Abstract: A connector (10) comprises a housing (20), at least one terminal (15) receivable in the housing (20), and a fixing mechanism (25, 26) fixable to the housing (20). The terminal (15) has a contact surface (18) extended in a thickness direction thereof. When the fixing mechanism (25, 26) is fixed to the housing (20) so that a flat circuit member (12) having a conductor portion (13) is held between the housing (20) in which the terminal (15) is received and the fixing mechanism (25, 26), the fixing mechanism (25, 26) bends a part of the flat circuit member (12) in a thickness direction thereof to form a bent portion (14a) thereon, and presses the bent portion (14a) of the flat circuit member (12) against the contact surface (18) of the terminal (15) so that the terminal (15) is electrically connected to the conductor portion (13) of the flat circuit member (12).

Abstract: A disk drive test device for performing a test (e.g., power only self test, tests which use a serial interface) on at least one disk drive at a time. The test device includes an electrical connector which is configured so as to be able to provide the necessary electrical interconnections for executing a test on disk drives having different types of drive interface connectors (i.e., the same electrical connector may be used with at least 2 different types of drive interface connectors). There is no need to use an in-line adapter to electrically interconnect a disk drive having a first drive interface connector or to electrically interconnect a disk drive having a second drive interface connector. There is also is no need to change out the electrical connector when performing a test on disk drives which use this different types of drive interface connectors.

Abstract: A Z-axis electrical interconnect includes a flexible printed circuit folded into a U-shape. The Z-axis electrical interconnect also includes a plurality of raised interconnection members arranged on the flexible printed circuit in a predetermined pattern and a circuit trace interconnecting the pair of raised interconnection members. The Z-axis electrical interconnect further includes a spring fixedly positioned on the flexible printed circuit to maintain the U-shape.

Abstract: Press contact terminals are held in terminal housing chambers of a housing body. A longitudinally intermediate part of a flat circuit is positioned above a top surface opening of the terminal housing chambers. Each conductor of the flat circuit is press-connected to each press contact terminal with a press contact jig. A cover is closed, thereby to fold the flat circuit in two in the vicinity of the press-connected part so that one part is overlaid on the press-connected part. The folded part is sandwiched between the cover and the housing body to be held in a connector housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a central body portion with a front face, a rear face and at least three rows of terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween and including a top row, a middle row and a bottom row. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages and include top terminals received in at least some of the passages in the top row, middle terminals received in at least some of the passages in the middle row and bottom terminals received in at least some of the passages in the bottom row. All of the terminals have forward contact portions and tail portions projecting rearwardly from the body portion beyond the rear face thereof. The tail portions of the middle terminals are longer than the tail portions of the top terminals. A wire management platform projects from the rear face of the central body portion and includes a first top surface at which the tail portions of the top terminals are juxtaposed.

Abstract: A cable constructed with insulation displacement connectors produces cables which connect data storage devices to a host system. The cable allows automatic address selection of data storage devices depending on the presence or absence of a CSEL terminal pin on a corresponding connector and the location of a data storage device along the cable. Address selection by connector configuration simplifies cable construction. The end connector of an ATA cable is configured to identify an attached data storage device as the first device (drive 0), while an intermediate connector is configured to identify an attached data storage device as the second drive (drive 1), thus making installation more intuitive.

Abstract: An edge connector interposing probe (100) for testing the operation of two electrical assemblies which normally couple to one another via edge connectors. The interposing probe has a male edge connector (208/210) which fits into an edge connector of the first assembly, and a female edge connector (102) which receives an edge connector of the second assembly. Solder tails (200, 202) of the interposing probe's female edge connector are coupled to traces (208, 210) of the interposing probe's male edge connector, and to transmission paths (204) in one or more flex circuits (106). Signals flowing between the interposing probe's edge connectors are sensed by the transmission paths of the flex circuit(s) and routed to test connectors (108, 110, 112, 114, 116). Probe tip resistors (422, 424) can be coupled to the transmission paths at points which are proximate to the interposing probe's edge connectors.

Abstract: A flat, surface mounted, flexible, multi-purpose wire has a plurality of flat elongated conductors spaced apart in a generally parallel relationship. Each of the flat conductors includes a plurality of copper layers. An adhesive material separates the flat conductors and an insulation layer surrounds the flat conductors and the adhesive material, with the adhesive material bonding to the insulation layer. A cross-sectional height of the flat conductors and insulation layer is such that the multi-purpose wire will blend in with the surface when painted or after wallpaper is applied.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) has electrical cables (50) pressed into channels (19) to connect the cables by pressure crimping to a respective terminal (43); the channels are aligned in a common plane to facilitate crimping. Some of the terminals (43) are bent in the vertical or horizontal plane, or both, so that the connection portions (44) of the terminals are arranged in several planes to suit a standard kind of mating connector.

