Broadside-to-edge-coupling connector system
View Patent ↗An electrical connector system is disclosed and may include a header connector and a receptacle connector. The contacts in the header connector may be edge-coupled to limit the level of cross-talk between adjacent signal contacts. For example, a differential signal in a first signal pair may produce a high-field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair, and a low-field near a second, adjacent signal pair. The contacts in the receptacle connector may be broadside-coupled and configured to receive the contacts from the header connector while minimizing signal skew. For example, the overall length of the contacts within a differential signal pair may be the same. The contacts in the connector system may include differential signal pairs, single-ended contacts, and/or ground contacts. The connector system may be devoid of any electrical shielding between the signal contacts.
1. An electrical connector, comprising:
a broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, each contact of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts comprising a respective lead portion and a respective mating interface portion,
wherein the respective mating interface portions cooperate to enable a mating between an edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts and the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts,
wherein each of the respective mating interface portions comprises a respective plurality of tines adapted to receive a respective one of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, and
wherein each of the respective plurality of tines is adapted to contact opposing sides of the respective one of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts have respective broadsides that define a first plane, and wherein each of the respective plurality of tines defines a respective second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
3. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the respective lead portions defines a respective first plane, and wherein each of the respective plurality of tines defines a respective second plane that is substantially parallel to, and offset from, the respective first plane.
4. The electrical connector of claim 3 , wherein each contact of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts has a blade-shaped mating end.
5. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the respective lead portions have substantially the same length, and wherein a differential impedance between the respective lead portions is substantially constant along the lengths thereof.
6. The electrical connector of claim 5 , wherein the electrical connector is a right-angle connector.
7. The electrical connector of claim 5 , wherein the electrical connector is a mezzanine-style connector.
8. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the respective lead portions are broadside-coupled to one another and the respective mating interface portions are broadside coupled to one another.
9. An electrical connector, comprising:
an edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, each contact of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts comprising a respective lead portion and a respective mating interface portion,
wherein the respective lead portions are edge-coupled to one another and the respective mating interface portions are edge-coupled to one another,
wherein the respective mating interface portions cooperate to enable a mating between the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts and a broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, and
wherein each of the respective mating interface portions comprises a respective receptacle, each receptacle being adapted to receive a respective one of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.
10. The electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein each of the respective mating interface portions comprises a respective plurality of tines adapted to receive a respective one of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.
11. The electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein each contact of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts has a respective broadside that defines a respective first plane, and wherein each of the respective plurality of tines defines a respective second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the respective first plane.
12. The electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein each of the respective lead portions defines a respective first plane, and wherein each of the respective plurality of tines defines a respective second plane that is substantially parallel to the respective first plane.
13. The electrical connector of claim 12 , wherein each contact of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts has a blade-shaped mating end.
14. An electrical connector, comprising:
a first contact comprising a first lead portion and a first interface portion; and
a second contact adjacent to the first contact, wherein the second contact comprises a second lead portion and a second interface portion,
wherein the first interface portion is adapted to receive a third contact having a broadside,
wherein the first lead portion has a first outer surface that defines a first plane and the first interface portion has a second outer surface that defines a second plane,
wherein the first and second planes are offset from one another via a transition between the first interface portion and the first lead portion,
wherein a first distance between the first and second interface portions is greater than a second distance between the first and second lead portions, and
wherein the broadside of the second contact defines a third plane that forms a non-zero angle with the first plane.
15. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein the first interface portion comprises a plurality of tines, and the second contact comprises a blade contact.
16. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein the first and second contacts comprise an edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.
17. The electrical connector of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of tines are adapted to contact opposing sides of the blade contact.
18. The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein the first and second lead portions are edge-coupled to one another and the first and second interface portions are edge-coupled to one another.
19. The electrical connector of claim 14 , wherein the first and second contacts comprise a broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.
20. The electrical connector of claim 19 , wherein the first and second lead portions are broadside-coupled to one another and the first and second interface portions are broadside-coupled to one another.
21. An electrical connector, comprising:
a broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, each contact of the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts comprising a respective lead portion and a respective mating interface portion,
wherein the respective lead portions are broadside-coupled to one another and the respective mating interface portions are broadside coupled to one another,
wherein the respective mating interface portions cooperate to enable a mating between an edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts and the broadside-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts, and
wherein each of the respective mating interface portions comprises a respective plurality of tines adapted to receive a respective one of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.
22. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts have respective broadsides that define a first plane, and wherein each of the respective plurality of tines defines a respective second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.
23. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein each of the respective lead portions defines a respective first plane, and wherein each of the respective plurality of tines defines a respective second plane that is substantially parallel to, and offset from, the respective first plane.
24. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein each contact of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts has a blade-shaped mating end.
25. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein the respective lead portions have substantially the same length, and wherein a differential impedance between the respective lead portions is substantially constant along the lengths thereof.
26. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein the electrical connector is a right-angle connector.
27. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein the electrical connector is a mezzanine-style connector.
28. The electrical connector of claim 21 , wherein each of the respective plurality of tines is adapted to contact opposing sides of the respective one of the edge-coupled differential signal pair of electrical contacts.