Patent ID: 7547231

Claim:
A large array connector for coupling a plurality of wafers with a printed circuit board, the large array connector comprising: a plate comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion; a plurality of guide blocks including first and second guide blocks for providing rigid support to at least the plate, the first guide block being mechanically coupled to a first end of the front portion of the plate, and the second guide block being mechanically coupled to a second end of the front portion of the plate; and a plurality of wafers located between the first guide block and the second guide block, a front portion of each of the wafers being mateable with a mid-plane, wherein a fill material is provided between a first portion of each of the wafers and the front portion of the plate, the fill material substantially mechanically coupling the first portion of each of the wafers and the front portion of the plate, and providing rigid support to each of the wafers during plug-in with the mid-plane, and each of the guide blocks comprise fastening areas located on a bottom portion thereof, the fastening areas corresponding to fastening areas on a printed circuit board for mechanically coupling the guide block to the printed circuit board.