Patent Publication Number: US-7896655-B1

Title: Multi-port connector system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connectors that electrically couple circuit boards. 
     Some known connector systems include connectors mounted to circuit boards. The connectors mate with one another to electrically couple the circuit boards. The connectors may be mounted to motherboards, backplanes, midplanes, and other circuit boards to provide for the communication of data and/or power signals there between. Due to space constraints, some of the circuit boards need to be oriented perpendicularly with respect to other circuit boards. For example, daughterboards are typically oriented perpendicular with respect to a midplane board to which the daughterboards are coupled. In order to orient the daughter and midplane boards perpendicular with respect to one another, at least one of the connectors typically is a right angle connector. 
     Some known right angle connectors include mating faces that engage a mating face of another connector and mounting faces that engage the circuit board to which the right angle connector is mounted. The mating and mounting faces are perpendicular with respect to one another. The right angle connectors include conductors that extend from the mating face to the mounting face and provide an electronically communicative pathway between the mating and mounting faces. In order to extend between the perpendicularly oriented mating and mounting faces, some conductors include a ninety degree bend within the orthogonal connector. But, the bend in the conductor may impact the electrical impedance characteristic of the connector. For example, the bend in the conductor may locally change a cross-sectional area of the conductor and increase the local electrical impedance characteristic of the conductor. As a result, the connector may have an electrical impedance characteristic that varies through the connector between the mating and mounting faces. Moreover, the space within the right angle connectors may be significantly limiting, thereby increasing the challenge of producing a reliable ninety degree bend in the limited space. Other conductors include two portions that are joined together within the connector by solder. But, the application of solder may vary significantly among conductors and within connectors, thereby introducing impedance variation and reducing the reliability of electrical connections provided by the connector. 
     Additionally, some right angle connectors are mounted to circuit boards using mounting pins. The mounting pins are coupled with conductors in the connectors. The mounting pins may be press-fit into the circuit boards to retain the pins in the circuit boards. Some known mounting pins are relatively thin and prone to bend or buckle when the connectors are mounted to the circuit boards. For example, the mounting pins may have relatively little mechanical support in directions along the surface of the circuit board. Misalignment of the mounting pins with respect to the circuit board may result in sufficiently large lateral forces being imparted on the mounting pins. These forces may cause the pins to fail by bending or buckling, for example. 
     A need thus exists for connectors having conductors that provide a more reliable and stable connection between mating and mounting faces that are angled with respect to one another. A need also exists for connectors that have mounting pins that are less prone to buckling when the connectors are mounted to circuit boards. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing, an electrical connector and a conductor. The housing extends from a mating interface to a back end along a longitudinal axis and from a top side to a mounting interface along a vertical axis. The mounting interface is configured to mount the housing to a circuit board. The electrical connector is disposed at the mating interface and is configured to mate with a mating connector. The conductor extends from the electrical connector to the mounting interface to provide a conductive pathway between the mating connector and the circuit board. The conductor includes a mating portion oriented along the longitudinal axis and a mounting portion oriented along the vertical axis. One of the mating portion and the mounting portion includes a bifurcated end having opposing contact tips and the other of the mating portion and the mounting portion includes an interconnection end that is received between the contact tips to electrically couple the mating portion and the mounting portion. 
