Patent Description:
This connector has a leadframe with a dielectric body, a module shield, a drain wire and drain wire termination features. A similar connector is disclosed in <CIT>.

In accordance with the invention an electrical connector is provided according to claim <NUM>. Specific embodiments are in accordance with claims <NUM> - <NUM>.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of example embodiments of the application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there is shown in the drawings example embodiments for the purposes of illustration. It should be understood, however, that the application is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, in the drawings:.

Referring now to <FIG>, it should be appreciated that the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> can be constructed in accordance with any alternative embodiment suitable to facilitate attachment of the drain wires <NUM> to the ground plate <NUM>. For instance, the tab body <NUM> can include a pair of uprights <NUM> that extend out from the plate body <NUM>, and a crossbar <NUM> that extends between the uprights <NUM>, from one of the uprights to the other of the uprights at a location spaced from the plate body <NUM>. Thus, the crossbar <NUM> can define the free distal end 112b. The crossbar <NUM> can extend substantially parallel to the plate body <NUM>, or in any other direction as desired. Thus, the interface <NUM> can be elongate between the uprights <NUM>, and thus along a direction that is angularly offset with respect to the mating direction M. For instance, the interface <NUM> can be elongate along a direction that is perpendicular to the mating direction M. Further, the drain wire connection tab <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> defines an opening <NUM> that extends through the tab body <NUM>. For instance, the opening <NUM> can be defined between the uprights <NUM>, and further between the crossbar <NUM> and the plate body <NUM>. According to this invention the opening <NUM> is sized to receive the exposed portion <NUM> of the drain wire <NUM>, such that the tab body <NUM> can be bent toward the plate body <NUM> so as to capture the exposed portion <NUM> of the drain wire between the tab body <NUM> and the plate body <NUM>. Alternatively, the drain wire <NUM> can extend through the opening <NUM> and can contact the drain wire connection tab <NUM> without bending the tab <NUM> with respect to the plate body <NUM>. For instance, the drain wire <NUM> can be bent as it extends through the opening so as to maintain contact with the drain wire connection tab <NUM>, Thus, the strain relief housing <NUM> can be overmolded onto both the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> and the exposed portions <NUM> of the drain wires <NUM>, thereby securing the drain wires <NUM> in contact with the respective drain wire connection tabs <NUM> either with or without first crimping the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> about the drain wires <NUM>, or first bending the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> so as to capture the drain wires <NUM> between the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> and the plate body <NUM>.

Because the drain wire connection tab <NUM> can be cut, for instance punched or stamped, from the plate body <NUM>, the ground plate <NUM> can define an aperture <NUM> that extends through the plate body <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> can be sized and shaped substantially equal to the size and shape of the drain wire connection tab <NUM>, or the aperture <NUM> can be expanded by removing additional material from the plate body <NUM>. In accordance with one embodiment, the plate body <NUM> can define a projection <NUM> that at least partially defines the aperture <NUM> and can be equal in size and shape to the opening <NUM> that extends through the tab body <NUM>. Thus, if it is desired to attach the exposed portion <NUM> of the drain wire <NUM> directly to the plate body <NUM>, the exposed portion <NUM> can be attached (for instance, soldered, welded, or the like) to the projection <NUM>. If it is desired to attach the drain wire <NUM> directly to the plate body <NUM>, the drain wire connection tab can be removed.

