Patents Examined by Briggitte Hammond
  • Patent number: 6551128
    Abstract: A connector for securely and electrically connecting flexible substrates requires zero insertion force (ZIF) and includes a slider, a housing and a lever. The housing houses electrical contacts and includes an insertion opening to receive the flexible substrate. The slider includes a pressing plate and securing projections. The slider and lever operate to slide the slider adjacent the housing and urge the pressing plate into the insertion opening. The securing projections secure the slider and the pressing plate presses the flexible substrate against the contacts establishing stable electrical connection. The connector provides uniform contact pressure, minimizes operating space, and eliminates interference from the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Asai
  • Patent number: 6544047
    Abstract: The present invention is directed, in general, to dual-swiping interconnection clip, and hook and slot arrangement for printed circuit board (PCB) attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew M. Moore
  • Patent number: 6540558
    Abstract: A connector, comprising one or more integrated PCB assemblies, each of said PCB assemblies comprising an insulating substrate, a cover plate and optionally a spacer each of said insulating substrates (16) comprising a predetermined pattern of conductive tracks (11) on a first surface, each of said conducting tracks (11) having one end for connection to one first contact terminal (4), and another end for connection to one second contact terminal (7) recesses are provided between the substrate and the cover with a first set of one or more first recesses (24) arranged for accommodating at least part of one first contact terminal (4) and with a second set of one or more second recesses (25) arranged for accommodating at least part of one second contact terminal (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernardus L. F. Paagman
  • Patent number: 6533606
    Abstract: An electrical connector for connection of a flat-type connection member is disclosed. The electrical connector includes a cover pivotally moved to open or close an opening of a housing. The cover is reinforced with a metal plate. The cover includes a pair of support shafts for pivotal movement, and engagement portions adapted to engage with lock portions of the housing for locking the cover in a close position. The metal plate is provided with the pair of support shafts and the pair of engagement portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: J. S. T. Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamane
  • Patent number: 6530786
    Abstract: A connector includes a connector housing (10), a row of receiving chambers (CV) formed within the housing (10), and a spacer block (14) fittable to the housing (10) from an obverse surface thereof to face the row of receiving chambers (CV). The spacer block (14) is fixable at a reverse surface thereof to a printed circuit board. A plurality of connection terminals (12) are respectively insertable in the row of receiving chambers (CV). The connection terminals (12) have distal end portions (12a) electrically connectable to electrically-conductive circuit patterns formed on the printed circuit board. The spacer block (14) has a row of passage windows (24) which are formed in a lattice-like manner, and through which the distal end portions (12a) of the connection terminals (12) are respectively passable, so that the distal end portions (12a) of the connection terminals (12) are protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6527581
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a network converter and its base applied in USB. The USB network converter of the present invention comprises a converting body and a base. The converting body includes a PCB whose one end has a network port and the other end connects to a USB cable. The base has a socket hole, the positive side of the base is for containing the converting body, and the reverse side is used to fasten the USB cable and fix the USB plug in the socket hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Accton Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chun-Chieh Wang
  • Patent number: 6517390
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connecting terminal for an automobile storage battery, or more particularly, to a connecting terminal for a storage battery, wherein a connecting terminal part 1 connecting to a post-terminal 3 for a storage battery, and connection terminals (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e) for fixing a wire connector (C) are made attachable or detachable by means of bolts (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) and nuts (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) in conjunction with washers (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d); and the insertion holes (4, 4′) of the connecting terminal part 1 are tightened with appropriate tightening force by means of a tightening bolt 5 having a screw thread only at the portion at its lower end, which incorporates into a unit a rubber cap in the shape of a band, which covers the upper and lower portions of the connecting terminal part 1 connected to said post-terminal, and which has protrusions 11″ in the shape of a ring, respectively, around the rim of the bottom side of the piercing hole 11′ of the rubber cap 11,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Hwan-Chang Kim
  • Patent number: 6517364
    Abstract: A connector-with-lever comprising a first connector (11), a second connector (12) and a lever (14) turnably mounted to a connector housing (13) of the first connector (11), in which the first connector (11) and the second connector (12) are connected to each other by operating the lever (14), wherein the connector-with-lever further comprises lever locking means (18A), (23) for temporarily lock the lever (14) with the connector housing before the first connector (11) and the second connector (12) are connected to each other, and unlocking means (28) for unlocking the temporary locking state of the lever (14) when the first connector (11) and the second connector (12) start being connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Muramatsu, Toshiharu Kawashima
  • Patent number: 6511332
    Abstract: A board-connecting connector (100) includes a connector housing (20) having a pair of side walls (25) formed on opposite sides thereof. A plurality of lock arms (22; 24) are formed on the side walls (25) of the connector housing (20). At least one terminal receiving chamber (26), into which a terminal (30) is insertable, is formed in the connector housing (20). A spacer member engageable with the connector housing has a plurality of engagement portions (14; 16) which are respectively engaged with the lock arms (22; 24). A plurality of slits (28; 29) are formed in the side walls (25) so as to partially separate the lock arms (22; 24) from the side walls (25). With this construction, each of the lock arms (22; 24) can be elastically bent or deformed independently of separate portions (25a) of the side walls (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6508673
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reduced cost smart card connector for connecting a contact pad of an IC card to a printed circuit board. The connector of the present invention requires only a single housing component and a plurality of signal contacts positioned therein for effective contact with and retention of a smart card. The contacts are insertably accommodated in the housing from a back portion thereof such that a deflectable spring-like portion of each contact is positioned in a cantilever type configuration in a card insertion slot defined by a peripheral housing wall. The spring-like portions are provided as resilient contacts protruding normally from a tail portion thereof, establishing wiping engagement with one or more contact pads on the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Jennifer Lyn McDowell
