For Use With Tape Cable Patents (Class 439/422)
  • Patent number: 11600937
    Abstract: A terminal for mating with an exposed conductor of a flat flexible cable comprises an electrical contact and a crimping portion extending from the electrical contact. The crimping portion includes a base defining at least one protrusion extending therefrom, and first and second sidewalls extending from the base. The first sidewall includes a first section attached to the base and a second section attached to the first section on an end opposite the base. In a crimped state of the terminal, the first section of the first sidewall is folded into an opening of the terminal for crimping the conductor within the opening and against the protrusion, and the second section of the first sidewall is folded so as to overlap or oppose a side of the first section opposite the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventors: Hurley Chester Moll, John Mark Myer, Forrest Irving Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11581107
    Abstract: Disclosed are a flat cable and a WIFI connection line, where the flat cable includes flat wires and an insulation layer wrapped around the flat wires. The flat wires include one power line, four signal lines and two ground lines arranged at intervals, and a width of the power line and a width of each ground line are both greater than a width of each signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunliang He
  • Patent number: 11545774
    Abstract: A ribbon cable connector for attachment to an end of a ribbon cable comprises a plurality of contact element receptacles adapted to receive a plurality of contact elements. A pair of adjacent contact element receptacles is separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Veihl, Christoph Kosmalski, Michael Schall, Robert Stab, Zoran Stjepanovic, Marcel Baltes, Willi Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11495895
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides cam activated wire termination assemblies for electrical wiring devices. The electrical wiring devices include a cover and a base. The base has a wire chamber supporting a wire termination assembly. The wire termination assembly includes a wire fastening member and a conductive member. The wire fastening member has a cam surface and is rotatable between an open position and a securing position. The conductive member is positioned in close proximity to the wire fastening member such that a gap is provided between the wire fastening member and the conductive member when the wire fastening member is in the open position. When the wire fastening member is rotated from the open position to the securing position, the cam surface rotates to reduce the size of the gap between the wire fastening member and the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas L. Scanzillo, Matthew Jared Varney, Thomas Joseph Conti, Connor Thomas Grant
  • Patent number: 11349226
    Abstract: The application relates to a flexible flat cable assembly and a battery pack connecting assembly. The flexible flat cable assembly has a flexible flat cable and an adaptor terminal, wherein the flexible flat cable has an insulation sheath, a conductor body wrapped by the insulation sheath, and a connecting end which is provided to be integrated with the conductor body and comprises a connecting portion and a crimping portion extending continuously from the conductor body; the adaptor terminal has a terminal body and a pair of first crimping wings which are disposed on the terminal body and protrude from the terminal body; the crimping portion is in contact with the terminal body, and the first crimping wings surround the crimping portion to form a crimping region in which the crimping portion has a multilayer structure. The present application can ensure a secure connection during use, and is safe and convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Technology (SIP) Co. Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Xiaodong Peng, Ziwei Li
  • Patent number: 11296441
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a flat flexible cable having a plurality of conductors embedded within an insulation material. A portion of each of the conductors is exposed via openings selectively formed in the insulation material, allowing for a crimping portion of an electrically conductive terminal to engage with the conductor within the opening. The crimping portion of the terminal includes a base defining at least one aperture formed therethrough, and first and second sidewalls extending from the base. The base and sidewalls define a conductor opening configured to receive the conductor therein. At least one of the first of second sidewalls includes a sidewall protrusion extending therefrom, wherein the sidewalls are foldable into the conductor opening for crimping the conductor therewithin. In a crimped state of the crimping portion, the conductor is pressed into the aperture by the sidewall protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Hurley Chester Moll, John Mark Myer, Forrest Irving Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11296439
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating housing, at least one transmission module mounted in the insulating housing, and a shell surrounding the insulating housing. The at least one transmission module includes a terminal assembly, a flexible printed circuit board and at least one pad. The terminal assembly is adhered to the flexible printed circuit board. The terminal assembly has at least one terminal which has a fastening portion. One end of the fastening portion is arched downward to form a bending portion. The flexible printed circuit board has a linking portion, and at least one conductive piece disposed to an inner surface of the linking portion. The fastening portion and the bending portion of the at least one terminal are mounted to the flexible printed circuit board. The at least one pad is disposed to the at least one conductive piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fang-Jin Lou, Bo Liu, Feng Zhu
  • Patent number: 11296440
