Very high speed, high density electrical interconnection system with impedance control in mating region
A modular electrical connector with separately shielded signal conductor pairs. In some embodiments, the connector is assembled from modules, each containing a pair of signal conductors with surrounding partially or fully conductive material. In some embodiments, the modules have projecting portions, of conductive and/or dielectric material, that are shaped and positioned to reduce changes in impedance along the signal paths as a function of separation of conductive elements, when the connectors are separated by less than the functional mating range.
1. An interconnection system comprising a connector, the connector comprising:
a plurality of signal conductors, each signal conductor of the plurality of signal conductors comprising a contact tail adapted to be attached to a printed circuit board, a mating contact portion, and an intermediate portion electrically coupling the contact tail and the mating contact portion; and
at least one first reference conductor surrounding, on at least two sides, the mating contact portion of at least one signal conductor of the plurality of signal conductors, and at least one second reference conductor adapted to engage with the at least one first reference conductor to capture the at least one signal conductor therebetween,
wherein the at least one first reference conductor and the at least one second reference conductor extend along a mating direction beyond a distal end of the mating contact portion of the at least one signal conductor.
2. The interconnection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first reference conductor comprises at least one projection projecting along a first direction perpendicular to the mating direction and disposed in a region that extends along the mating direction beyond the distal end of the mating contact portion of the at least one signal conductor.
3. The interconnection system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one projection is aligned with the mating contact portion of the at least one signal conductor along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the mating direction.
4. An interconnection system comprising a first connector, the first connector comprising:
a plurality of first signal conductors, each first signal conductor of the plurality of signal conductors comprising a contact tail adapted to be attached to a printed circuit board, a mating contact portion, and an intermediate portion electrically coupling the contact tail and the mating contact portion; and
at least one reference conductor surrounding, on at least two sides, the mating contact portion of a respective first signal conductor of the plurality of first signal conductors, wherein the at least one reference conductor extends along a mating direction beyond a distal end of the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor, wherein:
the first connector is adapted to mate with a second connector having a second signal conductor comprising a mating contact portion;
the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor is adapted to form an electrical connection with the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor; and
the at least one reference conductor comprises at least one projection projecting into a cavity of the first connector adapted to receive the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor.
5. The interconnection system of claim 4 , further comprising the second connector, wherein:
the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor comprises at least first and second contact regions, the first contact region being closer to the distal end of the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor than the second contact region; and
when the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor makes electrical contact with the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor at the first contact region but not at the second contact region, the at least one projection of the at least one reference conductor is adjacent a proximal end of the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor.
6. The interconnection system of claim 4 , further comprising the second connector, wherein a distance by which the at least one reference conductor extends beyond the distal end of the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor is greater than or equal to a length of the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor.
7. An interconnection system comprising a first connector, the first connector comprising:
a plurality of first signal conductors, each first signal conductor of the plurality of first signal conductors comprising a contact tail adapted to be attached to a printed circuit board, a mating contact portion, and an intermediate portion electrically coupling the contact tail and the mating contact portion; and
a first reference conductor surrounding, on at least two sides, the mating contact portion of a respective first signal conductor of the plurality of first signal conductors, wherein the a first reference conductor extends along a mating direction beyond a distal end of the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor,
an insulative portion holding the respective first signal conductor, wherein:
the first connector is adapted to mate with a second connector having a second signal conductor comprising a mating contact portion, the second connector comprises a second reference conductor surrounding, on at least two sides, the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor;
the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor is adapted to form an electrical connection with the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor, and wherein
the first reference conductor is separated from the insulative portion by a gap, and the first reference conductor comprises a tube, and
the gap is adapted to receive the second reference conductor.
8. The interconnection system of claim 7 , wherein:
the tube is a first tube;
the mating contact portion of the respective first signal conductor comprises a second tube adapted to receive the mating contact portion of the second signal conductor, the second tube being disposed within the first tube.