Patent Publication Number: US-7901238-B1

Title: Terminal block and board assembly for an electrical connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to modular connectors that receive and facilitate interconnecting a plurality of differential pairs. 
     Multi-port or high-density modular connectors, such as RJ-21 connectors, receive and interconnect numerous differential pairs. For example, a cable holding several twisted pairs may couple to a loading end of the modular connector. The conductors from the twisted pairs are separated from each other within an interior of the modular connector and electrically coupled to contacts therein. The contacts generally extend to a mating end of the modular connector and form a predetermined array of pins. The pins are then mated with corresponding contacts or beams in another electrical connector. 
     More specifically, known modular connectors electrically couple the conductors of the twisted pairs to corresponding contacts within the interior by soldering a terminal of each conductor to the corresponding contact. However, soldering the conductors to the contacts may be costly and time-consuming, especially when the modular connector is a high-density connector. High-density connectors may have fifty (50) or more contacts that are each soldered to a terminal end of a conductor. Furthermore, modular connectors that solder the terminals and contacts together may have limited capabilities with respect to tuning the performance (e.g., compensating crosstalk or return loss) within the interior of the modular connector. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a high-density modular connector that provides an easier and less expensive method of assembling compared to known methods. Furthermore, there is a need for alternative configurations for arranging the conductors within an interior of a modular connector. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a terminal block for electrically coupling conductors and terminal contacts is provided. The terminal block includes a terminal base portion that has a mounting side configured to be mounted to a surface of an electrical component. The base portion has contact slots that extend from the mounting side therethrough. The contact slots are configured to receive terminal contacts that are electrically coupled to the electrical component. The terminal block also includes an organizer portion that extends from the base portion and includes channels that extend substantially parallel to the surface of the electrical component. The channels are configured to receive corresponding conductors. The contact slots of the base portion align with corresponding channels of the organizer portion so that the terminal contacts electrically couple the conductors. 
     In another embodiment, a board assembly for an electrical connector or device is provided. The board assembly includes a circuit board and terminal contacts that are electrically coupled to the circuit board. The board assembly also includes a terminal block that is mounted on the circuit board. The terminal block includes a terminal base portion that has a mounting side configured to be mounted to a surface of the circuit board. The base portion has contact slots that extend from the mounting side therethrough. The contact slots are configured to receive terminal contacts that are electrically coupled to the circuit board. The terminal block also includes an organizer portion that extends from the base portion and includes channels that extend substantially parallel to the surface of the circuit board. The channels are configured to receive corresponding conductors. The contact slots of the base portion align with corresponding channels of the organizer portion so that the terminal contacts electrically couple the conductors. 
     In yet another embodiment, an electrical connector is provided that includes a housing that has an interior and a mating end, a loading end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The connector also includes a circuit board positioned within the housing and terminal contacts that are electrically coupled to the circuit board. The connector also includes a pair of terminal blocks mounted onto the circuit board and separated by a spacing. Each terminal block includes a loading side having openings to channels that extend through the terminal block. The channels are configured to receive conductors inserted into the interior of the housing. The spacing is sized to allow numerous conductors to extend therethrough. The loading sides of the terminal blocks extend along the longitudinal axis and face each other across the spacing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector formed in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a board assembly having a terminal block that is formed in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a mating side of an organizer portion that may be used with the terminal block shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the board assembly shown in  FIG. 3  when conductors are electrically coupled within the terminal block. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a terminal base portion formed in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a board assembly formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pair of board assemblies formed in accordance with alternative embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a terminal block formed in accordance with another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector  100  formed in accordance with one embodiment. The connector  100  has a mating end  102 , a loading end  104 , and a central axis  190  extending between the mating and loading ends  102  and  104 . The connector  100  also includes a cable boot  108  that is coupled to the loading end  104  and configured to receive a cable (not shown) of conductors. The conductors may be, for example, twisted differential pair conductors, differential pair conductors with a common mode or ground conductor, single conductors, and the like. The mating end  102  is configured to engage a mating connector (not shown) and includes a shroud  110  that defines a cavity  112  where circuit boards  114  and  116  are positioned to engage the mating connector. The circuit boards  114  and  116  may have contacts or pads at mating ends  115  and  117 , respectively, that are configured to mate with contact beams or pads of the mating connector. However, in alternative embodiments, the connector  100  may have pin contacts or socket contacts within the mating cavity that are configured to engage corresponding contacts within the mating connector. 