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a flat flexible cable having a plurality of conductors embedded within an insulation material. A portion of each of the conductors is exposed via openings selectively formed in the insulation material, allowing for a crimping portion of an electrically conductive terminal to engage with the conductor within the opening. The crimping portion of the terminal includes a base defining at least one protrusion extending therefrom, and first and second sidewalls extending from the base. The base and sidewalls define an opening configured to receive the conductor therein, wherein the sidewalls are foldable into the opening for crimping the conductor within the opening and generally between the protrusion of the base and a portion of the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Services GmbH
    Inventors: Hurley Chester Moll, John Mark Myer, Forrest Irving Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11245220
    Abstract: Provided is a connector including: at least one plate-like housing body; a plurality of groove-like terminal housing chambers each opened in an upper surface of the housing body and parallelly arranged; a plurality of connection terminals provided at ends of a plurality of electrical wirings and housed and disposed in the terminal housing chambers, respectively; an electrical wiring support part supporting the plurality of electrical wirings extending from a back end side opening part of the terminal housing chambers; a sheet-like reinforced member which is placed on an upper surface of the electrical wiring support part and the plurality of electrical wirings are fixed to in a state of parallelly arranged; and a cover part overlapping with the upper surface of the housing body to cover the terminal housing chambers and sandwiching the sheet-like reinforced member between the cover part and the electrical wiring support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ebata, Motohiro Yokoi, Shigeki Ikeda, Ryuta Takakura, Tetsuya Nishimura, Haruka Nakano, Kenta Arai, Yasuo Omori
  • Patent number: 11239583
    Abstract: A connector includes a terminal clasp, a flexible flat conductive component, a housing in which an electrical connection part of the terminal clasp protrudes out of an opening of a storage room, and a cover that covers the electrical connection part from outside together with at least part of the housing. The flexible flat conductive component includes an electrical connection region in which the electrical connection part is connected with a conductor, a peripheral region enclosing the electrical connection region, an extension region extending out of the housing and the cover connected with each other, and at least two fitting holes provided on the extension region side in the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naokazu Nagasaka, Shoichi Watai
  • Patent number: 11177591
    Abstract: A connecting method includes: arranging the connection terminal such that a rear surface of a base portion in a flat plate shape of the connection terminal comes into contact with a front surface of the flexible substrate; with a rising portion of the connection terminal extending from the rear surface side of the base portion toward the base portion and a tip end bending portion of the connection terminal extending from a tip end of the rising portion in a direction inclined with respect to the rising portion, displacing the rising portion toward the base portion so that the tip end bending portion protrudes from a front surface of the base portion; and holding a part of the flexible substrate between a pressing portion formed at the rising portion and a pressed portion formed at the base portion, whereby the conductive portion of the flexible substrate is electrically connected to at least one of the pressing portion and the pressed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Keisuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10948072
    Abstract: A control circuit device for vehicle automatic transmission includes a control circuit unit having a body with a built-in control circuit for vehicle automatic transmission and tab-like terminals extending from the body while being lined in an arrangement direction. A cover covers the control circuit unit from one side in an intersection direction intersecting the arrangement direction. An insulating protection tube collectively surrounds the terminals and has partition walls to be disposed between adjacent terminals. The cover and the protection tube include locks configured to lock the cover and the protection tube to each other and positioning structures configured to position the control circuit unit. The control circuit unit is held positioned with respect to the cover and the protection tube with the cover and the protection tube locked by the locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kosuke Sone, Satoshi Yamamoto, Yasuto Takeda, Tsutomu Hashimoto, Yosuke Shiratsuka, Koji Ebisu
  • Patent number: 10784594
    Abstract: An adapter connector has two ends to be mated with a first mating connector and a second mating connector respectively. The adapter connector includes an insulating body and multiple terminals. The insulating body has a first mating section and a second mating section. The first mating section is concavely provided with multiple terminal slots. The second mating section is concavely provided with an insertion space communicated with the terminal slots. The first mating section is mated with the first mating connector. The insertion space accommodates the second mating connector. Each terminal has an elastic contact portion at one end thereof and a flat plate contact portion at the other end thereof. The elastic contact portion is accommodated in a corresponding terminal slot and electrically connected with the first mating connector. The flat plate contact portion is accommodated in the insertion space to be electrically connected with the second mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: LOTES CO., LTD
    Inventor: Wen Kuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10530078
