Patents by Inventor Gene Whetstone

Gene Whetstone 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: 9564717
    Abstract: A connector system including a sensing mechanism that can be used to control signal distribution through the connector system is disclosed. The connector system may include a first connector and a second connector configured to be operatively engaged in both a mated condition and an interlocked condition. The connectors of the connector system include conductive contacts that complete a conductive connection when the connectors are in the mated condition. The connector system includes a fastening mechanism that provides an interlocked condition following mating of the connectors, and may further include a sensor and a sensor trigger that may be used to sense the connection status of the system. The sensor may connected to a controller, with the controller controlling signal distribution through the connector system dependent on the connection status determined by the sensing mechanism. A method for controlling signal distribution through a connector system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sabritec
    Inventors: Gene Whetstone, Richard Johannes
  • Publication number: 20140273608
    Abstract: A connector system including a sensing mechanism that can be used to control signal distribution through the connector system is disclosed. The connector system may include a first connector and a second connector configured to be operatively engaged in both a mated condition and an interlocked condition. The connectors of the connector system include conductive contacts that complete a conductive connection when the connectors are in the mated condition. The connector system includes a fastening mechanism that provides an interlocked condition following mating of the connectors, and may further include a sensor and a sensor trigger that may be used to sense the connection status of the system. The sensor may connected to a controller, with the controller controlling signal distribution through the connector system dependent on the connection status determined by the sensing mechanism. A method for controlling signal distribution through a connector system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gene Whetstone, Richard Johannes
  • Patent number: 6354848
    Abstract: A clamp-type adapter (1) for a memory module (2) includes two adapter halves (10), (10′) with similar structures for snapping over a lower portion (20) of the memory module, which has a plurality of conductive pads (22), (22′) on opposite surfaces thereof. Each adapter half includes an elongate housing (12), a row of alternating outer conductive contacts (14) and inner conductive contacts (14′) interposed with grounding blades (13), and a shield (16) covering the housing. The contacts and the grounding blades are insert molded in the housing. The housing comprises an inner portion (121) and an outer portion (122). Each outer/inner contact comprises a contact portion (142)/(142′) and a tail portion (146)/(146′). The contact portion is exposed to the outside from a bottom surface of the inner portion for engaging with a corresponding contact of the card edge connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy Brian Billman, Gene Whetstone
  • Patent number: 6217396
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a plurality of spaced channels for receiving and retaining conductive spring contacts therein. Each contact is U-shaped and has an anchoring section fixed in the corresponding channel and an engaging section resiliently attached to the anchoring section by a U-shaped bent section and partially extending beyond the housing for engaging with an electronic device. An opening is defined in the bent section through which a wire extends with a conductive core of the wire being fixed to the anchoring section whereby the engaging section overlaps the wire for reducing the space occupied thereby. The engaging section has a free end having side projections received and retained in recesses defined in side walls of the corresponding channels for preloading the engaging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeng-Yih Hwang, Eric Juntwait, Gene Whetstone
  • Patent number: 6068504
    Abstract: An improved mass connector termination assembly reduces mistermination errors and gives dual termination capability for simultaneous termination of selected wires to two different terminals. This simultaneous termination also simplifies the isolation of differential signal wire pairs. Three arrays of terminals are held within a terminal housing and include elongated contact portions that extend within a plug or receptacle portion of the connector housing and insulation displacement portions that extend along a terminating face of the connector. The terminal arrays extend through the connector between these two faces. Multiple contact portions of one of the three terminal arrays are bussed together with a single terminal and these single terminals are aligned with the terminals of the other two terminal arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Gardner, David E. Dunham, Gene Whetstone
  • Patent number: D412700
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Gardner, Gene Whetstone, David E. Dunham
  • Patent number: D413101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Hazelton Peter Avery, Gene Whetstone, Michael Gardner
  • Patent number: D415107
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Hazelton Peter Avery, Gene Whetstone, Michael Gardner