Grounding electrical connectors

Abstract

A grounding electrical connector system includes first and second mateable connector modules each having dielectric blocks mounting a plurality of terminals and a ground plate. The ground plates of the connector modules interengage with one another in a cross-shaped grounding configuration therebetween. The terminals of the connector modules are located in spaced dispositions such that a pair of mating terminals from each connector module is located in each of four quadrants defined by the cross-shaped grounding structure of the interengaging ground plate.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an electrical connector system which includes a shielded connector for mating with a complementary connector along a mating axis, the shielded connector having a dielectric housing, and an outer conductive shield member generally surrounding a mating portion of the dielectric housing, wherein the improvement comprises an opening in said housing and a grounding terminal module adapted to be inserted into the opening, the module including a ground member clamped by and between a pair of dielectric terminal blocks, and at least one terminal mounted in each terminal block. 
     
     
       2. In an electrical connector system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said terminal blocks are fabricated of molded plastic material with the respective terminals thereof being insert molded therein. 
     
     
       3. In an electrical connector system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ground member comprise a generally planar ground plate. 
     
     
       4. In an electrical connector system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said complementary connector includes a generally planar ground plate for engaging the ground plate of the grounding terminal module, one of the ground plates of the module and the complementary connector including a dot for receiving the other ground plate and thereby define an interengaging cross-shaped grounding structure therebetween. 
     
     
       5. In an electrical connector system as set forth in claim 4, wherein each dielectric terminal block around a pair of terminals in a spaced disposition such that one terminal is located in each of four quadrants defined by the cross-shaped grounding structure of the interengaging ground plates. 
     
     
       6. In an electrical connector system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said terminal blocks are fabricated of molded plastic material with the respective terminals thereof being insert molded therein. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  An electrical connector assembly comprising: a first connector having a first dielectric housing means, a first mating axis, and at least three first terminal means extending to a first mating region of said first connector, each of said first terminal means having a first mating portion in said first mating region and extending in the direction of said first mating axis through a corner of a first rectangularly shaped area having a first center on a first line extending generally parallel to said first mating axis;   a second complementary connector having a second dielectric housing means, a second mating axis, and at least three second terminal means extending to a second mating region of said second connector, each of said second terminal means having a second mating portion in said second mating region for mating with said first terminal means and extending in the direction of said second mating axis through a corner of a second rectangularly shaped area having a second center on a second line extending generally parallel to said second mating axis;   a first generally planar grounding means disposed in said first dielectric housing means and extending in a plane parallel to said first line and extending from said first center to at least opposite outer edges of said first rectangularly shaped area, equidistantly between at least an adjacent pair of said first terminal means and along said first mating axis to at least said first mating region;   a second generally planar grounding means disposed in said second dielectric housing and extending in a plane parallel to said second line and extending from said second center to at least opposite outer edges of said second rectangularly shaped area, equidistantly between at least an adjacent pair of said second terminal means and along said second mating axis to at least said second mating region; and   interengaging means in said first grounding means for receiving at least a portion of said second grounding means to thereby mate said first and second grounding means when said first and second connectors are mated along said first and second mating axes such that said first and second interengaged grounding means are disposed perpendicular to each other to define four quadrants with only one of said mated first and second terminal means disposed in each of said four quadrants. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first grounding means is a generally planar first ground plate having a first mating end disposed between said first mating portions of at least one adjacent pair of said first terminal means, said second grounding means is a generally second ground plate having a second mating end disposed between said second mating portions of at least one adjacent pair of said second terminal means and said interengaging means includes a slot extending in said first around plate to at least said first mating end for receiving said second around plate when said first and second connectors are mated. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second around plates form a cross-shaped grounding structure when said first and second connectors are mated. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first connector includes four first terminal means disposed equidistantly and symmetrically with respect to said first line and wherein said second connector includes four second terminal means disposed equidistantly and symmetrically with respect to said second line such that one of said first terminal means and one of said second terminal means are disposed in each of said four quadrants defined by said cross-shaped grounding structure when said first and second connectors are mated. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second lines are coextensive when said first and second connectors are mated and said first and second grounding means intersect along said first and second lines when said first and second connectors are mated. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first dielectric housing means includes a first outer conductive shielding means generally disposed about said first mating region and wherein said second dielectric housing means includes a second outer conductive shielding means generally disposed about said second mating region. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. An electrical connector adapted to mate with a complementary connector having a complementary dielectric housing means, a complementary mating axis, and at least three complementary terminal means extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector, each of said three complementary terminal means having a complementary mating portion in said complementary mating region that extends in the direction of said complementary mating axis through a corner of a complementary rectangularly shaped area having a complementary center on a complementary line extending generally parallel to said complementary mating axis, said electrical connector comprising:   a dielectric housing means having a mating axis and at least three terminal means extending to a mating region of said connector, each of said three terminal means having a mating portion in said mating region that extends in the direction of said mating axis through a corner of a rectangularly shaped area having a center on a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis;   a grounding means disposed in said dielectric housing means that extends along said mating axis to at least said mating region between an adjacent pair of terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said rectangularly shaped area, said grounding means being adapted to be mated with a complementary grounding means disposed in said complementary dielectric housing means that extends along said complementary mating axis to at least said complementary mating region between an adjacent pair of complementary terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said complementary rectangularly shaped area, said grounding means having an interengaging means for receiving at least a portion of said complementary grounding means to thereby mate said grounding means and said complementary grounding means perpendicular to each other when said connector and said complementary connector are mated along said mating axis and said complementary mating axis such that each of said terminals means and said complementary terminal means that are mated together are separated from each adjacent ones of said terminal means and said complementary terminal means by said mated grounding means and complementary grounding means. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. An electrical connector adapted to be mated with a complementary connector having a complementary dielectric housing means extending from a complementary forward mating end to a complementary rear end, a complementary mating axis, and at least three complementary terminal means extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector, each of said three complementary terminal means having a complementary mating portion extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector at said complementary forward mating end, having a complementary tail portion extending from said complementary rear end of said complementary housing means and extending in the direction of said complementary mating axis through a corner of a complementary rectangularly shaped area having its complementary center on a complementary line extending generally parallel to said complementary mating axis, said electrical connector comprising:   a dielectric housing means extending from a forward mating end to a rear end, having a mating axis, and at least three terminal means extending to a mating region of said connector, each of said three terminal means having a mating portion extending to a mating region of said connector at said forward mating end, having a tail portion extending from said rear end of said housing means and extending in the direction of said mating axis through a corner of a rectangularly shaped area having its center on a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis; and   a generally planar grounding means being disposed in said dielectric housing means that extends in a plane parallel to said line from said center to at least opposite outer edges of said rectangularly shaped area, equidistantly between at least an adjacent pair of said terminal means and along said mating axis to at least said mating region so as to be disposed between said mating portions of said adjacent pair of said terminal means and to beyond said rear end of said housing means so as to be disposed between said tail portions of said adjacent pair of said terminal means, said grounding means being adapted to be mated with a complementary grounding means disposed in said complementary dielectric housing means that extends in a plane parallel to said complementary line from said complementary center to at least opposite outer edges of said complementary rectangularly shaped area, equidistantly between at least an adjacent pair of said complementary terminal means and along said complementary mating axis to at least said complementary mating region so as to be disposed between said complementary mating portions of said adjacent pair of said complementary terminal means and to beyond said complementary rear end of said complementary housing means so as to be disposed between said complementary tail portions of said adjacent pair of said complementary terminal means, and said grounding means further having an interengaging means for receiving at least a portion of said complementary grounding means to thereby mate said grounding means and said complementary grounding means when said connector and said complementary connector are mated along said mating and said complementary mating axes such that each of said mated terminal means and complementary terminal means are separated from each adjacent ones of said mated terminal and complementary terminal means by said mated grounding means   
     
