Abstract: A flat multiconductor cable having a multilayer construction and especially suited for use in establishing interconnections between the cable conductors and a separate conductive array such as a similar flat cable is disclosed. Conductive ink, formed metal conductors or etched conductors can be deposited on a flexible substrate and covered by a dielectric covering in the form of an ultraviolet cured dielectric coating or a separate insulating film. The conductors can be covered by anisotropic conductive adhesive with the conductive adhesive in contact with the underlying conductors at exposed tap locations where no dielectric coating is deposited or where the dielectric coating has been removed. A separate conductive array can be positioned in registry with the tap locations and the conductive adhesive can be used both to secure the conductive array to the cable and to establish electrical continuity between corresponding conductors.

Abstract: A shield member for an electrical connector comprises a stamped and formed metal shell having a mouth for receiving a mating connector shield comprising a lip having a planar resilient portion extending in the mating direction and a free end formed with a plurality of reversely bent, rigid projections protruding into an envelope defined by the profile of the mouth. Two shield members having interengageable latching means and a rear cable clamping portion of bifurcated hemi-frusto-conical shape can be pressed together about a connector terminating a shielded cable with the rigid projections protruding through windows in a housing of the connector into the envelope and the clamping portions gripping between them the cable shield.

Abstract: A shielded hermaphroditic electrical connector and the method of assembling the connector is disclosed. The connector comprises an inner assembly to which both the individual conductors of a multiconductor cable are terminated by insulation displacement termination and to which the shielding surrounding the individual conductors in the cable is attached. The inner assembly includes a support housing, a plurality of terminals, a strain relief, and upper and lower shields which are all attached to a support housing by relative lateral movement. The shields are attached to the cable shielding by axial movement of the ferrule around a portion of the shields and a cover is assembled to the inner assembly and is subsequently post molded into engagement with the cable exterior. The connector can be hand assembled and is matable with other hermaphroditic local area network connectors of the same type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which an elongate strip of multi-conductor flat flexible cable is fed by feeding means along a predetermined path of travel where it intersects with a pair of spaced apart, elongate strips of terminals. The strips of terminals are arranged with the terminals facing in opposite directions and predetermined lengths thereof are fed by feeding means such that the predetermined lengths of the stripes and the flexible cable are in a superposed relation. Rows of terminals are separated from the strips of terminals and fastened by terminal applicator means to the flexible cable in electrical conductive relation to the conductors therein. This procedure is repeated at predetermined, spaced apart locations along the length of the elongate strip of flexible cable to form interconnected cable harnesses of the cable and terminals.

Abstract: An opto-matrix touch input device which samples and compares beam readings is taught. Briefly stated, phototransistor readings which sample ambient light as well as light from an associated light emitting diode are compared with preset values. If the readings from the phototransistor are below a certain level, then the phototransistor/LED pair are flagged as bad. If the readings are within preset limits, yet below nominal values, then the phototransistor/LED pair are flagged as indicating a marginal beam. In this manner a trouble report may be generated for the purpose of repair or investigation as well as providing a vehicle for keeping a history of the opto-matrix frame condition and thereby a method of early fault detection.

Abstract: A low profile cable capable of undercarpet transmission of electrical signals is disclosed. The body of the cable includes an essentially flat central region and tapered wings extending outwardly from the central region. It is fabricated of a flexible polymer for positioning around curves. The wings may include cut out sections and opposing slits to facilitate bending of the cable around such curves. The transverse section of the body is symmetric about both its central vertical axis and its central horizontal axis.

Abstract: Multicontact detachable sealed electrical connector having two connector halves receiving male and female terminals therein is used to establish a sealed interconnection between conductors in one or more circuits. Conductors in separate circuits are separately sealed, and sealing integrity can be maintained even though less than all of the circuits are interconnected. Terminals are received within cavities in the housing and one housing has a plurality of tubular protuberances defining a cavity extension. Inner seals are positioned around these protuberances and are deflected when partially received within the cavity in the other housing to maintain separate sealing integrity at the interface between the two connectors.

Abstract: An adaptor to couple a connector to a conductor of a flat, high performance, electrical cable is disclosed. The adaptor includes two mating halves through which the conductors pass. The adaptor is formed with an internal recess and further includes a ferrule therein to allow an electrical ground connection to an EMI shield of the cable. The adaptor is also formed with external threads whereby a threaded nut may be employed to maintain the adaptor halves operatively couples. The connector can then be attached to components of an electrical system without significant radiation occurring at the interconnection.

Abstract: DIP carrier assembly comprises carrier having support surface with apertures therethrough to channels in side and bottom of carrier into which DIP leads are formed. Terminals aligned in channels in opposed sidewalls of socket apply releasing force on carrier when DIP leads deflect contact portions of terminals. Release of resilient latch on socket causes ejection of carrier.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a unitary elastomeric body member having a plurality of electrical conductors encircling a cylindrical body portion. The conductors are defined on the exterior surface of an insulating film which is affixed around a portion of the elastomeric body member. Integral elastomeric base members extend outwardly from the ends of the cylindrical body portion and outwardly beyond the film-conductor laminate. Annular support sleeves are inserted within the integral elastomeric base members and interconnection is established to conductive pads on substrates such as printed circuit boards.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stripping insulation from low profile high performance cable are disclosed. The apparatus includes hand-held tools with an aperture at each end for sequentially slicing or cutting predetermined layers of insulation from the cable at predetermined lengths from the end of the cable being stripped. The methods are for performing these steps whether performed by the tools, by a hand-held knife or by automated machinery.

