# US 2014/0194004 A1 · Grounding structures for a receptacle assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194004 A1 - Document ID: US20140194004A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/735,386 - Filed: 2013-01-07 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07 - Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation - Applicants: Tyco Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Justin Dennis Pickel; Alex Michael Sharf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194004A1 ## CPC - H01R 13/648: Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices {, e.g. anti-static shielding} (coaxially arranged shields H01R24/38) - H01R 13/6587: for mounting on PCBs - H01R 12/727: {Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts} - H01R 12/737: {Printed circuits being substantially perpendicular to each other (for printed connections H05K3/366)} - H01R 13/514: composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A receptacle assembly includes a contact module including a holder having a first side and an opposite second side. The holder holds a plurality of contacts. The contacts extend from the holder for electrical termination. A first ground shield is coupled to the first side. The first ground shield has grounding beams extending forward of the holder for electrical connection to a header assembly. The first ground shield has ground skewers extending into the holder. A second ground shield is coupled to the second side. The second ground shield has grounding beams extending forward of the holder for electrical connection to the header assembly. The second ground shield has ground skewers extending into the holder and the frame assembly. The ground skewers of the second ground shield engage and electrically connect to corresponding ground skewers of the first ground shield. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A receptacle assembly comprising: a contact module comprising a holder having a first side and an opposite second side, the holder holding a frame assembly, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts, the dielectric frame being received in the holder, the contacts extending from the holder for electrical termination; a first ground shield coupled to the first side, the first ground shield having grounding beams extending forward of the holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header contact of a header assembly, the first ground shield having ground skewers extending into the holder and the frame assembly; and a second ground shield coupled to the second side, the second ground shield having grounding beams extending forward of the holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header contact of the header assembly, the second ground shield having ground skewers extending into the holder and the frame assembly, the ground skewers of the second ground shield engaging and being electrically connected to corresponding ground skewers of the first ground shield. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the ground skewers extend into the frame assembly such that the ground skewers at least partially overlap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the ground skewers of the first ground shield are spring biased against the ground skewers of the second ground shield. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the ground skewers create an electrical path between the first ground shield and the second ground shield. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the ground skewers are disposed between the contacts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the contacts have transitions, the ground skewers spanning across the contacts proximate to the transitions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first ground shield includes a generally planar main body, the ground skewers being stamped out of the main body, the ground skewers being bent out of the main body such that the ground skewers extend generally perpendicular to the main body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the ground skewers engage the dielectric frame to position the ground skewers relative to the dielectric frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first ground shield includes a main body, the ground skewers being stamped and formed out of the main body leaving elongated windows in the main body, the windows being elongated in a direction parallel to the contacts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The receptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the contacts are stacked vertically, the ground skewers being vertically offset from the contacts and disposed between adjacent contacts. ### Claim 11 A receptacle assembly comprising: a contact module comprising a holder having a right holder member and a left holder member, the holder holding a frame assembly, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts, the dielectric frame being received in the holder, the contacts extending from the holder for electrical termination; a first ground shield coupled to the right holder member, the first ground shield having grounding beams extending forward of the holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header contact of a header assembly, the first ground shield having ground skewers extending into the frame assembly to engage the left holder member to create an electrical path between the first ground shield and the left holder member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The receptacle assembly of claim 11, wherein the first ground shield directly engages and is electrically connected to the right holder member, the left holder member being electrically connected to the right holder member, at least in part, via the ground skewers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The receptacle assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second ground shield coupled to the left holder member, the second ground shield having grounding beams extending forward of the holder for electrical connection to a corresponding header contact of a header assembly, the second ground shield having ground skewers extending into the frame assembly to engage the right holder member to create an electrical path between the second ground shield and the right holder member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The receptacle assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second ground shield coupled to the left holder member, the second ground shield having ground skewers extending into the frame assembly to engage the ground skewers of the first ground shield to create an electrical path between the first ground shield and the second ground shield. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The receptacle assembly of claim 11, wherein the first ground shield includes a generally planar main body, the ground skewers being stamped out of the main body, the ground skewers being bent out of the main body such that the ground skewers extend generally perpendicular to the main body. ### Claim 16 An electrical connector assembly comprising: a header assembly comprising a header housing, a plurality of header contacts held by the header housing, and a plurality of C-shaped header contacts surrounding corresponding header contacts on three sides, the header contacts having walls defining the C-shaped header contacts; and a receptacle assembly mated to the header assembly, the receptacle assembly comprising: a front housing received in the header housing; and contact modules coupled to the front housing, each contact module comprising: a conductive holder having a first side and an opposite second side, the conductive holder holding a frame assembly, the frame assembly comprising a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts, the dielectric frame being received in the conductive holder, the contacts extending from the conductive holder into the front housing for electrical termination to corresponding header contacts; a first ground shield coupled to the first side, the first ground shield being electrically connected to the conductive holder, the first ground shield having grounding beams extending forward of the conductive holder into the front housing for electrical connection to corresponding header contacts of the header assembly, the first ground shield having ground skewers extending into the conductive holder and the frame assembly; and a second ground shield coupled to the second side, the second ground shield being electrically connected to the conductive holder, the second ground shield having grounding beams extending forward of the conductive holder into the front housing for electrical connection to corresponding header contacts of the header assembly, the second ground shield having ground skewers extending into the conductive holder and the frame assembly, the ground skewers of the second ground shield engaging and being electrically connected to corresponding ground skewers of the first ground shield. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the ground skewers of the first ground shield are spring biased against the ground skewers of the second ground shield. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the ground skewers create an electrical path between the first ground shield and the second ground shield. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the ground skewers are disposed between the contacts. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The electrical connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the first ground shield includes a main body, the ground skewers being stamped and formed out of the main body leaving elongated windows in the main body, the windows being elongated in a direction parallel to the contacts.