Abstract:
A filter connector such as one suitable for suppressing electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference or both is provided according to an assembly approach that reduces cost. Included is a unitary spring plate that overlies the plug portion of the filter connector and biases the filter components up against the terminals of the connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/035,523, filed Jan. 14, 2005, hereby incorporated by reference hereinto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a filter connector which mounts a plurality of electronic components, such as capacitors or the like. The invention also relates to a method of fabricating the filter connector. The filter connector can have modular characteristics. 
     There are a variety of electrical connectors which are termed “filter” connectors, in that an electronic component, such as a capacitor, is coupled between the terminals of the connector and a ground plate or shorting bar normally mounted to a face of a dielectric housing of the connector. The filters are used to suppress electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference entering the connector system. 
     One of the problems with such filter connectors simply is their cost. Normally, a ground plate is fabricated of stamped and formed conductive metal material and must be mounted separately to the dielectric housing of the connector. Terminals then are mounted in the connector housing. The filter capacitors then must be coupled between the terminals and the ground plate or shorting bar. These steps are time consuming and require assembly tooling, all of which adds considerably to the cost of the connectors. In a mass production environment, reliability and performance are desired. Typically, the terminals are mounted or inserted into a connector housing in one direction, the capacitors are mounted or inserted into the housing in a different direction, and the ground plate or shorting bar is mounted or assembled in the same or different direction. All of these assembly operations require relatively expensive assembly tooling. 
     Some prior approaches use capacitor arrays, sometimes referred to as monolithic capacitors, in providing filtering functions within connectors. Examples of approaches in this regard include Brancaleone U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,226 and Reider et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,825. While recognized by Brancaleone as a deficiency, the capacitor array approach is compounded by a shield design having large openings that allow EMI/RFI to pass through the assembly. Also, compared with the relatively few components according to the present invention, Brancaleone has additional parts, leading to increased assembly time and cost. In addition to the teaching to use capacitor arrays, Reider requires a “zebra strip” to provide compliance between the capacitor and the pins to compensate for the capacitor array being planar while the pins are not always in the same exact plane. The zebra strip of Reider has the negative of adding inductance and resistance to the filter circuit and additional cost. 
     Ward U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,277 shows a stamped and formed cantilever spring having spring fingers. The cantilever spring establishes a connection between the capacitors and the contact terminals. This arrangement shows open ends that do not provide adequate EMI/RFI transmission. Farrar et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,174 shows a ground plate that includes a plurality of spring finger openings for receiving a tubular filtered contact assembly. Mounting of this ground plate is facilitated by integral spring fingers that engage the conductive shell of this connector assembly with filtered inserts. This approach requires a relatively complex filter contact assembly. 
     Through the inventive efforts of the present disclosure there is a reduction in the number of components, and these reduced number of components achieve grounding and shielding while providing secure electrical contact between the input and output side of the connector and the shielding components positioned there along. This inventive approach reduces cost and complexity and reduces EMI/RFI emissions through the header of the filter connector. 
     In some circumstances it can be desirable to provide a filter connector in which the terminals and filters/capacitors are mounted in modules and assembled in a larger outer connector housing. By such a modular approach the outer housing of the filter connector can be molded in different sizes to customize the connector to meet a need for a specific size and/or shape. These different numbers of modules are oriented to comply with the customized design. This is considerably less complicated and less expensive than customizing an entire connector for different numbers of terminals and filters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An overall aspect or object of the invention is to provide new and improved filter connectors of the character described, along with a method of fabricating the filter connectors. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the filter connector includes a dielectric housing having a mounting face. At least one row of terminal-receiving passages are formed in the housing through the mounting face. A row of filter-receiving pockets are formed in the housing through the mounting face respectively in alignment with the passages, and with one side of each pocket communicating with its respective passage. A plurality of terminals are mounted through the passages. A plurality of filters are positioned or inserted into the pockets through the mounting face, with one side of the filters respectively engageable with the terminals. A unitary spring member or common spring plate is positioned over the filter-receiving pockets and provides engagement with respective opposite sides of the plurality of filters. 
