Abstract: An electrical connector including a lead frame assembly of a first dielectric material that includes a pocket filled with a second dielectric material. A first ground reference, which may be either a ground contact or conductor or a virtual ground defined between signal contacts of a differential signal pair, extends in the first dielectric material and has a first physical length. A second ground reference having a different physical length than the first length extends in the first dielectric material and also through the pocket. The combination of the length of the second ground reference through the pocket along with the difference in the dielectric constants associated with the first and second dielectric materials, provides for equalizing or matching the electrical lengths of these two references having different physical lengths. This may aid in reducing slot-line mode of a co-planar waveguide.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. The open structure of both the receptacle and plug contacts enhances heat dissipation and allows flexibility in achieving desired contact normal forces. The contact construction is especially useful for electronic power connectors.

Abstract: A high speed electrical connector is provided that comprises a substantially planar dielectric, a substantially planar ground plane, and a signal conductor. The ground plane is disposed on one planar surface of the planar dielectric and the signal conductor is disposed on the opposing planar surface of the planar dielectric.

Abstract: A cover for an electrical connector includes substrate mounting beams. When a force is applied to the top, the beams transfer the force to the lead frame, pressing contacts of the connector to an electrical device such as a substrate. Flat rock application may be applied to the top of the cover to connect the connector to a substrate. The cover may aid in retaining the lead frame assemblies in the connector. A cover for an electrical connector may include a back extending from a top such that the back includes resiliency and is able to be flexed while the cover is placed on a connector and flexed to remove the cover from the connector.

Abstract: A mezzanine style electrical connector is disclosed. The connector includes first and second arrays of electrical contacts extending through a connector housing. Each contact array may include single ended signal conductors or differential signal pairs or a combination of both. The contact arrays are disposed adjacent to one another such that cross-talk between adjacent signal contacts is limited, even in the absence of any electrical shielding or ground contacts between the contact arrays.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a connector housing and a leadframe assembly received in the connector housing. The leadframe assembly may include a dielectric leadframe housing and first and second electrically-conductive contacts extending through the leadframe housing. Each of the contacts may define a respective broadside and a respective mating end. The leadframe housing may define a hinge between the mating ends of the first and second contacts. The leadframe housing may be folded along the hinge such that the broadside of the first contact is positioned along the broadside of the second contact.

Abstract: An electrical filter assembly including a housing; at least one electrical wire extending into the housing; and a filter subassembly on the housing, the filter subassembly comprising a lead frame and a filter circuit connected to the lead frame. The filter circuit has a plurality of capacitors attached to the lead frame as a modular block. The lead frame comprises at least one insulation displacement contact section which makes electrical connection with the at least one electrical wire.

Abstract: A socket electrical connector adapted to receive a portion of a mating plug electrical connector. The socket electrical connector includes a housing, at least two electrical contact terminals, and a contact shorting member. The housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member. The second housing member is located in the first housing member and forms a scoop proof dome having a height extending above a top side of the first hosing member. The second housing member forms at least one receiving area for receiving the portion of the mating plug electrical connector. The electrical contact terminals are connected to the first housing member and extend into the at least one receiving area of the second housing member. The contact shorting member is mounted on the second housing member and contacts the electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a connector section and a connector performance indicating section. The connector section includes a first connection section adapted to connect to a first electrical conductor and a second connection section adapted to connect to a second electrical conductor. The connector section is adapted to electrical connect the first electrical conductor to the second electrical conductor. The connector performance indicating section is connected to a portion of the connector section. The connector performance indicating section includes a temperature sensitive indicator adapted to signal occurrence of a temperature of the portion of the connector section above a predetermined temperature. The temperature sensitive indicator comprises a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an electrical connector includes an electrical conductor for transmitting electrical power, and a housing. The electrical conductor is mounted in the housing so that the housing and the electrical conductor define a channel for circulating airflow through the housing and along a surface of the electrical conductor.

Abstract: An electrical connector subassembly is provided. The subassembly includes a housing; a terminal position assurance device connected to the housing; and a wire dress cover adapted to be attached to the housing in at least two positions. The two positions include a first position wherein the wire dress cover covers the terminal position assurance device and a second position wherein the wire dress cover is adapted to cover wires extending to electrical terminals inserted into the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing comprising at least two contact receiving areas and at least two contact terminals connected to the housing in the contact receiving areas. A first one of the contact terminals includes a combined housing latch and shorting member. The combined housing latch and shorting member is latched behind a portion of the housing to retain the first contact terminal to the housing. The combined housing latch and shorting member directly electrically contacts a second one of the contact terminals. The combined housing latch and shorting member is resiliently deflectable and adapted to be moved by a portion of a mating electrical connector to electrically disconnect from the second contact terminal and still be retained latched behind the portion of the housing.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an electrical connector system for electrically connecting an electrical device and a substrate includes a header connector. The header connector has a contact. The contact includes a pin for engaging the electrical device; an intermediate portion electrically coupled to the pin for engaging a contact of a receptacle connector mounted on the substrate so that the header connector can be mounted on the substrate by way of the receptacle connector; and a tail electrically coupled to the intermediate portion for engaging the substrate so that the header connector can be mounted directly on the substrate.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a housing, electrical contact terminals, a hood and a filter member. The housing is sized and shaped to be plugged into an electrical connector socket of an initiator of a gas generator. A first one of the terminals has a wire connection section and a female connection section. The hood surrounds the female connection section of the first terminal. The hood is a stamped and rolled sheet metal member which has a general tube shape. The filter member is connected to the first terminal for providing electromagnetic induction suppression. The filter member can be on a filter assembly having a multi-capacitor chip attached to a spring lead frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical terminal. The electrical terminal includes a frame, a first spring, and a second spring. The frame has a receptacle section adapted to receive a male contact. The first spring is movably captured in the receptacle section. The second spring is movably captured in the receptacle section. The second spring has a first side and a second side. The first side slidably contacts the first spring. The second side comprises a contact surface for contacting the male contact when the male contact is inserted into the receptacle section.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: Methods for designing SMT connector footprints are disclosed. A circuit board may have disposed thereon an arrangement of SMT pads and corresponding vias. The arrangement of vias may differ from the arrangement of SMT pads. The arrangement of SMT pads may differ from the arrangement of contacts in a connector the footprint is designed to receive. The terminal ends of the contacts may be jogged or bent for electrical connection with the SMT pads. The SMT pads and vias may be arranged in a number of ways that increase signal contact density of the board, while limiting cross-talk and providing adequate impedance and routing space on the board. An interactive tool for designing such a footprint is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical connector that minimizes signal skew caused by varying propagation times through different transmission paths within the connector, minimizes crosstalk caused by intermingling electric fields between signal contacts, and maximizes signal density within the connector. The electrical connector may include a plug and receptacle housing, plug contacts, receptacle contacts, and contact plates. The contact plates may include connecting contacts that electrically connect plug contacts to receptacle contacts. The electrical connector minimizes signal skew by maintaining substantially equal-length transmission paths within the connector through varying the lengths and positions of plug and receptacle contacts. The electrical connector minimizes crosstalk by surrounding the connecting contacts with electrical ground by placing the connecting contacts in grooves of the connecting plates.

Abstract: A protective housing removably attached to an electrical connector to prevent damage to contacts of the connector during, for example, shipping or handling of the electrical connector before the connector is connected with an electrical device such as a second electrical connector. The contact protector may include a pull portion of adhesive tape that abuts a housing of the electrical connector, creating an interference fit. The contact protector may include a handle integrated with the contact protector to facilitate removal of the contact protector from the electrical connector.