Impedance matched cable assembly having latching subassembly

An apparatus for transmitting electrical signals therethrough, comprising:

• a transmission cable of a known characteristic impedance, the cable including a signal carrying conductor and a shield;
• and
• an electrical terminating connector, the connector comprising,
• a subassembly including a first terminal electrically coupled at one end to the shield and having a first contact at an opposite end thereof, a second terminal electrically coupled at one end to the signal carrying conductor and having a second contact at an opposite end thereof, a dielectric insert disposed between the first and second terminals, the dielectric insert being dimensioned and having selected dielectric properties to provide a characteristic impedance of the subassembly that substantially matches the characteristic impedance of the cable, and a latch mechanism, and
• an electrically conductive housing, the housing having an interior region dimensioned to receive the subassembly from one end of the housing such that the first and second contacts are electrically accessible from an opposite end of the housing, and the housing including a complimentary latch mechanism in the interior region for latching with the latch mechanism of the subassembly wherein the subassembly is overmolded into a unitary structure.

An electrical terminating connector for an electrical signals transmission cable, the cable of a known characteristic impedance and of the type having a signal carrying conductor and a shield, the connector comprising, a subassembly including a first terminal arranged for electrically coupling at one end thereof to the shield and having a first contact at an opposite end thereof, a second terminal arranged for electrically coupling at one end thereof to the signal carrying conductor and having a second contact at an opposite end thereof, the first and second terminals separated by a predetermined distance, an electrically conductive housing, the housing having an interior region dimensioned to receive the subassembly from one end of the housing such that the first and second contacts are electrically accessible from an opposite end of the housing, wherein the subassembly is overmolded into a unitary structure,

• a dielectric insert disposed within said interior region of the housing such that it is located between the first and second terminals when the subassembly is inserted into the housing, the dielectric insert being dimensioned and having selected dielectric properties to provide a characteristic impedance of the subassembly that substantially matches the characteristic impedance of the cable, and a latch mechanism, and the housing including a complimentary latch mechanism in the interior region for latching with the latch mechanism of the subassembly.