    Abstract: An electronic signal processing device includes a printed circuit board, a signal processing chip, a plurality of conductive lines, a plurality of copper pads, and a fixing device. The signal processing chip is mounted on the printed circuit board, and a plurality of conductive lines are formed on the printed circuit board and connected to the signal processing chip. The copper pads are respectively formed at the ends of the conductive lines. The fixing device is fixed on the printed circuit board and exposes the copper pads to connect to a cable assembly so as to improve signal integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: BizLink International Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Hsiao, Kuo-Yang Tsai
  • Patent number: 10460853
    Abstract: An electrical cable is provided with a rounded insulated electrical conductor that transitions to a flattened section to fit into areas where the rounded portion does not fit. A round electrical conductor transitions to a flattened section for electrical conduction routing via the undercarriage of a vehicle, for routing under the carpeting of the passenger compartment, or other confined spaces. The electrical cable may illustratively be used in an electric car application where distribution of electrical current from the battery compartment to the motor requires additional wiring in the vehicle not found in combustion based engines. The reduced vertical profile of the flattened section provides for additional clearance between the vehicle undercarriage and the road, or between the undercarriage frame and the interior passenger compartment carpet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Flex-Cable
    Inventors: Tim Jones, Robert W. Christie, Jan Christiansen, Erwin Kroulik
  • Patent number: 10249413
    Abstract: A shielded electrical cable includes at least two spaced-apart conductors extending side-by-side along a longitudinal cable direction. An insulation electrically insulates the conductors from each other. A cable shield, together with the conductors, extends along the longitudinal cable direction and annularly surrounds the conductors, as seen in cross section. An electrical device is disposed between the conductors and the cable shield. The electrical device is surrounded by the cable shield and disposed on the conductors such that the electrical device is in electrical contact with each of the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MD ELEKTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Huber, Johannes Trae
  • Patent number: 10050356
    Abstract: An electrical arrangement (10), including: a first conductor (12) having a first generally planar contact area (34); a second conductor (12) having a second generally planar contact area (40); an intermediate conductor (44) having a first faying area (84) overlying the first contact area and a second faying area (86) overlying the second contact area; a compression arrangement configured to compress the first faying area and the first contact area toward each other and to compress the second faying area and the second contact area toward each other; and a dimpling structure (46) effective to create plural contact points (74) between the first faying area and the first contact area and between the second faying area and the second contact area when the first and the second faying areas and the first and second contact areas are compressed toward each other by the compression arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Joshua S. McConkey
  • Patent number: 9948014
    Abstract: A connection structure of a terminal fitting includes the terminal fitting including a terminal body, and a plurality of terminal connection portions extending from the terminal body and connection terminals connected to end portions of electric wires. Each of the connection terminals includes a pair of fastening caulking pieces which erects on opposite side portions of a terminal bottom portion. The pair of the fastening caulking pieces are caulked with opposite side portions of a corresponding one of the terminal connection portions from outside so that the connection terminal is caulked and fastened to the terminal fitting. Concave-convex engagement portions are provided in opposed surfaces in which the terminal connection portion and the terminal bottom portion abut against each other. The terminal fitting is connected to the electric wires through the connection terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatatsu Yamamoto, Keiichi Mita
  • Patent number: 9812797
    Abstract: A connection structure of a terminal fitting includes the terminal fitting including a terminal body, and a plurality of terminal connection portions extending from the terminal body and connection terminals connected to end portions of electric wires. Each of the connection terminals includes a pair of fastening caulking pieces which erects on opposite side portions of a terminal bottom portion. The pair of the fastening caulking pieces are caulked with opposite side portions of a corresponding one of the terminal connection portions from outside so that the connection terminal is caulked and fastened to the terminal fitting. Concave-convex engagement portions are provided in opposed surfaces in which the terminal connection portion and the terminal bottom portion abut against each other. The terminal fitting is connected to the electric wires through the connection terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatatsu Yamamoto, Keiichi Mita
  • Patent number: 9755342
    Abstract: In a cable connecting a plurality of printed-circuit boards, terminals of connectors to which conductors disposed adjacent to conductors that supply power are connected are connected to ground via respective capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsunao Hombo
  • Patent number: 9515406
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a number of electrical contacts. The insulative housing has a top wall, a bottom wall and a number of side walls. The side walls form a number of passageways extending through the insulative housing. The electrical contacts are received in the passageways and each includes a contacting portion, a tail portion and a main portion connecting with the contacting portion and the tail portion. The main portion is provided with a first fastening means for engaging with the side wall and a second fastening means for engaging with the top wall so as to secure the electrical contacts to the insulative housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ALLTOP ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) LTD.