     The connector  100  also includes a housing  118  that includes housing shells  120  and  122  that mate along an interface  124  to surround an interior of the connector  100 . In the illustrated embodiment, the connector  100  is a modular plug connector, however, the connector  100  may also be a receptacle connector or another type of connector. Furthermore, the connector  100  may be a high-density connector, such as a GbE RJ45 or RJ21 connector, that receives and electrical interconnects numerous conductors. As used herein, “a plurality” means more than one and “numerous conductors” or “numerous differential pairs” means more than 8 conductors and/or 4 differential pairs. For example, the connector  100  may receive and interconnect fifty (50) conductors and arrange them into 6 ports. Furthermore, the connector  100  may satisfy certain industry standards, such as Category 5, 6, 6a, or 7 standards, and operate at frequencies up to 500 MHz or higher. However, embodiments of the connector  100  are not limited to the above types of connectors and benefits of the features described herein may be used by other types of electrical connectors. Furthermore, electrical current transmitted by the connector  100  may be at least one of data signals and electrical power. 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the connector  100 . As shown, the connector  100  includes a pair of board assemblies  130  and  132  that are configured to be enclosed by the housing shells  120  and  122  (i.e., within the interior of the connector  100 ) when the connector  100  is fully assembled. The housing shells  120  and  122  may be manufactured (e.g., die-cast) from a metal material or a nonconductive material. As shown, the board assembly  130  includes the circuit board  114  and a pair of shielded terminal blocks  140  and  142  mounted to the circuit board  114 , and the board assembly  132  includes the circuit board  116  and a shielded terminal block  144  mounted thereto. (Although not shown, the board assembly  132  may also include another terminal block mounted thereto.) In alternative embodiments, the board assemblies  130  and  132  may have only one or more than two terminal blocks mounted to each other. Furthermore, in alternative embodiments, the circuit boards  114  and  116  may sandwich one or more terminal blocks between the circuit boards  114  and  116 . The sandwiched terminal block(s) may be mounted or electrically connected to both circuit boards  114  and  116 . 
     The terminal blocks  140  and  142  may be located proximate to the loading end  104  and extend parallel to or along the central axis  190 . As shown, the terminal blocks  140  and  142  may be separated or spaced apart from each other by a spacing S 1 . Also shown, the board assemblies  130  and  132  may be held side-by-side (e.g., stacked) by a board frame  148 . The circuit boards  114  and  116  may also be staggered so that the mating ends  115  and  117  are not aligned with each other. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear exploded perspective view of the board assembly  130  and is shown with reference to a longitudinal axis  290 , a lateral axis  292 , and a vertical axis  294 . In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis  290  extends parallel to the central axis  190  ( FIG. 1 ) of the connector  100  ( FIG. 1 ). As shown, the circuit board  114  has a length L 1  that extends between a loading end  160  and the mating end  115  and a width W 1  that extends between a pair of side edges  204  and  206 . The circuit board  114  also has opposing board surfaces  208  and  210  with a thickness T 1  of the circuit board  114  extending therebetween. Although the circuit board  114  is shown as being substantially rectangular, the circuit board  114  may have other shapes in alternative embodiments. 
     As shown, the circuit board  114  has an array  215  of plated thru-holes or vias  214  that are configured to receive and electrically engage terminal contacts  218 . The array  215  may be configured to achieve a desired performance for the connector  100 . For example, moving from the loading end  160  to the mating end  115 , the vias  214  may be staggered with respect to each other such that the vias  214  alternate between a first lateral distance X 1  and a second lateral distance X 2  away from the side edge  204 . Furthermore, the vias  214  may be grouped in pairs  220 . The vias  214  of one pair  220  may be separated from each other by a longitudinal distance Y 1  and adjacent vias  214  of different pairs  220  may be separated from each other by a longitudinal distance of Y 2 . The distances X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 , and Y 2  may be configured to achieve a desired performance for the connector  100 . However, the array  215  of vias  214  may have different configurations. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the vias  214  may be located on the circuit board  114  widthwise (i.e., along the lateral axis  292 ). The vias  214  may have other arrangements in order to achieve a desired performance. For example, the vias  214  may be arranged in rows and columns. 
