Sub-assembly for electrical connector, electrical connector, plug-in card and electronic system

Abstract

A subassembly for an electrical connector is configured to be disposed on a side of a slot of an insulating housing in a lateral direction, and includes a conductive member, a plurality of first conductive terminals arranged in a first row along a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of second conductive terminals arranged in a second row along the longitudinal direction. A conductive member is disposed between the first row and the second row, and is electrically coupled to the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal. The subassembly according to the present application enables the electrical connector to operate at a higher speed and has a larger number of terminals to provide more independent signal paths. The application also provides an electrical connector comprising such a sub-assembly, a plug-in card for mating with such an electrical connector, and an electronic system comprising such an electrical connector.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates generally to the field of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a sub-assembly for an electrical connector and an electrical connector comprising such a sub-assembly. The present application also relates to a card that mates with such an electrical connector and to an electronic system comprising such an electrical connector. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electrical connectors are used in many electronic systems. It is often easier and more cost effective to manufacture a system as separate electronic sub-assemblies, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), that are connected together by electrical connectors. Having separable electrical connectors enables the components of an electronic system, manufactured by different manufacturers, to be easily assembled. Separable electrical connectors also enable components to be easily replaced after system assembly, either to replace a defective component or to upgrade the system with a higher performance component.

[0003] A card edge connector is a commonly used electrical connector that includes an insulative housing having a slot and conductive terminals disposed in the insulative housing. Mating contact portions of the conductive terminals extend into the slot. The tail ends of the conductive terminals can be directly electrically connected to conductive portions of a first circuit board, such as a motherboard, or can have a cable attached that is connected to conductive portions of a first circuit board, such as a motherboard. An edge portion of a second circuit board, such as a daughter card (which can also be referred to as a “card” or an “add-in card”), can be inserted into the slot so that contact pads on the edge portion are in contact with the mating contact portions of the conductive terminals. In this way, an electrical connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board can be established through the card edge connector. Card edge connectors and daughter cards are typically designed and manufactured according to a particular specification to enable mating with each other and to meet signal and power transmission requirements. Examples of such specifications include DDR standards such as DDR4, DDR5, or DDR6, Serial ATA (SATA), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), or Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe). These standards have undergone multiple revisions over time to accommodate higher performance requirements for computer devices.

[0004] As electronic system performance increases, higher performance requirements are placed on electrical connectors, such as card edge connectors. Designing electrical connectors that meet particular performance requirements presents a number of challenges. Electrical connectors must have various characteristics that meet the mechanical and electrical requirements of electronic systems. SUMMARY

[0005] In view of the foregoing, the present application proposes a new sub-assembly for an electrical connector to accommodate higher performance requirements for electrical connectors.

[0006] In one aspect, the present application provides a sub-assembly for an electrical connector, the electrical connector including an insulative housing having a receptacle elongated along a longitudinal direction. The sub-assembly is configured to be disposed at one side of the receptacle in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and includes: a plurality of first conductive terminals arranged in a first row along the longitudinal direction and including first signal terminals and first ground terminals; a plurality of second conductive terminals arranged in a second row along the longitudinal direction and including second signal terminals and second ground terminals, the first row and the second row being opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction; and a conductive member disposed between the first row and the second row and electrically coupled to the first ground terminals and the second ground terminals.

[0007] In some embodiments, each of the first conductive terminals includes a first mating end having a first mating contact portion configured to be bent into the receptacle, each of the second conductive terminals includes a second mating end having a second mating contact portion configured to be bent into the receptacle.

[0008] In some embodiments, the conductive member includes a plurality of first elastic beams arranged in a third row along the longitudinal direction, and each of the first elastic beams has a third mating contact portion configured to be bent into the receptacle.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first mating contact portions of the plurality of first conductive terminals are aligned along a first straight line; the second mating contact portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals are aligned along a second straight line parallel to the first straight line and spaced apart from the first straight line in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction; and the third mating contact portions of the plurality of first elastic beams are aligned along a third straight line parallel to the first straight line and located between the first straight line and the second straight line in the vertical direction.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first straight line is parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first straight line, the second straight line, and the third straight line are coplanar in a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the insulative housing includes a mating face, the receptacle is recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along the vertical direction, and the second straight line is closer to the mating face than the first straight line in the vertical direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, the slot is configured to receive a card, and the first mating contact portions of the first plurality of conductive terminals, the second mating contact portions of the second plurality of conductive terminals, and the third mating contact portions of the first plurality of elastic beams are for contacting corresponding conductive pads on a same side of the card when the card is received in the slot.

[0014] In some embodiments, the conductive member further comprises a plate-like body extending in a first major plane perpendicular to the transverse direction and located between the first and second rows.

[0015] In some embodiments, each of the first conductive terminals further comprises a first tail end opposite the first mating end and a first intermediate portion extending between the first mating end and the first tail end, the first intermediate portions of the first plurality of conductive terminals being aligned along the longitudinal direction; each of the second conductive terminals further comprises a second tail end opposite the second mating end and a second intermediate portion extending between the second mating end and the second tail end, the second intermediate portions of the second plurality of conductive terminals being aligned along the longitudinal direction; for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion and the first mating end are located on a first side of the body adjacent to the slot in the transverse direction; and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion is located on a second side of the body opposite the first side in the transverse direction, and the second mating end extends from the second intermediate portion at the second side and beyond an edge of the body to the first side such that the second mating contact portion is located at the first side.

[0016] In some embodiments, for each of the second conductive terminals, the second mating end is in the shape of an inverted U and comprises a first segment extending from the second intermediate portion, a second segment forming the second mating contact portion, and a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment, the third segment forming a top of the inverted U.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second mating end of each of the second conductive terminals defines an inverted U-shaped space, and the edge of the body extends into the inverted U-shaped space defined by the second mating end of the second signal terminal in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction.

[0018] In some embodiments, for each of the second conductive terminals, the first segment is closer to the edge of the body in the transverse direction than the second segment.

[0019] In some embodiments, the insulative housing includes a mating face, the receptacle recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, for each of the second conductive terminals, the first section extends from the second intermediate section toward the mating face, and the second section extends from the third section away from the mating face and curves convexly toward the receptacle.

[0020] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first elastic beams extends from the main body toward the first side such that the third mating contact portion is located at the first side.

[0021] In some embodiments, each of the first elastic beams is inverted U-shaped and includes a first section extending from the main body, a second section forming the third mating contact portion, and a third section connecting the first section and the second section, the third section forming a top of the inverted U-shape.

[0022] In some embodiments, the insulative housing includes a mating face, the receptacle recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, for each of the first elastic beams, the first section extends from the main body toward the mating face, and the second section extends from the third section away from the mating face and curves convexly toward the receptacle.

[0023] In some embodiments, each of the first elastic beams is a portion integrally stamped from the main body and connected with the main body at a first fixed end, the first fixed end recessed into the main body relative to the edge of the main body in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

[0024] In some embodiments, a second mating end of each of the second ground terminals of the plurality of second conductive terminals is aligned with a corresponding first elastic beam of the plurality of first elastic beams in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

[0025] In some embodiments, in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction.

[0026] In some embodiments, a first mating contact portion of each of the first signal terminals is aligned with a second mating contact portion of the corresponding second ground terminal and a third mating contact portion of a corresponding one of the first elastic beams in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, and the third mating contact portion is located between the first mating contact portion and the second mating contact portion; and a second mating contact portion of each of the second signal terminals is aligned with a first mating contact portion of the corresponding first ground terminal in the vertical direction.

[0027] In some embodiments, the conductive member further comprises a plurality of first extensions, each of the first extensions is aligned with a corresponding one of the first ground terminals in the lateral direction and extends from the main body toward the corresponding first ground terminal to directly contact or capacitively couple with a first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal.

[0028] In some embodiments, each of the first extensions is in the form of a second elastic beam that extends from the main body toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal and elastically abuts against the first intermediate portion.

[0029] In some embodiments, for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion comprises a first segment extending along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, and a second segment obliquely extending from the first segment away from the main body of the conductive member to the first mating end; the first segments of the first intermediate portions of the plurality of first conductive terminals are coplanar to a plane parallel to the first major plane; and each of the second elastic beams elastically abuts against the first segment of the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal.

[0030] In some embodiments, the insulative housing comprises a mating face, the receptacle is recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction; and each of the second elastic beams comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first segment obliquely extends from the main body away from the mating face and toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to the second segment, and the second segment is convexly curved toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to abut against the first intermediate portion.

[0031] In some embodiments, the edge of the body is a first edge, the body further includes a second edge, the first edge and the second edge are opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and the first edge is closer to the mating face than the second edge; and each of the plurality of second elastic beams is a portion integrally stamped from the body of the conductive member and connected with the body at a second fixed end, the second fixed end is recessed into the body relative to the second edge in the vertical direction.

[0032] In some embodiments, the conductive member further includes a plurality of second extensions, each of the second extensions is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal of the second row in the lateral direction and extends from the body toward a second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal to be in direct contact or capacitive coupling with the second intermediate portion.

[0033] In some embodiments, the subassembly further includes an insulating subassembly housing disposed around the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals to hold the plurality of second conductive terminals, the subassembly housing includes a plurality of openings, each of the openings is aligned with a second intermediate portion of a corresponding second ground terminal of the second row in the lateral direction and exposes the portion of the second intermediate portion; and the body of the conductive member is disposed on the subassembly housing, and each of the second extensions is aligned with a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings in the lateral direction and received in the corresponding opening to be in direct contact or capacitive coupling with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal.

[0034] In some embodiments, each of the second extensions is in the form of a protruding rib, the protruding rib includes a bottom segment in direct contact or capacitive coupling with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal, and first and second side segments opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction and connecting the bottom segment to the body, respectively.

[0035] In some embodiments, for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion extends along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction; the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals are coplanar to a plane parallel to the first major plane; and for each of the protruding ribs, the bottom segment is in direct contact with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal, and the direct contact is a face contact.

[0036] In some embodiments, a cross section of each of the protruding ribs perpendicular to the vertical direction is U-shaped.

[0037] In some embodiments, each of the protruding ribs is a portion integrally stamped from the main body.

[0038] In some embodiments, for each of the protruding ribs, the bottom section is welded on the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal.

[0039] In some embodiments, each of the first elastic beams is a portion integrally stamped from the main body of the conductive member and connected with the main body at a first fixed end, a position of the first fixed end of each of the first elastic beams aligns with a position on the main body where one corresponding protruding rib is formed in the vertical direction.

[0040] In some embodiments, a length of the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal along the vertical direction occupies more than 50% of a total length of the second intermediate portion along the vertical direction.

[0041] In some embodiments, the subassembly housing includes a first flat face extending in parallel with the first main plane, the plurality of openings are recessed into the subassembly housing from the first face along the transverse direction, the main body of the conductive member includes a second flat face, the protruding ribs are disposed protruding from the second face, the main body is disposed on the subassembly housing such that the second face is seated on the first face and each of the protruding ribs is received in the corresponding opening.

[0042] In some embodiments, the subassembly housing is a member overmolded on the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals.

[0043] In some embodiments, the subassembly housing is configured to be disposed in the insulating housing of the electrical connector.

[0044] In some embodiments, in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are disposed alternately along the longitudinal direction; and for each of the second signal terminals, a center of the second intermediate portion is spaced apart from the main body of the conductive member by a first distance in the transverse direction and from an edge of an adjacent second ground terminal by a second distance in the longitudinal direction, the first distance being less than or equal to the second distance.

[0045] In some embodiments, for each of the second signal terminals, the second intermediate portion is separated from the main body of the conductive member by the subassembly housing in the transverse direction.

[0046] In some embodiments, in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the transverse direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the transverse direction.

[0047] In some embodiments, the body of the conductive member has first and second edges opposite to each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, a dimension of the body along the vertical direction between the first and second edges is greater than or equal to a length of the second intermediate portion of each of the second signal terminals along the vertical direction.

[0048] In some embodiments, the body of the conductive member has third and fourth edges opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, a dimension of the body along the longitudinal direction between the third and fourth edges is greater than or equal to a length of each of the first row and the second row along the longitudinal direction.

[0049] In some embodiments, the electrical connector is configured to be mounted onto a circuit board, for each of the first conductive terminals, the first tail end is located at the first side of the body in the transverse direction and is configured to be soldered to a corresponding conductive pad on the circuit board, and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second tail end is located at the second side of the body in the transverse direction and is configured to be soldered to a corresponding conductive pad on the circuit board.

[0050] In some embodiments, for each of the first conductive terminals, the first tail end is located at the first side of the body in the transverse direction, and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second tail end is located at the second side of the body in the transverse direction, the body does not extend in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction between the first tail ends of the plurality of first conductive terminals and the second tail ends of the plurality of second conductive terminals.

[0051] In some embodiments, the conductive member is made of a metallic material or a lossy material.

[0052] In some embodiments, the subassembly is configured to be disposed in the insulating housing.

[0053] In some embodiments, the subassembly does not have any part disposed in the transverse direction at another side of the slot opposite to the one side.

[0054] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first conductive terminals is configured to be held in place directly by the insulative housing.

[0055] In another aspect, the present application provides an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a slot elongated along a longitudinal direction, and the aforementioned subassembly disposed at one side of the slot in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0056] In some embodiments, the subassembly is a first subassembly, and the electrical connector further includes a second subassembly disposed at another side of the slot opposite to the one side in the transverse direction and mutually opposite to the first subassembly across the slot, the second subassembly including: a plurality of third conductive terminals arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction and including third signal terminals and third ground terminals; a plurality of fourth conductive terminals arranged into a fourth row along the longitudinal direction and including fourth signal terminals and fourth ground terminals, the third row and the fourth row being mutually opposite and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction; and a second conductive member disposed between the third row and the fourth row and electrically coupled to the third ground terminals and the fourth ground terminals.

[0057] In some embodiments, in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; in the third row, the third signal terminals and the third ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; in the fourth row, the fourth signal terminals and the fourth ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; the first row is closer to the slot than the second row in the transverse direction, and the third row is closer to the slot than the fourth row in the transverse direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row, a corresponding third ground terminal in the third row, and a corresponding fourth signal terminal in the fourth row in the transverse direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row, a corresponding third signal terminal in the third row, and a corresponding fourth ground terminal in the fourth row in the transverse direction.

[0058] In yet another aspect, the present application provides a card edge connector. The card edge connector includes: a housing including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to a vertical direction; a plurality of first signal contact pads disposed on the first surface, the plurality of first signal contact pads being arranged into a first row along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the transverse direction, and being divided into a plurality of groups; a plurality of second signal contact pads disposed on the first surface, the plurality of second signal contact pads being arranged into a second row along the longitudinal direction, and being divided into a plurality of groups; and a ground contact pad disposed on the first surface, the ground contact pad including: a main body disposed between the first row and the second row in the vertical direction, and continuously extending along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of first extensions each extending from the main body to between corresponding adjacent two groups of the first signal contact pads in the first row in the vertical direction; and a plurality of second extensions each extending from the main body to between corresponding adjacent two groups of the second signal contact pads in the second row in the vertical direction.

[0059] In some embodiments, each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second extension of the plurality of second extensions in the vertical direction.

[0060] In some embodiments, each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first extension of the plurality of first extensions in the vertical direction.

[0061] In some embodiments, each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row is disposed in a U-shaped region bounded by the main body and adjacent two of the first extensions of the ground contact pad.

[0062] In some embodiments, each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row is disposed in a U-shaped region bounded by the main body and adjacent two of the second extensions of the ground contact pad.

[0063] In some embodiments, each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row includes a single first signal contact pad, and the plurality of first signal contact pads and the plurality of first extensions are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction.

[0064] In some embodiments, each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row includes a single second signal contact pad, and the plurality of second signal contact pads and the plurality of second extensions are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction.

[0065] In some embodiments, each group of first signal contact pads in the first row includes a pair of first signal contact pads configured as a differential signal pair.

[0066] In some embodiments, each group of second signal contact pads in the second row includes a pair of second signal contact pads configured as a differential signal pair.

[0067] In some embodiments, the body extends straight along the longitudinal direction.

[0068] In some embodiments, the body is in a bar shape.

[0069] In some embodiments, each first signal contact pad is in a finger shape.

[0070] In some embodiments, each second signal contact pad is in a finger shape.

[0071] In some embodiments, each first extension is in a finger shape.

[0072] In some embodiments, each second extension is in a finger shape.

[0073] In some embodiments, the plurality of first signal contact pads, the plurality of second signal contact pads, and the ground contact pad are arranged in a two-dimensional array on the first surface.

[0074] In some embodiments, the ground contact pad is a first ground contact pad, and the card further includes: a plurality of third signal contact pads disposed on the second surface, the plurality of third signal contact pads arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction and divided into a plurality of groups; a plurality of fourth signal contact pads disposed on the second surface, the plurality of fourth signal contact pads arranged into a fourth row along the longitudinal direction and divided into a plurality of groups; and a second ground contact pad disposed on the second surface, the second ground contact pad including: a second body disposed between the third row and the fourth row in the vertical direction and continuously extending along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of third extensions, each third extension extending from the second body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of third signal contact pads in the third row along the vertical direction; and a plurality of fourth extensions, each fourth extension extending from the second body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of fourth signal contact pads in the fourth row along the vertical direction.

[0075] In some embodiments, each set of third signal contact pads in the third row is aligned with a corresponding fourth extension in the plurality of fourth extensions in the vertical direction, and each set of fourth signal contact pads in the fourth row is aligned with a corresponding third extension in the plurality of third extensions in the vertical direction; the body of the first ground contact pad is aligned with the second body of the second ground contact pad in the lateral direction; each set of first signal contact pads in the first row is aligned with a corresponding third extension in the plurality of third extensions in the lateral direction, and each set of second signal contact pads in the second row is aligned with a corresponding fourth extension in the plurality of fourth extensions in the lateral direction; and each set of third signal contact pads in the third row is aligned with a corresponding first extension in the plurality of first extensions in the lateral direction, and each set of fourth signal contact pads in the fourth row is aligned with a corresponding second extension in the plurality of second extensions in the lateral direction.

[0076] In yet another aspect, an electronic system is provided. The electronic system includes: an electrical connector including: an insulative housing having a slot elongated along a longitudinal direction; a plurality of first conductive terminals arranged into a first row along the longitudinal direction and including a first ground terminal; a plurality of second conductive terminals arranged into a second row along the longitudinal direction and including a second ground terminal, the first row and the second row disposed on one side of the slot in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and opposite and spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction; and a conductive member disposed between the first row and the second row; and a card including: an edge portion inserted into the slot along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and including a first surface and a second surface opposite each other in the lateral direction; and a ground contact pad disposed on the first surface and in contact with the first ground terminal in the first row and the second ground terminal in the second row; wherein the conductive member is electrically coupled to the first ground terminal in the first row, the second ground terminal in the second row, and the ground contact pad.