Referring now to <FIG>, and as described above, the ground contacts <NUM> can be discrete ground contacts that are separate from each other, and include a ground contact body that defines their own ground mating end <NUM> and ground mounting end <NUM>. Thus, the ground contacts <NUM> can be non-monolithic with respect to each other, and the ground mounting ends <NUM> can be spaced from each other along the transverse direction T. The ground contacts <NUM> and the signal contacts <NUM> can be supported by the leadframe housing <NUM>. The ground contacts <NUM> and the signal contacts <NUM> can, for instance, be overmolded by the leadframe housing <NUM>. Thus, the leadframe assembly <NUM> can include the leadframe housing <NUM>, and the signal contacts <NUM> and ground contacts <NUM> that are all supported by the leadframe housing <NUM>. The signal contacts <NUM> and ground contacts <NUM> can be overmolded by the leadframe housing <NUM> such that the leadframe is an insert molded leadframe, and the leadframe assembly <NUM> is an insert molded leadframe assembly. The exposed portions <NUM> of the drain wires <NUM> can be attached, for instance soldered , welded, or otherwise attached, to the mounting ends <NUM>, The ground plate <NUM> can be supported adjacent the leadframe assembly <NUM>, and in particular adjacent the leadframe housing <NUM>. For instance, the ground plate <NUM> can be attached to the leadframe housing <NUM>. When the ground plate <NUM> is supported adjacent, or attached to, the leadframe housing <NUM>, the ground contacts <NUM> are placed in electrical contact with the ground plate <NUM>, while the signal contacts <NUM> are spaced from the ground plate <NUM>. For instance, each of the ground contacts <NUM> can include contact tabs <NUM> that project out from the ground contact body toward the ground plate <NUM> so as to make contact with the ground plate <NUM> when the ground plate <NUM> is supported adjacent the leadframe housing <NUM>. Thus, the contact tabs <NUM> make contact with the ground plate <NUM> when the ground plate <NUM> is attached to the leadframe housing <NUM>. Because the contact tabs <NUM> contact the ground plate <NUM>, the ground contacts <NUM> are placed in electrical contact with the ground plate <NUM> and each other.

The contact tabs <NUM> can be cut, for instance punched or stamped, from the ground contact body, for instance at a location proximate to the mounting end <NUM>. Thus, the ground contacts <NUM> can define an opening that extends through the ground contact body that defines a location of the ground contact body from which the contact tabs <NUM> were cut. The exposed portions <NUM> of the drain wires <NUM> can be attached to the mounting ends at a location that is spaced from the openings in a direction opposite the mating direction. The termination housing <NUM> is configured to secure to the leadframe housing <NUM> so as to capture the exposed portions of the outer insulative layer of the electrical cables <NUM>, and in particular the conductors <NUM> and the drain wires <NUM>, between the ground plate <NUM> and the termination housing <NUM>. The termination housing <NUM> can -further be configured to isolate each of the electrical cables <NUM> from the others of the electrical cables <NUM>. The termination housing <NUM> can be electrically conductive, and includes an electrically conductive body <NUM> that can be configured to attach to the ground plate <NUM>. in accordance with one embodiment, the electrically conductive body <NUM> is metallic. The electrically conductive body <NUM> can alternatively be made from a conductive lossy material. Alternatively, the body <NUM> of the termination housing can be made from a nonconductive material, such as a nonconductive plastic. The termination housing <NUM> can cover at least a portion of a first side of the leadframe assembly <NUM>, such that the signal contacts <NUM> and ground contacts are disposed between the ground plate <NUM> and the termination housing <NUM>. The termination housing <NUM> can further include a second portion that covers at least a portion of a second side of the leadframe assembly <NUM>, and in particular the ground plate <NUM>, that is opposite the first side.

