Electrical connectors having contacts that may be selectively designated as either signal or ground contacts

An electrical connector comprising:

• a first leadframe housing extending in a first direction;
• a first electrical contact fixed in the first leadframe housing;
• and
• a second electrical contact fixed adjacent to the first electrical contact in the first leadframe housing;
• a second leadframe housing adjacent the first leadframe housing extending in the first direction;
• a third electrical contact fixed in the second leadframe housing, the third contact adjacent to the first contact in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• a fourth electrical contact fixed in the second leadframe housing, the fourth contact adjacent to the second contact in the second direction;
• a fifth electrical contact fixed in the second leadframe housing, the fifth contact adjacent to the fourth contact,
• wherein (i) each of the first and fourth contacts has a mating end extending a first distance from respective first and second leadframe housings;
• (ii) the second contact has a mating end extending a second distance from the first leadframe housing;
• (iii) the second distance is less than the first distance;
• (iv) a first gap distance is defined between mounting ends of the third and fourth contacts;
• and (v) the first gap distance is defined between the mounting ends of the fourth and fifth contacts.

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a first array of electrical contacts extending along a first direction, the first array comprising a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact adjacent to the first electrical contact;
• and
• a second array of electrical contacts extending along the first direction, the second array comprising a third electrical contact, a fourth electrical contact adjacent to the third electrical contact, and a fifth electrical contact adjacent to the fourth electrical contact,
• wherein (i) the third electrical contact is adjacent to the first electrical contact in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;
• (ii) the fourth electrical contact is adjacent to the second electrical contact in the second direction;
• (iii) each of the first and fourth contacts has a respective mating end extending to a first imaginary plane;
• (iv) each of the second, third, and fifth contacts has a respective mating end extending to a second imaginary plane that is parallel to and offset from the first imaginary plane;
• (v) the mating ends of the third and fourth contacts are separated by a first gap distance;
• and (vi) the mating ends of the fourth and fifth contacts are separated by a second gap distance that is the same as the first gap distance.