  • Patent number: 6503118
    Abstract: A multi-functional vacuum processing apparatus for luminous tubes (especially for neon tubes), glass containers, food containers, and cosmetic containers, generally includes a body fame, a vacuum pump, a main pipe, a plurality of valves, a plurality of gas tanks, a thermometer, an adjustable current controller and high voltage transformer, a turbine vacuum pump, a turbine controller, an inspector, safety sensors, and a control panel, whereby one whereby one can carry out vacuum processing procedures with fully or semi-automatic operations so that no skilful operators are required and ordinary operators can increase quality, working efficiency, service life and production rate, and decrease costs, and can provide protection, safety, troubleshooting and inspection functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Yuan Lin Tsai
  • Patent number: 6454605
    Abstract: A termination structure for a cable connector having a pair of differential wire pairs and an associated ground wire utilizes a series of nests, or solder cups, that have their dimensions tailored to maintain a desired level of electrical performance. These nests are also arranged in a configuration to maintain the aforementioned electrical performance, and also position the ground and signal conductors of the cable in the termination area in the same position and orientation as they take in the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Maxwill P. Bassler, David L. Brunker, Daniel L. Dawiedczyk, John E. Lopata
  • Patent number: 6443767
    Abstract: In a connector with an integral cover in which a cover (13) is provided continuously with a housing body (12) via a returning hinge (17), in a region near a pivot point rotation via the returning hinge (17) a holding hinge (18) is provided, wherein the cover is temporarily held to the housing body (12) in the opened condition, and wherein forcible deformation is done to use the returning hinge (17) to allow movement of the cover (13) to a close position. Housing parts each housing the returning hinge (17) and holding hinge (18) when the cover (13) is closed are provided on the housing body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Nagai
  • Patent number: 6435890
    Abstract: A connecting portion for elastically connecting a receiving member to a stationary member is formed in such a manner as to be integral with the receiving portion. The connection portion is attached to the stationary member through the stationary portion. This stationary portion is surrounded by the receiving member across a gap SR. There is no frame serving as a stationary member around the receiving member. Thus, the movable structure becomes thin as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Kato, Kensaku Takata
  • Patent number: 6386899
    Abstract: A receptacle type connector fixed to a side plate of an image forming device body includes a primary inserting and drawing recess which is open upward. A contact holding wall of an opponent plug type connector is inserted into and drawn out from the primary inserting and drawing recess. Even when toner intrudes into the primary inserting and drawing recess which is open, the toner can be discharged from the connector via the through-hole, which is formed in a lower portion of the primary inserting and drawing recess, by lightly tapping the receptacle type connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: J. S. T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Ushio, Yutaka Ushiro
  • Patent number: 6386887
    Abstract: A connector (1) is provided with configurable contacts (3) such that the contacts can be connected to each other via a printed circuit (16) comprising strip conductors (20) which connect conductive feed-throughs (19) of said printed circuit. For each contact of the connector, a sliding contact (26) which can be displaced between two positions can be connected or not connected to the contact to which it is opposite. The sliding contacts can be maintained between two stable positions via an insulating grommet (37). In a sunken position, the sliding contacts comprise a conductive end which is in contact with a conductive feed-through of the printed circuit and which is in contact with the contact 3. In a withdrawn position, the sliding contact is only in contact with the conductor opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventors: Gerard Boiret, Christophe Provost
  • Patent number: 6383019
    Abstract: A connector for attachment to a coaxial cable having a smooth outer cable conductor, includes a connector head having a threaded portion and defining a ring surface for establishing a contact from inside with an end zone of an outer cable conductor. The outer cable conductor is enclosed by a contact sleeve which has a plurality of radially resilient segments. Surrounding the contact sleeve is a hollow screw which is so threadably engageable with the connector head along a predetermined clamping path, until the end zone of the outer cable conductor is urged against the contact surface of the connector head. The contact sleeve, when not exposed to a load, has an inner diameter which in the area of the beaded ends of the segments is smaller than a diameter of the outwardly deflected end zone of the outer cable conductor and in the remaining area is greater than the diameter of the outwardly bent end zone of the outer cable conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Spinner GmbH Elektrotechnische Fabrik
    Inventor: Werner Wild
  • Patent number: 6358082
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a headshell with a first connector for terminating a plurality of electrical leads intended for mechanical and electrical connection with a mating second connector. An elongated latch member is freely received within a passage which extends between front and rear faces of the headshell and has first and second lateral sidewalls, the latch member being simultaneously movable by an external actuator longitudinally and laterally between a first retracted position interfering with connection of the first and second mating connectors and a second advanced position enabling connection of the first and second connectors. When returned to the first position, a grapnel blade on the latch member becomes lockingly engaged with a housing for the second connector. In this condition, the first and second connectors are mechanically and electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy Louis Letourneau
  • Patent number: 6354857
    Abstract: A transmitter housing is provided in which the transmitter electronic unit is protected against ambient influences even during the electrical connection of the transmitter. The transmitter housing comprises a housing (1) for accommodating a transmitter electronic unit, and a connection housing (3), in which electrical connections that can be connected to external lines are provided and which is mechanically releasably connected to the housing (1). A plug-in connection (9) is provided between the housing (1) and the connection housing (3), via which plug-in connection the transmitter electronic unit can be connected to the connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Bernd Rosskopf, Amir Vahid-Yousefnia
  • Patent number: 6319047
    Abstract: An insulation displacement connector type adapter has a housing, a circuit board, two IDCs received in the housing and a cover to enclose the IDCs inside the housing. The two IDCs are vertical with respect to the circuit when the two IDCs are securely engaged with the circuit board, such that the center of gravity of the adapter falls within an area covered by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Yung-Ho Kang