Patents Assigned to FCI
  • Patent number: 11158970
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector has heat dissipation holes, and is configured to be mounted to a substrate having electrical traces that are partially offset from each other, and partially aligned with each other. The holes pass through a shroud of the electrical connector such that, when the electrical connector is mated with a second electrical connector, air flows outside a perimeter of the second electrical connector, and may cool the mated connectors as well as dissipate heat from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Gieski, Michael Blanchfield, Michael Percherke
  • Patent number: 11131189
    Abstract: A underground support includes a first row of panels, and a second row of panels configured to be secured to the first series of panels to define an interior space for receiving construction aggregate or concrete. Each panel of the first row of panels and the second row of panels includes a body having a top edge, a bottom edge positioned opposite from the top edge, a left edge, and a right edge positioned opposite from the left edge, with the top edges of the panels of the first row of panels configured to abut the bottom edges of the panels of the second row of panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: FCI Holdings Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ma, James Edward Pinkley
  • Patent number: 11121509
    Abstract: An electrical connector, electrical connector assembly, electrical device and electrical interconnection system configured for use in electronic devices with direct connect orthogonal architectures. The electrical connector comprises: an insulating housing; at least one electrically conductive terminal, with at least a part of each of the at least one electrically conductive terminal being accommodated in the insulating housing; and a mounting flange, the mounting flange having a mounting hole for mounting the electrical connector to component PCB. A threaded connecting member may pass through the mounting hole and be connected to a first PCB. A portion of the mating interface part of the connector may extend below the mounting interface of the connector so as to abut an edge of the PCB. The electrical connector can simultaneously provide compactness and robustness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FCI CONNECTORS DONGGUAN LTD.
    Inventors: Hua-Kun Wei, Yi-Lin Liu
  • Patent number: 11108068
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control system for a fuel cell system that includes at least two or more fuel cell groups which each have at least one fuel cell connected in parallel. The fuel cell control system comprises: a unit level controller configured to control an output of an individual fuel cell; a group level controller configured to determine the output distribution of the individual fuel cells within the fuel cell group based on the performance decrease rates of the individual fuel cells within the fuel cell group; and a system level controller configured to determine the total output of the fuel cell system according to the power demand for the grid and determine the output distribution for each of the fuel cell groups in correspondence to the total output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FCI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ingab Chang, Tae Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11101611
    Abstract: An I/O connector assembly configured for making a cabled connection to an interior portion of a printed circuit board for at least some signals passing through the I/O connector. The I/O connector assembly may be assembled by mounting a cage to a printed circuit board. A receptacle connector, including cables extending from a rear of the connector, may be inserted through an opening in the top or rear of the cage. The receptacle connector may be positioned in the cage by at least one retention member on the cage. A plug, mating to the receptacle connector, also may be positioned by a retention member on the cage. Positioning both the plug and receptacle relative to the cage reduces the tolerance stackup of the assembly and enables the connectors to be designed with shorter wipe length, which enables higher frequency operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Winey, Arkady Y. Zerebilov, Michael Scholeno, Jeremy Shober
  • Publication number: 20210234291
    Abstract: A midboard cable connector assembly with a board connector and a cable connector. The board connector has terminals precisely positioned with respect to engagement features. A cable connector likewise has terminals precisely positioned with respect to complementary engagement features. When the connectors are pressed together for mating, the terminals of one or both connectors deform, generating a force that separates the connectors until the engagement features engage and block further backward motion. As the mating position is defined by the locations of the engagement features, the connectors can be designed with low over travel and a resulting short stub length, which promotes high frequency performance. High frequency performance is further promoted by a ground conductor interconnecting the beams forming mating contact portions of ground terminals, reducing the length of unconnected segments and by a cable clamp plate with complaint compression features that reduce distortion of the cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Arkady Y. Zerebilov
  • Publication number: 20210234314
    Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at or above 112 Gbps. Effectiveness of shielding along the signal paths through the mating electrical connectors may be enhanced through the use of one or more techniques, including enabling two-sided shielding, connections between shield members and between shield members and grounded structures of printed circuit boards to which the connectors are mounted, and selective positioning of lossy material. Such techniques may be simply and reliably implemented in high density connector using one or more techniques. An electrical connector may include core members held by a housing together with leadframe assemblies attached to the core members. The core members may include features that would be difficult to mold in a housing and may include both shields and lossy materials in locations that would be difficult to incorporate in a leadframe assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Douglas M. Johnescu, Gregory A. Hull, Mark E. Lauermann, Scott Martin, Jason John Ellison, Jan De Geest, Charles Copper, Mark R. Gray, William Tanis, Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20210234315
