Electrical connector for interconnecting coaxial conductor pairs with an array of terminals

U.S. Patent Number: 5387764

Abstract: A connector for electrically and mechanically interconnecting multiple pairs of small coaxial conductor pairs includes a shield bus layer and signal conductor traces on opposite sides of a flexible dielectric substrate. Terminal portions of the signal conductor traces span an opening through the connector giving access to each signal conductor trace for soldering the traces to arrayed terminals on a circuit assembly, and are located accurately, so that mass soldering techniques can be utilized, with the connector located with respect to the circuit assembly by registration pins and holes. Portions of the shield bus are exposed to be soldered to a respective terminal on a circuit assembly, and to allow the shield conductors of the coaxial pairs to be soldered to the shield bus layer. Thermal breaks are defined in the shield bus layer to protect soldered junctions between the signal conductor traces and the signal conductors of coaxial pairs and the terminals of the circuit assembly. Solder verification holes are provided in the shield bus terminal zone to verify adequate, suitable, satisfactory connection.

Inventors: Blom; Hans A. (Portland, OR), Daane; Laurence A. (Sherwood, OR), Sprunger; Paul C. (Dundee, OR), Wheatcraft; Paul A. (Tualatin, OR)

Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Wilmington, DE)

Application Number: 08/057,269

Issued: 1995-02-07

Expired: 2007-02-07

Classes: 174/261 ; 174/262; 174/359; 174/394; 361/816; 439/493; 439/63

Field of search: 439/63,88 361/816,792 174/35R,261,262,266

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