Patents by Inventor Galen F. Fromm

Galen F. Fromm has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8894443
    Abstract: A board-mountable connector is provided. The connector includes a shield and an insulative housing with a tongue. Terminals are supported by the housing in two rows and the rows extend from a mating interface to a board mounting interface. The terminals may be mounted to the board via surface mount technology in two rows that are at about 0.4 mm pitch. The two rows of terminals are configured in a signal, signal, ground triangular configuration so as to provide a triangular terminal arrangement that extends from the mating interface to the mounting interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott D. Sommers, Kent E. Regnier, Michael R. Kamarauskas, Emanuel G. Banakis, Galen F. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20140020246
    Abstract: A board-mountable connector is provided. The connector includes a shield and an insulative housing with a tongue. Terminals are supported by the housing in two rows and the rows extend from a mating interface to a board mounting interface. The terminals may be mounted to the board via surface mount technology in two rows that are at about 0.4 mm pitch. The two rows of terminals are configured in a signal, signal, ground triangular configuration so as to provide a triangular terminal arrangement that extends from the mating interface to the mounting interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott D. Sommers, Kent E. Regnier, Michael R. Kamarauskas, Emanuel G. Banakis, Galen F. Fromm
  • Patent number: 8506332
    Abstract: A board-mountable connector is provided. The connector includes a shield and an insulative housing with a tongue. Terminals are supported by the housing in two rows and the rows extend from a mating interface to a board mounting interface. The terminals may be mounted to the board via surface mount technology in two rows that are at about 0.4 mm pitch. The two rows of terminals are configured in a signal, signal, ground triangular configuration so as to provide a triangular terminal arrangement that extends from the mating interface to the mounting interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott D. Sommers, Kent E. Regnier, Michael R. Kamarauskas, Emanuel G. Banakis, Galen F. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20110097933
    Abstract: A board-mountable connector is provided. The connector includes a shield and an insulative housing with a tongue. Terminals are supported by the housing in two rows and the rows extend from a mating interface to a board mounting interface. The terminals may be mounted to the board via surface mount technology in two rows that are at about 0.4 mm pitch. The two rows of terminals are configured in a signal, signal, ground triangular configuration so as to provide a triangular terminal arrangement that extends from the mating interface to the mounting interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott D. Sommers, Kent E. Regnier, Michael R. Kamarauskas, Emanuel G. Banakis, Galen F. Fromm
  • Patent number: 7156672
    Abstract: A termination structure for mating a cable connector to a circuit board includes a plurality of associated sets of terminals, each terminal set including a pair of differential signal terminals and a ground reference terminal. Each associated set of terminals is arranged in triangular pattern through the connector in order to reduce the impedance through the connector, and the sets are fixed within modules or blocks that are engageable together to form a connector housing. The housing modules permit adjacent associated terminal sets to be easily inverted so that the ground reference terminals of alternating associated terminal sets are located along one row of the connector along with signal terminals of intervening terminal sets, while the ground reference terminals of intervening terminal sets are located along a second row of the connector, along with the signal terminals of alternating associated terminal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Molex Incororporated
    Inventors: Galen F. Fromm, Jay H. Neer
  • Patent number: 6979215
    Abstract: A connector uses a plurality of individual terminal assemblies to form a high-density connector. The terminal assemblies all have insulative body portions that support arrays of signal terminals and ground terminals or ground members. The terminals all have their own associated body portions which are supported by the insulative body portions and contact portions that extend out from a front, or mating face, of the assemblies. The terminal contact portions and include flexing portions formed therewith which are disposed between the terminal body and contact portions. The terminals further include insulative support members that are applied to the terminals and which serve to define the contact and flexing portions of the terminals. The support members are fixed within a carrier, such as a shroud member, which is not attached to any one portion of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Hazelton P. Avery, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Daniel B. McGowen, Richard A. Nelson, Galen F. Fromm, Gary Humbert
  • Patent number: 6953351
    Abstract: A termination structure for mating a cable connector to a circuit board includes a plurality of associated sets of terminals, each terminal set including a pair of differential signal terminals and a ground reference terminal. Each associated set of terminals is arranged in triangular pattern through the connector in order to reduce the impedance through the connector, and the sets are fixed within modules or blocks that are engageable together to form a connector housing. The housing modules permit adjacent associated terminal sets to be easily inverted so that the ground reference terminals of alternating associated terminal sets are located along one row of the connector along with signal terminals of intervening terminal sets, while the ground reference terminals of intervening terminal sets are located along a second row of the connector, along with the signal terminals of alternating associated terminal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Galen F. Fromm, Jay H. Neer
  • Patent number: 6851980
    Abstract: A connector assembly is suitable for connecting circuit boards together. The connector assembly includes a series of ground and signal terminal sets assembled in composite wafers that may be held within a housing. The ground terminals include pairs of flat contact blades that are aligned together in abutting contact to form a column of ground contacts blades of double width, and the signal terminals are arranged in sets on opposite sides of the ground terminal blades and the signal terminals have general L-shapes that are arranged in sets of two pairs of contacts to form a cruciform pattern. One of the two connectors has solid L-shaped contacts, while the other of the two connectors has a pair of split contact arms that lie and extend in two different planes project from an associated terminal body in a manner so as to mate with the contact portions of the solid L-shaped contacts. The use of L-shaped contacts provides a redundant contact mating arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Hazelton P. Avery, Galen F. Fromm, Daniel B. McGowan
  • Publication number: 20040224559
    Abstract: A connector assembly is suitable for connecting circuit boards together. The connector assembly includes a series of ground and signal terminal sets assembled in terminal assemblies held within a housing. The ground terminals sets include a set of flat contact blades that are aligned together in abutting contact to form a line of ground contacts blades and the signal terminals are arranged in sets on opposite sides of the ground terminal contact blades. The signal terminals have general L-shapes that are arranged in sets of two pairs of contacts to form a cruciform pattern with an associated ground contact blade in the midst of the pattern of four. The terminal assemblies are formed from housings that have interfitting projections on their exterior sides, and the ground terminal housing is plated with a conductive material. This effectively surrounds each signal terminal in its extent through the signal terminal housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Daniel B. McGowan, Galen F. Fromm, Brian P. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 6746278
    Abstract: A high-density connector utilizes a plurality of terminal assemblies that are assembled together into a block, or single unit, to form a connector. Each terminal assembly of the connector utilizes a plurality of conductive terminals having contact portions for mating with an opposing connector, and body portions held within an insulative body portion of the assembly. The terminal assemblies support arrays of terminals arranged in a specific order of signal-ground-signal arrays. The terminal assemblies have at least two insulative housing portions that support the signal terminal arrays and an intervening ground terminal array, which may or may not be supported by an associated insulative housing. The ground members have a series of grounding tabs formed therewith with extend out from the plane of the ground members, on opposite sides thereof into contact with ground reference terminals of the signal terminal arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Gary Humbert, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Hazelton P. Avery, Daniel B. McGowan, Galen F. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20040058572
    Abstract: A termination structure for mating a cable connector to a circuit board includes a plurality of associated sets of terminals, each terminal set including a pair of differential signal terminals and a ground reference terminal. Each associated set of terminals is arranged in triangular pattern through the connector in order to reduce the impedance through the connector, and the sets are fixed within modules or blocks that are engageable together to form a connector housing. The housing modules permit adjacent associated terminal sets to be easily inverted so that the ground reference terminals of alternating associated terminal sets are located along one row of the connector along with signal terminals of intervening terminal sets, while the ground reference terminals of intervening terminal sets are located along a second row of the connector, along with the signal terminals of alternating associated terminal sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Galen F. Fromm, Jay H. Neer
  • Patent number: 6692305
    Abstract: Connector assemblies having cantilevered contact beams arranged in one or more arrays of terminals have their terminals fixed in place at a first point within insulative connector body portions. The terminals are fixed together by one or more support members within a hollow shroud, at a second point spaced apart from the first point. The present invention pertains to means for fixing the terminals and their support member to the outer shroud. In one embodiment, the shroud is square and has a series of slots formed in two opposing sidewalls. A key member has a plurality of biasing arms, or fingers that extend into the slots and into contact with the terminal support members. In a second embodiment of the inventions, the shroud is provided with a plurality of channels formed on the inner surfaces of two opposing sidewalls thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Hazelton P. Avery, Daniel B. McGowan, Galen F. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20030162441
