Electrical connector and electrical connector with circuit board

Abstract

To provide an electric connector capable of preferably preventing a crosstalk and provide an electric connector with a circuit board.SOLUTION: A signal transmission line is a single transmission channel. The signal transmission line that is arranged in an arrangement direction of the signal transmission line forms a signal transmission line row. A plurality of signal transmission line rows are provided at an interval in a width direction in parallel to a mounting surface of the circuit board and at a right angle in the arrangement direction. A signal connection part of one signal transmission line row of adjacent two signal transmission line rows is positioned so as to be deviated in the arrangement direction with respect to a signal connection part of the other signal transmission line row. In a ground connection part of a ground member, a width range between both end positions of the ground connection part exceeds a width range of the signal connection part of the signal transmission line in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector and an electrical connector with a circuit board. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Patent Document 1 discloses an electrical connector in which a signal terminal and a ground terminal and a ground plate as a ground member are held in a housing and mounted on a circuit board.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, the electrical connector includes a receptacle connector mounted on a circuit board and a mating plug connector mounted on another circuit board. The plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector to transmit electrical signals between the two circuit boards. Both the receptacle connector and the plug connector have the same basic configuration, including signal terminals, ground terminals, and a ground plate. The signal terminal has a signal connection portion soldered to the circuit board on one end and a signal contact portion that is electrically connected to the signal terminal of the mating connector on the other end. The ground terminal has the same shape and dimensions as the signal terminal, a ground connection portion on one end, and a ground contact portion on the other end, and is electrically connected to the ground plate.

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the signal terminal and the ground terminal are formed with the same shape, and two signal terminals form a pair of signal terminals that form a pair of transmission lines as a signal transmission line, and one ground terminal is located between adjacent pair of signal terminals on the same straight line as the array of pair of signal terminals. In addition, multiple terminal rows formed by pair of signal terminals and ground terminals are provided in a direction perpendicular to the terminal array direction, and a ground plate is disposed between adjacent terminal rows. The electrical connector of Patent Document 1 having such a configuration transmits high-speed operating signals through each pair of signal terminals. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2016-115488 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the electrical connector of Patent Document 1, a ground terminal is located between adjacent paired signal terminals, and when high-speed differential signals are transmitted through the paired signal terminals, crosstalk between the paired signal terminals can be expected to be prevented. However, in Patent Document 1, the ground terminal has the same shape as one of the two signal terminals that make up the paired signal terminal, and is located alone on the same straight line as the paired signal terminal. Therefore, there is a risk of crosstalk occurring between adjacent paired signal terminals as they wrap around the ground terminal, and there is room for improvement in this regard.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector and an electrical connector with a circuit board that can further prevent such crosstalk. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problems are solved by an electrical connector according to a first aspect of the invention and an electrical connector with a circuit board according to a second aspect of the invention.

[0009] <First invention> The electrical connector of the first invention comprises a plurality of signal transmission paths solder-connected to a signal circuit section of the circuit board at a plurality of spaced positions in an arrangement direction parallel to the mounting surface of the circuit board, and at least one ground member solder-connected to a ground circuit section of the circuit board, wherein the signal transmission paths have signal connection portions solder-connected to the signal circuit section, and the ground member has ground connection portions solder-connected to the ground circuit section, and the ground connection portions are located between the signal connection portions of adjacent signal transmission paths in the arrangement direction.

[0010] In such an electrical connector, the present invention is characterized in that the ground connection portion of the ground member has a width range between both end positions of the ground connection portion that exceeds the width range of the signal connection portion of the signal transmission path in a width direction that is parallel to the mounting surface and perpendicular to the arrangement direction.

[0011] In the present invention, the width range between both ends of the ground connection portion of the ground member exceeds the width range of the signal connection portion of the signal transmission line, so that the width range of the ground connection portion is made larger than the width range of the signal connection portion, compared to conventional cases in which the signal terminal and the ground terminal have the same shape and only one connection portion of the ground terminal is located between the signal connection portions of adjacent signal terminals. As a result, crosstalk that goes around the ground connection portion between adjacent signal connection portions across the ground connection portion can be reduced.

[0012] In the first aspect of the present invention, the signal transmission line may be a single terminal or a pair of terminals adjacent to each other with a gap in the arrangement direction.

[0013] In the first aspect of the present invention, the ground connection portion may be a part of a ground plate serving as the ground member, or a part of a ground terminal serving as the ground member. Furthermore, a plurality of the ground connection portions may be arranged in the width direction between the signal connection portions.

[0014] <Second Invention> The electrical connector with circuit board of the second invention comprises the electrical connector of the first invention and a circuit board having a signal circuit section to which the signal connection section of the signal transmission path in the electrical connector is soldered and a ground circuit section to which the ground connection section of the ground member is soldered, and the electrical connector is mounted on the circuit board.

[0015] In the second invention, the ground connection portions may be arranged in multiple rows in the width direction between the signal connection portions, the ground circuit portion of the circuit board may have multiple mounting surface portions located on the mounting surface of the circuit board corresponding to the multiple ground connection portions, and the multiple ground connection portions may be solder-connected to the mounting surface portions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] In the present invention, the width range between both end positions of the ground connection portion of the ground member exceeds the width range of the signal connection portion of the signal transmission path, so that the width range of the ground connection portion is formed larger than the width range of the signal connection portion, and as a result, crosstalk that would otherwise circumvent the ground connection portion between adjacent signal connection portions can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an intermediate electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a mating connector, showing a state before mating; [Figure 2] 2A is a perspective view showing a blade of the intermediate electrical connector of FIG. 1 alone, and FIG. 2B is a front view showing only the paired signal terminals and ground terminals of the blade of FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a bottom view of some of the blades in the intermediate electrical connector of FIG. 1, with a portion enlarged. FIG. [Figure 4] 2A is a perspective view showing the terminal holder of the mating connector of FIG. 1 alone, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the individual components of the terminal holder of FIG. 2A separated from each other. [Figure 5] 2 is a bottom view of a part of a terminal holder in the mating connector of FIG. 1, showing a part enlarged. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing only some of the vias in the circuit board on which the mating connector is mounted. [Figure 7] 10A is a perspective view showing a relay circuit board of a relay electrical connector according to a modified example, and FIG. 10B is a front view showing the conductive patterns and ground vias of the relay circuit board of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an intermediate electrical connector 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "relay connector 1") as a first electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention together with mating electrical connectors 2 and 3 (hereinafter referred to as the "mating connector 2" and the "mating connector 3," respectively) as second electrical connectors, showing the state before mating. In this embodiment, the intermediate connector 1 and the mating connectors 2 and 3 constitute a connector assembly for transmitting high-speed differential signals. The mating connectors 2 and 3 are electrical connectors for circuit boards arranged on different circuit boards (not shown), and are mated with the intermediate connector 1 with the surfaces of the circuit boards perpendicular to the vertical direction, in other words, the connector height direction (Z-axis direction). Specifically, the mating connector 2 is mated with the intermediate connector 1 from above (Z1 side), and the mating connector 3 is mated and connected from below (Z2 side), thereby connecting the mating connectors 2 and 3 to each other via the intermediate connector 1. In this embodiment, the mating connectors 2 and 3 are configured as electrical connectors having exactly the same shape.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the relay connector 1 has a plurality of plate-shaped blades 20 (see also Figure 2(A)), which will be described later, a housing 10 made of an electrically insulating material such as resin that supports and arranges the plurality of blades 20 at predetermined intervals in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction), and two connecting members 30 made of metal plates, which will be described later.

[0021] The housing 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as the "connector length direction") aligned in the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) of the blades 20. The housing 10 has an upper housing 11 that supports upper portions of the blades 20, and a lower housing 12 that supports lower portions of the blades 20. As will be described later, the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12 are connected via a connecting member 30.

[0022] The upper housing 11 has a peripheral wall 11A that has a rectangular frame shape when viewed from above and surrounds the blades 20, and a plurality of intermediate walls (not shown) for positioning the blades 20 at predetermined intervals in the connector longitudinal direction (X-axis direction). The peripheral wall 11A has two side walls 11B that extend in the connector longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and two end walls 11C that extend in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the connector longitudinal direction and connect the ends of the two side walls 11B. The intermediate walls are plate-shaped with plate surfaces perpendicular to the connector longitudinal direction within the space surrounded by the peripheral wall 11A, connect the inner wall surfaces of the two side walls 11B, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the connector longitudinal direction.

[0023] Slit-like spaces formed vertically between adjacent middle walls or between a middle wall and end wall 11C constitute blade accommodation spaces (not shown) for accommodating upper portions of blades 20. A plurality of upper locking holes 11B-1 are formed at the bottom of side wall 11B at predetermined intervals in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) and penetrate side wall 11B in the wall thickness direction (Y-axis direction). Upper locking holes 11B-1 can be engaged with upper locking pieces of connecting member 30, which will be described later.

[0024] The peripheral wall 11A extends upward beyond the upper end of the intermediate wall. The space surrounded by this upwardly extending portion, i.e., the space that opens upward and communicates with the blade accommodating space, is formed as an upper receiving portion 11D for receiving the mating connector 2 from above. When the blade 20 is accommodated in the blade accommodating space, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper end portion of the blade 20 protrudes from the upper end opening of the blade accommodating space and is positioned within the upper receiving portion 11D.

[0025] Lower housing 12 has the same shape as upper housing 11 described above, is provided in a vertically symmetrical position relative to upper housing 11, and accommodates the lower portion of blade 20 in a slit-shaped blade accommodating space (not shown). Parts of lower housing 12 that correspond to parts of upper housing 11 are assigned reference numerals that add "1" to the reference numerals of upper housing 11, and with regard to the names of parts of lower housing 12, "upper side" in the names of parts of upper housing 11 is read as "lower side," and thus explanation of lower housing 12 will be omitted.

[0026] The connecting member 30 is formed by punching and partially bending a metal plate. The connecting member 30 extends longitudinally in the connector length direction (X-axis direction), with its plate thickness direction aligned with the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), and one connecting member 30 is provided on each side of the blade 20 in the connector width direction. At the upper end of the connecting member 30, an upper locking piece (not shown) is formed by cutting and raising a portion of the connecting member 30 at a position corresponding to the upper locking hole 11B-1 of the upper housing 11 in the connector length direction. The upper locking piece (not shown) enters the upper locking hole 11B-1 and locks in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). At the lower end of the connecting member 30, a lower locking piece (not shown) is provided that, similar to the upper locking piece (not shown), locks in the lower locking hole 12B-1 of the lower housing 12 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0027] 2A is a perspective view showing the blade 20 alone, and FIG. 2B is a front view showing only paired signal terminals 22, 24 and a ground terminal 26 (described later) provided on the blade 20 of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIG. 2A, the blade 20 includes a plate-shaped resin base 21, paired signal terminals 22, 24 forming first paired transmission lines as a plurality of first signal transmission lines arranged and supported on the base 21, a plurality of ground terminals 26 arranged and supported on the base 21 in the same rows as the paired signal terminals 22, 24, and a first ground plate 27 and a second ground plate 28 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "ground plates 27, 28" when there is no need to distinguish between them) made of metal and attached to both plate surfaces (surfaces extending in the YZ directions) of the base 21. FIG. 2A shows the first ground plate 27 attached to the plate surface on the X1 side of the base 21. FIG. 1 also shows a second ground plate 28 attached to the plate surface of the base material 21 on the X2 side.

[0028] Two supported projections 21A are formed on the base material 21 near the center of both vertically extending edges. The supported projections 21A are supported in the vertical direction by steps (not shown) formed on the inner wall surfaces of the side wall 11B of the upper housing 11 and the side wall 12B of the lower housing 12. The base material 21 is formed with holding projections 21B for holding the ground plates 27, 28, which are formed at the same positions as the ground terminal 26 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) and at multiple positions in the vertical direction, protruding from the plate surface on both sides of the base material 21. FIG. 2(A) shows the holding projections 21B that hold the first ground plate 27.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2B, the paired signal terminals 22, 24 and the ground terminal 26 are formed by punching a metal plate in the thickness direction and then partially bending it, resulting in an overall strip-like shape extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The paired signal terminals 22, 24 include two types of pairs: a straight pair 22 and a cross pair 24. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the straight pairs 22 and the cross pairs 24 are alternately arranged in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). Furthermore, the ground terminals 26 are arranged between the straight pairs 22 and the cross pairs 24 and outside both of the arrangement ranges of the straight pairs 22 and the cross pairs 24. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2B, the ground terminal 26, the cross pair 24, the ground terminal 26, and the straight pair 22 are arranged in this order from the Y1 side, with the ground terminals 26 located at both ends of the terminal row.

[0030] The straight pair 22 has a pair of straight terminals 23 that extend vertically from one end to the other at a distance. As shown in Fig. 2(B) , the pair of straight terminals 23 have shapes that are symmetrical both left to right and up to down when viewed in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the straight terminals 23. The straight terminals 23 have signal connection portions 23A at both ends in the vertical direction for connection to mating straight terminals 53 (described later) of the mating connectors 2 and 3.

[0031] The cross pair 24 includes a pair of cross terminals 25. When viewed in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the cross terminals 25, the pair of cross terminals 25 overlap each other by bending the intermediate portions located between the top and bottom ends of the pair of cross terminals 25 toward each other in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). At this overlapping position, the pair of cross terminals 25 are bent in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) so as to move away from each other in the thickness direction, and cross each other without contacting each other. As shown in FIG. 2(B), the pair of cross terminals 25 are symmetrical with each other in both the left-right and top-bottom directions when viewed in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the cross terminals 25. The cross terminals 25 have signal connection portions 25A at both ends in the top-bottom direction for connection to mating straight terminals 53 (described later) of the mating connectors 2 and 3.

[0032] 2(B), the ground terminal 26 is formed to be wider in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) than the straight terminal 23 and the cross terminal 25. The ground terminal 26 has ground connection portions 26A at both ends in the vertical direction for connection to first mating ground plates 54 (described later) of the mating connectors 2 and 3.

[0033] The straight pair 22, the cross pair 24, and the ground terminal 26 are arranged in the order shown in Fig. 2(B) and are held by the substrate 21 by integral molding. When the straight pair 22, the cross pair 24, and the ground terminal 26 are held by the substrate 21, the signal connection portions 23A, 25A and the ground connection portion 26A are exposed from the plate surface on the X1 side of the substrate 21 as shown in Fig. 2(A), and can come into contact with the mating straight terminal 53 or the first mating ground plate 54 of the mating connectors 2, 3 at the exposed surface.

[0034] The ground plates 27, 28 are attached to the base material 21 by, for example, ultrasonic welding so as to cover almost the entire surface of the base material 21. In this embodiment, the first ground plate 27 is formed to be slightly shorter than the base material 21 in the vertical direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, the upper and lower signal connection portions 23A, 25A and the ground connection portion 26A are exposed from the surface of the base material 21 on the X1 side. On the other hand, the second ground plate 28 is formed to have almost the same length as the base material 21 in the vertical direction, in other words, longer than the first ground plate 27. The upper and lower ends of the second ground plate 28 are located at almost the same positions as the upper and lower ends of the base material 21. The ground plates 27, 28 have bent protrusions 27A, 28A that protrude toward the ground terminal 26 in the thickness direction of the blade 20 (X-axis direction) and extend in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) at the same position as the ground terminal 26 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), and the protrusions 27A, 28A have apexes that contact the plate surface of the ground terminal 26 to provide electrical continuity. Fig. 2(A) shows the protrusion 27A of the first ground plate 27, and Fig. 1 shows the protrusion 28A of the second ground plate 28.

[0035] The plurality of blades 20 arranged in the relay connector 1 in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) are positioned such that adjacent blades 20 are offset from each other in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the middle portion of three blades 20 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, adjacent pair signal terminals 22, 24 on each blade 20 are arranged at a distance of pitch P. Here, pitch P is the distance between the center position of the straight terminals 23 in a straight pair 22 and the center position of the cross terminals 25 in the adjacent cross pair 24.

[0036] 3, the ground terminal 26 is arranged so that the distance between the center of the ground terminal 26 and the center of the pair of signal terminals 22, 24 adjacent to the ground terminal 26 is 0.5P (half pitch), which is half the pitch P of one terminal. In other words, the straight terminals 23, cross terminals 25, and ground terminals 26 are arranged at intervals of 0.5P (half pitch), i.e., at equal intervals. In this embodiment, the arrangement of the pair of signal terminals 22, 24 on each blade 20 is referred to as a "signal transmission line array."

[0037] In this embodiment, the straight pairs 22 and cross pairs 24 are alternately arranged in each signal transmission line array, thereby reducing far-end crosstalk (FEXT).

[0038] 3, in this embodiment, of any two adjacent signal transmission line arrays in the connector length direction (X-axis direction), the paired signal terminals 22, 24 of one of the signal transmission line arrays are arranged in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) at the center between the paired signal terminals 22, 24 of the other signal transmission line array. In other words, the paired signal terminals 22, 24 of one signal transmission line array are positioned with a deviation of 0.5P (half pitch) from the paired signal terminals 22, 24 of the other signal transmission line array.

[0039] For example, in the three signal transmission line arrays of the upper, middle, and lower rows shown in FIG. 3, when "one signal transmission line array" is the middle signal transmission line array and "the other signal transmission line array" is the upper signal transmission line array, the paired signal terminals 22, 24 of the middle signal transmission line array are positioned offset by 0.5P (half pitch) toward the Y2 side in the connector width direction relative to the paired signal terminals 22, 24 of the upper signal transmission line array.

[0040] For example, when attention is focused on a straight pair 22 (herein referred to as a "specific pair S"), which is one pair of signal terminals arbitrarily identified in the middle signal transmission line array shown in Fig. 3, there are two pair of signal terminals 22, 24 adjacent to the specific pair S in the upper signal transmission line array. Here, these two pair of signal terminals 22, 24 are referred to as a "first adjacent pair T1" and a "second adjacent pair T2," respectively. In Fig. 3, the specific pair S, the first adjacent pair T1, and the second adjacent pair T2 are each shown surrounded by a dashed line.

[0041] 3, the first adjacent pair T1 and the second adjacent pair T2 are located adjacent to each other in the same signal transmission line array (the upper signal transmission line array), with the first adjacent pair T1 being offset by 0.5P (half a pitch) toward the Y1 side in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) from the specific pair S, and the second adjacent pair T2 being offset by 0.5P (half a pitch) toward the Y2 side in the connector width direction from the specific pair S. In other words, the specific pair S is located in the center between the first adjacent pair T1 and the second adjacent pair T2 in the connector width direction. Therefore, the distance between the specific pair S and the first adjacent pair T1 is equal to the distance between the specific pair S and the second adjacent pair T2.

[0042] The first proximate pair T1 is a straight pair 22, and the second proximate pair T2 is a cross pair 24. In other words, the first proximate pair T1 is a pair of the same type as the specific pair S, and the second proximate pair T2 is a pair of a different type from the specific pair S. When a signal is transmitted through each pair signal terminal 22, 24, the polarity is inverted between the different pair signal terminals 22, 24, but the polarity is not inverted between the same pair signal terminals 22, 22. In other words, in the specific pair S, the polarity is inverted between the second proximate pair T2 and the specific pair S, but the polarity is not inverted between the first proximate pair T1 and the specific pair S. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the signal transmission directions of the specific pair S, the first proximate pair T1, and the second proximate pair T2 are opposite to each other, the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) signal from the first proximate pair T1 and the NEXT signal from the second proximate pair T2 reach the specific pair S with the waveform peaks of those signals shifted from each other. Therefore, the peaks of the waveforms of the NEXT signals from the first close pair T1 and the second close pair T2 are prevented from overlapping, and the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) in the specific pair S is reduced accordingly.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the specific pair S is located in the center between the first adjacent pair T1 and the second adjacent pair T2 in the connector width direction, and the distance between the specific pair S and the first adjacent pair T1 is equal to the distance between the specific pair S and the second adjacent pair T2, so that the peaks of the NEXT signal waveforms from the first adjacent pair T1 and the second adjacent pair T2 relative to the specific pair S can be shifted to the maximum extent possible, thereby more effectively reducing NEXT at the specific pair S.

[0044] Next, the configuration of the mating connectors 2 and 3 will be described. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the mating connectors 2 and 3 have exactly the same configuration, so the following description will focus on the configuration of the mating connector 3, and the description of the mating connector 2 will be omitted, with the mating connector 2 being given the same reference numeral as the mating connector 3. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the mating connector 3 has a housing 40 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that fits into the lower receiving portion (not shown) of the lower housing 12 of the relay connector 1, a plurality of terminal holders 50 that are arranged and held in the housing 40, and two fixing members 60 made of metal plates, which will be described later.

[0045] The housing 40 is made of an electrically insulating material such as resin and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with the arrangement direction of the terminal holders 50 (X-axis direction) as its longitudinal direction (the length direction of the connector). The housing 40 has an upper housing 41 and a lower housing 42 that are separated in the vertical direction. The upper housing 41 and the lower housing 42 are connected via a fixing member 60. The housing 40 accommodates and holds a plurality of terminal holders 50 that are arranged in the length direction of the connector.

[0046] The upper housing 41 has a peripheral wall 41A that has a rectangular frame shape when viewed vertically, and multiple intermediate walls 41D that extend in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) within the space surrounded by the peripheral wall 41A. The peripheral wall 41A has two side walls 41B that extend the connector length (X-axis direction) and two end walls 41C that extend in the connector width direction, which is the short side direction perpendicular to the connector length direction, and connect the ends of the two side walls 41B. The multiple intermediate walls 41D extend in the connector width direction and connect the inner wall surfaces of the two side walls 41B. The side walls 41B are formed with multiple groove-shaped upper connecting grooves (not shown) that penetrate the connector vertically at predetermined intervals in the connector length direction.

[0047] The lower housing 42 holds a plurality of terminal holders 50 arranged at equal intervals in the length direction of the connector (X-axis direction). Groove-shaped lower connecting grooves (not shown) are formed in the two side walls 42A of the lower housing 42 at the same positions in the length direction of the connector as the upper connecting grooves of the upper housing 41. The groove-shaped lower connecting grooves penetrate vertically and communicate with the upper connecting grooves.

[0048] The fixing member 60 is formed by stamping out a metal plate member extending in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) and bending it in the plate thickness direction. The fixing member 60 extends across the entire arrangement range of the terminal holders 50 in the connector length direction and is disposed at both end positions of the mating connector 3 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). The fixing member 60 has a side plate portion (not shown) with a plate surface perpendicular to the connector width direction, and has press-fit portions (not shown) at the same positions as the upper connecting grooves of the upper housing 41 and the lower connecting grooves of the lower housing 42. The press-fit portions are press-fitted into both the upper connecting grooves and the lower connecting grooves from below, thereby holding the fixing member 60 in the housing 40. In addition, a fixing portion 61 is formed at the bottom of the fixing member 60, bent in the plate thickness direction and extending outward in the connector width direction, and can be fixed to a corresponding portion on the mounting surface of a circuit board by soldering.

[0049] 4A is a perspective view showing the terminal holder 50 of the mating connector 3 alone, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the respective components of the terminal holder 50 of FIG. 4A separated. As can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the terminal holder 50 has a holding member 51 made of an electrically insulating material such as resin, a plurality of paired signal terminals 52 made of metal plates and constituting second paired transmission lines as second signal transmission lines arranged in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) and held by the holding member 51, and a first mating ground plate 54 and a second mating ground plate 55 made of metal plates as ground members attached to plate surfaces (surfaces extending in the YZ directions) on both sides of the holding member 51 (hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the two, they will be collectively referred to as "mating ground plates 54, 55").

[0050] The holding member 51 is plate-shaped and extends across the terminal arrangement range in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). The holding member 51 is formed with holding protrusions and holding holes 51B for holding the mating grounding plates 54, 55. The holding protrusions are formed to protrude from the plate surface on both sides of the holding member 51 at the same positions in the connector width direction as held holes 54A-1, 55A-1 (described below) of the mating grounding plates 54, 55. FIG. 4(B) shows the holding protrusion 51A for holding the first mating grounding plate 54. The holding hole 51B is formed to penetrate the holding member 51 in the X-axis direction at the same positions in the connector width direction as held protrusions 54A-2, 55A-2 (described below) of the mating grounding plates 54, 55.

[0051] The plurality of paired signal terminals 52 are second paired signal terminals corresponding to paired signal terminals 22, 24, which are first paired signal terminals provided in relay connector 1 as a first electrical connector, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). As shown in Fig. 4(B), each paired signal terminal 52 has a pair of mating straight terminals 53 that form a straight pair extending at an interval from each other over the entire range from one end to the other in the vertical direction. The mating straight terminal 53 has a straight-shaped held portion 53A held by holding member 51 by integral molding, a signal elastic arm portion 53B extending upward from held portion 53A, and a signal connecting portion 53C extending downward from held portion 53A.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4B, the signal elastic arm portion 53B is formed with a terminal width dimension (width dimension in the Y-axis direction) wider than the held portion 53A and is elastically displaceable in its plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). At the upper end of the signal elastic arm portion 53B, a signal contact portion 53B-1 for contacting the signal connection portion 23A of the pair signal terminals 22, 24 provided on the relay connector 1 is formed curvedly so as to protrude toward the X2 side. As shown in FIG. 4B, the signal connection portion 53C is formed straight with the same terminal width dimension as the held portion 53A. The signal connection portion 53C is soldered to the signal circuit portion of the circuit board.

[0053] The first mating ground plate 54 is attached to the plate surface on the X1 side of the holding member 51 and has a first base portion 54A extending along the plate surface, first ground elastic arm portions 54B extending upward from the first base portion 54A at multiple positions in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), and first ground connection portions 54C extending downward from the first base portion 54A at multiple positions in the connector width direction.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4B, the first base portion 54A has retained holes 54A-1 and retained protrusions 54A-2 alternately formed at predetermined intervals in the connector width direction. The retained holes 54A-1 are rectangular through-holes formed at positions corresponding to the spaces between adjacent first grounding elastic arm portions 54B in the connector width direction. The retained protrusions 54A-2 protrude in a rectangular shape toward the X2 side on both sides of the retained hole 54A-1. The retained holes 54A-1 and retained protrusions 54A-2 are held by integral molding in a state where they are engaged with the retaining protrusions 51A and retaining holes 51B of the retaining member 51, respectively.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first ground resilient arm 54B extends upward from the upper edge of the first base 54A and has the same length as the signal resilient arm 53B of the mating straight terminal 53. The two adjacent first ground resilient arms 54B are located on either side of the pair of signal resilient arms 53B in the connector width direction. The first ground resilient arm 54B is resiliently deformable in its thickness direction (X-axis direction). Two first ground contact portions 54B-1 are formed at the upper end of the first ground resilient arm 54B, and are curved to protrude toward the X2 side for contacting the ground terminals 26 of the blades 20 of the relay connector 1. As shown in FIG. 4A, the first ground contact portions 54B-1 are located in the same row as the signal contact portions 53B-1 of the pair of mating straight terminals 53 in the connector width direction.

[0056] As shown in Fig. 4B, the first ground connection portion 54C extends downward from the lower edge of the first base portion 54A at the same position in the connector width direction as the first ground resilient arm portion 54B. The first ground connection portion 54C is located on both sides of the two signal connection portions 52C of the paired signal terminals 52 in the connector width direction (see also Fig. 5). The first ground connection portion 54C is soldered to the ground circuit portion of the circuit board.

[0057] The second mating ground plate 55 is attached to the plate surface on the X2 side of the holding member 51 and has a second base portion 55A extending along the plate surface, two second ground elastic arm portions 55B extending upward from the second base portion 55A at multiple positions in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), and second ground connection portions 55C extending downward from the second base portion 55A at multiple positions in the connector width direction.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4B, the second base portion 55A has retained holes 55A-1 and retained protrusions 55A-2 alternately formed at a predetermined interval in the connector width direction. The retained holes 55A-1 are circular through-holes that are arranged in two positions in the vertical direction at a position corresponding to the center position of the second grounding elastic arm portion 55B in the connector width direction. The retained protrusions 55A-2 protrude in a square shape toward the X1 side on both sides of the retained hole 55A-1. The retained holes 55A-1 and the retained protrusions 55A-2 are held by integral molding in a state where they are engaged with a retaining protrusion (not shown) and a retaining hole 51B of the retaining member 51, respectively. In addition, in this embodiment, when the mating grounding plates 54, 55 are held by the holding member 51, the held protrusion 54A-2 of the first mating grounding plate 54 and the held protrusion 55A-2 of the second mating grounding plate 55 are in direct contact with each other, allowing electrical conductivity.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4B, the second ground elastic arm 55B extends upward from the upper edge of the second base 55A. The two adjacent second ground elastic arms 55B are closer to each other at their upper ends than at their lower ends, and are connected at two vertical positions by connecting portions 55D extending in the connector width direction. The second ground elastic arm 55B is elastically deformable in its thickness direction (X-axis direction). Two second ground contact portions 55B-1 are formed at the upper end of the second ground elastic arm 55B, and are curved to protrude toward the X1 direction. The second ground contact portions 55B-1 are adapted to contact the second ground plate 28 of the blade 20 of the relay connector 1. The two second ground contact portions 55B-1 are located at the same positions as the signal contact portions 53B-1 of the pair of signal elastic arms 53B in the connector width direction and vertical direction, and face the two signal contact portions 53B-1, as shown in FIG. 4A.

[0060] As shown in Fig. 4(B), the second ground connection portions 55C extend downward from the lower edge of the second base portion 55A at positions corresponding to both sides of the pair of second ground resilient arm portions 55B in the connector width direction. The second ground connection portions 55C are located on both sides of the two signal connection portions 53C of the pair signal terminal 52 in the connector width direction, and are located at the same position as the first ground connection portion 54C of the first mating ground plate 54 (see also Fig. 5). The second ground connection portions 55C are soldered to the ground circuit portion of the circuit board.

[0061] The terminal holders 50 provided in the mating connector 3 are positioned such that adjacent terminal holders 50 in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) are offset from each other in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the middle portion of three terminal holders 50 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). In FIG. 5, the signal connection portion 53C, the first ground connection portion 54C, and the second ground connection portion 55C, to which the solder balls B are attached, are respectively indicated by dashed lines. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, adjacent paired signal terminals 52 in each terminal holder 50 are arranged at a distance of pitch P. Here, pitch P is the distance between the center positions of the mating straight terminals 53 in one paired signal terminal 52 and the center positions of the mating straight terminals 53 in the adjacent paired signal terminals 52.

[0062] 5, the ground connection portions 54C, 55C of the mating ground plates 54, 55 are arranged at positions such that the distance between the centers of the ground connection portions 54C, 55C and the centers of the paired signal terminals 52 adjacent to the ground connection portions 54C, 55C is 0.5P (half pitch), which is half the pitch P of one terminal. In other words, the mating straight terminals 53 and the ground connection portions 54C, 55C are arranged at intervals of 0.5P (half pitch), i.e., at equal intervals. As with the blades 20 of the relay connector 1 described above, the arrangement of the paired signal terminals 52 on each terminal holder 50 is also referred to as a "signal transmission path array."

[0063] As shown in FIG. 5, in each terminal holder 50, one first ground connection portion 54C and one second ground connection portion 55C are arranged between two paired signal terminals 52 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). The first ground connection portion 54C and the second ground connection portion 55C are positioned side by side in the width direction (X-axis direction). The first ground connection portion 54C and the second ground connection portion 55C are positioned symmetrically with respect to a line (a virtual line extending in the Y-axis direction) on which the paired signal terminals 52 are arranged. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the width range WG between both end positions of the ground connection portions 54C and 55C in the width direction (X-axis direction) exceeds the width range WS of the signal connection portion 53C.

[0064] In this manner, in the present embodiment, the width range WG of the ground connection portions 54C, 55C exceeds the width range WS of the signal connection portion 53C, and therefore, compared to a conventional case in which the signal terminal and the ground terminal have the same shape and only one ground connection portion of a ground terminal is located between the signal connection portions of adjacent signal terminals, the width range of the ground connection portion is formed to be larger than the width range of the signal connection portion, thereby making it possible to reduce crosstalk that would otherwise circumvent the ground connection portion between adjacent signal connection portions sandwiching the ground connection portion.

[0065] In addition, in this embodiment, the plurality of pair signal terminals 52 in each signal transmission line array of the mating connector 3 are connected to two types of pair signal terminals 22, 24, i.e., straight pairs 22 and cross pairs 24, which are arranged alternately in the relay connector 1, thereby reducing far-end crosstalk (FEXT).

[0066] 5, in this embodiment, of any two adjacent signal transmission line arrays in the connector length direction (X-axis direction), the paired signal terminals 52 of one of the signal transmission line arrays are arranged in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) at the center between the paired signal terminals 52 of the other signal transmission line array. In other words, the paired signal terminals 52 of one signal transmission line array are positioned with a deviation of 0.5P (half pitch) from the paired signal terminals 52 of the other signal transmission line array.

[0067] For example, in the three signal transmission line arrays of the upper, middle, and lower rows shown in FIG. 5, when "one signal transmission line array" is the middle signal transmission line array and "the other signal transmission line array" is the upper signal transmission line array, the paired signal terminals 52 of the middle signal transmission line array are positioned offset by 0.5P (half pitch) toward the Y2 side in the connector width direction relative to the paired signal terminals 52 of the upper signal transmission line array.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 5, when attention is focused on one pair signal terminal 52 (herein referred to as "specific pair Q") arbitrarily identified in the middle-stage signal transmission line array, there are two pair signal terminals 52 adjacent to the specific pair Q in the upper-stage signal transmission line array. Here, these two pair signal terminals 52 are referred to as the "first adjacent pair R1" and the "second adjacent pair R2," respectively. In Fig. 5, the specific pair Q, the first adjacent pair R1, and the second adjacent pair R2 are each shown surrounded by a dashed line.

[0069] 5, the first adjacent pair R1 and the second adjacent pair R2 are located adjacent to each other in the same signal transmission line array (the upper signal transmission line array), with the first adjacent pair R1 being offset by 0.5P (half a pitch) toward the Y1 side in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) from the specific pair Q, and the second adjacent pair R2 being offset by 0.5P (half a pitch) toward the Y2 side in the connector width direction from the specific pair Q. In other words, the specific pair Q is located in the center between the first adjacent pair R1 and the second adjacent pair R2 in the connector width direction. Therefore, the distance between the specific pair Q and the first adjacent pair R1 is equal to the distance between the specific pair Q and the second adjacent pair R2.

[0070] The specific pair Q is connected to one of the straight pairs 22 and the cross pairs 24 of the relay connector 1. Furthermore, when the first adjacent pair R1 is connected to a pair of the same type as the pair to which the specific pair Q is connected, the second adjacent pair R2 is connected to a pair of a different type from the pair to which the specific pair Q is connected. Therefore, the specific pair Q has a polarity inverse relationship with the second adjacent pair R2, but a polarity inverse relationship with the first adjacent pair R1. As a result, in this embodiment, when the signal transmission directions of the specific pair Q, the first adjacent pair R1, and the second adjacent pair R2 are opposite to each other, the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) signal from the first adjacent pair R1 and the NEXT signal from the second adjacent pair R2 reach the specific pair Q with their waveform peaks offset from each other. Therefore, overlapping of the waveform peaks of the NEXT signals from the first adjacent pair R1 and the second adjacent pair R2 is avoided, thereby reducing the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) in the specific pair Q.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the specific pair Q is located in the center between the first adjacent pair R1 and the second adjacent pair R2 in the connector width direction, and the distance between the specific pair Q and the first adjacent pair R1 is equal to the distance between the specific pair Q and the second adjacent pair R2. Therefore, the peaks of the NEXT signal waveforms from the first adjacent pair R1 and the second adjacent pair R2 relative to the specific pair Q can be shifted to the maximum extent possible, thereby more effectively reducing NEXT at the specific pair Q.

[0072] 6 is a bottom view showing some vias in a circuit board C on which a mating connector 3 is mounted. The circuit board C has a signal circuit section to which a mating straight terminal 53 of the mating connector 3 is connected and a ground circuit section to which mating ground plates 54 and 55 are connected. The signal circuit section has, on the mounting surface of the circuit board C, a plurality of signal lands (not shown) as a mounting surface section to which signal connection portions 53C of the mating straight terminal 53 are soldered, and a plurality of signal vias VS located within the thickness of the circuit board C corresponding to each signal land and electrically connected to the signal lands. The ground circuit section has, on the mounting surface of the circuit board C, a plurality of ground lands (not shown) as a mounting surface section to which ground connection portions 54C and 55C of the mating ground plates 54 and 55 are soldered, and a plurality of ground vias VG located within the thickness of the circuit board C corresponding to each ground land and electrically connected to the ground lands.

[0073] On the mounting surface of the circuit board C, the signal lands and ground lands are each circular and are arranged in a positional relationship corresponding to the connection portions 53C, 54C, and 55C on the mounting surface of the circuit board C. The signal vias VS and ground vias VG (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be collectively referred to as "vias VS, VG") are located in the center of the corresponding signal lands and ground lands when viewed in the vertical direction, and form cylindrical shapes extending vertically within the thickness of the circuit board.

[0074] As shown in Figure 6, the vias VS and VG are positioned in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), with the ground vias VG corresponding to one first ground connection portion 54C and one second ground connection portion 55C located between two signal vias VS corresponding to a pair of two signal connection portions 53C, in the connector length direction (X-axis direction), in other words, in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the terminal holder 50.

[0075] 6, in this embodiment, adjacent signal vias VS, and adjacent signal vias VS and ground vias VG are arranged at a pitch P in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). Hereinafter, the arrangement of signal vias VS in the connector width direction corresponding to one terminal holder 50 will be referred to as a "via row." In addition, in each via row, a pair of signal vias corresponding to a pair of signal terminals 52 will be referred to as a "via pair."

[0076] The two ground vias VG arranged side by side in the width direction are positioned symmetrically with respect to the line (a virtual line extending in the Y-axis direction) on which the signal vias VS are arranged. In other words, in the width direction (X-axis direction), the width range WVG between both end positions of the two ground vias VG extends beyond the width range WVS of the signal connection portion.

[0077] In this embodiment, the width range WVG of the ground vias VG exceeds the width range WVS of the signal vias VS, so compared to the conventional case where the signal vias and the ground vias have the same shape and only one ground via is located between adjacent signal vias, the width range of the ground vias is made larger than the width range of the signal vias, which results in a reduction in crosstalk that goes around the ground via between adjacent signal vias with a ground via in between.

[0078] In addition, in this embodiment, the multiple via pairs VS in each via row correspond to two types of paired signal terminals 22, 24, i.e., straight pairs 22 and cross pairs 24, arranged alternately in the relay connector 1, thereby reducing far-end crosstalk (FEXT).

[0079] 5, in this embodiment, the via pairs in one of any two adjacent via rows in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) are arranged at the center between the via pairs in the other via row in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, the via pairs in one via row are shifted by 0.5P (half pitch) relative to the via pairs in the other via row.

[0080] For example, in the three via rows shown in Figure 6, the upper, middle, and lower rows, if "one via row" is the middle via row and "the other via row" is the upper via row, the via pairs in the middle via row are positioned 0.5P (half pitch) away from the via pairs in the upper via row toward the Y2 side in the connector width direction.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 6, when focusing on one via pair (herein referred to as "specific pair M") arbitrarily identified in the middle via row, there are two via pairs adjacent to the specific pair M in the upper via row. Herein, these two via pairs are respectively referred to as "first adjacent pair N1" and "second adjacent pair N2." In Fig. 5, the specific pair M, the first adjacent pair N1, and the second adjacent pair N2 are each shown surrounded by a dashed line.

[0082] As with the via pairs of the circuit board C, similar to the description of the relay connector 1 and the mating connector 3 based on Figures 3 and 5, the specific pair M is located in the center between the first adjacent pair N1 and the second adjacent pair N2 in the connector width direction, as shown in Figure 6, and the distance between the specific pair M and the first adjacent pair N1 is equal to the distance between the specific pair M and the second adjacent pair N2.

[0083] Furthermore, in a specific pair M, when one of the first proximity pair N1 and the second proximity pair N2 (for example, the first proximity pair N1) has a mutually inverted polarity, the other (for example, the second proximity pair N2) has a mutually inverted polarity. As a result, similar to the case described above for the relay connector 1 and the mating connector 3, overlapping of peaks of the NEXT signal waveforms from both the first proximity pair R1 and the second proximity pair R2 with respect to the specific pair M is avoided, and the near-end crosstalk (NEXT) in the specific pair M is reduced accordingly.

[0084] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the specific pair M is located in the center between the first adjacent pair N1 and the second adjacent pair N2 in the connector width direction, and the distance between the specific pair M and the first adjacent pair N1 is equal to the distance between the specific pair M and the second adjacent pair N2, so the peaks of the NEXT signal waveforms from the first adjacent pair N1 and the second adjacent pair N2 relative to the specific pair M can be shifted to the maximum extent possible, thereby more effectively reducing NEXT at the specific pair Q.

[0085] The connector mating operation between the relay connector 1 and the mating connectors 2 and 3 will be described. First, the mating connectors 2 and 3 are soldered and attached to different circuit boards (not shown). Next, as shown in Figure 1, the mating connector 3 is positioned so that the signal contact portion 53B-1 and the ground contact portions 54B-1 and 55B-1 are located on the upper side, and the relay connector 1 is positioned above the mating connector 3.

[0086] Next, the relay connector 1 is moved downward (see the arrows in FIG. 1 ), and each blade 20 is inserted from above into the corresponding terminal holder 50 of the mating connector 3 to connect them. When the relay connector 1 and the mating connector 3 are completely mated, the signal connection portions 23A and 25A of the paired signal terminals 22 and 24 and the ground connection portion 26A of the ground terminal 26 provided on each blade 20 come into contact with the signal contact portion 53B-1 of the paired signal terminal 52 provided on the mating connector 3 and the first ground contact portion 54B-1 of the first mating ground plate 54 with pressure, thereby establishing electrical continuity. In addition, the second ground plate 28 of each blade 20 comes into contact with the second ground contact portion 55B-1 of the second mating ground plate 55 of the mating connector 3 with pressure, thereby establishing electrical continuity. At this time, the signal contact portion 53B-1 and the ground contact portions 54B-1 and 55B-1 of the mating connector 3 are subjected to pressing force from the blades 20 and elastically displaced in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction).

[0087] Next, the mating connector 2 is mated and connected to the relay connector 1 from above in an upside-down position (the position shown in FIG. 1) relative to the mating connector 3 (see the arrow in FIG. 1). The mating connection procedure for the mating connector 2 is the same as that already described for the mating connector 3.

[0088] In this way, the mating connector 2 and the mating connector 3 are fitted and connected to the relay connector 1, and the mating connector 2 and the mating connector 3 are electrically connected via the relay connector 1.

[0089] In the relay connector 1 of the present embodiment described above, a plurality of blades 20 are arranged in the length direction of the connector (X-axis direction), and the signal transmission line provided on each blade 20 is a plurality of terminals arranged in the width direction of the connector, namely, straight terminals 23 and cross terminals 25. However, the signal transmission line in the present invention is not limited to being a terminal, and may be, for example, a conductive pattern formed on a relay circuit board as shown in Figs. 7(A) and (B) as a modified example.

[0090] Fig. 7(A) is a perspective view showing a relay circuit board of a relay connector in a modified example alone, and Fig. 7(B) is a front view showing the conductive patterns and ground vias of the relay circuit board of Fig. 7(A). In the relay connector (not shown) in this modified example, a plurality of relay circuit boards 120 shown in Fig. 7(A) are arranged in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) and are accommodated in a housing (not shown).

[0091] The relay circuit board 120 has a base material 121 made of an electrically insulating material such as resin, conductive patterns (paired conductive patterns 122, 124 described later) forming paired transmission paths as signal transmission paths formed on the base material 121, a plurality of ground vias 126 positioned between the paired conductive patterns 122, 124, and ground layers 127, 128 (a first ground layer 127 and a second ground layer 128 described later) formed so as to cover both plate surfaces (surfaces perpendicular to the plate thickness direction (Z-axis direction)) of the base material 121.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 7(A), the base material 121 has two supported protrusions 121A formed protruding from the center of both vertically extending edges, and is supported by the housing by these supported protrusions 121A. Furthermore, the base material 121 has a plurality of vertically extending strip-shaped conductive patterns formed thereon and arranged in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) (see FIG. 7(B)). The plurality of conductive patterns include paired conductive patterns 122, 124 as paired transmission lines. The paired conductive patterns 122, 124 include two types of pairs: straight pairs 122 and cross pairs 124. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7(B), the straight pairs 122 and the cross pairs 124 are alternately arranged in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction).

[0093] The straight pair 122 has a pair of straight patterns 123 that extend at a distance from each other over the entire range from one end to the other in the vertical direction. The pair of straight patterns 123 have shapes that are symmetrical left to right and up to down when viewed in the thickness direction of the substrate 121 (the X-axis direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 7(B)). The straight pattern 123 has a signal connection portion 123A for connection with a mating connector (not shown), multiple thin strip portions 123B that are divided and extend in the vertical direction, and multiple signal vias (not shown) that extend within the thickness direction of the substrate 121 (the X-axis direction).

[0094] As shown in Fig. 7(B), the signal connection portions 123A are located at both ends of the straight pattern 123 in the vertical direction, and as shown in Fig. 7(A), are exposed from the X1-side plate surface of the substrate 21. In this embodiment, the thin strip portion 123B is formed across two layers within the thickness of the substrate 121. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7(B), the thin strip portion 123B is divided into three parts in the vertical direction, and has long thin strip portions 123B-1 located in the upper and lower ranges, respectively, and a short thin strip portion 123B-2 located in the middle range.

[0095] In this embodiment, the two long strip portions 123B-1 are formed in a layer located on the X1 side (the front side in Figure 7(B)) in the thickness direction of the substrate 121 (the X-axis direction perpendicular to the paper surface in Figure 7(B)), and the short strip portion 123B-2 is formed in a layer located on the X2 side (the back side in Figure 7(B)).

[0096] Signal vias (not shown) are cylindrical and extend in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the substrate 121 at both ends in the up-down direction of each of the three portions of the strip portion 123B. The signal vias electrically connect the three portions of the strip portion 123B together, and also connect the upper and lower ends of the strip portion 123B to the signal connection portion 123A. As a result, a single signal transmission path is formed by a single straight pattern 123 formed by the signal connection portion 123A, the strip portion 123B, and the signal vias.

[0097] In this embodiment, as described above, by including a signal via extending across two layers in the straight pattern 123, the signal transmission path in the straight pattern 123 is adjusted to be approximately the same length as the signal transmission path in the cross pattern 125 of the cross pair 124, which will be described later.

[0098] The cross pair 124 has a pair of cross patterns 125. The pair of cross patterns 125 are bent at their vertical midpoints in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the substrate 121 so as to move away from each other in the thickness direction, and as shown in FIG. 7(B), they cross each other without contacting each other. When viewed in the thickness direction of the substrate 121 (the X-axis direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 7(B)), the pair of cross patterns 125 have shapes that are asymmetrical from left to right and vertically. Like the straight pattern 123, the cross pattern 125 also has a signal connection portion 125A for connection with a mating connector (not shown), multiple strip portions 125B that are divided and extend in the vertical direction, and multiple signal vias (not shown) that extend within the thickness direction of the substrate 121 (X-axis direction).

[0099] The cross pattern 125 has a common configuration with the already described straight pattern 123 except for the thin strip portion 125B, and therefore the common portions will be denoted by reference numerals that add "2" to the reference numerals of the corresponding portions in the straight pattern 123 and will not be described further. The thin strip portion 125B of the cross pattern 125 has two long thin strip portions 123B-1 and one short thin strip portion 123B-2 connected by a signal via.

[0100] 7(B), of the four long strips 125B-1 in the pair of cross patterns 125 that make up the cross pair 124, only one long strip 125B-1 located on the Y2 side and the upper (Z1) side is slightly longer than the other three long strips 125B-1. Specifically, the lower end of the long strip 125B-1 forms an inclined portion 125B-1A that extends in an inclined manner toward the Y1 side, and the long strip 125B-1 is longer than the other three long strips 125B-1 by the length of the inclined portion 125B-1A.

[0101] All of the long strips 125B-1 of the pair of cross patterns 125 are formed in layers located on the X1 side (the near side in FIG. 7(B)) in the thickness direction (the X-axis direction perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 7(B)) of the substrate 121. On the other hand, the short strips 125B-2 are formed in layers located on the X2 side (the far side in FIG. 7(B)).

[0102] 7(B), one short strip 125B-2 connected to the inclined portion 125B-1A extends vertically without inclination and is shorter than the other short strip 125B-2 described below. On the other hand, the other short strip 125B-2 extends downwardly inclined toward the Y2 side when viewed in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the substrate 121, and intersects with the inclined portion 125B-1A. The other short strip 125B-2 is formed slightly longer than the inclined portion 125B-1A.

[0103] In this way, the inclined portion 125B-1A of the long strip portion 125B-1 and the other short strip portion 125B-2 of the pair of cross patterns 125 intersect with each other to prevent contact with each other. In addition, by forming one of the short strip portions 125B-2 in the layer located on the X2 side (the back side in FIG. 7(B)), the number of signal vias is increased, and as a result, the lengths of the signal transmission paths of the two cross patterns 125 that make up the cross pair 124 are made approximately the same length.

[0104] 7(B), a plurality of ground vias 126 are arranged in the vertical direction between the straight pair 122 and the cross pair 124 in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction). The ground vias 126 are cylindrical and extend in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) within the thickness of the substrate 121, and connect a first ground layer 127 and a second ground layer 128, which will be described later. The greater the number of ground vias 126 arranged in the vertical direction, the greater the effect of reducing crosstalk between the adjacent straight pair 122 and cross pair 124.

[0105] The ground layers 127 and 128 are made of metal and have a layered shape. The first ground layer 127 covers the X1-side surface of the substrate 121, and the second ground layer 128 covers the X2-side surface of the substrate 121. The ground layers 127 and 128 are formed in a range from the upper end to the lower end of the substrate 121. As shown in FIG. 7A, the upper and lower ends of the ground layer 127 are cut out in portions corresponding to the signal connection portions 123A and 125A of the paired conductive patterns 122 and 124 in the connector width direction, thereby exposing the signal connection portions 123A and 125A. The remaining portions of the upper and lower ends of the first ground layer 127 form ground connection portions 127A for connection to a ground member (not shown) of a mating connector. On the other hand, the upper and lower ends of the second ground layer 128 are not cut out at any part, and form ground connection parts 128A for connection to a ground member (not shown) of a mating connector.

[0106] In the modification shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of relay circuit boards 120 having such a configuration are arranged in the length direction of the connector, and adjacent relay circuit boards are arranged with a half-pitch offset in the width direction of the connector, similar to the blades 20 in the embodiment already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, thereby reducing near-end crosstalk (NEXT).

[0107] In the present embodiment and the modified examples, an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to a so-called three-piece connector in which two electrical connectors (mating connectors) are electrically connected to each other via one relay electrical connector (relay connector), but the number of connected electrical connectors is not limited to three. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called two-piece connector consisting of only two connectors that are mated and connected to each other.

[0108] In the present embodiment, in the relay connector 1, the straight terminal 23, the cross terminal 25, the ground terminal 26, and the ground plates 27 and 28 are configured as part of the blade 20 held in the housing 10. In addition, in the mating connectors 2 and 3, the mating straight terminal 53 and the mating ground plates 54 and 55 are configured as part of the terminal holder 50 held in the housing 40. In addition, in the modified example shown in Figures 7(A) and (B), the straight pattern 123, the cross pattern 125, the ground via 126, and the ground layers 127 and 128 are configured as part of the relay circuit board 120 held in the housing. That is, in the present embodiment and the modified example, the signal transmission line and the ground member are indirectly held in the housing in the relay connector and the mating connector, but instead, the signal transmission line and the ground member may be directly held in the housing.

[0109] In this embodiment, the ground connection portions 54C, 55C of the two mating ground plates 54, 55 are located at the same position in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), but this is not essential. For example, the ground connection portions of the two ground plates may be offset from each other in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction) to form a staggered pattern overall.

[0110] In addition, in this embodiment, the ground connection portions 54C, 55C of the mating ground plates 54, 55 are linear and extend downward parallel to the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), but the shape of the ground connection portions 54C, 55C is not limited to this. For example, the ground connection portions may be linear and inclined relative to the vertical direction, or may be bent at their midpoints. In this case, for example, the ground connection portions of the two ground plates may extend on sides that are farther apart from each other. Alternatively, the ground connection portions of the two ground plates may extend on sides that are closer to each other, so that the ground connection portion of one ground plate extends toward the other ground plate.

[0111] In this embodiment, the mating connectors 2 and 3 are provided with mating ground plates 54 and 55 as ground members, but as a modified example, ground terminals may also be provided as ground members. For example, by arranging a ground terminal between paired signal terminals in the connector width direction (Y-axis direction), the ground connection portions of the ground plates and the ground connection portions of the ground terminals are positioned side by side in the connector length direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the connector width direction, and these ground connection portions form a width range (a range corresponding to WG in FIG. 5). In this modified example, the number of ground connection portions of the ground terminals increases, thereby reducing crosstalk that circumvents the ground connection portions.

[0112] In yet another modification, the effect of reducing crosstalk can be improved by providing multiple ground connection portions aligned along the length of the connector on one ground terminal, or by providing multiple ground terminals along the length of the connector. Also, in this modification, providing a ground plate is not essential.

[0113] In this embodiment, each of the mating connectors 2 and 3 is provided with two mating ground plates as ground members, i.e., a first mating ground plate 54 and a second mating ground plate 55. Alternatively, a single mating ground plate may be provided. In this case, for example, the portion of the ground connection part of the mating ground plate that is soldered to the mounting surface part of the circuit board may be formed to extend along the mounting surface, and the width range of this portion (range in the X-axis direction) may be made to exceed the width range of the connection part of the signal transmission path.

[0114] In this embodiment, the signal transmission line is a pair of transmission lines, and an example of applying the present invention to an electrical connector that transmits high-speed differential signals over the pair of transmission lines has been described. However, in the present invention, the signal transmission line does not necessarily have to be a pair of transmission lines, and a single transmission line may also be used. For example, the signal transmission line may be a single terminal or a single conductive pattern as a single transmission line.

[0115] In this embodiment, the mounting surface portion of the circuit board is a land connected to a via, but the form of the mounting surface portion is not limited to this and may be, for example, a pad connected to a so-called pattern arranged on the mounting surface of the circuit board.

[0116] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the terminals of each connector 1, 2, 3 and the circuit portions of the circuit board are positioned with a shift in the connector width direction between adjacent rows, but the present invention is also applicable to connectors and circuit boards in which the terminals and circuit portions are arranged in the same position between adjacent rows without any shift in the connector width direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1 relay connector 2 Mating connector 3 Mating connector 10. Housing 22,122 straight pair 23,123 Straight terminal 24,124 Cross Pair 25,125 Cross terminal 23A, 123A signal connection 25A, 124A signal connection 52 Pair signal terminal (signal transmission path) 53 Mating straight terminal (signal transmission line) 53C Signal Connection 54 First mating ground plate (ground member) 54C First ground connection 55 Second mating ground plate (ground member) 55C Secondary Ground Connection C. Circuit board VS signal via VG ground via

Claims

1. a plurality of signal transmission lines that are solder-connected to a signal circuit section of the circuit board at a plurality of positions spaced apart in an arrangement direction parallel to a mounting surface of the circuit board; at least one ground member solder-connected to the ground circuit portion of the circuit board; the signal transmission path has a signal connection portion solder-connected to the signal circuit portion, the ground member has a ground connection portion solder-connected to the ground circuit portion, In the electrical connector, the ground connection portion is located between the signal connection portions of the adjacent signal transmission lines in the arrangement direction, the signal transmission path is a single transmission path, the signal transmission lines arranged in the arrangement direction form a signal transmission line array, the signal transmission line array is provided in a plurality of rows at intervals in a width direction parallel to the mounting surface and perpendicular to the arrangement direction, a signal connection portion of one of two adjacent signal transmission line arrays is positioned offset in the arrangement direction with respect to a signal connection portion of the other signal transmission line array; the ground connection portion of the ground member is provided along the width direction, and the width range between both end positions of the ground connection portion in the width direction exceeds the width range of the signal connection portion of the signal transmission path.

2. 2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said signal transmission line is a single terminal.

3. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the ground connection portion is a part of a ground plate serving as the ground member.

4. 3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the ground connection portion is a part of a ground terminal serving as the ground member.

5. 5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the ground connection portions are arranged in the width direction between the signal connection portions.

6. 6. An electrical connector with a circuit board, comprising: an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5; and a circuit board provided with a signal circuit section to which a signal connection section of a signal transmission line in the electrical connector is soldered and a ground circuit section to which a ground connection section of a ground member is soldered, wherein the electrical connector is mounted on the circuit board.

7. a plurality of the ground connection portions are arranged in the width direction between the signal connection portions, the ground circuit portion of the circuit board has a plurality of mounting surface portions located on the mounting surface of the circuit board corresponding to the plurality of ground connection portions, 7. The electrical connector with a circuit board according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of ground connection portions are soldered to the mounting surface portion.

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