Abstract: A clockspring connector having a clockspring housing, a hub, a chamber defined by the housing, and a carrier member. The clockspring housing includes an inner wall and an outer wall. A flat conductor cable coiled within the clockspring housing. The hub is rotatably mounted within the clockspring housing. The chamber is defined by the clockspring housing. The carrier member is mounted within the chamber. The carrier member has roller members. One of the roller members is a hard roller member and another of the roller members is a compliant roller member. Typically, the hard roller member is positioned at a turn-back portion of the flat conductor cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a wire clamp electrical connector portion and a wire trap electrical connector portion. The wire clamp portion includes a moving arm and a stationary arm where each arm has a respective contact end. An entrance exists between the contact ends. In an open position of the entrance of the wire clamp electrical connector portion, the contact ends are separated by a predetermined gap for receiving a conductor. The gap has a dimension which is greater than a diameter of a conductor. In a closed position of the entrance of the wire clamp electrical connector portion, contact ends are urged toward each other so as to contact and secure the conductor. The wire trap portion includes a moving arm and a stationary arm where the moving arm has a contact end and the stationary arm has a contact surface. An entrance exists between the contact end and the contact surface.

Abstract: A fuel level sensor is provided having a contact arm pivotally mounted to a frame adjacent a cam that translates the pivotal motion of the arm into a linear motion so that a contact arm may move linearly across a miniaturized resistor card.

Abstract: An electrical connection termination device includes a box contact which accommodates a flat conductor of a flat cable. The flat cable includes an insulative layer substantially covering the flat conductor. The box contact includes a box structure at one end and a strain relief structure at another end. The box structure includes four sides so as to form the shape of a box having open ends. One of the sides of the box structure includes a flexible tab. The strain relief structure attaches to the insulative layer of the flat cable. The flat conductor extends through the open ends of the box structure and is positioned near one of the sides of the box structure where that particular side opposes the side of the box structure having the flexible tab.

Abstract: An optoelectronic transmitter module is provided for transmitting optical data signals from a host device. The module is housed within a grounded chassis of the host device and provides a reduced effective aperture therethrough. The module components include electronic circuitry mounted within the module configured to convert electrical data signals to an optical output signal. A conductive housing encloses the electronic circuitry. The module housing includes a first connector end adapted to receive a fiber optic connector. When the module is installed within the host device chassis, the connector end engages the host chassis to form a conductive barrier around the first end of the housing. A conductive transmitting optical subassembly (TOSA) is disposed within the connector end of the housing, forming a continuous conductive barrier therewith. The TOSA includes first and second ends with a narrow passage extending therebetween.

Abstract: An interface converter module is provided for converting data signals from a first transmission medium to a second transmission medium. The module includes a metallized housing having a first end and a second end. A shielded electrical connector is mounted at the first end of the housing and configured to mate to a corresponding host connector associated with a first transmission medium. The housing includes a flexible metallic shielded cable extending from the second end. The remote end of the shielded cable comprises the media interface which includes an interface connector configured to the connect flexible shielded cable to the second transmission medium. A printed circuit board is mounted within the housing and has mounted thereon electronic circuitry configured to convert data signals from a host device transmission medium to the second transmission medium.

Abstract: A solderable metallized plastic contact includes an element made of a polymer where an electrically conductive material covers a surface of the element so as to form an electrically conductive region on the element. The electrically conductive material is electroplated to the surface of the element. The electrically conductive material in the electrically conductive region is solderable. The electrically conductive material in the electrically conductive region does not delaminate from the surface of the element. Additionally, a method of manufacturing a solderable metallized plastic contact is also disclosed.

Abstract: A robust optoelectronic transceiver module which is quick, easy, and inexpensive to manufacture. The transceiver module has a main housing which consists of a potting box with potting material inserted therein. In addition, a circuit board is encased by the potting material. The circuit board has an optical subassembly mounted thereon. The optical subassembly extends outside of the potting box through a recess. Correspondingly, a recess cover is provided for forming a liquid tight seal between the recess cover, the potting box, and the optical subassembly.

Abstract: An interface converter module is provided for converting data signals from a first transmission medium to a second transmission medium. The module is housed within a metallized housing having a first end and a second end. A shielded electrical connector is mounted at the first end of the housing and is configured to mate to a corresponding connector associated with a first transmission medium. The second end of the housing comprises a media interface which includes an interface connector configured to connect to the second transmission medium. In another embodiment a printed circuit board is mounted within the housing and has mounted thereon electronic circuitry configured to convert data signals from a host device transmission medium to the second transmission medium. The printed circuit board includes contact fingers adhered at each end in order to form a host connector at the first end of the module and a media connector at the second end of the module.

Abstract: A coupling is provided having a one-piece body, with a first segment having a first chamber for receiving an optical connector and ferrule, a second segment having a second chamber for receiving an alignment sleeve that retains and interconnects the ferrules, a third segment substantially similar to the first segment and having a third chamber for receiving a second optical connector and ferrule, wherein said first, second and third chambers are aligned longitudinally across the one-piece body, and a resilient arm extends from the one-piece body to allow the coupling of the invention to be received by a coupling aperture.

