Abstract: A retainer and connector system serves to reliably hold together and align a series of thin connector modules, such as wafer connectors, into an overall unit formed from the individual connector modules. The side edges of each of the connector modules have a pair of cavities formed therein. A retainer member is provided having a length equal to the thickness of the connector unit. The retainer member has first and second engagement members disposed thereon. Both engagement members may be inserted into the cavities to hold the connectors together as a stack, or one set of engagement members may be inserted into a set of the cavities and the retainer member rotated to align the connector modules together and then the other set of engagement members may be pressed into engagement with another set of cavities.

Abstract: A polarization assembly is disclosed that uses an endcap applied to the end of a block of connectors. The endcap has a depending leg portion and a recess that receives an opposing arm portion of a key member which is insertable into a backplane connector. The endcap leg portion and key member arm portion cooperate to orient the connector block in only one insertion position.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connector assembly to a substrate. The substrate includes at least one pre-placement hole and at least one positioning hole. A connector housing has a pre-placement peg sized for insertion into the pre-placement hole in the substrate with substantially zero insertion forces to generally place the housing on the substrate. The housing has a positioning peg sized for insertion into the positioning hole in the substrate by a press-fit to precisely fix the housing on the substrate.

Abstract: An EMI gasket is provided for installing about a generally rectangular mating plug portion of a connector defined by opposite minor sides and opposite major sides. The gasket is generally rectangular to define opposite minor sides and opposite major sides thereof corresponding to the minor and major sides, respectively, of the mating plug portion. The EMI gasket, in an unstressed condition, has a generally bow-tie configuration with the major sides thereof bowed inwardly. Therefore, the major sides of the gasket are biased against the major sides of the plug portion when the gasket is installed on the plug portion.

Abstract: The invention discloses a modular jack type connector having a dielectric connector housing 11 and a plurality of contacts 1 to 8 and 1′ to 8′′arranged in the connector housing for contactingly engaging contacts of a mateable connector when said mateable connector is inserted in a receptacle 9, 10 defined by said connector housing. The modular jack type connector further comprises a subassembly T1, T2, 46, 48 and a dc separation of the contacts 1 to 8 and 1′ to 8′ from external terminals and comprises a filtering device CC1, CC2, 47, 49. An element 31, 32 which is substantially completely insertable into said connector housing 11 holds contacts 1 to 8 and 1′ to 8′ associated with the contacts of said mateable connector and said external terminals, and the insertable element 31, 32 accommodates both said subassembly for a dc separation T1, T2, 46, 48 and said filtering device CC1, CC2, 47, 49.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a plurality of electrical connectors to a printed circuit board in a stacked array. At least a pair of electrical connectors include at least a top connector and a bottom connector adapted for mating with a pair of complementary mating connectors. At least one dual-function ESD frame member mounts the top connector to the printed circuit board above the bottom connector. The frame member also is conductive for grounding to the printed circuit board and includes an integral ESD portion for engaging an appropriate ground portion of a respective one of the mating connectors mateable with the top connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, with a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages and include tail portions projecting from the housing. At least one ground member is mounted on the housing and includes a ground contact arm projecting forwardly for engaging a complementary mating connector. An ESD clip projects downwardly from the ground member for insertion into an appropriate mounting hole in the printed circuit board. A tail aligner is mounted to the rear end of the housing and has a plurality of apertures through which the end portions of the terminals extend.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of receptacles, including a top receptacle, for receiving a plurality of mating plugs. A light guide is operatively associated with each receptacle and its respective mating plug to signal a circuit condition thereof. All of the light guides have front ends viewable at the front of the housing above the top receptacle. Each front end has an indicator to visually indicate the receptacle with which the respective light guide is operatively associated.

Abstract: An adapter frame assembly is provided for receiving at least a pair of connectors in a stacked array with one connector above another connector at different spacings therebetween. The assembly includes at least a pair of frame structures including at least a top frame structure and a bottom frame structure each including a receptacle for receiving a respective one of the stacked connectors. The top frame structure may be mounted directly on top of the bottom frame structure and, thereby, space the receptacles and the respective connectors at a first spacing therebetween. A spacer is selectively mountable between the frame structures to thereby space the receptacles and the respective connectors at a second, increased spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A retainer and connector system serves to reliably hold together and align a series of thin connector modules, such as wafer connectors, into an overall unit formed from the individual connector modules. The side edges of each of the connector modules have a pair of cavities formed therein. A retainer member is provided having a length equal to the thickness of the connector unit. The retainer member has two opposing ends, each with first and second engagement members disposed thereon. The first engagement members are inserted into the first engagement cavities and rotated toward the connector modules until the second engagement members enter and engage the second engagement cavities.

Abstract: An electrical connector module is provided having a housing with a receptacle. Conductive contacts are located within the receptacle and a grounding shield is provided that partially defines the top of the connector housing. A depression is formed in the grounding shield and extends into abutting contact with one of the terminals held in the connector housing to effectuate an electrical connection therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for conductively bonding at least two conductors together. An inductive coil generates a magnetic field when electrical current is run therethrough. A magnetic concentrator is disposed near the inductive coil and adjacent which the two conductors can be positioned for concentrating the magnetic field on the conductors. The concentrator is independent of the conductors. Pressure is applied to the conductors. The concentrator concentrates the magnetic field generated by the inductive coil on the conductors, thereby heating the conductors under pressure and electrically bonding the conductors together.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fail-safe optical connector including a plug having an engagement portion and a receptacle for mating with the plug. The receptacle has a resilient latch for coupling with the engagement portion of the plug. The plug has a cover slidably mounted thereon with at least one actuating piece formed on its front side. The actuating piece has a trapezoidal projection formed on its free end. The trapezoidal projection abuts the engagement projection of the latch to disengage it from the engagement portion of the plug when the cover moves backward. The plug has at least one latch projection formed on either side of the front end adapted to mate with and aperture in a yieldable wall on the receptacle.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a pair of fiber optic connectors in a side-by-side relation with float therebetween, along with a method of fabricating the connectors. A first connector housing is provided for receiving a first optical fiber plug, and including a first latch molded integrally with the first connector housing. A second connector housing is provided for receiving a second optical fiber plug. A latch member is mounted on the second connector housing in loose engagement therewith and includes a second latch for interengagement with the first latch on the first connector housing. Therefore, the connector housings are held in a side-by-side relationship with float therebetween provided by the loosely engaged latch member.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable pulling device includes a base having a cavity for receiving a connector terminated to a fiber optic cable. A cover is assembled to the base for closing the cavity and capturing the connector therewithin, with the cable extending outwardly from the base. Complementary interengaging clamp portions are provided on the base and the cover for clamping onto at least one of the cable and connector when the cable is assembled to the base.

Abstract: A cable assembly including a cable with at least one connector terminated to an end of the cable. The cable includes at least one pair of signal wires and a grounding member that extends the length of the cable. The signal wires and grounding member are terminated to a connector and specifically terminated to two signal terminals and one ground terminal of the connector. These wires are terminated to tail portions of the terminals which are enclosed in an insulative material that defines a body portion of the connector housing. The ground terminal has two contact portions that extend along the exterior of the connector housing body portion, while the signal terminals have contact portions that extend lengthwise of the connector housing. The signal terminal contact portions are enclosed within an extension of the connector housing and the extension and body portions are themselves enclosed in a metal grounding shell.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a housing for containing an IC card. The method includes the steps of stamping a pair of metal covers with at least one of the covers having a continuous uninterrupted edge provided with a plurality of through holes spaced inwardly of and along the edge. The covers are placed into a mold for an injection molding process. Plastic support members are injected into the mold into attachment with the covers. Plastic material of the support member surrounds the edge and flows through the holes of the cover. The covers and attached support members are removed from the mold, and the support members are bonded together so that a housing is formed with the covers and within which the IC card can be contained.

Abstract: A crimping tool is disclosed for compressing a connector component radially onto a cable and for assembling a pair of connector components axially of the cable. The tool includes a pair of jaws relatively movable toward and away from each other. Each jaw includes a first stage recessed area combining with the first stage recessed area of the other jaw to define a crimping cavity for compressing the connector component radially onto the cable when the jaws are relatively moved toward each other. Each jaw includes a second stage shoulder area combining with the second stage shoulder area of the other jaw to define opposing arms for assembling said pair of connector components toward each other axially of the cable when the jaws are relatively moved toward each other.

Abstract: A connector interface is provided with a body portion extending between two mating ends and is suitable for providing an interface between a cable and an electronic device. The connector includes a printed circuit board as its terminal and the circuit board extends through the body portion and has first and second mating edges that extend past the body portion of the housing at the mating ends. These mating edges permit the use of edge card technology to simplify the connector assembly and cost. One of the mating edges is enclosed by an extension portion of the connector housing such that the extension defines a receptacle that accommodates an opposing connector, such as a plug end of a cable assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a dielectric housing having a pair of wings defining a circuit-receiving slot therebetween. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. The terminals have contact portions located at opposite sides of the slot. A flat circuit has an edge insertable into the slot. An actuator is mounted on and carried by the flat circuit. The actuator has actuator portions operatively associated with the terminals to bias the contact portions of the terminals into engagement with opposite sides of the flat circuit in response to inserting the edge of the circuit into the slot.