Differential signal electrical connectors

(54) DIFFERENTIAL SIGNAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS

(75) Inventors: Thomas S. Cohen, New Boston, NH (US); Philip T. Stokoe, Attleboro; Mark W. Gailus, Somerville, both of MA (US)

(73) Assignee: Teradyne, Inc., Boston, MA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/199,126

(22) Filed: Nov. 24, 1998

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/797,537, filed on Feb. 7, 1997, now Pat. No. 5,993,259.

(51) Int. CI.7 H01R 13/648

(52) U.S. CI 439/608; 439/101; 439/108

(58) Field of Search 439/687-660,

439/676, 941

(56) References Cited

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EP 0 212 764 A2 3/1987 H01R/23/68

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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Siemens, "SpeedPac: A New Concept for the Next Generation of Transmission Speed", Backplane Interconnection, Issue 1/96.

Derman, Glenda, "Speed, density push design xomplexities", Electronic Engineering Times, May (1998).

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Lincoln Donovan

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Legal Department

An electrical connector for transferring a plurality of differential signals between electrical components. The connector is made of modules that have a plurality of pairs of signal conductors with a first signal path and a second signal path. Each signal path has a pair of contact portions, and an interim section extending between the contact portions. For each pair of signal conductors, a first distance between the interim sections is less than a second distance between the pair of signal conductors and any other pair of signal conductors of the plurality. Embodiments are shown that increase routability.

20 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets