Patent ID: 8202118

Claim:
A differential electrical connector having differential pairs held in an insulative housing, comprising: a plurality of first and second signal conductors provided as differential pairs, with each signal conductor having a first contact end connectable to a printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therebetween having a first width, wherein the first contact end of the first signal conductor lies along a first line and the first contact end of the second signal conductor lies along a second line that is parallel to and spaced from the first line; and a plurality of ground conductors with each ground conductor corresponding to a differential pair of signal conductors, each ground conductor having a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, an intermediate portion therebetween having a second width that is at least twice the first width, a first contact arm extending outwardly from the intermediate portion and having a first length, and a second contact arm spaced from the first contact arm, the second contact arm extending outwardly from the intermediate portion and having a second length substantially equal to the first length, wherein the first and second contact arms shield the corresponding differential pair of signal conductors, wherein the first contact end of each ground conductor lies along a third line that is parallel to and spaced from the first and second lines, wherein the second contact end of each signal conductor has a substantially planar portion disposed within a first plane that is parallel to and positioned between the first and second lines.