Abstract: An electronic device includes a flat flexible dielectric substrate less than 0.050 inch thick and having a generally round hole of a given diameter. A substantially square or polygonal terminal pin is inserted into the round hole in the substrate. The pin has a given cross-dimension between opposite diametral corners thereof greater than the diameter of the round hole. The difference between the cross-dimension of the pin and the diameter of the round hole is on the order of 7% to 67% of the diameter of the hole.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. A second connector includes a grounding housing. A double-sided printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first and second connectors. One side of the board has circuit means connected to the terminals of the first connector. A second side of the board has ground circuit means connected to the grounding housing of the second connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. A second connector includes a grounding housing. A double-sided printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first and second connectors. One side of the board has circuit means connected to the terminals of the first connector. A second side of the board has ground circuit means connected to the grounding housing of the second connector.

Abstract: A female connector is adapted for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to the conductors of a complementary mating connecting device. The connector includes a female housing having wall portions defining a cavity for receiving the flexible circuit. The wall portions are relatively movable between an open condition allowing a yieldable backing structure to be assembled on a cavity-side of at least one of the wall portions and a closed condition defining the cavity. The yieldable backing structure resiliently biases the conductors of the flexible circuit received in the cavity against the conductors of the mating connecting device when the connector is mated with the device.

Abstract: A male connector is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to the conductors of a complementary mating connecting device. The connector includes a male body member on which the flexible circuit is positioned, with the conductors of the circuit facing away from the body member. A yieldable backing structure is disposed on the body member beneath the flexible circuit for resiliently biasing the conductors of the circuit against the conductors of the mating connecting device when the connector is mated with the device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a flat flexible dielectric substrate less than 0.050 inch thick and having a generally round hole of a given diameter. A terminal pin is inserted into the round hole in the substrate. The pin includes at least one end section having a cross dimension less than the diameter of the hole in the substrate and an enlarged contact section adjacent the end section having a cross dimension greater than the diameter of the hole in the substrate adapted to make contact with the substrate. The difference between the cross sectional dimension of the enlarged contact section of the pin and the diameter of the round hole is between 7% and 67% of the diameter of the hole.

Abstract: A connector system for terminating a shielded flat flexible circuit includes a connector body member on which the circuit is positionable. The body member is conductive and includes at least one projection. A flat flexible circuit includes a plurality of signal conductors and at least one grounding conductor. The circuit includes a hole for receiving the projection of the body member in engagement with the grounding conductor to thereby common the grounding conductor with the conductive connector body member.

Abstract: A female electrical terminal has a contact end and a terminating end. The contact end includes a pair of opposing walls for receiving a male terminal therebetween. A flexible element is disposed in the contact end for pressing against the male terminal. The flexible element includes a mounting section with spaced wall portions juxtaposed inside the opposing walls of the contact end. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the opposing walls and the spaced wall portions of the mounting section of the flexible element. An abutment is provided in the contact end to prevent inward collapsing of the spaced wall portions and, thereby, to maintain the latches in interengagement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an electrical switch assembly generally comprising a snap-action electrical switch disposed in a module frame assembly and connected to electrical contact pins for mating with a contact pin connector. A switch module assembly is connected to the module frame assembly and includes a switch actuator assembly for actuating the snap-action electrical switch. The switch actuator includes a latch spring guide that may be configured for either "alternate" or "momentary" actuation of the snap-action electrical switch and emits audio and tactile switch status indicators perceptible to an operator. The module frame assembly and switch module assembly are releasably connectable to and form an integral unit with a cap base assembly having a cap module with a low power LED illuminatable display visible under extreme ambient lighting conditions for indicating switch status.

Abstract: A self regulating heated switch assembly is provided for heating the interior of a switch housing so as to prevent freezing of switch contacts therein. The switch assembly includes a switch housing, an insulative cover member, and a PTC heater device. The switch housing includes top, bottom, front, rear and end walls. The insulative cover member is formed of opposed front and rear panels. The front and rear panels are disposed in a spaced apart relationship to the corresponding front and rear walls of the switch housing. The heater device is sandwiched between the front wall of the switch housing and the front panel of the cover member and between the rear wall of the switch housing and the rear panel of the cover member so as to transmit heat into the interior of the switch housing.

Abstract: A motion translation mechanism is adapted for use in a vehicle seat-operated switch and is selectively responsive to the presence or absence of a downward vertical force. The motion translation mechanism includes a switch assembly having a plunger, a leaf spring, and coil spring. The coil spring is used to resiliently bias a first end portion of the leaf spring against a first stop. The second end portion of the leaf spring is operatively connected between a second stop and the plunger for moving laterally the plunger to a retracted position in response to the downward movement of an upwardly convexed central portion of the leaf spring so as to electrically actuate the switch assembly.