Abstract: A clockspring connector is provided comprising a housing defining a chamber, including a carrier member having a first roller associated with a first turned-back loop of a first flat conductor cable and a second roller associated with a second turned-back loop of a second flat conductor cable wherein said first and second flat conductor cables are alternatingly coiled at an inner diameter of the chamber adjacent the hub or along said outer diameter of the chamber adjacent the housing wall. The clockspring connector includes a complaint roller member providing compression forces against the flat ribbon cable during rotation of the clockspring connector.

Abstract: The invention provides for an apparatus comprising a pin connector, and a method for assembling the pin connector, where the pin connector comprises a unitary insulator and housing, and a plurality of contact holes that extend between a front and back face of the insulator to receive contacts known in the art. The insulator may also contains an intermediate PCB slot that opens from the back face of the insulator and receives a PCB inserted therein. The unitary housing has a front and back end, where the back end receives the insulator from the front face, and the front end contains an open area that accesses the insulator to another connector mated therein. The invention may also incorporate a key element in the intermediate PCB slot that engages a matching notch on an edge of the PCB. The housing and insulator may include aligning fastener holes that receive fasteners shared by the components of the connector.

Abstract: A clockspring connector is provided comprising a housing defining a chamber, including a carrier member having a first roller associated with a first turned-back loop of a first flat conductor cable and a second roller associated with a second turned-back loop of a second flat conductor cable wherein said first and second flat conductor cables are alternatingly coiled at an inner diameter of the chamber adjacent the hub or along said outer diameter of the chamber adjacent the housing wall. The clockspring connector includes a complaint roller member providing compression forces against the flat ribbon cable during rotation of the clockspring connector.

Abstract: An ultra-low-profile terminator apparatus for a parallel communications bus is provided. The terminator apparatus includes a male style electrical connector which includes a plurality of individual contact pins. An elongated printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface is mounted perpendicular to the male connector. Conductive vias formed in the printed circuit board communicate between the first and second surfaces of the printed circuit board, and the contact pins of the male connector are press fit into the vias at the second surface of the printed circuit. Electronic termination components are mounted on the first surface of the printed circuit board, and the conductive vias form conductive paths between the termination components and individual contact pins in the male pin connector.

Abstract: An improved Gigabaud Link Module (GLM) is provided for performing bi-directional data transfers between a host device and a serial transfer medium. The improved GLM, includes data signal transmission circuitry for reading data signals from the host device and transmitting the data signals as serial data over a first serial transfer link. Data signal receiving circuitry is also provided for receiving serial data signals from a second serial transfer link. The receiving circuitry then writes the signals to the host device. The first and second transfer links form the serial transfer medium, and the transmission and receiving circuitry provides the bi-directional data transfer between the host device and the serial transfer medium. The improved GLM further includes signal detection circuitry for determining when data signals are being received over the second serial transfer link.

Abstract: An elastomeric switch is provided having self cleanings contacts. The switch includes a substrate and a switch actuator configured for reciprocating motion along an axis generally perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. A first switch contact, including a contact surface generally perpendicular to the actuator axis of motion is, carried by the switch actuator. A second switch contact is cantilevered from the surface of the substrate. Reciprocation of the actuator in a first direction toward the substrate acts to force the first contact against the distal end of the second contact. The two contacts are deflected together as result of further reciprocation of the actuator in the first direction. As the contacts are deflected, the distal end of the second contact is scraped across the contact surface of the first contact, thereby removing contaminants and other debris from the contact surface of the first contact.

Abstract: A Media Interface Adapter (MIA) module is provided for converting Fiber Channel data signals from a first copper transfer medium to a second alternate transfer medium. The MIA includes an internal mounted printed circuit board containing the electronic components necessary to convert signals between the first copper medium and second alternate medium. A transmitter is provided for transmitting the data signals over the second alternate transfer medium, and a receiver is provided for receiving data signals over the second alternate transfer medium. Opposite the transmitter and receiver, a nine pin electrical D-sub connector is provided for connecting the module to the first copper transfer medium. The D-sub connector has a metal flange insertable into a connector mounting structures formed in the housing. The connector mounting structures being configured to partially overlap the flange of the D-sub connector.

Abstract: A circuitized electrical cable having a flat cable having a stripped portion exposing conductors of the cable and having a circuit board mounted to the stripped portion wherein the conductive fingers at a first edge of the circuit board are soldered directly to the correspondingly oriented conductors of the cable. The circuit board may include componentry in order to provide for altered signal transmission of the signal lines of the cable such as for signal line termination. The circuit board may include a second edge having a beam having conductive fingers adhered thereto and the circuit board may be inserted within a housing having a shroud protruding therefrom surrounding the beam in order to provide for a male I/O connector electrically connected to conductors of the electrical cable.

