Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is provided for mounting at least partially in a cut-out portion of a printed circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening through a bottom wall thereof coincident with the cut-out portion of the printed circuit board. The housing has a plug-insertion cavity with an opening at a front mating face thereof for receiving a complementary mating plug connector. A latch projection extends from the housing near the opening in the bottom wall thereof. A metal shield is mounted about the housing and has a front plate portion juxtaposed over the front mating face of the housing and having a plug-insertion opening aligned with the front opening of the housing. The shield includes a bottom plate portion aligned with the opening in the bottom wall of the housing and including a latch aperture for embracing the latch projection of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a body mounting a plurality of terminals, with a locking shoulder on the body. A second connector includes a body mounting a plurality of terminals engageable with the terminals of the first connector. The second connector is mateable with the first connector in a given mating direction. A flexible latch arm is mounted on the body of the second connector and includes a latch hook engageable with the locking shoulder of the first connector when the two connectors are mated in the given mating direction. The locking shoulder is located in an open-sided cavity in the body of the first connector to allow the latch hook to be lifted away from the locking shoulder in response to tilting the first connector relative to the second connector transversely of the given mating direction.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a receptacle connector having a dielectric housing with a mating receptacle portion and at least one conductive receptacle terminal mounted on the housing. The receptacle terminal has contact portions spaced apart generally at opposite sides of the receptacle portion. A plug connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating plug portion insertable into the receptacle portion of the receptacle connector in a mating direction. The plug portion is smaller than the receptacle portion in a direction transverse to the mating direction to provide a range of floating movement between the connectors. At least one conductive plug terminal is mounted on the housing of the plug connector and has resilient contact portions maintained in constant engagement with the spaced apart contact portions of the receptacle terminal throughout the entire range of the floating movement.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a laminated circuit assembly and the assembly made therefrom including the steps of providing a relatively stiff substrate. A U-shaped slit is cut in the substrate in an area where a peripheral pull tab subsequently is to be located. The side legs of the U-shaped configuration define spaced slit portions. A relatively flexible backing sheet is adhered to a back side of the substrate. The laminated substrate and backing sheet are cut with a peripheral cut intersecting the side legs of the U-shaped slit, with the peripheral cut forming a pull tab projecting outwardly from the U-shaped slit. The pull tab can be grasped and separated from the substrate to strip the backing sheet therefrom.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a front mating face and mounting a plurality of terminals. A latching cavity is formed in the front mating face for receiving a latch member from a complementary mating device. The cavity includes opposite side walls. A latch/solder member is mounted on the housing and includes a latch plate in the latching cavity for latching engagement by the latch member of the complementary connecting device, and a solder plate at the board-mounting face of the housing. A blocking rib spans the side walls of the latching cavity to strengthen the housing, and the locking rib prevents the latch member of the complementary connecting device from being inserted into the cavity on a wrong side of the latch plate.

Abstract: A keying system for an electrical connector assembly includes a male connector having a body portion, a mating end formed by a plurality of terminal-receiving silos extending from the body portion, and a plurality of support walls integrally joining the silos and combining therewith to define a pattern of interior keying channels. A female connector has a mating end formed by a receptacle, with a plurality of terminals including contact portions extending into the receptacle for insertion into the silos of the male connector. A plurality of locating walls within the receptacle define a pattern of keying members for insertion into the keying channels of the male connector to thereby polarize the connectors.

Abstract: A system provides an electrical connection with a flat circuit and includes a generally rigid dielectric support structure. The flat circuit is located on one side of the support structure. A terminal includes a contact portion at an opposite side of the support structure for electrically engaging a complementary connecting device. A shank portion of the terminal extends from the contact portion through the support structure. A terminating portion at an end of the shank portion is terminated to an appropriate conductor of the flat circuit at the one side of the support structure.

Abstract: A retention system is provided for a surface mounted electrical connector on a printed circuit board. A dielectric connector housing is adapted for mounting on a surface of the printed circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing for engaging appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board. A retaining clip is mounted on the housing and includes a board mounting tab for solder connection to an appropriate ground trace on the surface of the printed circuit board. The tab mounting tab has an opening. A conductive shield is disposed about portions of the housing and includes a projection extending into the opening in the board mounting tab. Therefore, solder material engages the projection of the shield through the opening in the board mounting tab to thereby mechanically and electrically secure both the retaining clip and the shield to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating housing defining a longitudinal axis with two rows of terminal-receiving passages generally on opposite sides of the axis. The passages are alternatingly staggered along the axis, with adjacent sides of the passages in the two rows thereof overlapping along the axis. A plurality of conductive terminals are received in the passages. Each terminal includes a relatively wide body portion with a relatively narrow contact portion projecting from one side of the body portion. The terminals are disposed in the passages in alternating orientations longitudinally of the axis, whereby the contact portions of the terminals are disposed in the overlapping sides of the passages to define a single row of contact portions longitudinally of the axis.

