Patents Assigned to FCI
  • Publication number: 20230042161
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a high frequency connector system with reduced stub lengths that provide improved performance at high frequencies. A first connector includes a plurality of mating contacts designed to electrically connect to a second plurality of mating contacts associated with a second connector. The first connector includes one or more elastic members such that when the second connector is mated to the first connector, the one or more elastic members are compressed between the first and second connectors. The first and second plurality of contacts overlap by a first distance when initially mated, but when the connectors are released, the first elastic member biases the second connector away from the first connector such that the first and second plurality of contacts overlap by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Jordan Winey
  • Publication number: 20230026708
    Abstract: A direct mate orthogonal connector for a high density of high speed signals. The connector may include right angle leadframe assemblies with signal conductive elements and ground shields held by a leadframe housing. The leadframe assemblies may each have signal mating ends extending from the signal conductive elements and ground mating ends extending from the ground shield. High frequency performance may be achieved with features on the leadframe housing and on the ground shield. The features may be simple to form yet ensure the positional relationship between the contacts points of the ground mating ends and the contact points of the signal mating ends to sustain forces generated during operating the connector to mate with another connector and/or mount to a board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Scott Carbaugh, Mark R. Gray, James J. Muha
  • Publication number: 20230013728
    Abstract: Flexible and low cost power interconnects. The interconnect includes a plug with an insulative support and a plurality of electrical contacts mounted to exterior surfaces of the insulative support. The plug may be simply formed with molding and stamping operations. In use, the plug may be connected in an electrical assembly to support one or multiple power circuits in a compact space. A receptacle for receiving the plug may have an opening with sides bounded by rows of independent electrical contacts that may similarly be connected to one or more power circuits within a printed circuit board to which the receptacle is mounted. The plug and receptacle may be configured such that, when the receptacle connector and plug are each mounted to substrates and the connectors are mated, the substrates are spaced 6 mm, 5 mm, or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brungard, Steven E. Pressel
  • Publication number: 20230011722
    Abstract: A connector configured to provide signal and power connections reliably and economically in a compact space. The connector may include terminals each comprising a mating portion and a mounting portion opposite the mating portion. The terminals may be arranged with multiple rows of signal terminals and power terminals aligned in one row and on opposite sides of the signal rows. The mounting portions of the terminals may be configured to receive cables in some embodiments, and mount to a board in some other embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: FCI Nantong Ltd.
    Inventors: Zelin Yao, Changjiang Zhao, Iuokui Zhang, Xinwei Wang
  • Publication number: 20230006393
    Abstract: A high temperature electrical connector, which may be used to connect a temperature sensor mounted in a combustion chamber of an automotive engine to a cable. The connector has a housing made of high temperature material, such as alumina ceramic. Connector terminals may be retained within the housing but may float relative to the housing, to reduce stresses associated with differential thermal expansion of the housing and terminals and reduce transmission of vibration and resultant degradation of connector performance. Compliant portions may extend from an intermediate portion of the terminals to make contact with pads on a sensor substrate inserted into the connector. The terminals may be retained with an end cap, secured to the housing. Retention of the terminals may be aided by pockets in the housing that receive tips of the terminals. Channels, receiving the intermediate portions of the terminals, may open into the pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: CHARLES M. GROSS
  • Publication number: 20230006390
    Abstract: A stacked I/O connector for use with a high speed, high density transceiver that generates a large amount of heat. The connector may be formed with a web-like housing into which leadframe assemblies are inserted. The web-like housing may have openings in the front, back, top and/or sides, enabling airflow through the connector with little resistance. Sidewall openings may open into a channel between the housing and a wall of cage, enabling air flowing to cool transceivers inserted into the cage to pass through the connector assembly with low resistance and high cooling efficiency. A cage for the connector may have openings selectively positioned such that air flowing through the cage to cool transceivers mated to the I/O connector may pass through the connector with low resistance, enhancing cooling efficiency. Such a connector may be used with OSFP transceivers to meet signal integrity and thermal requirements at 112GBps and beyond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: JASON SI, Ba Pham, Xingye Chen, Sam Kocsis
  • Publication number: 20230006379
