Patent ID: 7040901

Claim:
An interconnect system, comprising: a first circuit board comprising (a) a first differential interconnect path, (b) a first socket on a surface of the first circuit board and (c) a second socket 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 socket and a second signal path electrically connected to the second socket; 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, said interposer including an array of apertures extending from the first face of the interposer to the second face of the interposer; a first conductor having an end adjacent to the second face of the interposer; a second conductor substantially parallel with and substantially equal in length to the first conductor, the second conductor also having an end adjacent to the second face of the interposer; a dielectric material disposed between the first conductor and the second conductor; a plurality of cells located within said array of apertures, each of said cells including a housing supporting a first elongated contact member and a second elongated contact member; a first of said first elongated contact members 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 compliantly engaged with the first socket, and at least a portion of the interim section being engaged with a first of said housings; and a first of said second elongated contact members 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 compliantly engaged with the second socket, and at least a portion of the interim section being engaged with said first of said housings.