Abstract: Disclosed is a metallic shield for a modular jack which includes a first member which is superimposed over the top and lateral wall of the jack. A second member surrounds the front plug openings. A first tab on the second member engages an aperture on the first member. A second tab on the second member curves rearwardly and upwardly then rearwardly and downwardly to abut the first member. A third tab on the second member curves rearwardly and upwardly to engage a panel.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a front retaining shell and a rear housing with aligned longitudinal contact receiving passageways. A molded wafer is positioned between the housing and a circuit board. This wafer has apertures for receiving conductive contacts and the grounding legs on the front shell. A pair of rigid posts project upwardly from the wafer to engage the housing. Another pair of rigid posts project downwardly from the wafer to engage the circuit board. Relative dislocation of the conductive contacts, the grounding legs and the circuit board attachments is thus avoided so as to facilitate robotic placement of the connector.

Abstract: Connector block (3) comprising at least one contact member (22) provided with a first contact terminal (10) for electrical contact to a contact terminal (6) of a mating connector (2), a second contact terminal (9) and a spring part (13) giving the contact member a resilient capacity in its axial direction, the first contact terminal (10), the second contact terminal (9) and the spring part (13) being integrally made and the spring part (13) having a corrugated structure; separate ground means (19, 19') are arranged to provide a static discharge capacity for vulnerable electronic components connected to the second contact terminals (9).

Abstract: Disclosed is a card edge connector having mirror image latches which are integrally molded into the housing and which have horizontal latch manipulation platform members which extend outwardly from their body section. A stopper member is positioned outwardly from the latches to prevent overstressing when the latches are deflected. The horizontal latch manipulation has a central major slot and a peripheral secondary slot which are vertically aligned respectively with a vertical slot between the latch body and the stopper member and the top surface of the stopper member to allow for relatively easy molding of the latch. A separately molded finger engagement portion may be inserted into the central principal slot which the stopper member is received by the secondary slot when the latch is flexed. The finger engagement portion may advantageously be of a different color from the housing to make it easier to locate.

Abstract: A socket for a printed circuit board which includes a housing having an insertion inlet defined between one pair of opposed walls to receive a printed circuit board. There are a plurality of spring contacts having their contact points extending at least from one wall into the insertion inlet to provide arrays of contact points along a longitudinal direction of the insertion inlet. A pair of latch arms also each extend from an area near each longitudinal end of the insertion inlet of the housing and each has an integral structure of a cam section and latch section. The cam section is configured so that when the printed circuit board is swung in a direction to press the contact points, each latch arm allows slide motion of a corresponding side edge of the printed circuit board to create a force along the direction of the array of contact points and the latch section latches the side edge of the printed circuit board to swing clear of the cam section.

Abstract: Modular connectors employ terminal carriers for gang mounting of terminals onto circuit substrates. The carriers may be shielded for providing shielding through the connector. Substrate mounting systems include press fit, floating surface mount, solder ball and intrusive reflow arrangements.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle for terminating multiple electrical conductors is disclosed. The plug has a frame which includes first and second crossbars, first and second plates and a plurality of walls thereby defining first, second and third channels. First, second and third insulated support structures having forwardly extending fingers thereon are received in the channels. A plurality of contact elements are disposed on each of the fingers, thereby defining a row, so that the plug provides first second and third rows of contact elements. The receptacle also has a frame which is formed by a base plate, first and second walls extending toward the front of the receptacle, and third and fourth walls extending toward the rear of the receptacle. A number of passages are formed in the baseplate. A plurality of insulated support structures are positioned in the passages.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposed first and second planar surfaces; a light emitting diode (LED) fixed to said PCB; a jack fixed to one of said planar surfaces of the PCB and comprising an insulative housing comprising first and second longitudinal walls positioned such that said second longitudinal wall is positioned over said first and second longitudinal wall in spaced parallel relation and at least one pair of lateral walls is interposed between the first and second longitudinal walls to form at least one traverse plug receiving cavity extending from a substantially open front side of said jack to a rear side of said jack; and a lens positioned adjacent the front side of the jack which conveys or diffracts light from the LED. Relatively little interference with signals provided to the connector results from an LED mounted in this way.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector which includes a plug comprising at least one insulative lateral support, an insulative medial lateral support and a wire having a first longitudinal section fixed to the insulative lateral support, a second longitudinal sectional fixed to the insulative medial support and an exposed third longitudinal section interposed between said first longitudinal section and said second longitudinal section. The connector also includes a receptacle comprising at least one insulative support and a wire having a first longitudinal section fixed to the insulative support and an exposed second longitudinal section of the plug. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing this connector and a mold for use therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly which comprises a printed circuit board on which there is mounted a component of an electrical connector. The printed circuit board and the electrical connector component have aligned mounting apertures. A boardlock member extends axially through these apertures and has a mounting foot engagement structure from which two resilient spaced legs depend. These spaced legs each have projections which are axially spaced from one another so that the connector member may engage a circuit board of one thickness on the projection of one leg and also engage a circuit board of another thickness by the projection on the other leg.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical socket for connecting a generally planar integrated circuit (IC) having a plurality of peripheral laterally extending contacts to a printed wiring board (PWB) comprising an insulative element interposed between the processing unit and the PWB and having means for retaining the IC; a plurality of latching means positioned in spaced peripheral relation adjacent the base element; a cover element superimposed over the base element and comprising an insulative housing being peripherally engageable by said latching means and a resilient control member positioned in concentric relation with said housing and having a plurality of legs each extending radially from said central section toward one of the latching means; and a plurality of contact means positioned in spaced peripheral relation adjacent the base element to abut the contacts on the processing unit and the PWB.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure device which projects from the side elements of the frame of a memory card connector to provide security for the memory card. The activation of the closure means is coordinated with the movement of the card eject plate so that after the card is inserted the connector cannot readily be tampered with to remove the card.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular jack assembly comprising an outer insulative housing having top and bottom walls and opposed lateral walls which define an interior section of the housing having front and rear open ends, and an insulated insert having a first section superimposed over the rear open end of the insulated housing and a second section extending generally perpendicular from the first section into the interior section of the housing. There are engagement points on both the top wall and the opposed lateral walls of the outer insulated housing. Latches may be positioned on the insulated insert on either their first section or their second section depending on the specific configuration of the insulated insert. If latches are positioned on the first section, the opposed lateral walls will be engaged. If latches are positioned on the top section, the top wall will be engaged. A common housing may, therefore, be used for a number of different types of insulated inserts.