Abstract: A cable connector includes cables, and jacks attached to ends of the cables. The jacks have contacts connected to the cables. The contacts extend in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a second direction in which the cables extend from the jacks.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting inputs and outputs to a printed circuit board subassembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an electrical connector 2 that includes a housing 4 and a plurality of terminals 6 located in openings 28 extending between a mating face 22 and a rear face 24 on the housing 4. Both the terminals 6 and the openings 28 are C-shaped and adjacent terminals and openings are inverted. The terminals have a contact tab portion 12 for forming a separable connection with a mating connector 56 and a termination or weld tab section 14 for attachment to a conductor 8 joining each connector terminal 6 to a printed circuit board 10. The termination tabs 14 are located in a single row to facilitate the attachment of a wire 8 to each terminal 6 by a process such as the use of an ultrasonic bonding applicator 62.

Abstract: A wire management adapter for organizing wires for presentment to a connector include a member having an array of grooves at the leading edge thereof. In one aspect, guideways are provided for positioning the wires of a cable for receipt within the grooves. The guideways accept both standard and coaxial conductors. A pocket carries a clip with insulation displacement tines to contact the braid of the coaxial conductor. In a second aspect, the member has alternating arrays of shallow and deeper grooves on each surface. The shallow and deeper grooves on each surface communicate with each other via a groove in the leading edge of the member. The shallow and deeper grooves on each surface register with the respective deeper and shallow grooves on the other surface.

Abstract: A connector (10) having two rows of signal terminals (20) is easily terminated to conductors (106) of discrete wires (14) by providing rear sections (28) of the terminals extending from the front housing member (30). A wire-carrying subassembly (130) having the discrete wires secured thereto is moved against the rear (36) of the front housing member (30) to place stripped conductor portions (108) adjacent the rear terminal sections (28) to be soldered. The wire-carrying subassembly (130) includes a body member (50) having upper and lower arrays of axial grooves (56) therealong between a front support ledge (60) and a rear support section (62), and upper and lower forward and rearward clamping bars (72,82) securable to the body member () to clamp the wires (14) thereto by clamping insulated end portions (104) forwardly of stripped conductor portions (108) within the grooves (56) and insulated wire portions behind the grooves, with the rear terminal sections (28) receivable into the grooves.

Abstract: A connector (10) having two rows of signal terminals (20) is easily terminated to conductors (106) of discrete wires (14) by providing rear sections (28) of the terminals extending from the front housing member (30). A wire-carrying subassembly (130) having the discrete wires secured thereto is moved against the rear (36) of the front housing member (30) to place stripped conductor portions (108) adjacent the rear terminal sections (28) to be soldered. The wire-carrying subassembly (130) includes a body member (50) having upper and lower arrays of axial grooves (56) therealong between a front support ledge (60) and a rear support section (62), and upper and lower forward and rearward clamping bars (72,82) securable to the body member (50) to clamp the wires (14) thereto by clamping insulated end portions (104) forwardly of stripped conductor portions (108) within the grooves (56) and insulated wire portions behind the grooves, with the rear terminal sections (28 ) receivable into the grooves.

Abstract: A high density ribbon cable connector includes bipartite strain relief halves adapted to trap between them a high density ribbon cable. The strain relief halves and ribbon are snap latchable into position within a fixture housing with the cable extending through an elongate slot in the fixture housing, and adjacent to a fixture face having conductor aligning grooves emanating from and fanning out in opposite directions from the elongate slot. The grooves form a template for the positioning of the conductors for accurate alignment prior to termination. The fixture housing also includes terminal clearance slots aligned with each groove, where two rows of clearance slots are provided on each side of the slot. The fixture housing is snap latchable into a terminal housing, where conductor receiving slots of electrical terminals are inserted into the terminal clearance slots, and electrically terminate the conductors to the electrical terminals.

Abstract: A high density connector for electrically connecting a high density cable to a matable electrical connector has a housing with a plurality of terminals provided therein. The terminals have sharp outer edges which enable the terminals to cooperate with a portion of the connector to provide the securing force required to retain the terminal in position. The positioning of the terminals in the housing is accurately controlled through the use of an alignment tool which is manufactured from a material which does not expand or contract when exposed to various environmental conditions. Therefore, the precise positioning of the terminals is guaranteed and is repeatable for many connectors.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly comprises, an insulative housing block (8) having a contact receiving side (15), a series of wire receiving channels (11) in the housing block (8), electrical contacts (9) on the housing block (8) being intercepted by alternate channels (11), another row of electrical contacts (9) separate from the housing block (8) being held along the contact receiving side (15), and being intercepted by alternate channels (11), and a cut (20) in an electrical cable (2) to offset cable wires (4) aligned by the channels (11).