     In another embodiment, another electrical connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing, an electrical connector, a dielectric body and a conductor. The housing extends from a mating interface to a mounting interface. The mounting interface is configured to mount the housing to a circuit board. The electrical connector is disposed at the mating interface and is configured to mate with a mating connector. The dielectric body is disposed in the housing at the mounting interface. The dielectric body includes an axial opening that extends along a length of the dielectric body and a slot oriented in an angled direction with respect to the length of the dielectric body. The conductor extends from the electrical connector to the mounting interface to provide a conductive pathway between the mating connector and the circuit board. The conductor includes a mounting pin configured to be mounted to the circuit board and a shoulder extending from the conductor and disposed at an angle with respect to the mounting pin. The shoulder is received into the slot of the dielectric body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector system in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a mating portion of a center conductor in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a mounting portion of a center conductor in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the mounting portion shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a dielectric body shown in  FIG. 2  of the plug connector assembly and/or the receptacle connector assembly  104  shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the plug connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view of a mounting pin shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a vertically mounted plug connector assembly in accordance with an alternative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector system  100  in accordance with one embodiment. The system  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is a right angle connector system. The system  100  includes an electrical plug connector assembly  102  and an electrical receptacle connector assembly  104 . The plug connector assembly  102  mates with the receptacle connector assembly  104  to electrically couple the plug connector assembly  102  with the receptacle connector assembly  104 . Each of the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104  may be mounted to a circuit board (not shown), such as a printed circuit board. In the illustrated embodiment, the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104  are right angle connectors. For example, the plug connector assembly  102  may have a mating interface  106  and a mounting interface  108  that are oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to one another. Similarly, the receptacle connector assembly  104  may have a mating interface  110  and a mounting interface  112  that are oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to one another. The mating interfaces  106 ,  110  engage one another when the plug connector assembly  102  and receptacle connector assembly  104  mate with each other. The circuit boards to which the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104  are mounted are oriented approximately parallel or coplanar with respect to one another when the plug connector assembly  102  mates with the receptacle connector assembly  104 . 
     The mounting interfaces  108 ,  112  engage separate circuit boards (not shown) such that the system  100  electronically joins the separate circuit boards through the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104  includes mounting pins  152 ,  164 ,  180  that project from the mounting interfaces  108 ,  112 . The mounting pins  152 ,  164 ,  180  may be compliant eye-of-needle pins that are pressed into a circuit board to mount the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104  to the circuit boards. The mounting pins  152  of the plug connector assembly  102  and the mounting pins  152  of the receptacle connector assembly  104  are grounding pins that electrically couple the plug connectors  132 ,  166  and receptacle connectors  134 ,  168 , respectively, to an electrical ground reference of the circuit boards. The mounting pins  164  of the plug connector assembly  102  and the mounting pins  180  of the receptacle connector assembly  104  are signal pins that electrically couple the plug connectors  132 ,  166  and receptacle connectors  134 ,  168 , respectively, with the circuit board to communicate data signals between the circuit boards and the plug connector assembly  102  and the receptacle connector assembly  104 . 
     The plug connector assembly  102  includes a two-piece housing  114  that extends from the mating interface  106  to a back end  120  along a longitudinal axis  122 . Alternatively, the housing  114  may be formed as a single piece unitary housing. The housing  114  also extends from the mounting interface  108  to a top side  124  along a vertical axis  126 . In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis  122  and vertical axis  126  are oriented perpendicular to one another. The housing  114  is comprised of a header assembly  116  and several connector modules  118 ,  170 . 
     The header assembly  116  may include, or be formed from, a dielectric material, such as a polymer. Alternatively, the header assembly  116  may include, or be formed from, a conductive material. In the illustrated embodiment, the header assembly  116  includes voids or corings  188 . The corings  188  are recesses that extend into the header assembly  116  from the mating interface  106  to reduce the amount of material used to fabricate the header assembly  116 . The header assembly  116  extends from the mating interface  106  to a rear face  128  along the longitudinal axis  122 . Additional corings  188  may be extend from the rear face  128  toward the mating interface  106 . In the illustrated embodiment, the rear face  128  is a non-planar face. For example, the rear face  128  is not entirely disposed in a single plane. Alternatively, the rear face  128  may be entirely disposed in a single plane. The header assembly  116  includes an alignment shroud  130  that projects from the mating interface  106  in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  122 . The alignment shroud  130  engages the receptacle connector assembly  104  to align the plug connector assembly  102  with the receptacle connector assembly  104 . 
     The connector modules  118 ,  170  include, or are formed from, a conductive material, such as a metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the connector modules  118 ,  170  may include, or be formed from, a dielectric material. The connector modules  118  extend from a front face  182  to the back end  120  in directions along the longitudinal axis  122  and from the top side  124  to the mounting interface  108  in directions along the vertical axis  126 . The connector modules  170  extend from the front face  182  to a back end  176  in directions along the longitudinal axis  122  and between a top side  178  and the mounting interface  108  in directions along the vertical axis  126 . In the illustrated embodiment, the front face  182  is disposed proximate to the rear face  128  of the header assembly  116 . The front face  182  may be adjacent to the rear face  128  or may be separated from the rear face  128 . 
     Several plug connectors  132 ,  166  are disposed at the mating interface  106 . The plug connectors  132  are located along an upper row at the mating interface  106  while the plug connectors  166  are located along a lower row at the mating interface  106 . The plug connectors  132 ,  166  engage and mate with receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  of the receptacle connector assembly  104  to electrically couple the plug connector assembly  102  with the receptacle connector assembly  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the plug connectors  132 ,  166  are coaxial connectors. For example, each of the plug connectors  132 ,  166  may include a center conductor  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) that is circumferentially surrounded by a conductive shield shell  136 . The plug connectors  132 ,  166  forwardly project from the mating interface  106  in directions along the longitudinal axis  122 . In an alternative embodiment, the plug connectors  132 ,  166  are connectors other than coaxial connectors. In the illustrated embodiment, a separate connector module  118 ,  170  is provided for each plug connector  132 ,  166 . For example, a single upper connector module  118  may be provided for each plug connector  132  and a single lower connector module  170  may be provided for each plug connector  166 . As described below, each connector module  118 ,  170  holds the center conductor  160 ,  200  of a different plug connector  132 ,  166 . 
     The receptacle connector assembly  104  includes a housing  138  that extends from the mating interface  110  to a back end  140  along a longitudinal axis  142 . The housing  138  also extends from the mounting interface  112  to a top side  144  along a vertical axis  146 . Similar to the longitudinal axis  122  and vertical axis  126  of the plug connector assembly  102 , the longitudinal axis  142  and vertical axis  146  of the receptacle connector assembly  104  may be oriented perpendicular to one another. The housing  138  includes a header assembly  148  and several connector modules  150 ,  172 . 
     The header assembly  148  includes, or is formed from, a dielectric material, such as a polymer. Alternatively, the header assembly  148  includes, or is formed from, a conductive material. In the illustrated embodiment, the header assembly  148  includes voids or corings  186 . The corings  186  are recesses that extend into the header assembly  148  from the mating interface  110  to reduce the amount of material used to fabricate the header assembly  148 . The header assembly  148  extends from the mating interface  110  to a rear face  154  along the longitudinal axis  142 . Additional corings  186  may be extend from the rear face  154  toward the mating interface  110 . Similar to the rear face  128  of the plug connector assembly  102 , the rear face  154  may be a non-planar face. Alternatively, the rear face  154  may be a planar face that is entirely disposed in a single plane. The header assembly  148  includes alignment features  156  that engage the alignment shroud  130  to align the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  with the plug connectors  132 ,  166 . The alignment features  156  are extensions of the header assembly  148  that are received in slots  158  of the header assembly  116 . The shroud  130  of the plug connector assembly  102  may project from the mating interface  106  of the plug connector assembly  102  such that the slots  158  engage the alignment features  156  to align the plug connectors  132 ,  166  with the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  prior to the plug connectors  132 ,  166  being received into the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168 . 
     Similar to the connector modules  118 ,  170  of the plug connector assembly  102 , the connector modules  150 ,  172  include, or are formed from, a conductive material, such as a metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the connector modules  150 ,  172  include, or are formed from, a dielectric material. The connector modules  150  extend from a front face  184  to the back end  140  in directions along the longitudinal axis  142  and from the top side  144  to the mounting interface  112  in directions along the vertical axis  146 . The connector modules  172  extend from the front face  184  to a back end  174  in directions along the longitudinal axis  142  and from a top side  176  to the mounting interface  112  in directions along the vertical axis  146 , in the illustrated embodiment, the front face  184  is disposed proximate to the rear face  154  of the header assembly  148 . The front face  184  may be adjacent to the rear face  154  or may be separated from the rear face  154 . 
     The receptacle connectors  134  are disposed in an upper row at the mating interface  110  and the receptacle connectors  168  are located in a lower row at the mating interface  110 . The receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  receive and mate with the plug connectors  132 ,  166  of the plug connector assembly  102  to electrically couple the plug connector assembly  102  with the receptacle connector assembly  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  are coaxial connectors. For example, each of the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  may include a center conductor  160  that is circumferentially surrounded by a conductive shield shell  162 . The center conductor  160  includes, or is formed from, a conductive material, such as a metal or metal alloy. The center conductor  160  communicates data and/or power signals through the corresponding receptacle connector  134 ,  168 . The shield shell  162  also includes, or is formed from, a conductive material. The shield shell  162  shields the center conductor  160  from electromagnetic interference. For example, the shield shell  162  may be electrically joined to a ground reference of a circuit board (not shown) through one or more of the connector modules  150 ,  172  to dissipate electromagnetic interference. The plug connectors  132 ,  166  are received into the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  through the mating interface  110 . In an alternative embodiment, the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  are connectors other than coaxial connectors. In the illustrated embodiment, a separate connector module  150 ,  172  is provided for each receptacle connector  134 ,  168 . Each connector module  150 ,  172  may hold the center conductor  160  of a different receptacle connector  134 ,  168 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector assembly  102  mated with the receptacle connector assembly  104  taken along line  2 A- 2 A of the plug connector assembly  102  and line  2 B- 2 B of the receptacle connector assembly  104  in  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment. As described above, the plug connectors  132 ,  166  and receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  are coaxial connectors in one embodiment. The plug connectors  132 ,  166  include center conductors  200  that are at least partially surrounded by shield shells  136  and the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  include center conductors  160  that are at least partially surrounded by shield shells  162 . The center conductor  200  includes, or is formed from, a conductive material, such as a metal or metal alloy. The center conductor  200  communicates data and/or power signals through the corresponding plug connector  132 ,  166 . The shield shell  136  also includes, or is formed from, a conductive material. The shield shell  136  shields the center conductor  200  from electromagnetic interference. For example, the shield shell  136  may be electrically joined to a ground reference of a circuit board (not shown) through one or more of the connector modules  118 ,  170  to dissipate electromagnetic interference. 
     The center conductors  200  of the plug connectors  132 ,  166  extend from locations that are proximate to the mating interface  106  and to the mounting interface  108 . The center conductors  200  of the plug connectors  132 ,  166  include an angled interconnection  210 . The angled interconnection  210  is the intersection of a mating portion  202  and a mounting portion  204  of each center conductor  200 . The mating portions  202  are coupled to the mounting portions  204  at the angled interconnections  210 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the angled interconnections  210  may be right angle interconnections of the mating portions  202  and the mounting portions  204 . For example, the mating portion  202  may be oriented along the longitudinal axis  122  of the plug connector assembly  102  and the mounting portion  204  may be oriented along the vertical axis  126  of the plug connector assembly  102 . 
     The mating portions  202  extend through the corresponding connector modules  118 ,  170  from outer ends  206  to bifurcated ends  208 . The outer ends  206  may be contact pins that are received in the center conductors  160  of the corresponding receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  when the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  and plug connectors  132 ,  166  mate with one another. The mounting portions  204  extend through the corresponding connector modules  118 ,  170  from interconnection ends  228  to the mounting pins  164 . The bifurcated ends  208  and interconnection ends  228  are joined together at the angled interconnections  210  to establish an electrically conductive pathway between the outer ends  206  and the mounting pins  164 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mating portions  202  of the plug connectors  132  may be substantially similar to the mating portions  202  of the plug connectors  166 , with the mating portions  202  of the plug connectors  166  being shorter in length than the mating portions  202  of the plug connectors  132 . Also as shown in  FIG. 2 , the mounting portions  204  of the plug connectors  132  may be substantially similar to the mounting portions  204  of the plug connectors  166 , with the mounting portions  204  of the plug connectors  166  being shorter in length than the mounting portions  204  of the plug connectors  132 . 