     According to an aspect or embodiment, the unitary spring member or common spring plate, biases the respective filters against the terminals. As disclosed herein, the unitary spring member is stamped and formed of sheet metal material and includes integral leaf spring portions engageable with the filters. Therefore, the filters can be easily mounted fairly loosely into their respective passages, and the leaf spring portions are effective to tighten the assembly. 
     According to other aspects or embodiments, the terminals comprise terminal pins and the filters comprise capacitors. The housing has a mating face and a terminating face, and the mounting face comprises the terminating face of the connector. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of generally parallel rows of the terminal-receiving passages are formed in the housing along with a corresponding plurality of generally parallel rows of the filter-receiving pockets. The unitary spring member or common spring plate essentially spans the mounting face in order to greatly reduce EFI/RMI emissions through the header. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the filter connector includes an outer housing having a cavity. A plurality of inner housing modules are positionable in the cavity in a side-by-side array. At least one terminal is mounted in each housing module to define at least one row of terminals along the cavity. At least one filter is mounted in each housing module electrically coupled to each terminal to define at least one row of filters. A common spring plate or unitary spring member spans the plurality of housing modules and is electrically coupled to the plurality of filters of the modules. 
     According to another embodiment or aspect, the common spring plate or unitary spring member biases the filters against the terminals. Biasing members are integral with the unitary spring member or common spring plate, which can be stamped and formed of sheet metal material, with the biasing members comprising integral leaf spring portions of the common spring plate engageable with the filters. 
     According to another aspect or embodiment when a modular approach is practiced, adjacent housing modules can rest within a shell shaped and sized according to the connector perimeter to be provided. The modules can have formations that are engageable with each other to hold the modules in their side-by-side array. These formations can comprise integral interconnecting projections and indentations between adjacent housing modules, such as interengageable dovetail connections on the modules. 
     According to another aspect or embodiment, as disclosed herein, the terminals comprise terminal pins, and the filters comprise capacitors. A plurality of the terminal pins is mounted to define a plurality of generally parallel rows of terminals along the cavity. A corresponding plurality of generally parallel rows of the capacitors are respectively electrically coupled to the terminal pins. The common spring plate or unitary spring member is electrically coupled to the capacitors in each row thereof. 
     Other aspects, embodiments, objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects, aspects, features and embodiments and the advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular filter connector according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the outer connector housing of  FIG. 1 , along with a cluster of three inner housing modules for illustration purposes; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one of the inner housing modules illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one of the inner housing modules illustrated in  FIG. 2  in assembled condition; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmented, enlarged perspective view of the right end of the module illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a vertical section through the fragmented portion of the module as shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a cluster of three modules interconnected in a side-by-side array; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a filter connector according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the filter connector illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the filter connector of  FIG. 8 , shown with the ferrite omitted for illustrative purposes; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective, detailed view of a portion of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a transverse cross-sectional view through the embodiment of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a partial transverse cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a detailed view of a portion of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dielectric housing, viewed from the mating face side; 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view of the housing of  FIG. 15 , showing the mounting face side; 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view of the housing of  FIG. 15 , showing the mating face side; 
         FIG. 18  is a longitudinal sectional view of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the unitary spring member from the mounting face side; 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the unitary spring member, shown from the mating face side; 
         FIG. 21  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the unitary spring member shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 22  is an enlarged, detailed view of the right-side end of the unitary spring member in  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a further detailed view of a portion of the right side of the unitary spring member of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a top plan view of an embodiment of a ferrite member, showing the mounting face thereof; 
         FIG. 25  is a longitudinal side elevational view of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 26  is an end elevational view of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a filter member for use in the filter connector assembly; 
         FIG. 28  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment having a modular approach incorporating a unitary spring member; 
         FIG. 29  is an enlarged detail perspective view of a corner portion of  FIG. 28 ; and 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a typical control module header assembly including a typical die cast assembly including two filtered electrical connectors. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate manner. 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a modular filter connector is shown, generally designated  10 , which includes an outer connector housing, generally designated  12 . The outer housing defines a cavity  14  which receives a plurality of inner housing modules, generally designated  16 , which are positionable within the cavity in a side-by-side array as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     More particularly, in this particular illustrated arrangement, housing  12  is generally rectangular and includes a generally rectangular plug portion which surrounds and defines cavity  14 . A peripheral groove  20  surrounds plug portion  18  for receiving a metal casing. With this arrangement, four slots  22  are formed in the outer edge of plug portion  18  at each opposite end thereof as best seen in  FIG. 2 , for receiving ends of four shorting bars as will be described hereinafter. Housing  12  has a mating end  12   a  which defines a receptacle  24  ( FIG. 2 ) for receiving a complementary mating connecting device or second connector. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each housing module  16  includes four terminal-receiving through passages  26  for receiving four terminal pins  28 . The terminal pins are inserted through the housing module as seen in  FIG. 4 . Enlarged fixing sections  28   a  ( FIG. 3 ) securely fix the terminal pins within passages  26 . Each housing module is a one-piece structure that may be molded of dielectric plastic material. 
     Each inner housing module  16  also includes four pockets  30  formed in one side of the housing module, along with four slots  32  in a top face  16   a  of the module. Each pocket  30  communicates at one end thereof with a respective terminal-receiving passage  26 . Each pocket also communicates at an opposite end thereof with a respective slot  32 . 
     Four filters in the form of capacitors  34  are inserted into pockets  30  from the side of each housing module  16 . When filly assembled, one end of each capacitor is electrically coupled or engaged with a respective one of the terminal pins  28 , and an opposite end of the capacitor is electrically coupled or engaged according to this arrangement with a shorting bar described below. 
     As seen best in  FIG. 1 , four common shorting bars span the entire side-by-side array of housing modules  16  in this particular arrangement that mounts the components together using a shorting bar approach. In the depictions of  FIGS. 2-4 , only longitudinal or lengthwise sections of the shorting bars are shown simply to facilitate the illustration. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show quite clearly the assembly of one of the inner housing modules  16  with a pair of terminal pins  28 , a corresponding pair of capacitors  34  and longitudinal sections of a pair of shorting bars  36  of this approach. The terminal pins have been inserted through terminal-receiving passages  26  in the housing module. Capacitors  34  have been inserted into pockets  30  in the housing module in a direction generally perpendicular to the terminals and terminal-receiving passages. Shorting bars  36  have been inserted into slots  32  in the housing module. It can be seen that one end  34   a  of each capacitor  34  is in engagement with a respective one of the terminal pins  28 . An opposite end  34   b  of each capacitor is in engagement with a portion of a respective one of the shorting bars  36  according to this approach. 
     Generally, biasing means are provided between shorting bars  36  and capacitors  34  to bias the capacitors against terminal pins  28 . Specifically, each shorting bar by this approach may be stamped and formed of sheet metal material. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , an integral leaf spring portion  36   a  is stamped and formed out of each shorting bar  36  for engaging end  34   b  of each capacitor  34 . This leaf spring portion biases end  34   a  of the respective capacitor into engagement with the respective terminal pin  28 . 
     In assembly, it is contemplated that pockets  30  for receiving capacitors  34  can be dimensioned to receive the capacitors sufficiently loose to allow for easy assembly of the capacitors into their respective pockets. Then, when shorting bars  36  of this approach are inserted into slots  32 , integral leaf spring portions  36   a  are effective to “tighten” the assembly by forcing the capacitors securely against the terminal pins. In other words, the shorting bars, with their leaf spring portions, are effective to hold the assembly in electrical contact. 
     Generally, securing means are provided between adjacent housing modules  16  to hold the modules in their side-by-side array. As disclosed herein, the securing means comprise interengageable dovetail connections which are integral with the housing modules. Referring to  FIG. 7 , it can be seen that each housing module  16  of this illustrated embodiment according to this approach has a pair of dovetail grooves  40  molded in one side face thereof. A pair of dovetail ribs  42  are formed on the opposite side of each module. Therefore, the modules can be secured together in a side-by-side array as shown in  FIG. 7  by interengaging the dovetail-shaped ribs  42  within the dovetail-shaped grooves  40 . 
     In assembly of connectors  10 , it first is determined how many housing modules  16  are required within cavity  14  of connector housing  12 . Then, each housing module is assembled with its four terminal pins  28  and four capacitors  34 . The number of housing modules  16  required to fill cavity  14  then are secured together in a side-by-side array by interengaging the dovetail-shaped grooves  40  and ribs  42 . This subassembly of all of the required housing modules then is inserted into cavity  14  of housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . According to this arrangement, four common shorting bars  36  then are inserted into their respective slots  32  in the housing modules to hold the entire array of modules in a tight assembly, biasing capacitors  34  of the entire array against all of the terminal pins  28 . It can be seen that shorting bars  36  have been cut to lengths to extend beyond the end-most housing modules  16  so that the ends of the shorting bars project through slots  22  (see  FIG. 2 ) at opposite ends of plug portion  18  of the housing. The opposite ends of the shorting bars are serrated or somehow sharpened so that they bite into the material of the metal casing that is inserted into peripheral groove  20  of the housing. Therefore, the shorting bars are grounded to the metal casing. 
     After the connector is fully assembled, a liquid encapsulant is poured into a recessed area  50  ( FIG. 1 ) inside plug portion  18  of the housing. The encapsulant is cured or hardened and seals the entire outer interface of the interengaged housing modules. In addition, the encapsulent secures the ferrite to the housing throughout its life. 
     With the modular concept of this illustrated approach, it can be understood that connector  10  can be customized for different numbers of terminals (i.e., different densities for the connector). This is accomplished simply by changing the tooling to enlarge or reduce the length of housing  12  and, thereby, the longitudinal size of cavity  14 . Changing the length of the outer housing is a relatively simple procedure. Of course, changing the length of the housing and/or cavity, changes the number of modules  16  which are inserted into the cavity. However, the modules themselves are not changed at all. Customizing the connector simply involves different numbers of modules to be inserted into the cavity of connector housing  12 . This structural combination and method of fabrication is less complicated and less expensive than if an entire electrical connector, including means for receiving the terminal pins, means for receiving the capacitors and means for receiving the shorting bars, had to be changed for each customized connector. The manufacturing and assembly tooling would have to be changed for a non-modular custom connector. 
     Although the above description in relation to the drawings describe a connector assembly wherein modules  16  form four rows of terminal pins, along with a corresponding four rows of capacitors and four shorting bars, it should be understood that this specific assembly or connector configuration is an illustration for this modular approach. Different numbers of rows of terminals, rows of capacitors and shorting bars are contemplated and can be easily accommodated. A single row or more than four rows could be used in a connector assembly. Also, a unitary spring member can be provided in a modular arrangement, as described herein. 
     Referring to the embodiment illustrated on  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 , a filtered electrical connector, generally designated  110 , includes a dielectric housing, generally designated  112 , a plurality of terminals in the form of terminal pins  114 , a unitary spring member, generally designated  116 , and a plurality of chip components  118  ( FIG. 9 ). Chip components  118  can take the form of filters, capacitors, resistors, jumpers, or other chip components. A suitable capacitor is a multi-layered chip capacitor, for example. In this particular illustrated embodiment, housing  112  of connector  110  receives four rows of terminal pins  114 , with twenty pins in each row, with twenty chip components for each row of twenty terminal pins. In the direction orthogonal to these rows in this illustration, there are multiple columns of terminal pins and chip components. Twenty such columns are depicted in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 . Unitary spring member  116  runs the entire length of these rows and columns encompassing eighty chip components and eighty corresponding terminal pins. 
