examples, there may be insulative coverings on both of the rails or there may be only one rail.

A component, such as component310may preload high speed signal contacts and/or low speed signal contacts. In some examples, low speed signal contacts may be preloaded by engaging their distal portions to the housing. In such examples, an insulative preload component may be mechanically connected to the low speed signal contacts and the preload component may then urge high speed signal contacts into a preload state.

As another example, a single component310was illustrated per row of signal contacts. In other examples, two or more such components may be attached to each row.

As yet a further example, contacts with surface mount mounting portions were illustrated. In other examples, contacts may have press fit mounting portions or mounting portions of other configurations.

As another example, a connector was depicted as having two rows of contacts. In other examples, a connector may have more than two rows of terminals, such as four rows.

As yet another example, a component to aid in preloading second type contacts was described as a composite structure with conductive and insulative portions integrally formed. In other examples, a component with only an insulative portion may be used instead or in addition to such a composite component.

Further, a paddle card was described as an example of a substrate in a cable connector. Other substrates may be used instead or in addition to a paddle card. A substrate, for example, might be formed of other materials or might be formed in other ways, such as by insert molding conductive elements in a tongue of plastic or other insulative material, to form one or more members that may serve as a substrate.

As another example, first type contacts may differ from the second type contacts in ways other than the length of their distal portions. The first type contacts, for example, may be wider. or in some examples narrower, than the second type contacts. As another example, the proximal portions214of the first type contact may be longer, or in some examples shorter, than the proximal portions of the second type contacts.

Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, though advantages of the present invention are indicated, it should be appreciated that not every embodiment of the invention will include every described advantage. Some embodiments may not implement any features described as advantageous herein and in some instances. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

In an example, a connector may include a port with an opening. The connector may also include a row of contacts including a plurality of signal contacts and a plurality of ground contacts. Each signal contact of the plurality of signal contacts and each ground contact of the plurality of ground contacts may include a beam including a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a curved contact portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The distal portions of plurality of signal contacts may be shorter than the distal portions of the plurality of ground contacts.

Such a connector may optionally include one or more of the following features or characteristics:the connector includes a component including an insulative portion and a conductive portion. The conductive portion and the insulative portion of the component are attached.the insulative portion is plastic overmolded on the conductive portion such that the plastic is attached to the conductive portion.the conductive portion comprises a plurality of rails that extend parallel with the row of contacts and crossbars that connect the rails.the insulative portion is attached to a rail of the plurality of rails.the crossbars are connected to respective ground contacts of the plurality of ground contacts.the conductive portion of the component is a first conductive portion. The component further comprises a second conductive portion. The first conductive portion is attached to ground contacts of the plurality of ground contacts at a first end of the row The second conductive portion is attached to ground contacts of the plurality of ground contacts at a second end of the row, opposite the first end.the connector also includes a housing with a preload shelf spanning the row of contacts, wherein the distal portions of the plurality of ground contacts engage the preload shelf such that the plurality of ground contacts are in a deflected state, and the plurality of signal contacts are deflected based on mechanical coupling to the component and based on mechanical coupling between the component and the plurality of ground contacts.the connector also includes a second plurality of signal contacts, wherein the distal portions of second plurality of signal contacts are a same length as the distal portions of the plurality of ground contacts.the connector also includes a housing with the opening formed therein. The opening includes a side including a plurality of channels therein with cross segments spanning at least a first subset of the plurality of channels. The distal portions of the first type contacts engage the cross segments spanning the channels of the first subset, and the cross segments are disposed beyond distal tips of the second type contacts.

Terms signifying direction, such as “upwards” and “downwards” or front and back were used in connection with some embodiments. These terms were used to signify direction based on the orientation of components illustrated or connection to another component, such as a surface of a printed circuit board to which a termination assembly is mounted or the mating face of a connector. It should be understood that electronic components may be used in any suitable orientation. Accordingly, terms of direction should be understood to be relative, rather than fixed to a coordinate system perceived as unchanging, such as the earth's surface.

Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” or “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter (or equivalents thereof) and/or as additional items.