     The mating end  115  includes a mating edge  202  having a plurality of pads  212  that are located proximate thereto and on both surfaces  208  and  210 . The pads  212  may be arranged in a predetermined array and configured to engage mating contacts or beams of another electrical connector that mates with the connector  100 . In addition, the pads  212  are electrically connected through the circuit board  114  to corresponding vias  214 . In some embodiments, the circuit board  114  includes traces (not shown) that extend through the circuit board in predetermined patterns that are configured to tune the transmission of signals through the connector  100 . For example, the circuit board  114  may include non-ohmic plates, fingers, and the like that are configured to reduce return loss and/or compensate for offending crosstalk. 
     In alternative embodiments, the pads  212  (or the mating end  115 ) and the vias  214  are not directly connected through the circuit board  114 . For example, the connector  100  may be configured like an RJ-45 jack where each via 214 is electrically coupled to another plated thru-hole within the circuit board  114 , which, in turn, is coupled to a pin contact that engages a plug contact at a mating end. As such, the terminal blocks  140 ,  142 , and  144  ( FIG. 1 ) are not required to be mounted to a circuit board that also directly engages a mating connector. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the connector  100  does not include the circuit board  114  and may use, alternatively, a non-conductive electrical component or body configured to house conductive pathways that interconnect the terminal contacts  218  and the pads  212  (or other contacts configured to engage the mating connector). Accordingly, as used herein, an “electrical component” includes a circuit board and as well as other bodies formed from a non-conductive material that house conductive pathways. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3 , the terminal block  142  includes a terminal base portion  230  and an organizer portion  232  having a body  234 . The base portion  230  may be substantially rectangular and have a length L 2  that extends along the direction of longitudinal axis  290  and a width W 2  that extends along the direction of lateral axis  292 . The width W 2  may be configured to reduce or optimize electrical coupling between adjacent conductors. In other words, the width W 2 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , may be reduced to limit a length of the conductors in which the conductors are not in a preferred arrangement (e.g., twisted pair arrangement). 
     The base portion  230  is configured to be mounted to the circuit board  114  and to facilitate holding terminal contacts  218  in a predetermined orientation. As shown, the base portion  230  also has a mating side  235  that includes a plurality of contact slots  240 A and  240 B and shield slots  242 . The contacts slots  240 A and  240 B are configured to support the terminal contacts  218  therein, and the shield slots  242  are configured to support shields  246  therein. When the terminal block  142  is fully assembled, the organizer portion  232  is stacked onto the mating side  235  of the base portion  230 . As shown, the base portion  230  may include holes  248  along the mating side  235 . 
     The contact slots  240 A and  240 B are located in predetermined positions with the base portion  230 . More specifically, the contacts slots  240  are positioned so that the terminal contacts  218  may electrically engage with the vias  214 . As such, in the illustrated embodiment, the contact slots  240 A and  240 B have a staggered relationship similar to the vias  214 . The terminal contact  218  may be, for example, an insulation piercing contact (IPC). In other embodiments, the terminal contacts  218  may be an insulation displacement contact (IDC). Moreover, the terminal contacts  218  may include tails or pin portions  219 . In the illustrated embodiment, the contact slots  240  extend entirely through a thickness T 2  of the base portion  230  so that the pin portions  219  of the terminal contacts  218  may be inserted into corresponding vias  214  to electrically and mechanically couple corresponding terminal contacts  218  and vias  214 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the organizer portion  232  in greater detail. The body  234  of the organizer portion  232  has a length L 3  that extends along the direction of the longitudinal axis  290 , a width W 3  that extends along the direction of the lateral axis  292 , and a thickness T 3  that extends along the direction of the vertical axis  294 . The organizer portion  232  includes opposite mating and distal sides  250  and  253  and a loading side  252 . The mating side  250  is configured to engage the mating side  235  ( FIG. 3 ) of the base portion  230  ( FIG. 3 ) when the organizer portion  232  is stacked with respect to the base portion  230 . The loading side  252  has a plurality of openings  254  that lead into corresponding channels  256  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The channels  256  may extend in an axial direction from the loading side  252  to the distal side  253 . Each opening  254  may be configured to receive one or more conductors  276  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) and lead into one or more channels  256 . For example, each opening  254  shown in  FIG. 4  has a pair of opposing protrusions  255  and  257  that are configured to hold separate two conductors  276  within a common channel  256 . The two conductors  276  may be from one differential pair. The channels  256  may extend along the direction of the lateral axis  292  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  290 . In some embodiments, the channels  256  may extend substantially parallel to the board surface  208 . Alternatively or in addition to, the channels  256  may extend substantially perpendicular to the slots  240 . As shown, the organizer portion  232  may receive twelve total conductors  276 . However, in alternative embodiment, the organizer portion  232  may receive more or less conductors  276 . 