     Housing  112  of connector  110  may be molded of dielectric material or the like. The housing includes a mating face  112   a  and a terminating face  112   b.  Under this configuration, the terminating face will be considered the mounting face herein and in the claims hereof. The mounting face can be recessed, as at  120 , which can receive an encapsulant (not shown) after assembly. Terminal pins  114 , and chip components  118  are inserted into the housing typically from the mounting face  112   b  side thereof. The housing has a plug portion  112   c  at the terminating end thereof, and the plug portion typically is surrounded by a peripheral groove  122 . A metal casing of the connector (not shown) is assembled into the peripheral groove, and the unitary spring member  116  is grounded to the metal casing and urges the chip components and terminal pins into engagement with each other as will be seen hereinafter. 
     In this illustrated embodiment, housing  112  has four rows of terminal-receiving passages  124  through mounting face  112   b  thereof. The housing has four rows of chip component-receiving pockets  126  through the mounting face and respectively in alignment with the terminal-receiving passages. Correspondingly, these terminal-receiving passages  124  are in twenty columns, as are the pockets  126 . 
     Further details of the various components will now be described in conjunction with a method of fabricating or assembling connector  110 , referring especially to  FIG. 9  and to the enlarged depictions of  FIGS. 11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14 . Specifically, terminal pins  114  first can be inserted into passages  124  in housing  112  through the mating face  112   a  or the mounting face  112   b  thereof. The terminals are inserted into the passage fairly tightly, as by a press-fit which assists in securing the terminals in their assembled condition within the passages. Chip components  118  then are inserted or assembled into filter-receiving pockets  126 , through mounting face  112   b  of the housing. Typically, the chip components are assembled into the pockets fairly loosely, or at least loose enough to make it quite easy to insert the chip components into their respective sockets. In actual practice, the chip components typically are “gang placed” into their respective pockets, usually one row at a time. The relatively loose fit between the chip components and the pockets facilitates this gang insertion process. 
     Unitary spring member  116  then is inserted over the mounting face  112   b  of the housing. The unitary spring member typically is manufactured by being stamped and formed of sheet metal material, such as tin-plated steel. The unitary spring member is formed with biasing components. In this embodiment, the biasing components are in the form of a plurality of leaf springs  130  which respectively engage chip components  118  to bias each respective chip component against its corresponding terminal pin  114 . It will be noted that each leaf spring has a tail  131  downwardly depending therefrom. During and after assembly, each downwardly depending tail  131  is closely accommodated by an engagement slot  129  in the dielectric housing. Each engagement slot  129  is sized and shaped such that each leaf spring tail  131  fits tightly into its slot  129 , which provides an elegant approach for properly placing the components thus assembled while accommodating variations in sizing, especially of the chip components  118 . In essence, the leaf springs  130  are effective to “tighten” the assembly in view of the somewhat loose initial assembly of the chip components into their respective pockets. The injection molded dielectric housing  112  gives the engagement slots  129  close tolerance characteristics. Insertion of each leaf spring tail  131  into its slot  129  effectively imparts those tolerance characteristics to the unitary spring member  116 , while flexibility of the leaf springs themselves accommodates less precise tolerances in other components, most notably in the chip components  118 . 
     When finally assembled as shown especially in  FIG. 14 , one side  118   a  of each chip component  1 I  8  is biased by the respective leaf spring  130  toward one side of the respective pocket  126  which communicates with the respective terminal-receiving passage  124 . At least one edge clip  132  is positioned on opposing ends of the unitary spring member  116 . Each respective leaf spring  130  engages an opposite side  118   b  of the chip component in view of the fact that the opposite side of the respective pocket  126  accommodates the respective leaf spring  130  that depends from the unitary spring member  116  of this embodiment into the pocket  126 . 
