Abstract: Apparatus for terminating a ribbon cable formed of electrical conductors in a web of electrical insulation during the attaching thereof to a connector. The apparatus comprises a guide member releasably coupleable with the cable at a predetermined location with respect to the end of the cable. The apparatus also comprises means to sequentially couple the guide member and cable end in operative relationship with a series of processing stations whereat the guide member functions to accurately locate the cable end with respect to the operating mechanisms of the processing stations. Such processing stations are operative for the attaching of the cable end to a connector. Also disclosed is the method of terminating a ribbon cable with such apparatus.

Abstract: A coaxial electrical connector assembly including an insulative housing having a ground plate with a plurality of apertures sized to receive signal contacts without contact with the ground plate and other apertures sized to engage ground terminals is disclosed. Tabs formed by slits are deflected by the ground terminals inserted into these apertures. This coaxial connector can be employed as an input or output to signal and ground pins used in a backplane connector which form part of a backplane connector assembly for interconnection of a plurality of daughterboards to a motherboard.

Abstract: A surface applied electrical raceway assembly comprising an extruded rear panel and an extruded cover which form a plurality of elongate compartments for deploying wires or other electrical conductors is disclosed. At any position along its length, the raceway can be attached to hanger brackets mounted on a wall. Continuous recesses including a tongue and groove configuration on the exterior of the rear panel and channels in at least one compartment permit attachment of the raceway to the hangers at any position and the installation of interfaces, such as standard duplex outlets, at any position along the raceway length. A storage compartment for receiving excess plug cables is also disclosed. The rear panel and the covers can be cut to length and together with accessory fittings can be used to form customized raceways with outlets at any desired location.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprising a modular jack receiving a modular plug for interconnecting multiple contact elements in contact terminals located laterally in a row is disclosed. Nonadjacent contact elements in one of the connectors can be shunted by at least one separate shunting element. Interengagement of the two connectors can shift the shunting element to disconnect the bridged contact elements. The shunting elements are positioned such that a mating connector having a width no greater than the spacing of the shunting elements will not disengage the bridged connection.

Abstract: Electrical harness for connecting circuit board conductors to conductors external to the circuit board comprises first and second housings which are disengageably secured to each other. Conductors extend as a loop from the first housing to terminals in the second housing. The first housing has terminals which can be soldered to the circuit board conductors and the circuit board can, after installation of the first housing therein, be installed in the apparatus for which it is intended. Thereafter, the second housing is disengaged from the first housing and installed at its location in the apparatus.

Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including signal interconnection, ground interconnection, and power interconnection means in both a motherboard connector and a daughterboard connector is disclosed. The motherboard connector consists of a single connector having signal terminals, ground terminals, and power terminals. The daughterboard connector assembly consists of a daughterboard signal housing having signal and ground terminals and a separate daughterboard power housing positioned on the opposite surface of the daughterboard from the daughterboard signal connector subassembly. Power terminals in both the motherboard connector and the daughterboard connector are oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard so that daughterboards having varying thicknesses can be employed. This invention can be used in a connector having a cast metallic outer shield or in a connector having a conventional insulative outer housing.

Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including a motherboard connector and power and signal daughterboard connectors is disclosed. The motherboard connector has a signal section and a power section. Individual signal contacts are located in the signal section of the motherboard connector. A laminated power bus is located in the power section of the motherboard connector which is on the opposite side of the daughterboard from the signal section. Each of a plurality of separate busses in the laminated power bus has tabs extending from one edge and bent at right angles relative to the bus so that the tabs extend orthogonally relative to the daughterboard. This configuration permits daughterboards having different thicknesses to be mated inserted into the same motherboard connector. The laminated power bus permits power to be delivered externally of the motherboard to the daughterboards.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling the stripped free end of a ribbon cable with a connector comprising a fixed recipient block having a slot for the receipt of the striped and bent wires of a ribbon cable; reciprocable blocks located on opposite sides of the fixed recipient block with crimping fingers secured thereto and reciprocal through apertures in the fixed recipient block; and means to move the reciprocable blocks and crimping fingers toward each other into the slot for effecting the mechanical coupling of the connector housing locate din the slot with at least some of the stripped wires. Also disclosed is the method of coupling connectors to the free ends of cables with such apparatus.

Abstract: Wire bending apparatus comprising a positioning fixture adapted to secure the stripped free end of a ribbon cable in a predetermined orientation; a bending fixture positionable adjacent the fixed free end of a ribbon cable secured in the positioning fixture; and means releasably interconnecting the positioning fixture and the bending fixture for the releasable securement therebetween. Also disclosed is the method of bending free ends of ribbon cables with such apparatus.

Abstract: An input device which can be employed to input commands to a computer directly through a CRT display is disclosed. The input device employs a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes and phototransistors aligned in individual emitter-detector pairs. Infrared beams from the emitter cross the display field before striking the corresponding detector. Emitters and detectors are sequentially activated and each emitter is pulsed or modulated at a frequency different from the variation of ambient conditions during each emitter activation interval. The detection circuitry thus can distinguish the varying emitter signal from ambient or spurious variations. A number of pulses at the pulsed or modulated emitter frequency would be detected unless an opaque element were blocking the particular beam.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises one electrical connector having at least two terminals shunted in the unmated configuration and a second pull to seat connector. The shunt in the first connector comprises a longitudinally extending beam having laterally extending contact arms which engage adjacent terminals in the unmated configuration. A cap, which can be secured to the mating face of the second connector after terminals are withdrawn into the connector through the mating face, contains a ramp surface which engages the longitudinally extending beam of the deflectable shunt when the two connectors are mated. Clearance is provided on the mating face of the pull to seat connector so that the deflectable shunt is maintained out of engagement with the pins and receptacle terminals in the first and second connectors.

