High density cable assembly and grounding pieces of connectors of the same and method for grounding

A flat cable and connector assembly comprising:

• a) a flat cable having a plurality of parallel conductors;
• b) a first connector attached to the flat cable and comprising:
• i) a first elongated insulating body having two outer slots and a central slot therein, the central slot having a plurality of recesses on a side thereof;
• ii) a plurality of first signal terminals located in each of the two outer slots, all of the signal terminals in a first of the two outer slots in contact with the plurality of parallel conductors of the flat cable and at least one of the signal terminals in a second of the two outer slots being out of contact with at least one predetermined conductor of the flat cable;
• and,
• iii) a first grounding member located in the central slot, the first grounding member having a plurality of grounding terminals extending from a base;
• a plurality of positioning arms extending laterally from the base, each engaging one of the plurality of recesses;
• at least one mounting arm extending from the base and having an elastic contact arm extending therefrom, the contact arm contacting the at least one signal terminal that is not in contact with the at least one predetermined conductor;
• c) second and third connectors attached to the flat cable, comprising:
• i) second and third elongated bodies identical to the first elongated body of the first connector;
• ii) a plurality of second and third signal terminals located in the second and third elongated bodies, the second and third signal terminals all being in contact with the electrical conductors of the flat cable;
• and,
• iii) second and third grounding members located in the second and third elongated bodies;
• d) a first positioning cover attached to each of the elongated insulating bodies such that the flat cable is located between the first positioning cover and the associated elongated positioning body;
• and,
• e) a second positioning cover located on each of the first positioning covers and attached to the respective elongated insulating body.