[0077] In some embodiments, the conductive member includes a plurality of first elastic beams arranged into a row along the longitudinal direction and each having a third mating contact portion bent into the slot; and the ground contact pad includes a first body continuously extending along the longitudinal direction and in contact with the third mating contact portions of the plurality of first elastic beams.

[0078] In some embodiments, each of the first conductive terminals includes a first mating end having a first mating contact portion bent into the slot; each of the second conductive terminals includes a second mating end having a second mating contact portion bent into the slot; and the first body of the ground contact pad includes a first side edge and a second side edge opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and the ground contact pad further includes: a plurality of first extensions each extending from the first side edge along the vertical direction and aligned with and contacting the first mating contact portion of a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction; and a plurality of second extensions each extending from the second side edge along the vertical direction and aligned with and contacting the second mating contact portion of a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction.

[0079] In some embodiments, the plurality of first conductive terminals further includes first signal terminals, and the plurality of second conductive terminals further includes second signal terminals, the first ground terminals separate the first signal terminals into a plurality of first groups, and the second ground terminals separate the second signal terminals into a plurality of second groups; the card further includes a plurality of first signal contact pads and a plurality of second signal contact pads disposed on the first surface, the plurality of first signal contact pads are arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction, and the plurality of second signal contact pads are arranged into a fourth row along the longitudinal direction; the first body of the ground contact pad is located between the third row and the fourth row in the vertical direction; each of the first extensions extends to and separates the plurality of first signal contact pads into a plurality of third groups in the vertical direction, and each of the second extensions extends to and separates the plurality of second signal contact pads into a plurality of fourth groups in the vertical direction; and each first signal contact pad in the third row is aligned with and contacts a corresponding first signal terminal in the first row in the lateral direction, and each second signal contact pad in the fourth row is aligned with and contacts a corresponding second signal terminal in the second row in the lateral direction.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first mating contact portions of the first plurality of conductive terminals are aligned along a first straight line; the second mating contact portions of the second plurality of conductive terminals are aligned along a second straight line that is parallel to the first straight line and spaced apart from the first straight line in the vertical direction; and the third mating contact portions of the first plurality of elastic beams are aligned along a third straight line that is parallel to the first straight line and between the first straight line and the second straight line in the vertical direction.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first straight line is parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0082] In some embodiments, the first straight line, the second straight line, and the third straight line are coplanar in a plane that is perpendicular to the lateral direction.

[0083] In some embodiments, the insulative housing includes a mating face, the receptacle is recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along the vertical direction, and the second straight line is closer to the mating face than the first straight line in the vertical direction.

[0084] In some embodiments, the conductive member further includes a second body that is plate-shaped, extends on a first major plane that is perpendicular to the lateral direction, and is between the first row and the second row.

[0085] In some embodiments, each of the first conductive terminals further includes a first tail end opposite the first mating end and a first intermediate portion extending between the first mating end and the first tail end, the first intermediate portions of the first plurality of conductive terminals are aligned along the longitudinal direction; each of the second conductive terminals further includes a second tail end opposite the second mating end and a second intermediate portion extending between the second mating end and the second tail end, the second intermediate portions of the second plurality of conductive terminals are aligned along the longitudinal direction; for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion and the first mating end are on a first side of the second body adjacent to the receptacle in the lateral direction; and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion is on a second side of the second body opposite the first side in the lateral direction, and the second mating end extends from the second intermediate portion at the second side and beyond an edge of the second body to the first side so that the second mating contact portion is at the first side.

[0086] In some embodiments, for each of the second conductive terminals, the second mating end is inverted U-shaped, and includes a first segment extending from the second intermediate portion, a second segment forming the second mating contact portion, and a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment, the third segment forming a top portion of the inverted U-shape.

[0087] In some embodiments, each of the first elastic beams extends from the second body toward the first side such that the third mating contact portion is located at the first side; and each of the first elastic beams is inverted U-shaped, and includes a first segment extending from the second body, a second segment forming the third mating contact portion, and a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment, the third segment forming a top portion of the inverted U-shape.

[0088] In some embodiments, each group of first signal terminals in the first row includes a single first signal terminal, and in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; each group of second signal terminals in the second row includes a single second signal terminal, and in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction.

[0089] In some embodiments, a first mating contact portion of each of the first signal terminals is aligned with a second mating contact portion of the corresponding second ground terminal and a third mating contact portion of a corresponding one of the first elastic beams in the vertical direction, and the third mating contact portion is located between the first mating contact portion and the second mating contact portion; and a second mating contact portion of each of the second signal terminals is aligned with a first mating contact portion of the corresponding first ground terminal in the vertical direction.

[0090] In some embodiments, the conductive member further includes a plurality of second elastic beams extending from the second body, each of the second elastic beams is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction, and extends from the second body toward a first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to elastically abut against the first intermediate portion.

[0091] In some embodiments, for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion includes a first segment extending along the vertical direction, and a second segment extending obliquely from the first segment away from the second body of the conductive member to the first mating end; the first segments of the first intermediate portions of the first conductive terminals are coplanar to a plane parallel to the first major plane; and each of the second elastic beams elastically abuts against the first segment of the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal.

[0092] In some embodiments, the insulative housing includes a mating face, the receptacle recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along the vertical direction; and each of the second elastic beams includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment extending obliquely from the second body away from the mating face to the second segment toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal, and the second segment convexly curved toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to abut against the first segment of the first intermediate portion.

[0093] In some embodiments, the conductive member further includes a plurality of protruding ribs extending from the second body, each of the protruding ribs aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the transverse direction, and extending from the second body toward a second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal to directly contact or capacitively couple with a portion of the second intermediate portion.

[0094] In some embodiments, a cross section of each of the protruding ribs perpendicular to the vertical direction has a U-shaped profile, and each of the protruding ribs includes a bottom segment welded to the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal, and first and second side segments opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction and connecting the bottom segment to the second body, respectively.

[0095] In some embodiments, the electrical connector further includes an insulative subassembly housing disposed around the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals to hold the plurality of second conductive terminals, the subassembly housing including a plurality of openings each aligned with a second intermediate portion of a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the transverse direction and exposing the portion of the second intermediate portion; and the second body of the conductive member is disposed on the subassembly housing, and each of the protruding ribs is aligned with a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings in the transverse direction and received in the corresponding opening.

[0096] In some embodiments, for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion extends along the vertical direction; the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals are coplanar to a plane parallel to the first major plane; and for each of the protruding ribs, the bottom section is in direct contact with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal, and the direct contact is a planar contact.

[0097] In some embodiments, the electrical connector further comprises: a plurality of third conductive terminals arranged into a fifth row along the longitudinal direction, and comprising third ground terminals; a plurality of fourth conductive terminals arranged into a sixth row along the longitudinal direction, and comprising fourth ground terminals, the fifth row and the sixth row being disposed on another side of the slot opposite to the one side, and being opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction; and a second conductive member disposed between the fifth row and the sixth row; the card further comprises a second ground contact pad disposed on the second surface, the second ground contact pad being in contact with the third ground terminals in the fifth row and the fourth ground terminals in the sixth row; and wherein the second conductive member is electrically coupled to the third ground terminals in the fifth row, the fourth ground terminals in the sixth row, and the second ground contact pad.

[0098] These techniques can be used alone or in any suitable combination. The foregoing summary is provided in illustrative rather than limiting terms. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0099] The above and other aspects of the present application will become more apparent by describing in detail some embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

[0100] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an electronic system including a first circuit board, a second circuit board, and an electrical connector according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0101] FIG. 1B is a partial exploded view of the electronic system of FIG. 1A ;

[0102] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a card including an electrical connector according to some embodiments of the present application; FIG. 1Ais a perspective view of a first side of a second circuit board of the electrical connector of

[0103] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 2A

[0104] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 2A

[0105] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 1A

[0106] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 1A

[0107] FIG. 3C is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 3A

[0108] FIG. 3D is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 3B

[0109] FIG. 3E is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 3D

[0110] FIG. 3F is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 3E

[0111] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4A-4A in FIG. 3A

[0112] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 4A

[0113] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4C-4C in FIG. 3A

[0114] FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 4C

[0115] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second side of the second circuit board of the electrical connector of FIG. 1A

[0116] ​​​​​​​​​​​​​FIG. 6A is FIG. 5 a perspective view of a set of first subassemblies and second subassemblies of the electrical connector of

[0117] FIG. 6B is FIG. 6A a top view of the set of first subassemblies and second subassemblies of

[0118] FIG. 6C is FIG. 6A a bottom view of the set of first subassemblies and second subassemblies of

[0119] FIG. 7A illustratively shows the relative position relationship of the set of first subassemblies and second subassemblies of FIG. 6A and a second circuit board when the second circuit board is inserted in the electrical connector, wherein the insulative housing of the electrical connector is removed;

[0120] FIG. 7B is FIG. 7A an enlarged view of the area 7B circled by the dashed line in

[0121] FIG. 8A is FIG. 6A a perspective view of a first subassembly of the set of first subassemblies of

[0122] FIG. 8B is FIG. 8A an exploded view of the first subassembly of

[0123] FIG. 8C is FIG. 8A another exploded view of the first subassembly of

[0124] FIG. 8D is FIG. 8A a front view of the first subassembly of

[0125] FIG. 8E is FIG. 8D a cross-sectional view taken along line 8E-8E in

[0126] FIG. 8F is FIG. 8D a cross-sectional view taken along line 8F-8F in

[0127] FIG. 8G is FIG. 8A another perspective view of the first subassembly of

[0128] FIG. 8H is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8H-8H in FIG. 8G

[0129] FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the area 9A circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 8B

[0130] FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of the area 9B circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 8C

[0131] FIG. 9C is an enlarged view of the area 9C circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 8B

[0132] FIG. 9D is an enlarged view of the area 9D circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 8C

[0133] FIG. 9E is an enlarged view of the area 9E circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 8B

[0134] FIG. 9F is an enlarged view of the area 9F circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 8C

[0135] FIG. 10A is a top side perspective view of a cover member of an electrical connector;

[0136] FIG. 10B is a bottom side perspective view of a cover member of an electrical connector;

[0137] FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing another version of the first subassembly;

[0138] FIG. 11B is another perspective view of the first subassembly of FIG. 11A

[0139] FIG. 11C is an enlarged view of the area 11C circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 11A

[0140] is an enlarged view of the area 11D circumscribed by the dashed box in FIG. 11D FIG. 11B

[0141] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3D but showing the first subassembly of FIG. 11A mounted into an insulating housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0142] ​​​​​​​​​​The inventors have recognized and appreciated techniques for making compact, high-density electrical connectors for high-speed signals. These techniques can be applied to card edge connectors such as memory card connectors to provide higher terminal density while still meeting performance requirements specified by standards such as DDR4, DDR5, DDR6 or higher DDR standards and / or DIMM standards. Further, it should be appreciated that these techniques can be applied to other types of electrical connectors, such as receptacle connectors for mating with plug connectors.

[0143] The inventors have recognized and appreciated a sub-assembly for an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a receptacle elongated along a longitudinal direction. The sub-assembly is configured to be disposed on one side of the receptacle in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In contrast to conventional card edge connectors having only a single row of terminals on the same side of the receptacle, the sub-assembly according to the present application is capable of providing doubled density of conductive terminals on the same side of the receptacle. In particular, the sub-assembly can include a first plurality of conductive terminals and a second plurality of conductive terminals. The first plurality of conductive terminals is arranged in a first row along the longitudinal direction and includes a first signal terminal and a first ground terminal. The second plurality of conductive terminals is arranged in a second row along the longitudinal direction and includes a second signal terminal and a second ground terminal. The first row and the second row are opposite each other and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction. The sub-assembly can further include a conductive member disposed between the first row and the second row and electrically coupled to the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal. This configuration of the sub-assembly is capable of maintaining or improving signal integrity while providing higher terminal density, thereby enabling the electrical connector to operate at higher speeds and have a greater number of terminals to provide more independent signal paths.

[0144] The first mating contact portion of each first conductive terminal of the sub-assembly is bent into the receptacle, and the second mating contact portion of each second conductive terminal of the sub-assembly is bent into the receptacle. The conductive member of the sub-assembly can include a first plurality of elastic beams arranged in a third row along the longitudinal direction. Each first elastic beam has a third mating contact portion bent into the receptacle. With this configuration, the first mating contact portions of the first plurality of conductive terminals, the second mating contact portions of the second plurality of conductive terminals, and the third mating contact portions of the first plurality of elastic beams are bent into the receptacle on the same side of the receptacle for contacting corresponding conductive pads on the same side of an edge portion of a circuit board when the edge portion is received in the receptacle, thereby establishing electrical connections therebetween.

[0145] The circuit board can also be referred to as a card. The card can include an edge portion, a ground contact pad, a plurality of first signal contact pads, and a plurality of second signal contact pads. The edge portion is configured to be inserted into a slot of an electrical connector along a vertical direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in the lateral direction. The ground contact pad, the plurality of first signal contact pads, and the plurality of second signal contact pads are all disposed on the first surface of the edge portion. The plurality of first signal contact pads are arranged into a first row along the longitudinal direction and are divided into a plurality of groups. Each group can include a single first signal contact pad or a pair of first signal contact pads. The plurality of second signal contact pads are arranged into a second row along the longitudinal direction and are divided into a plurality of groups. Each group can include a single second signal contact pad or a pair of second signal contact pads. The ground contact pad includes a main body, a plurality of first extensions, and a plurality of second extensions. The main body is disposed between the first row and the second row in the vertical direction and continuously extends along the longitudinal direction. Each first extension extends from the main body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of first signal contact pads in the first row along the vertical direction. Each second extension extends from the main body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of second signal contact pads in the second row along the vertical direction. Such a configuration of the card is capable of maintaining or improving signal integrity while providing a higher density of signal contact pads, thereby enabling the card to operate at a higher speed and have a larger number of signal contact pads to provide more independent signal paths.

[0146] The edge portion of the card can be inserted into the slot of the electrical connector to establish an electrical connection between the card and the electrical connector and form an electronic system. Each first signal contact pad is in contact with a first mating contact portion of a corresponding first signal terminal in the first row of the subassembly, each second signal contact pad is in contact with a second mating contact portion of a corresponding second signal terminal in the second row of the subassembly, each first extension of the ground contact pad is in contact with a first mating contact portion of a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row of the subassembly, each second extension of the ground contact pad is in contact with a second mating contact portion of a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row of the subassembly, and the main body of the ground contact pad is in contact with the third mating contact portion of the plurality of first elastic beams. In this way, ground and signal connections can be established between the card and the electrical connector.

[0147] Another subassembly similar to the subassembly can be provided on another side of the slot of the electrical connector. A similar pattern of contact pads can be provided on the second surface of the edge portion of the card for mating with the other subassembly. Such a configuration enables the electronic system to operate at a higher speed and have a larger number of independent signal paths.

[0148] Some embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these embodiments are not meant to limit the present application in any way. Furthermore, features in embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other where not contradictory.

[0149] FIGS. 1A-10B An electronic system 1 according to some embodiments of the present application is shown. The electronic system 1 includes an electrical connector 10, a first circuit board 20, and a second circuit board 30. The electrical connector 10 is configured to establish electrical connection between the first circuit board 20 and the second circuit board 30. For clarity and conciseness of description, the electrical connector 10 is described as a memory card connector in some embodiments. However, it should be understood that the electrical connector 10 is not limited to this application. FIGS. 1A-10B A lateral direction X-X, a longitudinal direction Y-Y, and a vertical direction Z-Z are defined in the

[0150] In some embodiments, the electrical connector 10 can be configured as a memory card connector in a computer device. In this case, the first circuit board 20 can be a motherboard of the computer device, and the second circuit board 30 can be a memory card or module. For example, the second circuit board 30 can be a Dual-Inline-Memory-Module (DIMM) or any memory card or module made in accordance with a DDR standard such as DDR4, DDR5, or DDR6. The electrical connector 10 is capable of providing an interface that meets the performance requirements of the DDR specification of DDR4, DDR5, DDR6 and beyond. The electrical connector 10 can also be referred to as a “card edge connector”. The electrical connector design techniques according to the present application are described below with this electrical connector as an example, but it should be understood that the specific application of the present application is not limited thereto.

[0151] The first circuit board 20 can also be referred to as a "motherboard", and can include a surface 20a and a plurality of conductive pads (not shown) disposed on the surface 20a. It is contemplated that the plurality of conductive pads can be arranged on the surface 20a as a plurality of pad rows (four pad rows in this embodiment, which will be described in detail hereinafter) respectively extending along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and spaced apart from each other. The plurality of conductive pads can be adapted to attach solder balls when the electrical connector 10 is mounted onto the first circuit board 20 using a ball grid array (BGA) packaging technique, so as to establish electrical connections with the conductive terminals of the electrical connector 10, which will be described in detail hereinafter. Each of the conductive pads can have a circular shape. However, it should be understood that the shape of the conductive pads is not limited thereto, and can have other shapes, such as square or oval. It should also be understood that only a portion, but not all, of the first circuit board 20 is shown schematically in the drawings, and the specific type of the first circuit board 20 is not limited thereto.

[0152] The second circuit board 30 can also be referred to as a "daughter card" or "plug-in card". As shown in FIG. 1, the second circuit board 30 can be mounted on the first circuit board 20 by means of the electrical connector 10. The second circuit board 30 can include a surface 30a and a plurality of conductive pads (not shown) disposed on the surface 30a. It is contemplated that the plurality of conductive pads can be arranged on the surface 30a as a plurality of pad rows (four pad rows in this embodiment, which will be described in detail hereinafter) respectively extending along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and spaced apart from each other. The plurality of conductive pads can be adapted to attach solder balls when the electrical connector 10 is mounted onto the second circuit board 30 using a ball grid array (BGA) packaging technique, so as to establish electrical connections with the conductive terminals of the electrical connector 10, which will be described in detail hereinafter. Each of the conductive pads can have a circular shape. However, it should be understood that the shape of the conductive pads is not limited thereto, and can have other shapes, such as square or oval. It should also be understood that only a portion, but not all, of the second circuit board 30 is shown schematically in the drawings, and the specific type of the second circuit board 30 is not limited thereto. FIGS. 1B-2CAs shown, the second circuit board 30 may include an edge portion 31 (also referred to as an "insertion edge"). The edge portion 31 is configured for insertion into the electrical connector 10 along a vertical direction ZZ. The vertical direction ZZ may also be referred to as the "insertion direction" or "mating direction". The edge portion 31 may include a first surface 31a and a second surface 31b that are opposite to each other in a transverse direction XX perpendicular to the vertical direction ZZ. The edge portion 31 may also include contact pads provided on the first surface 31a and the second surface 31b for establishing an electrical connection with the conductive terminals of the electrical connector 10, which will be described in detail below. A notch 32 may be recessed into the second circuit board 30 from the front edge of the edge portion 31 along the vertical direction ZZ to divide the edge portion 31 into a first sub-part 33 and a second sub-part 34. The first sub-part 33 and the second sub-part 34 are separated by the notch 32 in a longitudinal direction YY perpendicular to the vertical direction ZZ and the transverse direction XX. The first sub-part 33 and the second sub-part 34 can be configured for insertion into corresponding sections of the slot of the electrical connector 10, as will be described in detail below. The length of the first sub-part 33 along the longitudinal direction YY can differ from the length of the second sub-part 34 along the longitudinal direction YY to provide a foolproof design, thereby ensuring that the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10 in a single orientation. Furthermore, the middle portion of the edge 31 in the longitudinal direction YY can protrude slightly relative to the two opposite ends of the edge 31 in the longitudinal direction YY, and the leading edge of the edge 31 can smoothly transition from this middle portion to these two ends. That is, the shape of the edge 31 is designed to protrude slightly in the middle and be recessed at both ends. This design reduces friction when inserting and removing the second circuit board 30 from the electrical connector 10, thereby improving the user experience. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the leading edge of the edge 31 can be straight. It should also be understood that only a portion, not all, of the second circuit board 30 is shown schematically in the drawings, and the specific form of the second circuit board 30 is not limited thereto.

