Multiple-position modular connector employing shielded or filtered signal conductors for reducing electrical noise

Abstract

A multiple-position modular connector (jack, plug or both) includes a rigid insulating body and a set of spaced-apart coaxial conductors carried by the body. Each coaxial conductor has a mating end at a mating portion of the body providing electrical connection between the inner signal conductor and a corresponding conductor of a mating modular connector. A conductive structure extends between the outer shield conductors of the coaxial conductors and a reference contact at an outer surface of the body to provide a high-frequency ground for the outer shield conductors. In another aspect, a modular connector includes a printed circuit board carried by an insulative body and employing some combination of well-matched conductive paths and filtering circuitry such as common-mode coils or 'chokes'. Electrical traces of the printed circuit board may include ground/reference traces interspersed among signal traces to provide shielding and uniform electrical characteristics to the signal traces. Filtering circuitry when present is disposed on the PC board along the signal traces and acts to reduce the level of common-mode signal components reaching the mating contacts from the cable.