Abstract: A combination latch and contact for use in an electrical socket. This ombination latch and contact comprises major resilient generally vertical member having an upper outwardly and downwardly extending cams surface superimposed over an engagement recess, a minor diagonal contact member having a terminal curved contact position adjacent a restraining projection and a base member. The base member may be superimposed on a printed wiring board (PWB) and has a lower contact position with a plurality of contact points.

Abstract: An ejecting mechanism-equipped card connector is provided which can be manufactured as a simpler and low cost unit. The card connector has a movable actuator member (74) arranged at an inner end section (52) of a push rod (50) and a cam groove (66) provided in a header body (14a) and operating the actuator member. The cam groove (66) has a drive section (66a) for, when the push rod (50) is moved from an extended position to a pushed-in position of the push rod (50), laterally projecting and guiding the actuator member (74), a latching section (66b) for, when an urging force on the pushed-in rod is released, retracting the actuator member (74) to a position not engageable with the projection (48) to latch it, and a return section (66c) for, when the push rod (50) is urged, unlatching the actuator member (74).

Abstract: A high speed, low impedance shielded connector is disclosed. The shield is formed of sheet material and includes multiple integral shield-to-plug contacts in a limited longitudinal space. Such contacts are forwardly facing, to reduce ground path lengths or are arranged substantially parallel to a plug insertion axis, to below development of high normal forces. Shielding of an array of connectors is enhanced by the use of transverse flanges having interfitting sections that provide effective shielding are allow close spacing or adjacent connectors in the array.

Abstract: Disclosed is a card edge connector which has a pivoting latching mechanism that has a pair of parallel fingers that direct inward transverse forces on the opposed sides of the printed wiring board to secure it in the connector. The connector also includes a plate on each of the contact elements which prevents overstressing of the arcuate element of the contact. The plate also includes a longitudinal projection and an opposed longitudinal recess so that the adjacent contact elements may be connected to resist axial forces.

Abstract: A connector apparatus for receiving a card-like data processing medium in a frame element having a rear transverse element and a pair of longitudinal elements. A header is disposed adjacent the rear element of the frame member and an actuator bar for moving the card-like data processing medium out of engagement with the header is provided. An eject plate is moved by a link arm connected to the frame at a pivot point. The actuator bar is positioned below or above one of the longitudinal elements of the frame to significantly reduce the transverse dimension of the connector.

Abstract: A socket for a printed circuit board which includes a housing having an insertion opening for receiving the printed circuit board. This opening is provided between first and second opposed walls wherein the first wall is shorter than the second wall. A plurality of spring contacts having contacts project from both of the walls into the insertion opening and form rows extending along the axis of the insertion opening. A pair of latch arms extend from those portions of said housing which are close to the ends of the insertion opening so they may be pushed outwardly by the sides of the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is rotated in such a direction as to press the contacts. They are returned to initial positions by virtue of their elastic force when the printed circuit board passes so as to then hold the board in position.

Abstract: An electronic socket adapter includes an insulative carrier and an array of a plurality of surface mount contacts carried on the base. The pins may be floatably mounted on the carrier. A plurality of relatively large openings are formed in the carrier between adjacent contacts in the array. The openings provide improved heat flow in the region of the surface mount portions of the contacts and also provide for visualization of the surface mount portions of the contacts during and after soldering.