Patent ID: 8360800

Claim:
An electrical connector system that includes first and second connectors ( 12 , 14 ) wherein each of said first and second connectors can be adjusted in the field to be mateable to each other but not to other, similar connectors, wherein: said first connector includes a first housing ( 21 ) with a forward-rearward (F, R) extending first housing axis ( 20 ), a plurality of signal contacts ( 26 ) arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, and a pair of laterally-spaced guide pins ( 50 a , 50 b ) mounted on said first housing and extending primarily along side axes ( 22 , 24 ) that are parallel to said first housing axis; said second connector includes a second housing 36 and a pair of guide sleeves ( 60 a , 60 b ) that are mounted on said second housing and that have guide passages ( 70 a , 70 b ) extending primarily along a pair of side axes ( 32 , 34 ) and that are designed to receive said pair of guide pins; said guide pins and guide sleeves each being mountable to a corresponding one of said housings at each of a pair of side axes ( 56 , 72 ) that are laterally (L) spaced apart; said first housing has passage walls forming a pin guide receiver ( 80 ) centered on a corresponding side axes 22 and having a plurality of radial recesses ( 81 - 84 ) in the receiver; said guide pins ( 50 a , 50 b ) each has a shaft ( 54 ) that fits closely in one of said pin guide receivers and has a pin front end ( 52 ) that projects forward of said shaft, said shaft and said pin front end being offset (C) from each other; each of said pin guides has a radially outward projection ( 88 ) that projects into one of said radial recesses ( 81 - 84 ), to thereby laterally shift the pin guide front end with respect to the corresponding side axis ( 22 , 24 ).