Abstract: There is disclosed an alignment and blind mate assist shroud 22,22' having a body section securable to a shrouded header 20,20' and an extension section adapted to extend beyond the shrouded header 20,20'. The body section has means cooperable with the shrouded header for securing the shroud 22,22' to the shrouded header 20,20'. The extension section has guide means 112,114 which taper inwardly toward the walls 30,32,34,36 for guiding a complementary connector into the shrouded header 20,20'. An alternate embodiment shroud 22'" has protrusions 300, 302, 304 cooperable with detents 306, 308, 312, 314 in a mating connector to provide additional retention of the mating connector.

Abstract: A shielding assembly (2) for an electrical connector (4) comprises drawn metal shell (6) for receiving a connector (4), the drawn shell (6) having an upper wall (46) and a lower wall (48). The shell (6) is open at its rear end to receive the connector (4). The rear edge of each of the upper and lower walls (46,48) is formed with a pair of spaced openings (50), each opening being bridged by a bearing member (118). The shielding assembly (2) further comprises an upper back shell (12) and a lower back shell (14). From a forward end of each back shell (12,14) there project two pairs of tabs (68), a hook (72) projecting forwardly between the tabs (68) of each pair. For pivotally connecting each back shell (12,14) to the drawn shell (6) each hook (72) inserted through the rear open end of the drawn shell (6) so as to extend about the inner surface (126,128) of the bearing member with the tabs (68) engaging outer surface (122) of the bearing member (118).

Abstract: In a shielded electrical connector assembly (2) for mating with a mating electrical connector (206) and including a connector receiving shell, a metal back shell (12 or 14) and an insulating cover (8 or 10) therefor, a coding key (18) has a keying part (184) projecting forwardly from the assembly and a keying abutment (190) which is of regular polygonal cross section. The abutment (190) is connected to the keying part (184) by means of a neck (189) to define a rib (106) which receives a flange (114) on the back shell (14) and a flange (42) on the connector receiving shell (6), the key (18) being thereby held against axial movement. The key (18) defines a through passage (194) for receiving a jack screw (16) with a mating end (202) thereof in the keying part (184). The shaft (199) of the jack screw is accommodated in recesses (164) in the back shell cover (19).

Abstract: A digital transversal filter includes first and second shift registers. A first digital data signal is applied as an input to the first shift register and a second digital data signal, which is a phase shifted version of the first digital data signal, is applied to the second shift register. First and second clock signals are used to clock the shift registers, and these clock signals correspond in frequency but differ in phase with respect to one another. The outputs of the stages of the first and second delay lines are weighted by respective resistors which are connected to a summing node. The digital data signal has a data clocking rate, the first and second clock signals have a delay line clocking rate, and the data clocking rate is slower than the delay line clocking rate.

Abstract: A terminal (10) for an electrical connector (1). The terminal (10) comprises a mating portion (14) for mating with a contact of a mating connector, restraining means (58) for blocking withdrawal of the terminal (10) from the connector (1), and an elongate terminating portion (16) adapted to project from the connector (1). The terminating portion (16) comprises a leg (20) for terminating the terminal (10) to the substrate (4) and positive retention means (62) for securing the terminal (10) to the connector (1). The positive retention means (62) comprises a portion of the terminating portion (16) being adapted to be deflected at substantially a right angle.

Abstract: An electrical conductor has a dielectric housing having an elongate cable receiving cavity opening onto a rear surface thereof. The cavity extends away from the rear surface blind ending at a wall. The cavity defines a major axis between the rear surface and the wall. The cavity also defines a bottom wall extending from the rear surface to the wall. The bottom wall has rib means thereon extending into the cavity and extending from the rear face substantially to the wall means. Insulation piercing contacts are secured in contact receiving passages that extend transverse to the axis and intersect the cable receiving cavity. The passages intersect the cavity at the bottom wall proximate where the cavity blind ends. The insulation piercing contacts have a mating surface and an insulation piercing surface and are adapted to be pressed toward the cavity subsequent to insertion of insulated conductors therein.

Abstract: An alignment and blind mate assist shroud (22) having a body section securable to a connector housing (24) has a protrusion (150) adapted to extend beyond the mounting face (48,50) of the connector housing (24) to key the connector assembly (62) to a particular one of several possible assembly receiving locations on the circuit board (154) on which the assembly (62) is mounted. The polarization protrusion (150) cooperates with an aperture (152) in the circuit board (154) on which the connector assembly (62) is adapted to be mounted to assure that the appropriate connector assembly (62) is mounted at the corresponding location on the circuit board. The polarization protrusion may be provided at any one of several locations to also provide a connector assembly to board keying function.

