Abstract: A switch arrangement with multiple switches that can be selectively actuated by operation of a single lever, is of simple construction and occupies a minimum of space on a circuit board. The arrangement includes a housing (100) with a vertical axis (V) and an actuating lever (50) lying along the axis and pivotable about horizontal axes (102, 104). Upper and lower West switches (114, 116) that lie West of the axis, are actuated, one when the lever top is moved West and the other when the lever top is moved East. Similarly, upper and lower South switches (117, 118) are actuated, one when the lever top is moved South and the other when the lever top is moved North. Each pair of switches includes a pair of resilient trip members (32W, 33W and 32S, 33S), and with an arm (68W, 68S) extending horizontally from the middle of the lever and lying between the centers of the trip members.

Abstract: An electrical connector for mounting in an opening (2) of a wall (3), includes a connector element (4) having a bayonet threaded shaft (7) that projects into the opening and a clamp element (5) with a nut part that can be threaded onto the threaded shaft until shoulders on the two elements abut the wall, where the connector includes a latching mechanism (40) that prevents loosening of the clamp member. The latching mechanism includes a holder ring (54) on the connector element, that lies within a latch ring (50) on the clamp element. The latch ring has inwardly-extending projections (42, 44), while the holder ring carries at least one latch member (14). When the clamping member is tightened on the connector element, the distal end (15a) of the latch member readily rides over the projections. However, when the clamping member begins to loosen, the distal end resists such loosening.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for terminating a connector (12) to a circuit board (16) by coupling multiple contacts (28) of the connector to multiple areas of the circuit board, which leaves one face (52) of the circuit board free of holes so surface mount circuit components (22) can be mounted on that face of the circuit board. A termination adaptor (14) is provided that includes an insulative frame (64) with multiple through passages extending between its opposite faces, and multiple intercontacts (62) each lying in one of the passages. Each intercontact has a resilient beam (76) that projects slightly beyond a first face (70) of the termination frame, so when the termination frame is pressed against first face of the circuit board that has traces (80) on it, the beams resiliently press against the traces. Second ends (74) of the intercontacts form clamps that receive projecting ends or tails (30) of the contacts of the connector and clamp to them. The assembly avoids the need for solder connections.

Abstract: A switch assembly (30, FIG. 3) for detecting full insertion of a smart card, is of small thickness and can be mass produced with high precision. The switch assembly includes a molded support (100) forming an upwardly-opening support cavity (114), outer and central contacts (38, 40) mounted on the support and having dome-engaging parts (148, 150) lying in the support cavity, and a tripping dome (36) lying in the support cavity with a center portion lying over the dome-engaging part of the central contact. A cover (32) receives the support in a downward-opening cover cavity (65), and holds an actuating device (42) that can depress the tripping dome to close the switch. The actuating device is of sheet metal, with a heel (67) that is fixed in the rear end of the cover cavity, with a second part (82) substantially engaged with the center portion of the tripping dome, and with a front end forming an actuating lever (88) that extends through an opening (52) in the cover to be depressed by a smart card.

Abstract: A coaxial connector has a board mount end (14) for mounting on a circuit board, with a standoff (70) thereat to lie above circuit board traces and allow the passage of wash fluid that washes away soldering flux etc., which minimizes a change in impedance along the standoff to reduce signal losses. The standoff, which is connected to the outer contact (24) of the connector, has a circular inner surface (90) that faces the pin part (34) of the center contact, and which has segments (81-84) which, together, extend at least about 180.degree. about the pin. The outer contact which surrounds a mount-end insulator (62) and the inner contact, has a slot (120) at the mount end to enable the installation of the center contact.

Abstract: A terminating ferrule (10) for connecting a screen (34) of a screened cable (30) to an electrical connector (46) and a method for its installation. The ferrule (10) comprises inner (12) and outer (14) tubular portions with front ends connected by an annulus (18) and forming a rearwardly - opening cavity (22) into which the screen (34) and jacket (32) of the cable (30) can be inserted to make electrical contact between the screen and the ferrule and to mechanically hold the ferrule to the jacket. The ferrule is engaged with a rearward projection (50, 54, 62) of connector body (56, 60) to provide an electrical connection between the screen (34) and connector body.

Abstract: A smart card connector includes a base (36) that holds contacts (38) and a cover (76) with a rear end pivotally connected to the base and a front end that receives a card into a cavity or card receiver (31). The base is narrow, and laterally opposite sides of the cover move down on opposite sides of the base when the cover is lowered. The cover is a one-piece molded plastic part with a rear plate (116) that lies over the rear of the card, and with the front of the cavity being open. A locking bar (140) has a plate lying over the front of the cavity, the locking bar being slideable forwardly to lock the cover in the closed position.

