Patent ID: 7021945

Claim:
An intercoupling component for receiving an array of contacts within a digital or analog transmission system having an electrical ground circuit and a chassis ground circuit, the intercoupling component comprising: a substrate formed of electrically insulative material and having an upper surface, the substrate including a plurality of holes disposed on its upper surface and arranged in a predetermined footprint corresponding to the array of a contacts; a plurality of electrically conductive signal contacts configured to transmit a digital or analog communication signal, each signal contact disposed within a hole on the upper surface of the substrate forming an array of signal contacts, wherein some or all of the electrically conductive signal contacts are surrounded by an electrically conductive member configured to electrically connect to the chassis ground circuit the electrically conductive member comprising a shield at least partially disposed within the substrate; and a plurality of electrically conductive reference contacts each disposed within a hole on the upper surface of the substrate, wherein the electrically conductive reference contacts are configured to electrically connect to the electrical ground circuit of the system.