High performance stacked connector

A method of operating an electronic device comprising:

• an enclosure comprising a panel having an opening therethrough;
• an I/O connector assembly comprising a connector and a cage mounted to a printed circuit board exposed through an opening in the panel, wherein:
• the cage comprises at least one channel;
• and
• the connector comprises a plurality of conductive elements, each of the plurality of conductive elements comprising a mating contact portion exposed within a slot disposed at an end of a channel of the at least one channel, a contact tail exposed at a mating face of the connector, and an intermediate portion joining the mating contact portion and the contact tail,
• a transceiver positioned within the channel of the at least one channel, a portion of the transceiver inserted into the slot,
• the method comprising:
• operating the transceiver at a data rate in excess of 110 Gbps;
• and
• expelling air from the enclosure so as to cause a flow of air along a first path and a second path through the cage, the first path comprising a segment through openings in sidewalls of the connector and through a channel between the sidewalls of the connector and sidewalls of the cage, the second path comprising a segment through a hole in a back face of the cage, the hole disposed behind the plurality of conductive elements.

A stacked connector of the type having a mounting face and a mating face perpendicular to the mounting face and sides perpendicular to both the mating face and the mounting face, the connector comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• at least a first slot portion and a second slot portion, wherein each of the first and second slot portions comprises a slot passing therethrough and walls bounding the slot;
• opposing first and second side walls bounding a cavity within the housing, wherein the first and second sidewalls support the first slot portion and the second slot portion at the mating face such that at least 50% of the mating face of the housing between the first slot portion and the second slot portion is open to the passage of air into the cavity;
• a plurality of lead assemblies within the cavity, the plurality of lead assemblies disposed adjacent to a portion of the first side wall that bounds an airflow path within the cavity, wherein each of the plurality of lead assemblies comprises:
• a plurality of conductive elements;
• and
• at least one insulative member holding the plurality of conductive elements with gaps between the conductive elements in the row direction.

A stacked connector of the type having a mounting face and a mating face perpendicular to the mounting face and sides perpendicular to both the mating face and the mounting face, the connector comprising:

• a housing comprising:
• at least a first slot portion and a second slot portion, wherein each of the first and second slot portions comprises a slot passing therethrough and walls bounding the slot;
• opposing first and second side walls bounding a cavity within the housing, wherein the first and second sidewalls support the first slot portion and the second slot portion at the mating face such that at least 50% of the mating face of the housing between the first slot portion and the second slot portion is open to the passage of air into the cavity;
• a plurality of lead assemblies within the cavity, wherein each of the plurality of lead assemblies comprises:
• a plurality of conductive elements;
• and
• at least one insulative member holding the plurality of conductive elements with gaps between the conductive elements in the row direction,
• wherein:
• greater than 90% of the rear of the housing is open so as to provide an airflow passage from the cavity to an exterior of the housing;
• the first and second opposing sidewalls each comprises a segment adjacent the mounting face;
• each of the plurality of leadframe assemblies engages the housing at a respective slot portion of the first and second slot portions and at the segment of at least one of the first and second opposing sidewalls;
• the housing further comprises a platform extending between the first and second opposing sidewalls between the first and second slot portions;
• the stacked connector further comprises a support member extending perpendicularly from a center portion of the platform;
• the housing further comprises a top face, opposite the mounting face, wherein the top face comprises a central member separated from the first and second side walls so as to provide airflow passages into the cavity from the exterior of the housing adjacent the top face;
• and
• the central member comprises an engagement feature, engaging a complimentary engagement feature on an insulative member of the at least one insulative member of a lead assembly of the plurality of lead assemblies.