Abstract: An electroluminescent lamp panel which includes transparent and base electrodes with dielectric and phosphorescent layers therebetween and an insulation layer behind the base layer. A moisture barrier layer, such as of aluminum foil, is provided on the back of the panel behind the insulation layer. The photophorescent layer includes phosphor particles having etched surfaces in an active resin having scavenging properties.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and a terminal. The housing has an elongated cavity with an inner end and an outer end. The height of the inner end of the cavity is less than the height of the outer end of the cavity. The terminal has an elongated base having a contact receptacle at an inner end and a conductor terminating portion at an outer end. The terminal has a first pair of opposing support sections extending upwardly from opposite lateral sides of the inner end of the base for receiving therebetween a mating contact member. A second pair of opposing support sections extend upwardly from the terminal base at a position intermediate the ends of the base. The height of the first pair of opposing support sections is less than the height of the second pair of opposing support sections and complementary to the difference in heights between the inner and outer ends of the housing cavity.

Abstract: A generally elongated electrical terminal pin is adapted to be inserted into a plated-through hole in a circuit board. The pin is a stamped and formed metal member and includes a mating portion adapted to contact an electrically conductive element and a compliant portion adapted to make electrical contact with conductive plating material defining an interior surface of the plated-through hole. The compliant portion, in a lateral direction, is formed by a generally W-shaped curved cross-section sized such that the outer legs of the W-shape contact the interior surface of the plated-through hole. In the exemplary embodiment, the compliant portion has a substantially uniform thickness, and the outer legs of the W-shape are substantially shorter than the central portion of the W-shape.

Abstract: A miniature DIN connector is provided for mounting to a circuit board. The miniature DIN connector comprises a molded nonconductive housing having a plurality of apertures therein for receiving electrically conductive terminals. The housing includes an array of channels for positively positioning the board contact portions extending from the terminals and preventing lateral movement thereof. An internal shield is mountable in the housing to substantially surround pin-receiving portions of the terminals. The housing is lockingly engageable with a base, which in turn is mountable to the circuit board. The base includes apertures through which the board contact portions of the terminals may be directed. An external shield is disposed around four sides of the miniature DIN connector. The external and internal shields may include extensions into recesses in the front of the housing that provide ground contact to a conductive chassis panel abutting the front of the miniature DIN connector.

Abstract: Apparatus for changing the order of wires in an array of wires being assembled into an electrical harness consisting of an auxiliary gripper 250 for individually gripping the ends of wires projecting from a guide 203A and a crossover gripper 252 for withdrawing a wire from the auxiliary gripper and the guide and locating it in a different wire position in the auxiliary gripper and guide. To allow for changing over wire a second crossover gripper 256 is provided each crossover gripper preferably having an associated tip gripper 254, 258 to guard against wire curl.

Abstract: A wiring harness is disclosed for deploying electrical wires along a wall such as in a modular wall panel system for separating work areas. The wall has an elongate compartment defining a raceway for housing the wires. A first power block is positioned in the raceway at a first location and includes a given number of wires extending therefrom into the raceway. A second power block is positioned in the raceway at a second location longitudinally spaced from the first power block. The second power block has a different number of wires extending therefrom into the raceway toward the first power block. Splicing connectors electrically couple at least some of the wires between the two power blocks.

Abstract: An LCD cluster connector is provided for automotive applications. The connector includes a molded nonconductive housing having a plurality of stamped terminals therein. Each terminal is redundantly locked to the housing to prevent movement in response to vibration, shock or other such forces inherent in the automotive environment. The positive redundant locking avoids insert molding and is achieved automatically during insertion of the terminals into the housing. The terminals are configured to positively position the LCD connector relative to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A socket assembly is provided for receiving memory modules such as single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). The socket assembly includes at least one lower tier SIMM socket that is mountable to a board. A carrier is mounted to the board in generally parallel spaced relationship to the lower tier SIMM socket. At least one upper tier SIMM socket is mounted to the carrier and may be supported in part by a lower tier SIMM socket. The carrier includes a ground shield for preventing interference.

Abstract: A socket assembly is provided for receiving a memory module or single in-line package (SIP). The socket assembly includes a cover for protectively receiving the SIP. The cover includes an opened bottom from which the mating edge of the SIP extends. The socket assembly further includes a housing having a slot for receiving the mating edge of the SIP. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the housing in proximity to the slot for engaging conductive regions along the mating edge of the SIP. The housing includes locking latches for engaging the cover upon rotation of the cover into an alignment corresponding to full mating of the SIP.

Abstract: A cover is provided for closing a cavity and a polarizing slot of an electrical connector to protect interior terminals during a soldering process with the electrical connector mounted on a printed circuit board. The connector is in the form of a header having side walls and a bottom wall defining the cavity. A polarizing slot is formed in one of the side walls. The terminals are disposed in the cavity, with solder tails projecting through the bottom wall for soldering to circuit traces on the printed circuit board. The cover includes a lid press-fit onto the header to close the cavity, and a projection depends from the lid in position for closing the polarizing slot in the one side wall of the header.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for mounting to a substrate such as a printed circuit board. The connector includes an insulating housing having a peripheral flange defining a front face. A conductive shield is positionable against the front face of the housing. A conductive board lock member is positionable on the housing for commoning the conductive shield to a ground trace on the printed circuit board. The board lock member includes a body portion and a pair of legs positionable through a locking hole in the printed circuit board. One of the legs is bent from an end edge of the body portion, and the other leg is bent out of an opening in the body portion. A method is disclosed for stamping and forming the conductive board lock member out of sheet metal material.