Referring now to <FIG>, the leadframe housing <NUM> can include a protective shroud <NUM> that surrounds the signal contacts <NUM> when the signal contacts <NUM> are supported by the leadframe housing <NUM>, and further surrounds the ground mating end <NUM> when the ground plate <NUM> is supported by the leadframe <NUM>, The shroud <NUM> can be removed from the housing body <NUM> prior to placing the electrical connector <NUM> in use. Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the exposed portions <NUM> of the drain wires <NUM> can extend through respective ones of the openings <NUM> so as to make contact with the respective drain wire connection tabs <NUM>, and thus be placed in electrical communication with the ground plate <NUM> and each other, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the drain wire connection tab can be devoid of the crossbar <NUM> of <FIG>, so that the drain wires <NUM> can be inserted into the respective openings <NUM> between the uprights <NUM> along a direction toward the ground plate so as to contact the uprights <NUM>. For instance, the uprights <NUM> can be spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than a cross-sectional dimension of the respective drain wire <NUM>. Thus, the strain relief housing <NUM> can be overmolded onto both the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> and the exposed portions <NUM> of the drain wires <NUM>, thereby securing the drain wires <NUM> in contact with the respective drain wire connection tabs <NUM> without first crimping the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> about the drain wires <NUM>, or first bending the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> so as to capture the drain wires <NUM> between the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> and the plate body <NUM>. In accordance with another embodiment, each of the drain wire connection tabs <NUM> can further include an anti-backout tab that projects into the opening <NUM> and is angled forward along the mating direction as it extends into the opening. Thus, the anti- backout tab can be angled so as to allow the exposed portion <NUM> of the drain wire <NUM> to be inserted through the opening <NUM> along the mating direction, and prevent the drain wire <NUM> from being removed from the opening <NUM> in a direction opposite the mating direction. In particular, the anti-backout tab can bite into the drain wire <NUM> when a tensile force is applied to the drain wire <NUM> in the direction that is opposite the mating direction.

The electrical connector system <NUM> is illustrated in accordance with one embodiment whereby the first and second electrical connectors <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to mate with each other in a shroud that extends through a panel. The second electrical connector <NUM> can be configured as a right angle connector so as to place the respective substrate in electrical connection with the cables <NUM>. The first electrical connector <NUM> can include one or more guidance member, including an asymmetric guidance member that projects from the connector housing <NUM> along the mating direction. The guidance member can be rotated along an axis that extends along the longitudinal direction so as to position the asymmetric guidance member in one of a number of orientations in order to mate the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector <NUM>.

The second electrical connector <NUM> can include a first dielectric or electrically insulative connector housing <NUM> and at least one electrical contact <NUM> such as a plurality of first electrical contacts <NUM> that are supported by the connector housing <NUM>. In accordance with one embodiment, the second electrical connector <NUM> can include a plurality of leadframe assemblies that are supported by the connector housing <NUM>. Each of the leadframe assemblies can include a dielectric or electrically insulative leadframe housing and respective ones of the plurality of the electrical contacts <NUM> supported by the leadframe housing. Thus, it can be said that the electrical contacts <NUM> are supported by both the respective leadframe housing and the connector housing <NUM>. For instance, the leadframe housing can be overmolded onto the respective ones of the electrical contacts <NUM> so as to define an insert molded leadframe assembly (IMLA), or the electrical contacts <NUM> can be stitched into the leadframe housing or otherwise supported by the leadframe housing. The respective ones of the plurality of electrical contacts <NUM> of each of the leadframe assemblies can be arranged along a column direction, which extends along a transverse direction T that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. Adjacent ones of the leadframe assemblies can be spaced along a row direction that is perpendicular to the column direction. For instance, the row direction can extend along a lateral direction A that is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the second electrical connector <NUM> is constructed as a vertical electrical connector. In particular, the connector housing <NUM> defines a mating interface <NUM> that is configured to engage a complementary mating interface of the first electrical connector <NUM> when the first and second electrical connectors <NUM> and <NUM> mate with each other. The connector housing <NUM> further defines a mounting interface that is configured to engage the substrate <NUM> when the second electrical connector <NUM> is mounted to the substrate <NUM>. Further, the electrical contacts <NUM> define respective mating ends that are configured to mate with complementary mating ends of electrical contacts of the first electrical connector <NUM>, and respective mounting ends that are configured to be mounted to the substrate <NUM>. The mating ends of the electrical contacts <NUM> are oriented parallel to the mounting ends, such that the electrical contacts <NUM> can be referred to as vertical electrical contacts. Alternatively, the second electrical connector <NUM> can be configured as a right-angle electrical connector whereby the mating interface <NUM> and the mounting interface of the connector housing <NUM> are oriented perpendicular with respect to each other, and the mating ends and the mounting ends of the electrical contacts <NUM> are oriented perpendicular to each other. It should be further appreciated that the mating ends of the electrical contacts <NUM> can be configured as receptacle contacts.