     The housing  114  of the plug connector assembly  102  includes several dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  that encircle the center conductor  200  along separate and different lengths of the center conductor  200 . The dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  include, or are formed from, an electrically insulative material such as a polymer. The dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  separate and electrically isolate the center conductor  200  from other conductive components in the housing  114 . For example, a forward dielectric body  212  separates the center conductor  200  from the shield shell  136 , a rear dielectric body  214  separates the center conductor  200  from the corresponding connector module  118 ,  170 , and a vertical dielectric body  216  separates the center conductor  200  from the corresponding connector module  118 ,  170 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the front and rear dielectric bodies  212 ,  214  are oriented in directions along the longitudinal axis  122  while the vertical dielectric body  216  is oriented in a direction along the vertical axis  126 . The dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  that encircle the center conductors  200  of the plug connectors  132  are similar to the dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  that encircle the center conductor  200  of the plug connectors  166 . One difference between the dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  of the plug connectors  132  and of the plug connectors  166  is that the dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  of the plug connectors  166  have a shorter length. In another embodiment, one or more of the dielectric bodies  212 ,  214 ,  216  may be replaced by an air gap that spatially separates and insulates the center conductors  160  from the shield shells  162 . 
     The center conductors  160  of the receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  extend from locations that are proximate to the mating interface  110  and to the mounting interface  112  of the receptacle connector assembly  104 . The center conductors  160  include an angled interconnection  218  that is similar to the angled interconnection  210  of the plug connectors  132 ,  166 . The angled interconnection  218  is the intersection of a mating portion  220  and a mounting portion  222  of each center conductor  160 . The mating portions  220  are coupled to the mounting portions  222  at the angled interconnections  218 . The angled interconnections  218  may be right angle interconnections of the mating portions  220  and the mounting portions  222  similar to the angled interconnections  210 . 
     The mating portions  220  extend through the corresponding connector modules  150 ,  172  from outer ends  224  to bifurcated ends  226 . The outer ends  224  may be hollow, tubular bodies that receive the outer ends  206  of the center conductors  200  in the corresponding plug connectors  132 ,  166 . The mounting portions  222  extend through the corresponding connector modules  150 ,  172  from interconnection ends  230  to the mounting pins  180 . The bifurcated ends  226  and interconnection ends  230  are joined together at the angled interconnections  218  to establish an electrically conductive pathway between the outer ends  224  and the mounting pins  180 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mating portions  220  of the receptacle connectors  134  may be substantially similar to the mating portions  220  of the receptacle connectors  168 , with the mating portions  220  of the receptacle connectors  134  being longer in length than the mating portions  220  of the receptacle connectors  168 . The mounting portions  222  of the receptacle connectors  134  may be substantially similar to the mounting portions  222  of the receptacle connectors  168 , with the mounting portions  222  of the receptacle connectors  134  being longer in length than the mounting portions  222  of the receptacle connectors  168 . 
