High frequency modular plug and cable assembly

An assembly including a multi-conductor cable terminated by a modular plug, comprising:

• a multi-conductor cable including at least first, second, third and fourth pairs of wires, each wire pair forming part of a respective circuit during use;
• a modular plug including a dielectric housing having eight wire-receiving passages disposed in first and second substantially parallel planar arrays spaced one above the other, four of said passages disposed in said first planar array including two outer passages and two inner passages and four of said passages disposed in said second planar array including two outer passages and two inner passages, said passages of said first planar array being staggered in position with respect to said passages of said second planar array, and a plurality of parallel contact-receiving slots, each contact-receiving slot communicating with a respective one of said wire-receiving passages;
• said cable wires having ends received in respective wire-receiving passages and said modular plug including a plurality of flat contacts, each contact situated in a respective contact-receiving slot and electrically engaging a respective one of said wire ends received in a communicating wire-receiving passage;
• and wherein
• an end of a first wire of each of said first and second wire pairs is received in a respective inner passage of said first planar array and an end of a second wire of each of said first and second wire pairs is received in a respective inner passage in said second planar array, said wire ends of said first pair of wires situated in a first pair plane and said wire ends of said second pair of wires situated in a second pair plane, and wherein said first and second pair planes intersect each other.

An assembly including a multi-conductor cable terminated by a modular plug, comprising:

• a multi-conductor cable including at least first and second pairs of wires, each wire pair operatively forming part of a respective circuit during use;
• a modular plug including a dielectric housing having a plurality of wire-receiving passages disposed in first and second substantially parallel planar arrays spaced one above the other, said passages of said first planar array being staggered in position with respect to said passages of said second planar array, and a plurality of parallel contact-receiving slots, each contact-receiving slot communicating with a respective one of said wire-receiving passages;
• said cable wires having ends received in respective wire-receiving passages and said modular plug including a plurality of flat contacts, each contact situated in a respective contact-receiving slot and electrically engaging a respective one of said wire ends received in a communicating wire-receiving passage;
• wherein
• an end of a first wire of each of said first and second wire pairs is received in a respective wire-receiving passage of said first planar array and an end of a second wire of each of said first and second wire pairs is received in a respective wire-receiving passage in said second planar array, said wire ends of said first pair of wires situated in a first pair plane and said wire ends of said second pair of wires situated in a second pair plane, and wherein said first and second pair planes intersect each other;
• and
• a management bar situated at least in part within said plug housing, said management bar having a plurality of wire-receiving bores disposed in first and second substantially parallel planar arrays spaced one above the other, said bores of said first planar array being staggered in position with respect to said bores of said second planar array.