Abstract: A daisy chain connector (10) and method of using the connector (10) are disclosed. The connector has a housing having contacts (16) secured therein. A pair of terminating covers (56,58) are provided for applying termination force to conductors (48) of a multiconductor round or flat cable (46). The conductors (48) are formed into two loops with the connector therebetween. A terminating cover (56,58) is positioned in each loop (52,54), the conductors are positioned relative to the covers (56,58) then the covers (56,58) are pressed toward each other terminating the conductors to insulation displacement portions of the contacts (16) and simultaneously securing the covers (56,58) to the connector housing (20).

Abstract: An electrical connector (18) for electrically interconnecting non-parallel substrates (10,12) is disclosed. The connector (18) includes a contact element (24) formed from a single length of flexible, circuit carrying film (40) wrapped around two or more spaced apart coil springs (42) with each wrapped spring provided a segment (60). The contact element (24) is carried in a housing (20) with the segments (60) received in interconnected channels (26) in adjacent surfaces (28) of the housing against which the substrates (10,12) are mounted for electrical engagement with the segments (60).

Abstract: A transition block for interconnecting flat undercarpet power cable to round conductor power cable has stackable terminal blocks each having an electrical terminal mounted therein. The conductors of the multiconductor power cable can be separated and folded such that each cable is vertically aligned with the other. Insertion of the cable into the terminal blocks and forcing the terminal blocks together causes an insulation displacement portion within the terminal block to pierce the insulation of the flat cable. A poke through type terminal is mounted adjacent to, and electrically continuous with, the insulation displacement portion for electrically interconnecting flat cable to round cable. The assembled terminal blocks are profiled for installation within the standard wall mounted junction box.

Abstract: A monolithic transition adapter terminated to a flat power cable has one or two plate sections extending forwardly from the termination which conclude in an array of first and second alternating spring contact arms deflectable downwardly and upwardly respectively. The spring arms are formed to include free ends having arcuate contact sections convex in opposing directions comprising a lead-in to receive thereinto a blade-like contact member from forwardly thereof, and facilitating the deflection by the mating contact of the spring arms in the respective opposing directions. A monolithic contact member matable with the transition adapter includes a planar body portion having a forward blade contact and a plurality of terminal sections rearwardly thereof such as for interconnecting with a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A low profile cable termination assembly comprises a multiconductor cable, a plurality of contacts, a carrier for carrying the contact in a pair of parallel rows, a housing for holding together in snap-fit relation the carrier and contacts, and a strain relief molded to the cable insulation, contacts carriers and housing. The contacts have cable conductor connecting portions terminating at inwardly angled parts coterminus with an end of the carrier, and the cable extends from the strain relief at right angles to the plane of the contact in each row. Also disclosed is a printed circuit termination assembly of similar construction, except that the contacts are connected to a printed circuit board inserted into a slot in the carrier.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly 1 comprises, electrical contacts 9 mounted in an insulative housing 8, the contacts 9 are connected to signal wires 4 of an electrical cable 2, a ground bus 7 connected to ground wires 5 of the cable 2, the wires 4,5 are bent to extend toward a cable entry side 15 or 16 of the assembly 1, the ground bus 7 is connected by tabs 14 to selected contacts 9', and the tabs 14 offset the ground bus 7 to a side of the assembly 1.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly (200) includes a flat ribbon multiconductor cable (204), able to be slit to separate the conductors into respective pairs of adjacent conductor that are able to be rotated or twisted, a strain relief body (210) directly molded to the cable (204) to form an integral structure therewith, plural electrical contacts (212) that are placed in IDC relation to form IDC junctions with respective conductors (208) of the cable, and a separate cover (214) that can be slid over at least part of the contacts and strain relief body for fastening with respect thereto. The conductor pairs are twisted during the molding step, and as a result of the twist the outboard conductors are brought adequately inboard of the ends of the assembly to facilitate the desired IDC connections while maintaining side and end stackability. A method and apparatus for making the cable termination assembly.

Abstract: A circuiting device comprising a flexible base member having end portions to be fixed, a movable portion therebetween and conductor patterns carried on the base member. Parts of the portions to be fixed adjacent to the movable portion are covered by protective films which prevent solder from flowing to the movable portion from the portions to be fixed. This arrangement prevents disconnection and short circuit in the conductor patterns on the circuiting device, and facilitates connecting operations.

Abstract: Making a branch connection with a flat cable and affording shielding is afforded by removing insulation at three longitudinally spaced locations transversely of the cable, folding the cable at the intermediate location, making connection to the signal leads at the intermediate location, cutting ground leads, folding ground leads at other two locations, and joining a portion of a conductive member to the ground leads on each side of the cable and by straps at the fold joining the portions of the conductive member affording ground contacts.

Abstract: A card edge connector (10) includes electrical contacts (15) for engaging traces of a printed circuit card to establish electrical connection therewith, a housing (16) for supporting the contacts, a strain relief (17) directly molded to at least part of the contacts and housing for securing the same as an integral structure, the contacts having a compliance characteristic in the card edge connector, and a secondary compliance mechanism (95) for increasing the effective compliance characteristic of the contacts in the card edge connector. Such secondary compliance mechanism is provided by a shrinkage of some of the molded strain relief material during cooling thereof. The contacts and housing provide part of a shut of function and a shut off key (56) inserted into the housing for use during the molding provides another part of a shut off function to block flow of molding material into a contacting area of the housing (27).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly permitting interconnection of signal and ground conductors in a shielded flat cable to a standard connector member having a different signal ground configuration is disclosed. An adapter member having an insulative housing base and cover can be secured to the connector member. A plurality of signal terminals can be disposed in the base member to form insulation displacement terminations to the signal conductors. Separate ground shields surrounding associated pairs of conductors can be commoned using a ground terminal having a single transverse bus strip which is deployed over the cable in the insulative base. The assembled adapter base is received within an outer conductive shell which interconnects an outer cable shield to the outer conductive shell of the standard electrical connector to form a continuous shield.

Abstract: An electronic connector assembly in which high performance output contacts arranged in almost any given spacing and sequence are integral with wire contacts to which multiple fine gage closely spaced ground and signal wires of a matched impedance flat cable are connected on wire centers. Changes in the number, gage and spacing of the wires, and in the wiring pattern, spacing and number of the "ground" and "signal" output contacts are easily accommodated. The output contacts and wire contacts are formed from a thin, flat piece of spring metal stock and may be handled during manufacturing as a unitary assembly thereby increasing quality and uniformity and decreasing cost.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a flat cable comprising a base housing (30) accommodating electrical contacts (50) and a cover housing (10) which is arranged to slide vertically with respect to the base housing. The cover housing and the base housing have grooves (11a, 11b) which mate with guide projections (31a, 31b) to guide the relative movement between the housings. The cover housing at a first position enables a part of a flat cable (1) to be positioned in an opening (45) of the base housing and upon movement of the cover housing to a second position, a projection (14) of the cover housing presses exposed conductors of the flat cable in engagement with the contacts. The cover housing can be maintained at its first position by a first locking means (31a) and at its second position by a second locking means (16, 37).

Abstract: A cable termination assembly with an integral polarizing key, and method of molding the same, includes an electrical cable including at least one conductor, at least one electrical contact, a support body for at least preliminarily supporting the electrical contact, the electrical contact having an insulation displacement connection portion, a contacting portion, and an offset between said portions, and the support body having a land for cooperating with the offset to support the electrical contact during insulation displacement connection connecting of the insulation displacement connection portion to such conductor. Part of the electrical contact and the support body cooperate during the mentioned molding to effect a shut off function blocking flow of molding material of the strain relief into an area of the support body where the contacting portion is located. Molding material fills a cell of the support body during molding of the strain relief body to form a polarizing key.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly, includes a multiconductor electrical cable having plural electrical conductors and insulation, electrical contacts for effecting electrical connection between a respective conductor of said cable and a further member, said electrical contacts having a connecting means for connecting with a respective conductor of said cable and having contacting means for contacting with such further member, a separation between two adjacent parts of said insulation for exposing a portion of plural conductors along the major axial extent thereof, at least one of said conductors including at said separation a knuckle bent out of the major axial extent of the conductor for connecting with the connecting means of a respective electrical contacts, and at least a second of said conductors being generally continuous in the major axial extent thereof at said separation, at least one of said insulation parts having been slid along said second of said conductors to close the axial distance of said separat

Abstract: A strain relief and a cable termination assembly using the same. The strain relief includes tapered beams for minimizing stress applied to a cable during relative movement, particularly angular movement, namely bending, of the cable and a cable termination; the tapered beams undergo controlled bending according to a prescribed function, a securing mechanism secures the tapered beams to the cable termination, and a holding mechanism holds the beams with respect to the cable to control the bending thereof. A low profile cable termination assembly and a printed circuit termination assembly also are disclosed.