    Inventors: Wang-I Yu, Yung-Chih Hung, Ya-Juan Gou, Zhi-Qiang Rong
  • Patent number: 9502816
    Abstract: An connector terminal to be inserted into an opening of a housing, includes a first portion inserted into the opening such that the first portion is held in the opening, and a second portion outwardly projecting from the first portion, the second portion being formed at a surface thereof with at least one groove extending perpendicularly to a direction in which the connector terminal is inserted into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: DAI-ICHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Hashimoto, Shunya Oohashi
  • Patent number: 8926359
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a module. The electrical connector includes a connector housing and a first plurality of electrical terminals supported by the connector housing. The module includes a module housing and a second plurality of electrical terminals supported by the module housing. The second plurality of electrical terminals is greater in number than the first plurality of electrical terminals, such that a first select number of the second plurality of electrical terminals is configured to mate with the first plurality of electrical terminals, and a second select number of the second plurality of electrical terminals is configured to mate with an auxiliary electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Jeroen de Bruijn, Thierry Goossens, Johannes Maria Blasius van Woensel
  • Patent number: 8911269
    Abstract: A conductor connecting structure comprises a flat circuit body having an insulator and a conductor, and a conductive terminal metal fitting having a conductor connecting part including a first conductor holding part and a second conductor holding part. The first conductor holding part has a first plate-like part formed into a plate-like shape, and a projecting part which projects from a surface of the first plate-like part that is faced to the conductor. The second conductor holding part has a second plate-like part formed into a plate-like shape, and a through hole arranged so as to correspond to a position of the projecting part and penetrating the second plate-like part. When the conductor is sandwiched by the first conductor holding part and the second conductor holding part, the conductor is deformed so as to be pushed into the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Takayama
  • Patent number: 8714996
    Abstract: An electrical insulation displacement connector (IDC) assembly includes a body having at least one channel with an open top side for receipt of an insulated conductive core wire. A contact element is fixed in the body with a first insulation displacement end defined by opposed blades oriented across the channel, and a second end extending from a bottom surface of the body for electrical contact with a PCB. The IDC assembly includes a cap having a size and configuration to engage over the body, with the cap including a recess with an open bottom that is aligned with the body channel in a fitted configuration of the cap on the body. The wires may be initially received in the cap recesses wherein upon pressing engagement of the cap onto the body, the insulated conductive core wire is pressed into the body channel between the contact element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Bishop
  • Patent number: 8702443
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a connector housing, and at least one electrical terminal supported by the connector housing. The electrical terminal defines a mating portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion carrying a pair of crimp members having crimp teeth configured to pierce through a flex cable when crimped so as to mount the flex cable to the mounting portion of the electrical terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: FCI Americas Technology LLC, FCI
    Inventors: Motomu Kajiura, Yasutoshi Kameda, Jeffery Garvais
  • Patent number: 8672704
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a connector housing, and at least one electrical terminal supported by the connector housing. The electrical terminal defines a mating portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion carrying a crimp member having crimp teeth configured to pierce through a flex cable when crimped so as to mount the flat flex cable to the mounting portion of the electrical terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Jeroen de Bruijn, Thierry Goossens, Johannes Maria Blasius van Woensel
  • Publication number: 20120309225
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a connector housing, and at least one electrical terminal supported by the connector housing. The electrical terminal defines a mating portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion carrying a pair of crimp members having crimp teeth configured to pierce through a flex cable when crimped so as to mount the flex cable to the mounting portion of the electrical terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Motomu Kajiura, Yasutoshi Kameda, Jeffery Garvais
  • Publication number: 20120309224
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a connector housing, and at least one electrical terminal supported by the connector housing. The electrical terminal defines a mating portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion carrying a pair of crimp members having crimp teeth configured to pierce through a flex cable when crimped so as to mount the flex cable to the mounting portion of the electrical terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Motomu Kajiura, Yasutoshi Kameda, Jeffery Garvais
  • Publication number: 20120058669