     With further reference to the unitary spring member or common spring plate  116 , same provides in a single unit a plurality of essential components, thereby reducing cost and complexity. This single unit spring component also improves performance, including creating a ground shield over the entire header opening, that is the entire area within the confines of the multiple edge clips  132 . Unitary spring member  116  effectively fills the area of the plug portion  112   c  with shield material, thereby greatly reducing EMI/RFI emissions through the header. 
     The unitary spring member or common spring plate  116  also reduces cost and complexity of manufacture, fabrication and assembly by consolidating four components into the single part. This reduces capital requirements for manufacturing and can reduce skilled labor costs due to ease of alignment and assembly by a single placement of the unitary spring member or common spring plate onto the connector in order to substantially simultaneously provide the desirable biasing action between the plate, the pins and the chip components therebetween while properly placing the respective parts within needed tolerances. 
     The advantageous biasing action achieved by the unitary spring member  116  and its leaf springs is facilitated by spacing of the unitary spring member components with respect to features of the mounting face  112   b  and its plug portion  112   c.  The edge clips  132  define the outer boundary of the unitary spring member or common spring plate  116 . In the illustrated embodiment multiple edge clips  132  define opposing end portions of a plate-like section  133  of spring  116  that covers substantially all of the opening of the plug portion  112   c.  In this illustrated embodiment, twenty columns of two opposing edge clips each are provided. 
     Spacing between opposing edge clips  132 , specifically their respective inset portions  134 ,  135 , when their unitary spring member  116  is assembled onto the outside surface of the plug portion  112   c  is substantially equal to the width between the outside surfaces of the plug portion  112   c  of the housing  112  at the location of engagement between the inset portions  134 ,  135  and the plug portion  112   c.  This can be seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Leaf springs  130  are spaced along the plate-like section  133  to provide the biasing force that secures the needed contact between the chip components  118  and their respective terminal pins  114 . When assembled, such as shown in  FIG. 14 , the spacing between the leaf spring  130  under biasing tension and the opposing wall of the terminal pin  114  is equal to the length of the chip component  118 . This distance is designated “L” in  FIG. 14 . It will be appreciated that this distance “L” can vary somewhat due to manufacturing tolerances of the chip components  118 . The illustrated embodiment provides a self-compliant character to the assembly. This self-compliance is facilitated by the flexibility of the leaf spring  130  coupled with the tight tolerance relationship between its tail  131  and the engagement slot  129  which constrains movement of the tail  131  that fits snugly therewithin. Each pocket  126  and leaf spring  130  independently accommodate dimensional tolerance of components, while the overall unitary configuration of the spring plate  116  keeps assembly simple. 
     When desired, after terminal pins  114 , chip components  118  and the unitary spring  116  are assembled into and onto the housing, recess  120  in mounting face  112   b  can be filled with a sealing encapsulant. The encapsulant is poured into the recess in liquid form and is allowed to cure and completely seal the entire mounting face of the connector through which the terminal pins, chip components and unitary spring were assembled. In addition, the encapsulent secures the ferrite to the housing throughout its life. 
     In a typical embodiment, a ferrite such as the one illustrated at  136  is positioned over the unitary spring member  116 . A plurality of holes  138  provide access for the terminal pins  114  therethrough. Advantageously, the illustrated ferrite  136  substantially covers plate-like section  133  of the spring  116 . 
     It can be seen from the foregoing that the fabrication or assembly of connector  110  is made quite simple by assembling terminals pins  114 , chip components  118  and unitary spring member  116  into or onto the same face of the housing. This considerably simplifies the assembly tooling for the connector. The terminal pins can be assembled from either the mating face or the mounting face of the housing regardless of the orientation of the housing, because of the press-fit of the terminal pins into passages  124 . Sealing the connector, when practiced, also is made quite simple in that the sealing encapsulant must simply fill one recess at one face of the connector to seal all of the passages/pockets/slots into which the components are assembled. 