     The housing  138  of the receptacle connector assembly  104  includes the dielectric bodies  214 ,  216  that encircle the center conductor  160  in a manner similar to the center conductor  200 . For example, each of the dielectric bodies  214 ,  216  encloses a different length of the center conductor  160 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a mating portion  300  of a center conductor in accordance with one embodiment. The mating portion  300  may be used as the mating portion  220  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the center conductor  160  for the receptacle connectors  134  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or the receptacle connectors  168  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The mating portion  300  extends from an outer end  302  to a bifurcated end  304  along a longitudinal axis  306 . A length dimension  308  of the mating portion  300  is the distance between the outer end  302  and the bifurcated end  304  in a direction along the longitudinal axis  306 . The length dimension  308  may be varied in order to accommodate the different receptacle connectors  134 ,  168 . For example, the length dimension  308  may be increased in an embodiment where the mating portion  300  is included in the receptacle connectors  134  and decreased in an embodiment where the mating portion  300  is included in the receptacle connectors  168 . The outer end  302  is similar to the outer end  224  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) in the illustrated embodiment. For example, the outer end  302  may include a hollow, tubular body that receives the outer end  206  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the plug connectors  132 ,  166  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The bifurcated end  304  may be similar to the bifurcated end  226  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). For example, the bifurcated end  304  may be coupled with the mounting portion  222  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) at the angled interconnection  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to electrically join the mating portion  300  with the mounting portion  222 . The bifurcated end  304  includes opposing contact tips  310 ,  312  that are oriented along the longitudinal axis  306 . The contact tips  310 ,  312  are separated from one another by a gap  314  in a direction that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis  306 . For example, the contact tips  310 ,  312  may be separated from one another in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  306 . Alternatively, the contact tips  310 ,  312  are partially closed towards one another relative to the illustrated embodiment. In one embodiment, the bifurcated end  208  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the mating portion  202  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for the plug connectors  132 ,  166  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) is similar to the bifurcated end  304 . For example, the bifurcated end  208  may have similar dimensions and size as the bifurcated end  304 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a mounting portion  400  of a center conductor in accordance with one embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a side view of the mounting portion  400  in accordance with one embodiment. The mounting portion  400  may be used as the mounting portion  222  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the center conductor  160  for the receptacle connectors  134  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or the receptacle connectors  168  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the mounting portion  400  may be used as the mounting portion  204  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the plug connectors  132 ,  166  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The mounting portion  400  extends from an interconnection end  402  to a mounting end  404  along a longitudinal axis  406 . A length dimension  408  of the mounting portion  400  is the distance between the interconnection end  402  and the mounting end  404  in a direction along the longitudinal axis  406 . The length dimension  408  may be varied in order to accommodate the different receptacle connectors  134 ,  168 . For example, the length dimension  408  may be increased in an embodiment where the mounting portion  400  is included in the receptacle connectors  134  and decreased in an embodiment where the mounting portion  400  is included in the receptacle connectors  168 . 
     The interconnection end  402  includes a coupling section  410  that is received between the contact tips  310 ,  312  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the mating portion  300  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). For example, the coupling section  410  may be loaded into the gap  314  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) between the contact tips  310 ,  312 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the coupling section  410  has a thickness dimension  416  that is less than a thickness dimension  418  of the mounting portion  400 . 
     The contact tips  310 ,  312  may be biased or bent toward one another before the coupling section  410  is placed between the tips  310 ,  312 . For example, the contact tips  310 ,  312  may be close enough to one another such that loading the coupling section  410  between the contact tips  310 ,  312  causes the contact tips  310 ,  312  to be biased away from one another. Loading the coupling section  410  between the contact tips  310 ,  312  may cause the contact tips  310 ,  312  to frictionally engage and secure the coupling section  410  between the contact tips  310 ,  312 . In one embodiment, after the coupling section  410  is placed between the contact tips  310 ,  312 , the contact tips  310 ,  312  may be bent toward one another to secure the coupling section  410  between the contact tips  310 ,  312 . The coupling section  410  is received between the contact tips  310 ,  312  at the angled interconnection  218  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to join and electrically couple the mating portion  300  with the mounting portion  400 . The engagement of both contact tips  310 ,  312  on the coupling section  410  may electrically join the mating portion  300  and mounting portion  400  without significantly increasing the local electrical impedance characteristic of the mating portion  300  and mounting portion  400 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the joining of the coupling section  410  of the mounting portion  400  with the contact tips  310 ,  312  at the bifurcated end  304  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the mating portion  300  may orient the mounting portion  400  and mating portion  300  at an angle with respect to one another. For example, the mating portion  300  may be perpendicular to the mounting portion  400 . 