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a module. The electrical connector includes a connector housing and a first plurality of electrical terminals supported by the connector housing. The module includes a module housing and a second plurality of electrical terminals supported by the module housing. The second plurality of electrical terminals is greater in number than the first plurality of electrical terminals, such that a first select number of the second plurality of electrical terminals is configured to mate with the first plurality of electrical terminals, and a second select number of the second plurality of electrical terminals is configured to mate with an auxiliary electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jeroen de Bruijn, Thierry Goossens, Johannes Maria Blasius van Woensel
  • Patent number: 8002572
    Abstract: In some PCB connector embodiments the internal pins of the probe or wire terminal end could be set at between about 0.4 mm to about 2.0 mm provided that the contact point between the male probe end and the mating female connector is about 1.0 mm. Such embodiments would adjust for alternate connector configurations for connectors while maintaining the required HDMI specifications for the contact point. In other embodiments intermediate distances could be used of about 0.4 mm to about 0.5 mm; about 0.5 mm to about 0.6 mm; about 0.6 mm to about 0.7 mm; about 0.7 mm to about 0.8 mm; about 0.8 mm to about 0.9 mm; about 0.9 mm to about 1.0 mm; about 1.0 to about 1.1 mm; about 1.1 to about 1.2 mm; about 1.2 mm to about 1.3 mm; about 1.3 mm to about 1.4 mm; about 1.4 mm to about 1.5 mm; about 1.5 mm to 1.6 mm; about 1.6 mm to 1.7 mm; about 1.7 mm to 1.8 mm; about 1.8 mm to 19 mm and about 1.9 mm to 2.0 mm once again provided that the probe pins are finally configured to meet the about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Luxi Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Xiaozheng Lu, Senhua Hu
  • Patent number: 7980884
    Abstract: A structure for connecting a flexible substrate and a terminal fitting is provided, the terminal fitting including: an upper plate; a lower plate; and a barrel which is formed in an upstanding manner on the lower plate, and is inserted into a hole formed in the flexible substrate; the flexible substrate being held between the upper plate and the lower plate by bending the barrel inserted to the hole, wherein a projection is formed in each of the upper plate and the lower plate, and the flexible substrate is held between the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kondo, Takuya Osaki
  • Patent number: 7833046
    Abstract: An electrical connector to be connected to a flat conductive member includes a housing including an upper wall and a lower wall; a terminal including a contact portion for contacting with the flat conductive member; and an engaging protrusion for engaging the flat conductive member. The housing further includes a receptacle portion between the upper wall and the lower wall for receiving the flat conductive member. The upper wall includes a cut portion. The engaging protrusion is situated under the cut portion, so that an edge portion of the flat conductive member moves over the engaging protrusion and deforms into the cut portion when the flat conductive member is inserted into the receptacle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuminobu Tamura, Hiroyuki Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20100136821
    Abstract: A connector terminal mounted in a flexible printed circuit board connector for electrically connecting with the flexible printed circuit board includes a fixing portion of strip shape, a soldering portion connecting with one end of the fixing portion and a contacting portion extending upwards from the other end of the fixing portion to show an arc shape. The contacting portion has a retaining portion protruding from a peak thereof. The retaining portion includes a smooth contacting surface for contacting the flexible printed circuit board and an end surface defined at one end thereof. The contacting surface and the end surface define a sharp junction therebetween. A peak of the sharp junction is capable of interfering with the flexible printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Sheng-Yuan Huang, Yung-Chi Peng, Sheng-Nan Yu
  • Patent number: 7704094
    Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a connection structure capable of easily connecting an LED component to a flat cable. An LED unit 1 includes an upper case 7, a pierce terminal 6, a lower case 9 and an intermediate terminal 5. An LED chip 3 is pressed to the pierce terminal 6 by a convexed spring 51 to electrically connect the LED chip 3 to the flat cable 100. Conductors 101 included in the flat cable 100 are formed of phosphor bronze formed of tin (Sn), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu) and unavoidable impurities and having a tensile strength of 480 to 550 MPa, whereas a pierce plate 63 of the pierce terminal 6 piercing through the conductor 101 is formed of a copper alloy, which is a high strength conductive member having a higher strength than that of the conductor 101 and having conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Masanobu Sato, Kenichi Shibata, Yoshisada Sano, Noritsugu Enomoto, Takenobu Yabu, Naobumi Kuboki, Shigeki Motomura, Takehide Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20090269971