Abstract: A wireless rotating signal transducer. A control circuit is provided for transferring power and communication signals through a wireless coupling device in a vehicle steering column. A squib firing circuit transforms a high energy power signal suitable for firing an air-bag from the column side to the wheel side. A low-energy power circuit generates a signal from the column side to the wheel side suitable for operating isolated wheel side electronics, such as cruise control and the like. A pulse-encoder circuit communicates low-level control signals suitable for signaling wheel-side commands from the wheel side to the column side. The low-energy power circuit and pulse encoder circuit operate simultaneously and continuously without signal debilitating interaction.

Abstract: A clockspring having adhesive so as to resist vibratory motion of the flat ribbon cable and to reduce rubbing of the flat ribbon cable against itself. The clockspring includes a housing, a hub, and a flat ribbon cable connecting the hub to the housing. The flat ribbon cable has an adhesive along a majority of the length of the flat ribbon cable.

Abstract: A card housing for printed circuit boards, wherein the card housing is provided with stamped covers having grounding members extending unitarily therefrom, wherein at least one grounding member is bent so that an outward surface of the grounding member is contiguous with an outward face of the cover. The cover having the bent grounding member is stamped from a metallic sheet having an insulative frame on one side that forms the outward face and surface. An insulative frame overlays a peripheral edge of each cover so that the two covers may be sealed to encase a printed circuit board inserted therein.

Abstract: An optoelectronic transmitter is provided including a semiconductor laser as the active optical transmitting element. The transmitter includes first and second printed circuit boards, with the first printed circuit board having mounted thereon electronic components and circuitry for driving the optoelectronic transmitter. A transmitting optical sub-assembly (TOSA) is mounted to the second printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board has an array of solder pads disposed on the back surface thereof, and the first printed circuit board has a corresponding array of solder pads disposed along an outer edge of the board. Spacing of the solder pads is such that when the first printed circuit board is placed in perpendicular abutment against the outer edge of the first printed circuit board, the solder pads formed on the first printed circuit board are aligned adjacent to the solder pads disposed on the back of the second printed circuit board.

Abstract: A pivot switch assembly including a button and a housing. The housing includes a trunion and a retaining wall. The trunion opposes the retaining wall and forms a receiving gap between the two features. The button includes a rib. The rib has an aperture. The rib of the button being positioned into the receiving gap of the housing. The trunion of the housing then engages the aperture of the rib of the button so as to provide a pivoting function for the switch assembly. The geometry of the button and housing prevents the button from becoming dislodged during periods of high acceleration, such as during deployment of an airbag.

Abstract: According to the present invention, underneath a vehicle power window button face a pair of cams are sized such that depression of the face a first distance causes momentary window movement whereas depression of the face a second distance causes express window movement. In the alternative, bumpers for receiving the cams and causing switch actuation can be sized or contoured such that depression of the face a first distance causes momentary window movement whereas depression of the face a second distance causes express window movement.

Abstract: An insulation displacement contact for connecting to a flat conductor of a flat cable, where the flat conductor has a width dimension greater than its thickness dimension. The insulation displacement contact including a base, a first tine connected to the base and a second tine connected to the base. The first tine having a first edge and a second edge. The first edge being adjacent to a free end, where the free end has a first knife edge. The second tine having a third edge and a fourth edge. The third edge being adjacent to a free end, where the free end has a knife edge. The third edge of the second tine opposes the first edge of the first tine. The first edge of the first tine being separated from the third edge of the second tine by a first distance. The fourth edge of the second tine opposes the second edge of the first tine. The second edge of the first tine being separated from the fourth edge of the second tine by a second distance. The first distance being greater than the second distance.

Abstract: A clockspring having spring fingers so as to resistant vibratory motion of the hub. The clockspring includes a housing and a cover mounted to the housing so as to form a cavity therebetween. The hub is rotatably mounted in the cavity. Clearance is provided between the hub and both the housing and the cover. The spring fingers are attached to both the housing and the cover, the spring fingers press against the hub so as to eliminate or reduce the audible sounds due to the vibratory motion of the hub.

Abstract: A key operated switch is provided for disabling an automobile air bag passive restraint system. The two or four position switch includes a housing, a rotor, a plurality of rotationally actuated electrical switch elements, a key ejecting mechanism, and a positive positioning detent. The switch assembly is arranged such that a transverse surface of the rotor defining a key slot is accessible through the housing. The key slot allows an operating key to be manually inserted into the rotor. In or order to insert the key, however, the therein, a certain minimum amount of force must be applied to the key sufficient to overcome the key ejecting mechanism. In the absence of such minimum insertion force, the key ejecting mechanism will act expel the key from the rotor. Once inserted into the rotor, the key may be manually rotated which causes corresponding rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A capacitive rotary position sensor is provided. The rotary positions sensor includes a housing, a stator, and a rotor. The stator is formed of a disc shaped piece of insulating material including a plurality of conductive plates formed in a circular pattern on the surface of the disc. Similarly, the rotor is formed as a second disc of insulating material having a single conductive plate formed on the surface thereof. A signal generator provides a polyphase signal for driving each of the conductive plates formed on the rotor with an individual component of the polyphase signal. The stator and rotor are placed in parallel to the stator disc, and the plurality of conductive plates on the stator face the single conductive plate formed on the rotor. A thin dielectric coating applied to the rotor plate prevents the rotor conductive plate from shorting the adjacent stator conductive plates.