     
        and complementary grounding means. .Iaddend..Iadd.15.  A shielded electrical connector adapted to mate with a complementary connector having a complementary dielectric housing means, a complementary mating axis, and at least three complementary terminal means extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector, each of said three complementary terminal means having a complementary mating portion in said complementary mating region that extends in the direction of said complementary mating axis through a corner of a complementary rectangularly shaped area having a complementary center on a complementary line extending generally parallel to said complementary mating axis and a complementary grounding means disposed in said complementary dielectric housing means that extends along said complementary mating axis to at least said complementary mating region between an adjacent pair of complementary terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said complementary rectangularly shaped area, and adapted to be terminated to a plurality of cables, each of said cables including an inner conductor, an inner dielectric surrounding said inner conductor, a metallic shield surrounding at least a portion of said inner dielectric and a dielectric sheath surrounding at least a portion of said metallic shield, said electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing means with an opening therein, having a mating axis, a mating region generally surrounded by an outer conductive shield member, and at least three terminal means extending to said mating region of said connector, each of said three terminal means having a mating portion in said mating region that extends in the direction of said mating axis through a corner of a rectangularly shaped area having a center on a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis;   a grounding means disposed in said dielectric housing means that extends along said mating axis to at least said mating region between an adjacent pair of terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said rectangularly shaped area, said grounding means and said complementary grounding means having interengaging means for mating said grounding means and said complementary grounding means perpendicular to each other when said connector and said complementary connector are mated along said mating axis and said complementary mating axis such that each of said terminals means and said complementary terminal means that are mated together are separated from each adjacent ones of said terminal means and said complementary terminal means by said mated grounding means and complementary grounding means;   a grounding terminal module adapted to be inserted into said opening, said grounding terminal module including a dielectric block with said terminal means and said grounding means mounted therein; and   a grounding termination member on said grounding means for securing said metallic shield of said cable to said grounding means. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 15 wherein said dielectric block is fabricated of molded plastic material with said terminal means being insert molded therein. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A shielded electrical connector adapted to mate with a complementary connector having a complementary dielectric housing means, a complementary mating axis, and at least three complementary terminal means extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector, each of said three complementary terminal means having a complementary mating portion in said complementary mating region that extends in the direction of said complementary mating axis through a corner of a complementary rectangularly shaped area having a complementary center on a complementary line extending generally parallel to said complementary mating axis and a complementary around plate disposed in said complementary dielectric housing means that extends along said complementary mating axis to at least said complementary mating region between an adjacent pair of complementary terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said complementary rectangularly shaped area, and adapted to be terminated to a plurality of cables, each of said cables including an inner conductor, an inner dielectric surrounding said inner conductor, a metallic shield surrounding at least a portion of said inner dielectric and a dielectric sheath surrounding at least a portion of said metallic shield, said electrical connector comprising:   a dielectric housing means having a mating axis, a front mating region generally surrounded by an outer conductive shield member, a rear portion, and at least three terminal means extending to said mating region of said connector, each of said three terminal means having a mating portion in said front mating region that extends in the direction of said mating axis through a corner of a rectangularly shaped area having a center on a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis and having a tail portion extending beyond said rear portion of said housing means;   a ground plate disposed in said dielectric housing means that extends along said mating axis to at least said mating region between an adjacent pair of terminal means, to at least opposite outer edges of said rectangularly shaped area, and to a around coupling portion that projects beyond the rear portion of said housing means between at least two of said tail portions of said terminal means, said around plate and said complementary around plate having interengaging means for mating said around plate and said complementary around plate perpendicular to each other when said connector and said complementary connector are mated along said mating axis and said complementary mating axis such that each of said terminals means and said complementary terminal means that are mated together are separated from each adjacent ones of said terminal means and said complementary terminal means by said mated around plate and complementary ground plate; and   a plurality of grounding termination members projecting from said ground coupling portion of said ground plate, each of said grounding termination members coupling said metallic shield of one of said plurality of cables to said around plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. An electrical connector adapted to mate with a complementary connector having a complementary dielectric housing means, a complementary mating axis, and at least three complementary terminal means extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector, each of said three complementary terminal means having a complementary mating portion in said complementary mating region that extends in the direction of said complementary mating axis through a corner of a complementary rectangularly shaped area having a complementary center on a complementary line extending generally parallel to said complementary mating axis and a complementary generally planar around plate disposed in said complementary dielectric housing means that extends along said complementary mating axis to at least said complementary mating region between an adjacent pair of complementary terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said complementary rectangularly shaped area, said electrical connector comprising:   a dielectric housing means having a mating axis and at least three terminal means extending to a mating region of said connector, each of said three terminal means having a mating portion in said mating region that extends in the direction of said mating axis through a corner of a rectangularly shaped area having a center on a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis; and   a generally planar ground plate disposed in said dielectric housing means that extends along said mating axis to at least said mating region between an adjacent pair of terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said rectangularly shaped area, said ground plate and said complementary ground plate having interengaging means for mating said ground plate and said complementary ground plate perpendicular to each other when said connector and said complementary connector are mated along said mating axis and said complementary mating axis such that each of said terminals means and said complementary terminal means that are mated together are separated from each adjacent ones of said terminal means and said complementary terminal means by said mated around plate and complementary   
     