Abstract: An alignment and blind mate assist shroud (22) for positioning on a first end (34) of a connector housing (24) has a body section securable to the first end of the connector housing (24). The shroud has a key (75) receivable in a keyway (35) proximate the first end of the connector housing and a keying protrusion (150) adapted to extend beyond the mounting face (48,50) of the connector housing (24) to key the connector assembly (62) to a particular one of several possible assembly receiving locations on the circuit board (154) on which the assembly (62) is mounted. The polarization protrusion (150) cooperates with an aperture (152) in the circuit board (154) on which the connector assembly (62) is adapted to be mounted to assure that the appropriate connector assembly (62) is mounted at the corresponding location on the circuit board. An alignment and blind mate assist shroud (23) without a key or keying protrusion may be secured to the second end (34) of the connector housing (24).

Abstract: An alignment and blind mate assist shroud (22) is disclosed having a body portion (64) securable to a right angle connector (20) thereby forming an assembly (116). The alignment and blind mate assist shroud (22) also has an extension portion that extends above the shroud (62) of connector (20) to assist in aligning a complementary connector during mating. The body portion (64) also has a keying protrusion (24,24',24",24'") adapted to extend beyond the mounting face (41) of the connector housing (26) to key the connector assembly (116) to a particular location on a circuit board (122). The keying protrusion (24,24',24",24'") cooperates with a notch (118,118',118",118'") in an edge of the circuit board (122) on which the right angle connector assembly (116) is adapted to be mounted to assure that the appropriate right angle connector assembly (116) is mounted to the corresponding location on the circuit board (122).

Abstract: An assembly for wiring a terminating tool (6) having wire combs (34,36) comprises a tool mount (164), a bench stand (166) and a clamp (168). The tool mount (164) has a clevis (178) for receiving one end of the tool (6) and a screw (187) for securing the tool (6) to the clevis (178). There depends from the clevis (178) a support leg (170) which is received between side walls (190) of the bench mount (166) which is mounted on the top surface of a work table (210). The clamp (168) has a clamp post (204) which is passed through notches (194) in the walls (190) of the bench mount (166) and through a hole (172) in the support leg (170), so that the tool mount and thus the tool (6) can be rocked about the axis of the clamp post (204). The clamp (168) has a clamp screw (200) which can be tightened against the underside of the work table (210) so that the clamp post (204) urges the bench mount (166) against the top side of the work table (210).

Abstract: A connector housing (12) for terminating a multi-conductor cable (108) is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the connector housing (12) comprises a cable receiving face (20), an opposed, parallel mating face (22), and perpendicularly opposed endwalls (24,26), with two rows of conductor terminating contacts (e.g., 32) on the cable receiving face (20) extending between said endwalls (24,26). Each endwall (24,26) has a connector tower (28,30) with outwardly protruding detents (e.g., 36,38). A termination cover (14) is disclosed which has a fluted bottom portion (60) and a smooth top surface (62). The crossmember (58) is flanked on each side by downwardly extending U-shaped guide slots (e.g., 66). A strain relief member (16) is also disclosed which has a crossmember (74) flanked on each side by downwardly extending endwalls (76,78) which are divided at the bottom to form two pairs of latch arms (80,81 and 82,83) which contain outwardly protruding detents (e.g., 84,86).

Abstract: There is disclosed, a kit of parts for a hand tool (2) for forming electrical tabs (T1,T2) projecting from cable end portions (FC1, FC2) to a plurality of different configurations. The kit of parts comprises a plurality of different tab forming dies (14,16,18), a base assembly (8) having thereon two spaced tab forming anvils (10,12) for co-operation respective ones of the dies (14,16,18), an upper tooling mount assembly (6) having a spline (60) for receiving a selected one of the dies (14,16,18), and an actuating mechanism (4). The tooling mount assembly (6) is mounted to the base assembly (8) so as to be moveable theretowards through a working stroke to cause the selected die (14,16,18), on the spline (60) to co-operate with the appropriate anvil (10,12) to form the tabs (T1 or T2) of a cable end portion (FC1,FC2) laid on a cable receiving surface (92,104) of the appropriate anvil (10,12) to a particular configuration determined by the choice of the die (14,16,18) and anvil (10,12).

Abstract: There is described,a tool (2) for cooperation with wire insertion fingers (37), for terminating electrical wires (W) to wire receiving contacts (8) which project from two opposite sides of an electrical connector (4). The tool (2) comprises a wire comb holder (46) in which are pivotally mounted two parallel wire combs (48). The wire combs (48) having a wire receiving angular position in which wire slots (96) of the combs (48) open way from the comb holder (46), in which position wires (W) are laced into the wire slots (96), and a wire terminating position in which the wire slots (96) of the two combs (48) open towards each other. A connector holder (52) pivoted to one end of the comb holder (46) and containing a connector (4) is moved to a closed position, in the terminating position of the wire combs (48), to insert the contacts (8) of the connector (4) between the teeth of the combs ( 48).