The second electrical connector <NUM> can constructed in accordance with any- suitable embodiment as desired. For instance, the second electrical connector can be constructed as described in <CIT>.

For instance, the electrical contacts <NUM> can include a plurality of signal contacts and ground contacts arranged in any manner as desired. For instance, adjacent signal contacts can define differential signal pairs or single ended signal contacts as desired. For instance, each of the ground contacts of the second electrical connector <NUM> can define respective ground mating ends and ground mounting ends in electrical communication with the ground mating ends. Furthermore, each of the signal contacts of the second electrical connector <NUM> can define respective mating ends and mounting ends in electrical communication with the mating ends. Thus, it can he said that the mating ends of the electrical contacts <NUM> can define mating ends, which can include the mating ends of the electrical signal contacts and the ground mating ends, and the electrical contacts <NUM> can further define mounting ends, which can include the mounting ends of the electrical signal contacts and the ground mounting ends. Because the mating ends of the signal contacts and the ground mating ends of the ground plate are provided as receptacle mating ends and receptacle ground mating ends, respectively, the second electrical connector <NUM> can be referred to as a receptacle connector. Each ground contact, including the ground mating ends and the ground mounting ends, can be defined by a ground plate of the respective leadframe assembly. The ground plate can be electrically conductive as desired. Alternatively, the ground mating ends and ground mounting ends can be defined by individual ground contacts as desired, and the ground plate can be devoid of ground mating ends and ground mounting ends. Thus, reference herein to one or more components of a ground contact can refer to components of one of the ground plates, or can refer to components of individual ground contacts. Furthermore, reference to a ground contact can refer to a ground plate or an individual ground contact having a single ground mating end and a single ground mounting end.

One or more ground contacts can be disposed between adjacent pairs of differential signal pairs. For instance, when the electrical contacts <NUM> are supported by- respective leadframe housings, adjacent signal contacts, for instance along the column direction, can define differential signal pairs. The leadframe assemblies can include ground contacts disposed between adjacent pairs of differential signal pairs along the column direction. When the second electrical connector <NUM> is mounted to the substrate <NUM> along a mounting direction, the electrical contacts <NUM> are placed in electrical communication with electrical traces of the first substrate <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the present disclosure recognizes that- conventional cable bundles <NUM> include a plurality of electrical cables bundled in an outer sheath <NUM> that contains a respective one of the bundles <NUM> of electrical cables. The cables of the cable bundle <NUM> are configured to be attached to an electrical connector <NUM> in any manner as desired. The electrical connector <NUM> can be mounted onto a panel <NUM>, such that the cable bundle <NUM> extends out from the panel <NUM>. Cable bundles <NUM> typically have a height H and a width W that is perpendicular to the height and substantially equal to the height. For instance, when the electrical connector <NUM> is attached to the cable bundle <NUM> and mounted to the panel <NUM>, it is often desired to bend the cable bundles <NUM> so as to route them to a desired location. However, it has been found that the height H causes the cable bundles <NUM> to define a large bend radius R, which causes the cable bundles <NUM> to extend out from the panel <NUM> a distance that can either occupy valuable real estate in the cabinet, or can be greater than the permissible distance inside the cabinet, particularly when the cable bundles <NUM> are stacked on top of each other. As illustrated, the width W extends along a direction that is parallel to the face of the panel <NUM>, and the height is perpendicular to the width W. At certain locations along the length of the cable bundle <NUM>, the height can extend along a direction that intersects the panel <NUM>, for instance substantially perpendicular to the face of the panel <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a cable assembly <NUM> constructed in accordance with one embodiment can include a cable bundle <NUM> that includes a plurality of electrical cables <NUM> and an outer sheath <NUM> that surrounds the electrical cables <NUM>. The electrical cables <NUM> can be attached to an electrical connector in any manner as desired, for instance as described above with respect to the first electrical connector <NUM>. The conventional cable bundle <NUM> (see <FIG>) can define a height H that has been measured to be <NUM>. The cable assembly <NUM> can include a cable clip <NUM> that includes a clip body <NUM> and an opening <NUM> that extends through the clip body <NUM>. The opening <NUM> can have any size and shape as desired, and in accordance with the illustrated embodiment defines a height H2 that is less than the height <NUM> of the conventional cable bundle <NUM>. For instance, the height H2 can be approximately <NUM>, though it should be appreciated that the height H2 can be any distance as desired, depending for instance on the number of electrical cables of the cable bundle <NUM>. It is recognized that by decreasing the height of the cable bundle <NUM> with respect to the prior art, the bend radius of the cable bundle <NUM> is reduced with respect to the bend radius of the conventional cable bundle <NUM>, and that the bending force that causes the cable bundle <NUM> to bend along the bend radius is also reduced. Accordingly, a plurality of cable bundles <NUM> can be stacked on top of each other within the space permitted by the cabinet. For instance, the cable clips <NUM> of adjacent cable assemblies <NUM> can be stacked onto each other.

