Patents Represented by Attorney Johannes P. M. Kusters
  • Patent number: 8221162
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a header connector and a socket connector configured to mate with the header connector. The header connector includes a plurality of signal pins and may include a plurality of shield blades. The socket connector includes a plurality of conductive paths, each conductive path being coupled to a signal contact, and may include a plurality of first shields. The plurality of signal pins and the plurality of conductive paths and signal contacts are configured to form a plurality of transmission lines. The plurality of shield blades or the plurality of first shields are configured to be electrically grounded and provide interrupted shielding of the plurality of transmission lines when the header connector and the socket connector are in a mated configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Alexander W. Barr, William J. Lee, Charles F. Staley
  • Patent number: 8138429
    Abstract: A shielding article includes a polymeric conductive layer and a protective layer disposed adjacent the polymeric conductive layer. The polymeric conductive layer provides electromagnetic shielding characteristics so as to prevent receipt of data from a radio frequency information component by an external device when the component is located between the external device on one side and the polymeric conductive and protective layers on the other side. The shielding article may be shaped to substantially surround the radio frequency information component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lim, Sywong Ngin, Robert L. Lambert, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8068186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a touch screen that includes a pattern of transparent conductors as touch sensing elements, and that has a layered construction configured to reduce the visibility of the transparent conductor pattern. The construction includes a coating covering a substrate, the transparent conductor pattern disposed on the coating, and a filler material covering and contacting the transparent conductor pattern and the areas of the coating not covered by the transparent conductor pattern, where the index of refraction of the filler material is less than the index of refraction of the substrate and less than the index of refraction of the transparent conductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Brian E. Aufderheide, Joseph C. Spang, Jonathan P. Maag
  • Patent number: 8069016
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method of electronically designing an article, including accessing an electronic article design system, selecting an article type to design, and iteratively configuring a group of characteristics by selecting one or more options for each characteristic and/or iteratively modeling the article performance based on a selection of one or more performance parameters for each performance model. In the iterative configuration and modeling step, the electronic article design system automatically presents the characteristics and the performance models based on the article type selected, dynamically updates the article for each step of the iterative configuration and/or modeled performance, and automatically resolves conflicts between iteratively configured characteristics, between iteratively modeled performances, and across iteratively configured characteristics and modeled performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Feldman, Jason L. Randall, Alexander W. Barr, Abhay R. Joshi
  • Patent number: 8057250
    Abstract: A cable organizer for use with an electrical connector terminated to an electrical cable includes a monolithic insulative housing including a base portion and a cover portion hingedly secured to and extending from the base portion. The base portion includes a bottom wall and opposing first side walls extending from the bottom wall. The cover portion includes a top wall and opposing second side walls extending from the top wall. The bottom wall, top wall, and first side walls cooperatively define a channel configured to retain the electrical cable when the cable organizer is assembled to the terminated electrical connector. The cable organizer may include a spring clip disposed in the channel and configured to assist in retaining the electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Chin Hua Lim
  • Patent number: 8007289
    Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling two electrical connectors is described, the electrical connector configured to couple with a first complementary connector by means of a tongue portion and a pair of end walls, the tongue portion comprising first, second and third tongue sections; a plurality of contacts positioned in the connector housing; and wherein the contacts are grouped into first set and second sets of contacts positioned in the first and second tongue sections respectively. In another embodiment, the contacts are grouped into first, second and third sets of contacts positioned in the first, second and third tongue sections respectively. In another embodiment, an interconnect system having at least one electrical connector coupled to two electrical connectors is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Saujit Bandhu, Chin Hua Lim
  • Patent number: 8007308
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a carrier and a plurality of terminated cable assemblies retained by the carrier. The carrier includes a plurality of first alignment elements and each terminated cable assembly includes one or more second alignment elements. The first and second alignment elements are configured to cooperatively align the plurality of terminated cable assemblies in the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Feldman, Alexander W. Barr, Joseph N. Castiglione, Daniel F. Cronch, Rudy L. Densmore
  • Patent number: 7997933
    Abstract: An electrical connector system includes an electrical connector and a plurality of termination devices. The electrical connector includes a plurality of free-standing interlocking plates defining a plurality of cavities and at least one electrical contact positioned within a cavity. Each cavity is sized for accepting a termination device. At least one of the plurality of free-standing interlocking plates is electrically conductive. The at least one electrical contact is electrically isolated from the interlocking plates and configured to mate with a socket contact of the termination device. Each termination device includes an electrically conductive outer shield element having a front end and a back end, the shield element having a latch member extending therefrom, an insulator disposed within the shield element, and a socket contact supported within and electrically isolated from the shield element by the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Feldman, Alexander W. Barr, Joseph N. Castiglione
  • Patent number: 7941914
    Abstract: A tool includes a housing and a plunger supported by the housing. The housing has one or more tines configured to unlatch at least one terminated cable assembly from an electrical connector assembly. The plunger is configured to at least partially remove the at least one terminated cable assembly from the electrical connector assembly. The tool can be used as an extraction and insertion tool facilitating the repair of high speed electrical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph N. Castiglione, Steven Feldman, Richard J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 7934941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an insulation displacement connector. One embodiment includes an insulation displacement terminal in which wire insulation displacement portions, to be electrically connected to wire, are formed by cutting and folding, a connector housing for holding the insulation displacement terminal therein and having a holder opening in an area in which the wire insulation displacement portion of the insulation displacement terminal are located, and a wire holder having a pair of upper and lower covers capable of being assembled together by being mounted to the holder opening, wherein the lower cover includes a rotary piece rotatable inward about a proximal end thereof when the lower cover is assembled with the upper cover to clamp or to provide strain relief for the wire in association with the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Takayuki Hayauchi
