Abstract: The shielded electrical connector (10) comprises a die-cast shell (20) and metal isolation walls (30) for dividing the cavity in the shell (20). There are signal and ground contacts (77,78) disposed in a row at both sides of the isolation walls (30). The ground contact (78) is directly connected to the isolation wall (30) and the signal contacts (77) establish a micro stripline configuration in combination with the isolation wall (30) for enabling high frequency signal transmission. A plurality of connector modules (75) terminated to one end of the cable (70) are disposed on both sides of the isolation walls (30). The electrically conductive shell (20) is a two-piece structure sandwiching the cable (70) therebetween to provide a strain relief thereof.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electrical interconnection system composed of a plurality of interconnected circuit panel subassemblies, where each subassembly is preferably formed by a reaction injection molding (RIM) process. Each subassembly includes a plurality of spaced apart sites for establishing electrical contact to an electrical component, and an encapsulated conductive grid network joining certain of the respective spaced apart sites. A feature of this invention is that the conductive grid network includes flexible, insulative conductors which are unencapsulated and extend between adjacent pairs of subassemblies. By this arrangement, it is possible to fabricate and terminate the subassemblies, planarly arranged, by robotics, whereupon the subassemblies may then be moved relative to each other to form a nonplanar or three-dimensional assembly, such as an electromechanical structure to which further electrical components may be secured.

Abstract: An electrical terminal (2,102) is shown having a pin (4) or socket contacts (104) a retaining spring (6) and an insulation crimping barrel (8). The retaining spring (6) is defined as a substantial box section where the upper wall (36) includes a stamped out locking lance (38) having a free end (40) for engaging a locking shoulder within an electrical terminal housing. The free end (40) of the locking lance (38) has an embossed section (42) forming a raised surface on the upper surface (44) of the locking lance and an indentation (50) on the lower surface (46) of the locking lance. The embossed area (42) extends into the free end (40) of the electrical terminal so as to define a discontinuous end edge for engaging the locking shoulder of the electrical terminal housing. Medially positioned within the embossed area (42), and extending from the free end (40) thereof, is a sheared tab (54) defined by sheared slits ( 52).

Abstract: An electrical contact adapted for plugging connection, comprising a pair of contact spring arms and an outer back-up spring having a pair of outer back-up spring arms disposed on the outside of the contact spring arms. For reducing the insertion force for a tab contact insertable into contact, the two outer back-up spring arms are held by a spacing means at such a minimum spacing from each other that the contact spring arms come into abutment with the respectively associated outer back-up spring arm only after having been spread apart to a predetermined distance from each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector 10, for connecting individual conductors 27 of an electrical cable 28 to a printed circuit board 11, comprises electrical terminals 26 and a similarly constructed electrical terminal 50. The electrical terminal is characterized in that it has an actuator arm 32 having a first leg portion 36, a second leg portion 38, a third leg portion 40 and a joining portion 42 joining the first, second and third leg portions 36, 38 and 40. An actuator 22 is positioned in an actuation area 44 between engaging surfaces 36a and 38a which causes the electrical terminal 26 to be positioned in a home position in the insulating housing 12. As the actuator 22 is moved further into an actuation area 44, the engaging surfaces 38b and 40a move into pinched engagement with the conductor 26 of the cable 28.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) of a type adapted to connect signal and ground circuits between a mating connector (60) and a further circuit, board, or cable (50) includes a housing (12) having an interior cavity (20a) defined by side, top, and bottom walls (13, 14, 17, and 18) and a rear wall (16) with the surfaces of the housing being conductive to shield signal contacts (24, 26) therein extended through the rear wall (16) via insulating portions (22); the housing including longitudinal slots (30) containing grounding contacts (32) having spring driven edge portions (34) engaging the grounding and shielding surfaces of a mating connector (60) and post portions (38) extending out of the housing to interconnect to the grounding circuit of a further circuit, board, or cable. One embodiment features a plastic housing (12) with a metallic coating defining surface (M) and another embodiment includes a solid metallic housing (40) and a plastic insert (46).

Abstract: A connector half (2) includes a housing (10) and a bolt fastener (50) having a neck (56) adapted to receive a plate fastener (70) inserted transversely to the bolt through a slot (20) in the connector housing to lock the bolt to the housing. Various embodiments of the plate fastener (70), (70'), and (70") are included, and in one embodiment, the bolt is made to include a neck (54) adapted to receive projections (38) interiorly of a bore (36) in the housing to hold the bolt in position prior to insertion of the fastener plate.

Abstract: An electrical connector for electrically connecting circuit boards together comprising a plug connector (10,40) having plug contacts (13,43) secured in an insulating housing (11a, 11b, 41a) at spaced intervals therealong; a receptacle connector (20,30,50,60) having receptacle contacts secured in an insulating housing (21,31,52a,62a) for electrical engagement with respective plug contacts (13,43) When the connectors are mated; the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts have interlocking sections (17,28,35,43b, 56a,66a) which are interlocked when the connectors are connected together thereby preventing their disengagement.