    Abstract: A direct mate orthogonal connector for a high density of high speed signals. The connector may include right angle leadframe assemblies with signal conductive elements and ground shields held by a leadframe housing. High frequency performance may be achieved with members on the leadframe that transfer force between a connector housing, holding the leadframe assemblies, and a portion of the leadframe housing holding the signal conductive elements and the shields near their mounting ends. Core members may be inserted into the housing and mating ends of the conductive elements of ground shields may be adjacent the core members, enabling electrical and mechanical performance of the mating interface to be defined by the core members. The core members may incorporate insulative and lossy features that may be complex to form as part of the connector housing but may be readily formed as part of a separate core member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Jason John Ellison, Douglas M. Johnescu, Gregory A. Hull, Mark E. Lauermann, Scott Martin, Jan De Geest, Scott Carbaugh, Steven E. Minich, Mark R. Gray, Charles Copper, William Tanis
  • Publication number: 20210218188
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a high frequency connector system with reduced stub lengths that provide improved performance at high frequencies. A first connector includes a plurality of mating contacts designed to electrically connect to a second plurality of mating contacts associated with a second connector. The first connector includes one or more elastic members such that when the second connector is mated to the first connector, the one or more elastic members are compressed between the first and second connectors. The first and second plurality of contacts overlap by a first distance when initially mated, but when the connectors are released, the first elastic member biases the second connector away from the first connector such that the first and second plurality of contacts overlap by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Jordan Winey
  • Patent number: 11063379
    Abstract: An electrical cable assembly includes a plurality of electrical cables, and a plurality of interposers configured to be mounted to a substrate at a first end, and mounted to electrical conductors of the electrical cables at a second end that is offset from the first end. The electrical cable assembly further includes an alignment housing that supports the interposers, and further defines a conduit to receive the drain wires of the electrical cables that are mounted to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Charles M. Gross
  • Publication number: 20210210881
    Abstract: An electrical power interconnection system is described. The electrical interconnection system may comprise an electrical power connector and a substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The electrical power connector may comprise a housing and a plurality of electrical power contacts supported by the housing. The electrical power contacts may comprise a mounting end, a mating end, and a contact body disposed between the mounting end and the mating end. The electrical power contacts may have planar portions. The mating ends may comprise opposing first second beams defining a slot. The slot may be configured to receive the substrate therein, such that the first beam contacts the first side of the substrate and the second beam contacts the second side of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Charles Copper, Christopher J. Kolivoski, Hung Viet Ngo, Thomas A. Brungard
  • Patent number: 11056841
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing and electrical conductor plating. The housing includes a first member and a second member. The first member is made of plastic and forms at least one first contact receiving channel therein. The second member is attached around the first member, and the first and second members form at least one second contact receiving channel therebetween. The electrical conductor plating is on the first member. The electrical conductor plating includes at least one first section along the at least one first contact receiving channel and at least one second section along an exterior side of the first member at the at least one second contact receiving channel. The first and second sections of the electrical conductor plating are electrically separate from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Charles Copper
  • Patent number: 11050200
    Abstract: A power connector assembly with hermaphroditic power connectors. The housing and the terminals of first and second mating power connectors may have like mating interfaces. The first power connector may include a plurality of first terminals, where the mating portion of each first terminal of the plurality of first terminals includes a first flat portion, and a first bent portion coupled to the first flat portion and including a first set of fingers parallel to the first flat portion. The second power connector may include a plurality of second terminals, where each second terminal of the plurality of second terminals includes a mating portion with a second flat portion, and a second bent portion coupled to the second flat portion and including a second set of fingers parallel to the second flat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: James M. Sabo
  • Publication number: 20210194192
    Abstract: A circular power connector that can accommodate plugs of varying diameters includes a plurality of electrical terminals that include a contact beam extending from and monolithic with base, where the contact beam includes a contact portion, and a mounting portion that extends from and monolithic with a base for mounting the terminal to a substrate. The terminals are cylindrically arranged to receive a plug. Alternatively, each electrical terminal includes a frame portion, a first contact beam extending from the frame in a first direction, and a second contact beam extending from the frame in a second direction. Multiple electrical terminals are oriented so that the first and second contact beams for one terminal extend at an angle, preferably perpendicular, to the first and second contact beams of another electrical terminal, in a still further embodiment, an electrical terminal having two halves is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC.
