High frequency electrical connector assembly such as a multi-port multi-level connector assembly

A modular electrical connector assembly, comprising:

• a receptacle housing having at least one plug-receiving receptacle,
• at least one insert assembly arranged in said receptacle housing and comprising:
• an L-shaped insert housing having a bottom surface and a top surface, said receptacle being defined above said top surface, said insert housing comprising a base part having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces and opposed lateral surfaces, and a cap part having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces and opposed lateral surfaces, said bottom surface of said cap part partially overlying said top surface of said base part such that said cap part extends in a cantilever fashion from said base part, said base part including at least one projection on said top surface, said cap part having a recess for receiving said at least one projection,
• a first set of contact/terminal members each including a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending beyond said bottom surface of said insert housing and an intermediate portion interconnecting said contact portion and said terminal portion,
• a second set of contact/terminal members each including a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending beyond said bottom surface of said insert housing and an intermediate portion interconnecting said contact portion and said terminal portion,
• said contact/terminal members in said first set being parallel to and geometrically different than said contact/terminal members in said second set, and
• said insert housing defining a first set of conduits receiving said contact/terminal members in said first set of contact/terminal members and a second set of conduits receiving said contact/terminal members in said second set of contact/terminal members, said first and second sets of conduits being defined such that adjacent ones of said contact/terminal members received in said first and second sets of conduits are geometrically different from one another,
• each of said conduits in said first set of conduits comprising
• a bore arranged in said base part and extending between said top and bottom surfaces of said base part,
• a channel arranged in a respective one of said at least one projection on said base part, and
• a groove arranged in said front surface of said cap part and aligning with said channel, said channel being spaced from said groove such that said contact/terminal member has a step between said channel and said groove,
• a respective one of said contact/terminal members in said first set of contact/terminal members extending through said bore in said base part, through said channel on the respective one of said at least one projection, through said channel in said cap part and through said groove in said front surface of said cap part into said receptacle and then in said receptacle toward a rear of said receptacle housing to thereby constitute a rearward facing contact/terminal member.

A multi-level connector assembly for receiving multiple plugs including an outer housing part defining a plurality of plug-receiving receptacles arranged in upper and lower levels such that each of said upper and lower levels includes at least one of said receptacles, at least one lower insert assembly arranged in said outer housing part and including contact/terminal members and at least one upper insert assembly arranged in said outer housing part and including contact/terminal members, the improvement comprising:

• said at least one upper insert assembly comprising
• an L-shaped insert housing having a bottom surface and a top surface, a respective one of said at least one receptacle in said upper level being defined above said top surface of said insert housing, said insert housing comprising a base part having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces and opposed lateral surfaces, and a cap part having top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces and opposed lateral surfaces, said bottom surface of said cap part partially overlying said top surface of said base part such that said cap part extends in a cantilever fashion from said base part,
• a first set of contact/terminal members each including a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending beyond said bottom surface of said insert housing and an intermediate portion interconnecting said contact portion and said terminal portion,
• a second set of contact/terminal members each including a contact portion situated in said receptacle, a terminal portion extending beyond said bottom surface of said insert housing and an intermediate portion interconnecting said contact portion and said terminal portion,
• said contact/terminal members in said first set being parallel to and geometrically different than said contact/terminal members in said second set, and
• said insert housing defining a first set of conduits receiving said contact/terminal members in said first set of contact/terminal members and a second set of conduits receiving said contact/terminal members in said second set of contact/terminal members, said first and second sets of conduits being defined such that adjacent ones of said contact/terminal members received in said first and second sets of conduits are geometrically different from one another,
• each of said conduits in said first set of conduits comprising a bore arranged in said base part and extending between said top and bottom surfaces of said base part, a channel arranged on said bottom surface of said cap part and extending from proximate said base part to adjacent said front surface of said cap part, and a groove arranged in said front surface of said cap part and aligning with said channel,
• a respective one of said contact/terminal members in said first set of contact/terminal members extending through said bore in said base part through said channel on said cap part and through said groove in said front surface of said cap part into said respective receptacle and then in said respective receptacle toward a rear of said outer housing part,
• each of said conduits in said second set of conduits comprising a first bore arranged in said base part and extending between said top and bottom surfaces of said base part, and a second bore arranged in said cap part and extending between said top and bottom surfaces of said cap part, said second bore aligning with said first bore in said base part,
• a respective one of said contact/terminal members in said second set of contact/terminal members extending through said first bore in said base part, through said second bore in said cap part, into said respective receptacle and then in said respective receptacle toward a front of said outer housing part.