Terminal module having open side for enhanced electrical performance

An electrical connector assembly having a receptacle connector mateable with a header connector operable in at least differential pair applications, comprising:

• an insulated housing;
• and
• a plurality of terminal modules mountable to said insulated housing, each terminal module having an insulated body enclosing multiple signal conductors with signal contacts on opposed ends, said signal conductors and contacts being formed in differential pairs, said terminal module including:
• a plurality of open-sided differential shells formed within said terminal module;
• and
• receptacle contacts that conform to an inner cavity within a differential shell, each differential shell having walls with non-linear interior surfaces that define an open-sided cavity conforming to a contour of said receptacle contacts, and said open-sided cavity including a floor, sidewalls, a center wall, flared portions and ramp blocks defining a contour of said open-sided cavity.

A terminal module mountable to an insulated housing of an electrical connector, said terminal module comprising:

• receptacle contacts and leads connected thereto for carrying signals through the terminal module;
• and
• a differential shell including:
• a floor, sidewalls and a center wall defining open-sided chambers that receive said receptacle contacts, each open-sided chamber having open front and open rear ends and having at least one open side, said open-sided chambers accepting corresponding receptacle contacts through said open sides, said walls of said differential shell having a non-linear contour substantially conforming to a contour of said receptacle contacts, at least one of said floor, sidewalls and center wall includes a non-linear, curved surface following a contour of a first corresponding surface of an associated receptacle contact;
• and
• flared portions and ramp blocks defining a contour of each open-sided chamber.