Abstract: An electrical component including a substrate having opposite first and second sides and a plurality of vias extending into the substrate from the first side. The substrate has first conductive pads on the first side that are electrically connected to corresponding vias. The electrical component also includes a plurality of electrical contacts that are mounted to the substrate along the first side. Each of the electrical contacts includes a contact heel and a contact beam that extends from the corresponding contact heel and at least partially away from the first side. The contact heels are laser-welded to corresponding first conductive pads.

Abstract: An electrical component including a substrate having opposite first and second sides and a plurality of vias extending into the substrate from the first side. The substrate has first conductive pads on the first side that are electrically connected to corresponding vias. The electrical component also includes a plurality of electrical contacts that are mounted to the substrate along the first side. Each of the electrical contacts includes a contact heel and a contact beam that extends from the corresponding contact heel and at least partially away from the first side. The contact heels are laser-welded to corresponding first conductive pads.

Abstract: A land grid array interconnect has a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface. The substrate has a plurality of vias extending therethrough. The substrate has first pads on the first surface electrically connected to corresponding vias and has second pads on the second surface electrically connected to corresponding vias and corresponding first pads. A contact array is coupled to the first surface of the substrate. The contact array has a metal plate that defines a carrier and a plurality of contacts formed from the metal plate and held by the carrier. The contacts have contact heels and beams extending from corresponding contact heels. The contact heels are soldered to corresponding first pads. The contacts are singulated from the carrier after the contact heels are soldered to the first pads. The carrier is removed from the substrate after the contacts are singulated leaving the individual contacts soldered to corresponding first pads.

Abstract: A connector assembly having a connector body that includes a support structure and a mating side and has an adjustable cavity therebetween. The mating side has a mating array of terminals thereon that is configured to face a communication component. The mating side is moveable relative to the support structure. The connector assembly also includes an elastic container having a reservoir that holds a working fluid. The elastic container is positioned within the adjustable cavity between the support structure and the mating side. The elastic container changes between first and second shapes to move the mating side toward and away from the communication component.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a mating array, and a self-alignment subassembly. The housing is joined to a first circuit board and includes a header portion that moves in a mating direction toward a second circuit board. The mating array is joined to the header portion and includes a terminal. The mating array is moveable in the mating direction to couple the terminal with a mating terminal of the second circuit board. The self-alignment subassembly is disposed between the header portion and the mating array. The self-alignment subassembly applies a floating force on the mating array that permits alignment of the terminal of the mating array with the mating terminal while the mating array is moved in directions oriented approximately perpendicular to the mating direction. The self-alignment subassembly also applies a loading force on the mating array in the mating direction that couples the terminal of the mating array with the mating terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a connector having a connector housing and contacts held by the connector housing, where the contacts defining a separable mating interface for mating with a mating component. An actuator engages the contacts and is movable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. The contacts are deflected relative to the connector housing when the actuator is moved to the actuated position. An actuation device is configured to move the actuator between the actuated position and the unactuated position.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board and an electrical connector mounted on the circuit board. The circuit board has a circuit board body having first and second surfaces and through-holes bored between the first and second surfaces. The circuit board has signal traces on internal layers of the circuit board that are generally parallel to the first and second surfaces. Portions of the circuit board body within the through-holes are etched away to expose portions of the signal traces beyond the circuit board body within the corresponding through-hole. The electrical connector includes a housing and signal terminals held by the housing. The signal terminals are received in respective through-holes of the circuit board and engage the corresponding signal traces.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a connector interface, and an actuator. The housing extends from a front end to a back end and includes an elongated channel extending through the housing along an actuation axis disposed between the front and back ends. The connector interface is joined with the front end of the housing and is configured to be electrically joined with a circuit board when the connector interface is moved away from the front end and mates with the circuit board. The actuator is disposed within the channel of the housing and includes a ramp angled toward the front end of the housing. The connector interface mates with the circuit board by moving the actuator along the actuation axis to engage the ramp with the connector interface and move the connector interface toward the circuit board.

Abstract: A land grid array interconnect has a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface. The substrate has a plurality of vias extending therethrough. The substrate has first pads on the first surface electrically connected to corresponding vias and has second pads on the second surface electrically connected to corresponding vias and corresponding first pads. A contact array is coupled to the first surface of the substrate. The contact array has a metal plate that defines a carrier and a plurality of contacts formed from the metal plate and held by the carrier. The contacts have contact heels and beams extending from corresponding contact heels. The contact heels are soldered to corresponding first pads. The contacts are singulated from the carrier after the contact heels are soldered to the first pads. The carrier is removed from the substrate after the contacts are singulated leaving the individual contacts soldered to corresponding first pads.

