Abstract: Polymeric electrically conductive apparatus such as electric connectors are disclosed. These connectors employ a polymeric conductive material such as a conductive epoxy having conductive particles dispersed therein sufficient to establish electrical conductivity. These conductive materials are at least initially deformable such that electrical conductors may be inserted within an envelope containing the conductive material and electrical continuity for a prescribed circuit can be verified before structurally affixing the conductors to the envelope. Embodiments having radially collapsible envelopes for forming splice connectors and multicontact configurations employing rigid dielectric housings are disclosed.

Abstract: A printed circuit edge connector having a pluraltiy of electrial terminals, each of which has a compliant contact spring opposed to a relatively more rigid support arm is disclosed. The surface of the contact spring is opposed to an edge of the support arm because the contact spring is bent transversely relative to an arm which is coplanar with the support arm. Each of the terminals is received within aligned channels and cavities and an insulative housing, each of which extend parallel to a board receiving slot opening on the upper face of the housing. The base of the terminals are received within the cavities and include terminal retention means engagable with the housing in the cavities to retain the terminals in the housing.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector assembly (2) used to interconnect wires (4) with a printed circuit board comprises a receptacle connector (6) matable with a pin header (8). The receptacle connector (6) includes a secondary lock (60) located on the mating face of an insulative housing (30). Integral latches 50 are received within correspondingly shaped pocket (62) in the secondary lock. A conductor seal cap includes a plurality of projections which can be selectively removed. Remaining projections seal individual seal cavities. A stamped and formed pin is used in the pin header. An integral plug is used to seal the leak path on the interior of the stamped and formed cylindrical pins.

Abstract: Cable tap assembly for selectively connecting tap conductors to cable wire conductors comprises a housing having a cable wire locator for locating the cable wires in predetermined coplanar positions. A plurality of bus conductors are provided in the housing and extend parallel to the cable wires with each bus conductor being dedicated to, and associated with, a single cable wire. The bus conductors have receptacle sites which are accessible from the exterior of the housing so that terminals can be mated with the bus conductors. Connecting devices extend from the bus conductors to the cable wires. The assembly has a major surface having defined zones, each of which receives an electrical connector that has male terminals which are mated with specific cable wires when the connector is coupled to the major surface.

Abstract: A socket for interconnecting an electronic module to a circuit board includes an insulative housing having a plurality of terminals applying a moment to the module. A U-shaped latch is positioned within a pocket at each end of the insulative housing. The U-shaped latch is of metal and has two legs joined by a bight, the two legs being flexible as the module is rotated into a slot in the insulative housing. The U-shaped latch includes a tab extending around an upwardly extending projection on the backwall of the housing to provide additional support to the latch. The latch thus provides means for holding the module securely within the housing after rotation to an upright position.

Abstract: A grounding clip forming an electrical interconnection between a ground wire and an electrically conductive panel, such as used on an electrical appliance, is disclosed. This grounding clip comprises a stamped and formed member having a U shaped section with opposed walls extending from a bight for engagement with a panel. Tines or serrations are struck inwardly from each wall to grip the panel. A wire contact section is offset from the U shaped panel. A centrally disposed strain relief arm extends from the U shaped section and any force transmitted from the wire to the clip is in the form of a straight pull extending through the centrally disposed strain relief arm.

Abstract: A socket suitable for use with single in-line memory modules comprises a plurality of terminals positioned within a insulative housing for engaging a module circuit panel inserted into the housing. Extraction members are provided for pivoting the individual circuit panels out of engagement with the socket terminals and out of the slot into which the circuit panel can be inserted. The extraction members are insertable into upright support members on the ends of the housing and are shiftable in a straight line motion between the first and second position. A projection at the lower edge of the extraction member extends below the circuit panel and a handle at the upper end of the extraction member is accessible on the end of the socket housing.

Abstract: A touch input device having infrared light beams defined by a plurality of pairs of light emitters and phototransistors is disclosed. A feedback loop containing a programmable amplifier is employed to compensate for the effects of ambient light and for device irregularities. The phototransistor current is first converted to a signal voltage by an operational amplifier and then is input into a low pass filter. The output of the lowpass filter is input into a feedback loop containing a summing amplifier, a programmable amplifier and an integrator. As light emitters and phototransistors are sequentially activated, the feedback loop with the programmable amplifier compares outputs signals in the unactivated state with those input when the light emitters are activated to compensate for ambient conditions and errors.

Abstract: A system and apparatus utilizes a source of coherent light located at the focal point of reflecting surfaces oriented to develop parallel beams of light extending over a given area with adjacent sides made to include arrays of light detectors scanned sequentially in a direction away from the source of light so as to detect the shadow cast by an object relative to the reflected light. Alternatively, a photodetector is positioned at the focal point of the reflectors to receive light emitted by individual ones of emitters. Reflecting surfaces are contemplated which simulate a parabolic shape.

Abstract: High density electrical interconnections are established by using an electrical connector comprising a plurality of terminals held in position by resilient housing latches and by a separate terminal position assurance insert which is formed as part of a one-piece member also having a connector position assurance insert. The terminals position assurance insert is inserted into the housing from the rear and abuts a projection on each terminal thus assuring that the resilient housing latch engages the terminal. A connector position assurance insert attached to the terminal position by a integral strap is inserted beneath a connector latch to prevent the depression of the latch. A strap is deformed so that the connector position assurance insert is located parallel to and adjacent to the terminal position assurance insert when the two are fully seated in the connector.

