Connector assembly with a floating shield dividing contacts formed in differential pairs

A connector assembly comprising:

• a housing having a top end and a bottom end with contact channels extending through said housing between said top and bottom ends along a vertical axis of said housing, said contact channels being positioned adjacent to one another and aligned in at least two parallel rows extending along a longitudinal axis of said housing, said contact channels being located in at least two parallel rows along said longitudinal axis in a staggered, overlapping pattern;
• contacts provided within said contact channels, said contacts being arranged in differential pairs along said at least two parallel rows;
• and
• an electrically common shield having divider shields mounted in said housing between said differential pairs of contacts said divider shields being interconnected with one another.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a housing having a top end and a bottom end with contact channels extending through said housing;
• insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) provided in said contact channels, said IDCs being arranged in differential pairs;
• and
• an electrically common shield having dividers mounted in said housing to separate adjacent differential pairs of said IDCs, said electrically common shield being isolated from ground.