Patents Assigned to Methode Electronics, Inc.
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Patent number: 5896479Abstract: A massive parallel (MP) connector is providing which includes a fiber optic connector having a polymer ferrule having multiple fibers mounted in V-grooves of the ferrule and beveled edges of the ferrule providing for alignment of the ferrule when the MP fiber optic connector is mated to a receptacle having an alignment assembly and an alignment member mounted within the alignment assembly to provide for precision alignment. The MP connector includes a ferrule having ferrule halves including alignment features integrally molded in the ferrule.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1997Date of Patent: April 20, 1999Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Daniel P. Vladic
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Patent number: 5896037Abstract: A Test Adapter for actively testing chip package such as a ball grid array in operation with a printed circuit board are disclosed. The test adapter provides accessible test points for monitoring input and output signals of an operating chip package. The adapter includes an interface adapter board having a plurality of contact pads disposed on its surface, in a pattern corresponding to the footprint of the chip package. A plurality of contact terminals protrude from the bottom of the interface adapter board and are connected to the contact pads on the upper surface, and are configured to engage a receiving socket mounted to a printed circuit board. A plurality of test pins are also connected to the contact pins such that test probes can be connected to the test pins and the input/output signals associated with the chip package can be monitored by the probes.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1996Date of Patent: April 20, 1999Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: James M. Kudla, Luke Chang
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Patent number: 5879173Abstract: A robust optoelectronic transceiver module which is quick, easy, and inexpensive to manufacture. The transceiver module has a main housing which consists of a potting box with potting material inserted therein. In addition, a circuit board is encased by the potting material. The circuit board has an optical subassembly mounted thereon. The optical subassembly extends outside of the potting box through a recess. Correspondingly, a recess cover is provided for forming a liquid tight seal between the recess cover, the potting box, and the optical subassembly. The module housing may be pluggable via release levers having detentes received in apertures of a receptacle and a pluggable connector of the module mated within the receptacle. The receptacle may include grounding means such as a ground clip mounted within the receptacle and a protective door to limit electromagnetic emissions.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1997Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Daniel S. Poplawski, James W. McGinley, Patrick B. Gilliland
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Patent number: 5873751Abstract: An electrical connector is provided having a circuitized insulator including a housing having an integrally molded shroud and board having an array of holes molded therein and including conductive traces adhered to the board area in order to connect the holes having electrical contacts mounted therein with components mounted on the board.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1995Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: John J. Daly, Mark Sidlow
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Patent number: 5863242Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided for holding at least one fiber optic connector ferrule in an upright position while allowing the face portion the ferrules to be held firmly against a planar sheet of ferrule polishing paper. The apparatus can be manually maneuvered over said polishing paper thereby polishing the face portion of the ferrules inserted therein. The polishing apparatus includes a disc having a polishing surface and an upper surface opposite said polishing surface. A plurality of ferrule receiving apertures are formed in the disc for receiving various connector ferrules. Support skirts surround each aperture, extending upward from said upper surface. The ferrule support skirts define internal circular bores communicating with the polishing surface such that fiber optic connector ferrules may be inserted into the bores with the face portion of said ferrules extending beyond said polishing surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Mark R. Waldron, Philip W. Schofield
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Patent number: 5864468Abstract: A robust optoelectronic transceiver module which provides for static discharge and is quick, easy, and inexpensive to manufacture. The transceiver module has a main housing which consists of a potting box with potting material inserted therein. In addition, a circuit board is encased by the potting material. The circuit board has an optical subassembly mounted thereon. The optical subassembly extends outside of the potting box through a recess. Correspondingly, a recess cover is provided for forming a liquid tight seal between the recess cover, the potting box, and the optical subassembly. Furthermore, the module provides electrically conductive latches which are conductively connected, via tabs for forming an electrical connection, to a grounded structure, such as a computer chassis.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1995Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Daniel S. Poplawski, Alan J. Wallenberg, Patrick B. Gilliland
