Abstract: An electrical connector including a plurality of electrical terminals; and a housing having the electrical terminals connected thereto. The housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member movably connected to the first housing member. The first housing member includes snap-lock latches which lock the terminals in terminal receiving channels of the first housing member. The terminal receiving channels include a first row of the terminal receiving channels with a first one of the terminal receiving channels and a second one of the terminal receiving channels being separated from each other by a wall of the first housing member, and the first housing member having a substantially open wall area between a third one of the terminal receiving channels and the second terminal receiving channel. The second housing member is adapted to at least partially close the open wall area.

Abstract: A tray for component packaging that allows components having varying heights to be automatically removed from the tray. The packaging tray allows for all or most removal systems to function regardless of the component height. The packaging tray includes a base tray for holding a component and a removable spacer tray that extends upward from the base tray to cover and protect the component. During automatic removal of the component from the tray, the spacer tray may be removed to reduce and/or minimize the vertical lift travel required to remove the component from the tray. The spacer tray may be left in place during the removal process and is constructed to allow removal of the component. The spacer tray may provide a top surface that is substantially flush with the top of the component and may be left in place during the removal process for removal systems that require that the over sized (height) components be substantially flush with the top surface of the tray during removal from the tray.

Abstract: Complementary contact and contact block designs are disclosed that help prevent movement of a contact received in the contact block when an electrical connector is press-fit or otherwise connected to a printed circuit board. A protrusion may be included on one or both beams of a dual beam contact, and a contact cavity may be formed in the contact block. The protrusion and the contact cavity may include complementary shapes such that the protrusion abuts a wall within the contact cavity, preventing the contact from moving relative to the contact block as the electrical connector is connected to a printed circuit board. The protrusion and a wall of the contact cavity additionally may include other complementary shapes (e.g., a radius or angle shape) such that a length of the protrusion abuts the contact cavity wall, providing a longer load bearing surface.

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: An electrical connector system is disclosed and may include a header connector and a receptacle connector. The contacts in the header connector may be edge-coupled to limit the level of cross-talk between adjacent signal contacts. For example, a differential signal in a first signal pair may produce a high-field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair, and a low-field near a second, adjacent signal pair. The contacts in the receptacle connector may be broadside-coupled and configured to receive the contacts from the header connector while minimizing signal skew. For example, the overall length of the contacts within a differential signal pair may be the same. The contacts in the connector system may include differential signal pairs, single-ended contacts, and/or ground contacts. The connector system may be devoid of any electrical shielding between the signal contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises two signal contacts, each having an L-shaped body portion, a first contact arm connected to a first end of the L-shaped body portion, and a second contact arm also connected to the first end of the L-shaped body portion. For each signal contact, the first contact arm and the second contact arm define a plug contact receiving space therebetween, and the L-shaped body extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end. The signal contacts are positioned so that an edge of each of the L-shaped bodies is proximate and opposite the edge of the other signal contact, thereby electrically edge coupling the contacts. The edges of the L-shaped bodies may extend along the entire length of the bodies and along the contact arms, thereby providing electrical edge coupling throughout the length of the contact.

Abstract: A first connector on a first side of a midplane circuit board may be offset from a second connector on a second side of the midplane circuit board. The first and second connectors may be substantially identical connectors, each with straight mounting contacts, to create an electrical interconnection therebetween without using a common signal via. Each side of the midplane may have the same footprint. Accordingly, substantially identical connectors may be used on both sides of the midplane circuit board.

Abstract: A high-density orthogonal connector is disclosed and may include electrical contacts that are configured to receive contacts from an orthogonal header connector while minimizing signal skew and signal reflection. The electrical contacts in the connector may define contact pairs (e.g., differential signal pairs). Each contact pair may include a lead portion and a mating interface that extends from the lead portion. The lead portions of the contact pair may define a first plane. One contact of the contact pair defines a first mating interface defining a second plane and the other contact in the contact pair defines a second mating interface defining a third plane. The second plane and the third plane may be both substantially parallel to and offset from the first plane in opposite directions. The contact pair may be configured such that the overall length of each contact within the pair may be substantially the same.