     The mating side  250  includes several openings  260  that lead into corresponding passages  270  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). For instance, the mating side  250  has several pairs of openings  260 A and  260 B. The openings  260 A and  260 B are configured to have a similar spatial relationship as the vias  214  ( FIG. 3 ). For example, the openings  260 A and  260 B may have a staggered relationship. Furthermore, the mating side  250  may have a plurality of openings  262  that lead into corresponding passages  272  (shown in  FIG. 5 ). The passages  270  are sized and shaped to receive the terminal contacts  218  ( FIG. 3 ) that project from the mating side  235  of the base portion  230 , and the passages  272  are sized and shaped to receive the shields  246  ( FIG. 3 ) from the base portion  230 . Also shown, the mating side  250  may have guide posts  268  that project from the mating side  250  along the vertical axis  294 . The guide posts  268  are sized and shaped to be received by the holes  248  ( FIG. 3 ) of the base portion  230 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of the terminal block  142  taken along a plane that is parallel to the axes  290  and  292  ( FIG. 3 ) and intersects the channels  256 . In the illustrated embodiment, the channels  256  are enclosed such that the conductors are surrounded by the body  234 . The channels  256  may be co-planar with respect to each other (i.e., extend along a common plane) and/or oriented in a common direction. However, the channels  256  may not be co-planar and may be oriented in different directions in alternative embodiments. 
       FIGS. 5B and 5C  are cross-sections taken along a plane that extends along the axes  292  and  294  ( FIG. 3 ).  FIGS. 5B and 5C  are through adjacent passages  270 A and  270 B, respectively, of one channel  256 . The base portion  230  may have a mounting side  236  that is configured to be mounted on the board surface  208  of the circuit board  114 . The contact slots  240  may extend from the mounting side  236  therethrough. When the base portion  230  is mounted on the board surface  208 , the board surface  208  and the mounting side  236  extend along an interface I 1 . In order to assemble the terminal block  142 , the terminal contacts  218  and shields  246  may be inserted into the corresponding contact slots  240  and shield slots  242  ( FIG. 4 ) within the base portion  230 . The base portion  230  may then be mounted onto the circuit board  114  by inserting pin portions  219  of the terminal contacts  218  into corresponding vias  214 . With respect to the organizer portion  232 , the conductors  276  may be inserted into the openings  254  and advanced through the corresponding channels  256  for a predetermined length. With the terminal contacts  218  and shields  246  projecting from the mating side  235  of the base portion  230  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the organizer portion  232  may be mounted or stacked onto the base portion  230 . The terminal contacts  218  advance into the corresponding passages  270  and electrically couple to the corresponding conductor  276 . 
     However, in alternative embodiments, the terminal block  142  may be assembled by other methods. For example, the terminal contacts  218  and the shields  246  may first be inserted into the organizer portion  232  and then lowered onto the base portion  230  such that the terminal contacts  218  are inserted into the corresponding contacts slots  240  and the shields  246  are inserted into the corresponding shield slots  242 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , when the organizer portion  232  is engaged with the base portion  230 , the mating sides  235  and  250  extend along an interface I 2 . In some embodiments, the mating sides  235  and  250  are substantially planar. However, in other embodiments, the mating sides  235  and  250  may not be substantially planar and may (or may not) have complementary surfaces. Each contact slot  240 A aligns with a corresponding opening  260 A of a corresponding passage  270 A, and each contact slot  240 B aligns with a corresponding opening  260 B of a corresponding passage  270 B. The terminal contacts  218  advance through corresponding passages  270  when the organizer portion  232  and the base portion  230  are engaged. When the terminal contacts  218  reach the corresponding channels  256 , the terminal contacts  218  electrically couple or engage with the corresponding conductor  276 . For example, the terminal contact  218  may pierce or slice through a jacket of the conductor  276  and connect to a conductive core therein. 
