Patent attributes
Integrated signal pair elements are disclosed that can be inserted into and removed from a backplane connector housing as a single piece. Each element includes an insulative frame that supports a pair of conductive terminals in a spaced-apart arrangement. The frame is attached to a ground shield that provides a ground plane that extends around three sides of the signal pair. Cable wires are terminated to tail portions of the signal pair and an insulative material is molded over the cable wire termination area to form an integrated signal pair element. The individual signal pair elements may also be commoned together in a linear array of signal pair elements by a commoning member that contacts the ground shields of the array of signal pair elements.