The cable bundles <NUM> can define a height H3 at locations spaced from the cable clip <NUM>. The height H3 is greater than the height H2 in the opening <NUM> of the cable clip <NUM>, and can be substantially equal to the height HI of the conventional cable bundle <NUM>. However, because the cable clip <NUM> can be located at the bend radius, the reduced height H2 provides for a reduced bend radius with respect to the prior art, and reduced bending force. It should be appreciated that because the height H2 increases gradually to the increased height H3 at locations increasingly away from the cable clip <NUM>, the bend radius can intersect the cable clip <NUM>, or the cable clip <NUM> can be disposed adjacent, and thus spaced from, the bend radius. Thus, the height of the opening can be defined along the bend radius, or can be coplanar with the bend radius.

It is recognized that the cable clip <NUM> applies a compressive force to the cable bundle <NUM> that decreases the height, and accordingly causes the cables <NUM> of the cable bundle <NUM> to fan or spread out along the width, thereby increasing the width W2 to a width greater than the width Wl of the conventional cable bundle {<NUM>, shown in <FIG>. However, the increased width W2 is measured along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bend radius. The cable bundles <NUM> can define a width W3 at locations spaced from the cable clip <NUM>. The width W3 is less than the width W2 at the opening <NUM> cable clip <NUM>, and can be substantially equal to the width Wl of the conventional cable bundle <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the dimensions of the cables <NUM> with the outer sheath <NUM> removed to illustrate the compression of the cables <NUM> along the height and expansion of the cables <NUM> along the width when the cable clip <NUM> is attached. It should be appreciated that because the cable clip <NUM> surrounds the outer sheath <NUM> of the cable bundle <NUM>, the cable clip <NUM> further surrounds the individual cables <NUM> as well. Alternatively, the cable bundle <NUM> can be devoid of the outer sheath <NUM>, and the cable clip <NUM> can surround the individual cables <NUM> directly.

