Modular electrical connector and connector system

A modular connector system comprising:

• (a) a first connector comprising:
• (i) an insulative housing;
• and
• (ii) an array of contacts supported by said insulative housing, each contact having a first end with a conductive element adapted for being electrically connected to a first circuit board and a second end having a blade-shaped contact portion;
• (b) a second connector comprising an array of beam-shaped contacts, each contact positioned at a first end of a signal conductor having a conductive element adapted for being electrically connected to a second circuit board at a second end, wherein each of said beam-shaped contacts comprises at least two coplanar beams and is adapted for contacting a common surface of a respective blade-shaped contact portion of said first connector when said first and second connectors are mated;
• (c) a plurality of shield plates mounted in parallel, each of said plurality of shield plates having a first plate end at which is disposed said beam-shaped contact array and a second plate end at which is disposed said first end of said signal conductor, wherein a plane of each of said shield plates at said first plate end is substantially orthogonal to a plane of each of said shield plates at said second plate end;
• and
• wherein said second connector further comprises a plurality of insulative members, each one molded to a portion at said first of said signal conductors to form a row of signal conductors and a plurality of insulative members, each one molded to a portion at said second end of said signal conductors.

A modular connector comprising:

• a plurality of signal conductors, each of the signal conductors having a first end with a beam-shaped contact portion and a second end with a conductive element adapted for being electrically connected to a printed circuit board, each beam-shaped contact portion having at least two independent coplanar beams with independent movement;
• a first insulative member adapted to hold the plurality of signal conductors in a spaced arrangement at the first end of each signal conductor;
• a second insulative member adapted to hold another portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors in a spaced arrangement at the second end of each signal conductor;
• an insulative receptacle having a plurality of holes, each hole corresponding to, and substantially aligned with the beam-shaped contact portion of a respective signal conductor;
• and
• wherein each one of the two substantially independent coplanar beams comprises an angled end portion and wherein the insulative receptacle further comprises a ledge adjacent each one of the plurality of holes, the ledge disposed to mate with the angled end portion of each one of the two substantially independent coplanar beams to prevent the beams from touching an opposing wall within the insulative receptacle.

A modular connector system comprising:

• a first connector comprising:
• an insulative housing;
• and
• an array of contacts supported by said insulative housing, each contact having a first end with a conductive element adapted for being electrically connected to a first circuit board and a second end having a blade-shaped contact portion;
• and
• a second connector comprising:
• an array of beam-shaped contacts, each contact positioned at a first end of a signal conductor having a conductive element adapted for being electrically connected to a second circuit board at a second end, wherein each of said beam-shaped contacts is adapted for contacting a respective blade-shaped contact portion of said first connector when said first and second connectors are mated;
• and
• a plurality of shield plates mounted in parallel, each of said plurality of shield plates having a first plate end at which is disposed said beam-shaped contact array and a second plate end at which is disposed said first end of said signal conductor, wherein a plane of each of said shield plates at said first plate end is substantially orthogonal to a plane of each of said shield plates at said second plate end;
• wherein said second connector further comprises:
• a plurality of shield plates mounted in parallel, wherein said beam-shaped contacts are positioned substantially parallel with respect to said shield plates;
• a plurality of insulative receptacles, each one attached to a respective shield plate and having a first side in which a cavity is provided for receiving a respective beam-shaped contact and a second side in which a hole is provided in substantial alignment with said cavity for receiving a blade-shaped contact portion when said first and second connectors are mated;
• and
• a plurality of insulative members, each one molded to a portion of said signal conductors to form a row of signal conductors and having an attachment mechanism for attaching said insulative member with the row of signal conductors to a respective shield plate.