US Patent 11165185 Electrical connector heat sink with protective ramp

A connector system includes a cage assembly in which a thermally conductive heat sink and a connector are mounted. The heat sink includes a base, a ramp extending downwardly from the base and a pedestal extending downwardly from the base. A thermal interface material is disposed on lower surface of the pedestal. A module can be inserted into the cage assembly and connected to the connector and to the heat sink. Thermal energy generated by the module is transferred to the heat sink which dissipates the heat by convention. The ramp protects a leading edge of the thermal interface material form engagement by the module during insertion of the module into the cage assembly.