[0153] like FIG. 1A As shown, the electrical connector 10 can be mounted on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20, and the second circuit board 30 can be inserted into the electrical connector 10. The electrical connector 10 can be fixed to the first circuit board 20. As will be described in detail below, the tail end of the conductive terminal of the electrical connector 10 can be soldered to the conductive pad on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20, and the mating end of the conductive terminal can contact the contact pad on the edge 31 of the second circuit board 30 (i.e., establish a separable connection). In this way, the electrical connector 10 can mechanically and electrically connect the second circuit board 30 to the first circuit board 20, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the first circuit board 20 and the second circuit board 30.

[0154] FIGS. 3A-10B A particular configuration of the electrical connector 10 is shown. As FIG. 5 shown, the electrical connector 10 includes an insulative housing 40 and a plurality of first subassemblies 100 (four in this embodiment) and a plurality of second subassemblies 200 (four in this embodiment) disposed in the insulative housing 40. The subassemblies can also be referred to as “connector subassemblies,” “terminal assemblies,” or “lead assemblies.” The insulative housing 40 can be made of an insulative material. Examples of insulative materials suitable for making the insulative housing 40 include, but are not limited to, plastic, nylon, liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), high-temperature nylon, or polyphenylene oxide (PPO), or polypropylene (PP). Each of the first subassemblies 100 and the second subassemblies 200 can include a plurality of electrically conductive terminals, each configured for establishing an electrical connection between a corresponding electrically conductive pad of the first circuit board 20 and a corresponding contact pad of the second circuit board 30, which will be described in detail below. The electrically conductive terminals can be formed of an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material suitable for making the electrically conductive terminals can be a metallic material, such as copper or a copper alloy.

[0155] As FIG. 3A , FIG. 3B and FIG. 5As shown, the insulating housing 40 can include a first face 41 and a second face 42 opposite to each other in the vertical direction Z-Z, a third face 43 and a fourth face 44 opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y, a fifth face 45 and a sixth face 46 opposite to each other in the lateral direction X-X, and a slot 47 recessed into the insulating housing 40 from the first face 41 along the vertical direction Z-Z. The slot 47 is elongated along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The insulating housing 40 can further include a partition 48 separating the slot 47 into a first section 47a and a second section 47b separated from each other. The first section 47a and the second section 47b can be separated by the partition 48 in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The partition 48 can be an integral part of the insulating housing 40. The slot 47 is configured to receive the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30. The first section 47a and the second section 47b can be configured to receive the first sub-portion 33 and the second sub-portion 34 of the edge portion 31, respectively. The partition 48 can cooperate with the notch 32 of the edge portion 31 to guide the insertion of the edge portion 31 into the slot 47. The edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 is used to insert into the insulating housing 40 from an entrance of the slot 47 at the first face 41. Thus, the first face 41 can also be referred to as a “mating face”. As will be described in detail hereinafter, the tail ends of the conductive terminals can protrude from the second face 42 of the insulating housing 40 along the vertical direction Z-Z for mounting to corresponding conductive pads on the first circuit board 20. Thus, the second face 42 can also be referred to as a “mounting face”. The mounting face and the mating face can be parallel to each other. The direction along which the slot 47 is recessed into the insulating housing 40, or the direction in which the mating face faces (here, the vertical direction Z-Z), can be referred to as a “mating direction”. The direction in which the mounting face faces can be referred to as a “mounting direction”. In the present embodiment, the mating direction and the mounting direction are parallel to each other. Thus, the electrical connector 10 is a vertical card edge connector. However, it should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the mounting face and the mating face can be perpendicular to each other, and the mating direction and the mounting direction can be perpendicular to each other. In this case, the electrical connector is a right-angle card edge connector. Furthermore, although the insulating housing 40 is shown to include two slot sections in the figures, in other embodiments, the insulating housing 40 can have a single slot section or more than two slot sections.

[0156] The insulating housing 40 can further include a first tower portion 49a and a second tower portion 49b protruding from the first face 41 along the vertical direction Z-Z. The first tower portion 49a and the second tower portion 49b can be adjacent to the third face 43 and the fourth face 44, respectively, i.e., adjacent to two end portions of the insulating housing 40 opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The first tower portion 49a and the second tower portion 49b can define a receiving space therebetween. The electrical connector 10 can further include a first latch 300a and a second latch 300b mounted in the first tower portion 49a and the second tower portion 49b, respectively. As will be described in detail hereinafter, the first latch 300a and the second latch 300b can be configured to engage with the first sub-portion 33 and the second sub-portion 34 of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30, respectively, to secure the second circuit board 30 in the slot 47.FIG. 1A As shown, when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10, the second circuit board 30 can be received in the receiving space between the first tower portion 49a and the second tower portion 49b, the first sub-portion 33 and the second sub-portion 34 of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 are respectively inserted into the first section 47a and the second section 47b of the slot 47, and the first latch 300a and the second latch 300b are respectively engaged with two side edges of the second circuit board 30 opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y to reliably lock the second circuit board 30 in place relative to the electrical connector 10. It should be understood that the configuration of the electrical connector 10 is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the electrical connector 10 can be free of the first tower portion 49a, the second tower portion 49b, the first latch 300a and the second latch 300b. Alternatively, the electrical connector 10 can have other types of locking mechanisms.

[0157] As FIG. 5 best shown, four first sub-assemblies 100 and four second sub-assemblies 200 can be provided in the insulating housing 40. Each of the four first sub-assemblies 100 and one corresponding second sub-assembly 200 of the four second sub-assemblies 200 are opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other across the slot 47 in the transverse direction X-X. That is, four sets of sub-assemblies each including one first sub-assembly 100 and one second sub-assembly 200 can be provided in the insulating housing 40. The first sub-assembly 100 in each set is disposed on one side of the slot 47 in the transverse direction X-X, and the second sub-assembly 200 is disposed on the other side of the slot 47 in the transverse direction X-X. Each set of sub-assemblies can be configured to contact corresponding contact pads on the first surface 31a and the second surface 31b of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10, thereby establishing electrical connections between the electrical connector 10 and the second circuit board 30.

[0158] The specific configuration of the sub-assemblies of the electrical connector 10 will be described below in connection with one set of sub-assemblies provided in the first section 47a of the slot 47. FIGS. 6A-7B The specific configuration of such a set of sub-assemblies is shown. FIGS. 6A-6C The perspective view, the top view and the bottom view of the set of sub-assemblies are shown respectively, but the insulating housing 40 is removed to show the relative positional relationship of the set of sub-assemblies when assembled in the insulating housing 40. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B The relative positional relationship of the set of sub-assemblies and the second circuit board 30 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted in the electrical connector 10 is shown.

[0159] As FIGS. 6A-7BAs shown, the group of sub-assemblies includes a first sub-assembly 100 and a second sub-assembly 200. The first sub-assembly 100 and the second sub-assembly 200 can be disposed within an insulating housing 40. The first sub-assembly 100 and the second sub-assembly 200 span a first segment 47a of the slot 47 in the lateral direction XX (not in...). FIGS. 6A-7B (The components marked in the diagram) are opposite to each other and spaced apart. A first sub-component 100 is disposed on one side of the first section 47a in the lateral direction XX, and a second sub-component 200 is disposed on the other side of the first section 47a in the lateral direction XX. The first sub-component 100 may not have any portion disposed on the other side of the first section 47a in the lateral direction XX, and the second sub-component 200 may not have any portion disposed on one side of the first section 47a in the lateral direction XX. When the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10, the first sub-component 100 and the second sub-component 200 may respectively contact the corresponding contact pads on the first surface 31a and the second surface 31b of the first sub-part 33 of the edge portion 31, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electrical connector 10 and the second circuit board 30.

[0160] The configuration of the first sub-component 100 can be similar to that of the second sub-component 200. In some embodiments, the configuration of the first sub-component 100 can be symmetrical to that of the second sub-component 200. For example, the configuration of the first sub-component 100 and the second sub-component 200 can be rotationally symmetrical about an axis that extends ZZ in the vertical direction and passes through the midpoint of the slot segment between the first sub-component 100 and the second sub-component 200. Alternatively, the configuration of the first sub-component 100 and the second sub-component 200 can be mirror-symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline of the slot segment between the first sub-component 100 and the second sub-component 200.

[0161] The following will combine FIGS. 8A-9F Describe the specific configuration of the first sub-component 100. For example... FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C As shown, the first sub-component 100 may include a plurality of first conductive terminals 110, a plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and conductive members 130.

[0162] like FIGS. 8A-8DAs shown, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 are arranged in a first row R1 along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The first conductive terminals 110 in the first row R1 are aligned with and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can include first signal terminals 110S and first ground terminals 110G. The first signal terminals 110S are grouped into a plurality of signal terminal groups in a manner that single first signal terminals 110S are grouped as one and / or pairs of first signal terminals 110S are grouped as one, and the first ground terminals 110G are arranged between adjacent groups of the plurality of signal terminal groups to separate the plurality of signal terminal groups from each other. There can be one ground terminal between every two adjacent groups of signal terminals. The signal terminal group with single first signal terminal 110S can be configured to transmit high-speed signals such as single-ended signals. The signal terminal group with pair of first signal terminals 110S can be configured to transmit differential signals. In this case, one of the pair of first signal terminals 110S can be excited by a first voltage and the other can be excited by a second voltage. The voltage difference between the pair of first signal terminals 110S represents the signal. Separating the plurality of signal terminal groups from each other with the first ground terminals 110G can reduce crosstalk and thus improve signal integrity. The signal terminal group can have more than two first signal terminals 110S.

[0163] The plurality of first conductive terminals 110 (first signal terminals 110S and first ground terminals 110G) can have the same configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 includes a first mating end 111, a first tail end 112 opposite the first mating end 111, and a first intermediate portion 113 extending between the first mating end 111 and the first tail end 112. The first intermediate portion 113 connects the first mating end 111 and the first tail end 112. The first mating end 111 is configured to establish electrical connection with a corresponding contact pad on the first surface 31a of the first sub-portion 33 of the edge portion 31 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10. The first mating end 111 has a first mating contact portion 111a configured to flex into the first segment 47a of the slot 47 for contact with the corresponding contact pad of the second circuit board 30. The first tail end 112 is at least partially outside the insulative housing 40 for establishing electrical connection with a corresponding conductive pad on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20. FIG. 9A FIG. 9B As shown, each of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 includes a first mating end 111, a first tail end 112 opposite the first mating end 111, and a first intermediate portion 113 extending between the first mating end 111 and the first tail end 112. The first intermediate portion 113 connects the first mating end 111 and the first tail end 112. The first mating end 111 is configured to establish electrical connection with a corresponding contact pad on the first surface 31a of the first sub-portion 33 of the edge portion 31 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10. The first mating end 111 has a first mating contact portion 111a configured to flex into the first segment 47a of the slot 47 for contact with the corresponding contact pad of the second circuit board 30. The first tail end 112 is at least partially outside the insulative housing 40 for establishing electrical connection with a corresponding conductive pad on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20.

[0164] As shown, each of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 includes a first mating end 111, a first tail end 112 opposite the first mating end 111, and a first intermediate portion 113 extending between the first mating end 111 and the first tail end 112. The first intermediate portion 113 connects the first mating end 111 and the first tail end 112. The first mating end 111 is configured to establish electrical connection with a corresponding contact pad on the first surface 31a of the first sub-portion 33 of the edge portion 31 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10. The first mating end 111 has a first mating contact portion 111a configured to flex into the first segment 47a of the slot 47 for contact with the corresponding contact pad of the second circuit board 30. The first tail end 112 is at least partially outside the insulative housing 40 for establishing electrical connection with a corresponding conductive pad on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20. FIGS. 8A-8D ​As shown, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 are arranged in a second row R2 along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The second conductive terminals 120 in the second row R2 are aligned with and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can include second signal terminals 120S and second ground terminals 120G. Similar to the first row R1, in the second row R2, the second signal terminals 120S can also be grouped into a plurality of signal terminal groups in a manner of grouping single second signal terminals 120S and / or grouping pairs of second signal terminals 120S, and the second ground terminals 120G are arranged between adjacent groups of the plurality of signal terminal groups to separate the plurality of signal terminal groups from each other. There can be one ground terminal between every two adjacent signal terminal groups. Details of these similar parts are not repeated here.

[0165] The plurality of second conductive terminals 120 (second signal terminals 120S and second ground terminals 120G) can have the same configuration. As shown in FIG. 9E and FIG. 9F each of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 includes a second mating end 121, a second tail end 122 opposite the second mating end 121, and a second intermediate portion 123 extending between the second mating end 121 and the second tail end 122. The second intermediate portion 123 connects the second mating end 121 and the second tail end 122. The second mating end 121 is configured to establish electrical connection with a corresponding contact pad on the first surface 31a of the first sub-portion 33 of the edge portion 31 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10. The second mating end 121 has a second mating contact portion 121a configured to be bent into the first segment 47a of the slot 47 for contacting the corresponding contact pad of the second circuit board 30. The second tail end 122 is at least partially located outside the insulative housing 40 for establishing electrical connection with a corresponding conductive pad on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20.

[0166] As shown in FIG. 8A , FIG. 8E and FIG. 8F the first row R1 and the second row R2 are opposite and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction X-X. The first row R1 and the second row R2 are disposed on the same side of the slot 47 in the transverse direction X-X. The first conductive terminals 110 in the first row R1 and the second conductive terminals 120 in the second row R2 are configured to establish electrical connection with corresponding contact pads on the same side (i.e., the first surface 31a) of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30. Compared to a conventional card edge connector having only a single row of terminals on the same side of the slot, this configuration of the electrical connector 10 according to the present application is able to provide double density of conductive terminals on the same side of the slot 47.

[0167] The electrically conductive member 130 is configured to be electrically coupled to the first ground terminals 110G and the second ground terminals 120G. That is, the electrically conductive member 130 can electrically couple (interconnect) the first ground terminals 110G and the second ground terminals 120G together. Such electrical coupling can be direct contact or capacitive coupling, which will be described in detail below. In some embodiments, as shown, the electrically conductive member 130 can be disposed between the first row R1 and the second row R2 and electrically coupled to the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1 and the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2. It should be understood that the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1 can be all of the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1 or a selected number of the first ground terminals 110G, and the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 can be all of the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 or a selected number of the second ground terminals 120G. FIGS. 8A-8F

[0168] Such configuration of the electrical connector 10 can maintain or improve signal integrity while providing higher terminal density, thereby enabling the electrical connector 10 to operate at higher speeds and have a larger number of terminals to provide more independent signal paths. Specifically, with such configuration, the insertion loss (IL) and return loss (RL) of signals passing through the electrical connector 10 can be reduced, thereby maintaining or improving signal integrity while providing higher terminal density. Further, with such configuration, an electrically conductive path can be provided between the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1 and the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 to eliminate the potential difference between these ground terminals as much as possible and reduce the effect of crosstalk, thereby maintaining or improving signal integrity while providing higher terminal density. Such configuration enables the electrical connector 10 to still meet the performance requirements specified by the DDR4, DDR5, DDR6 or higher DDR standards while providing higher terminal density.

[0169] As shown, the first row R1 can be closer to the slot 47 in the lateral direction X-X than the second row R2. The first mating contact portions 111a of the first mating ends 111 of the first electrically conductive terminals 110 in the first row R1 are bent into the first section 47a of the slot 47, and the second mating contact portions 121a of the second mating ends 121 of the second electrically conductive terminals 120 in the second row R2 are also bent into the first section 47a of the slot 47. That is, the first mating contact portions 111a and the second mating contact portions 121a are bent into the same slot 47. FIGS. 4A-4D In some embodiments, as shown,

[0170] , FIG. 8B , FIG. 8C , FIG. 9E ​and FIG. 9F As shown, the conductive member 130 may include a plurality of first elastic beams (or elastic arms) 133 arranged in a third row R3 along the longitudinal direction YY. The first elastic beams 133 in the third row R3 are aligned with each other and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction YY. Each first elastic beam 133 is configured to establish an electrical connection with a corresponding contact pad (here, a ground contact pad, as will be specifically described below) on the first surface 31a of the first sub-part 33 of the edge portion 31 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10. Each first elastic beam 133 has a third mating contact portion 133a, which is configured to bend into the first section 47a of the slot 47. FIGS. 4A-4D ), for contact with the corresponding contact pads of the second circuit board 30.

[0171] With this configuration, the first mating contacts 111a of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, the second mating contacts 121a of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the third mating contacts 133a of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 are bent into the slot 47 on the same side of the slot 47, and are used to contact the corresponding conductive pads on the same side of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 when the edge portion 31 is received in the slot 47.

[0172] like FIG. 8A As best shown, the first mating contacts 111a of the first mating ends 111 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be aligned along a first straight line L1, and the second mating contacts 121a of the second mating ends 121 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be aligned along a second straight line L2. In some embodiments, the second straight line L2 can be parallel to the first straight line L1 and spaced apart from the first straight line L1 in the vertical direction ZZ. The third mating contacts 133a of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 can be aligned along a third straight line L3. The third straight line L3 can also be parallel to the first straight line L1. Therefore, the first straight line L1, the second straight line L2, and the third straight line L3 can be parallel to each other. The first straight line L1, the second straight line L2, and the third straight line L3 are imaginary straight lines. The third straight line L3 can be located between the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 in the vertical direction ZZ. The first straight line L1, the second straight line L2, and the third straight line L3 can be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction ZZ, for example, spaced apart from each other at a uniform interval. The second straight line L2 can be closer to the first surface 41 (i.e., the mating surface) in the vertical direction ZZ than the first straight line L1. In other words, the second mating contact portion 121a can be closer to the entrance of the slot 47 than the first mating contact portion 111a. Arranging the third row R3 (a plurality of first elastic beams 133) between the first row R1 (a plurality of first conductive terminals 110) and the second row R2 (a plurality of second conductive terminals 120) can reduce crosstalk, thereby improving signal integrity.

[0173] In some embodiments, the first straight line LI, the second straight line L2 and the third straight line L3 can be parallel to the longitudinal direction Y-Y, respectively. The first straight line LI, the second straight line L2 and the third straight line L3 can be coplanar to a plane PL4 (represented in dashed lines in FIG. 8E ) perpendicular to the transversal direction X-X. Such a configuration enables both providing sufficient contact force between the first mating contact 111a, the second mating contact 121a and the third mating contact 133a and the corresponding contact pads of the edge portion 31 to ensure stable electrical contact when the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 is inserted in the slot 47, and reducing the friction force to insert and extract the second circuit board 30 in and from the electrical connector 10.

[0174] As FIG. 8B , FIG. 8C , FIG. 8E , FIG. 8F , FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D illustrated, the conductive member 130 further comprises a main body 131. Each first elastic beam 133 extends from the main body 131. The main body 131 can have a plate-like shape. The conductive member 130 can also be referred to as a “shield”. The main body 131 can extend on a first main plane PL1 (represented in dashed lines in FIG. 8E ) perpendicular to the transversal direction X-X, and between the first row R1 and the second row R2. The main body 131 can comprise a first edge (or upper edge) 131a and a second edge (or lower edge) 131b opposite to each other on the vertical direction Z-Z, a third edge 131c and a fourth edge 131d opposite to each other on the longitudinal direction Y-Y, and a first face 131e and a second face 131f opposite to each other on the transversal direction X-X. The first edge 131a of the first main body 131 is closer to the first face 41 than the second edge 131b. The main body 131 can be continuous on the longitudinal direction Y-Y and the vertical direction Z-Z. The faces of the main body 131 can also be referred to as “surfaces” or “wide sides” of the main body 131, and the edges of the main body 131 can also be referred to as “narrow sides” of the main body 131. As FIG. 8E best illustrated, the first main plane PL1 can be centered between the first face 131e and the second face 131f, and parallel to the first face 131e and the second face 131f. The first main plane PL1 is defined by the main extension direction of the main body 131. The first main plane PL1 is an imaginary plane. The first main plane PL1 can also be referred to as a “central plane” or an “extension plane” of the main body 131.

[0175] As FIG. 8B and FIG. 8CAs shown, for the first row R1, the first intermediate portions 113 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be aligned along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and spaced apart from each other, and the first mating ends 111 can be aligned along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and spaced apart from each other. For the second row R2, the second intermediate portions 123 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be aligned along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and spaced apart from each other, and the second mating ends 121 can be aligned along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and spaced apart from each other. As shown, the first mating ends 111 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 are located on a first side of the body 131 adjacent to the slot 47 (i.e., the first section 47a) in the transverse direction X-X. The first mating contact portions 111a of the first mating ends 111 are also located on the first side of the slot 47. The second mating ends 121 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 are located on a second side of the body 131 opposite the first side (i.e., a side of the body 131 facing away from the slot 47) in the transverse direction X-X. The second mating contact portions 121a of the second mating ends 121 are located on the first side of the slot 47. FIG. 8A and FIGS. 8D-8F As shown, for each first conductive terminal 110, the first intermediate portion 113 and the first mating end 111 are located on a first side of the body 131 adjacent to the slot 47 (i.e., the first section 47a) in the transverse direction X-X. Thus, the first mating contact portion 111a of the first mating end 111 is also located on the first side of the slot 47. For each second conductive terminal 120, the second intermediate portion 123 is located on a second side of the body 131 opposite the first side (i.e., a side of the body 131 facing away from the slot 47) in the transverse direction X-X, and the second mating end 121 extends from the second intermediate portion 123 on the second side and beyond the first edge 131a of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 to the first side, such that the second mating contact portion 121a is located on the first side.

[0176] With this configuration, the first mating contact portions 111a of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and the second mating contact portions 121a of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 are all located on the first side of the body 131 adjacent to the slot 47 in the transverse direction X-X. The body 131 is located between (i) the first mating ends 111 and the first intermediate portions 113 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and (ii) the second intermediate portions 123 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120. The first face 131e of the body 131 faces the first mating ends 111 and the first intermediate portions 113 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, and the second face 131f faces the second intermediate portions 123 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120. The body 131 can provide shielding between (i) the first mating ends 111 and the first intermediate portions 113 of the first signal terminals 110S in the first row R1 and (ii) the second intermediate portions 123 of the second signal terminals 120S in the second row R2.

[0177] In some embodiments, as FIGS. 8C-8F , FIG. 9E and FIG. 9FAs shown, for each second conductive terminal 120, the second mating end 121 may be substantially inverted U-shaped. Specifically, the second mating end 121 may include a first segment 1211 extending from the second intermediate portion 123, a second segment 1212 forming the second mating contact portion 121a, and a third segment 1213 connecting the first segment 1211 and the second segment 1212. The third segment 1213 forms the top of the inverted U-shape, and the first segment 1211 and the second segment 1212 form two legs of the inverted U-shape. The first segment 1211 extends from the second intermediate portion 123 toward the first surface 41 (or, toward the entrance of the slot 47) on the second side and extends beyond the first edge 131a of the body 131 of the conductive member 130. The third segment 1213 extends from the first segment 1211 across the first edge 131a of the body 131 to the first side. The second segment 1212 extends from the third segment 1213 away from the first surface 41 and curves convexly toward the slot 47, thereby forming the second mating contact portion 121a.

[0178] When viewed along the longitudinal direction YY, the second mating end 121 of each second conductive terminal 120 defines an inverted U-shaped space. The opening of this U-shaped space faces away from the first surface 41 of the insulating housing 40. In some embodiments, the first edge 131a of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 may extend into the inverted U-shaped space in the vertical direction ZZ. For example, the first edge 131a of the body 131 may extend into the inverted U-shaped space defined by the second mating end 121 of the second signal terminal 120S in the vertical direction ZZ. In some embodiments, the second mating contact portion 121a of each second conductive terminal 120 may be located within the first edge 131a of the body 131 in the vertical direction ZZ. With this configuration, better shielding can be provided for the contact portions of the second conductive terminal 120 and the corresponding contact pads of the second circuit board 30.

[0179] In some embodiments, for each second conductive terminal 120, the first segment 1211 is closer to the body 131 of the conductive member 130 in the lateral direction XX than the second segment 1212.

[0180] like FIG. 8C , FIG. 8E , FIG. 8F and FIG. 9D As shown, each of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 of the conductive member 130 extends from the body 131 toward the first side such that the third mating contact portion 133a is located on the first side. With this configuration, the first mating contacts 111a of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, the second mating contacts 121a of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the third mating contacts 133a of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 are all located on the first side of the body 131 adjacent to the slot 47 in the lateral direction XX.

[0181] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8C , FIG. 8E , FIG. 8F and FIG. 9D , each first elastic beam 133 can substantially present an inverted U-shape. Specifically, the first elastic beam 133 can include a first section 1331 extending from the main body 131, a second section 1332 forming the third mating contact portion 133a, and a third section 1333 connecting the first section 1331 and the second section 1332. The third section 1333 forms the top of the inverted U-shape, and the first section 1331 and the second section 1332 form the two legs of the inverted U-shape. The first section 1331 extends from the main body 131 toward the first face 41 (or in other words, toward the entrance of the slot 47). The second section 1332 extends from the third section 1333 away from the first face 41 and is convexly curved toward the slot 47, thereby forming the third mating contact portion 133a. In some embodiments, the first section 1331 does not extend beyond the first edge 131a of the main body 131 in the vertical direction Z-Z. Such a configuration can avoid the first elastic beam 133 interfering with the deflection of the corresponding second conductive terminal 120 (specifically, the second ground terminal 120G, as will be described in detail below) when the second conductive terminal 120 is biased by the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30.

[0182] When viewed along the longitudinal direction Y-Y, each first elastic beam 133 defines an inverted U-shaped space. The opening of the U-shaped space faces away from the first face 41 of the insulating housing 40. Therefore, the contour of the first elastic beam 133 is designed to substantially match the contour of the second mating end 121 of the second conductive terminal 120.

[0183] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8C , FIG. 8E , FIG. 8F and FIG. 9D , the second mating end 121 of each second ground terminal 120G of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be aligned with a corresponding first elastic beam 133 of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 in the vertical direction Z-Z.

[0184] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9C and FIG. 9DAs shown, each first elastic beam 133 may be a portion integrally stamped from the body 131. The first elastic beam 133 may have a fixed end 133b and a free end 133c opposite to the fixed end 133b. A third mating contact portion 133 may be formed adjacent to the free end 133c. The first elastic beam 133 is connected to the body 131 at the fixed end 133b. This fixed end 133b may be recessed into the body 131 in the vertical direction ZZ relative to a first edge 131a of the body 131. Thus, as... FIG. 9C As shown, a plurality of cutouts 134 are formed in the portion of the body 131 adjacent to the first edge 131a. This portion of the body 131 is divided into a plurality of sub-parts 135 by these cutouts 134. Each pair of adjacent sub-parts 135 is separated by a corresponding cutout 134 in the longitudinal direction YY. As will be described in detail below, each sub-part 135 can be aligned in the lateral direction XX with a set of corresponding second signal terminals 120S (e.g., a single second signal terminal 120S or a pair of second signal terminals 120S forming a differential signal pair). This configuration provides better shielding, thereby improving signal integrity.

[0185] In some embodiments, such as FIGS. 8A-9B and FIGS. 9E-9F As shown, in the first row R1, the first signal terminal 110S and the first ground terminal 110G can be alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY, and in the second row R2, the second signal terminal 120S and the second ground terminal 120G can be alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY. That is, in the first row R1, the first signal terminal 110S is divided into multiple signal terminal groups in such a way that each first signal terminal 110S is a group, and the first ground terminal 110G is arranged between adjacent groups of the multiple signal terminal groups to separate the multiple signal terminal groups from each other. In the first row R1, the first signal terminal 110S and the first ground terminal 110G are arranged in a manner such as "GSGS-..." or "SGSG-..." (G represents the second ground terminal 120G, and S represents the first signal terminal 110S), wherein a second ground terminal 120G is arranged between two adjacent first signal terminals 110S. In the second row R2, the second signal terminal 120S and the second ground terminal 120G can be arranged in a similar manner, and for the sake of simplicity, the details of these repeated parts will not be repeated here. Each of the first signal terminal 110S and the second signal terminal 120S can be configured to transmit high-speed signals such as single-ended signals.

[0186] In this embodiment, such as FIG. 8AAs best shown, each first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 is aligned with one corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2 in the lateral direction X-X, and each second signal terminal 120S in the second row R2 is aligned with one corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1 in the lateral direction X-X. That is, the first signal terminals 110S in the first row R1 are staggered with the second signal terminals 120S in the second row R2 in the lateral direction X-X, and the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1 are staggered with the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 in the lateral direction X-X. This arrangement enables the first row R1 and the second row R2 to be arranged with a smaller pitch in the lateral direction X-X while still maintaining sufficient spacing between the first signal terminals 110S in the first row R1 and the second signal terminals 120S in the second row R2. This arrangement can reduce the size of the first subassembly 100 in the lateral direction X-X. This facilitates the miniaturization of the electrical connector 10 and can reduce the footprint of the electrical connector 10 on the first circuit board 20.

[0187] In this embodiment, as FIG. 8D As best shown, the first mating contact portion 111a of each first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 can be aligned with the second mating contact portion 121a of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2 and the third mating contact portion 133a of one corresponding first elastic beam 133 of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 in the vertical direction Z-Z. The third mating contact portion 133a is located between the first mating contact portion 111a and the second mating contact portion 121a. That is, this corresponding first elastic beam 133 extends between the first mating contact portion 111a of the first signal terminal 110S and the second mating contact portion 121a of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G. Further, the second mating contact portion 121a of each second signal terminal 120S in the second row R2 is aligned with the first mating contact portion 111a of the corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1 in the vertical direction Z-Z. This arrangement reduces crosstalk, thereby enabling the first row R1 and the second row R2 to be arranged further close to each other in the lateral direction X-X. This arrangement can further reduce the size of the first subassembly 100 in the lateral direction X-X. This facilitates the miniaturization of the electrical connector 10 and can reduce the footprint of the electrical connector 10 on the first circuit board 20.

[0188] Although the above describes that in each of the two terminal rows R1 and R2, the signal terminals are divided into multiple signal terminal groups in a manner of grouping single signal terminals as one group, and the ground terminals are arranged between adjacent groups among the multiple signal terminal groups, it should be understood that in other partial embodiments, the signal terminals can be divided into multiple signal terminal groups in a manner of grouping pairs of signal terminals as one group, and the ground terminals are arranged between adjacent groups among the multiple signal terminal groups. In this case, the width of the ground terminals can be wide enough (e.g., equal to the width of a pair of signal terminals) to ensure that the signal terminals in the two rows are staggered with each other in the lateral direction X-X. Each pair of signal terminals can be configured as a differential signal pair. In this case, the conductive members can still be used to interconnect the ground terminals together to achieve the advantages described above.

[0189] The conductive members 130 can include a plurality of first extensions, each configured to electrically couple the main body 131 to a first intermediate portion 113 of a corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1. Specifically, each first extension can be aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1 in the lateral direction X-X, and extend from the main body 131 toward the corresponding first ground terminal 110G to electrically couple with the first intermediate portion 113 of the corresponding first ground terminal 110G. Such electrical coupling can be direct contact or capacitive coupling. With this configuration, the conductive members 130 can electrically couple with the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1 through the plurality of first extensions, and electrically couple (interconnect) the first ground terminals 110G together through the main body 131.

[0190] The conductive members 130 can include a plurality of second extensions, each configured to electrically couple the main body 131 to a second intermediate portion 123 of a corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2. Specifically, each second extension can be aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2 in the lateral direction X-X, and extend from the main body 131 toward the second intermediate portion 123 of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G to electrically couple with the second intermediate portion 123. Such electrical coupling can be direct contact or capacitive coupling. With this configuration, the conductive members 130 can electrically couple with the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 through the plurality of second extensions, and electrically couple (interconnect) the second ground terminals 120G together through the main body 131.

[0191] With the aforementioned configuration, the conductive member 130 can electrically couple (interconnect) the first ground terminal 110G and the second ground terminal 120G together. In some embodiments, the conductive member 130 may be made of a metallic material such as copper or a copper alloy. In this case, each extension of the conductive member 130 may directly contact the middle portion of the corresponding ground terminal. In other embodiments, the conductive member 130 may be made of a dissipative material. In this case, each extension of the conductive member 130 may directly contact or capacitively couple with the middle portion of the corresponding ground terminal.

[0192] In some embodiments, such as FIGS. 8B-8C , FIGS. 8E-8G as well as FIGS. 9C-9D As shown, each first extension may take the form of a second elastic beam (or elastic arm) 136. A plurality of second elastic beams 136 are arranged in a fourth row (not shown) along the longitudinal direction YY. The second elastic beams 136 in the fourth row are aligned with each other and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction YY. Each second elastic beam 136 is configured for electrical coupling to a first intermediate portion 113 corresponding to a first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1. Specifically, each second elastic beam 136 extends from the body 131 toward the first intermediate portion 113 corresponding to the first ground terminal 110G (i.e., toward the first side) and elastically abuts against the first intermediate portion 113. In this way, the second elastic beam 136 can directly contact the first intermediate portion 113 corresponding to the first ground terminal 110G.

[0193] In some embodiments, such as FIGS. 8E-8G and FIGS. 9A-9B As shown, for each first conductive terminal 110 in the first row R1, the first intermediate portion 113 may include a first segment 1131 extending along the vertical direction ZZ, and a second segment 1132 extending obliquely from the first segment 1131 away from the conductive member 130 toward the slot 47 towards the first mating end 111. In other words, the first segment 1131 may be straight along the vertical direction ZZ. FIG. 8E As best shown, the first segment 1131 of the first intermediate portion 113 of the first conductive terminal 110 in the first row R1 can be coplanar with a plane PL2 parallel to the first main plane PL1. This plane PL2 is perpendicular to the lateral direction XX.

[0194] Each second elastic beam 136 elastically abuts against a first segment 1131 of the first intermediate portion 113 corresponding to the first grounding terminal 110G. In some embodiments, such as FIGS. 8B-8C , FIGS. 8E-8G as well as FIGS. 9C-9DAs shown, each second elastic beam 136 can include a first section 1361 and a second section 1362, the first section 1361 extends obliquely from the main body 131 away from the first face 41 and toward the first intermediate portion 113 of the corresponding first ground terminal 110G to the second section 1362, and the second section 1362 is convexly curved toward the first intermediate portion 113 of the corresponding first ground terminal 110G and forms a mating contact portion (not labeled) to abut against the first intermediate portion 113.

[0195] Similar to the first elastic beams 133, each second elastic beam 136 can be a portion integrally stamped from the main body 131. As shown in FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D As shown, the second elastic beam 136 can have a fixed end 136a and a free end 136b opposite to the fixed end 136a. The mating contact portion of the second elastic beam 136 can be formed adjacent to the free end 136b. The second elastic beam 136 is connected with the main body 131 at the fixed end 136a. The fixed end 136a is indented into the main body 131 relative to the second edge 131b of the main body 131 in the vertical direction Z-Z. As such, as shown in FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D As shown, a plurality of cutouts 137 are formed in a portion of the main body 131 adjacent to the second edge 131b. The portion of the main body 131 is divided into a plurality of sub-portions 138 by the plurality of cutouts 137. Each adjacent two of the plurality of sub-portions 138 are separated by a corresponding cutout 137 in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. As will be described in detail below, each of the plurality of sub-portions 138 can be aligned with a corresponding set of first signal terminals 110S (e.g., a single first signal terminal 110S or a pair of first signal terminals 110S forming a differential signal pair) in the lateral direction X-X. With this configuration, better shielding effect can be provided, thus improving signal integrity.

[0196] It should be understood that in other embodiments, the plurality of first extensions of the conductive member 130 can be in the form of protrusions (e.g., protruding ribs), tabs, or any other suitable form.

[0197] In some embodiments, as FIGS. 8A-8HAs shown, the first subassembly 100 can include an insulative subassembly housing 140. The subassembly housing 140 is disposed about the second intermediate portions 123 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 to hold the plurality of second conductive terminals 120. The subassembly housing 140 can also be referred to as a “retention member” or a “sub-housing.” The subassembly housing 140 can include a plurality of openings 141, each of which is aligned with and exposes a portion of the second intermediate portion 123 of a corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2 in the lateral direction X-X. Each of the openings 141 can be elongated along the vertical direction Z-Z.

[0198] The body 131 of the conductive member 130 can be disposed on the subassembly housing 140, and each second extension (e.g., a protruding rib 139, which will be described in detail below) is aligned with and received in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings 141 in the lateral direction X-X to be in direct contact or capacitively coupled with the portion of the second intermediate portion 123 of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G.