     Alternatively, the mounting portion  400  may include a bifurcated end that is similar to the bifurcated end  304  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the mating portion  300  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and the mating portion  300  may include an interconnection end that is similar to the interconnection end  402  of the mounting portion  400 . For example, the features of the mounting portion  400  and mating portion  300  that are used to couple the mounting portion  400  and the mating portion  300  together may be switched. In such an embodiment, the interconnection end of the mating portion  300  is received within the bifurcated end of the mounting portion  400  similar to as described above. 
     The mounting end  404  includes a mounting pin  412  that may be inserted into a circuit board (not shown) to electrically couple the mounting portion  400  with the circuit board. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting pin  412  is an eye-of-needle pin that is press-fit into a hole in a circuit board. The mounting pin  412  is oriented along the longitudinal axis  406  and includes a shoulder  414  between the mounting end  404  and the coupling section  410 . The shoulder  414  protrudes from the mounting portion  400  in a direction that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis  406 . For example, the shoulder  414  may extend from the mounting portion  400  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  406 . In an embodiment where the mounting portion  400  is used as the mounting portion  222  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), the shoulder  414  may protrude from the mounting portion  400  in a direction that is angled with respect to the vertical axis  146  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the dielectric body  216  of the plug connector assembly  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) in accordance with one embodiment. The dielectric body  216  is shown in phantom to more clearly illustrate the shape and dimensions of the dielectric body  216 . As described above, the dielectric body  216  includes, or is formed from, an electrically insulative material to physically separate and electrically isolate the center conductors  160  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) from other conductive components in the plug connector assembly  102  and/or the receptacle connector assembly  104 . 
     The dielectric body  216  is elongated between a top end  600  and a bottom end  602  along a center axis  604 . In one embodiment, the dielectric body  216  is disposed in the plug connector assembly  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) such that the center axis  604  is substantially parallel to the vertical axis  126  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the plug connector assembly  102  and/or the vertical axis  146  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the receptacle connector assembly  104 . A length dimension  606  is the distance between the top end  600  and the bottom end  602  along the center axis  604 . The length dimension  606  may be varied in order to accommodate the different receptacle connectors  134 ,  168  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or plug connectors  132 ,  166  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). For example, the length dimension  606  may be increased in an embodiment where the dielectric body  216  is included in the receptacle connectors  134  and/or the plug connectors  132  and decreased in an embodiment where the dielectric body  216  is included in the receptacle connectors  168  and/or the plug connectors  166 . 
     An axial opening  608  is an opening extending through the length dimension  606  of the dielectric body  216  from the top end  600  to the bottom end  602 . In the illustrated embodiment, the axial opening  608  extends through the dielectric body  216  in a direction along the center axis  604 . The mounting portion  204 ,  222  extends through the axial opening  608 . The dielectric body  216  physically separates and electrically isolates the mounting portion  204 ,  222 , and may isolate the center conductor  160 ,  200 , from other conductive components in the plug connector assembly  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) or the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) along the length dimension  606  of the dielectric body  216 . 
     The bottom end  602  includes a slot  610  that extends through the dielectric body  216  at an angle with respect to the center axis  604 . For example, the slot  610  may extend through the dielectric body  216  at a perpendicular angle with respect to the center axis  604 . The slot  610  is a cavity in the dielectric body  216  that receives the shoulder  414  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the mounting portion  400  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The shoulder  414  is loaded into the slot  610  to provide lateral support to the mounting pin  412  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). For example, the shoulder  414  is placed into the slot  610  such that the dielectric body  216  laterally supports the mounting pin  412  in directions that are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis  406  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). The dielectric body  216  may support the mounting pin  412  by providing additional mechanical strength to the mounting pin  412  when the mounting pin  412  is mounted to a circuit board (not shown). The additional mechanical strength may prevent the mounting pin  412  from bending or buckling when the mounting pin  412  is press-fit into the circuit board. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the plug connector assembly  102  in accordance with one embodiment.  FIG. 7  illustrates the mounting interface  108  of the plug connector assembly  102 , but the discussion herein also may apply to the mounting interface  112  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the connector modules  118 ,  170  includes several of the mounting pins  152  and one of the mounting pins  164  protruding from the mounting interface  108 . The mounting pins  152  of each connector module  118 ,  170  are disposed around the periphery of the mounting pin  164  for the corresponding connector module  118 ,  170 . Alternatively, a different number and/or arrangement of the mounting pins  152  and/or mounting pins  164  may be provided for each connector module  118 ,  170 . 
