Abstract: The invention hereof relates to electronic apparatus, such as a computer docking connector. More particularly, the invention relates to a docking connector for edge mounting to a "mother" board, where a "daughter" board, memory card, or similar device is inserted into said connector to electrically interconnect the mother board to the inserted device. The apparatus comprises a pair of spring biased, hermaphroditic, resilient housing members, which when assembled define an elongated slot planarly aligned with an edge of the mother board. Opposed camming surfaces are provided with the slot to operatively spread the housing members upon insertion of the electronic device int the slot. Finally a flexible film member containing electrical circuitry thereon is mounted within the housing members for electrically interconnecting corresponding circuitry on the mother board and the electronic device.

Abstract: The invention hereof relates to an improved Type "F" connector, where the contact and ground interfaces are sealed from the outside environment. The connector comprises a connector body, a dielectric insert to be received within the connector body, where the insert includes a generally uniform central bore, a metal wedge member featuring at least one annular serration, about a conically configured end thereof, where the wedge member is received within the insert and the serration is spaced from the wall of the bore prior to assembly of the connector. During assembly of the coaxial cable, the metal braid and jacket are captured between the serrations and the wall of the insert bore. Finally, elastomeric sealing means are provided at each end of the connector to environmentally protect same.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electrical connector, particularly an electrical ballast connector, that offers a reliable means preferably to extract electrical conductors therefrom. The connector comprises a dielectric housing having a plurality of cavities therein extending between a contact loading face and a conductor receiving face, where the conductor receiving face includes an aligned row of conductor openings of a like plurality, where each opening includes a lateral slot in communication with the cavities. A stamped electrical contact is provided within each cavity, where said contact includes a base and a pair of spaced apart arms upstanding therefrom, where the inner edge of a first arm is aligned with its corresponding conductor opening, and the other arm includes an angular extension directly downwardly and toward the first arm.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing a smooth continuous and adherent pressure bonded or cold welded layer of a metal containing composite on a base or target material through the driving force of a pulsed laser. The method includes the steps of selecting a laser transparent substrate, applying thereto a thin laser absorptive polymeric film characterized by a high optical coefficient of absorption to the wavelength of said laser, applying the metal containing composite to the absorptive polymeric film, and placing the base or target material in close proximity to said composite. The composite is a multilayered composite comprising laser absorptive polymer, gold, nickel and gold-flash, and the pulsed laser energy is directed through the transparent substrate toward said composite and is absorbed by the polymeric film causing heating and vaporization thereof while leaving portions of the polymeric film unvaporized.

Abstract: A connector (10) for an electrical distribution system includes an internal member or wedge (12) received within an external member (11) having an inherent resiliency. The external member (11) has a pair of end portions (15, 16), each of which has an opening (17, 18) to receive a respective wire (13, 14), and the wires (13, 14) are clamped mechanically between the side edges of the internal member or wedge (12) and the respective end portions (15, 16) of the external member (11). No special tool is required, either for the initial installation or subsequent disassembly for repair or replacement, and the inherent resiliency of the external member (11) accommodates any material creepage or dimensional instability in the wire material due to line current variations or adverse weather conditions, particularly where aluminum wires are used.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of aligning an electrical receptacle assembly having plural electrical terminals projecting therefrom along only one side of the assembly to the edge of a substantially rectangular, planar conductive panel formed of a dielectric material, such as a printed circuit board (PCB), where such terminals are to be reflow soldered to electrically conductive paths on the surface of said planar conductive panel.

Abstract: A compressible electrical connector (10) includes a rigid molded body (11) having elastomeric caps (19, 20) at the top (12) and bottom (13) thereof. A thin flexible film (21), provided with respective connector elements (22), is wrapped around the rigid molded body (11) and its caps (19, 20) and is retained by a film retaining plate (23). The film retaining plate (23) has a plurality of latching lances (24) received in corresponding mounting holes (30) formed transversely in the rigid molded body (11). A hot melt layer (36) is placed over the film retaining plate (23), and a plurality of compressible electrical connectors (10) are stacked side-by-side to form an array (35). The array (35) is disposed between a pair of PC boards or other electronic assemblies (39, 40) having respective circuit elements (37, 38). The height of the rigid molded body may be changed conveniently to readily accommodate different product applications.

Abstract: A pair of shorting contacts (16,16) on mated connector bodies (10,10). The shorting contacts are protrusions on the respective connector bodies which are laterally reversed mirror images of each other. The respective protrusions confront each other in a substantially transverse configuration. Initial engagement between the respective protrusions is at an initial point contact (25) at a high stress. The protrusions thereafter wipe against one another and come to engage at a final point contact (26). The path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective connector bodies.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a shorting bar insert for placement in a modular jack assembly to provide for the selective shorting of predetermined contacts during periods of nonelectrical engagement, with a modular plug, such as for an 8 position miniature modular jack in accordance with USOC STYLE RJ48X, for example. The method comprises the steps of preparing a strip of stamped contacts from a planar sheet metal blank joined together by a removable carrier strip having a front face and a back face, where the contacts are formed in pairs in parallel relationship and joined together at their ends remote from the carrier strip, the carrier strip including registration means, such as holes, offset from the centerline of each respective pair of contacts.

