Next generation interconnect

摘要

First and second mateable connectors (12,14) each has a row of very closely spaced contacts mounted in a corresponding insulative frame. Each contact (80) of the first connector includes a piece of sheet metal with a strip portion (84) bent into a loop (86), with the loop projecting forward of the front end (100) of the first connector insulator (96). Each contact (82) of the second connector has a mating end (32) in the form of a vertically-elongated plate that compresses the loop when the connectors mate. Each first contact includes a flat plate portion (90) lying in a vertical plane and in interference fit with the walls of a passage (94) in the first insulator. The first contact also includes a 90° bend (92) that connects the strip portion (84) to the plate portion at the rear of the first insulator.