Abstract: An insulation displacement electrical connector assembly is disclosed for electrically terminating the conductors of a multi-conductor insulated flat cable. A connector base has a plurality of terminal-receiving passages. A connector cover is positionable on the base to provide a cable-receiving passage therebetween. The cable-receiving passage traverses the terminal-receiving passages. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the base and the cover to hold the base and cover together clamping the cable in the cable-receiving passage. A plurality of insulation displacement terminals are movably mounted in the terminal-receiving passages for movement between inactive positions out of engagement with the conductors of the cable and insulation-displacement positions piercing the insulation of the cable and electrically terminating the conductors.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing and a receptacle extending in a given mating direction. A second connector is mateable with the first connector in the given mating direction and includes a dielectric housing having an alignment rib positionable in said receptacle when the connectors are mated. The receptacle includes at least one flexible wall allowing the connectors to be unmated and the alignment rib to move out of the receptacle at an angle to the given mating direction.

Abstract: A modular jack includes a substantially rectangular dielectric receptacle housing having a front face, a bottom board mounting wall, and a top, rear and a pair of side walls substantially surrounding a plug-receiving cavity. The cavity extends rearwardly from the front face for receiving a mating plug connector. In order to limit insertion of an undersized plug into a full-sized plug-receiving cavity in the receptacle housing, a stop surface is incorporated into a flexible stop member projecting from the housing and extending into the plug-receiving cavity. The stop surface is located within the cavity so as to ensure contact with a leading edge of an undersized plug upon insertion of the undersized plug into the cavity. A sliding surface is also incorporated into the flexible member. The sliding surface is located within the cavity so as to ensure contact with a leading edge of a plug upon insertion into the cavity of a mating plug having a width appropriate for mating with the jack.

Abstract: A system is provided for varying the capacitive coupling between adjacent terminals in an electrical connector. A connector housing includes at least a pair of adjacent terminal-receiving passages. At least a pair of terminals are insertable into the passages. Each terminal includes a contact end and a terminating end. A pair of generally parallel, laterally spaced arms extend in a given direction between the contact and terminating ends. One end of one of the arms is joined to the contact end, and one end of the other of the arms is joined to the terminating end. An irregularly shaped portion joins the ends of opposite end of the arms. Therefore, the pair of terminals can be inserted into the passages as mirror images of each other to maximize capacitive coupling between the terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for manipulation by a vacuum-suction nozzle. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a top surface. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. Each terminal has a spring contact arm extending above the top surface of the housing. The terminals are arranged into a plurality of distinct groups. The spring contact arms of the terminals in one group are oriented different from the spring contact arms of the terminals in at least one other group. The groups are arranged to leave a surface area of the housing top surface of a size sufficient for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for crimping a crimpable connector onto at least one electrical conductor. The apparatus includes a pair of crimping arms defining a staging area behind a crimping area. The staging area allows a first connector to be fed thereto and moved to the crimping area to be crimped thereat. A second connector is fed to the staging area, and an ejector moves the second connector into engagement with the first connector to eject the first connector from the crimping area while the second connector moves into the crimping area.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating an electrical cable and for mating with a complementary mating connector. A dielectric housing includes a front mating end, a rear terminating end and at least one mounting slot therein. A one-piece latch and strain relief device includes a central mounting portion, a forward latching portion and a rearward strain relief portion. The central mounting portion includes a mounting tab insertable into the mounting slot in the housing. The forward latching portion is adapted for latching engagement with the mating connector. The rearward strain relief portion is adapted for engaging the electrical cable. The one piece latch and strain relief device is electrically connected to the upper and lower shielding shells.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat circuit. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an elongated slot for receiving the flat circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and are spaced laterally along the slot. The terminals have contact portions for engaging appropriate conductors of the flat circuit. An actuator is pivotally mounted on the housing for rotational movement between an open position allowing insertion of the flat circuit into the slot and an actuating position biasing the flat circuit against the contact portions of the terminals. Complementary interengaging oblique ramps are provided on the housing and the actuator. The oblique ramps are arranged to confront and abut each other when the actuator is in its open position to hold the actuator thereat.

Abstract: A vibrator motor holder for a wireless telephone vibrator motor is described. The holder is integrally formed on the I/O connector of the telephone. The holder comprises a device insertion cavity adapted to receive the vibrator motor. The inner walls of the cavity are dimensioned so as to correspond with the inserted vibrator motor, thereby ensuring a snug fit when the motor is contained therein. A locking piece is provided which is moveable across an entry port of the cavity. The obstruction of a portion of the entry port by the locking piece is sufficient to contain the motor within the cavity.

Abstract: A connector is provided for terminating a plurality of generally parallel coaxial cables having fine conductor cores. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a slot. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing with contact portions spaced along the slot. A wire management member is insertable into the slot and includes a plurality of grooves for receiving the conductor cores and spacing the cores in alignment with the contact portions of the terminals. An actuator engages the wire management member and biases the conductor cores against the contact portions of the terminals.

Abstract: A keying system is provided for a plurality of electrical connectors having different numbers of terminals. The connectors include at least four sets of mating connectors, such as a male and female connector in each set. Each set of connector is adapted for mounting at least one pair of interengaging terminals, with the numbers of pairs of terminals in any given set of connectors being different from that of any other set of connectors, and with the number of mating terminals in the at least four sets of mating connectors increasing in a predetermined progression. The connectors in each respective set thereof have complementary interengaging mating portions. The respective mating portions of the sets of connectors are constructed such that either connector in any given set thereof cannot mate with a connector of any other set thereof.