Abstract: A watertight enclosure for use in an outdoor junction box for use in housing electrical connections such as solar panel installations includes a mating base and cover. The base is bounded by an upstanding peripheral wall having a channel profiled in the top. The mating cover has an outwardly facing channel formed by upper and lower peripheral parallel flanges. The lower flange on the cover fits into the channel in the box member and the upper flange overlaps the outer wall leaving a slight gap providing the only opening to the otherwise enclosed duct about the periphery of the assembly. Wires passing through bores in the upstanding wall are sealed by compressing elastomeric spheres which bore into conformity with the wires passing therethrough.

Abstract: A surface mount, miniature connector with an integral power or ground bus bar is formed by a pair of mating housing members each defining a mating face and an oppositely-directed surface mount face with a plurality of terminal passages extending between the faces. A like plurality of terminals is provided, each mounted in a respective passage with a mating portion directed towards the mating face and a solder tail extending from the surface mount face. Each housing is provided with an elongated longitudinally extending groove which receives therein an elongated rigid conductive bus bar member having at least one leg which extends beyond the surface mounting face of the respective housing. Each bus bar is of sufficient length to bus at least one connector housing and to provide strength to the underlying circuit board and prevent the connector from being pulled off the mounting surface during connector unmating.

Abstract: Electrical connector for telephone wiring interface providing lightning protection is formed by dielectric base having first terminals thereon for terminating wires and having upright first members aligned with apertures in a dielectric cover latched to base and a stanchion normal received in a dielectric jack mounted to the base to provide testing by inserting a plug inserted through an aperture in the cover. A plug member has second terminals fixed thereon for receiving wires and upright second mating members arranged to mate with first mating members in apertures. Base and cover accommodate a lightning arrester and include a removable insert to compensate for arresters of different sizes.

Abstract: A premise wiring system for telephones and the like is formed by a three-wire flat cable one end of which is terminated by a plug, the cable having at least one jack connected thereto at a position spaced from the plug and possibly a splice joining cable segments. Both the plug and jack are configured to have first and second terminals each terminal having a mating first end and an oppositely-directed insulation-piercing conductor-engaging second end with the second end of the first terminals configured to engage the outer conductors of the cable while the second end of the second terminal is configured to engage only the center conductor of the cable so that, regardless of the changes in direction imparted to the cable, the plug jack and splice can be terminated thereon effecting proper connection regardless of orientation. The splice is similarly configured but contains three double-ended terminals which engage like conductors of adjacent cable segments.

Abstract: A zero insertion force board to board edge connector for use with orthogonal printed circuit boards includes two mutually laterally shiftable camming members with a connecting element mounted on one camming member in opposition to conductive paths on the printed circuit boards. The camming and connecting members are laterally insertable and removable from a channel in a housing attached to one printed circuit board. The connecting element includes conductive traces which can be carried on a dielectric film and an elastomeric member biasing the conductive traces into engagement with the conductive paths.

Abstract: A telephone line tester is a self-contained unit which, when plugged into a premise wiring telephone jack, determines whether or not a signal of adequate power is being received. If a satisfactory signal is received, the tester will give a visual indication thereby denoting the operating condition of the telephone normally connected to the jack.

Abstract: A kit for making a connector permitting alternative interconnections between individual conductors of two parallel, planar arrays of conductors includes an insulating body with means to locate contact parts on opposite faces for alignment with chosen conductor to provide the alternative interconnections. The contacts are of three basic types comprising respectively a conductor engaging portion integrally joined to either a bus portion, a bus gripping portion or another conductor engaging portion. The locating means includes recesses on opposite faces communicating by contact receiving sockets extending between the faces and bus receiving channels extending between recesses on the same face.

Abstract: A high density mother/daughter circuit board connector utilizes a multi-layer flat flexible circuit, each layer of which contains a plurality of patterned arrays of circuit paths extending between spaced contact points, at least some of which are exposed through apertures in overlying layers. The multi-layered circuitry is wrapped around a housing from a mother circuit board face to extend into one side of a daughter board receiving recess. Camming means arranged in the opposite side of the recess drive a daughter circuit board inserted therein transversely of the recess into loaded engagement with the multi-layer circuitry thereby establishing electrical interconnection between the circuitry of the mother and daughter circuit boards.

Abstract: A shorting bar assembly is mounted in an electrical connector housing so as to selectively short at least pairs of terminals thereof. Each shorting bar assembly has at least one shorting bar member having at least two integral depending tines extending at an angle with respect to a body of the shorting bar and to the longitudinal axis of an associated terminal. In an unmated condition of the connector the free end of the respective terminal engages the shorting bar tine in a loaded condition. During mating or unmating of the connector, the resilient portion of the terminal is deflected so as to cause a relative wiping movement between the free end of the terminal and the tine of the shorting bar moving between loaded and unloaded conditions.