Shielded header

A ground plane for providing at least one ground line throughout a header for interconnecting electrical components, the header having rows and columns of parallel lines, the ground plane comprising:

• at least one metal shield section for separating lines of adjacent columns, said at least one metal shield section being substantially coplanar with the lines;
• and
• at least one ground shield, through which a ground line that carries a ground current passes, said at least one ground shield being substantially transverse to the lines and wherein the at least one ground shield engages said ground line.

A header for interconnecting electrical components, the header comprising:

• a plurality of rows and columns of signal lines, wherein at least one column comprises at least one ground line situated between two signal lines in the at least one column so that the at least one ground line is coplanar with the signal lines;
• and
• at least one ground plane for providing grounding throughout the header situated between adjacent columns of signal lines, wherein the at least one ground plane engages the at least one ground line.

A header for interconnecting electrical components comprising at least one column of conductors interposed between ground planes, wherein said column of conductors comprises at least a first, second and third conductor, wherein the first conductor is a ground line, the second and third conductors are signal lines, the first conductor is electrically connected to one of said ground planes, and the second conductor is positioned in said column in interposed relation between said first and third conductor.