Abstract: A contact assembly for use in an electrical connector. The contact assembly includes an insulative contact block defining a plurality of apertures therethrough. The contacts assembly also includes a plurality of dual beam contact terminals. Each plurality of dual beam contact terminals extends through an aperture in the contact block wherein the dual beam contact terminals are seated within the aperture of the contact block at an inwardly directed tension that maintains a desired spring rate on the contacts.

Abstract: An electrical contact for transmitting power to a printed circuit structure. The power contact comprises a main section that includes a first edge and an opposing second edge, and is made from electrically conductive material. A current-receiving interface is disposed between the main section first and second edges. And a plurality of terminals extend from the main section along the second edge. A void of electrically conductive material is formed in the main section for guiding current flow from the current-receiving interface to the terminals.

Abstract: A printed circuit board electrical power contact for connecting a daughter printed circuit board to a mating contact on another electrical component. The power contact includes a main section; at least one daughter board electrical contact section extending from the main section; and at least one mating connector contact section extending from the main section. The mating connector contact section includes at least three forward projecting beams. A first one of the beams extends outward in a first direction as the first beam extends forward from the main section and has a contact surface facing the first direction. Two second ones of the beams are located on opposite sides of the first beam and extend outward in a second opposite direction as the second beams extend forward from the main section. The second beams have contact surfaces facing the second direction.

Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.

Abstract: A battery powered hydraulic tool including a frame; a battery connected to the frame; a motor connected to the frame and adapted to be powered by the battery; and a hydraulic pump connected to the motor by a gear reduction transmission. The motor and gear reduction transmission are adapted to output a torque of the least about 160 oz-in with the gear reduction transmission being adapted to provide a gear reduction of between about 8:1 to about 15:1 or less, and the hydraulic pump being adapted to output at least about 6000 psi of pressure or more.

Abstract: An electrical connector may include a connector housing and a terminal tray. The terminal tray may include a tray body having a latch extending therefrom. The connector housing may define a latch receiving window. The latch and latch receiving window may be disposed such that the latch engages the latch receiving window only when the terminal tray is received in the housing in a preferred orientation. The terminal tray may include an electrically conductive contact having a board receiving end adapted to receive a printed circuit board and to exert sufficient pressure on the printed circuit board to retain the printed circuit board between the contact and the tray body. The connector may also include a plurality of cables bundled by a band, such as double-sided tape, such that respective portions of the cables are restrained from movement relative to one another.

Abstract: A vehicle air bag electrical system including an air bag control module; electrical conductors connected to the control module; an electrical connector connected to the electrical conductors; and a filter circuit coupled to the electrical conductors. The filter circuit includes a plurality of capacitors provided as a module. The electrical connector is adapted to be connected to an air bag gas initiator.

Abstract: A high speed electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector includes a plug portion and a receptacle portion. The plug portion has a first plurality of signal contacts contained in a plug back housing. The receptacle portion is adapted to mate with plug portion and has a second plurality of signal contacts in a receptacle back housing. The plug back housing is adapted to contain the first plurality of signal contacts for both surface mount and thru-hole termination and the receptacle back housing is adapted to contain the second plurality of signal contacts for both surface mount and thru-hole termination.

Abstract: An electrical connector receptacle housing is provided that includes protrusions in the housing's contact assembly receiving area. The location of each protrusion corresponds to a location of a well formed in a contact assembly between dual beams of ground contacts. When the contact block is received in the housing, each protrusion is received in a corresponding well. The protrusions may be sized to provide a snug fit as the contact block is received in the receptacle housing. The protrusions thus help minimize the movement of the contact block.

Abstract: Electrical receptacle connectors are provided including an insulative housing and AC power contacts disposed therein that are configured for engaging an external power supply. The receptacle connectors are employed with a safety guard for restricting operator access to hot AC power contacts when disconnected from complementary header connectors. Preferred safety guards include projections extending along at least a portion of perimeter areas surrounding housing apertures that provide access to engaging portions of the AC power contacts. The projections define a safety gap between human digits directed toward the housing apertures and the AC power contacts.

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: A protective cover for securely housing at least one fastened electrical connector. The protective cover includes a top section and a bottom section moveably connected to one another, with the cover having a plurality of portals therein for receiving a plurality of electrical conductors therethrough. The bottom section of the cover includes a top surface having a recess in a portion leading down into a connection compartment which has a connection area. The connection area is provided with one or more orifices, with an accompanying channel for each of the one or more orifices extending down within the connection area. The one or more orifices with the accompanying channel are adapted to receive and securely house a lower portion of at least one fastener of the at least one fastened connector.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool working head including a frame; a ram movably connected to the frame in a first longitudinal direction, wherein the ram is adapted to be moved relative to the frame by hydraulic fluid; and a movable member connected to a first end of the ram by an automatic adjusting connection. The movable member is adapted to move relative to the ram in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Electrical connectors having a first differential signal pair of electrical contacts edge-coupled along a first direction, a second differential signal pair of electrical contacts edge-coupled along the first direction, and a ground plate disposed between the first and second differential signal pairs are disclosed. The ground plate extends along a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array is arranged in a first pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts. The second linear array is arranged in a second pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts that is different from the first pattern. The signal contacts define differential signal pairs. The signal contacts in the first linear array are elongated along a direction along which the first linear array extends.

Abstract: A strain relief device that includes a substrate component for mounting to a substrate prior to assembly of the strain relief device is disclosed. The substrate component is mounted on a substrate and a connector component that is attached to an electrical connector is press-fit or otherwise attached to the substrate component. The substrate component includes alignment elements, such as protrusions, that complement alignment elements, such as indentations, on the connector component. The alignment elements provide protection to the electrical connector against sheer forces as well as forces caused by CTE mismatches. The strain relief device may include an alignment pin received in an indentation formed in the connector component that extends such that, as the substrate component is mated with the connector component, the pin performs an alignment function as the pin is received in a corresponding indentation of the substrate component.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool working head including a frame, a ram and a connection between the ram and the frame. The frame has a first section with a hydraulic cylinder area, an opposite second section and a middle section connecting the first and second sections to each other. The ram is movably located in the hydraulic cylinder area and extends out of the first section of the frame towards the opposite second section of the frame. The connection between the ram and the middle section includes the middle section of the frame having two slots extending into opposite sides of the middle section and the ram having two cantilevered hook sections which generally face towards each other. The hook sections have ends slidably respectively located in the two slots of the middle section.

Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance surface-mount technology footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance.

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: An electrical connector that includes a linear array of electrical blade contacts is disclosed. Each contact may have a free-ended mating portion that extends from a mate surface of a dielectric base. The first linear array may include a first signal contact, a second signal contact positioned adjacent to the first signal contact and forming a differential signal pair therewith, and a ground contact positioned adjacent to the second signal contact. The first signal contact, the second signal contact, and the ground contact may each be elongated in a direction along the linear array.