Electrical connectors

[12. The electrical connector of claim 11 further comprising staking means for mechanically and electrically securing the conductive ground member to the

• outer shield member.] 13. In a generally rectangular, shielded electrical connector for mating with another electrical connector along a mating axis, said shielded connector including a dielectric housing having a mating face generally perpendicular to said mating axis and a face opposite said mating face, an outer conductive shield member generally surrounding a region of said housing for mating with said another electrical connector, a first portion of said housing having mounted therein a plurality of first terminals in a first given array for interconnection with a plurality of first terminals of said another electrical connector, and a second portion of said housing having mounted therein a plurality of second terminals in a second given array for interconnection with a plurality of second terminals of said another electrical connector, wherein the improvement comprises:
• a common conductive ground member mounted to said second portion of said housing with portions of the ground member disposed between the second terminals , a first portion of said ground member being positioned generally equidistantly between an adjacent first two of said second terminals and radiating outwardly in a first plane that intersects a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis and centrally located with respect to said second terminals and a second portion of said ground member being positioned generally equidistantly between an adjacent second two of said second terminals and radiating outwardly in a second plane that intersects said line ;
• and
• slot means in said second portion of said housing extending through one of said faces to permit insertion of said ground member along an axis
• generally parallel to said mating axis. 14. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said slot means extends between said mating face and said opposite face.

[15. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said portions of the ground member are positioned generally equidistantly

• between said second terminals.] 16. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said outer conductive shield member is mechanically and
• electrically connected to said conductive ground member. 17. The electrical connector of claim 16 further comprising staking means for mechanically and electrically securing the conductive ground member to the
• outer shield member. 18. In a generally rectangular, shielded electrical connector for mating with another electrical connector along a mating axis, said shielded connector including a dielectric housing having a mating face generally perpendicular to said mating axis and a face opposite said mating face, an outer conductive shield member generally surrounding a region of said housing for mating with said another electrical connector, a first portion of said housing having mounted therein a plurality of first terminals in a given array for interconnection with a plurality of first terminals of said another electrical connector, and a second portion of said housing having mounted therein a plurality of second terminals in a given array for interconnection with a plurality of second terminals of said another electrical connector, wherein the improvement comprises:
• a conductive ground subassembly positioned at said second portion, said ground subassembly including a common conductive ground member with [portions] a first portion of the ground member being disposed generally equidistantly between an adjacent first two of said second terminals and radiating outwardly in a first plane that intersects a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis and centrally located with respect to said second terminals and a second portion of said ground member being disposed generally equidistantly between an adjacent second two of said second terminals and radiating outwardly in a second plane that intersects said line , and insulation means disposed between said conductive ground member and said second terminals;
• an opening in said housing communicating with said mating face and into which said conductive ground subassembly is inserted;
• and
• said outer conductive shield is mechanically and electrically connected to
• said common conductive ground member. 19. The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein said conductive ground subassembly is positioned within
• said outer conductive shield member. 20. The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein said opening permits insertion of said ground subassembly along
• an axis generally parallel to said mating axis.

In a shielded input/output electrical connector for mounting to a printed circuit board having electrically conductive signal and ground traces thereon and for mating with another electrical connector along a mating axis, said shielded connector including a dielectric housing having a mating face generally transverse to said mating axis, an outer conductive shield member generally surrounding a region of the housing for mating with said another electrical connector and for interconnection to at least one of said ground traces on said printed circuit board, at least three high speed terminals defining a first array of terminals in said region of the housing within said shield member, and a plurality of low speed terminals defining a second array of terminals in said region of the housing separate from said first array of terminals, wherein the improvement comprises:

• said first array of terminals defining a generally circular area;
• shielding means within said generally circular area including a plurality of conductive planes extending radially outwardly from the center of said circular area between respective adjacent ones of said at least three high speed terminals, each of said three high speed terminals being unshielded by said shielding means in a direction radially outward from said center between its adjacent planes;
• and
• access means in said housing for permitting insertion of a portion of said shielding means through an outer surface of said housing for permanent retention therein.