    Abstract: A connector that enables electronic assemblies to be efficiently configured for any of multiple power requirements. The connector may have multiple interfaces such that when the connector is mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB), it may receive power through an interface and distribute it to components on the PCB through another interface. The connector may also have an interface that supports a connection to a conductive interconnect, which may distribute power to a second connector mounted to the same PCB. Power may be distributed to components mounted to the PCB without passing through the mounting interface of the first connector. As a result, the current density in the PCB adjacent the first connector is reduced relative to current density required to supply current to all components through the mounting interface of the first connector. The PCB may have fewer layers than a conventional PCB assembly supporting comparable functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Gieski, Rongzhe Guo
  • Publication number: 20220407269
    Abstract: A direct mate orthogonal connector for a high density of high speed signals. The connector may include right angle leadframe assemblies with signal conductive elements and ground shields held by a leadframe housing. High frequency performance may be achieved with members on the leadframe that transfer force between a connector housing, holding the leadframe assemblies, and a portion of the leadframe housing holding the signal conductive elements and the shields near their mounting ends. Core members may be inserted into the housing and mating ends of the conductive elements of ground shields may be adjacent the core members, enabling electrical and mechanical performance of the mating interface to be defined by the core members. The core members may incorporate insulative and lossy features that may be complex to form as part of the connector housing but may be readily formed as part of a separate core member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Jason John Ellison, Douglas M. Johnescu, Gregory A. Hull, Mark E. Lauermann, Scott Martin, Jan De Geest, Scott Carbaugh, Steven E. Minich, Mark R. Gray, Charles Copper, William Tanis
  • Patent number: 11476619
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a high frequency connector system with reduced stub lengths that provide improved performance at high frequencies. A first connector includes a plurality of mating contacts designed to electrically connect to a second plurality of mating contacts associated with a second connector. The first connector includes one or more elastic members such that when the second connector is mated to the first connector, the one or more elastic members are compressed between the first and second connectors. The first and second plurality of contacts overlap by a first distance when initially mated, but when the connectors are released, the first elastic member biases the second connector away from the first connector such that the first and second plurality of contacts overlap by a second distance smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventor: Jordan Winey
  • Patent number: 11469554
    Abstract: A direct mate orthogonal connector for a high density of high speed signals. The connector may include right angle leadframe assemblies with signal conductive elements and ground shields held by a leadframe housing. High frequency performance may be achieved with members on the leadframe that transfer force between a connector housing, holding the leadframe assemblies, and a portion of the leadframe housing holding the signal conductive elements and the shields near their mounting ends. Core members may be inserted into the housing and mating ends of the conductive elements of ground shields may be adjacent the core members, enabling electrical and mechanical performance of the mating interface to be defined by the core members. The core members may incorporate insulative and lossy features that may be complex to form as part of the connector housing but may be readily formed as part of a separate core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Jason John Ellison, Douglas M. Johnescu, Gregory A. Hull, Mark E. Lauermann, Scott Martin, Jan De Geest, Scott Carbaugh, Steven E. Minich, Mark R. Gray, Charles Copper, William Tanis
  • Patent number: 11469553
    Abstract: Electrical connectors for very high speed signals, including signals at or above 112 Gbps. Effectiveness of shielding along the signal paths through the mating electrical connectors may be enhanced through the use of one or more techniques, including enabling two-sided shielding, connections between shield members and between shield members and grounded structures of printed circuit boards to which the connectors are mounted, and selective positioning of lossy material. Such techniques may be simply and reliably implemented in high density connector using one or more techniques. An electrical connector may include core members held by a housing together with leadframe assemblies attached to the core members. The core members may include features that would be difficult to mold in a housing and may include both shields and lossy materials in locations that would be difficult to incorporate in a leadframe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Douglas M. Johnescu, Gregory A. Hull, Mark E. Lauermann, Scott Martin, Jason John Ellison, Jan De Geest, Charles Copper, Mark R. Gray, William Tanis, Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 11462844
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, a plurality of contacts arranged in the housing, an actuator mounted to the housing and configured to move relative to the housing, and a locking terminal mounted to the housing, the locking terminal comprising a locking arm extending through an interior portion of the actuator and into a cavity within the housing, the cavity having an upper surface and a lower surface. Movement of the actuator relative to the housing may cause the interior portion of the actuator to push against at least part of the locking arm and rotate the at least part of the locking arm. When the actuator is in a first position, the locking arm may contact a surface of the cavity within the housing, which may inhibit the actuator from rotating in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Motomu Kajiura, Yasutoshi Kameda
  • Patent number: 11452636
