Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.

Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.

Abstract: An edge connector for receiving a first circuit board, circuit card, etc. comprises a housing having a circuit board receiving groove. A plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in the board receiving groove. An ejector member is provided for ejecting the board from the housing, the ejector member is translucent or transparent. A light emitter is optically coupled to the ejector member, so that when the light emitter is lit, the light from the light emitter is transmitted through the translucent or transparent ejector member to provide a visual indication which can be seen by the person inserting the circuit board into the connector.

Abstract: A double deck receptacle connector. The connector has a housing with an upper row of openings for receiving corresponding plugs and a lower row of openings for receiving corresponding plugs; a plurality of upper contacts in each of the upper row of openings; and a plurality of lower contacts in each of the lower row of openings. The upper contacts engage the first circuit substrate and the lower contacts engage the second circuit substrate. The connector could also mount to a leading edge of a circuit substrate. In this arrangement, the housing mounts over the leading edge of the circuit substrate. The area of the housing located between the upper row and lower row openings that receive inserts lacks a cavity and a conductive shield.

Abstract: A shielded cable connector (20) which minimizes EMI and crosstalk between closely situated assembly modules is disclosed. The shielded cable connector comprises a connecting latch (28). The shielded cable connector facilitates insertion of the shielding housing (20) into a shielded header connector (24), and prevents inadvertent removal of the shielding housing (20) from the shielded header (24).

Abstract: An electrical plug has a multiplicity of contact terminals disposed on a wafer that is received within a housing. The wafer or substratum is grooved or channeled between each contact terminal. In this manner, the contacting surface of each terminal is essentially raised from the surface of the substratum. Generally, the groove takes the form of a modified V shape, however, other groove configurations may be utilized. By lowering the substratum surface during formation of the wafer, the contact surface of each terminal becomes elevated from the substratum surface, while remaining at the same height relative to each other. Any misregistration or misalignment of the terminals of the receptacle caused by tilting, twisting or otherwise that would cause an open circuit or poor contact is alleviated by the channel. The misaligned receptacle terminal is allowed to tilt and be received into the channel rather than contacting the substratum surface to be held away from contact.

Abstract: A connector is formed of printed circuit board (PCB) modules (10). The PCB modules are provided at a mounting interface with surface engaging terminals (22) for interconnecting traces (16) on the PCBs (12) with traces on the mounting substrate. The terminals may comprise compressible or deformable elements formed of conductive elastomeric rods or solder balls fitted into recesses (36) in the board edges. A shield terminal (28) functions as a hold down that is alternately convertible from a through-hole mounting position to a surface mounting position by bending the terminal. The shield terminals (28) are to be joined to shield layers (24) formed on one side of the PCBs (12).

Abstract: An electronic card and the shell for the electronic card. The shell includes a pair of mateable, hermaphroditic shield assemblies, include having a shield with latch structure to engage corresponding latch structure on the other shield; and a bar extending along an edge of the shield. The shell could also include a pair of mateable, conductive shield assemblies arranged so that the shell essentially encloses the printed circuit board for shielding. The electronic card assembly rotates to an angle of less than approximately 12° during a torque test applying a torque of greater than approximately 1.2 N-m; deflects less than approximately 3.5 mm during a PCMCIA bend test applying a force of approximately 20N; and displaces less than approximately 1.5 mm during a fingernail test applying a force of more than approximately 100N. Such test performance is achieved even without a printed circuit board in the electronic card assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector, comprising: a housing; and a plurality of modules received in said housing. Each module comprises: a printed circuit board assembly; and a plurality of contact secured to ends of traces located on outer surfaces of the printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly also includes at least one shield layer located between the outer surfaces. A first group of the contacts engage a mating electrical component, and a second group of the contacts engage a circuit board to which the electrical connector mounts.

