High frequency electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector for conducting high frequency signals includes a number of input and output terminals that are interconnected by a pair of metallic lead frames that are mounted on a dielectric spring block. The lead frames are identical to each other and comprise several flat elongated conductors, each conductor terminating in a spring contact at one end and an insulation-displacing connector at the other. The lead frames are mounted on top of each other and their conductors are all generally parallel and close to each other. Only three of the conductors of each lead frame are arranged to overlap each other; and this occurs in a designated crossover region without electrical contact being made because of a reentrant bend in the conductors in the crossover region. As a result, crosstalk between specific conductors can be reduced by judiciously choosing the location of the crossover and the particular crossover pattern.

1. An electrical connector including a plurality of input terminals, a plurality of output terminals, and interconnection apparatus for electrically interconnecting the input and output terminals, the interconnection apparatus comprising at least four non-insulated conductors that are spaced apart from each other and mounted on a dielectric surface, said conductors being generally parallel to each other along a portion of the interconnection path between input and output terminals, the interconnection apparatus further including means for crossing the path of one of the non-insulated conductors over the path of another one of said conductors without making electrical contact therewith; whereby crosstalk of electrical signals between conductors in an electrical connector is reduced. 
     
     
       2. The electrical connector of  claim 1  wherein each input terminal of the electrical connector comprises a pair of opposing contact fingers that function to make electrical and mechanical connection to a wire inserted therein. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector of  claim 1  wherein the output terminals of the electrical connector comprise resilient wires. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector of  claim 3  wherein the dielectric block  surface includes a projection which fits into an opening in one side of a jack frame, and wherein the resilient wires wrap around the projection to form spring contacts for engaging an electrical plug inserted into an opening in the opposite side of the jack frame. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector of  claim 1  wherein the interconnection means  apparatus includes first and second lead frames, each containing a plurality of the conductors that individually interconnect one predetermined input terminal with one predetermined output terminal, said lead frames being mounted on top of each other on the dielectric block  surface. 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector of  claim 5  wherein the first lead frame includes a conductor that crosses over the path of a conductor on the second lead frame, the conductor on the first lead frame including a reentrant bend at the point of crossover that precludes it from touching the conductor on the second lead frame. 
     
     
       7. The electrical connector of  claim 6  wherein all of the conductors on the first lead frame includes reentrant bends along a line that extends from left-to-right across the lead frame. 
     
     
       8. The electrical connector of  claim 7  wherein the first and second lead frames are identically constructed but are reverse-mounted on the dielectric block  surface in the left-to-right direction. 
     
     
       9. In combination:
 a first metallic lead frame comprising a plurality of flat elongated conductors for communicating electrical signals, each of said conductors terminating at one end in a resilient wire and at the other end in an insulation-displacing connector;  
 a second metallic lead frame comprising a plurality of flat elongated conductors for communicating electrical signals, each of said conductors terminating at one end in a resilient wire and at the other end in an insulation-displacing connector;  
 a dielectric block having a top side surface with slots for receiving conductors therein, the first and second metallic lead frames being positioned on the top surface, at least one of the conductors of the first lead frame crossing over a conductor of the second lead frame; and  
 means for precluding the conductors on the first and second lead frames that cross over each other from making electrical connection therewith.  
 
     
     
       10. In combination:
 a plurality of flat elongated conductors for conveying electrical signals along an interconnection path that extends from one end of the conductors to the other end thereof;  
 a dielectric block including top and front side surfaces, the top surface having slots that are generally parallel to each other and receive the conductors therein; and  
 means for changing the relative positioning of a first and second of the conductors so that along one portion of the path the first conductor is positioned on the right of the second conductor, and along another portion of the path the first conductor is positioned on the left of the second conductor; whereby crosstalk between conductors is reduced.  
 
     
     
       11. The combination of  claim 10  wherein the front surface of the dielectric block includes a tongue-like projection around which the conductors are folded, said projection being shaped for insertion into an opening in a jack frame; whereby an electrical plug having reduced crosstalk is formed. 
     
     
       12. The combination of  claim 11  further including a dielectric jack frame having front and back surfaces and an opening that extends therebetween, the opening in the front surface being adapted to receive an electrical plug inserted therein, and the opening in the back surface being adapted to receive the projection of the dielectric block; whereby an electrical jack having reduced crosstalk is formed. 
     
     
       13. An electrical jack comprising a conductor array, a spring block and a jack frame,
 the conductor array comprising:  
 a plurality of generally co-planar electrical conductors, each being terminated in a resilient wire at one end and in an insulation-displacing connector at the other end;  
 a first conductor in the array being positioned on the left side of a second conductor along one portion of a path that extends between their ends, and being positioned on the right side of the second conductor along another portion of the path;  
 the spring block comprising:  
 a dielectric structure including a tongue-like projection having top and bottom surfaces, the conductor array being positioned on the top surface of the dielectric structure with its resilient wires folded around the tongue-like projection forming spring contacts; and  
 the jack frame comprising:  
 a dielectric structure having front and back surfaces and an opening that extends therebetween, the opening in the front surface being adapted to receive an electrical plug inserted therein, and the opening in the back surface receiving the tongue-like projection in the spring block.  
 
     
     
       14. An electrical plug comprising a conductor array, a spring block and a cover,
 the conductor array comprising:  
 a plurality of generally co-planar electrical conductors, each being terminated in a resilient wire at one end and in an insulation-displacing connector at the other end;  
 a first conductor in the array being positioned on the left side of a second conductor along one portion of a path that extends between their ends, and being positioned on the right side of the second conductor along another portion of the path;  
 the spring block comprising:  
 a dielectric structure including a tongue-like projection having top and bottom surfaces, the conductor array being positioned on the top surface of the dielectric structure with its resilient wires folded around the tongue-like projection; and  
 the cover comprising:  
 a dielectric structure having left-side and right-side walls that are parallel to each other but perpendicular to a top surface that structurally joins the side walls, the cover being joined to the spring block in a manner such that the conductor array is captured between the cover and the spring block.