BACKGROUND

Electrical connectors include dielectric or electrically insulative connector housings, and a plurality of electrical contacts supported by the housing. The electrical contacts define mating ends that are configured to mate with a complementary electrical connector. The mounting ends are configured to be mounted to a complementary electrical component. In some applications, the mounting ends are configured to be placed in communication with conductive cables that include electrical signal conductors and drain wires. Operation of the electrical connector can produce unwanted noise at certain operating frequencies. It is desirable to provide an electrical connector that substantially reduces the noise at a desired operating frequency of the electrical connector.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one example, an electrical connector includes an electrically insulative connector housing, a plurality electrical signal contacts supported by the connector housing, and a plurality of ground contacts supported by the connector housing. Each of the signal contacts has a mating end and a mounting end, and each of the ground contacts has a mating end and a mounting end. The electrical connector defines a plurality of columns that are spaced from each other along a lateral direction and each includes the mating ends of a plurality of the signal contacts and the mating ends of a plurality of ground contacts. The electrical connector can further include an electrically conductive ground shield that is disposed between a first one of the columns and a second one of the columns with respect to the lateral direction. The ground shield can have a shield body that defines a first side and a second side opposite the first side along the lateral direction. The ground shield can include a plurality of contact members that extend out with respect to the shield body and are in contact with a respective at least two of the ground contacts, respectively, of the first one of the columns. The shield body can face at least one of the signal contacts of the first one of the columns and can be spaced along the lateral direction from the at least one of the signal contacts of the first one of the columns so as to define a gap therebetween.