    Abstract: A cannula includes a hollow cylindrical body which is open at one end and closed at the other end. A slot extends from the open end toward the closed end, terminating with an opening that is larger in width than the slot, the width being measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the slot extends. The opening allows the passage of a guide wire for relative sliding. The configuration of the cannula is such that the end of the wire coming out of the cannula through the opening cannot, once inserted into the openings, penetrate into the part of the cannula beyond the opening between the latter and the closed end of the cannula. Related methods for inserting a tube shaped probe into a tear duct are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FRANCE CHIRURGIE INSTRUMENTATION SAS (FCI)
    Inventor: Stéphane Urion
  • Patent number: 11444399
    Abstract: An electronic assembly with a sliding power connector mounted on a first substrate. The connector has tracks and terminals with contact fingers. A bus bar may be aligned by the tracks such that contact surfaces on the contact fingers press against contact surfaces on the bus bar. The electronic system may be implemented as a rack, and the electronic assembly may be or include a printed circuit board on which the power connector terminals are mounted. The printed circuit board may slide in and out of the rack while power is supplied from the bus bar to components on the printed circuit board. High reliability may be provided by one or more tabs on the housing that increase mating force of the contact fingers and/or prevent damage to the contact fingers from overstress. The contact fingers may be positioned to increase the lifetime of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: James M. Sabo, Clarence Randall Fry
  • Patent number: 11444404
    Abstract: A stacked I/O connector for use with a high speed, high density transceiver that generates a large amount of heat. The connector may be formed with a web-like housing into which leadframe assemblies are inserted. The web-like housing may have openings in the front, back, top and/or sides, enabling airflow through the connector with little resistance. Sidewall openings may open into a channel between the housing and a wall of cage, enabling air flowing to cool transceivers inserted into the cage to pass through the connector assembly with low resistance and high cooling efficiency. A cage for the connector may have openings selectively positioned such that air flowing through the cage to cool transceivers mated to the I/O connector may pass through the connector with low resistance, enhancing cooling efficiency. Such a connector may be used with OSFP transceivers to meet signal integrity and thermal requirements at 112 GBps and beyond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Jason Si, Ba Pham, Xingye Chen, Sam Kocsis
  • Patent number: 11444397
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing, first and second sets of terminals and a spacer. The housing has a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall and a cavity between the first and second sidewalls. The first set of terminals is disposed in the cavity adjacent to the first sidewall. The second set of terminals is disposed in the cavity adjacent to the second sidewall. The spacer is disposed in the cavity between the first and second sets of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd., Amphenol FCI Connectors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Sasame, Motomu Kajiura, Masahiko Motoyama
  • Publication number: 20220255250
    Abstract: A connector that enables electronic assemblies to be efficiently configured for any of multiple power requirements. The connector may have a mating interface, which may mate with a power supply, a mounting interface for attaching the connector to a PCB and a power tap off interface. The power tap off interface may enable distribution of a portion of the power received through the mating interface to remote locations on the PCB. The connector may be assembled with conductive element subassemblies, enabling efficient configuration of the connector with conductive elements with and without mating contact portion for power tap off. Each subassembly may include a member to which other members with mating contact portions and/or tails for a mounting interface are attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Gieski, Clarence Randall Fry, Steven E. Pressel
  • Publication number: 20220216638
    Abstract: In various embodiments, compact connector designs may be provided that have reduced board pitch (e.g., 1.80 mm, 1.50 mm, 1.27 mm, etc.), but are still capable of accommodating large electrical conductors (e.g., 1.4 mm, 1.1 mm, 0.9 mm, etc.). In this manner, PCB footprint may be reduced (e.g., by 50% when a staggered connector configuration is used), while adequate current carrying capacity may be maintained (e.g., 2 A, 3 A, 4 A, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, one or more other advantages may be achieved, such as ruggedness (e.g., vibration endurance), error proofing, configuration flexibility, ease of manufacturing, ease of assembly, and/or lowered costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: Aymeric Soudy, Cyril Jeune, Arnaud Hyppias
  • Patent number: 11374358
    Abstract: A low profile wire to board connector with features that enable a height of 1 mm or less, yet sufficient robustness to preclude unintentional separation of mated connectors. A board connector, with a mounting interface configured for surface mount soldering to a PCB, may include a recess for receiving a complementary connector terminating multiple wires. The board connector may have blade-shaped terminals, which may be soldered to the PCB at two ends, with an intermediate portion engaging a portion of the board connector housing, so as to secure the housing to the PCB. The complementary connector may be inserted at an acute angle with the mounting interface, engaging a front portion of the mating connector to a front portion of the board connector. The rear of the complementary connector may then be rotated into the recess and secured near the rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Motomu Kajiura, Yasutoshi Kameda
  • Patent number: D975024
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FCI CONNECTORS DONGGUAN LTD.
    Inventors: Hua-Kun Wei, Yi-Lin Liu