Abstract: A housing for an adapter module is provided with a bail latch mechanism that serves to engage and disengage the frame into which the adapter module housing fits. The housing is stamped and formed from a piece of sheet metal and the bail latch is rotatably mounted in the housing. The bail latch is movable between two positions and the bail latch engages a cam member that is stamped and formed in one side of the housing so that movement of one end of the bail latch over the cam member cams one of the two free ends of the bail latch inwardly into the housing to thereby release the housing from the adapter frame.

Abstract: A conductive enclosure for a connector mounted to a circuit board is disclosed, and the enclosure is made in the form of a shroud having an enclosure portion that receives one connector therein and a receptacle portion for receiving a second connector therein that is mateable with the one connector. The enclosure portion includes an internal cavity that is defined by a plurality of walls, two of the walls have retaining members formed thereon that engage the one connector and fix a position of the one connector within the internal cavity, while a third wall of the enclosure portion includes a press member that is biased to exert a force upon the one connector when enclosed in the shroud. The retaining members provide reaction surfaces that at least partially resist the force exerted on the one connector by the press member.

Abstract: A terminal module is provided for use in an electrical connector. The module includes a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in a generally parallel side-by-side array. Each terminal includes a pair of opposite end sections. A pair of holding sections are located respectively adjacent to and inside the end sections. A central section is located between the holding sections. A dielectric plastic housing is overmolded about the holding sections leaving the opposite end sections exposed. The overmolded housing leaves a substantial portion of the central section exposed.

Abstract: A terminal module is provided for use in an electrical connector. The module includes a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in a generally parallel side-by-side array. Each terminal includes a pair of opposite end sections. A pair of holding sections are located respectively adjacent to and inside the end sections. A central section is located between the holding sections. A dielectric plastic housing is overmolded about the holding sections leaving the opposite end sections exposed. The overmolded housing leaves a substantial portion of the central section exposed.

Abstract: A board mounted electrical connector includes a dielectric housing for mounting on a printed circuit board. An elongated solder bar of solderable material is secured at a bottom face of the housing for mechanically fixing the housing to appropriate solder pad on the board. The elongated solder bar has opposite ends and air vent openings spaced between the opposite ends to facilitate air flow during a soldering process.

Abstract: An improved termination assembly for multiple grounds of a multi-wire cable is disclosed. The assembly includes a U-shaped retention clip that engages with a termination portion of a ground terminal housed in a connector housing. The clip has at least one notch formed in an edge thereof which is used to locate a drain, or ground, wire in place on the clip in position for soldering the drain wire to the clip. The termination portion may be provided with an opening aligned with one of the notches of the clip so that two drain wires of the cable may be oriented above the signal wires of the cables in similar positions to impose a measure of mechanical uniformity on the termination.

Abstract: A board mounted electrical connector includes a dielectric housing for mounting on a printed circuit board. An elongated solder bar of solderable material is secured at a bottom face of the housing for mechanically fixing the housing to appropriate solder pad on the board. The elongated solder bar has opposite ends and air vent openings spaced between the opposite ends to facilitate air flow during a soldering process.

Abstract: A conductive enclosure for a connector mounted to a circuit board is disclosed, and the enclosure is made in the form of a shroud having an enclosure portion that receives one connector therein and a receptacle portion for receiving a second connector therein that is mateable with the one connector. The enclosure portion includes an internal cavity that is defined by a plurality of walls, two of the walls have retaining members formed thereon that engage the one connector and fix a position of the one connector within the internal cavity, while a third wall of the enclosure portion includes a press member that is biased to exert a force upon the one connector when enclosed in the shroud. The retaining members provide reaction surfaces that at least partially resist the force exerted on the one connector by the press member.

Abstract: An improved termination assembly for multiple grounds of a multi-wire cable is disclosed. The assembly includes a U-shaped retention clip that engages with a termination portion of a ground terminal housed in a connector housing. The clip has at least one notch formed in an edge thereof which is used to locate a drain, or ground, wire in place on the clip in position for soldering the drain wire to the clip. The termination portion may be provided with an opening aligned with one of the notches of the clip so that two drain wires of the cable may be oriented above the signal wires of the cables in similar positions to impose a measure of mechanical uniformity on the termination.