Abstract: A connector body (10 10', 10") is mounted on a mother board (11) and has a compressible electrical connector (15). A daughter board (22) is slidably inserted into the connector body (10, 10', 10") perpendicularly of the mother board (11). A deflection means (34, 56) engages a side of the daughter board (22) and deflects the daughter board (22) away from the compressible electrical connector (15) to prevent damage thereto after the daughter board (22) is slidably inserted. When the daughter board (22) is fully inserted, a retaining means 28, 43, 69) exerts a lateral clamping force on the daughter board (22).

Abstract: An apparatus (25) and method for loading elliptically cross-sectioned canted contact springs (11) on to respective rows of U-shaped tabs (18) lanced out of a continuous strip (17) of relatively-thin flexible material.

Abstract: A burn-in socket for integrated circuit chips has a clamping means actuated by a thermally-reactive resilient means, operative during the burn-in cycle itself, such that the chip frames are retained and good electrical contact with the chip leads is maintained during burn-in.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment of this disclosure is directed to an antenna connector for a cellular telephone, where such antenna may be rotated from a first position to a second position, such as "use" and "rest" positions, where the preferred rotation extent is about 90.degree.. The connector comprises a fixed support member and a circular housing member mounted therein for rotative movement between such first and second positions. The fixed support member is defined by first and second major faces having a circular opening extending therebetween for receiving the circular housing member, and at least one arcuate recess along the first major face adjacent said opening, where the length thereof extends between the first and second positions. The circular housing member includes a reduced diameter portion extending from one end thereof to an annular shoulder, where the reduced diameter portion is received within the circular opening up to the shoulder.

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: A method and product for providing an electrical interconnection between components and a substrate includes the use of an adhesive coating. The coating (40,42) is applied between the contacts (14,22) of component and substrate and the surface of a conductive fiber-filled, elastomeric connector (30) and is operable to bond the contacts to the surfaces of the connector with conductive fibers (34) of the connector piercing the adhesive coating to provide multiple contacts (36,38) and define current paths for the interconnection while mechanically bonding connectors, components, and substrate together. Protective covers (44) are applied to connectors to protect the adhesive coatings prior to use with sheets (50) or rolls (52) alternatively used to carry arrays of connectors in patterns corresponding to substrate contacts (14,22).

Abstract: Flat stamped electrical contact device (2) has a contact edge (8,8') which extends from the first major surface (4) to the second major surface (6) of the device. The contact edge surface (8,8') is smooth for substantially its full width and does not have a fractured portion or a burr extending from the second major surface (6). The smooth straight surface is produced by steps of coining the opening produced during the initial punching operation at a location adjacent to the second major surface after the opening has been punched and then shaving the edge to produce the finished contact surface.

Abstract: An edge mounted connector assembly for a printed circuit board (10) wherein the connector block (22) which mates with a connector receptacle on a mother board (12) is connected to the printed circuit board (10) by means of a flexible circuit member (44). A cover member (30) is mounted on the connector block (22) in such a manner that it is free to move relative to the connector block (22) in a first direction. The printed circuit board (10) is mounted to the cover member (30) in such a manner that it is free to move relative to the cover member in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The flexible circuit member (44) is free to flex in both directions.

Abstract: An impedance controlled elastomeric connector (10) includes signal contacts (30) and ground contacts (40) with leads (32, 42) and a ground plane (25) formed of conductive foil (24) laminated to a dielectric and insulating film (18) folded around an elastomeric core (12) with the signal, ground spacing and the dielectric constant and thickness of the film selected to provide controlled impedance signal paths through the connector as compressed between components (2, 6).

Abstract: A machine for making and testing a cable harness assembly having planar, multi-conductor cable terminated to insulation displacement contacts housed in connectors. The machine includes a test module having a programmed microprocessing unit for executing the testing procedure. A series of manually operable switches are provided, the conditions of which are detectable by the computer. These switches are then set to indicate the number of contacts present in the connectors being terminated and to indicate which of these contact positions are to be tested. Additionally, the order of correspondence of the contacts of one connector to the other connector may be reversed by actuating a forward/reverse switch. The test module includes a learn mode, where a cable assembly of known configuration is placed into the machine. The test module then determines the continuity paths of the cable assembly and uses that information to test subsequently made cable assemblies.