Abstract: An electrical connector (10) and a filter insert (60) include a planar inductor (62) having recesses (63) containing MOV voltage surge protectors (72) fitted therein with conductive traces (68) formed on the surface of the inductor connecting signal pin portions (50) of contacts (44) that extend through the inductor to the protectors and ground traces (70) that connect the protectors to ground circuits provided by the shell portion (22), the inductor providing an L and the protector providing an internal C to form an LC network filtering out unwanted signal frequency components; the protector (72) operating to connect signal traces to a ground trace in the presence of excessive voltage transients. The insert (60) is dimensioned to fit interiorly of the connector (10). A multi-pin connector is contemplated with a common inductor plate (62) for such connector.

Abstract: A polishing bushing 24 for polishing by hand an end face 26 of an optical fiber supported in an alignment ferrule 34 of an optical fiber connector 20. The polishing bushing 24 comprises a body portion having one or more openings 61 extending therethrough from a front surface 52 to a rear surface 53 thereof to permit visual monitoring of a polishing operation as it is being performed, and securing means 62 for securing an optical fiber connector 20 to the bushing 24 to permit the end face 26 of an optical fiber supported in an alignment ferrule 34 thereof to be polished. The bushing body portion 51 preferably comprises an annular outer ring portion 54 connected to a central hub portion 56 by a plurality of radially extending spoke portions 57 to provide a plurality of arcuate openings 61 between the spoke portions 57. The polishing bushing 24 of the invention is light in weight, comfortable to grip and use and permits a polishing operation to be carried out in an efficient, controlled manner.

Abstract: A cable termination member (10) having improved strain relief features for isolating optical fiber members (21,22) in a terminated optical fiber cable (20) from external stresses.

Abstract: A dust cover for covering one or more fiber optic ferrules of an optical fiber connector. The dust cover comprises a base portion and at least one protruding portion extending therefrom, each of the at least one protruding portion having a cavity therein for receiving one of the one or more ferrules to cover the one or more ferrules when the dust cover is mounted to the connector. The dust cover is particularly designed for connectors having a plurality of ferrules for terminating a plurality of optical fibers, and is especially advantageous for connectors having a retractable body portion which normally surrounds the ferrules when the connector is not in use; and permits all of the plurality of ferrules of a connector to be individually covered substantially simultaneously in a single operation.

Abstract: An electrical assembly removably and blindly matable to a second assembly includes upper and lower subassemblies and an electrical subassembly connected therewith. Each of the upper and lower subassemblies has a cover and a circuit board with an electrical connector mounted thereto for releasably connecting to respective first and second ends of the electrical subassembly. The electrical subassembly includes first and second flexible connection means extending from the first and second ends to respective connections with a third electrical connector, the first and second flexible connection means interconnecting selected electrical contact means of the third connector to corresponding contact means in respective connectors of the upper and lower subassemblies.

Abstract: A cable assembly 40 having integral strain relief means includes a housing 42 having a plurality of terminal members 28 secured in a cable terminating cavity 60 therein, an electrical cable 30 having a plurality of discrete conductors 36 therein terminated to respective terminal members 28 and potting material 23 disposed in the cavity 60. The inner surface of a sidewall 59 of the housing 42 extends at an oblique angle between front 48 and rear walls 54 thereof. The front wall 48 has an inwardly directed peninsula shaped protrusion 52 extending into the cable terminating cavity 60, the protrusion 52 and the obliquely extending sidewall 59 defining a cable receiving channel 62 therebetween. The electrical cable 30 including an insulating cover portion 32 is inserted into a cable receiving opening 64 in the front housing wall 48 and along the cable receiving channel 62 and about the protrusion 52 .

Abstract: A modular holder (10) for two-memory cards (132, 134) that enables separate insertion and injection of the cards from the holder (10) includes a central plate (44) fixed between opposed side rails (12, 14) intermediate the upper and lower surfaces thereof; first and second ejector plates (64, 66) movably held between the side rails (12, 14) and spaced above and below the center plate (44) and essentially parallel therewith; first and second rocker arms (84, 86) adapted to move respective ones of the first and second ejector plates (64, 66) from a first position wherein the associated memory card is electrically connected to terminals in an associated connector (120) to a second position wherein the memory card is disconnected from the connector (120), the rocker arms (84, 86) being disposed between the center plate (44) and the respective ejector plates (64, 66), and means (100, 102) to activate the eject mechanism.

Abstract: A programmable tool for mounting a connector to a circuit board, the tool having a guide member with a plurality of apertures therein for receiving the leading ends of terminal members disposed in thhe connector and at least one plate member having first apertures therein aligned with selected ones of those in the guide member and defining selected deeper apertures. The leading end of the tool is positioned over the terminal members and as force is applied the selected deeper apertures allow the ends of corresponding terminal members received therein to extend further back within the tool than those of the other terminal members and hence are not pushed as far, whereby upon removing the tool from the mounted connector, the terminal members are arranged in a staged array.

Abstract: A method for applying solder (S) to selective areas of a metal strip (24), wherein the strip (24) is passed between rollers (36, 38) driven through a source of molten solder (40, 42) to transfer a coating a solder (S) to the strip (24). The rollers include discontinuous surfaces (37, 39) suitably shaped to provide selective areas of solder coating (S) on the strip (24).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 10 includes a housing 12 having a plurality of terminal members 40 disposed within configured terminal-receiving passageways 82 thereof. Each terminal member 40 includes first and second contact portions 42, 62 and a body portion 46 having retaining means 52 for holding the terminal member 40 within the housing passageway 82 and a plurality of push means horizontally and vertically staggered about the longitudinal axis of the terminal member 40 and adapted to cooperate with corresponding push ledges 86, 88, 90 within the passageway 82. The push means includes a latch 54 extending outwardly from a first side 49 of the body portion 46 and first and second pairs of formed tabs 56, 58 extending from opposed second and third sides 50, 51 of the body portion 46 at first, second and third axially selected locations respectively.

Abstract: An adjunct electrical connector (44-60) includes a mechanical line (52) added to a signal connector half (34) to increase power transfer between circuit boards (12, 24). The power connector includes contacts of a given cross-section to carry a given current with the contacts having a plurality of posts (50, 70) spaced apart and of a lesser cross-section to carry a fraction of the given current so as to distribute such current to thin conductive traces (32) on the said board half with said post being on the centers of holes in said printed circuit board (24).

Abstract: Surface-mount solder-tails (124) for use in a surface-mount edge connector (100) and other surface-mount components. The terminal members (120) are each formed with an upper-section providing a bearing surface to facilitate slidable insertion of a circuit board within connector housing (10), a mid-section which serves to anchor terminal members (120) within housing (10), and an improved solder-tail section (124) of compact design for establishing electrical contact with conductive traces on the surface of a motherboard (30). The improved solder-tails (124) are provided with an elbow to increase the length, thereby increasing the resiliency in the vertical and horizontal directions. Alternatively, solder-tails (124) may be narrowed or annealed to achieve the same result. Edge connector (100) minimizes an aggregate normal force imparted to said second circuit board (30) while maintaining a proper electrical connection, and the solder-joints are well-protected from stresses imparted to the motherboard.

Abstract: Improved means for securing an externally mounted ground plate to an electrical connector, the ground plate being secured along one of the sides of the connector and having a leading edge thereof exposed at the mating face of the connector and adapted to be received within the housing of a complementary connector upon the connector being mated thereto. The improved means includes a pair of tabs extending from the ground plate proximate the leading edge thereof and engagable with and latchingly securable in cooperating slots on end walls of the connector housing and a plurality of ground plate flared apertures lockingly secured within corresponding slots of the connector sidewalls proximate the leading edges thereof. The secured ground plate lies against the side wall and the overall dimensions of the mating face are not substantially increased thereby.

Abstract: An electronic assembly including a pair of complementary connectors (28,40), each mounted to respective circuit boards (22,34) and means for preventing damage to pin contacts (32) of one connector (28) when the connectors (28,40) are unmated, the connectors (28,40) and their respective circuit boards (22,34) defining first and second subassemblies. The pin saving means includes at least one pair of stop means (50) associated with one subassembly and adapted to cooperate with stop engaging means for the other subassembly. The stop means (50) includes a lower portion (52) extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the associated subassembly and a lower portion (54) extending outwardly from a leading end thereof and having a stop surface (56). The upper portion (54) is adapted to be moved from a first position wherein the stop surface (56) engages the stop engaging means to a second position wherein the stop surface (56) is removed from the stop engaging means.

Abstract: Electrical contact terminals having two layer plated coating thereon is disclosed. The coating consists of a layer of palladium having a macrostress in the range of 30,000 to 140,000 psi and a layer of gold, the gold being at lest 99.9% pure and having a Knoop hardness from 60 to 90. A coating comprised of medium stress palladium and gold substantially and unexpectedly inmproves the durability of terminals as compared to similar coatings using gold and low or high stress palladium.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for laminating at least two polymer films. An intermediate assembly 40 is made comprising an adhesive film 20 and a dielectric polymer film 12. The method comprises the steps of: selecting an adhesive film 20 with a melting point T.sub.1, the adhesive film having inner and outer major surfaces 22, 24; selecting a polymer film 12, with a melting point T.sub.2, where T.sub.2 >T.sub.1, the polymer film having inner and outer major surfaces 14, 16; subjecting the inner surface 14 of the polymer film 12 to a high voltage electric discharge to form a treated inner surface; heating the polymer film 12 having the treated inner surface to a temperature greater than T.sub.1 ; aligning the inner adhesive surface 22 and the inner treated polymer surface 14 in opposed facing relationship; applying pressure to urge the films 12, 20 relatively together; and heating the pressed together films to a temperature greater than T.sub.

Abstract: Improved locking eyelets (2) for securing electrical components to a circuit board by support pylons. A surface-mount electrical connector (40) is anchored to a circuit board (60) by pylons (20) and eyelets (2) mounted at the tip of each pylon (20). Each eyelet (2) is provided with a number of elongate members (8) to allow one-way insertion of a pylon (20) therein. When an eyelet (2) is mounted on a pylon (20), and the pylon (20) is inserted through the circuit board, the pylon (20) causes eyelet (2) to expand at one end, thereby locking both eyelet (2) and pylon (20) within the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 10 includes a receptacle member 12 and a pin header 60. The receptacle member 12 has housing means 14 including an inner body portion 22 and two opposed outer side walls 24, which together define elongate cavities 36 between inner body section 22 and respective outer side walls 24; and a plurality of first contact terminal members 40 disposed in inner body portion 22 and a plurality of second contact terminal members 46 disposed in the elngate cavities 36.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and an array of terminal members having posts extending from the housing and adapted for insertion into through-holes of a circuit board. At least one board retention means is formed on at least one of the posts and is axially located a selected distance from the lower surface of the housing to be within a corresponding through-hole after insertion. The retention means is a swage defining wall engaging surfaces for engaging sidewalls of a respective through-holes during mounting of the connector to board. The swage is formed such that the far side of the post remains coplanar with the axially adjacent surfaces and a swage embossment extends laterally outwardly from at least the second side, the embossment being formed by the work end of a tool striking the third side at an angle.

Abstract: A power distribution system for prewiring a modular wall panel unit with electrical conductors. The system is installed in the wiring channel that extends along the bottom edge of the panel unit. The system includes a power block located at each of the opposite ends of the panel wiring channel. Each power block comprises a housing containing ten flat, vertically aligned bus bars that are each connected to a separate one of four line, four neutral, a safety ground and an isolated ground conductors of the power supply of the site at which the panel unit is installed. Each power block is capable of receiving, at the end thereof adjacent the end of the wiring channel, on either or both faces thereof, a connector for a jumper cable for connecting two similar power distribution systems in adjoining panel units.