An electrical connector has a row of signal contacts, and a ground shield disposed inwardly from the signal contacts. Each of the signal and ground contacts has a first segment and a second segment. Each first segment defines a mounting end that can mount to a first electrical component, and each second segment defines a mating end that can mate with a second electrical component. The first and second segments of each signal contact and the ground contact are angularly offset from one another so as to define an angle of between 75 degrees and 105 degrees between the first and second segments. The first and second segments of each signal contact and the ground contact can be coupled to one another to define the angle. Alternatively, the signal and ground contacts can be bent along a common bend line that intersects the signal contacts and the ground contact.

An electrical connector assembly can include a plug connector and a receptacle connector that can mate together. Conductive communication between the plug and receptacle connectors is established by mating signals terminals and mating ground terminals contained in terminal subassemblies accommodated in each connector. To align and support the signal and ground terminals, the terminals may be part of a terminal wafer and the terminal subassembly can be assembled from one or more wafers. The terminal wafer may include grounding features to improve the electrical characteristics and data transmission through the electrical connector assembly.

An electrical connector assembly can include a plug connector and a receptacle connector that can mate together. Conductive communication between the plug and receptacle connectors is established by mating signals terminals and mating ground terminals contained in terminal subassemblies accommodated in each connector. To align and support the signal and ground terminals, the terminals may be part of a terminal wafer and the terminal subassembly can be assembled from one or more wafers. The terminal wafer may include grounding features to improve the electrical characteristics and data transmission through the electrical connector assembly.

The connector includes: an axial member that is a cylindrical conductor; a central contact disposed inside along a central axis of the axial member; an insulating member interposed between the axial member and the central contact and which holds the central contact; a first flange and a second flange provided on an outer peripheral surface of the axial member; and a metal spring provided along an outer peripheral surface of the axial member. The metal spring includes: a C-shaped metal spring body; curved parts; elastic pieces that extend from the curved parts so as to face an outer peripheral surface of the metal spring body; inner protrusions provided on an inner peripheral surface of the metal spring body so as to protrude inside the metal spring body; and outer protrusions provided on outer peripheral surfaces of the elastic pieces so as to protrude outside the elastic pieces.

A connector for use with high speed signals. The connector may include lead frame assemblies in a connector housing. A lead frame assembly may include signal conductive elements and ground conductive elements disposed in a repeating pattern, and one or more corrugated sheets attached to the ground conductive elements. The corrugated sheets may extend more than half of the length of the signal conductive elements. Valleys of the corrugated sheets may be welded to the ground conductive elements with line welds. The line welds may extend over a large percentage of the length of the conductive elements. Such a configuration enables accurately and repeatedly establishing signal to ground spacing and therefore promotes high signal integrity, even for miniaturized connectors. Such a connector may be used to meet signal integrity requirements in connectors designed for 112 GBps and beyond.

A connector for use with high speed signals. The connector may include lead frame assemblies in a connector housing. A lead frame assembly may include signal conductive elements and ground conductive elements disposed in a repeating pattern, and one or more corrugated sheets attached to the ground conductive elements. The corrugated sheets may extend more than half of the length of the signal conductive elements. Valleys of the corrugated sheets may be welded to the ground conductive elements with line welds. The line welds may extend over a large percentage of the length of the conductive elements. Such a configuration enables accurately and repeatedly establishing signal to ground spacing and therefore promotes high signal integrity, even for miniaturized connectors. Such a connector may be used to meet signal integrity requirements in connectors designed for 112 GBps and beyond.

In a connector assembly in which a connector that includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a ground terminal including a shielding portion (plate portion) positioned between the first terminal and the second terminal, and a shell having conductivity and a frame-like shape and a mating connector that includes a first mating terminal and a second mating terminal that are connected with the first terminal and the second terminal respectively, a mating ground terminal including a mating shielding portion (mating plate portion) positioned between the first mating terminal and the second mating terminal, and a mating shell having conductivity and a frame-like shape are fitted to each other, the ground terminal and the shell are integrally formed through bending processing for metal plate. The ground terminal and the mating ground terminal are connected with each other through elastic contact between the shielding portion and the mating shielding portion.

A shield connector is provided with a dielectric 40 including a plurality of accommodation chambers 44 defined in a width direction by a separation wall portion 43, and a plurality of inner conductors 21 having a shape elongated in a front-rear direction and individually accommodated in parallel in the plurality of accommodation chambers 44. The separation wall portion 43 is formed with a front opening 53 and a rear opening 60 for interposing air layers between the accommodation chambers 44 adjacent via the separation wall portion 43.

A shield connector is provided with a dielectric 40 including a plurality of accommodation chambers 44 defined in a width direction by a separation wall portion 43, and a plurality of inner conductors 21 having a shape elongated in a front-rear direction and individually accommodated in parallel in the plurality of accommodation chambers 44. The separation wall portion 43 is formed with a front opening 53 and a rear opening 60 for interposing air layers between the accommodation chambers 44 adjacent via the separation wall portion 43.

The described connector assemblies are useful in wire-to-board systems. Some assemblies include a free-end connector that is attached to a twin-ax cable, and a fixed-end connector that is attached to a board. Embodiments include a free-end terminal set including a first signal terminal, a second signal terminal and a ground plate. The ground plate has a horseshoe shape and provides a ground terminal on opposing sides of the first and second signal terminals. Additionally, embodiments include a locking system between the free-end connector and fixed-end connector, and lead designs for the fixed-end connector utilizing a similar horseshoe shape as that used for the ground plate of the free-end connector.