Abstract: A self-aligning optical receptacle cover (10) suitable for use with various types of optical receptacles (20). The cover (10) seals the receptacle (20) against dust and debris, and alignment pylons (16, 18) extending from receptacle cover (10) cooperate with active optical devices (30, 40) to maintain precise alignment thereof within the receptacle during manufacturing operations.

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 includes a connector body and an array of posts extending out at least one side of the connector body. Each of the posts defines a tip and two opposed pairs of post faces that intersect at edges extending along the post. The tip defines four tip faces which converge toward a tip nose, and each tip face is aligned with a respective one of the post faces. Each of the tip faces is convex outwardly, and the edges between the post faces adjacent the tip are curved with a radius of curvature greater than about 0.005 inches. The electrical connector is assembled by press fitting the posts through pre-formed through holes, and the tip geometry reduces skiving of material out of the through hole as well as assembly forces.

Abstract: An electrical contact adapted for plugging connection is provided with locking lances projecting therefrom in obliquely outward direction and engaging a locking shoulder of a contact receiving chamber when said contact is inserted into said contact receiving chamber. The locking lances are disposed on the mating end of the electrical contact at the mating end of an outer back-up spring disposed on the contact.

Abstract: The electrical blade fuse is sealed at both the bottom and the top so that the fuse material, once melted, cannot become dislodged to short out other electrical circuits or to short out the terminals of the fuse itself. A cap of the fuse encloses the fuse cavity and is maintained in position by utilizing tab portions of the fuse terminals which are deformed to hold the cap in place, and additionally to serve as test electrodes to allow testing of the fuse in place.

Abstract: A high density electrical connector (10) includes a pair of plastic housings (12, 14) spring loaded by springs (50) to be driven apart and including guide surfaces (24, 34) and guide holes (30) that guide pins (52) on a mating component (60) to assure a proper alignment between circuit traces of component and connector and camming surfaces (24, 68) operable upon engagement to drive the housings relatively together to compress a flexible film elastomeric circuit (80) having traces (82) engaging with circuits (76) on a board (74) of a component. The film circuit includes a further elastomeric circuit held normally compressed by the housings under force of the mother board fastening means to interconnect to a further circuit (90) on the mother board (88). A use of the connector (10) includes electrically and mechanically interconnecting a component such as a hard drive disk to a component such as a computer.

Abstract: An electrical wire connector of the type having a bifurcate bolt has a base member and two opposed prongs. The prongs are spaced apart to define a wire receiving channel therebetween. A nut is threadable onto the bolt about the prongs, the nut cooperates with a slide to engage a first respective wire and to urge the wire and other wires into electrical engagement with each other. The bolt has resilient portions which supply a force which acts upon the wires. The force supplied by the resilient portions is of sufficient magnitude to ensure that the wires will be maintained in electrical engagement even when the split bolt is exposed to harsh environments.

Abstract: An assembly of matable connectors includes first and second connectors (10,100) each including housings (16,116) having a respective plurality of signal contacts (24,124) each having a front contact section (46,146) extending transversely of the connector's mating face (12,112) to a free end (52,152) from a bend section (44,144) adjoining the contact's body section (40,140). The front contact sections (46,146) of each associated pair extend forwardly of the respective mating faces to engage each other proximate their free ends and deflect each other rearwardly about bend sections (44,144), which results in low mating force and high cycle life. The connector housings (16,116) can include a durable latching system comprising a latch arm (18) of one connector (10) having a spaced apart pair of beams (208) having pairs of latches (210) and each being received into latching slots (252) of the other connector (100) near both lateral ends of the connectors, latching proximate both lateral ends.

Abstract: A high density connector for electrically connecting a high density cable to a matable electrical connector has a housing with a plurality of terminals provided therein. The terminals have sharp outer edges which enable the terminals to cooperate with a portion of the connector to provide the securing force required to retain the terminals in position. The positioning of the terminals in the housing is accurately controlled through the use of an alignment tool which is manufactured from a material which does not expand or contract when exposed to various environmental conditions. Therefore, the precise positioning of the terminals is guaranteed and is repeatable for many connectors.

Abstract: A land grid array connector (10) includes a housing (20) and clamping lid (38) for interconnecting arrays of contact pads of a component (50) and the contact pads (14) of a circuit board (12) through a planar connector insert (50) having a plastic comb (51) with coil springs (72) threaded on teeth (54) of the comb and with plastic cross bars (60) threaded over the comb teeth to position the contact springs in rows compatible with the rows of contact pads. The cross bars and springs are alternated to define a planar structure with the springs on the centers to engage the pads of contacts when the insert is positioned within the connector and clamped to press the springs between the pads. A method of manufacture including the steps of assembly of comb, contact springs and cross bars and affixing the cross bars to the comb.

