Patent ID: 7976321

Claim:
A modular electrical connector system, comprising: a first connector with plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals arranged in columns and rows; and a second connector configured to engage the first connector, the second connector configured to translated from an unmated position to a mated position, the mated position having the first and second connector coupled together, the second connector comprising: a main housing; a plurality of connector modules supported by the main housing, each connector module having a dielectric module housing, wherein the module housings each having a front face, and the front faces of the module housings together forming a front face of the second connector, the front face with a plurality of openings configured to receive the plurality of signal and ground terminals of the first connector; a plurality of signal terminals that are arranged in each module housing; and at least one ground terminal supported in each module housing with at least a first contact section and a first spring arm section, with the first contact section having a first contact and a second contact both configured to engage a corresponding ground terminal of the first connector prior to reach a final mated position, wherein the first and second contacts are mechanically coupled and wherein one of the first and second contacts is not in contact with the corresponding ground terminal in the first connector when the second connector is in the final mated position.