     As described above, the mounting pins  152  may be grounding pins that electrically couple the connector modules  118 ,  170  with an electrical ground reference of a circuit board (not shown). The mounting pins  164  may be signal pins that electrically couple the center conductors  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) that&#39;extend through the connector modules  118 ,  170  with one or more electric traces (not shown) in the circuit board to communicate data and/or power signals between the center conductors  200  and the circuit board. The mounting pins  164  protrude from the bottom end  602  of the dielectric body  216 . The mounting pins  152  are coupled to the connector modules  118 ,  170 . For example, the mounting pins  152  may be press-fit into openings  700  in the connector modules  118 ,  170 . The openings  700  may be slots or other cavities extending into the connector modules  118 ,  170  from the mounting interface  108 . The openings  700  may be smaller than one or more dimensions of the mounting pins  152  so that the mounting pins  152  are secured in the openings  700  by an interference fit. 
       FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the mounting pin  152  in accordance with one embodiment. The mounting pin  152  extends from a top insertion end  800  to a bottom insertion end  802  along a center axis  804 . A length dimension  806  is the distance between the insertion ends  800 ,  802  in a direction along the center axis  804 . In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting pin  152  is an eye-of-needle pin with an opening  808  located between the insertion ends  800 ,  802 . The top insertion end  800  is pressed into the mounting interface  108  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the connector module  118 ,  150 ,  170 ,  172  to secure the mounting pin  152  to the corresponding connector module  118 ,  150 ,  170 ,  172 . The bottom insertion end  802  is pressed into a circuit board (not shown) to electrically couple the mounting pin  152  and the connector module  118 ,  150 ,  170 ,  172  with a ground reference of the circuit board. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the mounting pin  152  is substantially symmetrical about a bisecting plane  810 . For example, a top half  812  of the mounting pin  152  has substantially identical dimensions as a bottom half  814  of the mounting pin  152 . The top and bottom halves  812 ,  814  are separated by the bisecting plane  810 . The bisecting plane  810  is oriented perpendicular to the center axis  804 . The symmetrical shape of the mounting pin  152  may reduce the complexity involved in assembling the plug connector assembly  102  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and/or the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) as either of the insertion ends  800 ,  802  may be press-fit into the plug connector assembly  102  and/or the receptacle connector assembly  104  to secure the mounting pin  152  thereto. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a vertically mounted plug connector assembly in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The plug connector assembly  900  is similar to the plug connector assembly  102  shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the plug connector assembly  900  includes a header assembly  904  with several plug connectors  902  disposed along a mating interface  906  of the header assembly  904 . The plug connectors  902  may be coaxial connectors that are similar to the plug connectors  132 ,  166  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The plug connectors  902  extend through the header assembly  904  to a mounting interface  908 . In contrast to the plug connector assembly  102 , the mating interface  906  and mounting interface  908  of the plug connector assembly  900  are not angled with respect to one another. For example, the mating interface  906  is substantially parallel to the mounting interface  908 , as opposed to the mating interface  906  being substantially perpendicular to the mounting interface  908 . 
     The mounting interface  908  engages a circuit board (not shown) to mount the plug connector assembly  900  to the circuit board. The mating interface  906  engages the mating interface  110  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the receptacle connector assembly  104  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to mate the plug connector assembly  900  with the receptacle connector assembly  104 . The circuit boards to which each of the plug connector assembly  900  and the receptacle connector assembly  104  are mounted are disposed approximately perpendicular to one another. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second.” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.