Abstract: A high density electrical connector includes an insulating housing having contacts arranged in rows to engage the contacts of a mating connector, or first printed circuit board, with the contacts having ends extending in freestanding relationship relative to the housing and including a guide member having beveled surfaces to guide the free ends of the contacts into alignment with holes of a second printed circuit board to facilitate mounting of the connector housing and contacts on the second printed circuit board. Embodiments include a guide member which divide at least one row of contacts into two rows and a guide member which guide four rows of contacts into rows of holes in the printed circuit board. The invention contemplates particularly right angle connectors having contacts wherein the freestanding ends are on slightly different centers.

Abstract: A filter connector (40) for filtering unwanted signals from contacts (46) includes a housing (50) having therewith a subassembly (62) including an auxiliary plate (44) holding capacitors (43) in a spaced array, a grounding plate (42) having holes (41) on the spaced array to receive the capacitors inserted therewithin extending into recesses (49) of a ferrite plate (42) with the ferrite plate contiguous with the grounding plate. Contacts (46) are carried by the subassembly with contact ends (46a) projecting forwardly in the housing and post ends (46b) inserted into a PC board (60). The ground plate (42) includes terminals (54-56) projecting to connect the ground plate to ground circuits of the printed circuit board, suitably bent to provide support for the connector prior to soldering. Embodiments include a molded housing, in one form insert molded (50) around subassembly (62) or premolded (71) with the subassembly (62) secured therein.

Abstract: An electrical connector (20,60) includes rows of chambers (36) into which contacts (26) are held seated in place in such chambers through internal lances (58) and a double-locking device (24) inserted through an opening (40) in a wall of the housing (22) of the connector. The locking device (24) includes latches (52) which cooperatively engage depressions (50) to establish a first locking position allowing contact insertion and further latches (56) which engage interior walls (54) to establish a second locking position upon final insertion of the device (24) into the housing (22). Improper contact insertion and seating precludes operation of the locking device (24) as a visible indication of improper insertion. Proper insertion of locking device (24) assures a double-locking against contact backout and provides primary and secondary retention of contacts in the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes a first housing part (20) fixed to a circuit board and a second housing part (30) fitted within the first housing part and spaced therefrom to alow limited X, Y, and Z movement between such parts, contacts (40) are provided including solder post portions (42) mounted in the first housing part and contact portions (41) in the second housing part adapted to engage the contacts of a mating housing. The contact portions (41) and (42) are interconnected by an integral S-shaped spring (43) to facilitate limited and resilient movement of the contact portions and housing parts to relieve stresses and strains caused by mating and unmating of components, including further connectors to a circuit board through the connector. An alternative embodiment (10') includes legs (42') and a J-shaped contact portions (40') in the second housing part (30') with the connector (10') being adapted to be surface mounted and soldered on a circuit board.

Abstract: A sealing electrical assembly (32) of a type mated with a further connector (11) along a given axis includes first and second housings (1, 2) that telescope together to hold a one-piece seal (3) therebetween. The seal (3) has apertures (10) receiving wires (7) passed through openings (8) in the second housing joining contacts (5) retained in cavities (4) in the first housing and a peripheral surface including ribs (12) engaged by surfaces on a housing (2) of the further connector (11) to be compressed peripherally in a sense transverse to the mating axis of the connectors to effect a seal of the connector interior. One invention embodiment features a seal surface oriented outwardly (12) to be compressed inwardly, and a second embodiment includes a seal surface oriented inwardly (12') to be compressed outwardly against interior surfaces of a second housing to effect a seal of the connector interior.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes a plastic housing (12) of a configuration to fit through an aperture (32) of a printed circuit board (30) having circuits (34) on the undersurface (33) thereof with the connector housing having wing portions (14) carrying contact portions (26) adapted to engage the circuits of the underside of the printed circuit board and be soldered thereto to minimize the overall height of the assembly formed of the connector and board.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises an insulation housing (30) having a plurality of contact-receiving cavities (33) in which electrical contacts (10, 10') are to be inserted and secured. Each of the contacts (10, 10') includes a base section (11, 11') for engaging with a first wall (31a) of the cavity (33), a contact-receiving section (12), a conductor-engaging section (13) and an engaging section (14, 14') having engaging members (22, 22') being pressed into channels (34) in the third and fourth walls (32a, 32b) of the cavity (33) thereby securing the contact (10, 10') in the cavity (33). Wing members (15) have ends (15a) disposed in spaces (38) in the cavity (33).

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing (30) having at least one cavity (31) with a wall of the cavity having a resilient lance (34), an electrical contact (10) positioned in the cavity (31) and includes conductor and insulation-crimping sections (11, 12) at both ends of the contact for respectively crimping to a conductor (20a) and insulation (20b) of an electrical wire (20), a securing member (14) and a contact section (13) are located between the crimping sections (11, 12) at opposite sides, and an outwardly-formed projection (15) is formed in the securing member (14) for engagement with a raised portion (35) of the resilient lance (34) to retain the contact (10) in the cavity (31).