    Abstract: An electrical connector to be connected to a flat conductive member includes a housing including an upper wall and a lower wall; a terminal including a contact portion for contacting with the flat conductive member; and an engaging protrusion for engaging the flat conductive member. The housing further includes a receptacle portion between the upper wall and the lower wall for receiving the flat conductive member. The upper wall includes a cut portion. The engaging protrusion is situated under the cut portion, so that an edge portion of the flat conductive member moves over the engaging protrusion and deforms into the cut portion when the flat conductive member is inserted into the receptacle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Fuminobu Tamura, Hiroyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7581979
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a terminal and a mounting method thereof, which can fit in a conductor of a flat circuit device without increase in cost. A FFC has a conductor of a belt-shape and a covering portion for covering the conductor. The conductor has a groove along a longitudinal direction thereon, and is fixed in a terminal by placing on a bottom wall sandwiched between a pair of crimping pieces of the terminal and by crimping the pair of the crimping pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Publication number: 20090142954
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting the flat conductors of a photovoltaic panel with an electrical component, such as a diode, printed circuit or the like, includes a conductor support body having a base portion adapted for connection with the photovoltaic panel, and a bridge portion carrying a plurality of flat seats with edges around which the free ends of the flat conductors are bent, respectively. A bus bar is provided for each flat conductor, each bus bar including a pair of resilient contacts arranged for engagement with the portion of the associated conductor that is bent around the conductor seat. A protective housing encloses the bus bars and at least the bridge portion of the support body, which housing contains openings for receiving output cables the ends of which are connected with the bus bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Matthis Boensch, Thorsten Beck, Wolfgang Schild
  • Patent number: 7513792
    Abstract: Providing a chained-terminals body, which can be crimped to a flat circuit body in one process even if a terminal pitch thereof is small, the chained-terminals body is formed by piling a pair of chained-terminals sub-bodies. Each of the pair of chained-terminals sub-bodies includes first terminals or second terminals to be arranged in parallel to each other at even intervals. First cover clamp pieces of the first terminals and second cover clamp pieces of the second terminals are sifted alternately to each other in a direction along length of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7462062
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a terminal for a flat circuitry. The terminal assuredly crimps a conductor of the flat circuitry and provides an improved electric connection. An electric connection portion of a crimping terminal includes a bottom wall for placing a flat conductor of a FFC and a pair of conductor crimping pieces. The conductor crimping pieces are upstanding at both ends of the bottom wall for crimping the conductor. A plurality of serrations are disposed outside ends of the conductor placed on the bottom wall of the electric connection portion and arranged in series with a distance between the serrations. The conductor crimping pieces start to deform at the serrations, or the best deforming position, for crimping the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7422468
    Abstract: A flexible flat connector cable electrical contact including a first connection section adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor of a flexible flat conductor (FFC) cable; and a second connection section electrical coupled to the first connection section and adapted to be electrically connected to another member. The first connection section includes at least one staple feature having a hole and only two outwardly extending lances at the hole. Each lance has a pointed tip adapted to pierce through the electrical conductor of the FFC cable. The lances are adapted to be deformed back towards the electrical conductor to form a stapled connection of the first connection section to the FFC cable with only the two lances at the staple feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Shuey
  • Patent number: 7410384
    Abstract: A flexible flat connector cable electrical contact including a first connection section adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor of a flexible flat conductor (FFC) cable; and a second connection section electrical coupled to the first connection section and adapted to be electrically connected to another member. The first connection section includes at least one staple feature having a hole and only two outwardly extending lances at the hole. Each lance has a pointed tip adapted to pierce through the electrical conductor of the FFC cable. The lances are adapted to be deformed back towards the electrical conductor to form a stapled connection of the first connection section to the FFC cable with only the two lances at the staple feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Shuey
  • Patent number: 7351093
    Abstract: A connector, to which a flat band cable having a plurality of conductive channels is connected at one side, and a counterpart connector is connected at another side, is disclosed. The connector includes an electrically insulative block and a contact member that is inserted into the block. The contact member includes a contact portion that is configured to be connected to a counterpart contact portion of the counterpart connector and a flat band cable engaging portion that is configured to bend and engage an end portion of the flat band cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakurai, Manabu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7338310