Abstract: A splice block for use with a condition responsive security switch is provided. The splice block is generally cylindrical and mounted to the end of the switch with terminals unitarily extending therebetween. The splice block includes a base and a cover which is mountable in alternate first and second positions on the base. The first position permits wires to be inserted into the splice block. Movement of the cover into the second position terminates the wires to terminals in the splice block.

Abstract: A floating panel mount for an electrical connector is provided. The floating panel mount includes a central support post from which a pair of helically configured inwardly collapsible vanes extend. The vanes are tapered to define a minor cross-sectional dimension less than the diameter of a mounting aperture in the panel and a major dimension which exceeds the diameter of the mounting aperture. The support post is generally circular in cross-section throughout substantially the entire length thereof and includes a bore in a distal end thereof to decrease insertion forces of the post into the mounting aperture in the panel. The vanes are spirally collapsed in response to ramping forces generated as the floating panel mount is urged into the mounting aperture of the panel. The vanes then resiliently return to their undeflected condition to engage the panel. In this mounted condition, the vanes permit radial float of the electrical connector relative to the panel, but prevent backup in response to mating forces.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector assembly is provided for wire-to-wire electrical connections. The assembly includes a pair of mateable electrical connectors each of which includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities extending therethrough. Each terminal receiving cavity preferably includes a static locking projection and a dynamic terminal positioning beam which deflects during insertion of the corresponding terminal and which resiliently returns to an undeflected condition for locking the terminal in the housing after complete insertion. A TPA component is mounted to the rear of each housing prior to insertion of the terminal. The TPA component includes terminal receiving apertures which function to rotationally align each terminal for efficient full seating in the corresponding terminal receiving cavity. Positive assurance of full terminal seating is achieved by advancing the TPA component from a first position into a second locked position.

Abstract: A work station is disclosed for dispensing electrical components (12) from a tape carrier (10) having a plurality of spaced component-containing cavities (14). During the dispensing operation, one side wall (18') of the cavity is opened by slitting the tape carrier with a dual-blade knife structure (46), such that a component-ejecting shuttle mechanism (40) can pass through an opening (50) in the cavity and guide the component into a fixture (52). The knife structure includes two knife blades (102, 104) arranged such that a V-shaped notch (100) is formed by two inwardly-facing single-bevel knife edges (112, 114). The improved knife structure positions and slits the tape carrier at the notch without causing the tape to buckle or tear.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for a vehicular suspension system component. The connector assembly includes a male connector which is engageable in the suspension system component. The housing of the male connector includes polarization and anti-rotation lugs which are engageable with corresponding structures on the suspension system component. A female connector is engageable over the end of the suspension system component for electrical connection with the terminals of the male connector. The terminals of both connectors in the assembly are insert molded into the nonconductive housings. The locking engagement of the female connector on the suspension system component can be achieved with a metallic retention lever that biasingly engages an annular groove in the exterior of the suspension system component.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for mounting to the pin of a vehicular alternator. The connector includes a terminal having a mating end defining a split cylindrical sleeve. The connector also includes a spring clip having a split cylindrical sleeve that can be telescoped over the split cylindrical sleeve of the terminal to contribute to the spring forces thereof and thus contributing to the radially inward contact forces of the connector. The spring clip further includes a pin engaging portion having an aperture extending therethrough for receiving the pin of the alternator. The pin engaging portion is non-orthogonally aligned to the axes of the split cylindrical sleeves, but can be biased into an orthogonal alignment. The pin engaging portion can be urged into the orthogonal alignment to enable mating and unmating, and will resiliently return toward an unbiased condition wherein edge regions of the aperture therethrough will grippingly engage the pin of the alternator.

Abstract: A modular jack is disclosed and includes an insulating body having a plug insertion hole formed in a front end of the body for receiving therein a complementary plug having contact means. The body includes contact insertion holes communicating with the plug insertion hole and contact insertion slots inside the plug insertion hole at entrances to the contact insertion holes. Jack contacts are inserted into the contact insertion holes with free and portions of the contacts exposed inside the plug insertion hole in the body for contacting the plug contact means. The contact insertion slots are sized relative to the size of the jack contacts so that there is provided an interference fit therebetween to maintain proper positioning of the contacts and to prevent the contacts from backing out of the contact insertion holes.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical conductor cable connector which includes a housing made from an electrical insulating material, having side walls which define an enclosure, a lower portion which extends between the side walls to define an open topped compartment in the housing on one side of the lower portion, a plurality of suitably spaced conductor engaging elements in and extending from the lower portion into the compartment with each element including a portion in the floor of the housing for electrically connecting an electrical conductor in a cable located in the lower portion to the conductor engaging element, a press member which is made from an electrical insulating material, for pressing a conductor ribbon tape cable into the compartment and the conductors which are carried by the tape into electrical engagement with the conductor engaging elements, means for clamping the ribbon tape in the compartment between the conductor engaging elements and each tape exit from the housing and a catch ar

Abstract: A grounding backshell assembly is provided for achieving a grounded electrical connection to a conductive braid of a cable, and for simultaneously achieving effective strain relief and environmental sealing. The backshell assembly comprises a generally cylindrical backshell having a toroidally configured coil spring mounted therein. A plunger with a leading concave cam surface is slidably inserted in the backshell for camming engagement with the grounding spring. A toroidally configured strain relief coil spring is disposed around the cable at the rear end of the plunger. A compression nut having a concave camming surface therein is threadably engageable with the backshell such that the concave cam surface thereof is operative to radially compress the strain relief spring and to urge the plunger into camming interengagement with the grounding spring. An elastomeric seal is resiliently engaged with the rear end of the compression nut and is further resiliently engaged with the cable.