Abstract: An improved heating element connector assembly includes an insulative, rectangular frame with a central opening, and a plurality of conductive terminals which are press fit into openings in the frame. The terminals are spaced apart from each other lengthwise of two opposing sidewalls of the frame, and pairs of terminals are aligned with each other between the two sidewalls. A plurality of conductive strips are held together in an assembly and the ends of the strips are interconnected along two spaced apart lines by carrier members that may be molded over the ends of the conductive strips. The carrier members extend down into cavities on the frame and terminals are pushed into the cavities to bear against the ends of the strips and effect an electrical connection between the terminals and the strips.

Abstract: An improved heating element connector assembly includes an insulative, rectangular frame with a central opening and a plurality of conductive terminals which are press fit into openings in the frame. The terminals are spaced apart from each other lengthwise of two opposing sidewalls of the frame, and pairs of terminals are aligned with each other between the two sidewalls. A plurality of conductive strips extend across the frame opening to interconnect the pairs of terminals together. The terminals include compliant pin tail portions for receipt by corresponding holes formed in a circuit board of the assembly and deformable head portions for crimping onto the conductive strips.

Abstract: A shroud that forms a guide channel for a connector is disclosed and it has the shape of an inverted U-shape, with a press tab for engaging a mating connector. The shroud has notches and tabs formed on it that serve to orient the mating connector for entry into the shroud. A placement member is also described and it serves to hold the connector and the shroud together as a single unit for robotic placement of the shroud and connector in preselected positions on the circuit board.

Abstract: A small size connector has an insulative housing and two edge card-receiving slots disposed in a stacked arrangement with in the connector housing. Each slot receives an edge card of an electronic module therein. The slots support conductive terminals that extend from a plurality of individual terminal assemblies. The terminal assemblies include clip members that engage an opposing shoulder formed on the interior of the connector housing. The front face of the connector is provided with various engagement openings that receive engagement members of light pipe assemblies and shielding assemblies, so that when assembled, the connector, shield, terminal assemblies and light pipes all act as a single, integrated component.

Abstract: An EMI gasket takes the form of a formed conductive shroud that completely encircles a metal shielding cage. The shroud has an opening that is surrounded by a plurality of sides and the shroud contains a base portion that has slits formed in a leading edge thereof. The slits define a plurality of spring arms or contacts that are bent in opposing directions so that some of the spring arms extend up and out into contact with a faceplate inserted over the shielding cage and the remaining spring arms extend down and into the shielding cage interior to contact a module inserted therein.

Abstract: A plug connector is disclosed that has a body portion and a circuit card extending forwardly of a mating face of the connector. The circuit card is protected in place by a protective flanges that extends forwardly from the body portion above the circuit card to protect it from stubbing and to provide a means for aligning the plug connector with a receptacle connector.

Abstract: A circuit board design is disclosed that is useful in high-speed differential signal applications uses either a via arrangement or a circuit trace exit structure. A pair of differential signal vias in a circuit board are surrounded by an opening that is formed within a ground plane disposed on another layer of the circuit board. The vias are connected to traces on the circuit board by way of an exit structure that includes two flag portions and associated angled portions that connect the flag portions to circuit board traces. In an alternate embodiment, the circuit board traces that leave the differential signal vias are disposed in one layer of the circuit board above a wide ground strip disposed on another layer of the circuit board.

Abstract: A surface mount connector for high speed data transfer application has an insulative housing with a vertically-oriented circuit card-receiving slot disposed along a front face thereof. A plurality of conductive terminals are supported by the housing so that contact portions of the terminals extend into the card slot. The terminals are formed with a thin configuration to reduce the overall capacitance of the terminals as a group as a means of regulating the impedance thereof. The terminals are supported on opposing sidewalls of the connector housing and each of the terminals includes a tail portion, a contact portion and a retention portion that engages the connector housing so that the contact portions are cantilevered in their extent within the housing.

Abstract: An adapter module used to convert optical signals to electrical signals or electrical signals to optical signals utilizing a “C” shaped retaining clip to secure the adapter module housing together. The retaining clips are used in place of screws, rivets or snap fits and provide an easy and simple way to assembled adapter modules. The retaining clips require no additional structure thereby minimizing the overall size of the adapter module.

