Floating interface for electrical connector

A connector assembly comprising:

• a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector, each of said plug and receptacle connectors comprising:
• a housing having an interface end;
• and
• a conductive wafer divided into a rear portion and an interface portion by at least one of a column and a row of holes through said conductive wafer, said rear portion being received in said housing with said interface portion located proximate said interface end of said housing, said interface portion moving in a direction transverse to a plane of said rear portion.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector, each of said plug and receptacle connectors comprising:
• a housing having an interface end;
• and
• a conductive wafer divided into a rear portion and an interface portion, said rear portion being received in said housing with said interface portion located proximate said interface end of said housing, said interface portion moving in a direction transverse to a plane of said conductive wafer, wherein said rear and interface portions are separated by at least one row of holes through said conductive wafer, said wafer flexing at said at least one row of holes.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector, each of said plug and receptacle connectors comprising:
• a housing having an interface end;
• and
• a conductive wafer configured to engage electrical contacts, said conductive wafer being divided into a rear portion and an interface portion, said rear portion being received in said housing with said interface portion extending beyond said interface end of said housing, said interface portion including a contact edge, said interface portion moving in a direction transverse to a plane of said conductive wafer, said interface portions of said conductive wafers in said plug connector and said receptacle connector moving along first and second directions, respectively, said first direction being perpendicular to said second direction.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector, each of said plug and receptacle connectors comprising:
• a housing having an interface end;
• and
• a conductive wafer divided into a rear portion and an interface portion, said rear portion being received in said housing with said interface portion located proximate said interface end of said housing, said interface portion moving in a direction transverse to a plane of said conductive wafer, wherein said conductive wafer in said plug connector is oriented parallel to a first plane, and said conductive wafer in said receptacle connector is oriented parallel to a second plane that is perpendicular to said first plane, said conductive wafer of said plug connector orthogonally mating with said conductive wafer of said receptacle connector.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector, each of said plug and receptacle connectors comprising:
• a housing having an interface end;
• a conductive wafer configured to engage electrical contacts, said conductive wafer being divided into a rear portion and an interface portion by at least one of a column and a row of holes through said conductive wafer, said rear portion being received in said housing with said interface portion extending beyond said interface end of said housing, said interface portion including a contact edge, said interface portion moving in a direction transverse to a plane of said conductive wafer to facilitate alignment with a mating structure;
• and
• signal and ground terminals, said conductive wafer in said plug connector connecting to said conductive wafer in said receptacle connector through said signal and ground terminals.

A connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector mated with a second connector, each of said first and second connectors comprising:
• a housing having a base having a rear end and an interface end, said base including a channel extending between said rear and interface ends;
• a conductive wafer configured to engage electrical contacts said conductive wafer being divided into a rear portion and an interface portion, said rear portion being received and securely retained in said channel with said interface portion extending beyond said interface end of said base, said interface portion including a contact edge, said interface portion moving in a direction transverse to a plane of said conductive wafer to facilitate alignment with a mating structure;
• flex limiting wedges positioned on either side of said channel at said interface end, said flex limiting wedges defining a range of motion over which said interface portion moves;
• and
• an interface housing, said interface housing receiving and securely retaining said interface portion of said conductive wafer, said interface housing moving in said direction with said interface portion in response to a movement of said interface portion.