[0199] In some embodiments, as FIG. 8B , FIG. 9C , FIG. 9D and FIGS. 8E-8G best shown, each second extension is in the form of a protruding rib 139. The protruding rib 139 protrudes from the second face 131f of the body 131 in the lateral direction X-X. The protruding rib 139 can include a base segment 139a, a first side segment 139b, and a second side segment 139c. The base segment 139a of each protruding rib 139 can be in direct contact or capacitively coupled with the portion of the second intermediate portion 123 of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G. The first side segment 139b and the second side segment 139c can be opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y and connect the base segment 139a to the body 131, respectively.

[0200] As FIGS. 9E-9F and FIG. 8E shown, for each second conductive terminal 120 in the second row R2, the second intermediate portion 123 can extend along the vertical direction Z-Z. In other words, the second intermediate portion 123 can be straight along the vertical direction Z-Z. As FIG. 8E best shown, the second intermediate portions 123 of the second conductive terminals 120 in the second row R2 can be coplanar to a plane PL3 that is parallel to the first major plane PL1. The plane PL3 is perpendicular to the lateral direction X-X and parallel to the aforementioned plane PL2. In some embodiments, as FIG. 8F shown, a spacing between the plane PL3 and the first major plane PL1 can be less than a spacing between the plane PL2 and the first major plane PL1.

[0201] In some embodiments, asFIG. 8H and FIG. 8H As best shown, for each rib 139, the base section 139a is in direct contact with the portion of the second intermediate portion 123 of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G, and the direct contact is a face contact. Such face contact can reduce impedance at the connection site of the rib 139 and the second ground terminal 120G, mitigating or even eliminating the charge accumulation problem, thereby improving the signal transmission performance of the first subassembly 100.

[0202] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1A, the cross-section of each rib 139 perpendicular to the vertical direction Z-Z can be U-shaped. In other words, each rib 139 can have a U-shaped structure. In some embodiments, each rib 139 can be a portion integrally stamped from the main body 131. In this case, each rib 139 is a U-shaped section integrally stamped from the main body 131. FIG. 8B In some embodiments, the position of the fixed end 133b of each first elastic beam 133 can be aligned with the position on the main body 131 where one corresponding rib 139 is formed in the vertical direction Z-Z.

[0203] In some embodiments, for each rib 139, the base section 139a can be attached to the portion of the second intermediate portion 123 of the corresponding second ground terminal 120G by any suitable process such as laser welding. In this way, the conductive member 130 can be secured to the subassembly housing 140. This enables other securing mechanisms or features for securing the conductive member 130 to the subassembly housing 140 to be omitted, thereby simplifying the manufacturing and assembly of the first subassembly 100 and facilitating reduction of the size of the first subassembly 100 in the lateral direction X-X.

[0204] In some embodiments, the length of the portion of the second intermediate portion 123 of the second ground terminal 120G corresponding to each rib 139 in the vertical direction Z-Z occupies more than 50% (e.g., 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%) of the total length of the second intermediate portion 123 in the vertical direction Z-Z. In the case where the attachment of the base section 139a to the second intermediate portion 123 is via welding, a line weld can be formed along the second intermediate portion 123 in the vertical direction Z-Z. The line weld can occupy more than 50% (e.g., 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%) of the total length of the second intermediate portion 123 in the vertical direction Z-Z. The aspect ratio of the length to the width of the line weld can be greater than 2:1, e.g., in some examples, the aspect ratio can be greater than 5:1 or greater than 10:1.

[0205]

[0206] ​With this configuration, the protrusions 139 can be reliably connected to the second ground terminals 120G, thereby reliably holding the conductive members 130 in place with respect to the conductive terminals in the second row R2. Moreover, since each protrusion 139 of the conductive member 130 is received in a corresponding opening 141, the speed and accuracy of connecting the conductive member 130 to the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 can be improved, thereby improving the manufacturing efficiency and yield of the first subassembly 100.

[0207] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8C and FIG. 8H The subassembly housing 140 can include a first face 140a and a second face 140b. The first face 140a and the second face 140b can each be planar. The first face 140a and the second face 140b can each extend parallel to the first major plane PL1 of the body 131 of the conductive member 130. The plurality of openings 141 can be recessed into the subassembly housing 140 from the first face 140a along the transverse direction X-X. The second face 131f of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 can also be planar. When the body 131 of the conductive member 130 is disposed on the subassembly housing 140, the second face 131f of the body 131 rests on the first face 140a of the subassembly housing 140, and each protrusion 139 is received in a corresponding opening 141.

[0208] It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the body 131 of the conductive member 130 can be secured on the subassembly housing 140 by any suitable means, such as a snap fit, to bring the protrusions 139 into direct contact or capacitive coupling with the second ground terminals 120G.

[0209] It should also be appreciated that in other embodiments, the plurality of second extensions of the conductive member 130 can be in the form of resilient beams, tabs, or any other suitable form.

[0210] In some embodiments, the subassembly housing 140 is a member overmolded on the second intermediate portions 123 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120. In other embodiments, the subassembly housing 140 can be pre-manufactured, and the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be inserted in the subassembly housing 140.

[0211] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8HAs shown, in cases where the second signal terminals 120S and the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y, for each second signal terminal 120S, the center of the second intermediate portion 123 can be spaced apart from the main body 131 of the conductive member 130 by a first distance D1 in the transverse direction X-X, and can be spaced apart from the edge of the adjacent second ground terminal 120G by a second distance D2 in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. In some embodiments, the first distance D1 can be less than the second distance D2. With this configuration, the main body 131 of the conductive member 130 can serve as the closest ground reference for the second signal terminal 120S. In some embodiments, the first distance D1 can be equal to the second distance D2, such that the second signal terminal 120S is shielded in such a way that is similar to the way coaxial wires are shielded.

[0212] In some embodiments, as FIG. 3E shown, for each second signal terminal 120S, the second intermediate portion 123 can be separated from the main body 131 of the conductive member 130 in the transverse direction X-X by the subassembly housing 140.

[0213] The first subassembly 100 can be configured to be disposed entirely in the insulating housing 40. In some embodiments, the subassembly housing 140 is configured for disposal in the insulating housing 40. For example, the insulating housing 40 can be molded around the subassembly housing 140. As another example, the subassembly housing 140 can be configured to be inserted into the insulating housing 40. As FIG. 3F 、 FIG. 4B 、 FIG. 4D and FIG. 4D shown, the insulating housing 40 can include a first channel 40a and a plurality of second channels 40b. The first channel 40a can be recessed into the insulating housing 40 from the second face 42 along the vertical direction Z-Z and extend along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The plurality of second channels 40b can be recessed into the insulating housing 40 from the second face 42 along the vertical direction Z-Z and extend along the transverse direction X-X between the first channel 40a and the receptacle 47. The combination of the subassembly housing 140, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the conductive member 130 can be inserted into the insulating housing 40 via the first channel 40a and the second channels 40b. Specifically, the second mating ends 121 and the second intermediate portions 123 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be received in the first channel 40a and the second channels 40b, and the subassembly housing 140 and the conductive member 130 can be received in the first channel 40a. The subassembly housing 140 can include a snap protrusion 142 FIG. 8B and FIG. 4D ) protruding from the second face 140b for snapping into a recess 40c FIG. 3E) to retain the subassembly housing 140 in the first channel 40a.

[0214] In some embodiments, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be held in place directly by the insulative housing 40. For example, the insulative housing 40 can be molded around the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 to retain the plurality of first conductive terminals 110. As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be inserted into the insulative housing 40. As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be held in place by a separate subassembly housing (not shown). As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be held in place by a separate subassembly housing (not shown) and the insulative housing 40. FIG. 3F 、 FIG. 4B 、 FIG. 4D and FIG. 3F As shown in FIGS. 1 1 A and 1 1 B, each of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be inserted into a corresponding second channel 40b of the insulative housing 40. The first intermediate portion 113 of each first conductive terminal 110 can be held in place by a pair of receiving slots 40d (shown in FIG. 1 1 A) recessed into the inner walls of the second channel 40b, thereby retaining the first conductive terminal 110 in place. FIG. 8D

[0215] In this case, in manufacturing the electrical connector 10, the combination of the subassembly housing 140, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the conductive member 130 can be formed first. For example, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be held with the subassembly housing 140, and then the conductive member 130 can be disposed on the subassembly housing 140 and coupled to the second ground terminal 120G of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120. Subsequently, the combination can be inserted into the insulative housing 40, and then the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be inserted into the insulative housing 40.

[0216] It should be understood that the specific configuration of the first subassembly 100 is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments, an additional subassembly housing can be included. The additional subassembly housing can hold the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and can be inserted into the insulative housing 40. As another example, the additional subassembly housing can hold the combination of the aforementioned components and the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 together and can be inserted into the insulative housing 40. As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the conductive member 130 can be held directly by the insulative housing 40 without the subassembly housing 140. As another example, the subassembly housing 140 can hold the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the conductive member 130 together. As another example, the combination of the subassembly housing 140, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, and the conductive member 130 can be attached to or inserted into the insulative housing 40 in the lateral direction X-X instead of being inserted into the insulative housing 40 along the vertical direction Z-Z as described above.

[0217] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be held in place directly by the insulative housing 40. For example, the insulative housing 40 can be molded around the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 to retain the plurality of first conductive terminals 110. As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be inserted into the insulative housing 40. As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be held in place by a separate subassembly housing (not shown). As another example, the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 can be configured to be held in place by a separate subassembly housing (not shown) and the insulative housing 40. FIG. 8G FIG. 8D ​​As shown, the dimension of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 between the first edge 131a and the second edge 131b along the vertical direction Z-Z can be greater than or equal to the length of the second intermediate portion 123 of each second signal terminal 120S along the vertical direction Z-Z. With this configuration, the conductive member 130 is able to provide shielding along the signal transmission path of the second signal terminal 120S, thereby improving the signal transmission performance.

[0218] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8G and FIG. 8A As shown, the dimension of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 between the third edge 131c and the fourth edge 131d along the longitudinal direction Y-Y can be greater than or equal to the length of each of the first row R1 and the second row R2 along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. With this configuration, the conductive member 130 is able to provide shielding along the signal transmission path of the signal terminals in the first row R1 and the second row R2, thereby improving the signal transmission performance.

[0219] As shown in FIGS. 8E-8F and FIGS. 8E-8F As shown, the first tail ends 112 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 are located on a first side of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 adjacent to the slots 47 in the transverse direction X-X, and the second tail ends 122 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 are located on a second side of the body 131 opposite the first side in the transverse direction X-X. In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3D-3E As shown, the body 131 of the conductive member 130 does not extend in the vertical direction Z-Z between the first tail ends 112 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and the second tail ends 122 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120. For example, the second edge 131b of the body 131 of the conductive member 130 can be flush with the junctions of the first tail ends 112 and the first intermediate portions 113 of the first conductive terminals 110 and the junctions of the second tail ends 122 and the second intermediate portions 123 of the second conductive terminals 120.

[0220] In some embodiments, the conductive member 130 can have no portion directly electrically connected with the first circuit board 20. In other partial embodiments, the conductive member 130 can have a structure or feature directly electrically connected with a conductive pad or a conductive via of the first circuit board 20.

[0221] As previously mentioned, the first tail ends 112 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and the second tail ends 122 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 can be configured to establish electrical connections with corresponding conductive pads on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20.

[0222] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5 , FIG. 8A , FIGS. 9A-9B ,FIGS. 9E-9F and FIG. 5 As shown, the electrical connector 10 can include a plurality of solder balls 400, and each of the first tail ends 112 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and the second tail ends 122 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 is configured for attachment of a solder ball 400 FIG. 3D and to connect to corresponding conductive pads (not shown) on the first circuit board 20 with the solder balls when the electrical connector 10 is mounted on the first circuit board 20.

[0223] In particular, the first tail ends 112 of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and the second tail ends 122 of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 of the first subassembly 100 can be configured to connect to corresponding conductive pads on the first circuit board 20 by BGA attachment. BGA attachment is a surface mount technology (SMT). The solder balls 400 can be, for example, tin balls. The solder balls 400 can be soldered to the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120. This can be achieved by heating the solder to liquefy it sufficiently and adhere it to the tail ends 112 and 122. When the electrical connector 10 is mounted on the first circuit board 20, the electrical connector 10 can be placed on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20 such that the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120 and the solder balls 400 attached thereto are aligned with the corresponding conductive pads on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20. Subsequently, the solder balls 400 can be heated (e.g., by placing the electrical connector 10 and the first circuit board 20 in a reflow oven) and melted to adhere to the conductive pads while the solder balls 400 still remain adhered to the tail ends 112 and 122. After the solder balls 400 cool, the tail ends 112 and 122 are connected and secured to the conductive pads by the solder balls 400. In this way, the tail ends 112 and 122 are mechanically and electrically connected to the conductive pads by the solder balls 400, thereby establishing a reliable electrical connection between the electrical connector 10 and the first circuit board 20. FIG. 3B The attachment of the solder balls 400 to the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120 is shown.

[0224] In some embodiments, the solder balls 400 can be provided by the manufacturer of the electrical connector 10 and attached to the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120 during the manufacture of the electrical connector 10. In other embodiments, the solder balls 400 can be provided by other manufacturers (e.g., the manufacturer that processes the electrical connector 10 or the manufacturer of the electronic system 1) and can be attached to the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120 prior to mounting the electrical connector 10 on the first circuit board 20.

[0225] In some embodiments, as FIG. 3D , FIGS. 4A-5 ,FIGS. 10A-10B And FIG. 2A As shown, the electrical connector 10 can include cover members 500 (two are shown in the figures). The cover members 500 can be disposed on the second face 42 (i.e., the mounting face) of the insulative housing 40. The cover members 500 can include a plurality of apertures 501, each aperture 501 extending through the cover member 500 along the vertical direction Z-Z. Each aperture 501 can be aligned with a corresponding tail end of the first tail ends 112 of the first conductive terminals 110 and the second tail ends 122 of the second conductive terminals 120 to allow the corresponding tail end to pass therethrough. In assembling the electrical connector 10, the cover members 500 can be mounted to the insulative housing 40 prior to the solder balls 400 being attached to the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120. The tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120 extend through the apertures 501 of the cover members 500 in the vertical direction Z-Z. Subsequently, the solder balls 400 can be soldered to the tail ends 112 and 122 of the conductive terminals 110 and 120. The cover members 500 can provide a seal at the second face 42 of the insulative housing 40 to prevent solder or foreign matter such as debris from entering the first passageway 40a and the plurality of second passageways 40b of the insulative housing 40. The cover members 500 can be mounted to the insulative housing 40 by any suitable means, such as by a snap fit.

[0226] As previously mentioned, the first mating ends 111 of the first conductive terminals 110 (first signal terminals 110S and first ground terminals 110G) of the first subassembly 100, the second mating ends 121 of the second conductive terminals 120 (second signal terminals 120S and second ground terminals 120G) and the first resilient beams 133 of the conductive member 130 are configured to establish electrical connections with corresponding contact pads on the first surface 31a of the first sub-portion 33 of the edge portion 31 when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10.

[0227] FIG. 2C And FIG. 2C An exemplary pattern of contact pads of the first surface 31a of the first sub-portion 33 of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 is shown. As FIG. 7A Best shown, the second circuit board 30 can include ground contact pads 330 disposed on the first surface 31a, a plurality of first signal contact pads 310 and a plurality of second signal contact pads 320.

[0228] The plurality of first signal contact pads 310 can be arranged into a first pad row PR1 along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 can be aligned with and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. As will be described in detail below, the first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 can be grouped into a plurality of signal contact pad groups in a manner of grouping single first signal contact pads 310 as one group and / or grouping pairs of first signal contact pads 310 as one group. Each first signal contact pad 310 is configured to contact a first mating contact 111a of a first mating end 111 of a corresponding first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 of the first subassembly 100.

[0229] The plurality of second signal contact pads 320 can be arranged into a second pad row PR2 along the longitudinal direction Y-Y. The second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 can be aligned with and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. As will be described in detail below, the second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 can be grouped into a plurality of signal contact pad groups in a manner of grouping single second signal contact pads 320 as one group and / or grouping pairs of second signal contact pads 320 as one group. Each second signal contact pad 320 is configured to contact a second mating contact 121a of a second mating end 121 of a corresponding second signal terminal 120S in the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100.

[0230] The ground contact pad 330 can be configured to contact the first mating contacts 111a of the first mating ends 111 of the selected number (e.g., all) of the first ground terminals 110G in the first row R1, the second mating contacts 121a of the second mating ends 121 of the selected number (e.g., all) of the second ground terminals 120G in the second row R2, and the third mating contacts 133a of the selected number (e.g., all) of the first elastic beams 133 of the plurality of first elastic beams 133 of the conductive member 130 to establish electrical interconnections between these first mating contacts 111a, second mating contacts 121a, and third mating contacts 133a. The ground contact pad 330 can interconnect these first ground terminals 110G, second ground terminals 120G, and first elastic beams 133.

[0231] In particular, the ground contact pad 330 can include a main body 331, a plurality of first extensions 333, and a plurality of second extensions 334. The main body 331 is disposed between the first pad row PR1 and the second pad row PR2 in the vertical direction Z-Z and continuously extends along the longitudinal direction Y-Y.

[0232] Each first extension 333 extends from the main body 331 along the vertical direction Z-Z to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of the first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 to separate the corresponding pair of adjacent groups of the first signal contact pads 310 in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. Each group of the first signal contact pads 310 can include a single first signal contact pad 310 or a pair of first signal contact pads 310. In other words, the first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 can be divided into a plurality of signal contact pad groups in a manner of grouping single first signal contact pads 310 as a group and / or grouping pairs of first signal contact pads 310 as a group, and the first extensions 333 extend in the vertical direction Z-Z to between adjacent groups of the plurality of signal contact pad groups to separate the plurality of signal contact pad groups from each other. There can be one first extension 333 between adjacent groups. Each first extension 333 can function as a first ground contact pad for contacting a first mating contact portion 111a of a first mating end 111 of a corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1 of the first subassembly 100.

[0233] Each second extension 334 extends from the main body 331 along the vertical direction Z-Z to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of the second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 to separate the corresponding pair of adjacent groups of the second signal contact pads 320 in the longitudinal direction Y-Y. Each group of the second signal contact pads 320 can include a single second signal contact pad 320 or a pair of second signal contact pads 320. In other words, the second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 can be divided into a plurality of signal contact pad groups in a manner of grouping single second signal contact pads 320 as a group and / or grouping pairs of second signal contact pads 320 as a group, and the second extensions 334 extend in the vertical direction Z-Z to between adjacent groups of the plurality of signal contact pad groups to separate the plurality of signal contact pad groups from each other. There can be one second extension 334 between adjacent groups. Each second extension 334 can function as a second ground contact pad for contacting a second mating contact portion 121a of a second mating end 121 of a corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100.

