Method and structure for tuning the impedance of electrical terminals

An electrical connector comprising:

• an insulative housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages;
• and, a plurality of terminals formed from a single thickness of metal mounted in the terminal-receiving passages, each of the terminals being formed from a single thickness of conductive material and including a contact portion for contacting an opposing terminal of a mating connector and a terminating portion for termination to a circuit board, the contact portion including a body portion interconnecting the contact portion and the terminating portion together, the contact portion being formed with distinct housing and terminal engagement areas, the contact portion housing engagement area of said terminal extending in a single horizontal plane and engaging a terminal-receiving passage of said connector housing, the contact portion terminal engagement area of said terminal extending out of said horizontal plane to thereby present a raised terminal engagement surface of said terminal for engaging an opposing terminal of the mating connector, said terminal further including at least one notch formed in said housing engagement area and extending in said single plane, the one notch being disposed adjacent said contact portion terminal engagement area of said terminal, said notch affecting a capacitance of said terminal to thereby adjust the overall impedance of said connector along said contact portion of said terminal.

An electrical connector having a preselected impedance, comprising:

• a connector housing formed from an insulative material, the housing including a plurality of terminal supporting slots;
• and,
• a plurality of terminals formed from a single thickness of conductive material, the terminals being supported by the connector housing, a single terminal being supported by a single terminal supporting slot, each of said terminals including a contact portion for contacting an opposing terminal of a mating connector, a tail portion for attachment to a circuit board, and a body portion interconnecting the contact and tail portions together, the contact portion having distinct first and second engagement surfaces disposed thereon, the first engagement surface extending in a plane and including means extending within the plane for engaging one of said terminal supporting passages, the second engagement surface extending out of and away from said plane to present a contact surface for contacting a corresponding opposing terminal of said mating connector, said terminal further including a first slot formed in said first engagement surface adjacent said second engagement surface and adjacent said terminal supporting passage engagement means, the first slot removing material from said first engagement surface to thereby affect the capacitance of said terminal to thereby adjust the overall impedance of said connector in said contact portion.