Connectors with ground structure

Claim 1

An electrical connector for electrically and mechanically interconnecting a circuit assembly having a plurality of contact regions and a mating connector having first side walls, a plurality of first contacts arranged in rows and columns within the first side walls and at least one second side contact, the connector comprising: an insulative housing having second side walls and a plurality of passages arranged in rows and columns within the second side walls; a first plurality of electrical contact elements wherein: one of the contact elements is partially in each one of the passages, each contact element has a third contact and a fourth contact, the third contacts are arranged in rows and columns for contacting the first contacts, each one of the contact elements includes a middle portion configured such that their fourth contacts extend at an angle with respect to the third contacts, at least one conductor having at least one fifth contact and at least one sixth contact, the at least one fifth contact on one of the second side walls for contacting the at least one second contact on one of the first side walls; and a conductive shield including: a baffle positioned between and spaced from columns of the middle portions of the contact elements, a seventh contact for contacting each of the sixth contacts, and a plurality of eighth contacts positioned such that the fourth contacts and the eighth contacts are arranged in rows and columns for connection to the circuit assembly contact regions.