Abstract: A protective cover for attachment to an electrical connector having a pair of spaced, parallel upstanding walls with a plurality of exposed electrical contacts disposed between inner surfaces of the upstanding walls. The protective cover includes a planar top wall, a pair of spaced, parallel planar side walls and a pair of spaced, parallel planar end walls. The planar side and end walls engage the outer surfaces of the upstanding walls of the electrical connector to removably secure the protective cover to the electrical connector such that the protective cover enshrouds the electrical contacts to protect the electrical contacts from damage and prevent accumulation of dust particles on the electrical contacts. Each of the planar side and end walls has a lower free edge that is radiused to form a lead-in feature that aids in aligning and sliding the protective cover onto the upstanding walls of the electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for manipulation by a vacuum-suction nozzle. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a top surface. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. Each terminal has a spring contact arm extending above the top surface of the housing. The terminals are arranged into a plurality of distinct groups. The spring contact arms of the terminals in one group are oriented different from the spring contact arms of the terminals in at least one other group. The groups are arranged to leave a surface area of the housing top surface of a size sufficient for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a metal plate which is mounted under the housing with hot riveting. Location pegs are made so that low mounting force is possible. A wafer which is black in color or has another contrasting color makes it possible for a video camera to record the true position of the terminals. The surface of the top side of the housing is suited for vacuum pick up.

Abstract: A connecting terminal assembly, including a covering tape heat-sealed to a mount base so as to cover a number of connecting terminals received in recessed portions of the mount base, is mounted to a surface mounter. Each connecting terminal has two fixed-contact sections, and a central section thereof having leg portions vertically extending from inner ends of the fixed-contact sections and a major portion extending between upper ends of the leg portions. Free-contact sections extend from outer ends of the fixed-contact sections vertically of and longitudinally in an inward direction of the connecting terminal. While the covering tape is being peeled off, each of the connecting terminals received in the recessed portions of the mount base is picked up at its major portion by suction and transferred to be positioned on a first printed circuit board at a desired position and with a desired orientation, by mean of a suction nozzle of the mounter.

Abstract: An IC connector is adapted for connecting an IC card having a terminal array. The connector includes a base member having a plurality of electrically conductive contacts for engaging the terminal array of the IC card. A cover is mounted on the base member for pivotal movement toward and away from one side of the base member. The cover has a receptacle means for securing the IC card thereon. The IC card is received for sliding movement relative to the cover between a preload position and a latched position. A biasing shoulder on the base member slides the IC card from its preload position to its latched position in response to closing of the cover. A latch on the base member engages the IC card in its latched position to lock the cover and IC card in a closed position on the base member.

Abstract: A pick-up device is mountable to an electrical connector for facilitating pneumatic handling thereof. The connector has a receiving slot defined by two side walls and a bottom wall connecting therebetween. The pick-up device includes a base plate having a substantially flat top face engageable by a suction cup and a bottom face positioned on top edges of the side walls of the connector. A post extends from the bottom face of the base plate and is inserted into the receiving slot with a free end thereof received in and interferentially engaging with a bore defined in the bottom wall of the connector thereby securing the pick-up device to the connector. The pick-up device may further include two resilient arms extending from the bottom face of the base plate on opposite sides of the post. Each resilient arm has a J-shaped free end for engaging with a corresponding hole defined in the bottom wall of the connector.

Abstract: A pick-up is adapted to be fit into an electronic card connector for allowing the connector to be picked up by an external device. The pick-up includes a flat body receivable between two spaced retention bars of the connector. The flat body has two lateral edges and a flat face extending therebetween. Each lateral edge is receivable in a guide slot defined in the corresponding retention bar for retaining the flat body in the connector with the flat face exposed for engagement by the external device. The pick-up further includes a retainer mounted on each lateral edge thereof. Each retainer includes at least one cantilevered arm having a first end fixed to the lateral edge of the flat body and a free second end spaced from the lateral edge and forming a contact engagement member thereon. The contact engagement member is thus resiliently supported on the lateral edge for engaging with the guide slot to secure the pick-up in the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mating with a complementary mating connector and is adapted for manipulation by a vacuum-suction nozzle. The connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals and including a surface area of a size sufficient for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle. An opening is provided in the surface area for receiving a portion of the mating connector. A frangible seal hermetically seals the opening to allow the vacuum-suction nozzle to apply negative air pressure to the surface area over the opening. The seal is breakable to allow the portion of the mating connector to enter the opening.

