Abstract: A gasket made of an electrically-conductive elastomer is revealed that functions as both a water-tight seal and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) seal when mounting an electrical connector receptacle to an electrical panel or electrical box. This gasket is produced in a manner both unique and functional.

Abstract: A very low profile connector (e.g., less than 1.9 mm high) utilizes stored energy in a horizontal beam to augment contact displacement and is contained in a cage that will eliminate any transfer of forces to the solder joints that hold the connector to the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect system employs electrical connectors in which the contacts are identical for both the male and the female side of the connection. Contacts are arranged in a linear header and multiple header pairs are arranged in a dielectric matrix or grid. The grid is an external dielectric frame capable of providing load bearing and geometry requirements. This arrangement results in a cost-effective construction that features very high electrical bandwidth capabilities and an extremely rugged product.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect system employs electrical connectors in which the contacts are identical for both the male and the female side of the connection. Contacts are arranged in a linear header and multiple header pairs are arranged in a dielectric matrix or grid. The grid is an external dielectric frame capable of providing load bearing and geometry requirements. This arrangement results in a cost-effective construction that features very high electrical bandwidth capabilities and an extremely rugged product.

Abstract: A cable guide is used to constrain and locate wires or cables for preparation for and for connection to a circuit board or connector, for termination. The cable guide has openings that receive and secure wires during the termination process. A shaft of the cable guide may be used to secure, in a repeatable manner, a predetermined length of the wires with ends offset from a cable jacket, or other reference on or near the end of the cable. The cable guide and the cable/wires may be secured in a fixture that allows the wire ends to be repeatably scored to remove insulation.

Abstract: A cable guide is used to constrain and locate wires or cables for preparation for and for connection to a circuit board or connector, for termination. The cable guide has openings that receive and secure wires during the termination process. A shaft of the cable guide may be used to secure, in a repeatable manner, a predetermined length of the wires with ends offset from a cable jacket, or other reference on or near the end of the cable. The cable guide and the cable/wires may be secured in a fixture that allows the wire ends to be repeatably scored to remove insulation.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a cable end connector which mates with a board mount connector. The cable end connector includes a plurality of header modules that each include pivotal contact-bearing headers. The headers are coupled to ribbon conductors in a parallel planar array. One end of each of the headers has conductors prepared to accept the welding of ribbonized coaxial cables. The other end of the conductors form compliant contacts for engagement with other compliant contacts or with pads arranged on the edge of a circuit board. Headers of each module have posts that emanate from lateral sides of a header body, distal from the compliant contact ends, that function as cam sliders. The cam sliders are located in slots, and engage ramps, which may be moved to urge the contacts of the headers together or apart.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a female dual row connector, and a male dual row connector configured to be inserted into the female dual row connector. The female connector is configured to be compression mounted onto a circuit card, and has conductive tails for being brought into contact with traces on the card or circuit board. The female connector may have a stiffener to help it maintain its shape. The rows of contacts of the male connector may be selectively brought together (collapsed) or moved apart (expanded). The rows of contacts are collapsed during insertion or removal of the male connector from the female connector, thus allowing zero force insertion of the male connector into the female connector. The collapsing and expanding of the rows for the male connector may be accomplished through any of a variety of mechanisms.

Abstract: A test interface is used to connect an electronic device under test (“DUT”), such as a computer chip, to a tester. The interface utilizes a combination of spring forces and air pressure forces to extend and retract pogo pins, respectively. The pogo pins when extended contact conductive pads which are electrically connected to the DUT, perhaps via a DUT board. Springs are biased to extend the pins to contact the pads, and air pressure is used to retract the pins. Thus no air pressure or vacuum is required to maintain the pins in contact with the pads. When retracted, the pogo pins are shielded from damage by a shield, such as a board with holes in it for the pogo pins to pass through.

Abstract: An interface connector and method of connection provides balanced resilient contact force of sufficient magnitude for maintaining secure electrical connections between stacked circuit boards in high stress conditions, for example, at high acceleration, using a feed through connection while substantially minimizing size requirements.

Abstract: A termination for a plurality of electrical conductors of a substrate includes a strain relief frame molded to the substrate, a connector housing having a plurality of electrical terminals positioned with respect to the frame to orient the terminals with respect to the conductors, and a plurality of the terminals being electrically connected to respective electrical conductors, the connections being made subsequent to the molding of the strain relief to the substrate. A cable termination assembly made by the process of molding a strain relief to a substrate having plural conductors in positional relation, said molding including leaving exposed connecting portions of respective conductors, subsequently attaching plural terminals respectively to exposed connecting portions of said conductors.

Abstract: A fastener for securing a connector body over a hole in a printed circuit board comprises a clip rigidly supported by the connector body and a wedge supported by the connector body for sliding movement along the clip. In one form, the clip includes a pair of resilient arms having free ends extending outside the body. The resilient arms have teeth or other means near their free ends for engaging the inner surfaces of the hole. The arms converge toward each other near their free ends to retract the teeth when the arms are in an unengaged condition. The wedge includes a portion which extends between the arms for spreading the arms and teeth as the wedge slides along the clip toward the free ends of the arms. The fastener is secured in the hole by inserting the clip arms into the hole and pressing the wedge into the hole toward the free ends of the arms.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect system employs electrical connectors in which both the housing (or support) and the contact(s) thereof are hermaphroditic, i.e., without gender limitations. Therefore, two such connectors may interconnect with each other. Contacts are arranged in a header or other housing or support in which at least two contacts, for example, adjacent contacts, respectively face in opposite directions. Bifurcated and trifurcated contacts have contacting portions respective ones of which face in opposite directions and are supported on parallel cantilever arms.

Abstract: A coaxial cable termination system, includes a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating the conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to the signal conductor, the electrical contact having a contacting portion for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, and a strain relief body molded directly to at least part of the coaxial cable and electrical contact for holding the same in relatively fixed positions with respect to each other; a housing having an opening for receiving therein at one end the terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into the housing means to engage the electrical contact; and an insulator inserted into the opening from the opposite end to insulate the contact from the housing wall bounding the opening. Novel tube-like insulators and bow type contacts also are included.

Abstract: A coaxial cable termination system, includes a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating the conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to the signal conductor, the electrical contact having a contacting portion for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, a protective insulator for covering at least part of the contacting portion, and a strain relief body molded directly to at least part of the coaxial cable, electrical contact and protective insulator for holding the same in relatively fixed positions with respect to each other; and a housing for receiving therein the terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connectioin with an external member inserted into the housing means to engage the electrical contact.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly (200) includes a flat ribbon multiconductor cable (204), able to be slit to separate the conductors into respective pairs of adjacent conductor that are able to be rotated or twisted, a strain relief body (210) directly molded to the cable (204) to form an integral structure therewith, plural electrical contacts (212) that are placed in IDC relation to form IDC junctions with respective conductors (208) of the cable, and a separate cover (214) that can be slid over at least part of the contacts and strain relief body for fastening with respect thereto. The conductor pairs are twisted during the molding step, and as a result of the twist the outboard conductors are brought adequately inboard of the ends of the assembly to facilitate the desired IDC connections while maintaining side and end stackability. A method and apparatus for making the cable termination assembly.