Thomas & Betts Corporation

Matthew J Fadule

Robert M Scharf

James S Dunn

William H Collier

Robert Brush

The controlled impedance, low cross-talk, high density, EMI shielded electrical connector assembly comprises a receptacle connector and a plug connector for interconnecting circuits on mother and daughter printed circuit boards arranged orthogonally or in other configurations. Each of the receptacle and plug connectors comprises in preferable form, four rows of electrical contacts arranged in two outer and two inner rows. One set of inner rows and outer rows is each supported in an insulator of dielectric material which surrounds each contact and extends between an outer and inner row in each set. The contacts in the outer rows of each set are staggered with respect to the contacts in the inner rows. A conductive housing extends along the outer rows of contacts and further comprises a portion disposed adjacent the inner rows of contacts, the housing serving as a ground plane when connected to the boards. The ground plane is spaced from the contacts at a selected distance that when combined with the dielectric material of the insulators provides a selected characteristics impedance. Further, the conductive housing has a plurality of projections extending inwardly toward the outer rows of contacts and outwardly toward the inner rows of contacts, the projections extending partially between each of the adjacent contacts in the respective rows to provide a conductive barrier for cross-talk protection.

Controlled impedance electrical connector

An electrical connector for insulation displacment connection to conductors of a flat multiconductor cable includes an elongate insulative housing defining a cavity therein for latchably receiving a pair of insert subassemblies. During manufacture, each subassembly comprises a plurality of insulation displacement contacts having two, spaced tines defining therebetween a conductor receiving slot. Each contact is joined between adjacent tines by a carrier web to thereby form a joined array of contacts. An elongate insulative insert supports the contacts in each subassembly. Each insert has an upper surface defining a cable support surface from which the IDC ends project. A plurality of grooves extends into the insert upper surface, each groove being in substantial registry with a carrier web joining the tines. The grooves each have a bottom surface spaced from the carrier web. Such construction permits use of a suitable severing tool to remove the carrier webs in a ready manner with minimal wear on the tool. Subsequent to carrier web removal, the subassemblies are suitably secured to the connector housing.

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Spartanburg, SC, United States of America

Matthew J Fadule