    Abstract: Connector assemblies having cantilevered contact beams arranged in one or more arrays of terminals have their terminals fixed in place at a first point within insulative connector body portions. The terminals are fixed together by one or more support members within a hollow shroud, at a second point spaced apart from the first point. The present invention pertains to means for fixing the terminals and their support member to the outer shroud. In one embodiment, the shroud is square and has a series of slots formed in two opposing sidewalls. A key member has a plurality of biasing arms, or fingers that extend into the slots and into contact with the terminal support members. In a second embodiment of the inventions, the shroud is provided with a plurality of channels formed on the inner surfaces of two opposing sidewalls thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Hazelton P. Avery, Daniel B. McGowan, Galen F. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20030124881
    Abstract: A connector uses a plurality of individual terminal assemblies to form a high-density connector. The terminal assemblies all have insulative body portions that support arrays of signal terminals and ground terminals or ground members. The terminals all have their own associated body portions which are supported by the insulative body portions and contact portions that extend out from a front, or mating face, of the assemblies. The terminal contact portions and include flexing portions formed therewith which are disposed between the terminal body and contact portions. The terminals further include insulative support members that are applied tot he terminals and which serve to define the contact and flexing portions of the terminals. The support members are fixed within a carrier, such as a shroud member, which is not attached to any one portion of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Hazelton P. Avery, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Daniel B. McGowan, Richard A. Nelson, Galen F. Fromm, Gary Humbert
  • Publication number: 20030124910
    Abstract: A connector assembly is suitable for connecting circuit boards together. The connector assembly includes a series of ground and signal terminal sets assembled in composite wafers that may be held within a housing. The ground terminals include pairs of flat contact blades that are aligned together in abutting contact to form a column of ground contacts blades of double width, and the signal terminals are arranged in sets on opposite sides of the ground terminal blades and the signal terminals have general L-shapes that are arranged in sets of two pairs of contacts to form a cruciform pattern. One of the two connectors has solid L-shaped contacts, while the other of the two connectors has a pair of split contact arms that lie and extend in two different planes project from an associated terminal body in a manner so as to mate with the contact portions of the solid L-shaped contacts. The use of L-shaped contacts provides a redundant contact mating arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Hazelton P. Avery, Galen F. Fromm, Daniel B. McGowan
  • Publication number: 20030119362
    Abstract: A high-density connector utilizes a plurality of terminal assemblies that are assembled together into a block, or single unit, to form a connector. Each terminal assembly of the connector utilizes a plurality of conductive terminals having contact portions for mating with an opposing connector, and body portions held within an insulative body portion of the assembly. The terminal assemblies support arrays of terminals arranged in a specific order of signal-ground-signal arrays. The terminal assemblies have at least two insulative housing portions that support the signal terminal arrays and an intervening ground terminal array, which may or may not be supported by an associated insulative housing. The ground members have a series of grounding tabs formed therewith with extend out from the plane of the ground members, on opposite sides thereof into contact with ground reference terminals of the signal terminal arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Richard A. Nelson, Gary A. Humbert, Kathleen A. Sweeney, Hazelton P. Avery, Daniel B. McGowan, Galen F. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20030119379
    Abstract: A high-density connector utilizes a plurality of terminal assemblies that are assembled together into a block, or single unit, to form a connector. Each terminal assembly of the connector utilizes a plurality of conductive terminals having contact portions for mating with an opposing connector, and body portions held within an insulative body portion of the assembly. The assemblies have groups of terminals, or arrays of terminals arranged in a signal-ground-signal order. Flexing portions formed with the terminals are disposed between the contact and body portions. Dielectric spacer elements are disposed between adjacent signal and ground terminal arrays to increase the electrical affinity that the terminals have for each other in their flexing portions. The spacers in one embodiment, engage the signal terminals in their flexing portions, and in another embodiment, they engage individual terminal support bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Hazelton P. Avery, Galen F. Fromm