# US 9,882,314 B2 · Differentially coupled connector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,314 B2 - Document ID: US9882314B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/341,346 - Filed: 2016-11-02 - Published: 2017-02-16 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-15 - Assignees: Molex Incorporated - Applicants: Molex, LLC - Inventors: Patrick R. Casher; Jerry Kachlic; Michael Rowlands; Kent E. Regnier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882314B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6471: by special arrangement of ground and signal conductors, e.g. GSGS [Ground-Signal-Ground-Signal] - H01R 12/00: Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures (printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11) - H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle} - H01R 13/26: Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only {(for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62)} - H01R 13/6461: Means for preventing cross-talk - H01R 13/658: High frequency shielding arrangements, e.g. against EMI [Electro-Magnetic Interference] or EMP [Electro-Magnetic Pulse] {(coaxial coupling devices specially adapted for high frequency H01R24/40; for flat or ribbon cable connectors H01R12/774; for coaxial cable H01R9/05)} - H01R 24/64: for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45 - H01R 24/76: with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall - H01R 12/721: {cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits} - H01R 24/00: Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure (contact members H01R13/02; securing contact members in or to a base or case or insulating of contact members H01R13/40; bases or cases H01R13/46; means for supporting coupling part when not engaged H01R13/60; means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement H01R13/62; means for preventing, inhibiting or avoiding incorrect coupling H01R13/64) - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector is provided with a pair of terminals configured to provide a differential signal pair. A ground terminal is positioned on opposing sides of the differential pair. The body of the differential pair is configured so as to bring the differential pair closer together. In an embodiment, the % coupling on the differential pair is increase at least 5% more than a design where the four terminals are positioned at a constant pitch between the tail and the contact. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector comprising: a housing with a mating face and a mounting side, the mounting side configured to be supported, in operation, by a circuit board, wherein a slot is positioned in the mating face, the slot having a first side with a first set of terminal grooves and a second side with a second set of terminal grooves; and a first terminal set positioned in the housing, the first terminal set supported by a first block that is inserted into the housing, the first terminal set forming a first row of terminals in the first side of the slot, each of the terminals in the first terminal set having a contact and a body portion that extends to the contact, the first row of terminals including a differential signal pair surrounded on both sides by a ground terminal, each of the terminals in the first row being configured such that the contacts in a first row are at a constant pitch and the body portions of the four terminals are substantially wider than the contacts such that the space between the body portions of the four terminals is less than the space between the contacts; and a second terminal set positioned in the housing, the second terminal set supported by a second block that is inserted into the housing, the second terminal set forming a second row of terminals in the second side of the slot, each terminal of the second terminal set having a contact and a body portion that extends to the contact, the second row of terminals including a differential signal pair surrounded on both sides by a ground terminal, each of the terminals in the second row being configured so that the contacts of the four terminals are at a constant pitch, the body portions of the four terminals in the second row being substantially wider than the contacts such that the space between the body portions of the four terminals in the second row is less than the space between the corresponding contacts, wherein the differential signal pairs are configured to support a 16 Gbps data rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the differential signal pairs are configured to support a 25 Gbps data rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein a first distance between any adjacent two contacts of the four terminals is greater than a distance between any two adjacent body portions of the four terminals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the body portions of the two signal terminals are closer together than the body portions of an adjacent signal and ground terminal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the body portion extending to the contact is cantilevered such that the body portion adjacent to the contact is unsupported. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connector of claim 5, wherein the unsupported body portion is not positioned in the terminal groove and at least a portion of the contact is positioned in the terminal groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The connector of claim 5, wherein the body portions extending toward the contact are substantially a constant width from a final point of support until the contact. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connector of claim 1, wherein the contacts are uniformly spaced apart by more than 0.4 mm and the body portions are spaced apart by less than 0.4 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The connector of claim 8, wherein body portions are configured so that the signal terminals are preferentially coupled, the signal terminals being configured to carry more than 35 percent of the energy. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The connector of claim 9, wherein the signal terminals are configured to carry more than 40 percent of the energy.