Abstract: An auxiliary device comprises a body with a planar surface for engaging with a vacuum nozzle. A pair of supporting portions perpendicularly extends from lateral edges of the body and forms a receiving space for receiving the assembled electrical connector. A stand-off portion is formed at a free end of each supporting portion. The height of the stand-off portion is less than the height (diameter) of the solder balls before soldering, and equal to the height of solder balls after soldering. Thus, the height of the solder balls is determined by the height of the stand-off portions and the planarity of the electrical connector is ensured by the stand-off portions. The provision of the stand-off portions also prevents solder wicking.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for being mounted on a board and for connecting a loop antenna to a circuit on the board. The antenna connector has a connector block and first and second terminals. The connector block is constructed from a non-conductive material and has opposing top and bottom faces, first and second opposing side faces, and a center portion extending between the top face and bottom face. The center portion defines first and second bays isolated from each other, where the first and second bays are exposed at the top and bottom faces. The first and second bays are further exposed, respectively, at the first side face and the second side face. The first and second terminals are mounted in the first and second bays of the connector block. Each terminal is constructed from a conductive material and has an open jaw positioned at the top face of the connector block, and a contacting portion opposite the open jaw and positioned at the bottom face of the connector block.

Abstract: A connector locator device for mounting a connector in a connector cut-out formed in a circuit card. An elongated connector includes solder tails extending from an edge thereof. The connector has opposite connector ends. An elongated connector support member has opposite terminal ends. Each terminal end includes a clamp engaging a respective connector end and also includes a support surface for engaging a card surface and locating the solder tails on solder pads positioned on the card surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cap housing for carrying electrical connectors to be mounted onto solder pads or through-holes on a printed circuit board or other circuitry. The cap housing has a plurality of electrical connector receiving cavities profiled to be relatively complementary in shape and of slightly larger dimension to the exterior profile of the electrical connector received within the cap housing. A floating arrangement of the electrical connector within the cap housing is thereby created which prevents coplanarity problems which contribute to non-filled or partially filled solder joints.

Abstract: A board-to-board connector assembled with an elongate cover, includes a housing forming a mating face, a soldering face, and a longitudinal channel in the mating face. The cover includes a central connecting portion having a pair of resilient arms perpendicularly extending from each lateral end thereof, a flat second surface for attachment of a vacuum nozzle, and a plurality of serially connected extension portions outwardly extending from the lateral ends of the connecting portion. A plurality of grooves are defined on both sides of the cover between each adjacent extension portions, whereby a predetermined number of extension portions can be readily removed to accommodate connectors of different size. After the connector is accurately aligned and soldered onto a mother board, the cover is removed from the connector so that a daughter board can be received in the channel.

Abstract: A rectangular pick-up is disclosed for use with an electrical card connector including a housing fixedly receiving a number of contacts each having a contact portion for engaging with an inserted card and a tail portion for being soldered to a PCB by SMT, and two guiding rails extending from lateral ends of the housing for guiding the card into/out of the connector. The pick-up is integrally formed by plastic injection molding with an upper wall, a lower wall, a front side, a rear side and two lateral arms each defining a lateral protrusion. A cavity is defined in the pick-up and is exposed to the rear side of the pick-up. When the pick-up is mounted to the connector, the rear side engages with the housing, the lateral arms are received in the guiding rails, the protrusions interferentially engage with the rails, and the cavity receives the contact portions of the contact therein.

Abstract: An electrostatic protection cover (30) for mounting onto an electrical connector (10) comprises a main body section (32) for electrically engaging contact sections (18) of electrical contacts (14), and resilient legs (34) extending from opposing sides of the main body section (32) for engaging respective sides of the electrical connector.

Abstract: In the manufacturing process of electronic modules a problem could arise when the modules have non-flat top surface. This is due to the fact that most of the automatic picking tools uses a vacuum nozzle to pick and place the module. According to the present invention a flat feature (a cap or a stud) is added to the module. This flat feature can be either fixed on the module or removable after the manufacture in order to reduce the dimensions.

Abstract: A card connector housing comprises an elongate insulative housing having two guiding bars extending from distal ends thereof for guiding a complementary card inserted into the housing. A plurality of contacts are received in the housing for electrically engaging with the inserted card. An auxiliary suction member extends from an upper surface of the housing thereby defining an engagement region between the auxiliary suction member and the housing. The auxiliary suction member provides a flat surface for receiving suction from a vacuum nozzle during automated soldering. The auxiliary suction member can be manually separated from the housing after the automated soldering.

Abstract: An improved surface-mount electrical wire connector includes a connector housing and electrical contacts. The housing supports the electrical contacts and includes an upper surface with openings to receive the stripped ends of electrical wire. The upper surface includes an enhanced bearing surface established between a pair of openings by selectively chamfering the perimeter of the openings. This enhanced surface accommodates a suction-cup head on conventional pick-and-place assembly equipment. The electrical contacts include an upper section for receiving and retaining a wire and a lower section, extending through a lower surface of the housing, for solderably affixing the connector to a printed circuit board. The lower section of the contacts preferably include two, parallel, spaced apart members which provide four exposed surfaces to receive and retain solder.

