Broadside-to-edge-coupling connector system

An electrical connector, comprising:

• an edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, each contact of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts comprising a respective lead portion and a respective mating interface portion,
• wherein the respective lead portions are edge-coupled to one another and the respective mating interface portions are edge-coupled to one another,
• wherein the respective mating interface portions cooperate to enable a mating between the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts and a broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, and
• wherein each of the respective mating interface portions comprises a respective receptacle, each receptacle being adapted to receive a respective one of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a first contact comprising a first lead portion and a first interface portion;
• and
• a second contact adjacent to the first contact, wherein the second contact comprises a second lead portion and a second interface portion,
• wherein the first interface portion is adapted to receive a third contact having a broadside,
• wherein the first lead portion has a first outer surface that defines a first plane and the first interface portion has a second outer surface that defines a second plane,
• wherein the first and second planes are offset from one another via a transition between the first interface portion and the first lead portion,
• wherein a first distance between the first and second interface portions is greater than a second distance between the first and second lead portions, and
• wherein the broadside of the second contact defines a third plane that forms a non-zero angle with the first plane.

An electrical connector, comprising:

• a broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, each contact of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts comprising a respective lead portion and a respective mating interface portion,
• wherein the respective lead portions are broadside-coupled to one another and the respective mating interface portions are broadside coupled to one another,
• wherein the respective mating interface portions cooperate to enable a mating between an edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts and the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, and
• wherein each of the respective mating interface portions comprises a respective plurality of tines adapted to receive a respective one of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.