     As shown, the terminal contact  218  within the passage  270 A electrically couples to the conductor  276 A approximately at a point P 1 , and the terminal contact  218  within the passage  270 B electrically couples to the conductor  276 B approximately at a point P 2 . The points P 1  and P 2  are separated from each other by the longitudinal distance Y 1  and by a lateral distance X 3 . (The lateral distance X 3  is approximately equal to a difference between lateral distances X 1  and X 2  shown in  FIG. 3 .) Accordingly, two conductors  276  of one differential pair may be engaged at separate axial locations within one channel  256 . Separating the points P 1  and P 2  may facilitate improving the performance of the connector  100  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the shields  246  are located within the passages  272 . The passages  272  extend between adjacent conductors  276  from separate differential pairs. The shield  246  may be sized and shaped to improve the performance of the connector  100 . For example, the shields  246  may be configured to reduce electromagnetic coupling between adjacent conductors  276  and/or to dissipate heat generated by the conductors  276  within the channels  256 . Accordingly, the distances X 3  and Y 1  and the shields  246  may be configured for a desired performance. 
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate alternative embodiments of terminal blocks and board assemblies.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a terminal base portion  330 . The base portion  330  has a mating side  335  and a mounting side  336  that is configured to be mounted onto a board surface of a circuit board (not shown). The base portion  330  also includes pairs  320  of contact slots  340  that are configured to hold terminal contacts  318 . The contact slots  340  of each pair  320  are aligned with one another side-by-side (i.e., each contact slot  340  of one pair  320  is a common distance X 4  or X 5  away from a loading side  352  of the base portion  330 ). As such, the pairs  320  of the contact slots  340  are staggered along a length L 4  of the base portion  330 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 6 , each pair of terminal contacts  318  may be separated by two shields  346 . The shields  346  are sized and shaped to prevent electrical interference between adjacent pairs of terminal contacts  318 . As shown, the terminal contacts  318  are similar to the terminal contacts  218 , and the shields  346  are similar to the shields  246 . However, other terminal contacts and shields may be used. Furthermore, although not shown, an organizer portion may have channels with or without passages leading into the channels that align with the terminal contacts when the organizer portion is mounted onto the base portion. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a board assembly  430  formed in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The board assembly  430  may have similar features as described above with respect to the board assembly  130 . For example, the board assembly  430  has a loading end  460 , a mating end  415 , and a length L 5  of a circuit board  414  extending therebetween. Furthermore, the board assembly  430  may include a pair of terminal blocks  442  and  443  that are mounted onto a board surface  408  of the circuit board  414 . The terminal blocks  442  and  443  may each include a terminal base portion  431  and an organizer portion  432  that facilitate electrically coupling terminal contacts  418  to conductors (not shown). The base portion  431  may have contact slots  440  and shield slots  444  configured to hold the terminal contacts  418  and shields  446 , respectively. 
     However, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the organizer portion  432  may include a mating side  450  that has open-sided channels  456  extending therealong. The open-sided channels  456  may be configured to receive two conductors, such as two conductors from a differential pair. The organizer portion  432  also includes a loading side  452  having openings  454  therealong. In the illustrated embodiment, the open-sided channels  456  are configured for an interference fit with the corresponding conductors. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 7 , the shields  446  may be substantially cross-shaped and configured for an interference fit with the shield slots  444  and corresponding passages (not shown) within the organizer portion  432 . More specifically, the shield  446  may include a laterally oriented base  448  and a pair of vertically oriented retention features  447  and  449 . The retention features  447  and  449  may extend away from the base  448  in opposite directions with respect to each other. Also, the retention features  447  and  449  may extend substantially perpendicular to the base  448 . As shown, the retention features  447  and  449  may be shaped to form interference fits with the base and organizer portions  431  and  432 . For example, the retention features  447  and  449  may include barbs  451  that project laterally away from the corresponding retention feature  447  or  449 . As such, the shields  446  may facilitate shielding and/or dissipating heat generated by the conductors and may also facilitate securing the base and organizer portions  431  and  432  together. 