Abstract: An interconnection package including a logic device attached to leads in a lead frame for use with a wiring harness is disclosed. The stamped and formed lead frame includes at least one lead having a disconnectable receptacle contact integral with tabs for through hole attachment of the logic device. The disconnectable receptacle contact includes arcuately formed springs formed upwardly from the lead frame and the tabs are formed downwardly from the lead frame so that the receptacle contact will not be contaminated during wave soldering. In the preferred embodiment, receptacle contacts project from one side of a body encapsulating the logic device and plug contacts project from another side of the body so that the interconnection package can be attached both to a conventional wiring harness and to servomechanical components equipped with conventional terminals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the integrity of metal plated composites is disclosed. Plating improvements are achieved by first irradiating a nickel plated substrate, prior to application of a noble metal plating layer, to smooth any surface discontinuities or irregularities. Excimer laser pulses, having a duration of less than 100 nanoseconds, are employed to partially liquefy the upper surface of the nickel plating on the substrate. This invention is compatible with conventional plating processes, such as electroplating.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a plurality of terminals in an insulative housing includes an improved locking and shunting assembly. This improved locking and shunting assembly can be inserted into the housing of the electrical connector from the mating face to both lock terminals in position and to shunt or common adjacent terminals. Each shunt comprises a resilient terminal which is attached to an insulative locking member by simply sliding the terminal across one surface of the locking member to establish locking engagement between the stamped and formed shunt and the insulative locking member at both ends of the shunt.

Abstract: A dual molded seal electrical connector having deformable seals adhering to relatively rigid body portions establishes sealing integrity for individual pin and socket terminals joining corresponding conductors. An interface seal surrounds a cavity containing one terminal and receives a cylindrical protuberance on the other connector housing. The seal is deflected radially outward upon engaging a conical surface on the protuberance. The connector bodies comprise one-piece molded members formed sequentially of different materials in the same mold.

Abstract: A connector adapted to couple stripped electrically conductive wires of a flat cable with the traces of a printed circuit board through a mating connector upstanding from the printed circuit board. The connector comprises a housing formed with a longitudinal central slot adapted to receive an electrically conductive ground bus. The upper end of the bus is adapted to retain stripped ground wires of the flat cable by crimping and soldering. The lower end of the bus is adapted to be received within the mating connector. A plurality of parallel apertures are formed in the housing on opposite sides of the bus to receive signal contact, the upper ends of which are adapted to retain stripped signal wires of the flat cable by soldering. The lower ends of the signal contacts are adapted to be received within the mating connector.

Abstract: A modular electrical connector assembly consisting of a plurality of components which can be assembled in a number of different configurations is disclosed. Each connector consists of an outer body (100, 200) and an inner body (300, 400). The inner and outer bodies are separately and independently keyed and each mates with a corresponding inner or outer body in only one configuration. The inner body is keyed by providing distinct cross-sections for intermating posts (310) and cavities (410). The outer bodies (100, 200) are latched together by a plurality of collects (202) on one connector (200) which are held in engagement with a cylindrical ridge (130) on the other connector by a spring loaded shiftable sleeve (150). Keys (142) on one connector are received in keyslots (212), between adjacent collets (202) on the other connector. Conductors (30) in distinct and corresponding ordered arrays can be interconnected and the circuit patterns need not be changed in order to provide for connector modulatity.

Abstract: A low profile opto-device panel assembly suitable for use in an input detection apparatus used as an input device in conjunction with a visual display is disclosed. Arrays of light emitting devices and light detecting devices are juxtaposed along the internal edge of a peripheral frame printed circuit board to reduce the overall height of the panel assembly. Alignment housings surrounding each of the arrays of opto-devices are attached to the printed circuit board and extend inwardly of the sides of the peripheral frame printed circuit board. The opto-devices disposed in the alignment housings along the internal edge of the printed circuit boards are mechanically and electrically interconnected to the printed circuit board by bent leads which extend along the upper surface of the printed circuit board and into conventional printed circuit board holes.

Abstract: A frame structure includes recessed channels 40 in which the cables in an electrical distribution system are positioned. Communicating channels are formed in an upper beam 24, a lower beam 26 and a plurality of vertical columns 30. Installation of the complete electrical wiring system, including cables 76 and outlets or switches is part of a single operation and need not be interrupted by the erection of wall panels 32. Stamped metal brackets 48, 50, 60 attaching the columns to the upper and lower beams also retain cables within the channels and secure molding strips 34, 36, 38 over the channels.

Abstract: A current injection compensation circuit for dynamically compensating for the effect of ambient conditions on phototransistor output is disclosed. An output voltage is maintained at a nominal reference voltage level independent of ambient light input to allow use of a large output for a detected signal. Phototransistor current is a function only of ambient conditions, especially incident ambient light and is unaffected by compensation current injection. The ambient compensation current injection network can be employed with interactive touch input devices, such as infrared touch entry systems used with video displays.