Abstract: There is disclosed a coaxial contact for termination to a coaxial cable. The coaxial contact has an electrically conductive shell defining an open forward end (116). A center contact (56) for termination to a center conductor (208) of the cable is disposed concentrically within and isolated from shell (104) by a dielectric insert (26) and ferrule (28). A sleeve (300) is positioned over the cable jacket during assembly and after the center contact, dielectric insert and ferrule are positioned, the sleeve is employed to lay the braid strands over the ferrule. The sleeve may be left over the braid and crimped between the shell and braid.

Abstract: A stackable connector (20) formed by positioning connector housings (22,24) back-to-back and securing them together with terminating covers (26,28). Opposing terminating covers (26,28) have leg means (86,88,90,92) that complement leg means on the other terminating cover to substantially fill apertures (52). Either a short segment of cable or conductors of a cable are terminated on corresponding ones of contacts in the two housings (22,24). The terminating covers (26,28) are secured to housings (22,24) in a pretermination position in which corners (98,100) of leg means (86,88,90,92) engage side walls (126) of apertures (52) in a first interference fit. As termination of the conductors is completed, leg means (86,88,90,92) of terminating cover (86) enter apertures (104,106,108,110) on terminating cover (28) and engage a protrusion (112,114,116,118) in a second interference fit.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector body and an array of posts extending out of one side of the connector body for mounting to a circuit board. At least one retention feature is provided, and this retention feature includes a bent portion of at least one of the posts. The bent portion includes a first portion extending from the centerline of the post to an apex, and a second portion extending from the apex to the tip such that the apex is laterally offset from the centerline to a greater extent than is the tip. At least the first and second portions are formed of post stock having four faces that intersect at radiused edges, wherein each of the radiused edges defines a radius of curvature no less than about 0.005 inches.

Abstract: A high density electrical connector for terminating to conductors of a ribbon cable has an insulative housing defining a cable receiving face, a mating face and at least one row of terminal receiving passages extending therebetween with terminals secured therein. The terminal receiving passages open into opposing channels near the cable receiving face. Each terminal includes a mating portion, an intermediate section and an insulation displacement plate. The intermediate section is defined by a pair of sheared edges extending toward the insulation displacement plate from the mating section. The intermediate section includes a notched region defining a first shoulder and an insert sheared edge. The intermediate section further includes a lateral offset formed such that the mating portion is perpendicular to the insulation displacement plate. The first shoulder, a portion of the intermediate section and the insulation displacement plate are received in a channel near the cable receiving face.

Abstract: Soldering of surface mount connector terminals to contact pads on a circuit board is facilitated by configuring the terminals and their solder tails as spaced integrally-formed projections of a selectively actuable heater. Thermal energy developed in the heater is conducted along the projections to the solder tails to melt fusible conductive material (e.g., solder, at the connection sites). After cooling, the projections are severed from the heater. The terminals, which are formed at the distal ends of the projections, are typically supplied partially inserted in respective terminal-receiving passages of the connector housing. After the soldering operation, the terminals are fully inserted into the passages. The heater is preferably a self-regulating heater in the form of a copper substrate having a skin layer of magnetically permeable, high resistance material.

Abstract: A machine for assembling components in the form of ferrules (22) to electrical terminals (10) arranged in side-by-side strip form, comprises a rotary disc cam (50) with respective cam tracks (78 to 86) in which cam followers are connected to a feed member (26) for advancing the strip terminals (10), a shuttle (30) for presenting the ferrules (22) to an assembly station (AS) of the machine, an inserter (32) for taking each ferrule (22) from the shuttle (30) and assembling it to a respective terminal (10), a crimper (34) for crimping the ferrule (22) to the terminal (10) and a back-up device (36) for supporting the terminal (10) during the crimping operation. During each half revolution of the disc cam (50), the shuttle presents a ferrule (22) to the assembly station (AS) the inserter (32) inserts it over the terminal (10') at the assembly station (AS) and the crimper (34) and the backup device (36) cooperate to crimp the ferrule (22) to the terminal (10).

Abstract: There is disclosed, a kit of parts for assembly to provide a wire-to-wire shielded electrical connector (2) comprising an insulating housing (4) having a forward portion (12) defining a socket (50) for receiving a shielded electrical plug (170), and a rear portion (10) defining a row of passageways (18) for receiving respective wires (W) of a shielded electrical cable (C). Electrical terminals (6) have insulation displacement portions (84) which, in the assembled connector (2), are received in first slots (16) in the rear housing portion (10), and retention portions (86) which are received in second slots (66) in the forward housing portion (12), with contact springs (90) projecting from the retention portions (86) into the socket (50) for engagement by contacts (174) of the plug (170). The insulation displacement portions (84) of the terminals (6) can be driven home into the first slots (16) to engage the metal cores of the wires (W) when the wires (W) are received in the passageways (18).