Abstract: An electronic card (10) of the type that fits into a slot of a computer, has top and bottom cover halves (32,34) that each includes flat sheet metal parts (64, 66) and plastic overmolding frames (70, 72) at the edges, where the sheet metal is exposed at groundable regions (50, 52) at the opposite sides of the card. The plastic overmolding forms columns at the top and bottom with the columns (80, 82) having abutting joined surfaces (84, 86) that can be sonically welded together to seal the cover closed. The top sheet metal piece has a downwardly-extending ear (100) supported by the plastic top column, while the bottom sheet metal piece has an upwardly-extending tab (94) supported by the bottom column, with the tab and ear engaging each other to connect the pieces of sheet metal at the top and bottom covers. The tab lies on the outside of the lower column to provide an exposed sheet metal region that can be engaged by a contact on the computer to ground the card.

Abstract: An adapter is described for receiving a smart card (16) and for electrically connecting smart card pads (24) to terminals (44) at the rear of a PC card (40), which includes a simple and reliable latch (72) for locking the adaptor to the PC card. The latch is slidably mounted on the connector, and has a rear part (74) positioned to be pushed forward by the leading edge (80) of a smart card, and a front part (62) in the form of a pin that causes a pair of arms (54, 56) of the adaptor to lock to the PC card. The rear part is in the form of a flat bar that lies in the plane of the smart card-receiving slot (14), the flat bar extending across the width of the adaptor and having handles (100, 102) at its opposite sides that project from opposite sides of the adaptor housing for manual movement of the latch.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) includes first and second connectors (11, 12) that each has inner and outer contacts, which provides a visual and tactile indication when the two connectors have not been fully mated. The first outer contact is in the form of a helical spring (16) of electrically conductive material which is contacted by the outer second contact (41) and compressed as mating continues until a detent (74) on one connector engages a groove shoulder (116) on the other connector. If connector mating stops before the detent engages the groove shoulder, the spring will push apart the two connectors to clearly indicate that full mating has not been achieved. A front end of the spring is bent to form a prong (31) that engages the first inner contact front end (102) prior to mating but which is deflected out of contact during mating, with the opposite end of the spring forming a rear terminal (29) of the first connector.

Abstract: A first connector of the type that has a pair of forwardly-projecting latch arms for locking into a cavity of a second connector, where the latch arms of the first connector have outer sides with slots that hold first auxiliary contacts, and the second connector has slots at opposite sides of its cavity for holding corresponding second auxiliary contacts. Each slot is aligned with a bore in the connector frame, with the bore being of rectangular configuration. Each auxiliary contact includes a plate portion lying in the bore in interference fit with the opposite sides of the bore, a strip portion that extends forward of the plate portion, and a 90.degree. bend that connects one side of the plate portion to an edge of the strip portion.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) is provided for connecting a pair of devices (12, 14) that have precision flat surfaces (20, 22) that lie facewise against each other. Each device has socket contacts (30, 32, 34, 36) with a socket contact end lying slightly inward of the corresponding precision surface, and a spring pin contact (40, 42) fits into each pair of sockets to electrically connect them. The spring pin contact is formed from a piece of sheet metal that is bent into a sleeve that has opposite end portions (80, 82) and a middle portion (84). Each end portion forms at least three radially-outward projections (86, 88) for providing large area engagement with the corresponding socket inside surface. The socket contacts preferably compress the sleeve so its edges (94, 96) abut one another.

Abstract: A molded plastic saddle (19) lies at the front of a PC card (10), the saddle connecting to the front connector (18), the front of the circuit board (16), and the front of the lower cover part (12) in connections that are easily performed by the PC card maker who assembles the components. The saddle has laterally spaced opposite saddle side portions (120, 122) connected by a laterally-extending crossbar (28). Each saddle side portion has a cutout (38) in its side, and the sheet metal lower cover part has upstanding side rails (51, 52) with front portions forming holdown tabs (53) that are bent to extend into the cutouts to lock the front of the lower housing part to the saddle and thereby to the front connector and the front end of the circuit board.

