Patents Represented by Attorney John C. Barnes
  • Patent number: 5393932
    Abstract: A wire connector having a conductive barrel with a solder disc disposed in the barrel with wire retaining means to hold the wires in place during heating and melting of the solder disc to form a permanent connection. A shrinkable sleeve, provided with means of sealing, formed around the barrel and extending beyond the ends of the barrel is also shrunk down onto the wires to seal and insulate the connection and hold the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John S. Young, Robert B. Ericson, Gary S. Natwig
  • Patent number: 5378164
    Abstract: The contacts of an electrical connector are joined by the biasing force of the contact elements and in practice are separated by a probe to interconnect therebetween an additional circuit member. A probe which has a terminal end with an oblique surface to cause the wiping of the contact elements against each other at the interface during insertion or removal will improve contact and extend the life of the contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Vidacovich, Philip M. Smith, Richard J. Scherer, William D. McKittrick
  • Patent number: 5370558
    Abstract: A fixture for supporting a splicing module for telecommunications cables has a body member, generally the size of a comb, formed with a series of raised teeth, spaced its opposite edges, corresponding to the spacing of the contacts and wire receiving channels in the splicing module. The teeth are spaced and are formed to receive and locate the wires in relationship to a splicing module placed on the body member between the rows of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Scherer, Willard E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5369225
    Abstract: A wire connector having a conductive barrel with a solder mass disposed in the barrel is formed with wire retaining means to hold the wires in place during heating and melting of the solder to form a permanent connection. A shrinkable sleeve, provided with means of sealing, formed around the barrel and extending beyond the ends of the barrel is also shrunk down onto the wires to seal and insulate the connection and hold the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gary S. Natwig, John S. Young, Robert B. Ericson
  • Patent number: 5368042
    Abstract: A swinging movement in an impact sport activity, such as golf, tennis, baseball or the like, can be monitored to analyze the skill of the player by a biofeedback mechanism which measures electrical impulses created by activated nerves as muscles tense. The mechanism includes a band adapted to be placed about an arm and/or leg of the player, the band includes a pair of electrodes adapted to contact the muscle, differential amplifier means accepting the electrical voltage from the muscle, means for measuring the amplified voltage, and reporting means affording an indication of the results of the swing, such recorder including a sound emitting device, or a transmitter and computer, recording device, or printer. Preferably, the mechanism also includes a device for signalling the point of impact with an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventors: John L. O'Neal, Peter J. Vogelgesang
  • Patent number: 5368497
    Abstract: The IC socket is capable of obtaining a stable engaging force to meet variations in thickness of the lead of an IC package, when the IC socket comprises a socket body, a plurality of contacts which are arranged on the socket body to be engaged with a plurality of leads while being resiliently depressed from above and a cover which is provided to be vertically movable for the socket body and to depress the contacts to displace them outwardly against their resilience to allow the contacts out of the electrical engagement when the cover is moved down, when the plurality of contacts respectively have a fixing portion which is fixed to the socket body, a contact portion for electrical engagement with the lead (L) of the IC package (P), a cantilever portion which enables the release of the lead (L) and the contact from electrical engagement by rotating or pivoting around the contact portion, and an engaging portion which comes into sliding engagement with the cover, the distance from the contact portion to the bott
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Takayuki Nagumo
  • Patent number: 5362547
    Abstract: A film carrier having a multiplicity of leads bonded on one surface, is provided with a thickness-reduced portion at the area where the tape is to be bent to remove stress to the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Hideo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5358423
    Abstract: A clip for forming an electrical and mechanical connection at the junction of two rods to afford cathodic protection for said rods. The clip is electrically conductive and can have a sacrificial metal coating or metal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Burkhard, Daryl A. Ramm
  • Patent number: 5352131
    Abstract: An IC socket for testing various IC packages is has guide sections to restrict the cover from tilting during operation without providing guide posts at four corners of the socket. The IC socket has a body with a plurality of contacts for electrical contact with leads of an IC package and a cover releasably loading the IC package on the socket body by vertical movement, a plurality of guide sections extending vertically being formed on the respective insides of four side surfaces of the cover, and a plurality of engaging sections for engaging with the guide sections, supporting vertical movement of the cover and preventing the cover from tilting during testing of the IC package, being formed respectively, on four side surfaces of the socket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Takayuki Nagumo
  • Patent number: 5352130
    Abstract: An IC socket including contacts capable of facilitating remounting of an IC package and ensuring a reliability of engagement with the IC package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Takayuki Nagumo
  • Patent number: 5346404
    Abstract: A surface mounting connector having an alignment block that can be used without boring redundant holes on a circuit board is supported by the connector body and has holding grooves for receiving and holding the terminal leads. The connector body and alignment block have locating means and fixtures for locating the alignment block at a given position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Masashi Shimada