Abstract: Stacked receptacles in a connector that each provide side-by-side differential signal contacts, are attached to a circuit board without additional width to accommodate multiple layers of differential signals by using connector wafer inserts that rotate the side-by-side positioned differential signal contacts to front-to-back contacts.

Abstract: A plug connector for engaging a housing on a circuit board is described. The housing includes a pair of engagement tabs that are bent inwardly of the housing at an angle thereto and these tabs engage openings formed in the body of the plug connector. The tabs rest in the openings and may be released by way of a delatching mechanism that is part of the plug connector. This mechanism includes a handle and two arms that extend lengthwise. The arms end in cam blocks that contact and lift the engagement ends out of the plug connector shell openings to unlatch the plug connector from the housing.

Abstract: A light pipe assembly is provided for use with small form factor style connectors of a dual row, stacked configuration. The assembly includes two pairs of light pipes, each of which is provided with integrated support members. The support members include members that engage opening disposed on the face of the connector, and the pairs of pipes are arranged so that one pair is supported within the other pair of pipes in a nested type of arrangement.

Abstract: A connector guide mounted in front of a receptacle connector is provided with a latch that engages a connector mounted on a circuit board when a mating connector is inserted into the connector on the circuit board. The guide is separate from the plug connector and serves to align contact surfaces and provide strain relief to the receptacle connector.

Abstract: An integrated wall stacked shielded cage assembly is provided for electrical connectors. The cage assembly has multiple bays for receiving electrical components. At least two arrays of bays are provided, and the arrays are separated by an intervening space. Assembly is carried out with a plurality of spacers which interlock with a plurality of intermediate walls, and cover structures are provided in order to complete EMI shielding.

Abstract: A small, low-profile plug connector for use with electronic devices provides a latching member with a pair of hooks that engage mating holes in a guide frame, and which can be easily delatched from the guide frame or opposing connector or housing. The hooks lock the plug connector into engagement with the frame or housing, but are readily released by way of a simple ramp and lobe mechanism in the plug connector. The ramp and lobe mechanism converts horizontal movement of a pull tab actuator into vertical movement of a latching member such that the hooks are lifted upward and disengaged from the guide frame or housing. The pull tab has a configured shape that fits within the width profile of the connector and which partially envelops the cable.

Abstract: A floating connector is disclosed with an inner housing that is movably held within an outer housing. The connection between the inner and outer housing is effected by terminals with increased flexibility. Fitting nails are provided that serve as stops to limit the upward movement of the inner housing relative to the outer housing.

Abstract: An ice maker for a refrigerator/freezer having a control module for more reliably driving a rotatable ice ejector for removing ice bodies from a mold of the ice maker and for refilling mold cavities with water. The control module has an ice ejector drive with a drive coupling that includes a gear wheel and an ejector shaft section, both made of hard plastic material, preferably a polymide resin, for transmitting higher torque to the rotary ice ejector without failure of the plastic drive components. In one embodiment, a drive sleeve on the gear wheel and a drive shaft section have a spline coupling for more effectively distributing driving forces in the drive coupling. In another embodiment, a metallic collar is tightly positioned over the gear wheel sleeve for enhancing torque transmission in the drive coupling.

Abstract: A shielded housing that provides a shield to a circuit board connector of the SFP-style includes a conductive body that encompasses the connector. The housing has an opening that defines an entrance of the housing through which an opposing mating connector may be inserted. The housing entrance includes one or more guide members that extend into the center of the housing and provide a guide for guiding an opposing mating connector into engagement with the circuit board connector.

Abstract: A shroud that forms a guide channel for a connector is disclosed and it has the shape of an inverted U-shape, with a press tab for engaging a mating connector. The shroud has notches and tabs formed on it that serve to orient the mating connector for entry into the shroud. A placement member is also described and it serves to hold the connector and the shroud together as a single unit for robotic placement of the shroud and connector in preselected positions on the circuit board.

Abstract: A high speed connector includes a plurality of wafer-style components in which two columns of conductive terminals are supported in an insulative support body, the body including an internal cavity disposed between the two columns of conductive terminals. The terminals are arranged in horizontal pairs, and the internal cavity defines an air channel between each horizontal pair of terminals arranged in the two columns of terminals. The terminals are further aligned with each other in each row so that horizontal faces of the terminals in the two rows face each other to thereby promote broadside coupling between horizontal pairs of terminals. Guide members are provided and are attached to the components to provide a means for guiding the components into engagement with opposing connectors.