Patent ID: 6863543

Claim:
A connector assembly for use in connecting differential signal circuits on two different circuit boards together, comprising: an insulative housing including a plurality of cavities defined in said housing, the cavities extending completely through said housing between opposite surfaces thereof; said housing having a conductive coating formed on at least some exterior surfaces thereof including on the surfaces of said plurality of cavities for providing a reference ground surrounding each of said cavities, said housing further including a plurality of ground terminal members associated therewith which are in electrical contact with said conductive exterior surfaces for electrically connecting said conductive surfaces to ground circuits on said circuit boards; and, a plurality of terminal assemblies received in said plurality of cavities, each of the terminal assemblies including at least one differential signal terminal pair, said at least one signal terminal pair including tail portions at each end of the terminal assembly for connecting the terminal pairs to circuits on said circuit boards, and intermediate portions which interconnect said tail portions together, said terminal assemblies being at least partially held within said cavities.