Patents Assigned to JST Corporation
  • Patent number: 7407396
    Abstract: A lever-type electrical connector assembly employs a pivoting lever arm to assist in securely mating and un-mating connector halves with reduced connection mating forces between the halves. The assembly employs a housing with a boss pin and a connector with a corresponding cam groove. The connector includes a lever arm with which to direct the necessary mating forces. The lever arm engages the boss pin in the cam groove based upon a stroke, and the boss pin travels through the center point of rotation of the cam groove. The present invention also provides a lever-lock mechanism to securely prepare the lever arm connector in a pre-lock position. The lever lock mechanism is then automatically deflected by the base housing to enable free rotation. Once the lever arm is fully rotated and the connector halves are fully mated, a connector lock mechanism secures the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: JST Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Dillon, Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 7300317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connector device that includes a plurality of terminals of varying heights that extend upwardly from the surface of a circuit board, and a connector housing that defines a receptacle portion. The connector housing includes an asymmetrical surface adapted to receive a plurality of terminals, and each of the plurality of terminals extends through a portion of the asymmetrical surface into the receptacle portion of the connector housing. The asymmetrical surface may include a plurality of substantially parallel vertical sections separated by at least one substantially horizontal section, may be angled relative to the surface of the circuit board, or may be curved relative to the surface of the circuit board. In addition, at least a portion of the asymmetrical surface of the connector housing may protrude over at least a portion of at least one of the terminals extending between the circuit board and the asymmetrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: JST Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dillon, Ping Chen
  • Publication number: 20060148316
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connector device that includes a plurality of terminals of varying heights that extend upwardly from the surface of a circuit board, and a connector housing that defines a receptacle portion. The connector housing includes an asymmetrical surface adapted to receive a plurality of terminals, and each of the plurality of terminals extends through a portion of the asymmetrical surface into the receptacle portion of the connector housing. The asymmetrical surface may include a plurality of substantially parallel vertical sections separated by at least one substantially horizontal section, may be angled relative to the surface of the circuit board, or may be curved relative to the surface of the circuit board. In addition, at least a portion of the asymmetrical surface of the connector housing may protrude over at least a portion of at least one of the terminals extending between the circuit board and the asymmetrical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: JST Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Dillon, Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 7070438
    Abstract: A lever-type connector assembly reduces connection mating forces between connector halves. The assembly employs a first connector with cam follower projections, a base housing with guide channels and a latch member, a slide cam housing including cam grooves and projection guide tracks, and a cover housing pivoting on the base housing, the cover housing having a cover housing projection and release latch. The release latch is fully protected and concealed within the profile of the cover housing. As the cover housing rotates, the cover housing projection engages in projection guide track, thereby moving slide cam housing in a guide channel. As slide cam housing moves from an open to a closed position, it engages cam follower projections in cam grooves thereby drawing first connector into base housing to a connected position while the cover housing release latch engages base housing release latch aperture to provide a secure electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: JST Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Dillon
  • Patent number: 6971894
    Abstract: A lever-type electrical connector assembly reduces the connection mating forces required to mate female and male connectors. The connector assembly employs a first connector with cam follower projections, a base housing with guide channels, a slide cam housing including cam grooves and projection guide tracks, and a cover housing pivotally mounted on the base housing, the cover housing having a cover housing projection. As the cover housing is rotated from an open to a closed position, it engages the cover housing projection in the projection guide track. This engagement moves the slide cam housing in the guide channel. As the slide cam housing is moved from an open to a closed position, it engages the cam follower projections in the cam grooves thereby drawing the first connector into the base housing to a connected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: JST Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Dillon, Ping Chen
  • Publication number: 20050221647
    Abstract: A lever-type electrical connector assembly reduces the connection mating forces required to mate female and male connectors. The connector assembly employs a first connector with cam follower projections, a base housing with guide channels, a slide cam housing including cam grooves and projection guide tracks, and a cover housing pivotally mounted on the base housing, the cover housing having a cover housing projection. As the cover housing is rotated from an open to a closed position, it engages the cover housing projection in the projection guide track. This engagement moves the slide cam housing in the guide channel. As the slide cam housing is moved from an open to a closed position, it engages the cam follower projections in the cam grooves thereby drawing the first connector into the base housing to a connected position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: JST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Dillon, Ping Chen
  • Publication number: 20050221653
    Abstract: A lever-type connector assembly reduces connection mating forces between connector halves. The assembly employs a first connector with cam follower projections, a base housing with guide channels and a latch member, a slide cam housing including cam grooves and projection guide tracks, and a cover housing pivoting on the base housing, the cover housing having a cover housing projection and release latch. The release latch is fully protected and concealed within the profile of the cover housing. As the cover housing rotates, the cover housing projection engages in projection guide track, thereby moving slide cam housing in a guide channel. As slide cam housing moves from an open to a closed position, it engages cam follower projections in cam grooves thereby drawing first connector into base housing to a connected position while the cover housing release latch engages base housing release latch aperture to provide a secure electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Applicant: JST Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Dillon
  • Patent number: 6899554
    Abstract: A lever-type electrical connector assembly reduces the connection mating forces required to mate female and male connectors. The connector assembly employs a first connector with cam follower projections, a base housing with cam grooves and a sliding guide rail, a slide lever housing including a sliding projection and a sliding guide rail, and a cover housing pivotally mounted on the base housing, the cover housing having a sliding projection. As the cover housing is rotated from an open to a closed position, it engages the sliding projection in the guide rail to permit rotation of the lever housing. This rotation engages the sliding projection in the guide rail. As the lever housing is rotated from an open to a closed position, it rotates the cam grooves to engage the cam follower projections thereby drawing the first connector into the base housing to a connected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: JST Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Osada