Abstract: Mating plug and receptacle connectors each include electrically insulating housings and plural rows of electrical terminals. The plug connector includes two terminal supporting walls or platforms extending outwardly from the housing with terminal contact portions positioned in channels on the terminal support platforms. Each platform includes at an end thereof a groove which receives a grounding strip in the form of a drain wire, commoned to an outer shielding shell. The receptacle connector has an insulating housing having two elongate slots thereacross, adapted for receiving the terminal support walls of the plug connector, and receptacle contacts for mating engagement with the plug connector terminals. The receptacle housing includes a groove in the front face carrying a grounding strip commoned to an outer shielding shell. The plug and receptacle are matable with their respective shielding shells in mating contact with each other.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge conductor to shell continuity system is disclosed for an electrical connector. The connector (20, 120) has a dielectric housing (24) with a recess (68, 74) for receiving an electrostatic discharge conductor (70). The electrostatic discharge conductor (70) extends along a forward face of the housing (24) and extends into the recess. The portion of the electrostatic discharge conductor extending into the recess (74) engages a surface of an electrically conductive shell (44, 144) securable to the housing (24), thereby providing electrical continuity between the shell (44, 144) and the electrostatic discharge conductor (70).

Abstract: This invention relates to a high density shielded electrical cable connector receptacle of the type for the transmission of signals from PCMCIA cards to network wiring. The receptacle comprises a housing insert for mounting a plurality of electrical contacts, a pair of hermaphroditic, metal shielding members adapted to lie contiguous with the housing insert, and a dielectric cover member for receiving the assembled housing insert and shielding members. The housing insert comprises a dielectric, elongated, first housing member having a connector mating portion, and a rear insert receiving portion, and a dielectric insert for receipt in the insert receiving portion.

Abstract: Input/output memory cards for use with computers and computer-related equipment. The cards (10) comprise connectors (40) adapted to mate with a printed circuit board (30) interfacing data from the printed circuit board to an outside environment which will utilize the memory card, lateral receiving pockets (50) on a frame (20) in the memory card for locking the connector to the frame and providing structural integrity to the memory cards, and interlocking tabs (60) integrally disposed on the connector and further adapted to mechanically interface with the lateral receiving pockets (50) for securely locking the connector to the frame and providing structural integrity to the memory card when the connector is mounted to the printed circuit board and mated to the frame. Memory cards in accordance with the present invention have significantly improved structural integrity as compared to prior memory cards.

Abstract: Mating plug and receptacle connectors each include electrically insulating housings and plural rows of electrical terminals. The plug connector includes two terminal supporting walls or platforms extending outwardly from the housing with terminal contact portions positioned in channels on the terminal support platforms. Each platform includes at an end thereof a groove which receives a grounding strip in the form of a drain wire, commoned to an outer shielding shell. The receptacle connector has an insulating housing having two elongate slots thereacross, adapted for receiving the terminal support walls of the plug connector, and receptacle contacts for mating engagement with the plug connector terminals. The receptacle housing includes a groove in the front face carrying a grounding strip commoned to an outer shielding shell. The plug and receptacle are mateable with their respective shielding shells in mating contact with each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for mounting to a printed circuit board where the electrical connector includes electrical terminals having surface mount contacts adapted for electrical engagement against conductive pads on a printed circuit board. The electrical connector also includes front mating contact portions with lead sections intermediate the contact portions and the surface mount contact portions. An alignment tine plate is positioned over the intermediate lead portions above the surface mount contacts to correctly position the surface mount contacts in an array which corresponds to the conductive pads on the printed circuit board. The alignment plate includes elongate ribs extending from a lower surface of the plate an upper surface of the surface mount contacts, thereby spanning the entire row of contacts.

Abstract: An electrical termination connector includes a substrate mounted to an insulating housing where the substrate includes conductive paths at a front edge of the substrate interconnected to electrical traces deposited on an upper and lower surface of the substrate. The electrical traces are electrically interconnected to electronic passive devices such as resistors and capacitors to simulate an impedance load to a mateable electrical connector. The assembled substrate and housing are shielded by a front shield member having a shroud surrounding the conductive paths and by upper and lower clam shell shield members which are latched in place to the front shield member. An outer insulating housing is overmolded over the assembled shielded connector to encapsulate the upper and lower shield within the outer insulating housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector which has a plurality of electrical contacts for interconnecting a plurality of data or communication lines is panel mountable. The connector includes a front mating portion which is insertable from outside of the panel and latchably attaches to the panel. The housing portion which includes the contacts is insertable from the rear of the panel and latches to the front mating portion.

Abstract: A network interface for use with shielded data cable includes an insulative base member, a printed circuit board assembly and an insulative cover member, the printed circuit board assembly being insertable within the base member with the cover member being receivable over the insulative base and printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly includes a plurality of shielded modular jacks disposed along a front edge of the printed circuit board. The shield members are interconnected to ground tabs at a rear edge of the printed circuit board via ground traces disposed on the printed circuit board. The terminals within the modular jacks are each interconnected to an electrical terminal IDC post via electrical traces on the printed circuit board. Shielded data cable is interconnectable to the interface with the shielding braid of the data cable dressed over the cable insulation and insertable within a resilient contact portion of the grounding clip.

Abstract: A data connector is disclosed herein which includes a plurality of terminals situated in an insulative housing, and the housing is surrounded by shielding members to form a shielded subassembly, the shielded subassembly finally being inserted within a premolded one piece boot to form a data connector which is interconnectable to shielded data cable. The data connector of the instant invention can be field assembled and installed and is intermatable with similar data connectors having T-bars and T-slots without the complexity thereof. Alternatively, the data connector of the instant invention is interconnectable with a communications outlet locally mounted which houses similar terminals electrically interconnected to like shielded data cable.

Abstract: A data connector is disclosed herein which includes a plurality of terminals situated in an insulative housing, and the housing is surrounded by shielding members to form a shielded subassembly, the shielded subassembly finally being inserted within a premolded one piece boot to form a data connector which is interconnectable to shielded data cable. The data connector of the instant invention can be field assembled and installed and is intermatable with similar data connectors having T-bars and T-slots. Alternatively, the data connector of the instant invention is interconnectable with a communications outlet locally mounted which houses similar terminals electrically interconnected to like shielded data cable.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is shown which includes an insulating housing having electrical terminals for interconnection to a printed circuit board and for interconnection to a similar electrical connector. The shield member is drawn to include a shroud which covers a shroud on the insulative housing. The insulative housing includes a mounting flange including two flange ends which are profiled for receiving two U-shaped mounting clips. The U-shaped clips include two legs extending from a portion of the clip for electrical connection to a printed circuit board grounding pad. The clip also includes a threaded portion which can mount the connector to a panel and which is used for commoning the shield to the U-shaped clip.

Abstract: A one piece integrally molded outlet member includes an opening for receiving from the rear a shielded subassembly to position the shielded subassembly in a position for interconnection with a data connector. The shielded subassembly includes an insulative housing including a plurality of hermaphroditic terminals therein. The outlet has an integrally molded T-slot and an integrally molded T-bar which is interconnectable to a matable data connector. The outlet member further includes an opening for receiving from the rear an unshielded connector.

Abstract: An assembly for interconnecting more than one interfacing device has a wall mountable box having cavities therein. The cavities have an open front face and at least a partially open rear face. Edge card connectors interconnectable to shielded or unshielded cable are insertable through the rear face of the wall box. A shielded cable connector portion is insertable through the front face and has an edge card mounted thereto having conductive traces interconnected to resilient terminals, the terminals accessible through the front mating face. An unshielded cable connector portion is insertable through the front mating face of a second cavity. The unshielded connector is mounted to a printed circuit board which is interconnectable with an edge card connector within the cavity. The shielded or unshielded connectors are disposed in the front mating face for interconnection with a mating shielded or unshielded connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) consisting of a cover (12) and a base (14) adapted to be interfit and secured together, with the base (14) carrying groove contacts (64) and the cover (12) pin shaped sleeve contacts (68), each positioned within a groove contact (64) upon assembly of the cover (12) and (base) to create the electrical connections. The electrical connection from the lead (20) to the groove contact 64 is also established by sleeve contacts (58) assembled into the base to overlie one end of the groove contact (64). A compression pad (34) carried by the cover (12) exerts a spring force on the sleeves contacts (58) and (68) upon assembly.

Abstract: An electrical terminal element (34) for electrically interconnecting with a conductive V-shaped blade (52), the terminal element (34) characterized by including a plurality of spaced jaw members (42, 44) for receiving the blade (52) inserted therebetween, the jaw members defining a slot (46) therebetween and all of the slots (46) being aligned with and in register with one another.

Abstract: A method of making a releasable electrical connector assembly having a brush-type contact including the steps of: positioning an elongated electrical conductor having an axial passage extending therethrough; sliding over the conductor an elongated body having a flanged end portion extending radially outwardly; inserting several straight wires of electrically conductive material into one end of the conductor; securing together the wires, the conductor and the elongated body, the wires forming a brush for releasably mating with a like bunch of wires; inserting an exposed electrically conducting end portion of a cable into the opposite end of the conductor and into engagement with the ends of the wires; securing the end portion of the cable and the conductor together, thereby establishing an electrical circuit relationship between the cable, the straight wires and the conductor and thereby providing the brush-type contact.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) having an improved electrical contact (12) that includes an inner drawn holder (22) and an outer drawn sleeve (20) and a method of making the assembly (10) is disclosed. A bunch of electrical conducting fine wires (24) are axially aligned and crimped within an end portion (27) of a passage (25) which extends completely through the holder (22) such that the wires (24) extend beyond one end (26) of the holder (22). The opposite end (48) of the holder (22) is adapted to receive a wire (54) stripped of insulation (55) so that the end (56) of the wire (54) engages the opposite end (52) of the wires (24) in electric circuit relationship therebetween. The outer sleeve (20) also has an axially extending passage (21) extending completely therethrough.

Abstract: An improved insulation displacing electrical contact (14) and method of making the contact (14) is disclosed. The contact (14) comprises a holder (16), a retention sleeve (18) and brush wires (22). The holder includes a body portion (20) having an axial passage (24) extending therethrough and a head portion (28) connected to the body portion (20) by a curved interconnecting neck portion (30). The head portion (28) includes a pair of angled legs (38, 40) and an interconnecting bent portion (42). A slot (32) extends through the bent portion (42) and through the legs (38, 40). Each leg has a pair of opposing stripping surfaces (48, 50) for stripping insulation (13) from a wire cable (12) inserted through the slot (32) and each leg has a pair of opposing gripping surfaces (52, 54) for holding the stripped wire cable (12) in the slot (32).