(19)
(11) EP 0 562 427 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
17.05.1995 Bulletin 1995/20

(43) Date of publication A2:
29.09.1993 Bulletin 1993/39

(21) Application number: 93104307.9

(22) Date of filing: 17.03.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: H01R 13/658, H01R 23/68, H01R 13/648
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE ES FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 24.03.1992 US 856593

(71) Applicant: MOLEX INCORPORATED
Lisle Illinois 60532-1682 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Brunker, David L.
    Naperville, Ilinois 60565 (US)
  • Harwath, Frank A.
    Downers Grove, Illinois 60516 (US)

(74) Representative: Blumbach, Kramer & Partner 
Patentanwälte, Sonnenberger Strasse 100
65193 Wiesbaden
65193 Wiesbaden (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Impendance and inductance control for electrical connectors


    (57) A method and structure of an electrical connector (10) is provided for tuning the impedance of the connector according to a given impedance of an electrical circuit in which the connector is interconnected. The connector includes a dielectric housing (16) having a receptacle (12) for receiving a complementary mating connector. A plurality of terminals (12) are mounted on the housing. The terminals include body portions (32) located in the housing and contact portions (42) located at the receptacle for engaging appropriate terminals of the mating connector when inserted into the receptacle. The areas (34, 34', 34'', 34''') of the body portions of the terminals are selectively varied to vary the capacitance of the terminals and, therefore, the impedance of the connector to match the given impedance of the electrical circuit. When the connector is used for mounting to a printed circuit board, ground terminals (30) have at least two feet (36) for engaging a respective single ground trace of a common ground circuit on the printed circuit board for reducing the inductance between a particular ground terminal and its respective circuit trace.






    Search report