Abstract: An electrical assembly comprises an electrical connector, and an improved pickup cap that is provided with a surface area configuration that has the potential to impart a more even temperature distribution across the ball grid array during reflow. Some embodiments of the pickup cap, when connected to the electrical connector, cover the sides of the electrical connector, but do not cover the central portion of the electrical connector. Such a configuration of pickup cap surface areas has the potential to provide a more even temperature distribution across the grid of solder balls during reflow of the solder balls.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a wafer having flexible members that allow the wafer to expand or contract in response to movement of solder pads on a PCB. As a PCB to which a connector is attached is heated during, for example, normal use, it may expand, which may result in the outward movement of the solder balls at the point of connection with the PCB. The flexible members in the wafer enable the wafer to likewise expand so that it does not impede the movement of the solder connections and cause a stress to be placed on the solder connections at the PCB connection point.

Abstract: Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact.

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: An electrical connector including at least one electrical contact, a housing, and a connector position assurance (CPA) member. The housing has a latch for latching the housing to a mating electrical connector. The electrical contact is located in the housing. The CPA member is connected to the housing and is adapted to prevent the latch from moving when the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector. The CPA member is adapted to move the latch after the housing is mated with the mating electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical assembly that may include a weighted cap. The weighted cap may provide counterbalancing to a non-proportional ball-grid array connector integrated circuit package for connection with a substrate. The weighted cap provides compensation for variations in the imbalance of the electronic connector package against the substrate.

Abstract: An connector assembly comprises a first connector comprising a first plurality of compliant electrical contacts arranged in first a linear array, a first insertion side, and a first opposed end. The illustrative connector assembly also comprises a second connector comprising a second plurality of compliant electrical contacts arranged in a second linear array, a second insertion side, and a second opposed end. The second plurality of compliant electrical contacts face and are parallel to the first plurality of compliant electrical contacts. The second plurality of compliant electrical contacts are spaced apart from the first linear array of electrical contacts and form a recess there between having an insertion end and termination end.

Abstract: An electrical connector having an electrical contact with a terminal portion and a contact receiving wafer is disclosed. The connector may also include a contact receiving wafer having a face that at least partially defines an aperture that extends therethrough. A terminal portion of the contact may extend at least partially into the aperture. The faces that define the aperture allow the terminal portion of the contact to move in each of a plurality of directions, while also containing the terminal portion of the contact in each direction. The terminal portion of the contact may have connected a solder ball. The solder ball may define a diameter that is larger than the width of the aperture restricting movement of the wafer along a length of the contact.

Abstract: Methods for mounting electrical components on a substrate and securely retaining the components are described. The methods include altering solder paste compositions, interposed between component retentive pins and retentive through holes, during a reflow process. Electronic assemblies including circuit boards and electrical components mounted thereto are also described. In one of the electronic assembly embodiments, materials originally associated with a mounted electrical component migrate into solder paste coupling the electrical component to the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical contact having a body portion and an curvaceous tail portion extending from the body portion is disclosed. The tail portion may include first and second curved portions defining first and second points of contact, respectively. The first and second points of contact may be offset from one another in a direction of insertion and may be separated by a distance measured perpendicular to the direction of insertion. The distance may be greater than the diameter of a through-hole into which the contact is intended to be inserted. At least a portion of the tail portion may be adapted to rotate upon insertion into the through-hole. The tail portion may exert a force on the sidewalls of the through-hole sufficient to retain the electrical contact in the through-hole. The tail portion may also include a sharp tip that digs into the through-hole plating, thereby impeding movement of the tail portion in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion.

Abstract: An electrical connector including electrical contacts; a housing having the electrical contacts connected thereto; and a mate assist system for assisting in mating the electrical connector to a mating electrical connector. The mate assist system includes a cam member movably mounted to the housing having a slot for receiving a cam portion of the mating electrical connector and a rack section with teeth engaging a user actuatable member movably mounted to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to female electrical terminals comprising a connection section for connection to a conducting wire and an opposing contact section for mating with a complementary male terminal. A flexible contact element is disposed within at least a portion of the contact section for urging a complementary male terminal into engagement with a contact section wall. The flexible contact element is protected from damage by prohibiting access to its leading edge. The present invention also relates to electrical connectors comprising female electrical terminals.