Abstract: A cable assembly fitting is provided to connect fiber optic to optoelectronic equipment. An elongated housing includes a front end, a back end and an axial bore extending between the front and back ends. The axial bore further defines a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate stepped portion. A cap is fit into the back end of the housing. Fiber optic cable is contained within a cable jacket and has fibers protruding therefrom. The fibers have a mediate span and rigid sleeve thereon. A water impervious barrier is positioned adjacent the rigid sleeve. A shrink tubing is disposed around the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for forming a connection with a conductive pin. The electrical connector has a dielectric housing with both a passage extending through the housing and a chamber in communication with the passage. In addition, the electrical connector has a metal contact with a mating end disposed in the housing's chamber and a solder tail which projects from the housing. The mating end of the contact consists of a clamping stirrup which has a bottom area with a hole disposed therein for receiving the conductive pin. Furthermore, the contact is three dimensionally secured to the connector housing via a press-fit.

Abstract: A circuit board testing fixture is provided having a top plate spaced apart from a bottom plate and each of the plates having an array of holes for receiving test probes and support rails surrounding and supporting the top and bottom plates on all sides. The testing fixture may also include registration pins in the corners of the plates in order to secure the plates together and a corner clip attached to the registration pins in the corners of the fixture. The testing fixture may further include support pins mounted in the fixture in order to provide additional support to the plates.

Abstract: An electronic circuit module having a metal cover is provided for interconnecting with a host device. The module includes an interface whereby electronic signals can be exchanged between the module and the host device. A mechanism for electrically grounding the metal cover to the ground plane of a printed circuit board housed within the module is provided along with a device for connecting the ground plane of the printed circuit board to a signal reference ground potential supplied by the host device. The present invention includes a module frame for attaching the metal cover thereto. A printed circuit board, including a ground plane, is mounted within the frame. A connector having a plurality of contact elements electrically connected to various the circuits disposed on the printed circuit board, including at least one contact element electrically connected to the ground plane is also adapted to fit within the module frame. The connector includes at least one grounding member.

Abstract: An elastomeric connector having fine pitched contacts is provided in addition to a method for connecting components using such a connector and a method of manufacturing the same. The connector includes a body formed from an elastomeric material with contacts arranged to extend through the body and exposed at each side of the body. The contacts are bent to form a contact surface that is oriented at an angle with respect to the sides of the body. The contacts may include a radiused section that is formed in the elastomeric material. Grooves may be formed in the body of the connector separating adjacent contacts and providing additional flexibility of the connector.

Abstract: A massive parallel (MP) connector is providing which includes a fiber optic connector having a polymer ferrule having multiple fibers mounted in V-grooves of the ferrule and beveled edges of the ferrule providing for alignment of the ferrule when the MP fiber optic connector is mated to a receptacle having an alignment assembly and an alignment member mounted within the alignment assembly to provide for precision alignment. The MP connector includes a ferrule having ferrule halves including alignment features integrally molded in the ferrule.

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. The module housing may be pluggable via release levers having detentes received in apertures of a receptacle and a pluggable connector of the module mated within the receptacle. The receptacle may include grounding means such as a ground clip mounted within the receptacle and a protective door to limit electromagnetic emissions.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided having a circuitized insulator including a housing having an integrally molded shroud and board having an array of holes molded therein and including conductive traces adhered to the board area in order to connect the holes having electrical contacts mounted therein with components mounted on the board.

Abstract: A clockspring connector is provided comprising a housing defining a chamber, including a carrier member having a first roller associated with a first turned-back loop of a first flat conductor cable and a second roller associated with a second turned-back loop of a second flat conductor cable wherein said first and second flat conductor cables are alternatingly coiled at an inner diameter of the chamber adjacent the hub or along said outer diameter of the chamber adjacent the housing wall.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided for holding at least one fiber optic connector ferrule in an upright position while allowing the face portion the ferrules to be held firmly against a planar sheet of ferrule polishing paper. The apparatus can be manually maneuvered over said polishing paper thereby polishing the face portion of the ferrules inserted therein. The polishing apparatus includes a disc having a polishing surface and an upper surface opposite said polishing surface. A plurality of ferrule receiving apertures are formed in the disc for receiving various connector ferrules. Support skirts surround each aperture, extending upward from said upper surface. The ferrule support skirts define internal circular bores communicating with the polishing surface such that fiber optic connector ferrules may be inserted into the bores with the face portion of said ferrules extending beyond said polishing surface.

Abstract: A robust optoelectronic transceiver module which provides for static discharge and 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. Furthermore, the module provides electrically conductive latches which are conductively connected, via tabs for forming an electrical connection, to a grounded structure, such as a computer chassis.