    Inventors: Charles Copper, Thomas Brungard
  • Publication number: 20210159624
    Abstract: A compact connector that mates with a complementary connector at high mating force. The connector (100) may have a housing (102) with a member (104) having a plurality of sides (106) and an opening (108) at a first side (110), and a frame (114) mounted to the member (104) from the first side (110) and having a plurality of walls (116) so as to bound the opening (108). The frame (114) may be made of a material that withstands forces to which the connector (100) may be exposed during mating. The member (104) may be made of a less robust material, such as plastic with thin walls (116) so as to enable a compact connector. The frame (114) and the member (104) may have engagement features, including latches, complementary chamfer and bevel features that may aid in mounting the frame (114) to the member (104) and locking features that resist dis-engagement of the frame (114) and the member (104).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: FCI CONNECTORS DONGGUAN LTD
    Inventors: Paul Rubens, Justin Chen
  • Publication number: 20210159620
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a plurality of contacts arranged in the housing, an actuator mounted to the housing and configured to move relative to the housing, and a locking terminal mounted to the housing, the locking terminal comprising a locking arm extending through an interior portion of the actuator and into a cavity within the housing, the cavity having an upper surface and a lower surface. Movement of the actuator relative to the housing may cause the interior portion of the actuator to push against at least part of the locking arm and rotate the at least part of the locking arm. When the actuator is in a first position, the locking arm may contact a surface of the cavity within the housing, which may inhibit the actuator from rotating in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Motomu Kajiura, Yasutoshi Kameda
  • Patent number: 11018402
    Abstract: High speed waveguide-based data communication systems are disclosed. Such systems may include separable electrical connectors, forming signal propagation paths between electronic assemblies with one or more waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Stephen B. Smith, Madhumitha Rengarajan, Kapil Sharma
  • Publication number: 20210151929
    Abstract: An electrical interconnection system with an adapter mounted in an opening within a connector interface of a panel of an electronic enclosure is described. A sealing member may be used to prevent passage of foreign matter, such as liquid, gas or dust particles into the enclosure and into the mating region between the adapter and a mating plug connector. The sealing member may comprise a base and a sidewall configured to wrap around an outer border of the adapter. The sealing member may be configured to form a first sealing interface with the panel, and a second sealing interface with the plug connector. The first and second sealing interfaces may be orthogonal to each other. The sealing member may be made of an elastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Koen Maddens, Thierry Goossens
  • Patent number: 10973117
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method. A first electrically conductive trace is provided on a substrate. A second electrically conductive trace is providing on the substrate proximate the first electrically conductive trace. A solder mask is provided at the first and the second electrically conductive traces. A portion of the first electrically conductive trace is free of any portion of the solder mask covering thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Reed Staudt
  • Publication number: 20210098927
    Abstract: A stacked I/O connector for use with a high speed, high density transceiver that generates a large amount of heat. The connector may be formed with a web-like housing into which leadframe assemblies are inserted. The web-like housing may have openings in the front, back, top and/or sides, enabling airflow through the connector with little resistance. Sidewall openings may open into a channel between the housing and a wall of cage, enabling air flowing to cool transceivers inserted into the cage to pass through the connector assembly with low resistance and high cooling efficiency. A cage for the connector may have openings selectively positioned such that air flowing through the cage to cool transceivers mated to the I/O connector may pass through the connector with low resistance, enhancing cooling efficiency. Such a connector may be used with OSFP transceivers to meet signal integrity and thermal requirements at 112 GBps and beyond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Jason Si, Ba Pham, Xingye Chen, Sam Kocsis