    Abstract: A piercing terminal having electric connection with a conductor of a flat circuit body such as a flexible flat cable (FFC) and a connector utilizing the same. The connector includes multiple piercing terminals and a connector housing. Each piercing terminal has an elongated tube having a lengthwise direction for alignment with a lengthwise direction of the conductor, and crimp edges for crimping the conductor of the FFC. The crimp edges protrude outwardly in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction from an outer surface of the tube. The connector housing has terminal receiving rooms for receiving the piercing terminals and a FFC receiving room for receiving the FFC crimped with the piercing terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7329141
    Abstract: A method of shielding a flat circuit body and a wiring harness including the shielded flat circuit body, the shielded flat circuit body of the wiring harness includes a FFC having insulator covering around a conductor, a shield film covering the FFC and a connecting terminal. A clamp blade is pierced through an end of the FFC and is bent so as to connect electrically to the conductor. A joint blade extending perpendicularly from a joint terminal, which connects a plurality of conductors to each other, is pierced through the shield film and the FFC in the same direction of piercing the clamp blade, and is bent so as to connect the conductor and the shield film electrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hideto Kumakura, Nobuyuki Asakura
  • Patent number: 7316581
    Abstract: The terminal fitting includes: an electric contact part to be connected to a mating terminal fitting; and an electric wire connecting part including a bottom wall and a pair of caulking pieces rising up from the bottom wall, the pair of the caulking pieces caulking a conductor of a flat circuit body on a condition that the conductor is positioned above the bottom wall between the pair of the caulking pieces, thereby the electric wire connecting part crimping the conductor. Each caulking piece is provided with a fastening projection which projects from the caulking piece in a direction in which the pair of the caulking pieces approaches each other and prevents the conductor from coming off from between the pair of the caulking pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7273388
    Abstract: Providing a method of assembling a wiring harness and the wiring harness and a connector allowable to reduce required hours and a cost for assembling the wiring harness, the wiring harness includes a FFC and the connector. The FFC has a plurality of conductors and an insulator covering the conductors. The connector has piercing terminals, a connector housing and a cover. The piercing terminal has claws. A plurality of piercing terminals is received in the connector housing. The connector housing and the cover are provided with separating walls for clamping only the insulators of the FFC. By inserting the plurality of piercing terminals into the connector housing, making the claws pierce through the FFC, and bending the claws, the wiring harness is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7252535
    Abstract: Providing a method of manufacturing a flat circuit body with terminals with small number of steps of process, a terminal pressure welding apparatus includes a pair of dies having respectively a recess, in which claws of a piercing terminal penetrating through a conductive area of a flat circuit body. The dies are slid in a direction intersecting to a direction of the claw piercing in the flat circuit body by cylinders as a slide unit. Thereby, the claws received in the recess abuts seriously and gradually on a second curved surface and a first curved surface provided in the recess so as to be bent smoothly and fixed on the flat circuit body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7201602
    Abstract: A wire connection portion of a terminal fitting to be connected to a cable for surface mounting includes: a bottom wall extended from the electrical contact portion for overlapping with a flat conductor of a cable for surface mounting; crimping blades vertically extended in a staggered fashion from both edges of the bottom wall for sticking into the flat conductor; and transversal projections projecting from the both edges of the bottom wall respectively corresponding to the staggered crimping blades. Outer ends of the transversal projections are disposed more outward from inner walls of the crimping blades at each side of the bottom wall. A gap between the crimping blades extended from both edges of the bottom wall is narrower than a curvature radius of curved portions formed between the crimping blades and the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7165991
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed. A plate contact member is fixed to a housing of the connector. The contact member includes an FFC connection contact section. The FFC connection contact section is formed in a U-shape, and includes a base section on which a triangular projection is formed. An FFC is held between the base section and a slider fitted in the housing. The projection pierces a covering of the FFC to come into contact with a wire of the FFC. Thus, the FFC is electrically and mechanically connected to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventors: Koki Sato, Atsushi Sakurai, Manabu Shimizu, Hideo Miyazawa