Abstract: A connector is provided with a contact that is grounded to a metal shell, which can be constructed at low cost. A grounded contact device (1A) that lies in a passage (10) of a connector housing, has a contact (20A) with a front mating end (3) and a rear terminating end (2) for connecting to a cable wire, the contact device also having a grounding element (9) in the form of a sleeve that lies around the contact and that can be inserted with the contact into the passage. The grounding element has a surrounding part (34) that closely surrounds a flange (8) on the contact, and has a rear portion with slots forming a plurality of tines (44) with a larger outside diameter than the surrounding part. When the contact device is inserted into the passage, the tines are compressed to squeeze the surrounding part of the grounding element tightly against the flange.

Abstract: A component unit (40) is provided for connecting a circuit component (42) such as a chip resistor to a pair of contacts (22A, 22B) of a connector, in a simple, robust, and low-cost manner. The component unit includes a chip component in the form of a block with opposite end portions forming terminals, and a pair of clips (44, 46) that each has a chip-engaging part (52) soldered to a component terminal and a pin-engaging part (50) that can be slid over a pin portion of a connector contact. The chip-engaging part of each clip includes three walls (80, 82, 84) forming a channel that closely receives an end portion of the chip and that is soldered thereto. A connector insulator (26) has a surface (118) with a recess (120) that closely receives the chip component and the side walls (82, 84) of each clip channel.

Abstract: A PCMCIA standard PC card is provided, that can receive an IC stick type of card and connect contact pads on the IC stick to contacts at the front connector of the PC card. The PC card has a guide (90) with a rear cap portion (92) that occupies the space (84) between the rear ends of the top and bottom sheet metal covers (72, 74). The rear cap portion has slot side walls (102, 104) that closely guide the IC stick in movement forwardly into the slot of the PC card, until pads (60) on the IC stick engage contacts (56) on an IC stick connector (54) that is mounted on a circuit board (40) within the PC card. The circuit board has a rear end with tabs (144, 146) supported by the rear cap portion of the guide.

Abstract: A switch (12, in FIG. 1) for mounting on a circuit board (P), has a minimum number of parts and a very small height. The switch includes an insulative support (29) for lying on the circuit board and a switch element (33) with a pedal (58) extending above the upper face (18) of the support to be downwardly deflected by a card as the card reaches its fully installed position. The switch element is formed of electrically conductive sheet metal material, with a connect tab (43) for permanently engaging a first switch trace (25) on the circuit board, and with a contacting part (44) for lying over a second trace (26) on the circuit board. When the pedal is depressed, it also depresses the contacting part (44) to press it against the second trace to thereby close the switch.

Abstract: A mold insert (12) is held down in a mold base (16), released, and then ejected upwardly, by positioners (30, 32) that each includes a lock member (50) and an eject member (52). The mold insert has a recess (40) in each side along its front portion and has a largely downwardly-facing shoulder (42) at each side along the rearward portion thereof. Two largely cylindrical bores (44, 46) are formed in the mold base and each communicates with the recess and shoulder at each side of the mold insert. When the lock member is pivoted about the bore axis (54,56), a lock part (74) is moved out of the recess in the mold insert to allow the mold insert to move up out of the mold base. When the ejector member is pivoted about the bore axis, a radially-projecting ejector part (80) moves upwardly against the shoulder on the mold insert to push up the mold insert so its upper end lies above the mold base and can be lifted out.

Abstract: A thin electrical connector for connecting to contact pads of a smart card, includes contacts (44) and a support plate (42) that holds the contacts on a circuit board (16), where the contacts and plate are thin. Each contact has a contact blade (60) that projects at an upward incline through and above a slot (52) in the support plate, and each contact has a rear portion (61) for mounting. The rear portion includes a mount part (66) joined to the blade and a pair of retainers (80) on laterally opposite sides of the mount portion. The retainers have ears (104,118) lying out of the plane of the mount part The support plate has a downwardly-opening recess (70) for receiving the mount part, and has upwardly-opening recesses (98, 120) for receiving the ears, to thereby fix the contact to the support plate.

Abstract: A card reader for receiving a smart card (12), has a minimum number of special molded parts, with the parts easily assembled. The card reader includes a molded main enclosure (30) with bottom and side walls (71,73,75,77), a circuit assembly (32) that includes a plate-like frame (40) that holds a smart card connector (42) with contacts for engaging pads on the card, and a front device (34). The frame (40) is formed by a simple circuit board with the smart card connector and an I/O connector (44) mounted on the board and connected by traces (56) on the board. The board is installed on the main enclosure by placing the rear end (70) of the board under a tab (74) of the enclosure and pivoting down the board while pegs (84) on the enclosure are received in locating holes (80) drilled in the rear end of the board.