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Patent number: 5854458Abstract: A multi-function switch assembly is provided for mounting to the end of a tubular member. The switch assembly provides control information to external devices via control wires contained within within the tubular member. The switch assembly includes a housing defining at least one internal cavity for mounting switch components therein, and also defining an internal bore configured to receive the tubular member. The internal bore communicates with the internal cavity, allowing the control wires to enter the housing. First, second, and third switches are mounted within the internal cavity defined by the housing. A rotating switch actuator actuates the first and second switches which are positioned such that when the rotating actuator is rotated in a first angular direction, the first switch is actuated, and when the first rotating actuator is rotated in a second opposite angular direction, the second switch is actuated. A linear switch actuator actuates the third switch.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1997Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Rajkumar Ramamurthy, Robert A. Buenzow, James K. Pettit
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Patent number: 5837908Abstract: A combination torque and position sensor is provided for measuring the torque applied to a rotatable shaft, and measuring the position of the shaft as it is rotated. The combination sensor includes a fixed disc formed of a non-conducting insulating material with a circular resistive position track and a circular resistive torque track disposed around a surface of the disc. A first input voltage supply contact and a first ground contact in fixed relation to one another and are held in rotatable contact with said torque track. A torque signal output contact also held in rotatable contact with the torque track is positioned between the first voltage supply contact and the first ground contact such that torque applied to the shaft alters the relative position between the torque output contact and the first voltage supply and first ground contacts. The torque output contact provides an output voltage signal proportional to the amount of torque applied to said shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Harris Ng, Lawrence T. Rupert, Mohan J. Devsam
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Patent number: 5838218Abstract: A waveguide switch is provided in which energy such as ultrasonic optical, electromagnetic or infrared waves travel in a first waveguide having fixed length formed in a first member connected to a second member having multiple waveguides of varying lengths which may be rotatably mounted to the first waveguide in order that upon rotation of the first or second member, different waveguides may be aligned to form an overall position identifying waveguide of varying lengths in order to provide a means for controlling a component attached to the switch. A transmitter and a receiver are mounted within the waveguide and connected to a detector in order to convert the time-of-flight data of the waves to an electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence T. Rupert, William F. Swisher, Theodore P. Kill
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Patent number: 5829998Abstract: An electrical connector is provided having an easily attachable, front loading coupling ring having fingers and a receiving aperture having a chamfered edge for slidingly receiving a connector flange of a host connector and providing for a snap-fit of the coupling ring onto the host connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: David Wandler, Raymond B. Simons, Howard O. Wedell
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Patent number: 5817952Abstract: A torque sensing transducer sleeve of the magnetostrictive type is attached to a rotatable shaft where torque is to be measured. A shaft is provided on which torque is to be applied and measured. A transducer sleeve of the magnetostrictive type for measuring the torque is attached to the shaft with a nonmagnetic collar interposed between the shaft and the transducer sleeve. The nonmagnetic collar is formed having a shape such that when the transducer sleeve, and the collar are properly positioned on the shaft, the nonmagnetic sleeve exerts circumferential tension on the transducer sleeve producing circular magnetic anisotropy within the transducer sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1996Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: William F. Swisher, Larry P. Brotherton
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Patent number: 5815208Abstract: A system and a method are provided for conversion of a display of a computer monitor from VGA signals to NTSC signals for display on a television screen. The system implements a circuit which reduces flicker in the output of the NTSC screen. The system includes an input device for inputting a signal in an identifiable mode to stored non-interlaced data relating to the VGA image signals in field memory areas. The VGA image signals are converted in the field memory areas stored to interlaced NTSC image signals. A controller controls the storage and conversion of the VGA signals to NTSC image signals in field memory areas to produce an output.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1994Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Francis M. Samela, Joseph R. Llorens
