Shielding structure for a contact module of an electrical connector

A shield structure for a contact module having a dielectric holder holding signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals, the signal contacts having mating portions extending forward of the dielectric holder for mating with a mating electrical connector, the shield structure comprising:

• a first ground shield having a main body configured to extend along a first side of the dielectric holder, the main body having a plurality of rails separated by gaps, the rails having side strips configured to extend along the first side of the dielectric holder, the rails having connecting strips configured to extend into the dielectric holder, each rail having a mating portion extending from the main body forward of the dielectric holder for providing electrical shielding for the mating portions of the corresponding signal contacts;
• a second ground shield having a main body configured to extend along a second side of the dielectric holder, the main body having a plurality of rails separated by gaps, the rails having side strips configured to extend along the second side of the dielectric holder, the rails having connecting strips configured to extend into the dielectric holder, each rail having a mating portion extending from the main body forward of the dielectric holder for providing electrical shielding for the mating portions of the corresponding signal contacts;
• and
• ground blades configured to at least partially cover a mating end of the dielectric holder, the ground blades extending between the first and second ground shields, the ground blades having mating portions extending forward of the dielectric holder at least one of above or below the mating portions of the signal contacts, the ground blades electrically connecting the mating portions of the first ground shield and the mating portions of the second ground shield immediately forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder.

An electrical connector comprising:

• a housing having a mating end, contact modules arranged in a contact module stack received in and extending from the housing for termination to a circuit board;
• wherein each contact module comprises:
• a dielectric holder having first and second sides extending between a mating end and a mounting end;
• signal contacts being held by the dielectric holder, the signal contacts having mating portions extending forward of the mating end, mounting portions extending from the mounting end for termination to a circuit board, and transition portions extending through the dielectric holder between the mating and mounting portions;
• and
• a shield structure coupled to the dielectric holder and providing electrical shielding for the signal contacts, the shield structure having a first ground shield provided at the first side of the dielectric holder and a second ground shield provided at the second side of the dielectric holder, the first ground shield having mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder along first sides of the mating portions of the signal contacts and providing electrical shielding for the mating portions of the signal contacts, the second ground shield having mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder along second sides of the mating portions of the signal contacts and providing electrical shielding for the mating portions of the signal contacts, the shield structure having ground blades extending across each of the contact modules to electrically connect the first and second ground shields of each of the contact modules, the ground blades having mating portions extending forward of the mating end of the dielectric holder at least one of above or below the mating portions of the signal contacts, the ground blades electrically connecting the mating portions of the first ground shield and the mating portions of the second ground shield immediately forward of the mating end of dielectric holder.