Electrical connector incorporating passive circuit elements

An electrical connector comprising:

• a plurality of wafers, with each of the plurality of wafers including:
• an insulative housing having a plurality of openings;
• a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing;
• each of the plurality of signal conductors including a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors has a gap therein;
• a passive circuit element electrically connected at the gap to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors through one of the openings of the insulative housing, the passive circuit element housed in an insulative package and including at least a capacitor or an inductor;
• a ground conductor member with at least a portion disposed within the insulative housing;
• and
• a stiffener that holds the plurality of wafers in parallel to one another.

An electrical connector assembly including a first electrical connector connectable to a first printed circuit board and a second electrical connector connectable to a second printed circuit board, the electrical connector assembly comprising:

• the first electrical connector including:
• a first insulative housing having a plurality of openings;
• a plurality of first signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of first signal conductors disposed within the first insulative housing;
• each of the plurality of first signal conductors including a first contact end connectable to the first printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion therebetween, wherein the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of first signal conductors has a gap therein;
• a passive circuit element electrically connected at the gap to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of first signal conductors through one of the openings of the insulative housing, the passive circuit element including at least a capacitor or an inductor;
• the second electrical connector including:
• a second insulative housing;
• a plurality of second signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of second signal conductors disposed within the second insulative housing;
• and
• each of the plurality of second signal conductors including a first contact end connectable to the second printed circuit board, a second contact end mateable to the second contact end of the corresponding first signal conductor, and an intermediate portion therebetween.