Abstract: Connector (10) having a mating face (16) and an opposed board-mounting face (18) and having an outer metal shield (12) therearound with an annular transverse flange (40). Opposed notches (46) into the peripheral edge surface (48) of the flange enable gripping by robotic equipment for accurate placement of the connector onto a circuit board.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes at least two connectors arranged substantially adjacent to each other for allowing a cover to detachably engage the connectors. The cover is configured so that an external vacuum suction nozzle or the like can apply a suction force on the cover together with the connectors in order to mount the connectors simultaneously on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: An IC card connector (10) including an insulative housing (12) having a plurality of cavities (14) extending therethrough in a vertical direction for receiving a corresponding number of contacts (16) therein. Each contact (16) includes a surface mounting tail (40) which is pressed against by a corresponding standoff (42) formed on a bottom surface (38) of the housing (12). A significant space (36) is formed on the underside of the housing (12) generally below the cavities (14) for allowing mounting plural tiny components (102) thereunder on the PC board (100). A stopper (48) is formed on the bottom portion of each cavity (14) for supportable engagement with the corresponding downward flexed contact (16) when the IC card is pressed on the housing (12).

Abstract: A contact for the through-connection of a printed circuit board through a hole is specified, having a central pin made of a conductive material; arms, which are designed in an essentially C-shaped manner, are arranged on the pin on two opposite sides; and a plastic body is provided on one end of the pin, which body surrounds the pin and, on the side facing away from the pin, has a surface extending perpendicularly to the pin, which can be used as suction surface for the automatic processing of the contact.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum pick up cap for use in positioning an electrical receptacle on a printed circuit board (PCB). A vertical projection extends downwardly to engage the receptacle. The width of the projection is increased adjacent its lower terminal edge to prevent the vacuum pick up cap from disengaging from the receptacle when the PCB is inverted in an infrared (IR) conveyor oven during the manufacture of a two-sided PCB. A method of use is also disclosed.

Abstract: One and two piece surface mount pin constructions include excess solder receiving channels. In the one piece construction an elongate channel is provided through a tubular pin which is flared or swaged at the lower end to form a base. In the two piece construction a solid pin is provided at a lower end with a uniform cross section in the form of a regular polygon, such as a square, hexagon or octagon. The resulting edges are press-fit against an internal surface of a sleeve which is also swaged at a lower end to form a base. The spaces between the sleeve and the flat or convex surfaces on the captured end of the pin provide the solder-receiving channels. A bead or shoulder on the pins can provide a stop for a vacuum nozzle. When a flared upper lip is used for this purpose it can also serve as a reservoir or well to receive excess solder beyond the amount that can be received in the channels.

Abstract: A connector device includes a housing, terminal accommodating chambers formed in the housing, the terminal accommodating chambers into which terminals are inserted, a front holder, for fixing the terminals, inserted into a front portion of the housing, and a drawing portion formed on the front holder, the drawing portion having an opening for engaging with a drawing tool, the opening having a pair of sloped guide surfaces for regulating the drawing tool in a predetermined direction, whereby the front holder can be drawn out smoothly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cover for use in transporting an electrical header which comprises a dielectric housing, terminals mounted on the housing and pins arranged in an array comprising at least two generally parallel longitudinal rows of pins. The cover comprises an upper section including a top surface, an outer and preferably an inner generally concentric wall member extend downwardly in spaced relation from the top section. A concentric groove is formed between said wall members and said wall members and the groove is positioned so that at least one pin in each of said row of pins is engageable in said groove. A recess may also be positioned in the center of the upper surface to increase pick up efficiency. A method for using the cover to manipulate electrical headers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surface mounted connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board includes a base which has a generally flat surface suitable for contact with an attachment to a conductive surface of the printed circuit board. An electrical contact, which may be in the form of a pin, post, IDC, test point, or receptacle, has at least one portion projecting from the base in a direction normal to the base. At least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connects the contact to the base. The contact, base and the bent intermediate connecting portions are all formed from a generally flat sheet of conductive material. A blank for the surface mounted connector, as well as a rolled strip of connectors is disclosed.

