Patent ID: 6979202

Claim:
An interconnect system, comprising: a first circuit board comprising (a) a first differential interconnect path, (b) a first signal pad on a surface of the first circuit board and (c) a second signal pad also on the surface of the first circuit board, wherein the first differential interconnect path comprises a first signal path electrically connected to the first signal pad and a second signal path electrically connected to the second signal pad; a second circuit board comprising a second differential interconnect path; and a connector for electrically connecting the first differential interconnect path with the second differential interconnect path, the connector comprising: an interposer having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, the first face facing the surface of the first circuit board; a first conductor having an end adjacent to the second surface of the interposer; a second conductor parallel with and equal in length to the first conductor, the second conductor also having an end being adjacent to the second surface of the interposer; a dielectric material disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor; a first elongated contact member having a conductor contact section, a board contact section and an interim section between the conductor contact section and the board contact section, the conductor contact section being in physical contact with the end of the first conductor, the board contact section being in physical contact with and pressing against a surface of the first signal pad, but not being secured to the first signal pad, and the interim section being disposed in a hole extending from the first face of the interposer to the second face of the interposer, wherein the first signal pad exerts a force on the first contact member and the first contact member is free to move in the direction of the force to a limited extent, wherein the force is in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the first circuit board; and a second elongated contact member having a conductor contact section, a board contact section and an interim section between the conductor contact section and the board contact section, the conductor contact section being in physical contact with the first end of the second conductor, the board contact section being in physical contact with and pressing against a top surface of the second signal pad, but not being secured to the second pad, and the interim section being disposed in a hole extending from the first face of the interposer to the second face of the interposer, wherein the second pad exerts a force on the second contact member and the second contact member is free to move in the direction of the force to a limited extent, wherein the force is in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the first circuit board.