Abstract: A retention sleeve (150) is placed over the rearward end (134) of the outer conductive shell (120) of a coaxial plug connector (100), providing a rearward stop for retaining the coupling nut (12) on the shell. The retention sleeve can include an inwardly directed flange (158) at its rearward end for retention of an annular solder preform (132) within the cable-receiving bore (136) of the outer conductive shell. The retention sleeve (150) can be of low resistance copper having a thin outer layer (170) of magnetic high resistance metal, defining a self-regulating temperature source when subjected to RF current, to reflow the solder of the preform (132) and thus solder the outer conductive shell (120) to the semirigid outer conductor (82) of the coaxial cable end inserted into the cable-receiving bore (136) providing for automated soldering.

Abstract: An eyelet (64) for securing a first member (22) to a second member (12) through aligned apertures (28,30) includes a tubular shank portion (66), an inverted portion (68) at a first end of the shank portion and a generally cup-shaped portion (70) at a second end of the shank portion remote from the first end. The cup-shaped portion (70) remains outside the apertures (28,30) when the eyelet (64) is inserted therethrough and has its sidewall (76) formed with an interference portion. A tool (94) for use with the eyelet includes a plunger (82) surrounded by and slidably received in a collet (84) which is longitudinally divided into a plurality of segments. At the end of each of the collet segments there is a grip head (96) having an outer surface shaped complemental to the inner surface of the sidewall (76) of the cup-shaped portion of the eyelet.

Abstract: A card reader (2) especially for use in connecting gold plated pads on a subscribers identity module card (4) to respective tin plated pads on a printed circuit board (6) in a car telephone handset, comprises an insulating frame (8) having spigots (26) for fixing it to the circuit board 96), and a metal cover (12). A bar (22) spanning the frame (8) supports contact elements (10) molded thereinto. Each contact element (10) has a 10 contact spring (40) provided with a bowed, gold plated contact surface (5) near its free end for engaging a respective gold plated pad on the card (4), and intermediate its ends, an oppositely bowed, tin plated, contact surface (44) for engaging a respective tin plated pad on the circuit board 96). With the card (4) resting on a ledge (18) in the frame (8), the metal cover (12) is latched to the frame (8) to force the contact surfaces (44 and 50) against their respective pads.

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: An electrical connector (10) for interconnecting a component (50) and a circuit (58) having pads (54, 60) on closely spaced centers for high density packaging includes a thin, dielectric member (12) carrying contacts (20) on centers compatible with the centers of the component and circuit pads; the contacts having spring arms (28, 32, 36, 40) extending from a central mounting portion (22) in a star-like configuration to provide an outward wiping engagement with component and contact pads as the contact is compressed by displacement of the component toward the circuit. The contact arms are of a geometry and have characteristics to provide a balanced force precluding rotary or twisting loads on the dielectric member and are tapered to further provide a desired deflection and sufficient normal force to define a stable, low-resistance electrical interface.

Abstract: An arrangement for securing an electrical connector (10) to a printed circuit board (14) includes a planar barbed holding device (12) installed within a recess (38) of a mounting portion (36) on the connector for subsequent insertion into an appropriately aligned cavity (40) in the printed circuit board. The recess is formed with an inner wall (62) for limiting insertion of the holding device and depth compensation protrusions (64) are provided on the inner wall to insure proper orientation and seating of the holding device within a required tolerance range.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a heater element which includes a layer of ferromagnetic material is included in a connecting device along with a fusible material such as a solder preform. The connecting device includes, for example, a hollow sleeve formed of heat shrinkable material. The solder preform, the heater element and the heat shrinkable hollow sleeve are integrally formed as a self-contained solder sleeve device such that the heater element is separate from the objects to be joined and does not completely shield to generation of a inductive current in the objects to be joined. The connecting device thus promotes even flow and bonding of the fusible material around a junction between the objects. Further, a connecting device is provided which permits visual inspection of a connection between objects bonded upon activation of the connecting device, thus providing an opportunity to confirm the integrity of the junction.

Abstract: A resilient spring defining a platform surface (250) and including a pair of side-by-side spring arms (244) extending in a common axial direction from the platform surface. Each of the spring arms defines an end (252) in an adjacent relationship to the base of the other spring arm, whereby the spring arms (252) extend generally in opposing transverse directions and in the common axial direction to define a pair of bearing surfaces (260) disposed to engage a common support surface (242) of another member (38). Locking lances (258) extend from side walls (254) of the spring in a direction opposed to the axial direction of the spring arms (252) to engage ledges along side walls (262) of a cavity (70) of the other member in a manner permitting only biased movement toward the common support surface (242) when an additional member (52) to be spring biased is placed on and urged against the platform surface (250).

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) and a filter insert (60) include a planar inductor (62) having recesses (63) containing MOV voltage surge protectors (72) fitted therein with conductive traces (68) formed on the surface of the inductor connecting signal pin portions (50) of contacts (44) that extend through the inductor to the protectors and ground traces (70) that connect the protectors to ground circuits provided by the shell portion (22), the inductor providing an L and the protector providing an internal C to form an LC network filtering out unwanted signal frequency components; the protector (72) operating to connect signal traces to a ground trace in the presence of excessive voltage transients. The insert (60) is dimensioned to fit interiorly of the connector (10). A multi-pin connector is contemplated with a common inductor plate (62) for such connector.

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.