[0234] This configuration of the second circuit board 30 is capable of maintaining or improving signal integrity while providing higher signal contact pad density, thereby enabling the second circuit board 30 to operate at higher speeds and have a larger number of signal contact pads to provide more independent signal paths. The main body 331 of the ground contact pads 330 establishes a continuous ground structure between the first extensions 333 and the second extensions 334 to eliminate potential differences between these extensions as much as possible and is capable of reducing the effects of crosstalk. Furthermore, this configuration is capable of reducing the insertion loss (IL) and return loss (RL) of signals.

[0235] FIG. 7B and FIG. 7B The relative positional relationship between the first subassembly 100 and the second circuit board 30 is shown when the second circuit board 30 is inserted in the electrical connector 10, with the insulative housing 40 omitted. As best shown, FIG. 2C each first signal contact pad 310 contacts a first mating contact portion 111a of one corresponding first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 of the first subassembly 100, each second signal contact pad 320 contacts a second mating contact portion 121a of one corresponding second signal terminal 120S in the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100, each first extension 333 of the ground contact pad 330 contacts a first mating contact portion 111a of one corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1 of the first subassembly 100, each second extension 334 of the ground contact pad 330 contacts a second mating contact portion 121a of one corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100, and the main body 331 of the ground contact pad 330 contacts the third mating contact portions 133a of the plurality of first elastic beams 133. In this way, ground and signal connections can be established between the second circuit board 30 and the electrical connector 10.

[0236] The main body 331 can include a first side edge and a second side edge opposite each other in the vertical direction Z-Z. Each first extension 333 can extend from the first side edge of the main body 331 along the vertical direction Z-Z, and each second extension 334 can extend from the second side edge of the main body 331 along the vertical direction Z-Z. The first signal contact pads 310, the second signal contact pads 320, and the ground contact pad 330 can be formed by any suitable circuit board manufacturing process in the art.

[0237] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2C the main body 331 of the ground contact pad 330 can extend straight along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and have a strip shape. The plurality of first signal contact pads 310, the plurality of second signal contact pads 320, and the ground contact pad 330 can be arranged in a two-dimensional array on the first surface 31a.

[0238] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2C one or more of the first signal contact pads 310, the second signal contact pads 320, the first extensions 333, and the second extensions 334 can have a finger shape.

[0239] The arrangement (e.g., position and spacing) of the plurality of first signal contact pads 310 and the plurality of first extensions 333 can correspond to the arrangement of the first mating contacts 111a of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 (including first signal terminals 110S and first ground terminals 110G) of the first sub-assembly 100.

[0240] At least some or all of the multiple sets of first signal contact pads 310 may each be disposed in a U-shaped region defined by two adjacent first extensions 333 and the body 331 of the ground contact pad 330. In some embodiments, such as FIG. 2C As shown, multiple first signal contact pads 310 and multiple first extensions 333 can be alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY. That is, in the first pad row PR1, each group of first signal contact pads 310 includes a single first signal contact pad 310. Each pair of adjacent first signal contact pads 310 is separated by a first extension 333 in the longitudinal direction YY. The first signal contact pads 310 can be arranged in a U-shaped area defined by two adjacent first extensions 333 and the body 331 of the ground contact pad 330.

[0241] In other embodiments, where each group of first signal contact pads 310 includes a pair of first signal contact pads 310, each pair of first signal contact pads 310 can be positioned within a U-shaped region defined by two adjacent first extensions 333 and the body 331 of the ground contact pad 330. These configurations can reduce the effects of crosstalk, thereby improving signal integrity.

[0242] The arrangement (position and spacing) of the plurality of second signal contact pads 320 and the plurality of second extensions 334 can correspond to the arrangement of the second mating contact 121a of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 (including second signal terminals 120S and second ground terminals 120G) of the first sub-assembly 100.

[0243] At least some or all of the multiple sets of second signal contact pads 320 may each be disposed in a U-shaped region defined by two adjacent second extensions 334 and the body 331 of the ground contact pad 330. In some embodiments, such as FIG. 2C As shown, multiple second signal contact pads 320 and multiple second extensions 334 can be alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY. That is, in the second pad row PR2, each group of second signal contact pads 320 includes a single second signal contact pad 320. Each pair of adjacent second signal contact pads 320 is separated by a second extension 334 in the longitudinal direction YY. The second signal contact pads 320 can be arranged in a U-shaped area defined by two adjacent second extensions 334 of the ground contact pad 330 and the body 331.

[0244] In other embodiments, where each set of second signal contact pads 320 includes a pair of second signal contact pads 320, each pair of second signal contact pads 320 can be disposed in a U-shaped region bounded by adjacent two second extensions 334 and the main body 331 of the ground contact pad 330. These configurations can reduce the effect of crosstalk, thereby improving the integrity of signals.

[0245] Each set of first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 can be aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of second extensions 334 in the vertical direction Z-Z, and each set of second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 can be aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of first extensions 333 in the vertical direction Z-Z. That is, the first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 are staggered with the second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 in the vertical direction Z-Z, and the plurality of first extensions 333 are staggered with the plurality of second extensions 334 in the vertical direction Z-Z.

[0246] This arrangement enables the first pad row PR1 and the second pad row PR2 to be arranged with a smaller pitch in the vertical direction Z-Z while still maintaining sufficient spacing between the first signal contact pads 310 and the second signal contact pads 320. This arrangement enables double density of signal contact pads to be provided on the same side of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 without significantly increasing the size of the edge portion 31 of the second circuit board 30 in the vertical direction Z-Z.

[0247] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, where the plurality of first signal contact pads 310 and the plurality of first extensions 333 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and the plurality of second signal contact pads 320 and the plurality of second extensions 334 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y, each first signal contact pad 310 can be aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of second extensions 334 in the vertical direction Z-Z, and each second signal contact pad 320 can be aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of first extensions 333 in the vertical direction Z-Z. That is, the first signal contact pads 310 in the first pad row PR1 are staggered with the second signal contact pads 320 in the second pad row PR2 in the vertical direction Z-Z, and the plurality of first extensions 333 are staggered with the plurality of second extensions 334 in the vertical direction Z-Z. FIG. 6A

[0248] ​In other embodiments, although not shown in the figures, it is conceivable that, in the case where each group of first signal contact pads 310 includes a pair of first signal contact pads 310 and each group of second signal contact pads 320 includes a pair of second signal contact pads 320, each pair of first signal contact pads 310 may be aligned in the vertical direction ZZ with a corresponding second extension 334 of a plurality of second extensions 334, and each pair of second signal contact pads 320 may be aligned in the vertical direction ZZ with a corresponding first extension 333 of a plurality of first extensions 333. In this case, the width of the first extensions 333 and the second extensions 334 may be sufficiently wide (e.g., equal to the width of a pair of signal contact pads) to ensure that the pairs of signal contact pads in the two pad rows are staggered from each other in the vertical direction ZZ.

[0249] In some embodiments, the first signal contact pads 310 and the first extension 333 adjacent to each other in the first pad row PR1 may be spaced apart by a first distance (not shown) in the longitudinal direction YY, and the second signal contact pads 320 and the second extension 334 adjacent to each other in the second pad row PR2 may be spaced apart by a second distance (not shown) in the longitudinal direction YY, wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

[0250] The above describes the specific configuration, manufacturing method, arrangement of the first sub-component 100 in a group of sub-components located in the first section 47a of slot 47, as well as the configuration and electrical connection of the first circuit board 20 and the second circuit board 30 associated with the first sub-component 100.

[0251] The inventors have recognized and realized that having the second sub-assembly 200 configured similarly to the first sub-assembly 100 can provide double the density of conductive terminals on both sides of the slot 47 of the electrical connector 10, thereby further improving the signal transmission performance of the electrical connector 10.

[0252] like FIG. 6B and FIG. 6B As shown, the second sub-assembly 200 may include a plurality of third conductive terminals 210, a plurality of fourth conductive terminals 220 (including a fourth signal terminal 220S and a fourth ground terminal 220G), a conductive member 230, and a sub-assembly housing 240. The plurality of third conductive terminals 210 are arranged in a third row along the longitudinal direction YY and include a third signal terminal 210S and a third ground terminal 210G. The plurality of fourth conductive terminals 220 are arranged in a fourth row along the longitudinal direction YY and include a fourth signal terminal 220S and a fourth ground terminal 220G. The conductive member 230 is disposed between the third and fourth rows and is electrically coupled to the third ground terminal 210G and the fourth ground terminal 220G.

[0253] The configuration of the plurality of third conductive terminals 210, the plurality of fourth conductive terminals 220, the conductive member 230, and the sub-component housing 240 of the second sub-component 200 can be similar to the configuration of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, the conductive member 130, and the sub-component housing 140 of the first sub-component 100, the only difference being that each component of the second sub-component 200 is configured to be disposed on the other side of the first section 47a in the lateral direction XX. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the details of the second sub-component 200 will not be described in detail here.

[0254] In some embodiments, as described above and as FIG. 6C and FIG. 6B As shown, in the first row R1, the first signal terminal 110S and the first ground terminal 110G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY, and in the second row R2, the second signal terminal 120S and the second ground terminal 120G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY. Similar to the first sub-assembly 100, in the third row of the second sub-assembly 200, the third signal terminal 210S and the third ground terminal 210G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY, and in the fourth row, the fourth signal terminal 220S and the fourth ground terminal 220G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction YY. The first row R1 of the first sub-assembly 100 is closer to the slot 47 in the lateral direction XX than the second row R2, and the third row of the second sub-assembly 200 is closer to the slot 47 in the lateral direction XX than the fourth row. Each first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 is aligned in the lateral direction XX with a corresponding second ground terminal 120G in the second row R2, a corresponding third ground terminal 210G in the third row, and a corresponding fourth signal terminal 220S in the fourth row. Each second signal terminal 120S in the second row R2 is aligned in the lateral direction XX with a corresponding first ground terminal 110G in the first row R1, a corresponding third signal terminal 210S in the third row, and a corresponding fourth ground terminal 220G in the fourth row. That is, the first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 is offset in the lateral direction XX from the second signal terminal 120S in the second row R2 and the third signal terminal 210S in the third row, and the third signal terminal 210S in the third row is offset in the lateral direction XX from the first signal terminal 110S in the first row R1 and the fourth signal terminal 220S in the fourth row. This configuration allows the first sub-assembly 100 and the second sub-assembly 200 to be arranged with a smaller spacing in the lateral direction XX. This facilitates the miniaturization of the electrical connector 10 and reduces the space occupied by the electrical connector 10 on the first circuit board 20.

[0255] As an example, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row of the first subassembly 100 and the second subassembly 200 can be 2N, where N is a positive integer. That is, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row can be even. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 1 A and 1 1 B, the first row R1 and the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100 can each have thirty-six conductive terminals, eighteen of which are signal terminals and the other eighteen of which are ground terminals. In the first row R1, the first signal terminals 1 10S and the first ground terminals 1 10G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "G-S-G-S-... G-S", and in the second row R2, the second signal terminals 120S and the second ground terminals 120G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "S-G-S-G-... S-G". Similarly to the first subassembly 100, the third row and the fourth row of the second subassembly 200 can each have thirty-six conductive terminals, eighteen of which are signal terminals and the other eighteen of which are ground terminals. In the third row, the third signal terminals 210S and the third ground terminals 210G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "S-G-S-G-... S-G", and in the fourth row, the fourth signal terminals 220S and the fourth ground terminals 220G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "G-S-G-S-... G-S". The signal terminals in each pair of adjacent rows among the first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row are staggered with respect to each other in the lateral direction X-X. FIG. 6C and FIG. 6B As an example, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row of the first subassembly 100 and the second subassembly 200 can be 2N, where N is a positive integer. That is, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row can be even. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 1 A and 1 1 B, the first row R1 and the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100 can each have thirty-six conductive terminals, eighteen of which are signal terminals and the other eighteen of which are ground terminals. In the first row R1, the first signal terminals 1 10S and the first ground terminals 1 10G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "G-S-G-S-... G-S", and in the second row R2, the second signal terminals 120S and the second ground terminals 120G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "S-G-S-G-... S-G". Similarly to the first subassembly 100, the third row and the fourth row of the second subassembly 200 can each have thirty-six conductive terminals, eighteen of which are signal terminals and the other eighteen of which are ground terminals. In the third row, the third signal terminals 210S and the third ground terminals 210G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "S-G-S-G-... S-G", and in the fourth row, the fourth signal terminals 220S and the fourth ground terminals 220G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "G-S-G-S-... G-S". The signal terminals in each pair of adjacent rows among the first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row are staggered with respect to each other in the lateral direction X-X.

[0256] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 1 A and 1 1 B, the configuration of the second subassembly 200 can be symmetrical to the configuration of the first subassembly 100. Specifically, the configuration of the first subassembly 100 and the configuration of the second subassembly 200 can be 180° rotationally symmetrical about an axis that extends along the vertical direction Z-Z and passes through the midpoint of the slot section between the first subassembly 100 and the second subassembly 200. FIG. 6C and FIG. 7A As an example, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row of the first subassembly 100 and the second subassembly 200 can be 2N, where N is a positive integer. That is, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row can be even. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 1 A and 1 1 B, the first row R1 and the second row R2 of the first subassembly 100 can each have thirty-six conductive terminals, eighteen of which are signal terminals and the other eighteen of which are ground terminals. In the first row R1, the first signal terminals 1 10S and the first ground terminals 1 10G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "G-S-G-S-... G-S", and in the second row R2, the second signal terminals 120S and the second ground terminals 120G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "S-G-S-G-... S-G". Similarly to the first subassembly 100, the third row and the fourth row of the second subassembly 200 can each have thirty-six conductive terminals, eighteen of which are signal terminals and the other eighteen of which are ground terminals. In the third row, the third signal terminals 210S and the third ground terminals 210G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "S-G-S-G-... S-G", and in the fourth row, the fourth signal terminals 220S and the fourth ground terminals 220G are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction Y-Y and are arranged in the pattern of "G-S-G-S-... G-S". The signal terminals in each pair of adjacent rows among the first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row are staggered with respect to each other in the lateral direction X-X.

[0257] It should be understood that, in other partial embodiments, the configuration of the first subassembly 100 and the configuration of the second subassembly 200 can be mirror symmetrical about the slot section between the first subassembly 100 and the second subassembly 200. Furthermore, it should be understood that, in other partial embodiments, the number of conductive terminals in each terminal row of the first subassembly 100 and the second subassembly 200 can be odd. It is conceivable that, in this case, the signal terminals in each pair of adjacent rows among the first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row can still be staggered with respect to each other in the lateral direction X-X.

[0258] Although the above description describes signal terminals being grouped into multiple signal terminal groups in each of the first, second, third, and fourth rows, with ground terminals arranged between adjacent groups, it should be understood that in other embodiments, signal terminals may be grouped into multiple signal terminal groups in pairs, with ground terminals arranged between adjacent groups. In this case, the width of the ground terminal may be sufficiently wide (e.g., equal to the width of a pair of signal terminals) to ensure that signal terminals in every two adjacent rows are staggered from each other in the lateral direction XX. Each pair of signal terminals may be configured as a differential signal pair. In this case, conductive members can still be used to interconnect the ground terminals together to achieve the aforementioned advantages.

[0259] like FIG. 7B and FIG. 2B As shown, when the second circuit board 30 is inserted into the electrical connector 10, similar to the first sub-assembly 100, the second sub-assembly 200 can contact the corresponding contact pads on the second surface 31b of the first sub-part 33 of the edge portion 31, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the electrical connector 10 and the second circuit board 30. The first sub-part 33 of the edge portion 31 is sandwiched between the first sub-assembly 100 and the second sub-assembly 200. FIGS. 11A-12 As shown, the contact pad pattern on the second surface 31b of the first sub-part 33 of the edge portion 31 can be similar to the contact pad pattern on the first surface 31a to achieve mating with the plurality of third conductive terminals 210, the plurality of fourth conductive terminals 220 and the conductive member 230 of the second sub-assembly 200. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, the details of these similar parts will not be described in detail here.

[0260] The specific configuration of the electrical connector 10 has been described above in conjunction with a set of sub-assemblies disposed in the first section 47a of slot 47. It is conceivable that the configuration of the other three sets of sub-assemblies (each set including a first sub-assembly 100 and a second sub-assembly 200) can be the same as or similar to the configuration of the set of sub-assemblies described above, and the other three sets of sub-assemblies can mate with corresponding contact pads on the edge 31 of the second circuit board 30 in a similar manner, and be mounted to conductive pads on the surface 20a of the first circuit board 20 in a similar manner, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the first circuit board 20 and the second circuit board 30. For the sake of brevity, the details of these similar parts will not be elaborated further here.

[0261] Furthermore, it should be understood that the number of the first sub-component 100 and the second sub-component 200 of the electrical connector 10 is not limited thereto. The electrical connector 10 may have more or fewer first sub-components 100 and second sub-components 200, or it may have only first sub-component 100 or second sub-component 200.

[0262] Although the above describes the first elastic beam of the conductive member directly contacting the contact ground pad of the second circuit board to electrically couple the body of the conductive member to the contact ground pad, it should be understood that the present application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the conductive member can include an extension such as a protrusion (e.g., a rib), a tab, or any other suitable form for electrically coupling (directly contacting or capacitively coupling) the body of the conductive member to the contact ground pad of the second circuit board.

[0263] Although the above describes the body of the conductive member being in a plate shape, it should be understood that the shape of the conductive member is not limited thereto. For example, the conductive member can have a flat strip-shaped body. As another example, the conductive member can be in the form of a wave-shaped plate.

[0264] FIGS. 11A-12 Another version of the first subassembly is shown. In FIGS. 11A-11D The first subassembly is designated as "1000" in the drawings. FIG. 12 A specific configuration of the first subassembly 1000 is shown, and FIGS. 8A-9F A case where the first subassembly 1000 is mounted in the aforementioned insulating housing 40 is shown. As FIG. 11C Similar to the first subassembly 100 shown, the first subassembly 1000 can include a plurality of first conductive terminals 1110, a plurality of second conductive terminals 1120, a conductive member 1130, and a subassembly housing 1140. The configurations and functions of the plurality of first conductive terminals 1110, the plurality of second conductive terminals 1120, the conductive member 1130, and the subassembly housing 1140 of the first subassembly 1000 are substantially the same as those of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110, the plurality of second conductive terminals 120, the conductive member 130, and the subassembly housing 140 of the first subassembly 100, with the exception of the shape of the tail ends of the conductive terminals. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the details of these identical parts are not described here again.

[0265] The first tail ends 1112 of the first conductive terminals 1110 and the second tail ends 1122 of the second conductive terminals 1120 of the first subassembly 1000 are configured to be suitable for direct soldering to the corresponding conductive pads of the first circuit board 20 by SMT technology, rather than by BGA attachment. Therefore, an electrical connector using such a first subassembly 1000 can be free of the solder balls 400 and the cover member 500 described above. The conductive pads of the first circuit board 20 can also be changed accordingly to be suitable for soldering the tail ends 1112 and 1122 of the conductive terminals 1110 and 1120.

[0266] As FIG. 11D and ​As shown, the first tail end 1112 of each first conductive terminal 1110 can include a first straight section 1112a and a first curved section 1112b. The first curved section 1112b extends between a middle portion (not labeled) of the first conductive terminal 1110 and the first straight section 1112a, and is curved away from the body of the conductive member 1130 to orient the first straight section 1112a and the middle portion perpendicular to each other. The second tail end 1122 of each second conductive terminal 1120 can include a second straight section 1122a and a second curved section 1122b. The second curved section 1122b extends between a middle portion (not labeled) of the second conductive terminal 1120 and the second straight section 1122a, and is curved away from the body of the conductive member 130 to orient the second straight section 1122a and the middle portion perpendicular to each other. The first straight sections 1112a of the plurality of first conductive terminals 110 and the second straight sections 1122a of the plurality of second conductive terminals 120 are oriented in opposite directions from each other, and are configured to be soldered to corresponding conductive pads of the first circuit board 20, respectively.

[0267] For example, when installing the electrical connector 10 onto the first circuit board 20, solder paste can first be applied on the conductive pads of the first circuit board 20, and then the electrical connector 10 is placed onto the first circuit board 20 such that the tail ends 1112 and 1122 of the conductive terminals 1110 and 1120 are positioned on the corresponding conductive pads of the first circuit board 20. Then, the solder paste can be heated (e.g., by placing the electrical connector 10 and the first circuit board 20 in a reflow oven) and melted to adhere to the tail ends 1112 and 1122 of the conductive terminals 1110 and 1120 while the solder paste still remains adhered to the conductive pads. After the solder paste cools down, the tail ends 1112 and 1122 are connected and secured to the conductive pads by the solder paste. As another example, the tail ends 1112 and 1122 of the conductive terminals 1110 and 1120 can be directly connected to the corresponding conductive pads of the first circuit board 20 by laser soldering or ultrasonic soldering. By either of these manners, a reliable electrical connection between the electrical connector 10 and the first circuit board 20 can be established.

[0268] It is contemplated that the tail ends of the conductive terminals of the second subassembly 200 can be shaped similarly to the tail ends 1112 and 1122 of the conductive terminals 1110 and 1120 of the first subassembly 1000. For brevity, details of these similar parts are not repeated here.

[0269] Although the above describes the conductive terminals being connected to the conductive pads of the circuit board by SMT techniques, it is understood that in other embodiments, the tail ends of the conductive terminals can be connected to the corresponding conductive structures of the circuit board by other suitable attachment means, such as through-hole insertion technology (THT).

[0270] Although the above describes the electrical connector 10 as being configured as a vertical card edge connector, it should be understood that in other embodiments the electrical connector 10 can be configured as any other suitable type of connector, such as a right angle electrical connector, a mezzanine electrical connector, and a cable connector. In these cases, the configuration of the tail ends of the conductive terminals can be modified accordingly. For example, the electrical connector 10 can be configured for attachment to a cable. The tail ends of the conductive terminals can be configured for soldering to the cable. As another example, the tail ends of the conductive terminals can be configured for insertion into conductive vias in a circuit board.

[0271] Although the above describes the electrical connector 10 as being configured to receive a card, it should be understood that in other embodiments the electrical connector 10 can be configured to mate with any other suitable type of electrical component, such as another electrical connector (e.g., a header connector).

[0272] Some of the conductive terminals in a row can be used as high speed signal conductors. Optionally, some of the conductive terminals can be used as low speed signal conductors or power conductors. Some of the low speed signal conductors and / or power conductors can also be designated as ground, providing a reference for or return path for signals carried on the signal conductors. It should be understood that a ground conductor need not be connected to earth ground, but can carry a reference potential, which can include earth ground, a direct current voltage, or other suitable reference potential.

[0273] Although the above describes the high speed signal conductors and the low speed signal conductors as being configured the same, and the signal conductors in the same row having the same shape, the high speed signal conductors and the low speed signal conductors can differ according to the ground structure and insulating portions surrounding them. Optionally, some or all of the high speed signal conductors can be configured differently from the low speed signal conductors, even in the same row.

[0274] Such materials can be considered lossy: the material dissipates enough of the electromagnetic energy that interacts with the material to significantly affect the performance of the electrical connector. The important effect is caused by attenuation in a frequency range of interest to the electrical connector. In some configurations, the lossy material can dampen a resonance within the ground structure of the electrical connector, and the frequency range of interest can include the natural frequency of the resonant structure without the lossy material in place. In other configurations, the frequency range of interest can be all or part of the operating frequency range of the electrical connector.

[0275] To test whether a material is lossy, the material can be tested over a frequency range that can be less than or different from a frequency range of interest for an electrical connector that uses the material. For example, the test frequency range can be from 10 GHz to 25 GHz or from 1 GHz to 5 GHz. Alternatively, a lossy material can be identified from a measurement at a single frequency, such as 10 GHz or 15 GHz.

[0276] Loss can be caused by interaction of an electric field component of electromagnetic energy with a material, in which case the material can be referred to as electrically lossy. Alternatively or additionally, loss can be caused by interaction of a magnetic field component of electromagnetic energy with a material, in which case the material can be referred to as magnetically lossy.

[0277] An electrically lossy material can be formed from a lossy dielectric material and / or a poor conductor. An electrically lossy material can be formed from a material that is traditionally considered a dielectric material, such as those having an electric loss tangent greater than about 0.01, greater than 0.05, or between 0.01 and 0.2, over a frequency range of interest. The "electric loss tangent" is the ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the complex permittivity of a material.

[0278] An electrically lossy material can also be formed from a material that is generally considered a conductor, but is a relatively poor conductor over a frequency range of interest. These materials can conduct electricity over a frequency range of interest, but with some loss such that the material is less conductive than a conductor of an electrical connector, but more conductive than an insulator used in the electrical connector. Such materials can include electrically conductive particles or regions that are sufficiently dispersed that they do not provide high electrical conductivity, or that are otherwise prepared to have properties that result in a relatively weak bulk electrical conductivity compared to a good conductor such as pure copper, over a frequency range of interest. For example, a die cast metal or a poor conductive metal alloy can provide sufficient loss in certain configurations.

[0279] This type of electrically lossy material generally has a bulk conductivity of about 1 siemens / meter (siemens / meter) to about 100,000 siemens / meter, or about 1 siemens / meter to about 30,000 siemens / meter, or 1 siemens / meter to about 10,000 siemens / meter. In some embodiments, materials having a bulk conductivity of between about 1 siemens / meter to about 500 siemens / meter can be used. As a specific example, materials having a conductivity of between about 50 siemens / meter to 300 siemens / meter can be used. However, it should be understood that the conductivity of the material can be selected empirically or through electrical simulation using known simulation tools to determine a conductivity that provides suitable signal integrity (SI) characteristics in the electrical connector. For example, the measured or simulated SI characteristics can be low crosstalk in combination with low signal path attenuation or insertion loss, or low insertion loss deviation as a function of frequency.

[0280] It should also be understood that a lossy member need not have uniform properties throughout its volume. For example, a lossy member can have, for example, an insulating skin or a conductive core. If the properties of the member, on average, in the region that interacts with electromagnetic energy are sufficient to attenuate that electromagnetic energy, the member can be identified as lossy.

[0281] In some embodiments, a lossy material is formed by adding a filler comprising particles to a binder. In such embodiments, a lossy member can be formed by molding or otherwise shaping the binder with the filler into a desired form. The lossy material can be molded onto and / or through an opening in a conductor, which can be a ground conductor or a shield of the connector. Molding the lossy material onto or through an opening in a conductor can ensure intimate contact between the lossy material and the conductor, which can reduce the likelihood that the conductor supports a resonance at a frequency of interest. This intimate contact can but need not result in ohmic contact between the lossy material and the conductor.

[0282] Alternatively or additionally, the lossy material can be molded on or injected into the insulating material, for example, in a two-shot molding operation, or vice versa. The lossy material can be positioned against or in sufficient proximity to the ground conductor so as to have a significant coupling with the ground conductor. Close contact does not require an electrical coupling between the lossy material and the conductor, as sufficient electrical coupling, such as capacitive coupling, between the lossy member and the conductor can produce the desired results. For example, in some cases, a coupling of 100 pF between the lossy member and the ground conductor can have a significant impact on suppressing resonances in the ground conductor. In other examples employing frequencies in the range of about 10 GHz or higher, the amount of electromagnetic energy reduction in the conductor can be provided by a sufficient capacitive coupling between the lossy material and the conductor having a mutual capacitance of at least about 0.005 pF, such as in a range of between about 0.01 pF and about 100 pF, between about 0.01 pF and about 10 pF, or between about 0.01 pF and about 1 pF. To determine whether the lossy material is coupled to the conductor, the coupling can be measured at a test frequency, such as 15 GHz, or a test range, such as 10 GHz to 25 GHz.

[0283] To form the electrically lossy material, the filler can be electrically conductive particles. Examples of electrically conductive particles that can be used as the filler to form the electrically lossy material include carbon or graphite formed as fibers, flakes, nanoparticles, or other types of particles. Various forms of fibers can be used, in woven or nonwoven form, coated or uncoated. Nonwoven carbon fibers are one suitable material. Metals in the form of powders, flakes, fibers, or other particles can also be used to provide suitable electrical loss properties. Alternatively, a combination of fillers can be used. For example, metal-coated carbon particles can be used. Silver and nickel are suitable metal coatings for the fibers. The coated particles can be used alone or in combination with other fillers, such as carbon flakes.

[0284] Preferably, the filler will be present in a volume percentage sufficient to allow the formation of an electrically conductive path from particle to particle. For example, when using metal fibers, the fibers can be present in a range of about 3% to 30% by volume. The amount of filler can affect the electrical conductivity properties of the material, and the volume percentage of the filler can be lower in this range to provide sufficient loss.

[0285] The binder or matrix can be any material that will coagulate to position the filler, cure to position the filler, or be otherwise used to position the filler. In some embodiments, the binder can be a thermoplastic material conventionally used in the manufacture of electrical connectors to facilitate molding the electrically lossy material into the desired shape and to the desired location as part of the manufacture of the electrical connector. Examples of such materials include liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) and nylons. However, many alternative forms of binder material can be used. Curable materials such as epoxies can be used as the binder. Alternatively, materials such as thermoset resins or adhesives can be used.

[0286] While the above-described binder materials can be used to form the electrically lossy material by forming a binder around the electrically conductive particulate filler, other binders or otherwise forming the lossy material can be used. In some examples, the electrically conductive particles can be impregnated into a formed matrix material, or can be coated onto a formed matrix material, such as by applying an electrically conductive coating to a plastic part or a metal part. As used herein, the term "binder" includes materials that encapsulate the filler, impregnate the filler, or otherwise act as a substrate that holds the filler.

[0287] The magnetic lossy material can be formed from materials conventionally considered to be ferromagnetic materials, such as those having a magnetic loss tangent greater than about 0.05 in the frequency range of interest. The "magnetic loss tangent" is the ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the complex permittivity of the material. Materials having higher loss tangents can also be used.

[0288] In some embodiments, the magnetic lossy material can be formed from a binder or matrix material filled with particles that provide the magnetic loss properties to the layer. The magnetic lossy particles can be in any convenient form, such as flakes or fibers. Ferrites are common magnetic lossy materials. Materials such as magnesium ferrite, nickel ferrite, lithium ferrite, yttrium garnet, or aluminum garnet can be used. Ferrites typically have a magnetic loss tangent higher than 0.1 in the frequency range of interest. A presently preferred ferrite material has a loss tangent between about 0.1 and 1.0 in the frequency range of 1 GHz to 3 GHz, and more preferably has a magnetic loss tangent higher than 0.5 in that frequency range.

[0289] The actual magnetic lossy material or mixture containing the magnetic lossy material can also exhibit dielectric or conductive loss effects of a useful size over portions of the frequency range of interest. Similar to the manner described above in which the electrically lossy material can be formed, a suitable material can be formed by adding a magnetic loss- producing filler to the binder.

[0290] The material can be both a lossy dielectric or lossy conductor and a magnetic lossy material. For example, such a material can be formed by using a partially conductive magnetic lossy filler or by using a combination of a magnetic lossy filler with an electric lossy filler.

[0291] The lossy portions can also be formed in a variety of ways. In some examples, the binder material and filler can be molded into the desired shape and then fixed in that shape. In other examples, the binder material can be formed into a sheet or other shape from which lossy portions having the desired shape can be cut. In some embodiments, the lossy portions can be formed by interleaving layers of lossy and conductive material such as metal foil. The layers can be attached to each other securely, such as by using epoxy or other adhesive, or can be held together in any other suitable manner. The layers can have the desired shape before they are fixed to each other, or can be stamped or otherwise shaped after they are held together. As a further alternative, the lossy portions can be formed by plating a plastic or other insulating material with a lossy coating such as a diffusion metal coating.

[0292] Having thus described several aspects of several embodiments, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

[0293] It is to be understood that the terms "first", "second", "third", and the like, do not connote any hierarchy or order among elements, components, or parts, but are merely used to distinguish one element, component, or part from another.

[0294] The present application has been described in detail with particular reference to certain embodiments thereof. Obviously, variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Such variations and modifications are intended for inclusion within the scope of the present application. Accordingly, the application is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sub-assembly for an electrical connector, the electrical connector comprising an insulating housing having a receptacle elongated along a longitudinal direction, characterized in that, The subassembly is configured to be disposed at one side of the slot in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and comprises: a plurality of first conductive terminals arranged in a first row along the longitudinal direction, and comprising first signal terminals and first ground terminals; a plurality of second conductive terminals arranged in a second row along the longitudinal direction, and comprising second signal terminals and second ground terminals, the first row and the second row being opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction; and a conductive member disposed between the first row and the second row, and electrically coupled to the first ground terminals and the second ground terminals.

2. The subassembly of claim 1, wherein: each of the first conductive terminals comprises a first mating end having a first mating contact configured to be bent into the slot; and each of the second conductive terminals comprises a second mating end having a second mating contact configured to be bent into the slot.

3. The subassembly of claim 2, wherein: the conductive member comprises a plurality of first elastic beams arranged in a third row along the longitudinal direction, and each of the first elastic beams has a third mating contact configured to be bent into the slot.

4. The subassembly of claim 3, wherein: the first mating contacts of the plurality of first conductive terminals are aligned along a first straight line; the second mating contacts of the plurality of second conductive terminals are aligned along a second straight line, the second straight line being parallel to the first straight line and spaced apart from the first straight line in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction; and the third mating contacts of the plurality of first elastic beams are aligned along a third straight line, the third straight line being parallel to the first straight line and located between the first straight line and the second straight line in the vertical direction.

5. The subassembly of claim 4, wherein: the first straight line is parallel to the longitudinal direction; and / or the first straight line, the second straight line and the third straight line are coplanar in a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction; and / or the insulating housing comprises a mating face, the slot being recessed into the insulating housing from the mating face along the vertical direction, and the second straight line is closer to the mating face than the first straight line in the vertical direction; and / or the slot is configured to receive a plug-in card, and the first mating contacts of the plurality of first conductive terminals, the second mating contacts of the plurality of second conductive terminals and the third mating contacts of the plurality of first elastic beams are configured to contact corresponding conductive pads on a same side of the plug-in card when the plug-in card is received in the slot.

6. The subassembly of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein: ​ The conductive member further includes a plate-shaped body extending in a first major plane perpendicular to the transverse direction and positioned between the first and second rows.

7. The subassembly of claim 6, wherein: each of the first conductive terminals further includes a first tail end opposite the first mating end and a first intermediate portion extending between the first mating end and the first tail end, the first intermediate portions of the first conductive terminals being aligned along the longitudinal direction; each of the second conductive terminals further includes a second tail end opposite the second mating end and a second intermediate portion extending between the second mating end and the second tail end, the second intermediate portions of the second conductive terminals being aligned along the longitudinal direction; for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion and the first mating end are on a first side of the body adjacent the slot in the transverse direction; and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion is on a second side of the body opposite the first side in the transverse direction, and the second mating end extends from the second intermediate portion at the second side and beyond an edge of the body to the first side such that the second mating contact portion is at the first side.

8. The subassembly of claim 7, wherein: for each of the second conductive terminals, the second mating end is inverted U-shaped and includes a first segment extending from the second intermediate portion, a second segment forming the second mating contact portion, and a third segment connecting the first and second segments, the third segment forming a top of the inverted U-shape.

9. The subassembly of claim 8, wherein: the second mating end of each of the second conductive terminals defines an inverted U-shaped space, and the edge of the body extends into the inverted U-shaped space defined by the second mating end of the second signal terminal in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions; and / or for each of the second conductive terminals, the first segment is closer to the edge of the body in the transverse direction than the second segment; and / or the insulative housing includes a mating face from which the slot is recessed into the insulative housing along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions, for each of the second conductive terminals, the first segment extends from the second intermediate portion toward the mating face, and the second segment extends from the third segment away from the mating face and convexly curves toward the slot.

10. The subassembly of claim 7, wherein: each of the first elastic beams extends from the body toward the first side such that the third mating contact portion is at the first side.

11. The subassembly of claim 10, wherein: Each of the first elastic beams is a portion integrally stamped from the main body and connected with the main body at a first fixed end, the first fixed end being recessed into the main body relative to the edge of the main body in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

13. The subassembly of claim 10, wherein: a second mating end of each second ground terminal of the plurality of second conductive terminals is aligned with a corresponding first elastic beam of the plurality of first elastic beams in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

14. The subassembly of any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein: in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction.

15. The subassembly of claim 14, wherein: a first mating contact portion of each of the first signal terminals is aligned with a second mating contact portion of the corresponding second ground terminal and a third mating contact portion of a corresponding first elastic beam of the plurality of first elastic beams in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, and the third mating contact portion is located between the first mating contact portion and the second mating contact portion; and a second mating contact portion of each of the second signal terminals is aligned with a first mating contact portion of the corresponding first ground terminal in the vertical direction.

16. The subassembly of any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein: the conductive member further comprises a plurality of first extension portions, each of the first extension portions being aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction and extending from the main body toward the corresponding first ground terminal to directly contact or capacitively couple with a first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal.

17. The subassembly of claim 16, wherein: ​ ​ ​ Each of the first extensions is in the form of a second elastic beam extending from the main body toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal and elastically abutting against the first intermediate portion.

18. The subassembly of claim 17, wherein: For each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion includes a first segment extending along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, and a second segment obliquely extending from the first segment away from the main body of the conductive member to the first mating end; the first segments of the first intermediate portions of the plurality of first conductive terminals are coplanar to a plane parallel to the first major plane; and Each of the second elastic beams elastically abuts against the first segment of the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal.

19. The subassembly of claim 17, wherein: the insulative housing includes a mating face, and the receptacle is recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction; and Each of the second elastic beams includes a first segment obliquely extending from the main body away from the mating face and toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to a second segment, and the second segment is convexly curved toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to abut against the first intermediate portion.

