Flex jumper assembly for a plug connector assembly

An electrical connector system comprising:

• a first receptacle connector having a first receptacle connector housing mounted to a first host circuit board, the first receptacle connector housing having a card slot, the first receptacle connector including first receptacle contacts held by the first receptacle connector housing at the card slot, the first receptacle contacts being electrically connected to the first host circuit board;
• a second receptacle connector having a second receptacle connector housing mounted to a second host circuit board, the second receptacle connector housing having a card slot, the second receptacle connector including second receptacle contacts held by the second receptacle connector housing at the card slot, the second receptacle contacts being electrically connected to the second host circuit board;
• and
• a plug connector assembly coupled between the first and second receptacle connectors, the plug connector assembly including a first plug connector, a second plug connector, and a flex jumper assembly coupled between the first plug connector and the second plug connector, the first plug connector including a first plug housing coupled to the first receptacle connector housing, the first plug housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall forming a first cavity, the first and second side walls of the first plug housing including a first housing securing feature, the second plug connector including a second plug housing coupled to the second receptacle connector housing, the second plug housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall forming a second cavity, the first and second side walls of the second plug housing including a second housing securing feature, the flex jumper assembly including a first paddle card, a second paddle card and a flex circuit extending between the first paddle card and the second paddle card, the first paddle card having a first rigid substrate including a first mating end and a side edge extending from the first mating end to a first flex circuit end, the first mating end being received in the card slot of the first receptacle connector housing, the first paddle card including first contacts at the first mating end, the first rigid substrate including a first plug connector securing feature at the side edge, the first paddle card being received in the first cavity, the first plug connector securing feature engaging the first housing securing feature to retain the first paddle card in the first plug housing, the second paddle card having a second rigid substrate including a second mating end and a side edge extending from the second mating end to a second flex circuit end, the second mating end being received in the card slot of the second receptacle connector housing, the second paddle card including second contacts at the second mating end, the second rigid substrate including a second plug connector securing feature at the side edge, the second paddle card being received in the second cavity, the second plug connector securing feature engaging the second housing securing feature to retain the second paddle card in the second plug housing, the flex circuit extending between the first flex circuit end and the second flex circuit end, the flex circuit being flexible between the first and second paddle cards.

A flex jumper assembly comprising:

• a first paddle card having a first rigid substrate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the first paddle card having a first mating end, the first paddle card including side edges extending from the first mating end to a first flex circuit end opposite the first mating end, the first paddle card including upper contacts on the upper surface at the first mating end, the first paddle card including lower contacts on the lower surface at the first mating end, the first rigid substrate including securing features at the side edges configured to engage a first plug housing to retain the first paddle card in the first plug housing;
• a second paddle card having a second rigid substrate including an upper surface and a lower surface, the second paddle card having a second mating end, the second paddle card including side edges extending from the second mating end to a second flex circuit end opposite the second mating end, the second paddle card including upper contacts on the upper surface at the second mating end, the second paddle card including lower contacts on the lower surface at the second mating end, the second rigid substrate including securing features at the side edges configured to engage a second plug housing to retain the second paddle card in the second plug housing;
• and
• a flex circuit extending between the first flex circuit end of the first paddle card and the second flex circuit end of the second paddle card, the flex circuit being flexible between the first and second paddle cards.