Shieldless, high-speed electrical connectors

Abstract

A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector is disclosed. Such a connector may include a first column of electrical contacts comprising a first arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by first ground contacts, and a second column of electrical contacts adjacent to the first column, the second column of electrical contacts comprising a second arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by second ground contacts. The connector may be devoid of electrical shield plates between the first column of electrical contacts and the second column of electrical contacts. The connector may be capable of transferring differential signals at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second through the connector while producing no more than an acceptable level of cross talk on any of the differential signal pairs.

1 . A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector, comprising:
 a first column of electrical contacts comprising a first arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by first ground contacts; and   a second column of electrical contacts adjacent to the first column, the second column of electrical contacts comprising a second arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by second ground contacts;   wherein (i) the connector is devoid of electrical shield plates between the first column of electrical contacts and the second column of electrical contacts; and (ii) the connector is capable of transferring differential signals at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second through the connector while producing no more than an acceptable level of cross talk on any of the differential signal pairs.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is capable of transferring differential signals at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second through the connector while producing no more than six percent worst-case, multi-active cross talk on any of the differential signal pairs. 
     
     
         3 . A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector, comprising:
 a first leadframe assembly comprising a first differential signal pair of electrical contacts; and   a second leadframe assembly comprising a second differential signal pair of electrical contacts;   wherein (i) the second leadframe assembly is adjacent to the first leadframe assembly; (ii) the connector is devoid of electrical shield plates between the first leadframe assembly and the second leadframe assembly; and (iii) the connector is capable of transferring differential signals through each of the first and second differential signal pairs at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second.   
     
     
         4 . The electrical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the connector is capable of simultaneously transferring differential signals through both the first and second differential signal pairs at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second. 
     
     
         5 . A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector, comprising:
 first and second differential signal pairs of electrical contacts,   wherein (i) the connector is devoid of electrical shield plates between the first and second differential signal pairs, (ii) the connector is capable of transferring differential signals through each of the first and second differential signal pairs at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second, and (iii) cross-talk between the first and second differential signal pairs is limited to below an acceptable level.   
     
     
         6 . The electrical connector of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second differential signal pairs are in adjacent columns. 
     
     
         7 . The electrical connector of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second differential signal pairs are adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical connector of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second differential signal pairs are offset relative to one another in a direction along which the column extends. 
     
     
         9 . A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector, comprising:
 a plurality of leadframe assemblies each comprising a respective differential signal pair of electrical contacts;   wherein (i) the connector is devoid of electrical shield plates between the leadframe assemblies; and (ii) the electrical contacts are configured such that cross-talk among the differential signal pairs is limited as a result of the configuration of the electrical contacts.   
     
     
         10 . The electrical connector of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical contacts are arranged relative to one another such that cross-talk among the differential signal pairs is limited as a result of the arrangement of the electrical contacts. 
     
     
         11 . The electrical connector of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical contacts are shaped such that cross-talk among the differential signal pairs is limited as a result of the shape and arrangement of the electrical contacts. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical connector of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical contacts are sized such that cross-talk among the differential signal pairs is limited as a result of the size, shape, and arrangement of the electrical contacts.