Plug terminator having a grounding member

Abstract

A terminator for multiple electrical conductors has a forwardly projecting ground contact provided on the ground structure thereof. A corresponding receptacle has a die cast frame to which nosepieces are attached. Cantilevered contact elements extend from contact blocks and are received in windows provided in the nosepieces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a terminator for multiple electrical conductors of the type having a metallic ground structure formed of a baseplate with a plurality of upstanding walls thereon cooperating to define a predetermined number of channels arranged in side-by-side relationship across the ground structure, the baseplate having a forward edge thereon;   an insulated support structure having a plurality of forwardly extending fingers thereon, the number of fingers corresponding to the number of channels on the baseplate, each of the fingers being received in one of the channels; and   at least one electrical contact element being disposed on each of the fingers, each of the contact elements being connectable to one of the conductors so that, in use, the ground structure is connectable to a predetermined electrical potential whereby the electrical contact elements are electrically isolated from each other;   the improvement comprising; at least one grounding contact projecting forwardly past the forward edge of the baseplate of the metallic ground structure.     
     
     
       2. The terminator of claim 1 wherein one of the fingers has a latch disposed on a surface thereof and wherein the baseplate has a notch therein, the notch being sized to receive the latch thereby to secure the finger to the baseplate. 
     
     
       3. The terminator of claim 1 wherein the grounding contact is connected to the baseplate. 
     
     
       4. The terminator of claim 1 wherein the grounding contact has a planar shank portion with a tang offset therefrom and wherein the baseplate has a first and a second surface thereon and a recessed tongue formed therein, the recessed tongue being defined by a full groove extending across one surface of the plate and a partial groove defined across the other surface of the plate,   the planar shank portion of the grounding contact being receivable in the full groove and the tang being receivable in the partial groove.   
     
     
       5. The terminator of claim 1 wherein one of the walls has a predetermined dimension and wherein the insulated support structure has a slot therein, the slot being sized to closely accept the wall such that the insulated support structure is precisely located with respect to the baseplate, the one wall having a tapered guide portion thereon. 
     
     
       6. The terminator of claim 1 wherein the forward edge of the baseplate is chamfered at a predetermined angle. 
     
     
       7. The terminator of claim 1 adapted for use with receptacle having a central plate with a leading edge thereon, wherein the leading edge of the central plate is chamfered at a predetermined angle, and wherein the forward edge of the baseplate of the ground structure is chamfered at a corresponding angle so that the forward edge of the ground structure and the leading edge of the central plate lie parallel to each other. .Iadd.8. An electrical connector system, comprising: a first connector having two arrays of contact elements and a first conductive plate separating said two arrays of contact elements;   a second connector having two arrays of contact elements and a second conductive plate separating said two arrays of contact elements; and   said second connector adapted to mate with said first connector so that said contact elements of said first and second connectors form electrical connections therebetween and so that said first and second conductive plates are brought to within a predetermined distance from each other thereby reducing crosstalk between adjacent contact elements.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.9.  The system of claim 8, wherein said predetermined distance is less than or equal to about 0.005 inches. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The system of claim 8, wherein said first connector is a receptacle and said second connector is a plug. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The system of claim 8, wherein said first connector comprises a conductive frame with said first conductive plate being integrally connected thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The system of claim 8, wherein said second connector comprises a conductive frame with said second conductive plate being integrally connected thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The system of claim 8, wherein said first connector is a receptacle comprising: an insulative contact block for supporting at least a portion of an array of said contact elements;   a conductive frame in which said insulative contact block is received; and   said first conductive plate being integrally formed with said conductive frame. .Iadd.14. The system of claim 13, wherein said conductive frame forms an elongated shell comprising an upper crossbar and a lower cross bar, said first conductive plate being centrally disposed between said upper and lower crossbars and being disposed in a plane substantially   
     
     
        parallel with said upper and lower crossbars. .Iaddend..Iadd.15.  The system of claim 14, wherein each of said two arrays of contact elements extend from said insulative contact block in a plane parallel to said crossbars such that one array of contacts is disposed between said upper crossbar and said conductive plate and said other array of contact elements is disposed between said lower crossbar and said conductive plate, said one array of contact elements being deflectable in the direction toward said upper crossbar and said other array of contact elements being deflectable toward said lower crossbar. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The system of claim 15, wherein said receptacle further comprises: an insulative housing being received in said conductive frame and for receiving said insulative contact block;   said housing having a plurality of fingers forming spaces therebetween and a retaining member connecting said fingers; and   each said contact element extending from said contact block into a corresponding one of said spaces such that the extended ends of each said contact element is retained by said retaining member. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The system of claim 15, wherein said receptacle further comprises:   an insulative retaining member connected to said conductive frame proximate to said upper and said lower crossbars, said insulative retaining member having a plurality of openings for receiving the ends of said contact elements and retaining said ends therein. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The system of claim 8, wherein said second connector is a plug and wherein said conductive frame comprises:   an upper shroud;   a lower shroud integrally formed with said upper shroud; and   said second conductive plate integrally formed with said upper and lower shrouds and disposed therebetween in a plane substantially parallel to   
     
     
        both upper and lower shrouds. .Iaddend..Iadd.19.  The system of claim 18, wherein each shroud has at least one cut out portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A method of electrically connecting multiple electrical conductors, comprising the steps of: connecting a first connector having two arrays of contact elements separated by a first conductive plate to a first set of conductors;   connecting a second connector having two arrays of contact elements separated by a second conductive plate to a second set of conductors;   mating said first and second connectors so that said contact elements of said first and second connectors form electrical connections therebetween and so that said first and second conductive plates are brought within a predetermined distance from each other thereby reducing crosstalk between adjacent contact elements. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The method of claim 20, wherein said predetermined distance is less than or equal to about 0.005 inches. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The method of claim 20, wherein said first connector comprises a conductive frame with said first conductive plate being integrally connected thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The method of claim 20, wherein said second connector comprises a conductive frame with said second conductive plate being integrally connected thereto.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.4.  The method of claim 20 wherein said first and second connectors comprise respective first and second conductive frames, said first conductive frame comprises parallel upper and lower crossbars integrally formed together with said conductive plate centrally disposed between said upper and lower crossbars and in parallel with said crossbars, said upper crossbar having at least one raised section formed therein and said lower crossbar having at least one sunken section formed therein, said second conductive frame comprises parallel upper and lower shrouds integrally formed together with said second conductive plate centrally disposed between said upper and lower shrouds and in parallel with said upper and lower shrouds, wherein each shroud has at least one cut out portion corresponding to said at least one raised section and said at least one sunken section, wherein the step of mating the connectors comprises the steps of:   aligning said cut out portions of said upper crossbar with said raised sections; and   aligning said cut out portions of said lower crossbar with said sunken sections; and   slidably forcing said second conductive frame onto said first conductive frame. .Iaddend.