Abstract: A surface mounted contact for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board includes a base which has a generally flat surface suitable for contact with an attachment to a conductive surface of the printed circuit board. An electrical contact, which may be in the form of a pin, post, IDC, test point, receptacle, or jumper has at least one portion projecting from the base in a direction normal to the base. At least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connects the contact to the base. The contact, base and the bent intermediate connecting portions are all formed from a generally flat sheet of conductive material. A blank for the surface mounted connector, as well as a rolled strip of connectors is disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum placement member for use with the pneumatic transfer of electrical connectors in which the connectors have housings formed from two opposite longitudinal walls includes a flat cover plate and pairs of resilient legs connected to edges of the cover plate to engage the connector body longitudinal walls. The legs include main legs and an auxiliary legs descending downwardly from the cover plate and spaced apart from each other to form an intervening space therebetween for receiving and sandwiching the longitudinal walls of the connector body therebetween. The connector body longitudinal walls are thereby supported against the force applied thereto by the cover member and inward deformation of the connector body longitudinal walls is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A cover (10) adapted to be releasably secured to an electrical connector assembly (30) for positioning the assembly (30) to a surface of an electrical article (70) by use of a vacuum-suction nozzle (66). The connector assembly (30) includes a housing (32) having a transverse body section 33) and a plurality of electrical terminals (50) disposed therein and extending above the body section (33). The cover (10), which overlies at least a central region of the housing, has a plate (12) having planar top surface (14) and at least one projection (18) extending substantially perpendicularly from a lower surface (16) of the cover (10) intermediate the side edges thereof. The projection (18) is dimensioned to be received in a central location of the connector assembly (30) and to be releasably gripped by cooperating surfaces therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum pick up cap for use with receptacles. This vacuum pick up cap has a planer top section which is adapted to be engaged by a vacuum nozzle and a lower section from which a plurality of pegs project to engage apertures in the top surface of the receptacle. These pegs have upper and lower longitudinal sections having different axial dimensions so as to be engageable with receptacles having different size apertures. These upper and lower sections may also have longitudinal axes which are laterally displaced from each other to enable the cap to be used on receptacles having rows of apertures which are displaced at different distances.

Abstract: A cover (36) for use in transporting headers by vacuum suction comprising a dielectric housing (12), terminals (14) mounted on the housing and pins arranged in an array (18) comprising a plurality of rows (20 and 22), said cover comprising an upper section (38) including a smooth top surface (40), a plurality of generally parallel longitudinal ridges (42, 44 and 46) extending downwardly from the top section and a groove (54 and 56) interposed between adjacent ridges and said ridges and grooves being positioned so that one of said rows of pins is engageable in each of said grooves and a transverse member (62 and 64) extends across at least a part of at least one of the grooves. A method of using the cover is also disclosed.

Abstract: A support plate assembly (100) is used for aligning and/or supporting one or more accessory connector(s) (103). The support plate assembly (100) includes a support plate (101) having one or more apertures (105) for frictional engaging with a sleeve (107) of an accessory connector (103). An alignment plate (109) is attached to the support plate (101) for aligning the accessory connector (103) and for providing a working surface for placement of the support plate assembly (100) by automated machinery. The alignment plate (109) includes one or more support members (115) for engaging with the accessory connector (103) and holding the accessory connector into a fixed position.

Abstract: A flat rectangular rear holder having groovelike wire inserting parts and a thickness. On a side surface of the rear holder are retaining projections for retaining a housing and a releasing hole for inserting a releasing jig. The rear holder is engaged with the housing that has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers on a rear end thereof and retaining holes corresponding to the retaining projections along the peripheral wall thereof. With the rear holder engaged with and retained by the housing, an upper end part of the rear holder is projected from the rear end of the housing, so that the upper part of the releasing hole is exposed. This exposed part has an opening area so large as to allow a rear holder releasing jig to be inserted thereinto.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided with a suction platform having a suction surface on one side and pin receiving pipes extending on the other side for mounting onto contact pins of the connector assembly. The pipes are provided with pin receiving cavities that have a cross-sectional profile slightly twisted with respect to the square profile of the pin contacts such that insertion of the pin contacts thereinto causes resilient torsional biasing of the pipes, thereby causing sufficient frictional forces therebetween for picking of the connector assembly via the support platform. Advantageously the suction platform does not depend on the shape of the connector, but rather only on the size and pitch of the pins therefore enabling use for different connectors. Additionally, the suction platform is well adapted for compact connectors that are difficult to hold onto otherwise.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting to a mounting surface of an electrical apparatus through the engagement of a vacuum-suction nozzle of a pick and place machine. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a first interface adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting surface of the electrical apparatus, a second interface opposite the first interface and opposite side walls extending between the interfaces. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing for interconnection to circuitry on the electrical apparatus. A removable cover is positionable on the housing over at least a portion of the second interface. The cover has a generally planar, smooth surface for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle. Slidable retention shoulders are provided between the cover and the side walls of the housing and are adapted to retain the cover on the housing with substantial force in a direction generally normal to the smooth surface of the cover.