Abstract: Electrical connecting device such as a bus bar comprises a folded section of sheet metal having a bight and arms extending from the bight. Receptacle portions are provided in the form of openings in the bight so that a tab contact can be inserted into one of the openings and will engage the opposed internal surfaces of the arms. In addition, contact sites are provided on the distal ends of the arms for contacting the devices which have wire-receiving slots on their ends. A conductor in a cable can thus be connected to a plurality of second conductors which are attached to the tab members that are inserted into the receptacle portions in the bight.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a blade and a matable receptacle terminal and matable insulative housings in which the blade and receptacle are mounted. Both the blade and the receptacle terminals are centrally positioned so that orientation of the terminals is unnecessary and each terminal has a contact positioning section which conforms to the contour of a housing cavity. This contact positioning section is a box section with a centrally disposed flat blade extending from one rectangular contact positioning section and a spring receptacle extending the other. The blade terminal is formed by folding edge portions of a flat blank to form a dual thickness blade. The edge portions are juxtaposed when folded over flaps which initially comprise integral sections of the flat blank outboard of the edge portions of the blade.

Abstract: An electrical connector of the type used with lanceless pin and socket terminals includes both a deflectable primary lock and a hinged secondary lock. The deflectable primary lock is in the form of a plurality of outwardly deflectable arcuate members which protrude into housing cavities to engage a continuous locking surface on either a pin or socket when in the undeflected configuration. The hinged secondary lock can be shifted into flush engagement with the exterior of the primary lock only when the primary lock is in the undeflected configuration. The secondary lock thus provides both terminal position assurance, secondary locking and additional locking strength.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector assembly 2 used to interconnect wires 4 with a printed circuit board comprises a receptacle connector 6 matable with a pin header 8. The receptacle connector 6 includes a secondary lock 60 located on the mating face of an insulative housing 30. Integral latches 50 are received within correspondingly shaped pocket 62 in the secondry lock. A conductor seal cap includes a plurality of projections which can be selectively removed. Remaining projections seal individual seal cavities. A stamped and formed pin is used in the pin header. An integral plug is used to seal the leak path on the interior of the stamped and formed cylindrical pins.

Abstract: A single in-line memory module socket employing edge stamped contacts positioned within an insulative housing is disclosed. Each terminal has opposed beams with a loop section intermediate the ends of upwardly extending portions of those beams. Inwardly inclined arms extend downwardly from the top of the opposed beams and the contacts are configured so that majority of the deflection of the beams occurs in these inwardly inclined arms. A central post extends upwardly from the base of the terminals and engages housing ribs located within a central spine located along the bottom of a panel receiving slot in the insulative housing. Cavities intersect the slots receiving the circuit panels and the terminals can be inserted into the respective cavities from the bottom, with the posts extending upwardly from the base securing the terminals by engagement with the central spine.

Abstract: High density electrical interconnections are established by using an electrical connector comprising a plurality of terminals held in position by resilient housing latches which form a part of an insulative housing. The latches protrude into cavities containing the terminals. Each latch has a longitudinally extending groove formed on one side of the latch to prevent warping or deformation on the latch during molding. The latches alleviate stresses which result from the uneven distribution of temperature during the molding process.

Abstract: A connector assembly for commonly connecting a plurality of wires comprises a stamped and formed one-piece electrical connecting device having a plurality of U-shaped members arranged in two parallel rows. The opposed edges of adjacent U-shaped members define wire-receiving slots. The U-shaped members have arms which have openings therein forming beams in each of the arms which are deformed in a controlled manner when wires are inserted into the slots. A housing assembly is also disclosed comprising a housing body and a cover. When the cover is assembled to the housing body, the wires are inserted into the slots and the wires are clamped by the cover and the housing body.

Abstract: A blind mate shielded input/output connector assembly is disclosed for use in the robotic assembly of an electrical component, such as a radio, to electrical conductors, such as electrical wires in a harness in an automobile. The connector assembly includes a header which can be fixedly mounted to the electrical component and which includes an alignment post protruding beyond printed circuit board pins located in the header. A receptacle module includes cavities for receiving multi-contact electrical connectors and an alignment cavity into which the alignment post can be inserted. The receptacle module is mounted to a carrier panel beyond which conductors in the harness extend so that the receptacle module can move in any direction within the plane of the panel, thus permitting alignment during straight line movement of the header toward the panel. The receptacle module can also be used to provide EMI shielding and a filter can be mounted in the header.

Abstract: A raceway assembly employing snap-on outlet covers is disclosed. The raceway has multiple compartments extending longitudinally for carrying conductors such as standard house wiring power conductors and telephone or data conductors. Separate outlet housings each comprise a one piece, generally metal, bracket having a front wall on a parallel back wall. Insulative end walls are secured to enclose the interior of the receptacle housings. The brackets have openings in the front wall and outlet conductors, such as duplex receptacles or modular telephone jacks, are secured to the front wall. Access to one compartment is provided by a cutout in the rear wall and the rear wall covers the entire portion of the other compartment. Brackets can be positioned side-by-side with multiple outlet connectors or receptacles being positioned on the same centerline.

Abstract: A sealed, filtered connector for establishing a disconnectable termination to two wires with a capacitor extending between the two terminals is disclosed. Each terminal has a first slotted or insulation displacement contact section facing outwardly with an intermediate slotted plate contact located between the first outwardly facing contact section and a pin receptacle located at the opposite end of the terminal. The terminals are positioned within a insulative housing having passages for receiving the pin receptacle portions and a cavity located at an opposite end. Sealant can be deposited within the cavity. The electrical termination with leads on a capacitor located within the housing is laterally offset from the insulation displacement contact with the wires and the pin receptacle is laterally offset from each slotted plate interconnection.