     
        around plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.19.  An electrical connector adapted to mate with a complementary connector having a complementary dielectric housing means, a complementary mating axis, and at least three complementary terminal means extending to a complementary mating region of said complementary connector, each of said three complementary terminal means having a complementary mating portion in said complementary mating region that extends in the direction of said complementary mating axis through a corner of a complementary rectangularly shaped area having a complementary center on a complementary line extending generally parallel to said complementary mating axis and a complementary generally planar ground plate disposed in said complementary dielectric housing means that extends along said complementary mating axis to at least said complementary mating region between an adjacent pair of complementary terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said complementary rectangularly shaped area, said electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing means having a mating axis and at least three terminal means extending to a mating region of said connector, each of said three terminal means having a mating portion in said mating region that extends in the direction of said mating axis through a corner of a rectangularly shaped area having a center on a line extending generally parallel to said mating axis and a pair of slots extending in said dielectric housing means perpendicular with respect to each other from said mating region so as to define four quadrants with only one of said terminal means disposed in each of said quadrants; and   a generally planar ground plate disposed in one of said slots in said dielectric housing means that extends along said mating axis to at least said mating region between an adjacent pair of terminal means and to at least opposite outer edges of said rectangularly shaped area, the other of said slots being adapted to receive said complementary ground plate when said connector and said complementary connector are mated such that said around plate and said complementary ground plate are mated perpendicular to each other. .Iaddend.