Abstract: A connector is formed with a metal shell for use as a shield of the connector. The shell has a pair of tab members formed along its front face that are stamped to provide two metal contact points. These tabs are engaged by metal contact arms formed on a shield of an opposing connector. The metal to metal contact that results from the tab members decreases wear and abrasion and also serves as a conductive connection between the two connector shields.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of hermaphroditic connectors having opposed mating faces which are juxtaposed generally along a plane when the connectors are mated. The connectors are adapted for mating in either opposite direction generally parallel to the plane of the mating faces. Each connector includes an elongated housing having an engaging flange at one end and a locking hook at an opposite end for embracing the engaging flange of the other hermaphroditic connector to lock the connectors against unmating in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the mating faces. The engaging flange and the locking hook of the pair of hermaphroditic connectors have opposing abutment surfaces that are elongated in the mating direction of the connectors. At least one of the opposing abutment surfaces has a central abutment portion generally parallel to the mating direction and inclined ramp portions at opposite ends of the central abutment portion in the mating direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for tuning the impedance of an electrical switching connector. A pair of switch terminals are provided with operatively engageable contact portions. A pair of ground terminals are juxtaposed alongside the switch terminals. The spacing between at least one of the ground terminals and one of the switch terminals is adjusted to adjust the capacitance therebetween and, thereby, adjust the impedance of the connector. An overlapping area between one of the switch terminals and one of the ground terminals can be adjusted to adjust the capacitance therebetween and, thereby, adjust the impedance of the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of hermaphroditic connectors having opposed mating faces which are juxtaposed generally along a plane when the connectors are mated. Each connector includes a housing having a wall at the mating face of the connector. The wall extends generally parallel to the mating face and includes opposite ends. At least one terminal is mounted on the housing and has a contact portion spaced outwardly of the wall for flexing toward and away from the wall generally perpendicular to the mating face. The contact portion has a first end anchored at one end of the wall and a second end engageable with the opposite end of the wall and slidable relative thereto generally parallel to the mating face.

Abstract: An electrical switching connector includes a dielectric housing defining a receptacle. A first switch terminal is mounted on the housing and includes a contact portion at the receptacle. A second switch terminal is mounted on the housing and includes a flexible contact portion projecting into the receptacle and engageable with the contact portion of the first switch terminal. Therefore, a terminal of a complementary mating connector can be inserted into the receptacle in engagement with the flexible contact portion and move that contact portion out of engagement with the contact portion of the first switch terminal. A pair of ground terminals are mounted on the housing and each ground terminal is juxtaposed alongside one of the switch terminals. In the exemplary embodiment of invention, at least portions of at least one of the switch terminals and one of the ground terminals are overmolded by the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of hermaphroditic connectors having opposed mating faces which are juxtaposed generally along a plane when the connectors are mated. The connectors are adapted for mating in either opposite direction generally parallel to the plane of the mating faces. Each connector includes a housing having a plurality of spaced-apart ribs defining respective grooves between adjacent ribs. The ribs of each connector are interleaved with the ribs of the other connector when the two connectors are mated. The housing of each connector includes complementary interengaging latches to lock the connectors against unmating in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the mating faces. A plurality of terminals are mounted on each housing and have contact portions of at least some of the terminals between the ribs for engaging the contact portions of the terminals on the housing of the other connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a coaxial cable having at least an inner conductor and an outer conductive shield. The connect-or includes a coaxial cable carrier for receiving the coaxial cable and including a ground terminal, the carrier being in engagement with the conductive shield of the cable. A terminal module includes an insulator mounting a signal terminal. The module is assembled on the carrier to form a subassembly with the signal terminal generally parallel to the ground terminal. A conductive shielding shell receives the subassembly with the conductive shell being in engagement with the coaxial cable carrier. A cover is mounted on the shell for holding the conductor of the cable in engagement with the signal terminal of the terminal module.

Abstract: A surface mount electrical connector is adapted for mounting to the surface of a printed circuit board in either of two orientations generally perpendicular to each other. A molded dielectric housing has first and second board mounting faces disposed generally perpendicular to each other. A first boardlock-receiving passage is molded in the housing communicating with the first board mounting face and extending in a given direction which defines the direction of parting of a pair of mold dies for molding the housing. A second boardlock-receiving passage is molded in the housing generally perpendicular to the first passage and communicating with the second board mounting face. Each passage includes a set of bearing walls for engaging a boardlock member inserted into the respective passage, with no one bearing wall in either set thereof being in alignment with any other bearing wall in the other set thereof in said given direction.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting in an aperture in a panel. A housing has sidewalls bounding an insertion end of the housing insertable into the aperture. A bridge is secured at opposite ends to one of the sidewalls with an intermediate portion and a panel latch being freely flexible relative to the housing. At least one of the opposite ends of the bridge includes a pair of redundant supporting arms. A yieldable anti-vibration arm projects from another of the sidewalls and is mounted to the housing by a pair of redundant support arms. A polarizing rib projects from the housing, and a panel abutment stop is formed integral with the polarizing rib on a radius.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for surface mounting on a substrate such as a printed circuit board having a mounting hole of a given diameter. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a board-mounting face. An elongated mounting post projects from the board-mounting face for insertion into the mounting hole in the substrate. The elongated mounting post includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced, generally rigid ribs defining a circle having a diameter approximately equal to or less than the given diameter of the mounting hole. A plurality of flexible, longitudinally extending ribs are located alternatingly between the generally rigid ribs and define a circle having a diameter at least slightly greater than the given diameter of the mounting hole.

Abstract: A latching system for an electrical connector which includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities. A plurality of female terminals are adapted to be inserted into the cavities. Each terminal has a longitudinal axis and a mating portion adapted to mate with a male terminal also inserted into the cavity. At least one latch arm extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the terminal with a slight angle of inclination convergent at the insertion end to hold the terminal in its cavity in the housing. The latch arm has opposite ends attached to the mating portion by flexible tabs. Each terminal-receiving cavity has a restricted cross-sectional area adapted to engage and bias the latch arm of a respective terminal transverse to the longitudinal axis of the terminal during insertion of the terminal into the cavity.