       FIG. 15  provides further details of a typical dielectric housing  112 . This illustrates an 80-way shroud typical to accommodate 0.64 mm square pins. Further details are shown in  FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18 . An anto-scoop fin  140  is illustrated. Typically, same is fabricated of dielectric material.  FIG. 15  shows the dielectric housing  112  with the terminal pins omitted for illustrative purposes. 
       FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  illustrate a typical unitary spring member or common spring plate  116  suitable for use with a filter connector with the type discussed herein. Apertures  142  accommodate the respective terminal pins. In this illustrated embodiment, a leaf spring  130  is associated with each such aperture  142 . As with other components, the apertures are shown arranged in four rows and twenty columns. Four such rows can be seen in  FIG. 21 . A typical illustrated arrangement between a leaf spring  130  and edge clip  132  can be seen in  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 23  provides an enlarged view of the boxed-in portion of  FIG. 22 . 
     Leaf spring  130  is cantilevered from the plate-like section  133  in order to provide the required biasing force. Same can include a downwardly-depending strut  144  from which is mounted a non-linear engagement finger  146 , shown in a generally S-shape in the various drawings. The non-linear engagement finger typically bridges a gap between opposing struts  144 . It is convenient when unitary spring member  116  is formed by stamping that the downwardly depending struts  144  and the intermediate engagement fingers  146  are fashioned from material used in forming the apertures  142 . As previously noted, each leaf spring includes a downwardly depending tail  131  that are used to locally align each leaf spring  130  with its engagement slot  129  and the housing pockets  126  with their respective chip components therewithin. 
       FIGS. 24 ,  25  and  26  illustrate a typical ferrite  136 . The particular embodiment illustrated in these figures is sized and shaped to overlie the terminal pin and capacitor matrix that is illustrated. It will be noted that the illustrated ferrite  136  includes four rows and twenty columns of through holes  138 . 
       FIG. 27  illustrates a typical chip component  118 . The illustrated chip component is a multi-layered chip capacitor that is suitable for use when it is desired to provide capacitors for carrying out the filtering functions associated with a filter electrical connector. It will be appreciated that characteristics of the chip component  118  can be varied as desired. For example, the present approach allows filter connectors to be tailored to provide electronic characteristics that vary among the several pin circuits within an individual filter connector. This advantage is facilitated in part by the selection of standard-sized chip components, which can be configured on demand in the assembly process. Also, the self-compliant approach discussed herein accommodates differences among these standard-sized chip components, which are easily placed in the pockets and then properly positioned by operation of each respective leaf spring. 
       FIGS. 28 and 29  depict an embodiment having inner housing modules  156  in association with a unitary spring member and common spring plate  116 . In this illustrated embodiment, there are twenty such inner housing modules  156 . These inner housing modules are stacked next to each other in side-by-side engaging fashion and are inserted into a shell  158  of a dielectric housing  162 . Housing  162  includes a mating face  162   a,  a mounting face  162   b,  and a plug portion  162   c  that is formed largely by the shell  158 . With this approach, the edge clips or legs  132  of the unitary spring member  116  fit over the ribs or upstanding portion  164  of the plug portion  162   c.    
     Each inner housing module  156  includes passages for the terminal pins  114  and pockets (not shown in  FIG. 29 ) for the chip components  118 . These pockets are on the order of pockets  30  that are shown in  FIG. 3 . A typical terminal receiving passage is illustrated at  174 , and a typical engagement slot for receiving a downwardly depending tail  131  of a leaf spring of the unitary spring member or common spring plate  116  is illustrated at  176  in  FIG. 29 . 
       FIG. 30  illustrates an in-use application for filtered electrical connectors, shown at  110  in  FIG. 30 . These are mounted within a typical prior art module  180  that is mounted within a motorized vehicle, for example. A printed circuit board (not shown) engages the terminal pins  114  in a manner well known in the art, with the other ends of the terminal pins  114  being in engagement with contacts for providing electronic communication in a manner well known in the art. 
     It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Numerous modifications may be made without departing from the disclosure, including those combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein.