Abstract: A shielded back plane connector is disclosed comprising a header assembly and a daughter board connector. The daughter board connector includes an upper and lower shield where the upper and lower shields include stamped windows thereby forming passages for allowing structural ribs of the housing to pass therethrough while providing a contact for contact with grounding pins disposed in the header assembly. A cross talk shield can be positioned intermediate each of the terminal sub-assemblies thereby reducing the cross talk between adjacent terminals. A shield includes a contact portion for contacting the center terminal in the shielded sub-assembly, for using the center terminal as a ground terminal.

Abstract: The shut height of a crimping die set (9) for crimping an electrical terminal (T) on an anvil (22) to a lead (L) is adjustable stepwise by means of a disc (60) which can be driven by a servo motor (M1) to a plurality of angular positions each setting a theoretical ideal shut height for a particular combination of lead and terminal sizes. Since anvil wear, in particular, and/or minor variations in lead and terminal dimensions can falsify the ideal crimp height set, the actual crimp height achieved, is measured electronically or mechanically, and the height of the anvil (22) is automatically adjusted in accordance with such measurement, by means of a further servo motor (M2) to adjust the shut height of the die set (9) and anvil (22), so that the ideal shut height is achieved.

Abstract: An electrical contact (11) adapted for plugging connection, comprising a pair of contact spring arms (25) for pluggably receiving a tab contact. The contact (11) has arranged on its outside an outer back-up spring (13) including a pair of outer back-up spring arms cooperating with the contact spring arms (25). The outer back-up spring (13) can be slid onto the outside of the contact (11) from a matingside end of the contact spring arms (25) and is adapted to be snapped onto said contact (11).

Abstract: An electrical connector housing assembly consists of an insulating housing and a pair of insulating covers. The housing has a row of cavities extending diagonally across a central wall of the housing, each for receiving an electrical terminal having slotted plate portions with wire receiving slots opening in opposite directions and being located on opposite surfaces of the central wall. Each cover has a row of notches extending across a base wall of the cover, for receiving the end portion of a respective one of the slotted plates. According to a first mode of use, the slotted plates of each terminal are coplanar with each other and the covers are mated with the housing to drive the wires of flat flexible cables, into the wire receiving slots of the terminals with the two cables extending parallel to each other. According to a second mode of use, the slotted plates of each terminal, are twisted about a neck of the terminal so that the slotted plates thereof extend at right angles to each other.

Abstract: A terminating device for an optical waveguide, comprising a sleeve-like terminating member (23, 25; 271) in which an optical waveguide section (47; 229) having a coupling face ground to be plane is glued on the one hand and in which an optical waveguide (19, 21, 213) abutting said optical waveguide section (47; 229) is inserted on the other hand. Such a terminating member can be used in an optical waveguide connector (15,17; 211). In an optical waveguide connection assembly (11; 211) using such connectors (15, 17; 211), portions of the terminating members (23, 25; 271) projecting from a coupling face of the connector (15, 17; 211) are centered in a centering means (83; 299) with respect to their required radial position.

Abstract: An electrical contact is shown including a front contact section and a wire terminating section. An outer spring surrounds the front mating contact portion and includes side walls and top wall portions including tabs which form a central polarizing rib as well as retain the outer spring portion together. The contact also includes an integral wire terminating slot section formed from side walls of the inner contact and include a wire terminating slot at for receiving the wire of a suppression device.

Abstract: An RF coaxial connector is disclosed which has an internally floating member which allows both ends of the coaxial connection to remain fixed, with the floating section compensating for any necessary axial or radial float. The floating section includes a pin and socket connection where the pin and socket section has various regions of intentional impedance mismatch. The geometries of the pin and socket are specifically designed such that the reflections are substantially self cancelling at all frequencies and at all various longitudinal positions between the pin and socket section.

Abstract: A press for assembling an electrical connector (C) having tines (T) projecting therefrom, to a printed circuit board (PCB), comprises a press ram (40) which is pivotally mounted to the top of the forward end of a press frame (16). A ram (40) has, at its forward end, a connector holder (54) for receiving a connector (C) with the tines (T) of the connector (C) projecting from the holder (54). A ram (40) has a raised, connector loading position, in which the connector holder (54) projects obliquely downwardly towards the operator so that the operator can easily load the connector (C), which may be of microminiature size, into the holder (54). The ram (40) has a drive unit (36) for driving it from its loading position into a vertical position, in which the holder (54) projects towards a printed circuit board (PCB) on a support structure (14).

Abstract: An electrical connector having a housing comprising a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot for receiving a generally U-shaped latch camming slide. A first resilient latch and a second resilient latch are associated with the first and second elongated slots and, respectively, and they become deflected into the slots and when a locking insert is mounted on the housing, thereby locking the generally U-shaped latch camming slide in housing.

Abstract: Receptacle terminal (2) has a web portion (18) and resilient sidewalls (20) which extend in one direction from the web (18). The sidewalls (20) extend inwardly over the web (18) and have free edge portions (22) which are spaced from the web (18) and which engage a tab (6) which is inserted into the receptacle terminal (2). The receptacle terminal (2) has first terminal engagement means (24, 26, 28) which cooperate with a leading portion (30) and an opening (40) of the tab (6) to position the receptacle terminal (2) in a preassembled position when the tab (6) is inserted onto the receptacle terminal (2). Second terminal engagement means (32) are provided on receptacle terminal (2) proximate inner end (14). The second terminal engagement means (32) cooperate with the opening (40) of tab (6) to position the receptacle terminal (2) in a fully assembled position when the tab ( 6) is inserted onto the receptacle terminal (2).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a pin header connector and a socket connector for mating with the pin header connector. The pin header connector has a housing provided with a pair of opposed racks, the socket connector being provided with a pair of opposed levers each having a pinion. The levers can be swung by means of ganged handles to drive the socket connector into, and out of, mated relationship with the pin header connector. In the interest of simplifying the moulding of the pin header connector housing and of reducing its width, each rack projects above the upper edge of the pin header connector housing in substantially coplanar relationship with the respective side wall of that housing, the teeth of each rack overhanging the respective side wall.

Abstract: A star coupler assembly includes an optical star coupler from which extend optical cables and a housing having a central grove accommodating the coupler. The optical cables are accommodated in a series of communicating groves of the housing and are held down therein by means of cable clips. The cables are led from the groves, between posts so that their end portions project through bores in side walls of the housing, whereby the end portions of the cables project from the housing side walls for connection to light transmitting or light sensitive devices at a site of use.

Abstract: A one piece electrical socket terminal is provided with an elongate socket comprising a tubular base. First and second contact springs extend forwardly from opposite side walls of the base, third and fourth contact springs projecting forwardly from the top wall of the base and fourth and fifth contact springs projecting forwardly from a bottom wall of the base. The contact springs on one side of a central longitudinal plane of the socket are connected to a first U-shaped strap, the contact springs on the other side of the central plane being connected to a second U-shaped strap. The first contact springs have opposite contact surfaces which are bisected by a central transverse plane of the socket, the contact surfaces of the remaining contact springs being equidistant from the transverse plane, for engaging respective faces of a square cross section electrical pin.

Abstract: A shielded back plane connector is disclosed comprising a header assembly and a daughter board connector. The daughter board connector includes an upper and lower shield where the upper and lower shields include stamped windows thereby forming passages for allowing structural ribs of the housing to pass therethrough while providing a contact for contact with grounding pins disposed in the header assembly. A cross talk shield can be positioned intermediate each of the terminal sub-assemblies thereby reducing the cross talk between adjacent terminals. A shield includes a contact portion for contacting the centre terminal in the shielded sub-assembly, for using the centre terminal as a ground terminal.

Abstract: A socket wrench is shown having a socket driver head pinned to a clevis on a shaft. A sleeve is receivable over the shaft end and includes open ended slots pointing away from the clevis. The shaft includes a pin press fit within a cross bore on the shaft end, and the shaft and sleeve are axially slidable relative to each other; where in one position the pin engages one of the slots, and in another position, the shaft and sleeve spin freely of each other. A handle includes an internal bore which is profiled to compressively fit over the sleeve, and a chamber is defined between the sleeve and the end of the internal bore, to provide clearance for the axial movement of the shaft and sleeve.

Abstract: A crimping die comprised of a wire crimping portion and an insulation crimping portion, and an anvil includes a wire retaining mechanism sandwiched therebetween where the wire retaining mechanism includes a wire retaining detent in advance of the crimping surfaces formed on the wire crimp member and the insulation crimp. The wire retaining mechanism is fixedly mounted to the crimping die and insulation crimp member by way of a retaining portion which has been wire eroded from an interior portion of the plate which forms the wire retaining mechanism. A formed spring is wire eroded from the plate portion and is positioned intermediate the retaining portion and the remainder of the plate portion to allow the wire retaining detent to be moveable vertically upward along the crimp axis during the downward movement of the wire crimp member and the insulation crimp member during the normal crimp cycle.

Abstract: The quality of a crimped connection produced by the application of a crimping force (F) to a crimping barrel (WB) of an electrical terminal (T) with a wire (W) therein, is carried out by measuring the peak value (PV) of the crimping force (F) and comparing it with a reference value. The incremental values (IV) of the crimping force are measured during its application and are stored in the form of an actual crimping force value envelope (EA). The incremental values of an ideal crimping force are measured during its application and are stored in the form of an ideal crimping force value envelope (EI). The envelopes (EA and EI) are then compared to determine the quality of the crimped connection.

Abstract: An electrical terminal (2,102) is shown having a pin (4) or socket contacts (104) a retaining spring (6) and an insulation crimping barrel (8). The retaining spring (6) is defined as a substantial box section where the upper wall (36) includes a stamped out locking lance (38) having a free end (40) for engaging a locking shoulder within an electrical terminal housing. The free end (40) of the locking lance (38) has an embossed section (42) forming a raised surface on the upper surface (44) of the locking lance and an indentation (50) on the lower surface (46) of the locking lance. The embossed area (42) extends into the free end (40) of the electrical terminal so as to define a discontinuous end edge for engaging the locking shoulder of the electrical terminal housing. Medially positioned within the embossed area (42), and extending from the free end (40) thereof, is a sheared tab (54) defined by sheared slits ( 52).

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed having pin terminals positioned within an insulating housing where the terminal includes a cylindrical contact portion having an inner diameter formed at which carries a plastic cylindrical bead. The terminal also includes a serrated portion positioned within a converging bore portion of the housing passageway. A printed circuit board can be positioned against the lower portion of the housing and when wave soldered causes the serrated portion to form corresponding grooves in the housing through hole and causes the plastic bead to melt and fill the seam between the edges of the serrated portion.

Abstract: An electrical contact adapted for plugging connection, comprising a pair of contact spring arms and an outer back-up spring having a pair of outer back-up spring arms disposed on the outside of the contact spring arms. For reducing the insertion force for a tab contact insertable into contact, the two outer back-up spring arms are held by a spacing means at such a minimum spacing from each other that the contact spring arms come into abutment with the respectively associated outer back-up spring arm only after having been spread apart to a predetermined distance from each other.