Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat electrical circuit having a bottom surface and a top surface. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening for receiving an end of the flat circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing spaced laterally along the opening. At least some of the terminals have first flexible contact arms for engaging the bottom surface of the flat circuit and second flexible contact arms for engaging the top surface of the flat circuit. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening and a closed position engaging the top surface of the flat circuit and biasing the bottom surface of the circuit against the first flexible contact arms.

Abstract: A terminal module is provided for use in an electrical connector. The module includes a plurality of conductive terminals arranged in a generally parallel side-by-side array. Each terminal includes a pair of opposite end sections. A pair of holding sections are located respectively adjacent to and inside the end sections. A central section is located between the holding sections. A dielectric plastic housing is overmolded about the holding sections leaving the opposite end sections exposed. The overmolded housing leaves a substantial portion of the central section exposed.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for mating with a complementary second connector. The assembly includes a housing mounting a terminal module for movement relative to the housing between a projecting position and a retracted position. The terminal module includes a dielectrical module body having a front mating end which projects from the housing and a rear mounting end which mounts the terminal module in the housing for movement between said positions. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the module body and include front flexible contact ends projecting from the front mating end of the module body for engaging appropriate terminal contacts of the complementary second connector. When the second connector is mated with the connector assembly, the contacts of the second connector engage the front flexible contact ends of the terminals and move the terminal module from its projecting position to its retracted position.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle terminal is provided for receiving a mating terminal pin. The terminal includes a front mating end, a rear terminating end and a generally U-shaped base portion between the ends. The base portion includes a base wall, a pair of continuous and solid side walls projecting upwardly from the base wall and a pair of contact arms projecting upwardly from each side wall. The contact arms have opposing contact portions defining multiple contact points on each side of the U-shaped base portion for engaging the terminal pin inserted between the pairs of contact arms.

Abstract: A board-to board electrical connector assembly is provided for effecting a connection between two circuit boards. The assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a first circuit board. A plurality of first terminals are 5 mounted on the dielectric housing and each terminal includes a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board and a convex contact portion defining a continuous arcuate contact surface. A second connector has a dielectric housing for mounting on a second circuit board. A plurality of second terminals are mounted on the dielectric housing of the second connector and each second terminal includes a tail portion 10 for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the second circuit board, and a contact projection for sliding over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of the first terminals upon mating of the connectors.

Abstract: A jack assembly includes a contact switching system for receiving a coaxial plug. The assembly includes an insulative housing having a plug-receiving chamber. A fixed terminal is mounted on the housing and has a fixed switch contact portion located outside the chamber. A moveable terminal is mounted on the housing and includes a spring arm located inside the chamber in the path of insertion of the coaxial plug. A movable switch contact portion is connected to the spring arm for movement therewith into and out of engagement with the fixed switch contact portion. The movable switch contact portion is located outside the chamber. Therefore, engagement of the coaxial plug with the spring arm inside the chamber is effective to cause relative movement of the switch contact portions outside the chamber.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a connector housing having a pair of interconnectable housing portions. Each housing portion has a terminal-receiving passage with a conductive terminal inserted thereinto. An opening in each housing portion communicates with the respective terminal-receiving passage thereof. A locking projection on each housing portion is insertable into the opening of the other housing portion to a position preventing withdrawal of the terminal of the other housing portion when the housing portions are interconnected.

Abstract: An electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit board having a plurality of through holes includes a dielectric housing. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing. Each terminal includes a tail portion for passing through a selected one of the through holes in the printed circuit board. Each tail portion has a first side and a latch hook projecting from a second side opposite the first side. The width of the tail portion between the first side and a tip of the latch hook is less than a diameter of the selected through hole. Each solder tail portion can be inserted from one side of the printed circuit board through the selected hole with minimum insertion forces, with the latch hook being engageable with an opposite side of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A board-to-board electrical connector assembly is provided for effecting a connection between two circuit boards. The assembly includes a first connector having a low profile dielectric housing including a mating face and a mounting face for mounting the connector on a first circuit board. A plurality of spaced mating posts project from the mating face of the housing. A second connector has a low profile dielectric housing including a mating face for mating with the mating face of the first connector and a mounting face for mounting on a second circuit board. The dielectric housing of the second connector includes a plurality of mating passages in the mating face thereof for receiving the mating posts of the first connector. The passages extend from the mating face all the way to and through the mounting face of the dielectric housing of the second connector.

Abstract: A female terminal with a passageway is defined by generally spaced apart sidewalls for receiving a male terminal. The passageway may be configured from two U-shaped channels, with a primary contact and a sacrificial contact stamped from each sidewall of each U-shaped channel with the sacrificial contacts located forward of the primary contact. The sacrificial contacts are disposed in the direction of insertion of the male terminal into the passageway, and are separated from the sidewall by apertures above and below the sacrificial contact so that any residue from arcing is mostly contained at the edges of the sacrificial contacts.