     Also shown, when the terminal block  442  is fully assembled, the loading side  452  of each terminal block  443  and  442  may be separated by and face each other across a spacing S 2  along a width W 4  of the board assembly  430 . The spacing S 2  is sized so that a plurality of twisted pairs of conductors (not shown) may fit between the terminal blocks  443  and  442 . In particular, the spacing S 2  may be sized so that numerous differential pairs may be received along the board surface  408  of the circuit board  414 . The conductors may extend lengthwise along the circuit board  414  and then bend into the corresponding openings  454  along the loading sides  452 . Accordingly, the board assembly  430  may be configured to receive numerous differential pairs and electrical engage the corresponding conductors to the circuit board  414 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a pair of board assemblies  530  and  531  that are coupled together by a board frame  502 . The board assemblies  530  and  531  may have similar or identical elements and features and include circuit boards  514  and  513 , respectively, with respective board surfaces  508  and  509 . However, the board surfaces  508  and  509  may face away from each other in opposite directions. The board assembly  530  includes terminal blocks  541  and  542 , and the board assembly  531  includes terminal blocks  543  and  544 . Each terminal block  541 - 544  includes an organizer portion  532  that has open-sided channels  556  extending along a mating side  550  of the organizer portion. Each open-sided channel  556  may be configured for an interference fit with a corresponding conductor (not shown). As such, the organizer portion  532  can hold conductors therein during the assembly of the corresponding terminal block and the board assemblies  530  and  531  such that the conductors do not inadvertently fall out of the channels  556 . 
     Each terminal block  541 - 544  may electrically couple twelve conductors (not shown) to corresponding terminal contacts  518 . The terminal contacts  518  are shown as IDC&#39;s in  FIG. 8  having eye-of-needle contacts that form an interference fit with corresponding vias  517 . In the illustrated embodiment, the terminal contacts  518  are staggered with respect to each other and do not have a shield therebetween. Accordingly, the board assemblies  530  and  531  may be coupled together by the board frame  502  and inserted into an interior of a connector housing (not shown). The coupled board assemblies  530  and  531  may electrically interconnect, for example, forty-eight (48) conductors from a cable. 
     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. For example, although  FIGS. 3-8  show terminal blocks as being constructed by separate base portions and organizer portions, embodiments may include terminal blocks that are integrally formed with the features of the base portions and organizer portions described above.  FIG. 9  illustrates such an example and, more particularly, a cross-section that is similar to the cross-sections shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , except without the interface I 2 . As shown, a base portion  630  and organizer portion  632  may be integrally formed into a terminal block  642  (e.g., through an injection molding process). As such, the base portion  630  is positioned between the organizer portion  632  and a circuit board  614 , and the organizer portion  632  extends away from the base portion  630  and the circuit board  614 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a terminal contact  618  may be inserted through the bottom of the terminal block (i.e., through a mounting side  636  that eventually forms an interface I 3  with a board surface  608  of the circuit board  614 ). Conductors  676  may be inserted into channels  656  before the terminal block  642  is interfaced with the circuit board  614  along the interface I 3  and before the terminal contacts  618  are inserted into the terminal block  642 . After the conductors  676  are inserted into the channels  656 , the integrally formed terminal block  642  may be mounted on the board surface  608 . Accordingly, a “base portion” and an “organizer portion” may be portions of a terminal block having one integrally formed body or may be separate components. Also, although not shown, the terminal block  642  may include shield slots configured to form an interference fit with shields. The shields may be inserted into the terminal block  642  through the mounting side  636  or any other side of the terminal block  642 . 
     In other alternative embodiments, the base portions and the organizer portions may be integrally formed with other components of the connector. For example, the organizer portion  232  of  FIG. 3  may be integrally formed with the housing shell  120  ( FIG. 1 ). Furthermore, in alternative embodiments where the circuit board  114  is substituted with a plastic electrical component that houses conductive pathways, the base portion  230  may be integrally formed with the plastic component. 
     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.