Abstract: A connector assembly having a connector body that includes a support structure and a mating side and has an adjustable cavity therebetween. The mating side has a mating array of terminals thereon that is configured to face a communication component. The mating side is moveable relative to the support structure. The connector assembly also includes an elastic container having a reservoir that holds a working fluid. The elastic container is positioned within the adjustable cavity between the support structure and the mating side. The elastic container changes between first and second shapes to move the mating side toward and away from the communication component.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board and an electrical connector mounted on the circuit board. The circuit board has a circuit board body having first and second surfaces and through-holes bored between the first and second surfaces. The circuit board has signal traces on internal layers of the circuit board that are generally parallel to the first and second surfaces. Portions of the circuit board body within the through-holes are etched away to expose portions of the signal traces beyond the circuit board body within the corresponding through-hole. The electrical connector includes a housing and signal terminals held by the housing. The signal terminals are received in respective through-holes of the circuit board and engage the corresponding signal traces.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a contact module with a lead frame having signal conductors defining separate conductive paths. The contact module also includes a compensation circuit component coupled to the leadframe. The compensation circuit component has a substrate and multiple compensation circuit elements mounted to the substrate, where the substrate is coupled to the leadframe such that the compensation circuit elements are electrically connected to corresponding signal conductors. The contact module also includes a body encasing the signal conductors and the compensation circuit component.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a mating array, and a self-alignment subassembly. The housing is joined to a first circuit board and includes a header portion that moves in a mating direction toward a second circuit board. The mating array is joined to the header portion and includes a terminal. The mating array is moveable in the mating direction to couple the terminal with a mating terminal of the second circuit board. The self-alignment subassembly is disposed between the header portion and the mating array. The self-alignment subassembly applies a floating force on the mating array that permits alignment of the terminal of the mating array with the mating terminal while the mating array is moved in directions oriented approximately perpendicular to the mating direction. The self-alignment subassembly also applies a loading force on the mating array in the mating direction that couples the terminal of the mating array with the mating terminal.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a contact module with a lead frame having signal conductors defining separate conductive paths. The contact module also includes a compensation circuit component coupled to the leadframe. The compensation circuit component has a substrate and multiple compensation circuit elements mounted to the substrate, where the substrate is coupled to the leadframe such that the compensation circuit elements are electrically connected to corresponding signal conductors. The contact module also includes a body encasing the signal conductors and the compensation circuit component.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a connector interface, and an actuator. The housing extends from a front end to a back end and includes an elongated channel extending through the housing along an actuation axis disposed between the front and back ends. The connector interface is joined with the front end of the housing and is configured to be electrically joined with a circuit board when the connector interface is moved away from the front end and mates with the circuit board. The actuator is disposed within the channel of the housing and includes a ramp angled toward the front end of the housing. The connector interface mates with the circuit board by moving the actuator along the actuation axis to engage the ramp with the connector interface and move the connector interface toward the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a connector having a connector housing and contacts held by the connector housing, where the contacts defining a separable mating interface for mating with a mating component. An actuator engages the contacts and is movable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. The contacts are deflected relative to the connector housing when the actuator is moved to the actuated position. An actuation device is configured to move the actuator between the actuated position and the unactuated position.

Abstract: A socket connector for an electronic package includes a socket housing and a loading caddy having a forward end and a rearward end. The forward end includes an opening dimensioned to receive the electronic package. The loading caddy is coupled to the housing for linear and rotational movement therewith. The loading caddy rotates through a first range of motion adapted to align the electronic package with respect to the housing, and descends linearly through a second range of motion to load the electronic package into the housing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dielectric member interposed between two electrical components which have different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs). The dielectric member has conductive traces for electrically connecting the electrical components. The traces may be joined by solder balls to a printed circuit board. The dielectric member may include reservoirs for locating the solder balls and receiving solder after reflow of the solder balls. Adhesive layers may be used for bonding the traces to the dielectric member. The dielectric member is made of a material having a selected CTE value which minimizes the CTE mismatch at the electrical interface and effectuates absorption of the thermal expansion and contraction of the system. Stresses induced by thermal expansion and contraction at the electrical interface are thereby reduced, preventing problems such as fractured solder joints.

Abstract: A socket is disclosed for a tape carrier package (10) having a plurality of leads (6) extending across an aperture (8) in a tape carrier (2). The socket includes a cover (14) having a tape mounting surface (44) and a plurality of ribs (30) protruding from the tape mounting surface. The ribs are arranged to extend through the aperture (8) and to straddle the leads (6) when the tape carrier package (10) is disposed on the tape mounting surface (44). The cover (14) is matable with a housing (12) holding a plurality of contacts (20). The ribs (30) straddle and guide the leads (6) into engagement with respective contacts (20) as the cover is mated with the housing. A socket for a tape carrier package (110) is also disclosed. The socket includes a cover (114) having a tape mounting surface including an undersurface (144) and an inclined surface (148).

Abstract: An apparatus consisting of a pair of rollers with tangentially meeting perimeters for crimping successive portions of a continuous strip of solder into rings around a strip of terminal posts carried in parallel manner upon a common carrier strip. The roller perimeters each contain a circumferential track of crimping ridges which are both axially and angularly positioned to coincide with corresponding ridges on the other roller to crimp said solder strip around each post on the strip of terminal posts, both strips being simultaneously passed between the crimping tracks on said rollers. Each roller also comprises a circumferential track of spur-type gear teeth, the two tracks being axially offset on opposite sides of said crimping tracks and having bottom lands (the troughs of the teeth) which coincide when the teeth pass through the common tangential or pitch plane of the rollers.