Abstract: A terminal module is provided, such as for use in a modular jack assembly. The module includes a dielectric body having a pair of body halves with opposing faces. A plurality of terminals have mounting portions embedded in the opposing faces of the body halves. The terminals are securely captured in the dielectric body when the mounting portions are sandwiched between the body halves.

Abstract: An electrical connector system is provided for a mobile phone which includes a lower housing disposed beneath a printed circuit board having a plurality of circuit traces on a bottom side thereof. The housing includes at least one cavity in an upper side thereof opposite the bottom side of the printed circuit board. A connector module is positionable in the cavity and includes a frame having at least one connector thereon. The connector has at least one flexible contact for surface-engaging a respective circuit trace on the bottom side of the printed circuit board. A complementary interengaging mounting structure is provided between the frame of the connector module and the lower phone housing to releasably mount the module in the cavity. Thereby the module easily can be selectively removed from the housing for repair or replacement purposes.

Abstract: A modular jack assembly includes a dielectric housing means having a mating face. At least one conductive terminal has a body portion mounted in the housing and a contact arm cantilevered from the mating face. The contact arm has a contact portion near a distal end thereof for engaging a contact of a modular jack plug to flex the arm in a direction generally parallel to the mating face. The contact arm has an engaging portion located between the contact portion and the body portion. The housing has a first wall for engaging the engaging portion of the terminal and a second wall for engaging the contact portion of the terminal to prevent overflexing of the contact arm.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening for receiving a mating connector. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and have contact portions exposed at the opening for engaging appropriate contacts of the mating connector. A shutter plate is mounted on the housing for movement from a protective position at the opening for covering and protecting the contact portions of the terminals, to a retracted position upon mating of the mating connector to allow the contact portions of the terminals to engage the contacts of the mating connector. At least one flexible locating spring is disposed between the shutter plate and the housing to allow the shutter plate to yield relative to the housing during movement between its positions and prevent binding of the shutter plate upon movement relative to the housing.

Abstract: A key arrangement for a telephone including a common plane in which all of the keys are arranged, the plane having a radial focal point and a peripheral area about the focal point. A set of twelve independently manually actuable keys are arranged in the plane with each key having an upper contact surface. Ten of the keys are arranged radially on the peripheral area of the plane about the focal point of the plane along a path defining a closed curve. Two keys are located at opposite sides of the radial focal point. Each key also has means for tactily indicating its position with respect to the other keys including the cross sectional shape of the upper contact surface of each key having a slope indicating the radial location from the central axis of the key arrangement.

Abstract: An FPC connector has a structure not damaging contacts of terminals upon assembling. In the FPC connector, each of the terminals has a contact beam extending into the FPC inserting portion and a pivot beam extending substantially parallel in upper side of the contact beam, and a cut-out portion is formed on a lower edge at a tip end portion of the pivot beam for forming a pivot portion of the actuator. The actuator is formed with through openings corresponding to pivot portions of respective terminals, a peripheral edge portion of each of the through hole being formed into a cross-sectionally substantially circular shape shaft portion to engage with the pivot portion. Pushing projecting portions is provided between adjacent shaft portions for pivoting according to pivot motion of the actuator for urging the FPC toward the contacts of the terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat flexible cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing for receiving the flat flexible cable, the housing having arm holders at opposite ends thereof. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing for electrically engaging appropriate conductors of the flat flexible cable. An elongated actuator is movably mounted on the housing and includes a body with a pressing portion for biasing the cable against the contact portions of the terminals. The actuator is fabricated of rigid ceramic material. A pair of connecting arms are mounted at opposite ends of the actuator and are of a resilient material other than ceramic for insertion into the arm holders of the housing.

Abstract: A connection device is provided for connecting a pair of circuit boards. A dielectric housing has a spacer portion for positioning between an upper circuit board and a lower circuit board. A conductive metal connecting member includes an upper plate portion sandwiched between the upper circuit board and an upper surface of the spacer portion. A lower plate portion is sandwiched between the lower circuit board and a lower surface of the spacer portion. A connecting portion connects the upper and lower plate portions. A fastener extends through the circuit boards and the spacer portion. The upper plate portion is engageable with a conductive pad on the upper circuit board and includes a hole through which the fastener extends. The lower plate portion is engageable with a conductive pad on the lower circuit board and is disposed to one side away from the fastener.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing, with a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the housing. At least one of the terminals is a ground terminal. A metal shield is mounted on the housing. An intermediate conductive terminal is mounted on the housing and includes one end engaging the metal shield and an opposite end engaging the ground terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for terminating a plurality of electrical wires. A non-conductive connector housing mounts a plurality of signal terminals. A wire management module includes a non-conductive body mounting a plurality of ground terminals. The body positions a plurality of signal conductors and a plurality of ground conductors of the electrical wires, the ground conductors being terminated to the ground terminals. The ground terminals interengage with the connector housing to mount the wire management module to the housing with the signal wire conductors in position for termination to the signal terminals.