  • Patent number: 5345039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a film carrier for semiconductor devices, the film carrier comprising a dielectric film 1 having at least one opening 9 formed therein, and a support ring 2 disposed in the opening and made of a material the same as that of the dielectric film, the support ring 2 being thinner than other portions, without deteriorating the entire mechanical strength of the film carrier, the electric characteristics at the support ring can differ from the electrical characteristic at the other portions of the film carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Hideo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5342213
    Abstract: An IC socket, capable of being applied to an IC device having short lead pins and ensuring reliable contact with the lead pins used, comprises contacts each having a first contact element that is substantially fixed and a second contact element that is elastically deformable, and an actuator for moving the second contact elements of the contacts. The second contact elements have their centers formed as engaging means for engaging with the actuator, and their portions near the surface of a socket body are formed as contacting means to be brought into contact with lead pins of an IC device. The second contact elements are located close to the first contact elements. When an IC device is inserted, the actuator separates the second contact elements from the first contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Masahiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5328383
    Abstract: A socket assembly for top-loading IC devices having a cam member, actuated by a vertically moving cover, and having means on the camming surface to produce a sensory act to provide an indication to the operator that the socket contact elements have been moved to an open position as the cover is moved toward the socket body. The sensory act can be audible or feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John A. Savant
  • Patent number: 5322446
    Abstract: A top-load test and burn-in socket, for use with IC devices having a plurality of contact terminals located in a predetermined pattern on a surface of said device, adapted for automation has a base supporting a plurality of contacts, a flexible film having a conductive wiring pattern formed thereon, and an elastomeric support having a size and shape to support said first set of conductive pads with the flexible film being folded about said elastomeric support. A movable cover and a pair of cams afford the retraction of springs which press the IC device against the film along opposite ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Carol L. Cearley-Cabbiness
  • Patent number: 5314350
    Abstract: A multiple wire-splice module for splicing a plurality of pairs of wires together and disconnecting the pairs of wires without impairing the integrity of the wire junction between a wire and the contact of either module. The module has an elongate base for supporting the wires, which base will mate with an elongate body of insulative material having opposite surfaces, and the body supports a plurality of conductive contacts, each with a slotted wire receiving end portion, a second connecting member at the other end and a third connection portion intermediate the ends of the contact, the slotted insulation displacing wire receiving end portion is adapted to connect to a wire in the base when assembled and the second connecting member and the third connection portion are accessible at opposite sides of the base and body for connection to other modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gary B. Matthews, Jerome A. Pratt
  • Patent number: 5306167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an IC socket to be used for testing various IC packages, an object of which is to provide the IC socket with means facilitating insertion and removal of IC packages either in testing by employing an automatic loader or in testing with manual operation. It is constructed to have a socket body formed with a plurality of contacts for establishing electric contact with leads of an IC package, a cover 2 for removably fitting the IC package on the socket body, latches 4 having hooks 42 arranged at least at two diagonally opposing corners of said cover 2, and hooking to said socket body 1, and projections extending in the same direction to the hooks 42, releasing blocks 5 arranged in the vicinity of said latches and movable in the vertical direction with respect to said projection 43, and catching portions 11 formed in said socket body 1 and to be hooked the hook 42 of said latch 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Takayuki Nagumo
  • Patent number: 5306869
    Abstract: Ribbon cables have lower capacitance, higher impedance, and faster propagation velocities with microporous fibril thermoplastic dielectric insulation, because they have great amounts of air adjacent to the conductors and the improved electrical performance is due in part to the improved crush resistance. Crystallizable thermoplastic polymers having good fibril structure and crush resistance include polyolefins such as polypropylene and polymethylpentene. A layer of metal adhered to the dielectric insulation provides improved transmission line properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Denis D. Springer, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5288240
    Abstract: A socket assembly for top-loading IC devices having a cam member, actuated by a vertically moving top plate, positioned for engaging the contact elements and retracting the contacting portions thereof to allow insertion or removal of the IC device in relationship to the socket assembly. The cam member rests on top of the contact elements and is cradled below the contacting portions to be readily assembled after the contact elements have been placed in the socket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John A. Savant
  • Patent number: 5288946
    Abstract: A strain relief member is provided for use with a closure member, which strain relief is formed with a web having tabs formed therein, each with a fastener receiving slot and each formed to be bent angularly from the plane of the web to aid in nesting the cables to reduce the space necessary for the joining the cables electrically and providing strain relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jerry D. Jackson, James R. Miller