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Patent number: 5815623Abstract: An optical package is provided having a diode mounted to a substrate enclosed by a housing which includes a bore for receiving an optical waveguide and a focusing element adjacent the bore. The bore and focusing element are aligned along a common optical axis. An alignment means is associated with the housing for aligning the substrate along the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Patrick B. Gilliland, Scott C. Erickson, Daniel S. Poplawski, Luis Torres, Donald Rimdzius, Leonid Shatskin, Roger Weiss
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Patent number: 5810606Abstract: An articulating connector assembly having a housing, a hub being carried in rotatable relation to the housing; and means for signal coupling between the housing and the hub. The signal coupling can consist of means such as optical coupling, inductive coupling, radio frequency coupling, capacitive coupling, and pressure wave coupling. In addition, the articulating connector assembly can further include power coupling which can be accomplished by siding contacts, inductively coupled coils, capacitively coupled electrodes, or optical transmitters and receivers on the hub and the housing. Furthermore, a method of efficiently transmitting and receiving signals between the housing and hub is provided. The method consists of (1) obtaining an input signal, by a signal driver, to produce a driven signal output; (2) coupling the driven signal output to produce a coupled signal; and (3) receiving the coupled signal, by a receiver, to produce an output signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1997Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Ronald L. Ballast, John A. DeFranco, Lawrence T. Rupert
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Patent number: 5812717Abstract: An optical package is provided having a diode mounted to a substrate enclosed by a housing which includes a bore for receiving an optical waveguide and a focusing element adjacent the bore. The bore and focusing element are aligned along a common optical axis. An alignment means is associated with the housing for aligning the substrate along the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1996Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Patrick B. Gilliland
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Patent number: 5812582Abstract: An vertical cavity surface emitting laser feedback system is provided which has a vertical cavity surface emitting laser for emitting a specific amount of optical radiation. A portion of the optical radiation is received by a detection means which is used to generate a feedback signal that corresponds to the amount of optical radiation being emitted by the vertical cavity surface emitting laser.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1997Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Patrick B. Gilliland, Andy A. Goryachev
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Patent number: 5804886Abstract: An electronic switch having a printed circuit board mounted therein is formed via insert molding of the housing around the printed circuit board enclosing the conductor wires attached to the printed circuit board and resistors attached to the printed circuit board within the insert molded housing. The electronic switch includes a rotor attached to a contact member providing for the circuit connection.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: David J. Danielson, Charles R. Griffin, Rajkumar Ramamurthy
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Patent number: 5785541Abstract: A seal is provided for indicating whether a clockspring has been tampered with. The clockspring consists of a housing, a hub rotatably mounted to the housing, and a ribbon cable connected to the housing and the hub. The seal is attached to the clockspring housing and hub. The seal may consist of a tamper indicating non-marking label stock having a facestock, flexographically printed indicia located on the facestock, and an adhesive coated over the flexographically printed indicia. Furthermore, the flexographically printed indicia may provide a message such as the word "VOID." Finally, the seal may include printed instructions for inspecting the seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Gary R. Best, Patrick A. Bolen
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Patent number: 5775920Abstract: An interconnector electrically unites a rotatable air bag assembly with a stationary air bag sensor. The interconnector has a rotor rotatably associated with a stator to define a radial space including one or more complementary first and second electrically conductive tracks. The tracks are united with one or more rolling elastomer contacts to complete the electrical pathway from the sensor to the air bag.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1995Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Brent Eugene Henderson
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Patent number: 5773774Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical switch with a return spring comprising a housing having a cylindrical shaped rotor having a brace member extending therefrom and in a centered position, the brace member is positioned adjacent to a stop abutment member protruding within the aperture of the switch housing and a spring member mounted on the rotor having arms which abut against the edges of the brace member and the stop abutment in the centered position and upon rotation of the rotor, the arms of the spring will cause the rotor to return to its centered position. The brace member abuts the arms of the return spring and upon rotation of the rotor, the braces cause the arms of the return spring to deform. The return spring in a preferred embodiment has an Omega shape.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Rajkumar Ramamurthy