  • Patent number: 7927144
    Abstract: An electrical connector system includes an electrical connector and a plurality of termination devices. The electrical connector includes an insulative support wafer, a plurality of interlocking plates attached to the support wafer and defining a plurality of cavities, and at least one electrical contact positioned within a cavity. Each cavity is sized for accepting a termination device. At least one of the interlocking plates is electrically conductive. The at least one electrical contact is supported by the support wafer, electrically isolated from the interlocking plates, and configured to mate with a socket contact of the termination device. Each termination device includes an electrically conductive outer shield element having a front end and a back end, the shield element having a latch member extending therefrom, an insulator disposed within the shield element, and a socket contact supported within and electrically isolated from the shield element by the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Feldman, Alexander W. Barr, Joseph N. Castiglione
  • Patent number: 7916501
    Abstract: An energy transfer apparatus with a magnetic shield is configured to magnetically couple energy from a fixed location to a mobile or moveable device within a field-activated space of the energy transfer apparatus. Apparatuses include a location sensing surface and a drive coil arranged in relation to a periphery of the location sensing surface. A magnetic shield plate is disposed below the location sensing surface and the drive coil. The shield plate includes a number of radially oriented slots originating at, and distributed about, a periphery of the shield plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: M. Benton Free, Bernard O. Geaghan, Karl P. Hauck, Albert H. Libbey, Billy Lee Weaver
  • Patent number: 7892007
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a printed circuit board, a header coupled to the printed circuit board, and an electrical cable termination configured to mate with the header. The printed circuit board has a printed circuit board ground contact. The header includes an insulative housing and a plurality of contact pins disposed in the insulative housing. The header and electrical cable termination are configured such that the electrical cable termination makes electrical contact with at least one of the contact pins and the printed circuit board ground contact when the header and electrical cable termination are in a mated configuration. The electrical connector assembly may include a conductive shield at least partially enclosing the header and electrical cable termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Joseph N. Castiglione
  • Patent number: 7866993
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connector capable of preventing contacts from being touched by fingers or things through an opening of a connector housing, and of thereby improving connection reliability. A plug connector comprising a connector housing and PCB having contacts contained in the connector housing with a contacting surface exposed at one end and which functions as an interface capable of transmitting electric signal or light signal by being fitted to a receptacle connector to connect respective contacts to each other, characterized in that a shutter is provided as a part of a bottom wall of the connector housing to be freely opened or closed at a position covering the contacts formed in PCB, and that, before fitting of the connector, the shutter is in a closed state, and during and after fitting of the connector, the shutter is in a opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Masami Ohsumi
  • Patent number: 7868642
    Abstract: A simple structure socket 10 for connecting a ball grid array integrated circuit device to a test circuit has a base 14, contacts 26 arranged corresponding to the ball grid array, a nest assembly 16 of two comb structures 70 and a lever assembly 18 for spacing opposed tip portions of each contact away from each other to define a gap for receiving a ball. The lever assembly has two rectangular frames 86 each made of a distal cross piece 94, a proximal cross piece and two side pieces connecting the distal and proximal cross pieces. The two rectangular frames are arranged so that the side pieces are intersected at substantially mid portions thereof. This allows that, by depressing the proximal cross pieces toward the base, the distal cross pieces forces the comb structures toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Masahito Naito, Takayuki Nagumo
  • Patent number: 7850489
    Abstract: An electrical connector system includes an electrical connector assembly and an electrical connector. The electrical connector assembly includes an insulative carrier and a plurality of termination devices supported in the insulative carrier. The electrical connector includes a plurality of interlocking plates defining a plurality of cavities and at least one electrical contact positioned within a cavity. The at least one electrical contact is electrically isolated from the interlocking plates and configured to mate with a socket contact of the termination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Feldman, Alexander W. Barr, Joseph N. Castiglione
  • Patent number: 7850461
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical device that can be used to help maintain a connection between an electrical tail and an electronic device such as a touch sensor screen. The mechanical device deflects upon installation over the tail and the electronic device so that pressure caused by spring action helps maintain the connection. The mechanical device also includes a cutout region designed so that the tail can freely pass through the mechanical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bülent Bulat
  • Patent number: 7795875
    Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) event and transient signal detection and measurement device and method are described. The device and method are able to distinguish between an ESD event and other non-ESD events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Vladimir Kraz
  • Patent number: 7787259
    Abstract: An energy transfer apparatus with a magnetic shield is configured to magnetically couple energy from a fixed location to a mobile or moveable device within a field-activated space of the energy transfer apparatus. Apparatuses include a location sensing surface and a drive coil arranged in relation to a periphery of the location sensing surface. A magnetic shield plate is disposed below the location sensing surface and the drive coil. The shield plate includes a number of radially oriented slots originating at, and distributed about, a periphery of the shield plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: M. Benton Free, Bernard O. Geaghan, Karl P. Hauck, Albert H. Libbey, Billy Lee Weaver
  • Patent number: 7762847
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an organizer plate having a plurality of apertures for receiving termination devices. Each termination device includes a shield box, an insulator, and a socket contact. The shield box has at least one outwardly extending ground contact element and a latch member. When the termination device is inserted into an aperture of the organizer plate, the latch member on the shield box engage a surface of the organizer plate to prevent withdrawal of the termination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven Feldman, Kevin R. Meredith, Rudy L. Densmore, Joseph N. Castiglione, Alexander R. Mathews, Alexander W. Barr, Richard J. Scherer