Edge mount connector arrangement with improved characteristic impedance

A circuit board, configured to electrically connect to a connector, comprising:

• a connector including one or more connector ground terminals and one or more signal pins;
• a circuit board having a first edge and an opposing second edge, the first edge configured to support the connector and electrically connect to the connector, the circuit board configured with an electrically conductive ground area and an electrically conductive signal area;
• the signal area configured to include, from the first edge toward the second edge:
• a signal pad electrically connected to at least one of the connector signal pins, the signal pad having a first width;
• a waveguide section extending from the signal pad, the waveguide section narrowing in width from the first width to a second width;
• microstrip trace, having a second width, extending from the waveguide section that is at the second width;
• a ground area electrically connected to at least one of the connector ground terminals, the ground area including a first wing to the right of the signal area and a second wing to the left of the signal area, both of the first wing and second wing having first edge that opposes the signal area and which correspondences in profile to an edge of the signal area and having a second edge opposing the first edge, such that the first edge has first row of vias located parallel to the first edge and the second edge has a second row of vias located parallel to the second edge, the vias electrically connecting the ground area to a lower ground area.

An electrical interface on a circuit board for electrically connecting the circuit board to a connector, the electrical interface comprising

• a signal conductor including:
• a signal pad configured to connect to a connector pin;
• a waveguide section extending from the signal pad, the waveguide narrowing from a signal pad width to a microstrip conductor width;
• a microstrip conductor having a microstrip conductor length extending from the waveguide, the microstrip conductor width less than the signal pad width;
• a first ground section spaced rightward from the signal conductor, the first ground section having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge angling in correspondence with the narrowing of the waveguide to generally track an outer right edge of the waveguide and extending parallel with the microstrip conductor for at least a portion of the microstrip conductor length such that a distance between the first ground section and an opposing section of the microstrip conductor is equal to or greater than a distance between the first ground section and the waveguide section;
• and
• a second ground section spaced leftward from the signal conductor, the second ground section having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge angling in correspondence with the narrowing of the waveguide to generally track an outer left edge of the waveguide and extending parallel with the microstrip conductor for at least a portion of the microstrip conductor length such that a distance between the second ground section and an opposing section of the microstrip conductor is equal to or greater than a distance between the second ground section and the waveguide section.