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US 6,371,773 B1Granted
High density interconnect system and method
AssigneeOhio Associated Enterprises, LLC
InventorsLarry M. Crofoot, John T. Venaleck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical interconnect system allows high signal density with means of electrical isolation to minimize degradation of electrical signals. The electrical interconnect system includes signal conductors which are surrounded by multiple reference or ground conductors, a given signal conductor for example surrounded by four reference conductors. The interconnect system includes a reference element with two sets of reference conductors, one of the sets offset a distance from the other set.
Claims37
An electrical connector module comprising:
- a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- wherein the one or more plastic retainer strips are molded onto the signal conductors and the reference conductor element, thereby securely attaching the one or more plastic retainer strips to the signal conductors and the reference conductor element.
4 more elements
An electrical connector module of comprising:
- a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane,
- a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- wherein the second reference conductors are wider than the first reference conductors;
- and
- wherein the first reference conductors have width in the first plane greater than a thickness of the first reference conductors.
5 more elements
An electrical connector element comprising:
- 1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another;
- wherein the one or more plastic retainer strips are molded onto the signal conductors and the reference conductor element, thereby securely attaching the one or more plastic retainer strips to the signal conductors and the reference conductor element.
8 more elements
An electrical connector element comprising:
- 1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another;
- wherein the cover has holes therein which are operatively configured to receive a protrusion on one, of the retainer strips of each of the modules.
8 more elements
An electrical connector element comprising:
- 1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a:
- reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another,
- wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that multiple of the signal conductors 1) each have a pair of the first reference is conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and 2) each have a pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom, and on opposite sides thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane;
- wherein each of the multiple signal conductors 1) is in the same module as the first reference conductors adjacent thereto, 2) is the same module as one of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto, and 3) is in a different module from the other of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto.
10 more elements
An electrical connector element comprising:
- 1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another;
- wherein the reference conductors and the signal conductors are configured such that multiple of the signal conductors 1) each have a pair of the first reference conductors adjacent thereto and on opposite sides thereof within the first plane, and 2) each have a pair of the second reference conductors adjacent thereto and spaced apart therefrom, and on opposite sides thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane;
- wherein each of the reference conductor elements includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors of the corresponding module are attached, and wherein the second reference conductors each include a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip.
9 more elements
An electrical connector comprising:
- 1) a first electrical connector element which includes a plurality of modules and a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another, wherein each of the modules includes:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a second electrical connector element operatively configured to mate with the first electrical connector element, the second electrical connector element including rows of substantially parallel conductors operatively configured to mate with the signal conductors and the first reference conductors.
7 more elements
An electrical connector element comprising:
- 1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules including:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another;
- wherein the cover has a plurality of interior walls separating an interior space of the cover into a plurality of individual areas, and wherein the modules are inserted into respective of the individual areas.
8 more elements
A method of making an electrical connector module, comprising:
- making a reference conductor sheet having plural reference conductors, several of the reference conductors being in a substantially common plane of the sheet and several other of the reference conductors having portions out of the plane of the sheet,
- placing the reference conductor sheet relative to a plurality of signal conductors such that the several reference conductors are spaced away from the signal conductors and the several other reference conductors are between the signal conductors;
- and
- molding at least one plastic retainer onto the reference conductor sheet and the signal conductors, thereby attaching the at least one plastic retainer to the reference conductor sheet and the signal conductors.
1 more element
An electrical connector module comprising:
- a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- and
- a reference conductor element which includes:
- a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- wherein the reference conductor element includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors is attached;
- and
- wherein the at least one metal strip includes first and second metal strips at respective opposite ends of the reference conductor element.
6 more elements
An electrical connector element comprising:
- 1) a plurality of modules, each of the modules Including:
- a) a plurality of signal conductors, the signal conductors being substantially parallel within a first plane;
- b) a reference conductor element made of a single piece of sheet metal, which includes:
- i) a first plurality of reference conductors at least parts of which are in the first plane, wherein the first reference conductors are substantially parallel to one another and are interspersed between the signal conductors;
- and
- ii) a second plurality of reference conductors within a second plane which is offset from and substantially parallel to the first plane;
- and
- c) one or more plastic retainer strips securing the signal conductors and the reference conductor element;
- and
- 2) a cover which retains the modules in positional relationship relative to one another;
- wherein each of the reference conductor elements includes at least one metal strip in the second plane to which each of the first reference conductors and each of the second reference conductors of the corresponding module are attached;
- wherein the second reference conductors each include a central portion and a bent portion, and the central portion is in the first plane, and the bent portion couples the central portion to the metal strip;
- and
- wherein the at least one metal strip includes first and second metal strips at respective opposite ends of the reference conductor element.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.