20. The subassembly of claim 19, wherein: the edge of the main body is a first edge, the main body further includes a second edge, the first edge and the second edge are opposite to each other in the vertical direction, and the first edge is closer to the mating face than the second edge; and Each of the plurality of second elastic beams is a portion integrally stamped from the main body of the conductive member and connected with the main body at a second fixed end, the second fixed end is recessed into the main body relative to the second edge in the vertical direction.

21. The subassembly of any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein: the conductive member further includes a plurality of second extensions, each of the second extensions is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal of the second row in the transverse direction and extends from the main body toward a second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal to be in direct contact or capacitively coupled with the second intermediate portion.

22. The subassembly of claim 21, wherein: the subassembly further includes an insulative subassembly housing disposed around the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals to hold the plurality of second conductive terminals, the subassembly housing includes a plurality of openings, each of the openings is aligned with a second intermediate portion of a corresponding second ground terminal of the second row in the transverse direction and exposes a portion of the second intermediate portion; and The main body of the conductive member is disposed on the subassembly housing, and each of the second extensions is aligned with and received in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the transverse direction to be in direct contact or capacitive coupling with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal.

23. The subassembly of claim 22, wherein, Each of the second extensions is in the form of a protruding rib comprising: a bottom section in direct contact or capacitive coupling with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal; and first and second side sections opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction and connecting the bottom section to the main body, respectively.

24. The subassembly of claim 23, wherein: for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion extends along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions; the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals are coplanar in a plane parallel to the first major plane; and for each of the protruding ribs, the bottom section is in direct contact with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal, and the direct contact is a face contact.

25. The subassembly of claim 24, wherein: a cross section of each of the protruding ribs perpendicular to the vertical direction is U-shaped; and / or each of the protruding ribs is a portion integrally stamped from the main body; and / or for each of the protruding ribs, the bottom section is welded on the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal; and / or each of the first elastic beams is a portion integrally stamped from the main body of the conductive member and connected to the main body at a first fixed end, a position of the first fixed end of each of the first elastic beams aligns with a position of a corresponding protruding rib formed on the main body in the vertical direction; and / or a length of the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal along the vertical direction accounts for more than 50% of a total length of the second intermediate portion along the vertical direction; and / or the subassembly housing comprises a first flat face extending parallel to the first major plane, the plurality of openings are recessed into the subassembly housing from the first face along the transverse direction, the main body of the conductive member comprises a second flat face on which the protruding ribs are disposed, the main body is disposed on the subassembly housing such that the second face is seated on the first face and each of the protruding ribs is received in the corresponding opening; and / or the subassembly housing is a member overmolded on the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals; and / or the subassembly housing is configured to be disposed in the insulative housing of the electrical connector.

26. The subassembly of claim 24, wherein: in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are disposed alternately along the longitudinal direction; and ​ For each of the second signal terminals, the second intermediate portion is spaced apart from the body of the conductive member in the lateral direction by the subassembly housing.

27. The subassembly of claim 26, wherein: For each of the second signal terminals, the second intermediate portion is spaced apart from the body of the conductive member in the lateral direction by the subassembly housing.

28. The subassembly of claim 26, wherein: In the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; and Each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction.

29. The subassembly of any of claims 7-13, 15, 17-20, and 22-28, wherein: The body of the conductive member has first and second edges opposite each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions, a dimension of the body along the vertical direction between the first and second edges is greater than or equal to a length of the second intermediate portion of each of the second signal terminals along the vertical direction; and / or The body of the conductive member has third and fourth edges opposite each other in the longitudinal direction, a dimension of the body along the longitudinal direction between the third and fourth edges is greater than or equal to a length of each of the first and second rows along the longitudinal direction; and / or The electrical connector is configured for mounting onto a circuit board, for each of the first conductive terminals, the first tail end is located at the first side of the body in the lateral direction and is configured for soldering to a corresponding conductive pad on the circuit board, for each of the second conductive terminals, the second tail end is located at the second side of the body in the lateral direction and is configured for soldering to a corresponding conductive pad on the circuit board; and / or For each of the first conductive terminals, the first tail end is located at the first side of the body in the lateral direction, and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second tail end is located at the second side of the body in the lateral direction, the body does not extend in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions between the first tail ends of the first conductive terminals and the second tail ends of the second conductive terminals.

30. The subassembly of any of claims 1-5, 7-13, 15, 17-20, and 22-28, wherein: The conductive member is made of a metallic material or a lossy material; and / or the subassembly is configured to be disposed in the insulative housing; and / or none of the subassembly is disposed in the slot on a side opposite the one side in the transverse direction; and / or each of the plurality of first conductive terminals is configured to be held in place directly by the insulative housing.

31. An electrical connector, comprising: The electrical connector comprises: an insulative housing having a slot elongated along a longitudinal direction; and The subassembly according to any one of claims 1 to 30 is disposed on a side of the slot in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

32. The electrical connector of claim 31, wherein, The subassembly is a first subassembly, and the electrical connector further comprises a second subassembly disposed on a side of the slot opposite the one side in the transverse direction and mutually opposite the first subassembly across the slot, the second subassembly comprising: a plurality of third conductive terminals arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction and comprising third signal terminals and third ground terminals; a plurality of fourth conductive terminals arranged into a fourth row along the longitudinal direction and comprising fourth signal terminals and fourth ground terminals, the third row and the fourth row being mutually opposite and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction; and a second conductive member disposed between the third row and the fourth row and electrically coupled to the third ground terminals and the fourth ground terminals.

33. The electrical connector of claim 32, wherein: in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; in the third row, the third signal terminals and the third ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; in the fourth row, the fourth signal terminals and the fourth ground terminals are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction; the first row is closer to the slot than the second row in the transverse direction, and the third row is closer to the slot than the fourth row in the transverse direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row, a corresponding third ground terminal in the third row, and a corresponding fourth signal terminal in the fourth row in the transverse direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row, a corresponding third signal terminal in the third row, and a corresponding fourth ground terminal in the fourth row in the transverse direction.

34. A card comprising: The card comprises: an edge portion configured to be inserted into a slot of an electrical connector along a vertical direction and comprising first and second surfaces opposite each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the vertical direction; a plurality of first signal contact pads disposed on the first surface, the plurality of first signal contact pads arranged in a first row along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the lateral direction, and divided into a plurality of groups; a plurality of second signal contact pads disposed on the first surface, the plurality of second signal contact pads arranged in a second row along the longitudinal direction, and divided into a plurality of groups; and a ground contact pad disposed on the first surface, the ground contact pad comprising: a body disposed between the first row and the second row in the vertical direction, and continuously extending along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of first extensions, each of the first extensions extending from the body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of the first signal contact pads in the first row along the vertical direction; and a plurality of second extensions, each of the second extensions extending from the body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of the second signal contact pads in the second row along the vertical direction.

35. The card of claim 34, wherein: each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of second extensions in the vertical direction.

36. The card of claim 35, wherein: each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of first extensions in the vertical direction.

37. The card of claim 35, wherein: each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row is disposed in a U-shaped region bounded by the body and two adjacent ones of the first extensions of the ground contact pad.

38. The card of claim 36, wherein: each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row is disposed in a U-shaped region bounded by the body and two adjacent ones of the second extensions of the ground contact pad.

39. The card of claim 36, wherein: each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row comprises a single first signal contact pad, and the plurality of first signal contact pads and the plurality of first extensions are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction.

40. The card of claim 39, wherein: each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row comprises a single second signal contact pad, and the plurality of second signal contact pads and the plurality of second extensions are alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction.

41. The card of claim 36, wherein: each group of the first signal contact pads in the first row comprises a pair of first signal contact pads configured as a differential signal pair.

42. The card of claim 41, wherein: each group of the second signal contact pads in the second row comprises a pair of second signal contact pads configured as a differential signal pair.

43. The card of any of claims 34-42, wherein: the body extends straight along the longitudinal direction; and / or the body is in a bar shape; and / or each of the first signal contact pads is in a finger shape; and / or each of the second signal contact pads is in a finger shape; and / or each of the first extensions is in a finger shape; and / or each of the second extensions is in a finger shape; and / or the plurality of first signal contact pads, the plurality of second signal contact pads, and the ground contact pad are arranged in a two-dimensional array on the first surface.

44. The card of claim 36, wherein: the ground contact pad is a first ground contact pad, and the card further comprises: a plurality of third signal contact pads disposed on the second surface, the plurality of third signal contact pads being arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction and being divided into a plurality of groups; a plurality of fourth signal contact pads disposed on the second surface, the plurality of fourth signal contact pads being arranged into a fourth row along the longitudinal direction and being divided into a plurality of groups; and a second ground contact pad disposed on the second surface, the second ground contact pad comprising: a second body disposed between the third row and the fourth row in the vertical direction and extending continuously along the longitudinal direction; a plurality of third extensions, each of the third extensions extending from the second body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of third signal contact pads in the third row along the vertical direction; and a plurality of fourth extensions, each of the fourth extensions extending from the second body to between a corresponding pair of adjacent groups of fourth signal contact pads in the fourth row along the vertical direction.

45. The card of claim 44, wherein: each group of third signal contact pads in the third row is aligned with a corresponding fourth extension of the plurality of fourth extensions in the vertical direction, and each group of fourth signal contact pads in the fourth row is aligned with a corresponding third extension of the plurality of third extensions in the vertical direction; the body of the first ground contact pad is aligned with the second body of the second ground contact pad in the transverse direction; each group of first signal contact pads in the first row is aligned with a corresponding third extension of the plurality of third extensions in the transverse direction, and each group of second signal contact pads in the second row is aligned with a corresponding fourth extension of the plurality of fourth extensions in the transverse direction; and each group of third signal contact pads in the third row is aligned with a corresponding first extension of the plurality of first extensions in the transverse direction, and each group of fourth signal contact pads in the fourth row is aligned with a corresponding second extension of the plurality of second extensions in the transverse direction.

46. An electronic system, comprising: The electronic system comprises: an electrical connector comprising: an insulative housing having a slot elongated along a longitudinal direction; a plurality of first electrically conductive terminals arranged into a first row along the longitudinal direction and comprising first ground terminals; a plurality of second electrically conductive terminals arranged into a second row along the longitudinal direction and comprising second ground terminals; and a plurality of third electrically conductive terminals arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction and comprising third signal terminals. a plurality of second conductive terminals arranged in a second row along the longitudinal direction, and including second ground terminals, the first and second rows being disposed on one side of the slot in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and opposite and spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction; and a conductive member disposed between the first and second rows; and an edge portion inserted into the slot along a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions, and including first and second surfaces opposite each other in the lateral direction; and a ground contact pad disposed on the first surface, the ground contact pad being in contact with the first ground terminals in the first row and the second ground terminals in the second row; wherein the conductive member is electrically coupled to the first ground terminals in the first row, the second ground terminals in the second row, and the ground contact pad.

47. The electronic system of claim 46, wherein: the conductive member includes a plurality of first elastic beams arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, and each of the first elastic beams has a third mating contact portion bent into the slot; and the ground contact pad includes a first body continuously extending along the longitudinal direction, and in contact with the third mating contact portions of the plurality of first elastic beams.

48. The electronic system of claim 47, wherein: each of the first conductive terminals includes a first mating end having a first mating contact portion bent into the slot; each of the second conductive terminals includes a second mating end having a second mating contact portion bent into the slot; and the first body of the ground contact pad includes first and second side edges opposite each other in the vertical direction, and the ground contact pad further includes: a plurality of first extensions each extending from the first side edge along the vertical direction, and aligned with and in contact with the first mating contact portion of a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction; and a plurality of second extensions each extending from the second side edge along the vertical direction, and aligned with and in contact with the second mating contact portion of a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction.

49. The electronic system of claim 48, wherein: the plurality of first conductive terminals further include first signal terminals, and the plurality of second conductive terminals further include second signal terminals, the first ground terminals separating the first signal terminals into a plurality of first groups, and the second ground terminals separating the second signal terminals into a plurality of second groups. ​ ​ ​ the first surface, the plurality of first signal contact pads being arranged into a third row along the longitudinal direction, and the plurality of second signal contact pads being arranged into a fourth row along the longitudinal direction; the first body of the ground contact pad is located between the third row and the fourth row in the vertical direction; each of the first extensions extends to and separates the plurality of first signal contact pads into a plurality of third groups along the vertical direction, and each of the second extensions extends to and separates the plurality of second signal contact pads into a plurality of fourth groups along the vertical direction; and each of the first signal contact pads in the third row is aligned with and contacts a corresponding first signal terminal in the first row in the lateral direction, and each of the second signal contact pads in the fourth row is aligned with and contacts a corresponding second signal terminal in the second row in the lateral direction.

50. The electronic system of claim 49, wherein: the first mating contact portions of the plurality of first conductive terminals are aligned along a first straight line; the second mating contact portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals are aligned along a second straight line, the second straight line being parallel to the first straight line and spaced apart from the first straight line in the vertical direction; and the third mating contact portions of the plurality of first elastic beams are aligned along a third straight line, the third straight line being parallel to the first straight line and located between the first straight line and the second straight line in the vertical direction.

51. The electronic system of claim 50, wherein: the first straight line is parallel to the longitudinal direction; and / or the first straight line, the second straight line, and the third straight line are coplanar in a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction; and / or the insulative housing includes a mating face, the slot being recessed into the insulative housing from the mating face along the vertical direction, and the second straight line is closer to the mating face than the first straight line in the vertical direction.

52. The electronic system of any one of claims 49 to 51, wherein: the conductive member further includes a second body that is plate-shaped, the second body extending in a first major plane that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and located between the first row and the second row.

53. The electronic system of claim 52, wherein: each of the first conductive terminals further includes a first tail end opposite the first mating end and a first intermediate portion extending between the first mating end and the first tail end, the first intermediate portions of the plurality of first conductive terminals being aligned along the longitudinal direction; each of the second conductive terminals further includes a second tail end opposite the second mating end and a second intermediate portion extending between the second mating end and the second tail end, the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals being aligned along the longitudinal direction; for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion and the first mating end are located on a first side of the second body adjacent to the slot in the transverse direction; and for each of the second conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion is located on a second side of the second body opposite the first side in the transverse direction, and the second mating end extends from the second intermediate portion at the second side and beyond an edge of the second body to the first side such that the second mating contact portion is located at the first side.

54. The electronic system of claim 53, wherein: for each of the second conductive terminals, the second mating end is inverted U-shaped and includes a first segment extending from the second intermediate portion, a second segment forming the second mating contact portion, and a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment, the third segment forming a top of the inverted U-shape.

55. The electronic system of claim 53, wherein: each of the first elastic beams extends from the second body toward the first side such that the third mating contact portion is located at the first side; and each of the first elastic beams is inverted U-shaped and includes a first segment extending from the second body, a second segment forming the third mating contact portion, and a third segment connecting the first segment and the second segment, the third segment forming a top of the inverted U-shape.

56. The electronic system of any of claims 53 to 55, wherein: each group of first signal terminals in the first row includes a single first signal terminal, and in the first row, the first signal terminals and the first ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; each group of second signal terminals in the second row includes a single second signal terminal, and in the second row, the second signal terminals and the second ground terminals are arranged alternately along the longitudinal direction; and each of the first signal terminals in the first row is aligned with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the transverse direction, and each of the second signal terminals in the second row is aligned with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the transverse direction.

57. The electronic system of claim 56, wherein: a first mating contact portion of each of the first signal terminals is aligned with a second mating contact portion of the corresponding second ground terminal and a third mating contact portion of a corresponding first elastic beam of the plurality of first elastic beams in the vertical direction, and the third mating contact portion is located between the first mating contact portion and the second mating contact portion; and a second mating contact portion of each of the second signal terminals is aligned with a first mating contact portion of the corresponding first ground terminal in the vertical direction.

58. The electronic system of any of claims 53 to 55, wherein: The conductive member further includes a plurality of second elastic beams extending from the second body, each of the second elastic beams aligning with a corresponding first ground terminal in the first row in the lateral direction and extending from the second body toward a first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to elastically abut against the first intermediate portion.

59. The electronic system of claim 58, wherein: for each of the first conductive terminals, the first intermediate portion includes a first segment extending along the vertical direction and a second segment obliquely extending from the first segment away from the second body of the conductive member to the first mating end; the first segments of the first intermediate portions of the plurality of first conductive terminals are coplanar to a plane parallel to the first major plane; and each of the second elastic beams elastically abuts against the first segment of the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal.

60. The electronic system of claim 59, wherein: the insulative housing includes a mating face from which the receptacle recesses into the insulative housing along the vertical direction; and each of the second elastic beams includes a first segment obliquely extending from the second body away from the mating face toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to a second segment convexly curved toward the first intermediate portion of the corresponding first ground terminal to abut against the first segment of the first intermediate portion.

61. The electronic system of any of claims 53 to 55, wherein: the conductive member further includes a plurality of protruding ribs extending from the second body, each of the protruding ribs aligning with a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction and extending from the second body toward a second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal to directly contact or capacitively couple with a portion of the second intermediate portion. a cross section of each of the protruding ribs perpendicular to the vertical direction has a U-shaped profile, and each of the protruding ribs includes:

62. The electronic system of claim 61, wherein, a bottom segment welded to the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal; and first and second side segments opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction and connecting the bottom segment to the second body, respectively.

63. The electronic system of claim 61, wherein: the electrical connector further includes an insulative subassembly housing disposed around the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second conductive terminals to hold the plurality of second conductive terminals, the subassembly housing including a plurality of openings each aligning with the second intermediate portion of a corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction and exposing the portion of the second intermediate portion; and each of the protruding ribs aligns with the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal in the second row in the lateral direction and extends from the second body toward the portion of the second intermediate portion to directly contact or capacitively couple with the portion of the second intermediate portion. ​ The second body of the electrically-conductive member is disposed on the subassembly housing, and each of the protruding ribs is aligned with and received in a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the transverse direction.

64. The electronic system of claim 62, wherein: for each of the second electrically-conductive terminals, the second intermediate portion extends along the vertical direction; the second intermediate portions of the plurality of second electrically-conductive terminals are coplanar with a plane parallel to the first major plane; and for each of the protruding ribs, the base section is in direct contact with the portion of the second intermediate portion of the corresponding second ground terminal, and the direct contact is a planar contact.

65. The electronic system of any of claims 46-51, 53-55, 57, 59-60, and 62-64, wherein: the electrical connector further comprises: a plurality of third electrically-conductive terminals arranged in a fifth row along the longitudinal direction, including third ground terminals; a plurality of fourth electrically-conductive terminals arranged in a sixth row along the longitudinal direction, including fourth ground terminals, the fifth and sixth rows being disposed on an opposite side of the slot from the one side, opposite and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction; and a second electrically-conductive member disposed between the fifth and sixth rows; the card further comprises a second ground contact pad disposed on the second surface, the second ground contact pad being in contact with the third ground terminals in the fifth row and the fourth ground terminals in the sixth row; and wherein the second electrically-conductive member is electrically coupled to the third ground terminals in the fifth row, the fourth ground terminals in the sixth row, and the second ground contact pad.

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