Socket connector and cable assembly for a communication system

A socket connector assembly for a communication system comprising:

• a socket connector configured to be mounted to a host circuit board, the socket connector including a socket housing having a socket opening, a bottom of the socket housing configured to be mounted to the host circuit board, the socket connector including a pre-load latch extending into the socket opening, the socket housing holding socket contacts, each socket contact including a deflectable spring beam having a separable mating interface;
• a cable assembly coupled to the socket connector, the cable assembly including an outer housing having a paddle card pocket open at a bottom of the outer housing, the cable assembly including a paddle card received in the paddle card pocket, the paddle card extending between a mating end and a cable end, the paddle card having an upper paddle card surface and a lower paddle card surface, the paddle card including paddle card contacts at the mating end on the lower paddle card surface interfacing with the separable mating interfaces of the socket contacts when the cable assembly is coupled to the socket connector, the cable assembly including cables terminated to the paddle card at the cable end of the paddle card, the cables being communicatively coupled to corresponding paddle card contacts, wherein the outer housing engages the pre-load latch to hold the cable assembly in a first position on the socket connector to pre-load the paddle card by a first holding force;
• and
• a spring plate coupled to the outer housing after the pre-load latch holds the cable assembly in the first position, the spring plate configured to be secured to the host circuit board to press the cable assembly downward toward the host circuit board to a second position, the deflectable spring beams of the socket contacts being further compressed from the first position to the second position.

A socket connector assembly for a communication system comprising:

• a socket connector configured to be mounted to a host circuit board, the socket connector including a socket housing having a socket opening, the socket housing including a locating feature extending from a top of the socket housing, a bottom of the socket housing configured to be mounted to the host circuit board, the socket housing holding socket contacts, each socket contact including a deflectable spring beam having a separable mating interface;
• a cable assembly coupled to the socket connector, the cable assembly including an outer housing having a paddle card pocket open at a bottom of the outer housing, the cable assembly including a paddle card received in the paddle card pocket, the paddle card extending between a mating end and a cable end, the paddle card having an upper paddle card surface and a lower paddle card surface, the paddle card including paddle card contacts at the mating end on the lower paddle card surface interfacing with the separable mating interfaces of the socket contacts when the cable assembly is coupled to the socket connector, the cable assembly including cables terminated to the paddle card at the cable end of the paddle card, the cables being communicatively coupled to corresponding paddle card contacts, wherein the cable assembly engages the locating feature to position the cable assembly relative to the socket connector;
• and
• a spring plate coupled to the outer housing, the spring plate configured to be secured to the host circuit board to press the cable assembly downward toward the host circuit board to compress the deflectable spring beams of the socket contacts.