Hermaphroditic interconnect system

摘要

An electrical interconnect system employs electrical connectors in which the contacts are identical for both the male and the female side of the connection. Contacts are arranged in a linear header and multiple header pairs are arranged in a dielectric matrix or grid. The grid is an external dielectric frame capable of providing load bearing and geometry requirements. This arrangement results in a cost-effective construction that features very high electrical bandwidth capabilities and an extremely rugged product.

主权项

1. An electrical connector comprising:
a first element; and a second element that mates with the first element; wherein each of the elements includes headers each with a header body and electrical contacts in the header body; and wherein for one of the elements the headers of that element are mounted face to face, and for the other of the elements the headers of that element are mounted back to back; wherein the headers are substantially identical to one another in cross-sectional configuration, with the header bodies of all of the headers having a substantially identical cross-section body shape, and with the electrical contacts of all of the headers having a substantially identical placement within the respective header bodies; wherein the electrical contacts are hermaphroditic contacts, and are all substantially identical; wherein the header bodies are plastic and molded around the contacts; wherein the contacts each include:
an operating beam; anda bend at a free end of the operating beam;wherein the beam has a reduced cross-section in the header body, smaller than a cross-section outside the header body; andwherein the beam has a tapered portion between the cross-section outside the header body to the reduced cross-section; wherein, when the elements are mated, the bends of the contacts of the first element contact the beams of the contacts of the second element, and the bends of the contacts of the second element contact the beams of the contacts of the first element; wherein the header bodies have ridges that are in contact with the tapered portions, and that mechanically support the contacts when the beams of the contacts are bent by contact with bends of other of the contacts; and wherein the ridges electrically interact with the tapered portions of the contacts.