Abstract: A contact having a retention portion, a tail portion and a pair of beams. The beams each have a first portion which displaces the beam from opposite sides of the plane of the retention portion and a second portion extending from, and canted relative to, the first portion. The second portions interact to receive a mating contact therebetween.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a metal plate which is mounted under the housing with hot riveting. Location pegs are made so that low mounting force is possible. A wafer which is black in color or has another contrasting color makes it possible for a video camera to record the true position of the terminals. The surface of the top side of the housing is suited for vacuum pick up.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly in which the conductive and dielectric elements are arranged in a composite with a conductive I-beam shaped geometry in which the conductive element is perpendicularly interposed between two parallel dielectric and ground plane elements. Low cross talk and controlled impedance are found to result from the use of this geometry.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an insulation displacement contact dimple comprising the steps of. (a) positioning a metal element between a first concave upper die and a first convex lower die having a radius to form a dimple shape in the medial element; (b) positioning the dimple shaped metal element formed in step (a) between a second concave upper die and second convex lower die having a radius smaller than the radius of the first convex lower die to reform the dimple shaped metal element formed in step (a); and (c) positioning the dimple shaped metal element formed in step (b) between a third concave upper die and a third convex lower die having a radius larger than the radius of the second convex lower die. A contact dimple manufactured by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector, comprising: a frame; and a plurality of modules retained by the frame. Each module has: a housing; a plurality of contacts in the housing; and a plurality of fusible elements secured to the contacts for mounting the connector to a substrate. An electrical connector, comprising: a frame having a plurality of walls defining a perimeter of the connector and defining at least one opening; and a plurality of modules positioned within the at least one opening. Each module has: a housing; a plurality of contacts in the housing; and a plurality of fusible elements secured to the contacts for mounting the connector to a substrate.

Abstract: A contact, insertable into an insulative housing of a connector, has a mating end for receiving a mating contact; a retention portion for insertion into the connector; and a mounting end opposite the mating end. The mounting end has a transition area adapted to pass through the insulative housing without substantially skiving the insulative housing. A method of making a contact, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of material; stamping the sheet to form a carrier strip having an edge and a plurality of contacts, each having a mounting end extending from the edge of the carrier strip; placing a window in the mounting ends of the contacts; and removing the contacts from said carrier strip.

Abstract: An electrical connector has an insulating housing with an interior cavity for receiving a mating connector and a plurality of openings in communication with the interior cavity. A plurality of contacts, each of. which extends into the interior cavity of the housing from a respective one of the openings, electrically contacts conductors in the mating connector inserted into the interior cavity of the housing. An internal shield extends into the interior cavity from a respective one of the openings and is positioned between the plurality of contacts to create at least two groups of contacts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metallic shield for a modular jack which includes a first member which is superimposed over the top and lateral wall of the jack. A second member surrounds the front plug openings. A first tab on the second member engages an aperture on the first member. A second tab on the second member curves rearwardly and upwardly then rearwardly and downwardly to abut the first member. A third tab on the second member curves rearwardly and upwardly to engage a panel.

Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side of the into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portion of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the housing, thereby reducing warpage. Solder resist areas are formed on central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.

Abstract: An insulative housing for an electrical connector, including: a base; and at least one aperture extending through said base for receiving a contact. The aperture has an enlarged opening at one end adapted to receive a fusible element for securing the connector to a substrate. The enlarged portion has a cross-sectional area, in one orientation, that can be larger than the cross-sectional areas of other orientations. An electrical connector housing, including: a base; and a plurality of apertures in the base for receiving a contact. Each aperture has a recess for receiving a portion of a fusible element therein. Each recess has a characteristic, with the characteristic of a portion of the recesses being different than the characteristic of the other recesses.

Abstract: A shield arrangement for an electrical connector, comprising: an external conductive shield and an internal conductive shield. The external conductive shield encloses the electrical connector and has at least one inwardly directed projection. The internal conductive shield at least partially resides within the electrical connector and has at least one feature engaging the at least one projection. Preferably, the electrical connector is a receptacle.