Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end for mating with a mating connector along a mating direction, an opposite cable end and a top floor. The housing defines a housing cavity. The electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board at least partially disposed in the housing cavity and including a front side at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector assembly and a rear side opposite the front side. The electrical connector assembly includes an electrical cable disposed in the cable end. The top floor extends longitudinally along the mating direction between a front longitudinal edge at or proximate the mating end of the housing and an opposite rear longitudinal edge, and opposing sidewalls co-extensive with at least most of the top floor along the mating direction and extending upwardly from corresponding opposing lateral edges of the top floor.

Description

PA103065W002ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLYTechnical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly.Background

[0002] An electrical connector assembly is generally used to connect a cable or a cable assembly from one device (e.g., a server, a network switching system, a client device, etc.) to another device (e.g., another server) for various applications, such as data processing, data transmission, and data reception.Summary

[0003] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a mating end for mating with a mating connector along a mating direction and an opposite cable end for receiving an electric cable. The electrical connector further includes a housing. The housing includes an upper housing portion removably assembled to a lower housing portion. The upper and lower housing portions define a housing cavity therebetween. The electrical connector further includes a circuit board at least partially disposed in the housing cavity. The circuit board includes a front side at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector. The front side includes a plurality of conductive front pads. The circuit board further includes a rear side opposite the front side and disposed inside the housing cavity. The rear side includes a plurality of conductive rear pads for making electrical contact with conductive wires of the electric cable. The rear pads are electrically connected to the front pads. The upper housing portion includes an upper floor extending longitudinally along the mating direction between a front longitudinal edge of the upper floor at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector and an opposite rear longitudinal edge of the upper floor. The upper housing portion further includes opposing upper sidewalls co-extensive with at least most of the upper floor along the mating direction and extending upwardly away from the lower housing portion from corresponding opposing lateral edges of the upper floor. Each of the upper sidewalls has a front inclined wall portion proximate the front longitudinal edge of the upper floor. The front inclined wall portion tapers downwardly in height toward the front longitudinal edge with an average taper angle al of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to a substantially zero height at a first location on the corresponding lateral edge of the upper floor. The upper floor includes a flange portion extending forwardly from the first locations of the lateral edges to the front longitudinal edge and having a substantially constant thickness.

[0004] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end for mating with a matingconnector along a mating direction, an opposite cable end and a top floor. The housing defines a housing cavity. The electrical connector assembly further includes a circuit board at least partially disposed in the housing cavity. The circuit board includes a front side at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector assembly. The front side includes a plurality of conductive front pads. The circuit board further includes a rear side opposite the front side. The rear side includes a plurality of conductive rear pads. The electrical connector assembly further includes an electrical cable disposed in the cable end of the electrical connector assembly. The electrical cable includes a plurality of conductive wires for making electrical contact with the rear pads of the circuit board. The top floor extends longitudinally along the mating direction between a front longitudinal edge of the top floor at or proximate the mating end of the housing and an opposite rear longitudinal edge of the top floor. Opposing sidewalls are co-extensive with at least most of the top floor along the mating direction and extend upwardly from corresponding opposing lateral edges of the top floor. Each of the sidewalls has a front inclined wall portion proximate the front longitudinal edge of the top floor. The front inclined wall portion tapers downwardly in height toward the front longitudinal edge with an average taper angle of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to a substantially zero height at a first location on the corresponding lateral edge of the top floor. The top floor includes a flange portion extending forwardly from the first locations of the lateral edges to the front longitudinal edge. The flange portion has a substantially constant thickness. Lateral edges of the flange portion taper inwardly toward each other along the mating direction to the front longitudinal edge.

[0005] The details of one or more examples of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.Brief Description of Drawings

[0006] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the following figures. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labelled with the same number.

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an electrical connector assembly and an electrical connector, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of a mating connector, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIGS. 3 A and 3B illustrate schematic perspective views of the electrical connector and a connector organizer, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a connector organizer assembly and mating connectors, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic front view of a housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate schematic views of the electrical connector, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate schematic views of the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0014] FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate schematic views depicting a first securing feature of the electrical connector and a second securing feature of the connector organizer, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Detailed Description

[0015] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that form a part thereof and in which various embodiments are shown by way of illustration. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0016] In the following disclosure, the following definitions are adopted.

[0017] As used herein, “a,” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably.

[0018] As used herein as a modifier to a property or attribute, the term “generally,” unless otherwise specifically defined, means that the property or attribute would be readily recognizable by a person of ordinary skill but without requiring absolute precision or a perfect match (e.g., within + / - 20 % for quantifiable properties).

[0019] The term “substantially,” unless otherwise specifically defined, means to a high degree of approximation (e.g., within + / - 10% for quantifiable properties) but again without requiring absolute precision or a perfect match.

[0020] As used herein, all numbers should be considered modified by the term “about.” The term “about,” unless otherwise specifically defined, means to a high degree of approximation (e.g., within + / - 5% for quantifiable properties) but again without requiring absolute precision or a perfect match.

[0021] As used herein, the terms “first” and “second” are used as identifiers. Therefore, such terms should not be construed as limiting of this disclosure. The terms “first” and “second” when used in conjunction with a feature or an element can be interchanged throughout the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0022] As used herein, when a first material is termed as “similar” to a second material, at least 90 weight % of the first and second materials are identical and any variation between the first and second materials comprises less than about 10 weight % of each of the first and second materials.

[0023] As used herein, “at least one of A and B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.”

[0024] As used herein, the term “between about,” unless otherwise specifically defined, generally refers to an inclusive or a closed range. For example, if a parameter X is between about A and B, then A< X < B.

[0025] An electrical connector assembly is generally used to connect a cable or a cable assembly from one device (e.g., a server, a network switching system, a client device, etc.) to another device (e.g., another server) for various applications, such as data processing, data transmission, and data reception.

[0026] A connector organizer may facilitate simultaneous mating of a plurality of connectors with corresponding plurality of mating connectors instead of plugging in each connector with the corresponding mating connector individually.

[0027] However, simultaneous mating of the connectors with the corresponding mating connectors via the connector organizer, may have limited lead-in for each of the connectors to cleanly enter the corresponding mating connector. This may lead to stubbing of the connectors on a front portion of the mating connectors and thereby may prevent mating of any of the connectors with the mating connectors.

[0028] The present disclosure relates to an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end for mating with a mating connector along a mating direction, an opposite cable end and a top floor. The mating end, the opposite cable end and the top floor defines a housing cavity. The electrical connector assembly further includes a circuit board at least partially disposed in the housing cavity. The circuit board includes a front side at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector assembly. The front side includes a plurality of conductive front pads. The circuit board further includes a rear side opposite the front side. The rear side includes a plurality of conductive rear pads. The electrical connector assembly further includes an electrical cable disposed in the cable end of the electrical connector assembly. The electrical cable includes a plurality of conductive wires for making electrical contact with the rear pads of the circuit board. The top floor extends longitudinally along the mating direction between a front longitudinal edge of the top floor at or proximate the mating end of the housing and an opposite rear longitudinal edge of the top floor. Opposing sidewalls are co-extensive with at least most of the top floor along the mating direction and extend upwardly from corresponding opposing lateral edges of the top floor. Each of the sidewalls has a front inclined wall portion proximate the front longitudinal edge of the top floor. The front inclined wall portion tapers downwardly in height toward the front longitudinal edge with an average taper angle of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to a substantially zeroheight at a first location on the corresponding lateral edge of the top floor. The top floor includes a flange portion extending forwardly from the first locations of the lateral edges to the front longitudinal edge. The flange portion has a substantially constant thickness. The lateral edges of the flange portion taper inwardly toward each other along the mating direction to the front longitudinal edge.

[0029] Therefore, the front inclined wall portion, the flange portion, and the lateral edges of the flange portion may provide sufficient lead-in at the mating end. Thus, the electrical connector assembly may prevent stubbing of the electrical connector assembly on the front portion of the mating connectors during the simultaneous mating of the electrical connector assemblies with the corresponding mating connectors.

[0030] Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of an electrical connector assembly 300 and an electrical connector 200, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] The electrical connector 200 defines mutually orthogonal x, y, and z-axes. The x-axis is defined along a width of the electrical connector 200, while the y-axis is defined along a length of the electrical connector 200. The z-axis is defined along a thickness of the electrical connector 200.

[0032] The electrical connector assembly 300 includes a housing 20. Specifically, the electrical connector 200 includes the housing 20. In some embodiments, the electrical connector 200 is an octal small form-factor pluggable (OSFP) connector.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of a mating connector 250, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 20 has a mating end 201 for mating with the mating connector 250 along a mating direction and an opposite cable end 202. Specifically, the electrical connector 200 includes the mating end 201 for mating with the mating connector 250 along the mating direction and the opposite cable end 202 for receiving an electric cable 10 (shown in FIG. 6A). The mating direction is substantially along the y-axis.

[0035] In some embodiments, the electrical connector 200 further includes a pull tab 70 releasably assembled to the electrical connector 200 so that when the electrical connector 200 mates with the mating connector 250, pulling the pull tab 70 rearwardly away from the mating connector 250 releases the electrical connector 200 from the mating connector 250.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 20 includes an upper housing portion 21 removably assembled to a lower housing portion 22. In some embodiments, at least one of the upper and lower housing portions 21, 22 is electrically conductive. In some embodiments, at least one of the upper and lower housing portions 21, 22 is electrically insulative.

[0037] The housing 20 further includes a top floor 24. The top floor 24 may be interchangeably referred to as “the upper floor 24” herein. Specifically, the upper housing portion 21 includes the upper floor 24. The housing 20 defines a housing cavity 23. Specifically, the upper and lower housing portions 21, 22 define the housing cavity 23 therebetween.

[0038] FIGS. 3 A and 3B illustrate schematic perspective views of the electrical connector 200 and a connector organizer 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 3 A illustrates a schematic perspective view of the electrical connector 200 and the connector organizer 50 and FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic perspective view of the electrical connector 200, a plurality of other electrical connectors 210 and the connector organizer 50 forming a connector organizer assembly 60.

[0039] In some embodiments, the electrical connector 200 is configured to be inserted and secured in a slot 51 of the connector organizer 50. The connector oiganizer 50 includes a plurality of other slots 52 for receiving and securing the plurality of other electrical connectors 210 in one to one correspondence. The electrical connector 200 and the other electrical connectors 210 are received and secured in the corresponding slots 52 of the connector organizer 50 to form the connector organizer assembly 60.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the connector organizer assembly 60 and mating connectors 200’, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] When the electrical connector 200 and the other electrical connectors 210 are received and secured in the corresponding slots 52 of the connector organizer 50 to form the connector organizer assembly 60, the connector organizer assembly 60 may be moved to guide the electrical connector 200 and the other electrical connectors 210 into substantially simultaneous mating with the corresponding mating connectors 200’.

[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic front view of the housing 20, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the top floor 24 extends longitudinally along the mating direction (i.e., substantially along the y-axis) between a front longitudinal edge 24c of the top floor 24 at or proximate the mating end 201 of the housing 20 and an opposite rear longitudinal edge 24d of the top floor 24. In other words, the upper floor 24 extends longitudinally along the mating direction between the front longitudinal edge 24c of the upper floor 24 at or proximate the mating end 201 of the electrical connector 200 and the opposite rear longitudinal edge 24d of the upper floor 24. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper floor 24 extends substantially along the y-axis.

[0044] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, opposing sidewalls 25a, 25b are co-extensive with at least most of the top floor 24 along the mating direction. The sidewalls 25a, 25b may be interchangeably referred to as “the upper sidewalls 25a, 25b” herein. Specifically, the upper housing portion 21 further includes the opposing upper sidewalls 25a, 25b. In other words, the opposing upper sidewalls 25a, 25b are co-extensive with at least most of the upper floor 24 along the mating direction.

[0045] The opposing sidewalls 25a, 25b extend upwardly from corresponding opposing lateral edges 24a, 24b of the top floor 24. Specifically, the sidewall 25a extends upwardly from the lateral edge 24a and the sidewall 25a extends upwardly from the lateral edge 24b. In other words, the opposing upper sidewalls 25a, 25b extend upwardly away from the lower housing portion 22 from thecorresponding opposing lateral edges 24a, 24b of the upper floor 24. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the opposing upper sidewalls 25a, 25b extend substantially along the z-axis from the corresponding opposing lateral edges 24a, 24b of the top floor 24.

[0046] In some embodiments, the upper housing portion 21 further includes a plurality of spaced apart middle walls 29 substantially parallel with the upper sidewalls 25a, 25b disposed away from the opposing lateral edges 24a, 24b of the upper floor 24 and extending upwardly away from the lower housing portion 22, the middle walls 29 being away from the front and rear longitudinal edges 24c, 24d of the upper floor 24.

[0047] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate schematic views of the electrical connector 200, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 6A illustrates a schematic perspective view of the electrical connector 200 and the electric cable 10 and FIG. 6B illustrates a schematic perspective rear view of the electrical connector 200.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 6 A and 6B, the electrical connector assembly 300 further includes the electrical cable 10 (shown in FIG. 6A) disposed in the cable end 202 of the electrical connector assembly 300. The electrical cable 10 includes a plurality of conductive wires 11 (shown in FIG. 6B).

[0049] The electrical connector assembly 300 further includes a circuit board 40 at least partially disposed in the housing cavity 23. Specifically, the electrical connector 200 further includes the circuit board 40 at least partially disposed in the housing cavity 23.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 6 A, the circuit board 40 includes a front side 41 at or proximate the mating end 201 of the electrical connector assembly 300. Specifically, the circuit board 40 includes the front side 41 at or proximate the mating end 201 of the electrical connector 200. The front side 41 includes a plurality of conductive front pads 42.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6B, the circuit board 40 further includes a rear side 43 (shown in FIG. 6B) opposite the front side 41. The rear side 43 is disposed inside the housing cavity 23. The rear side 43 includes a plurality of conductive rear pads 44. Specifically, the rear side 43 includes the plurality of conductive rear pads 44 for making electrical contact with the conductive wires 11 of the electric cable 10. In other words, the plurality of conductive wires 11 make electrical contact with the conductive rear pads 44 of the circuit board 40. The rear pads 44 are electrically connected to the front pads 42.

[0052] In some embodiments, the conductive wires 11 of the electric cable 10 have diameters not greater than 24 American Wire Gauge (AWG). In some embodiments, the conductive wires 11 of the electric cable 10 have diameters not greater than 26 AWG. In some embodiments, the conductive wires 11 of the electric cable 10 have diameters not greater than 28 AWG. In some embodiments, the conductive wires 11 of the electric cable 10 have diameters not greater than 30 AWG.

[0053] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate schematic views of the housing 20, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 7A illustrates a schematic top view of the housing 20 and FIG. 7B illustrates a schematic side view of the housing 20.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, each of the sidewalls 25a, 25b has a front inclined wall portion 26a, 26b proximate the front longitudinal edge 24c of the top floor 24. In other words, each of the upper sidewalls 25a, 25b has the front inclined wall portion 26a, 26b proximate the front longitudinal edge 24c of the upper floor 24. Specifically, the sidewall 25a has the front inclined wall portion 26a and the sidewall 25b has the front inclined wall portion 26b.

[0055] The front inclined wall portion 26a, 26b tapers downwardly in height hl (shown in FIG. 7B) toward the front longitudinal edge 24c with an average taper angle al of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to a substantially zero height at a first location 27a, 27b on the corresponding lateral edge 24a, 24b of the top floor 24.

[0056] Specifically, the front inclined wall portion 26a tapers downwardly in the height hl toward the front longitudinal edge 24c with the average taper angle al of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to the substantially zero height at the first location 27a on the corresponding lateral edge 24a of the top floor 24. Further, the front inclined wall portion 26b tapers downwardly in the height hl toward the front longitudinal edge 24c with the average taper angle al of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to the substantially zero height at the first location 27b on the corresponding lateral edge 24b of the top floor 24.

[0057] In other words, the front inclined wall portion 26a, 26b tapers downwardly in the height hl toward the front longitudinal edge 24c with the average taper angle al of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to the substantially zero height at the first location 27a, 27b on the corresponding lateral edge 24a, 24b of the upper floor 24.

[0058] In some embodiments, the average taper angle al is between about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees, between about 35 degrees to about 65 degrees, between about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees, between about 40 degrees to about 55 degrees, or between about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees.

[0059] In some embodiments, the front inclined wall portion 26a, 26b includes a first inclined portion 26al, 26bl having a greater taper angle disposed between the first location 27a, 27b and a second inclined portion 26a2, 26b2 having a smaller taper angle. Specifically, the front inclined wall portion 26a includes the first inclined portion 26al having the greater taper angle disposed between the first location 27a and the second inclined portion 26a2 having the smaller taper angle and the front inclined wall portion 26b includes the first inclined portion 26b 1 having the greater taper angle disposed between the first location 27b and the second inclined portion 26b2 having the smaller taper angle.

[0060] A difference between the greater and smaller taper angles is at least 1 degree. In some embodiments, the difference between the greater and smaller taper angles is at least 2 degrees, at least 3 degrees, at least 4 degrees, or at least 5 degrees. The first inclined portion 26al, 26bl includes the first location 27a, 27b.

[0061] The top floor 24 includes a flange portion 28 extending forwardly from the first locations 27a, 27b of the lateral edges 24a, 24b to the front longitudinal edge 24c. The flange portion 28 has a substantially constant thickness h2 (shown in FIG. 7B). In other words, the upper floor 24 includes the flange portion 28 extending forwardly from the first locations 27a, 27b of the lateral edges 24a, 24b to the front longitudinal edge 24c and having the substantially constant thickness h2.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 7A, lateral edges 28a, 28b of the flange portion 28 taper inwardly toward each other along the mating direction (i.e., substantially along the y-axis) to the front longitudinal edge 24c.

[0063] The front inclined wall portion 26a, 26b, the flange portion 28, and the lateral edges 28a, 28b of the flange portion 28 may provide sufficient lead-in at the mating end 201. Thus, the electrical connector assembly 300 may prevent stubbing of the electrical connector assembly 300 on a front portion of the mating connectors 200’ (shown in FIG. 4) during simultaneous mating of the electrical connector assemblies 300 with the corresponding mating connectors 200’.

[0064] FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate schematic views of the electrical connector 200 including a first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0065] Specifically, FIG. 8A illustrates schematic sectional view of the electrical connector 200 including the first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb and secured in the connector organizer 50 including a second securing feature 51a, 51b, FIG. 8B illustrates schematic perspective view of the electrical connector 200 including the first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb and secured in the connector organizer 50 including the second securing feature 51a, 51b, and FIG. 8C illustrates schematic perspective view of the electrical connector 200 including the first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 1, 3A, 8A, 8B, and 8C, in some embodiments, at least one of the upper sidewalls 25a, 25b of the electrical connector 200 has the first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, the upper sidewall 25a of the electrical connector 200 has the first securing feature 3 la and the upper sidewall 25b of the electrical connector 200 has the first securing feature 3 lb.

[0067] The first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb is configured to engage the corresponding second securing feature 51a, 51b of the slot 51 of the connector organizer 50 for securing the electrical connector 200 in the slot 51. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, the first securing feature 31a is configured to engage the second securing feature 51a of the slot 51 of the connector organizer 50 and the first securing feature 3 lb is configured to engage the second securing feature 5 lb of the slot 51 of the connector organizer 50 for securing the electrical connector 200 in the slot 51.

[0068] In some embodiments, one of the first and second securing features 3 la, 3 lb, 5 la, 5 lb is a protmsion, and the other one of the first and second securing features 3 la, 3 lb, 5 la, 5 lb is a cavity. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, the first securing feature 3 la, 3 lb is the protrusion, and the second securing feature 51a, 51b is the cavity.

[0069] Therefore, the first and second securing features 3 la, 3 lb, 5 la, 5 lb of the slot 51 may secure the electrical connector 200 in the connector organizer 50 until the electrical connector 200 mates with the corresponding mating connector 200’. Further, the electrical connector 200 mates with the corresponding mating connector 200’, the first and second securing features 3 la, 3 lb, 5 la, 5 lb of the slot 51 may allow the connector organizer 50 to be removed.

[0070] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.

[0071] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and / or equivalent implementations can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical connector comprising: a mating end for mating with a mating connector along a mating direction and an opposite cable end for receiving an electric cable; a housing comprising an upper housing portion removably assembled to a lower housing portion, the upper and lower housing portions defining a housing cavity therebetween; and a circuit board at least partially disposed in the housing cavity and comprising a front side at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector and comprising a plurality of conductive front pads, and a rear side opposite the front side and disposed inside the housing cavity, the rear side comprising a plurality of conductive rear pads for making electrical contact with conductive wires of the electric cable, the rear pads electrically connected to the front pads; the upper housing portion comprising an upper floor extending longitudinally along the mating direction between a front longitudinal edge of the upper floor at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector and an opposite rear longitudinal edge of the upper floor, and opposing upper sidewalls co-extensive with at least most of the upper floor along the mating direction and extending upwardly away from the lower housing portion from corresponding opposing lateral edges of the upper floor, each of the upper sidewalls having a front inclined wall portion proximate the front longitudinal edge of the upper floor and tapering downwardly in height toward the front longitudinal edge with an average taper angle of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to a substantially zero height at a first location on the corresponding lateral edge of the upper floor, wherein the upper floor comprises a flange portion extending forwardly from the first locations of the lateral edges to the front longitudinal edge and having a substantially constant thickness.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 configured to be inserted and secured in a slot of a connector organizer, the connector organizer comprising a plurality of other slots for receiving and securing a plurality of other electrical connectors in one to one correspondence, so that when the electrical connector and the other electrical connectors are received and secured in the corresponding slots of the connector organizer to form a connector organizer assembly, the connector organizer assembly may be moved to guide the electrical connector and the other electrical connectors into substantially simultaneous mating with corresponding mating connectors,wherein, at least one of the upper side walls of the electrical connector has a first securing feature configured to engage a corresponding second securing feature of the slot of the connector organizer for securing the electrical connector in the slot.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein one of the first and second securing features is a protrusion, and the other one of the first and second securing features is a cavity.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 being an octal small form-factor pluggable (OSFP) connector.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower housing portions is electrically conductive.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper and lower housing portions is electrically insulative.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive wires of the electric cable have diameters not greater than 24 American Wire Gauge (AWG).

8. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive wires of the electric cable have diameters not greater than 26 American Wire Gauge (AWG).

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive wires of the electric cable have diameters not greater than 28 American Wire Gauge (AWG).

10. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the conductive wires of the electric cable have diameters not greater than 30 American Wire Gauge (AWG).

11. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the upper housing portion further comprises a plurality of spaced apart middle walls substantially parallel with the upper sidewalls disposed away from the opposing lateral edges of the upper floor and extending upwardly away from the lower housing portion, the middle walls being away from the front and rear longitudinal edges of the upper floor.

12. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the front inclined wall portion comprises a first inclined portion having a greater taper angle disposed between the first location and a secondinclined portion having a smaller taper angle, wherein a difference between the greater and smaller taper angles is at least 1 degree, and wherein the first inclined portion comprises the first location.

13. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein lateral edges of the flange portion taper inwardly toward each other along the mating direction to the front longitudinal edge.

14. The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising a pull tab releasably assembled to the electrical connector so that when the electrical connector mates with the mating connector, pulling the pull tab rearwardly away from the mating connector releases the electrical connector from the mating connector.

15. An electrical connector assembly comprising: a housing having a mating end for mating with a mating connector along a mating direction, an opposite cable end, a top floor, and defining a housing cavity; a circuit board at least partially disposed in the housing cavity and comprising a front side at or proximate the mating end of the electrical connector assembly and comprising a plurality of conductive front pads, and a rear side opposite the front side comprising a plurality of conductive rear pads; and an electrical cable disposed in the cable end of the electrical connector assembly and comprising a plurality of conductive wires making electrical contact with the rear pads of the circuit board; wherein, the top floor extends longitudinally along the mating direction between a front longitudinal edge of the top floor at or proximate the mating end of the housing and an opposite rear longitudinal edge of the top floor, and opposing sidewalls co-extensive with at least most of the top floor along the mating direction and extending upwardly from corresponding opposing lateral edges of the top floor, wherein, each of the sidewalls has a front inclined wall portion proximate the front longitudinal edge of the top floor and tapering downwardly in height toward the front longitudinal edge with an average taper angle of between about 20 degrees to about 70 degrees to a substantially zero height at a first location on the corresponding lateral edge of the top floor, wherein, the top floor comprises a flange portion extending forwardly from the first locations of the lateral edges to the front longitudinal edge and having a substantially constant thickness; and wherein, lateral edges of the flange portion taper inwardly toward each other along the mating direction to the front longitudinal edge.

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