# US 8,784,116 B2 · Electrical connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,116 B2 - Document ID: US8784116B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/432,683 - Filed: 2012-03-28 - Published: 2012-10-04 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-04 - Assignees: FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Jonathan E. Buck; Madhumitha Rengarajan - Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck; Madhumitha Rengarajan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784116B2 ## CPC - H01R 43/20: for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve - H01R 12/585: {Terminals having a press fit or a compliant portion and a shank passing through a hole in the printed circuit board} - H01R 12/737: {Printed circuits being substantially perpendicular to each other (for printed connections H05K3/366)} - H01R 13/6461: Means for preventing cross-talk - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - Y10T 29/49218: with deforming - Y10T 29/49222: forming array of contacts or terminals - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Electrical connectors that are mating compatible with the MicroTCA® standard and configured to be mounted to an underlying substrate are provided. Certain of the electrical connectors can be configured to be mounted to a substrate configured in accordance with the MicroTCA® press fit footprint. Additionally, electrical connectors that are mating compatible with the MicroTCA® standard and configured to be mounted to respective alternative footprints, and substrates configured in accordance with the respective alternative footprints are provided. The disclosed electrical connectors and corresponding substrate footprints can operate to transmit data at speed up to and in excess of 25 Gigabits per second. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A card edge electrical connector comprising: a connector housing; a plurality of electrical signal contacts supported by the connector housing, each electrical signal contact including a contact body that defines a mating end and a mounting end, wherein respective pairs of the plurality of electrical signal contacts define differential signal pairs, a plurality of ground plates supported by the connector housing, each of the plurality of ground plates including a first ground mating end that defines a first ground flow return path and a second ground mating end that defines a second ground flow return path, wherein the first and second ground flow return paths of at least one ground plate of the plurality of ground plates are substantially symmetrical with respect to one another, wherein the mating ends of the plurality of electrical signal contacts and the first and second ground mating ends of the plurality of ground plates collectively define one hundred seventy mating ends that are spaced along two rows that extend along a row direction, the one hundred seventy mating ends defining a 0.75 mm column pitch, and the connector housing supports each of the plurality of electrical signal contacts and the plurality of ground plates such that only two differential signal pairs are disposed between successive ground plates. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The card edge electrical connector of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ground plates has a plate body that defines opposed first and second sides that are spaced along a first direction, opposed first and second outer plate body surfaces that are spaced along a second direction that extends substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and opposed upper and lower ends that are spaced along a third direction that is substantially perpendicular to both the first and second directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The card edge electrical connector of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of ground plates includes a tab that extends from the respective plate body of each ground plate, and each tab defines a mounting end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The card edge electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the first and second outer plate body surfaces define a plate body thickness, and each tab defines opposed first and second side surfaces that are spaced along the first direction so as to define a tab width that is greater than the plate body thickness. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The card edge electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the tab of each of the plurality of ground plates extends out from the respective plate body of each ground plate at a location that is substantially equidistant between the first and second sides of the plate body along the first direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The card edge electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the tab of each of the plurality of ground plates extends out from the respective plate body of each ground plate at a location that is between the upper and lower ends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The card edge electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the tab of each of the plurality of ground plates defines opposed upper and lower surfaces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The card edge electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the tab extend substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer plate body surfaces of each respective ground plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The card edge electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the mounting ends of the plurality of the electrical signal contacts define respective ones of a first plurality of press-fit tails, and the mounting end of the tabs of each of the ground plates defines a respective one of a second plurality of press-fit tails. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The card edge electrical connector of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second pluralities of press-fit tails are positioned to be inserted into complementary vias of a printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The card edge electrical connector of claim 10, wherein each of the second plurality of press-fit tails is disposed between respective first and second pairs of electrical signal contacts of the plurality of electrical signal contacts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The card edge electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 12.5 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than three percent on one victim differential signal pair with five aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The card edge electrical connector of claim 9, wherein, each of the plurality of ground plates further includes first and second mounting ends that extend from the lower end of the respective plate body such that the respective tabs are disposed between the first and second mounting ends, and the first and second mounting ends define a respective ones of a third plurality of press-fit tails. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The card edge electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the first mounting end is disposed closer to the first side than the second side, and the second mounting end is disposed closer to the second side than the first side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The card edge electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the first and second pluralities of press-fit tails are configured to be inserted into complementary vias of a printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0, and the third plurality of press-fit tails are positioned so as to not be insertable into the complementary vias of the printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The card edge electrical connector of claim 15, wherein select ones of the third plurality of press-fit tails includes first and second press-fit tails that are disposed on opposite sides of each of select ones of the first and second pluralities of press-fit tails, such that the mating ends of the respective electrical signal contacts and ground plates that defines the select ones of the first, second, and third pluralities of the press-fit tails are aligned along a column direction that is substantially perpendicular to the row direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The card edge electrical connector of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 12.5 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than three percent on one victim differential signal pair with five aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The card edge electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the plate body of each of the plurality of ground plates includes a first mounting end that extends from the lower end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The card edge electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the first mounting end of each of the plurality of ground plates includes a press-fit tail. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The card edge electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the first mounting end of the each of the plurality of ground plates extends from the respective plate body of each ground plate at a location that is substantially equidistant between the first and second sides. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The card edge electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the lower end defines a void, and the first mounting end is aligned with the void along the second direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The card edge electrical connector of claim 21, wherein the first mounting end is spaced from the plate body along the second direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The card edge electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the lower end is substantially straight. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The card edge electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the first mounting end is substantially inline with the plate body. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The card edge electrical connector of claim 24, wherein the mounting ends of the plurality of the electrical signal contacts define respective ones of a first plurality of press-fit tails, and the first mounting ends of the plurality of ground plates defines respective ones of a second plurality of press-fit tails. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The card edge electrical connector of claim 25, wherein the first plurality of press-fit tails is configured to be inserted into complementary vias of a printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0, and the second plurality of press-fit tails are positioned so as to not be insertable into the complementary vias of the printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The card edge electrical connector of claim 26, wherein select ones of the second plurality of press-fit tails includes first and second press-fit tails that are disposed on opposite sides of each of select ones of the first plurality of press-fit tails, such that the mating ends of the respective electrical signal contacts and ground plates that defines the select ones of the first and second pluralities of the press-fit tails are aligned along a column direction that is substantially perpendicular to the row direction. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The card edge electrical connector of claim 27, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 20 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than three percent on one victim differential signal pair with five aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The card edge electrical connector of claim 24, wherein the first mounting end is coplanar with the plate body. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) The card edge electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the plate body of each of the plurality of ground plates further includes a second mounting end that extends from the lower end and is substantially inline with the plate body. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The card edge electrical connector of claim 30, wherein the first and second mounting ends are coplanar with the plate body. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The card edge electrical connector of claim 30, wherein each of the first and second mounting ends of each of the plurality of ground plates include a respective press-fit tail. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The card edge electrical connector of claim 30, wherein the first mounting end extends from the plate body at a location closer to the first side than the second side, and the second mounting end extends from the plate body at a location closer to the second side than the first side. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The card edge electrical connector of claim 33, wherein the mounting ends of the plurality of the electrical signal contacts define respective ones of a first plurality of press-fit tails, and the first and second mounting ends of the ground plates define a second plurality of press-fit tails. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The card edge electrical connector of claim 34, wherein the first plurality of press-fit tails is configured to be inserted into complementary vias of a printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0, and the second plurality of press-fit tails are positioned so as to not be insertable into the complementary vias of the printed circuit board that are arranged in accordance with MicroTCA specification Rev. 1.0. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The card edge electrical connector of claim 35, wherein select ones of the second plurality of press-fit tails includes first and second pairs of press-fit tails that are disposed on opposite sides of each of select ones of the first plurality of press-fit tails, such that the mating ends of the respective electrical signal contacts and ground plates that defines the select ones of the first and second pluralities of the press-fit tails are aligned along a column direction that is substantially perpendicular to the row direction. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The card edge electrical connector of claim 36, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 25 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than three percent on one victim differential signal pair with five aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The card edge electrical connector of claim 36, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 25 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than four percent on one victim differential signal pair with eight aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The card edge electrical connector of claim 30, wherein the contact body of each of the plurality of electrical signal contacts defines a twisted region that is twisted about a twist axis that extends through at least a portion of the contact body. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The card edge electrical connector of claim 39, wherein the twist axis extends substantially along the third direction. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The card edge electrical connector of claim 39, wherein the twisted region is located between the mating end and the mounting end. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The card edge electrical connector of claim 41, wherein the twisted region is located closer to the mounting end than the mating end. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The card edge electrical connector of claim 39, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 25 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than three percent on one victim differential signal pair with five aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The card edge electrical connector of claim 39, wherein the plurality of electrical signal contacts are configured to transfer data between the mounting ends and the mating ends at a minimum of approximately 25 Gigabits/second at a level of near-end crosstalk that is less than four percent on one victim differential signal pair with eight aggressor differential signal pairs at a 20-80 percent 25 picosecond maximum rise time. ### Claim 45 An electrical connector comprising: a connector housing; a first vertical electrical signal contact configured to be supported by the connector housing, the first vertical electrical signal contact including a first contact body that defines a first mounting end and a first mating end that is opposite the first mounting end, the first mounting end carrying a first mounting element configured to be placed in electrical connection with a printed circuit board, and the first vertical electrical signal contact defining first and second broadsides and first and second edges that extend between the first and second broadsides, a second vertical electrical signal contact configured to be supported by the connector housing, the second vertical electrical signal contact including a second contact body that defines a second mounting end and a second mating end that is opposite the second mounting end, the second mounting end carrying a second mounting element configured to be placed in electrical connection with the printed circuit board, and the second vertical electrical signal contact defining first and second broadsides and first and second edges that extend between the first and second broadsides, wherein the first mating end and the second mating end are spaced from each other along a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second broadsides of the first and second vertical electrical signal contacts, wherein each of the first and second contact bodies is twisted such that the broadsides at the first mounting end is angularly offset with respect to the broadsides at the first mating end, the broadsides at the second mounting end is angularly offset with respect to the broadsides at the second mating end, and the first mounting element is aligned with the second mounting element along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The electrical connector of claim 45, wherein the first and second mounting ends comprise press-fit tails. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The electrical connector of claim 45, wherein each of the first and second contact bodies is twisted about a respective twist axis that extends through at least a portion of the contact body. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The electrical connector of claim 45, wherein the first and second vertical electrical signal contacts define a differential signal pair. ### Claim 49 (depends on 45) The electrical connector of claim 45, wherein the first and second vertical electrical signal contacts define a first pair of electrical signal contacts, the electrical connector further including third and fourth vertical electrical signal contacts configured to be supported by the connector housing so as to define a second pair of electrical signal contacts. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The electrical connector of claim 49, wherein each of the third and fourth vertical electrical signal contacts includes a contact body that defines a mating end and a mounting end that is opposite the mating end and angularly offset with respect to the mating end. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The electrical connector of claim 50, further comprising a ground plate having a plate body that defines opposed upper and lower ends, the ground plate includes a pair of mating ends that extend from the upper end, and further includes a first mounting end that extends from the lower end. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The electrical connector of claim 51, wherein the first mounting end of the ground plate includes a press-fit tail. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The electrical connector of claim 51, wherein the first mounting end of the ground plate is disposed between the respective mounting ends of the first and second pairs of electrical signal contacts, respectively, when the first and second pairs of signal contacts and the ground plate are supported by the connector housing. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The electrical connector of claim 51, wherein the plate body includes opposed first and second sides, the ground plate further includes a second mounting end that extends out from the lower end, the first mounting end extends from the plate body at a location closer to the first side than the second side, and the second mounting end extends from the plate body at a location closer to the second side than the first side. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) The electrical connector of claim 54, wherein each of the first and second mounting ends of the ground plate includes a press-fit tail.