Abstract: An electrical connector incorporates a resilient hold-down device for securely fastening the electrical connector to an associated printed circuit board or the like. The hold-down device is capable of repeated insertion and removal into the printed circuit board without the danger of failure or fracturing which could cause unreliability in the electrical connections between the connector and the printed circuit board. The hold-down device comprises a horizontal base, a pair of spaced arms bent upwardly at a right angle from opposite sides of the base in substantially parallel relationship, and a pair of legs, spaced apart from one another extending downwardly and bent downward at a right angle along the longitudinal edge of the base. The legs also have side projections for engagement with the periphery of an aperture in the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical male connector assembly incorporates a floating shield that is resiliently held in a position on the connector body wherein the male contact pins are hidden or shielded from contact by the shield in its outermost position. When the connector member is mated with a corresponding female connector, the opposed face of the female connector impinges on the shield and cause it to be slid along the contact pins to a retracted position. Means are provided for biasing the shield toward its outermost position. The shield face is metalized to provide an exposed ground plane in electrically conductive contact with a metal portion of the connector member shell to drain off any electrical static discharges that might otherwise come into contact with the exposed contact pins.

Abstract: A user configurable integrated electrical connector assembly apparatus and method of using the electrical connector assembly to create a flexible manufacturing system are disclosed. The connector assembly is capable of being formed as a semi-finished product for inventory and at a later time may be simply and quickly reconfigured with insertable components to conform precisely to a customer's design specifications. The connector assembly includes an insulator defining a plurality of first passageways and a plurality of adjacent parallel passageways communicating with the first passageways over a portion of their length. A conductive shield surrounds the insulator and contacts the adjacent parallel passageways.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first insulative housing (12) which defines a plurality of first passages (14) extending therethrough for receiving corresponding electrical conductive members (22). The first insulative housing (12) also defines a corresponding number of apertures (42) thereof for receiving electrical filtering components (30), such as a TVS chip, and each apertures (42) is parallel to and communicates with one side of the first passage (14). A second insulative housing (16) defines a plurality of second passages (38) corresponding to the first passages (14) of the first insulative housing (12) for receiving the same conductive members (22), and also defines a corresponding number of cavities (40) thereof for receiving conductive bridge members (34).

Abstract: A housing has a hollow portion to receive a ferrule, and a support member is positioned between the housing and the ferrule. A plurality of electrical elements are selectively positioned within the housing in electrically conductive contact with the support member. A detachable shell is closely positioned on the housing in circumscribing relation with the support member and in electrically conductive relation with the electrical elements to completely shield and enclose the electrical elements. Removing the electrical elements, the rest parts of the assembly is deemed as a semi-finished product and can be stored as inventory for a later time use according to the customer's requirements.

Abstract: An inherently resilient metallic latch structure is provided for use in connection with a socket structure for a memory module board. The latch structure is separately manufacturable from the socket structure, and is applied thereto in a separate operation, and is effective to retain the memory module board against inadvertent release from the socket. For intentional release of the memory module from the socket, the latch requires only a downwardly directed force to be applied to a latch lever forming an integral part of the latch to impose a bending moment on the latch, effectively releasing the memory module board from the socket and permitting resilient ejection of the board from the socket. In a second aspect, the latch is integrally formed with the socket body, but includes an integral latch lever that may be depressed by application of a downwardly directed force to impose a bending moment on the latch to release the memory module board from the socket.

Abstract: A contact for circuit board socket includes a planar conductor having an elongated base with oppositely spaced ends. A fulcrum leg is formed on one end of the base and has a cut-out space extending from outermost edge to the inside middle portion of the base so as to make the fulcrum leg more flexible. A contact leg is formed on the other end of the base and has a cut-out space extending lengthwise thereof between first and second parallel and spaced apart planar beam sections. The end of the base sections remote from the base are joined and the cut-out space extends to the middle portion of the base but does not communicate with that of the fulcrum leg. The conductor furthermore provides a stop means at the side of the contact leg, which cooperates with a similar stop means at the outer portion of the fulcrum leg to form a pair of stop means.

Abstract: A one-piece boardlock formed from an elongated metallic strip comprises a vertical mounting portion, and an integral horizontal portion extending from one end of the vertical portion. At the end of the horizontal portion remote from the vertical portion a pair of side legs are formed from two laterally spaced side portions by three successive right-angle bends so that the side legs project perpendicularly from the strip. Similarly, a pair of auxiliary legs are formed from an intermediate portion of the horizontal strip portion by stamping and bending. These four legs are positioned symmetrically around a central axis perpendicular to the horizontal strip portion. An outwardly inclined cam surface is provided adjacent each leg end, and an inwardly inclined cam surface is positioned intermediate the outwardly inclined cam surface and each leg end.

Abstract: A user configurable integrated electrical connector assembly includes an insulated body comprising a first insulator and a second insulator, respectively, each insulator defining a plurality of passageways extending therethrough for receiving a corresponding electrical contact. A grounding plate is disposed between the first and second insulators transversely to the passageways and has a plurality of projections extending through the passageways for electrically coupling the electrical contacts inserted therein to ground. The grounding plate further comprises a series of parallel extending tabs on its opposed edges. The grounding plate includes a shield portion having a connection to complete ground which entirely covers the front section of the insulated body, thus providing an effective shield against electromagnetic interference. The electrical connector is formed in accordance with a flexible manufacturing system which enables the connector to be completely user configurable.