Thus, a method can be provided for managing a plurality of electrical cables <NUM>. The method can include the steps of attaching the plurality of electrical cables <NUM> to the electrical connector <NUM>, such that the electrical cables <NUM> extend out from the electrical connector <NUM>. The method can further include the step of securing the cable clip <NUM> onto the plurality of electrical cables <NUM> such that the electrical cables <NUM> extend through the opening <NUM> of the cable clip <NUM>. The opening has a height and a width that is perpendicular to the height and greater than the height. The method can further include the step of bending the electrical cables about a bend radius that is substantially coplanar with the height. For instance, the bend radius can be substantially parallel to the height, and can define the height in accordance with certain embodiments. Thus, the height can be measured along the bend radius. The securing step can include the step of causing the cables <NUM> to expand away from each other along the width and to compress against each other along the height. The securing step can be performed before or after the attaching step. As will be described below with respect to <FIG>, the bending step cars further include directing the cables <NUM> along a cable guide <NUM> that defines the bend radius. The cable guide <NUM> can define a guide body <NUM> and the cable clip <NUM> that is supported by the guide body <NUM>.

The method can further include the step of <NUM>) attaching a second plurality of electrical cables to a second electrical connector, such that the second plurality of electrical cables extend out from the second electrical connector, <NUM>) securing a second cable clip onto the second plurality of electrical cables such that the second plurality of electrical cables extend through a second opening of the second cable clip, the second opening having a height and a width that is perpendicular to the height and greater than the height, <NUM>) bending the second plurality of electrical cables about a second bend radius that is substantially coplanar with the height of the second opening, and <NUM>) stacking the cable clips onto each other along a direction that defines the respective heights.

Referring now to <FIG>, the cable clip <NUM> includes the clip body <NUM> and the opening <NUM> that extends through the clip body <NUM>. The opening <NUM> has a height that is less than the height of the plurality of electrical cables <NUM>, for instance of the bundle <NUM> of electrical cables <NUM>, and a width greater than the width of the plurality of electrical cables <NUM>, for instance of the bundle <NUM> of electrical cables <NUM>. The opening <NUM> can be sized such that when the plurality of electrical cables <NUM> extends through the opening <NUM>, the height of the electrical cables <NUM> is decreased to the height of the opening <NUM>, and the width of the plurality of electrical cables <NUM> is increased to the width of the opening <NUM>. A cable assembly can include the cable clip <NUM> and the plurality of electrical cables <NUM>. The width W2 of the opening <NUM> is greater than the height H2 of the opening, and can be less than any multiple of the height H2 of the opening <NUM>, for instance less than five times the height H2 of the opening <NUM>. In accordance with one embodiment, the width W2 can be greater than three times the height. H2 of the opening <NUM> and less than four times the height H2 of the opening <NUM>. For instance, the width can be approximately <NUM> and the height can be approximately <NUM>.

The cable clip can include <NUM> a first component <NUM> defining a first portion 512a of the opening <NUM>, and a second component <NUM> that defines a second portion 512b of the opening <NUM>. The first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to be attached to each other about the plurality of electrical cables <NUM>, for instance the cable bundle <NUM>, to define the opening <NUM> such that the plurality of electrical cables <NUM> extends through the opening <NUM>. The first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> can be hermaphroditic with each other. For instance, each of the first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> includes a body <NUM>, and a pair of legs <NUM> that extend out from the body <NUM>. Each body <NUM> of the first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> can define a pair of recesses <NUM> that are sized to receive protrusions <NUM> of each of the pair of legs <NUM> of the other of the first and second com ponents <NUM> and <NUM>, thereby attaching the first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> to each other. It should be appreciated, of course, that the first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> can be attached to each other in accordance with any embodiment as desired. The first and second components <NUM> and <NUM>, including the respective body <NUM> and legs <NUM>, define respective inner surfaces <NUM> that, in combination, define the opening <NUM> of the cable clip <NUM> when the first and second components <NUM> and <NUM> are attached to each other.

Referring now also to <FIG>, the cable assembly can further include a cable guide <NUM> that includes a guide body <NUM> and the cable clip <NUM> that is supported by the guide body <NUM>. For instance, at least one of the first and second components, such as the first component <NUM>, can be monolithic with the guide body <NUM>. The guide body <NUM> defines a guide surface <NUM> that can be curved. For instance, the guide surface <NUM> can be convex. The guide surface <NUM> can define a bend radius R. Alternatively, the guide surface <NUM> can define any sized and shaped curvature as desired. The opening <NUM> of the cable clip <NUM> can be operatively aligned with the guide surface <NUM> such that when the plurality of cables extends along the guide surface <NUM>, the plurality of cables further extends through the opening <NUM>. The guide surface <NUM> can include a base 531A and a pair of side walls 531B that extend out from the base, such that the supported plurality of cables <NUM> are disposed between the side walls. Accordingly, the base 531A and the side walls 531B can cooperate to define the guide surface <NUM>. The bundle <NUM> of electrical cables <NUM> can be supported by the base 531A at a location between the side walls 531B, so as to extend through the opening <NUM>. The cable guide <NUM> can further include a slot <NUM> that extends into an outer surface of the guide body <NUM> that is opposite the guide surface <NUM>. The slot <NUM> can be defined by both the base 531A and each of the pair of side walls 531B. The slot <NUM> can extend into the outer surface toward the guide surface <NUM>, but can terminate prior to reaching the guide surface <NUM>. The cable assembly can further include a band <NUM> that is configured to extend about the cable guide <NUM> in the slot <NUM> further extend about and the plurality of cables <NUM> so as to secure the plurality of cables <NUM> to the cable guide <NUM>. The band <NUM> can include any suitable mounting apparatus <NUM> that is configured to be mounted onto the panel. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the guide surface <NUM> defines a first end 534a and a second end 534b that is opposite the first end 534a. The guide surface <NUM> can be configured such that the first end 534a is oriented perpendicular to the second end 534b. The cable clip <NUM> can be supported by the guide body <NUM> at the second end 534b of the guide surface <NUM>, The cable guide <NUM> is configured to be supported adjacent to the electrical connector <NUM> at a location proximate to the first end 534a of the guide surface <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An electrical connector (<NUM>) comprising:
an electrically insulative connector housing (<NUM>); and
a leadframe (<NUM>) supported by the connector housing, the leadframe including an electrically insulative leadframe housing (<NUM>) and a plurality of electrical signal contacts (<NUM>) supported by the leadframe housing; and
an electrically conductive ground plate (<NUM>) positioned adjacent to the leadframe housing, the ground plate including an electrically conductive plate body (<NUM>) and a drain wire connection adjacent a first side of the ground plate;
wherein the electrical connector is configured to receive at least one electrical cable (<NUM>) in a longitudinal direction (L) such that at least one signal conductor of the at least one electrical cable is attached to a corresponding at least one of the signal contacts, characterized in that the drain wire connection is a drain wire connection tab (<NUM>) that is cut out from the plate body (<NUM>) and bent so as to project out from the plate body and comprises a tab body (<NUM>) and an opening (<NUM>) that extends through the tab body (<NUM>) along the longitudinal direction (L) and is configured to receive a drain wire (<NUM>) of the at least one electrical cable,
wherein:
either the opening (<NUM>) is sized to receive an exposed portion (<NUM>) of the drain wire (<NUM>) of the at least one electrical cable such that, when tab body (<NUM>) bends about a transverse direction (T) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) towards the electrically conductive plate body, the tab body (<NUM>) captures the exposed portion (<NUM>) of the drain wire (<NUM>) between the tab body (<NUM>) and the electrically conductive plate body (<NUM>), thereby placing the drain wire in electrical communication with the ground plate (<NUM>) with the drain wire (<NUM>) elongated in the longitudinal direction (L) substantially parallel to the at least one signal conductor of the at least one electrical cable;
or the opening (<NUM>) is sized to maintain connection between the tab body (<NUM>) and the drain wire, in assembled state when the drain wire extends through the opening, without bending the tab body toward the plate body (<NUM>);
and wherein the signal contacts (<NUM>) of the leadframe (<NUM>) are adjacent a second side of the ground plate (<NUM>) which is opposite to said first side of the ground plate along the longitudinal direction (L).