Patents by Inventor Kok Hoe Lee

Kok Hoe Lee 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).

  • Publication number: 20230100232
    Abstract: A multilayer circuit board includes an upper surface and an opposing lower surface. An electrically insulating layer is disposed between the upper and lower surfaces. A plurality of electrically conductive upper and lower rear pads are disposed proximate a rear edge on the respective upper and lower surfaces for termination of a plurality of wires. The upper and lower rear pads include respective upper and lower rear ground pads substantially aligned with each other and configured for termination of ground wires. A plurality of electrically conductive front pads are disposed proximate a front edge for insertion into a connector and electrically connected to the upper and lower rear pads. An electrically conductive via extends from the upper rear ground pad to the lower rear ground pad and makes electrical and physical contact with each of the upper and lower rear ground pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee
  • Patent number: 11462845
    Abstract: A connector assembly for mounting on and making solderless electrical contact with a printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked wafer assemblies. Each wafer assembly includes a wafer, a plurality of terminals partially embedded in the wafer where each terminal includes a connecting portion embedded in the wafer, a resiliently compressible mating portion for making solderless contact with a corresponding conductive pad of a PCB and a contact portion. The wafer is molded over the terminals. The wafer assembly also includes a plurality of wires terminated in termination regions at the contact portions of the terminals, and a shield disposed in the recess of the wafer and extending across the wafer. The connector assembly further includes a housing molded over the stacked wafers and the termination regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, Yunlong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli
  • Publication number: 20220304149
    Abstract: A multilayer circuit board includes a plurality of electrically conductive rear pads for termination of a plurality of wires and a plurality of electrically conductive front pads for insertion into a connector. A plurality of pairs of substantially parallel traces extend between and connect the front pads to the rear pads. At least a first pair of traces and the front and rear pads connected thereto are disposed in a same layer of the multilayer circuit board. At least a second pair of traces is disposed in a same layer, and the rear and front pads connected thereto are disposed in a different layer of the multilayer circuit board. At least a third pair of traces are disposed in different layers of the multilayer circuit board. For each trace extending between and connecting the front and rear pads corresponding to the trace, the trace comprises no more than two vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee, Vincent Tan
  • Publication number: 20220271457
    Abstract: In a specific embodiment, a connector 100 is disclosed. The connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 102 defining a rear opening 108 for receiving a plurality of electrical wires 110 and a front opening 106 and a circuit board 104 disposed in the housing 102 and comprising a mating section 112 for mating with a corresponding mating section of a mating connector. The mating section 112 protrudes outwardly from the front opening 106 and terminates at a front edge 118 disposed between opposing side edges 114,116 of the mating section 112.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, YunLong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli, Chin Hua Lim
  • Publication number: 20220166157
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprising a housing, first and second circuit boards, and substantially flat cables. The housing includes a mating end for mating with a mating connector and an opposite cable end for receiving a cable. The first and second circuit boards are disposed inside the housing. Each circuit board includes a plurality of conductive front pads disposed closer to the mating end of the housing and a plurality of conductive rear pads disposed closer to the cable end of the housing and electrically connected to the front pads. At least one front pad of the first circuit board faces, aligns with, and is electrically connected to, at least one rear pad of the second circuit board. The substantially flat cables include a plurality of conductors. The uninsulated front ends of the conductors of the cables terminate at the corresponding rear pads of the first circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee, Vincent Tan
  • Patent number: 11283218
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having an upper housing half removably assembled to a lower housing half via a plurality of fasteners. A circuit board is at least partially disposed in a housing cavity formed by the upper and lower housing halves. The circuit board includes a plurality of conductive front and rear pads electrically connected to each other. Flat cables terminate at the conductive rear pads disposed on upper and lower major surfaces of the circuit board. A plurality of alternating ridges and channels is disposed on a top side of the upper housing half, extending along a length of the housing. Bottom surfaces of the channels along a length of the channels are at a same height or higher than uppermost surfaces of the fasteners in the plurality of fasteners. The channels are configured to transfer heat generated by the connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee
  • Patent number: 11276949
    Abstract: In a specific embodiment, a connector 100 is disclosed. The connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 102 defining a rear opening 108 for receiving a plurality of electrical wires 110 and a front opening 106 and a circuit board 104 disposed in the housing 102 and comprising a mating section 112 for mating with a corresponding mating section of a mating connector. The mating section 112 protrudes outwardly from the front opening 106 and terminates at a front edge 118 disposed between opposing side edges 114,116 of the mating section 112.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, Yunlong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli, Chin Hua Lim
  • Publication number: 20210313718
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a circuit board that includes conductive front pads conductive rear pads, a cable terminated at the rear pads, and a unitary front housing assembled to the front end the circuit board. The connector assembly also includes flexible contacts assembled to the unitary front housing. The front pads make contact with and deflect the flexible contacts away from the circuit board. The connector assembly also includes a conductive shield assembled to the unitary front housing, and a unitary rear housing tightly overmolded around at least the circuit board and portions of the unitary front housing, the cable, and the shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Chin Hua Lim, Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, YunLong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli
  • Publication number: 20210296804
    Abstract: A connector assembly for mounting on and making solderless electrical contact with a printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked wafer assemblies. Each wafer assembly includes a wafer, a plurality of terminals partially embedded in the wafer where each terminal includes a connecting portion embedded in the wafer, a resiliently compressible mating portion for making solderless contact with a corresponding conductive pad of a PCB and a contact portion. The wafer is molded over the terminals. The wafer assembly also includes a plurality of wires terminated in termination regions at the contact portions of the terminals, and a shield disposed in the recess of the wafer and extending across the wafer. The connector assembly further includes a housing molded over the stacked wafers and the termination regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, Yunlong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli
  • Publication number: 20210159619
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes, a housing, a circuit board that includes a conductive front pad and a conductive rear pad electrically connected to the front pad, and a cable that includes an insulated conductor having a conductor surrounded by an insulating material. The conductor has a diameter not greater than 24 AWG. The uninsulated front end of the conductor is terminated at the rear pad and includes a preformed bend. The connector assembly also includes a recess formed in an external surface and on a lateral side of the housing. The recess is designed to receive and house a spring member of a pull tab that is assembled to the housing. The vertical separation between the recess and the circuit board is h, the average thickness of the cable is t, and h?3t. The preformed bend may include first and second portions connected by a substantially flattened joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee, Vincent Tan
  • Patent number: 10957997
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes, a housing, a circuit board that includes a conductive front pad and a conductive rear pad electrically connected to the front pad, and a cable that includes an insulated conductor having a conductor surrounded by an insulating material. The conductor has a diameter not greater than 24 AWG. The uninsulated front end of the conductor is terminated at the rear pad and includes a preformed bend. The connector assembly also includes a recess formed in an external surface and on a lateral side of the housing. The recess is designed to receive and house a spring member of a pull tab that is assembled to the housing. The vertical separation between the recess and the circuit board is h, the average thickness of the cable is t, and h?3t. The preformed bend may include first and second portions connected by a substantially flattened joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee, Vincent Tan
  • Publication number: 20210075161
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having an upper housing half removably assembled to a lower housing half via a plurality of fasteners. A circuit board is at least partially disposed in a housing cavity formed by the upper and lower housing halves. The circuit board includes a plurality of conductive front and rear pads electrically connected to each other. Flat cables terminate at the conductive rear pads disposed on upper and lower major surfaces of the circuit board. A plurality of alternating ridges and channels is disposed on a top side of the upper housing half, extending along a length of the housing. Bottom surfaces of the channels along a length of the channels are at a same height or higher than uppermost surfaces of the fasteners in the plurality of fasteners. The channels are configured to transfer heat generated by the connector assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Kok Hoe Lee
  • Patent number: 10938155
    Abstract: Connectors or connector assemblies include first and second latching members attached to a housing thereof for latching the connector to a mating connector are provided. When the connector mates with the mating connector in a first/second mating orientation, the first/second latching member, but not the second/first latching member latches the connector to the mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu
  • Patent number: 10931055
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a unitary base elongated along a longitudinal direction. A first tongue extends forwardly from the base and has a uniform thickness along the longitudinal direction. The first tongue comprises a plurality of spaced apart first contacts. A second tongue extends forwardly from the base and comprises a plurality of spaced apart second contacts. The first and second tongues define a gap therebetween that extends from a front edge of one of the first and second tongues toward the unitary base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Vincent Tan, Kok Hoe Lee, Rao Vittapalli, Yunlong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu
  • Patent number: 10770858
    Abstract: A pick and place cap is configured to facilitate picking and placing a connector when the cap is assembled to the connector. The cap includes a top wall having a first engaging feature for engaging a back side of the connector, and opposing side walls each having a second engaging feature for engaging a bottom portion of the connector. The cap is configured to be assembled to and unassembled from the connector along each of two mutually orthogonal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Rao L. Vittapalli, Kok Hoe Lee, Yunlong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu
  • Publication number: 20200266591
    Abstract: Electrical connectors are described. More particularly, electrical connectors including a plurality of contacts are described. Both connector plugs and sockets are described. Electrical connectors that are suitable for mounting on a printed circuit board and electrical connectors that include a printed circuit board are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli, Saujit Bandhu, Vincent Tan, Kok Hoe Lee, Chin Hua Lim
  • Publication number: 20200243993
    Abstract: In a specific embodiment, a connector 100 is disclosed. The connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 102 defining a rear opening 108 for receiving a plurality of electrical wires 110 and a front opening 106 and a circuit board 104 disposed in the housing 102 and comprising a mating section 112 for mating with a corresponding mating section of a mating connector. The mating section 112 protrudes outwardly from the front opening 106 and terminates at a front edge 118 disposed between opposing side edges 114,116 of the mating section 112.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, YunLong Qiao, Rao L. Vittapalli, Chin Hua Lim
  • Patent number: 10727620
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes first and second connectors. Each connector includes a plurality of terminals A1 through An, n is an integer ?2, sequentially arranged in a row. The connector assembly also includes a flat cable that includes a plurality of electrical conductors electrically connecting the terminals of the first and second connectors. For each i from 1 to n, terminal Ai of the first connector is electrically connected, via a different electrical conductor of the cable, to the terminal Ai of the second connector. The cable includes a bend greater than about 150° around at least two fold lines that extend across the entire width of the cable. Each of the first and second connectors is configured to mate with the same mating connector, such that when each of the first and second connectors mates with the same mating connector in a same plan view, the An terminals are both either on a left or a right side of the A1 terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Rao L. Vittapalli, Kok Hoe Lee, YunLong Qiao, Chin Hua Lim, Saujit Bandhu
  • Patent number: 10700452
    Abstract: An electrically conductive terminal generally extends along a first direction and includes a straight middle portion, a resiliently compressible mating portion extending from a first end of the middle portion for making contact with a conductive pad, and a terminating portion extending from a second end of the middle portion for making contact to a plurality of wires. The terminating portion includes a plurality of electrically connected segments separated by one or more walls and is configured to receive conductive ends of the plurality of wires in a one-to-one correspondence relationship. The terminating portion electrically connects the received wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kok Hoe Lee, Saujit Bandhu, YunLong Qiao
  • Patent number: D907578
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: YunLong Qiao, Saujit Bandhu, Vincent Tan, Kok Hoe Lee