Patents Assigned to FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7354310
    Abstract: An electrical connector housing including a base; and a cover. The cover is adapted to be connected to the base to capture at least one electrical connector component in the base. The cover includes a first section and a second section. The second section is movably connected to the first section by a connection. The second section is movable between an open position relative to the base and a closed position. The connection includes a detent latching system for latching the second section in the open position to allow access to a location inside the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Cecil Brown
  • Patent number: 7354274
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7347719
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a connector system includes a first electrical connector for mounting on a first substrate. The first electrical connector has a housing, and a contact mounted on the housing. The connector system also includes a second electrical connector for mounting on a second substrate. The second electrical connector includes a housing having a projection formed thereon, and a contact mounted on the housing. The second electrical connector is capable of mating with the first electrical connector so that the contact of the first electrical connector electrically contacts the contact of the second electrical connector and the projection contacts the first substrate so that at least a portion of the weight of the second electrical connector and the second substrate is transmitted to the first substrate by way of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean E. Geibel, Steven E. Minich, Donald K. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7347740
    Abstract: A lead frame assembly is disclosed in which holes may be formed in contacts of the assembly and a dielectric material extends along a length of the contact. The dielectric material may be further secured to the contact by filling the hole. The dielectric material may span across two or more contacts of the lead frame assembly and also across gaps formed between the contacts, or may span across an entire side of a lead frame assembly. The dielectric material may add mechanical strength and robustness to the lead frame assembly while helping to reduce dust accumulation on electrical contacts of the assembly. The dielectric material may abut only one side of one or more contacts in the lead frame assembly and thus may not affect edge-coupling effect of contacts that form differential signal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7348489
    Abstract: A dead end electrical connector assembly including a dead end connector member, a collet, wedges and an outer sleeve. The dead end connector member has a first end section and a second end section. The second end section includes a threaded section. The first end section is adapted to be connected to another member and includes a general bolt head section adapted to be turned by a powered tool to axially rotate the dead end connector member. The front end of the collet includes a threaded section adapted to be threaded onto the threaded section of the dead end connector member. The wedges are inserted directly between the collet and a core member of a cable conductor. The second end section of the dead end connector member is adapted to push the wedges into the collet. The outer sleeve is crimped onto the dead end connector member and the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Chadbourne
  • Patent number: 7344403
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a base, a cover, and an electrical terminal. The base includes a front section and a rear section. The base includes at least one terminal receiving area. The front section includes a first portion of the terminal receiving area. The first portion of the terminal receiving area extends in a first direction. The rear section includes a first snap-lock ledge and a second portion of the terminal receiving area. The second portion of the terminal receiving area extends in a second direction. The first snap-lock ledge extends along a majority of a length of the rear section. The cover includes a top section and a first lateral side section extending from the top section. The first lateral side section receives the first snap-lock ledge. The electrical terminal is mounted between the base and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew G. Major, Willie R. Lyons, Michael S. Glick
  • Patent number: 7344391
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080064264
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Clark, Joseph Shuey, Jose Ortega, John Brown
  • Patent number: 7342175
    Abstract: A splice electrical connector for connecting core members of two cable conductors to each other is provided. The connector include two end members. Each end member comprises a first coupler end and a second wedge contact end. A splice coupler connects the first coupler ends of the two end members to each other. A fastener is connected to the splice coupler, wherein the fastener combines with the splice coupler to interlock the first coupler ends in mating portions of the splice coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert V. De France
  • Patent number: 7341479
    Abstract: A protective cover for securely housing at least one fastened electrical connector therein is provided. The protective cover comprises 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 comprises a top surface having a recess in a portion therein leading down into a connection compartment which comprises a connection area. The connection area is provided with one or more orifices therein, 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 therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kris Boutin
  • Patent number: 7341482
    Abstract: Strain relief devices for electrical connectors are disclosed and include an insert for insertion into a housing. The insert may include spring beams that deflect during insertion into the strain relief housing. When the insert is fully received in the housing, a slot in the housing may be shaped such that the spring beams return to a relaxed state, locking the insert in the housing. Alternatively, an end of a strain relief insert may be inserted into the housing until beams on the strain relief insert abut shoulders in the slot in the housing. The end may protrude beyond the housing, creating a tab that may be deformed or bent to prevent the insert from moving in a direction opposite the direction of insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung Viet Ngo
  • Patent number: 7341495
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical wedge connector wedge. The electrical wedge connector wedge includes a first conductor contact surface, a second conductor contact surface, and a center section. The second conductor contact surface is opposite the first conductor contact surface. The center section is between the first conductor contact surface and the second conductor contact surface. The center section has a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first lateral side includes a first undulating surface. The second lateral side is opposite the first lateral side. The second lateral side includes a second undulating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Svetlana Ulemek, Michael Rzasa
  • Patent number: 7335043
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments of power contacts include two or more opposing contact beams of a first type that are spaced apart along at least a portion of the length thereof when the power contact is in an unmated state; and two or more opposing contact beams of a second type. The contact beams of the second type are spaced apart so that the contact beams of the second type pinch the contact beams of the first type when the power contact is mated with a mating contact, thereby causing the contact beams of the first type of deflect inwardly toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung Viet Ngo, Christopher G. Daily, Wilfred J. Swain, Stuart C. Stoner, Christopher J. Kolivoski, Douglas M. Johnescu
  • Patent number: 7331828
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing; electrical contacts connected to the housing; a shield connected to the housing; and a mating connector key connected to the housing. The key includes a front section and a rear section. A portion of the shield is located between the front and rear sections of the key to retain the key with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allison
  • Patent number: 7331830
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7331800
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Winings, Joseph B. Shuey, Timothy A. Lemke, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Timothy W. Houtz, Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7328751
    Abstract: A powder operated tool including a frame, a tool body and a reusable combined cartridge holder and ram rear end receiver. The frame includes an anvil section. The tool body is adjustably connected to the frame. The tool body comprises a ram, and a breech assembly connected to a rear end of the tool body. The breech assembly includes a striker, a breech pad and a firing pin. The reusable combined cartridge holder and ram rear end receiver is removably connected to the tool body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Peterson, Gordon L. Steltzer
  • Patent number: 7320426
    Abstract: A presently-preferred embodiment of a cover for a ball-grid array connector comprises a top member and a first and a second side member adjoining opposing ends of the top member. The first and the second side members each have a mating feature formed thereon for engaging a housing of the ball-grid array connector by way of a respective complementary mating feature formed in the housing so that the cover is movable between a first and a second position in relation to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Shue, Matthew S. Emenheiser
  • Patent number: 7320609
    Abstract: A card assembly includes two spaced-apart circuit boards defining an interior region between the cards. Connectors may be mounted on the circuit boards and be located within the interior region. That is, respective interior sides of the circuit boards may face each other and the interior region. A connector may be mounted on each interior side. Mounting the connectors in the interior region provides an assembly that defines a mating footprint that is independent of the respective thicknesses, and variations in the thicknesses, of the spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7318757
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include a connector housing and a plurality of identical leadframe assemblies received in the connector housing. Each of the leadframe assemblies may define a leadframe mating sequence. The leadframe assemblies may be arranged relative to one another to define a connector mating sequence that differs from the leadframe mating sequence. Each leadframe assembly may define a leadframe mounting footprint. The leadframe assemblies may be arranged relative to one another such that the leadframe mounting footprints are staggered, i.e., offset relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich