Abstract: A switching operation is performed in response to an externally applied DC control signal from an external load. An input connector receives an input audio signal from an external audio source, and an output connector that provides an audio output signal. A DC isolator couples the input audio signal from the input connector as the audio output signal on the output connector while isolating the externally applied DC control signal from the input connector. A switch is responsive to the externally applied DC control signal applied to the output connector so as to perform the switch operation.

Abstract: A jack has first and second jack ports, first and second contacts, and a switch having a full, half, and no normal positions. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken, the first contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the first jack port, and the second contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the second jack port. In the half normal position, the jack operates in the same way except that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained. In the no normal position, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port.

Abstract: A coaxial jack has an electrically groundable housing including first and second ports, a printed circuit board supporting a terminating element and conductive traces, and a center conductor disposed within the electrically groundable housing. The center conductor extends through a hole in the printed circuit board and is normally coupled to the electrically groundable housing contact through the terminating element and the conductive traces. A grounding spring has a leaf spring that acts as switch to break the coupling when a plug is inserted into the first port.

Abstract: A switching coaxial jack has an electrically grounded housing that supports first and second connectors at a first end of the housing and third and fourth connectors at a second end of the housing. A first center conductor is disposed within the first connector, a second center conductor is disposed within the second connector, a third center conductor is disposed within the third connector, and a fourth center conductor is disposed within the fourth connector. A sliding switch within the housing has a first position that electrically couples the first and third center conductors to one another and a second position that electrically couples the first center conductor to one of the second center conductor and the terminating element.

Abstract: A jack has first and second jack ports, first and second contacts, and a switch having a full, half, and no normal positions. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken, the first contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the first jack port, and the second contact is, coupled to the plug if the plug is in the second jack port. In the half normal position, the jack operates in the same way except that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained. In the no normal position, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port.

Abstract: A switching coaxial jack has an electrically grounded housing that supports first and second connectors at a first end of the housing and third and fourth connectors at a second end of the housing. A first center conductor is disposed within the first connector, a second center conductor is disposed within the second connector, a third center conductor is disposed within the third connector, and a fourth center conductor is disposed within the fourth connector. A sliding switch within the housing has a first position that electrically couples the first and third center conductors to one another and a second position that electrically couples the first center conductor to one of the second center conductor and the terminating element.

Abstract: An electrical jack module having a dielectric box-like housing with an end wall integrally joined to a side wall of the housing, the end wall having extended through its thickness a plurality of mutually spaced sleeves which define respective plug receiving apertures. The side wall has projecting integrally from its inner surface within the housing a plurality of rigid ramp-like detents, each of which is fixedly aligned with a respective one of the plug receiving apertures. Each of the detents has a lower end portion with a sloped surface merging with the inner surface of the side wall adjacent the respective aligned aperture, and has an opposing higher end portion with a surface terminating in an edge portion of the detent aligned with a sheer end surface thereof.

Abstract: An electrical jack of the composite prong type having a leading end portion comprising a tapered tip component of an axially extending tip contact member. The tapered tip component has a proximal end portion terminating in a circular flange which has first diameter and is integrally joined to a rod component of much smaller diameter through a reinforced length component of intermediate diameter. The reinforced length component has a cross sectional size designed for uniformly distributing impact stresses transmitted from the tapered tip component, and has a length greater than its intermediate diameter for minimizing impact stresses transmitted to the rod component. The reinforced length component is slidably installed in a cup-shaped dielectric bushing having a flanged open end portion abutting the circular flange of the tapered tip component. The cup-shaped bushing has an opposing closed end provided with a central aperture through which extends the rod component and an encircling dielectric sheath.

Abstract: A connector adaptor assembly comprising a trough-like frame made of resilient dielectric material and having a connector retainer end portion wherein opposing side walls of the frame are integrally joined to respective taller resilient posts having respective inwardly projected portions extending toward one another. Distal end portions of the posts have adjacent an end of the frame respective surfaces supporting respective integrally protruding bosses which are spaced laterally a predetermined distance apart. The assembly also includes an electrical connector with a cylindrical body disposed recumbently in the frame and having chordally disposed in opposing portions thereof respective slots which are aligned with the respective posts. Adjacent the slots, an annular flange extends radially outward of the body and has a diameter greater than the predetermined distance of lateral spacing between the bosses.

Abstract: A channelized jackfield comprising a housing having therein a linear array of juxtaposed channels wherein respective assemblies of aligned printed circuit boards and connecting slab-like modules are slidably inserted edgewise from the front of the housing. Each of the assemblies includes an inverted L-shaped bracket of dielectric material having a vertical leg latchingly secured to a front edge portion of the printed circuit board and provided with a plurality of spaced notches through which respective terminal lugs extend insulatingly from the printed circuit board and externally of the housing. Also, each of the L-shaped brackets has a leg disposed substantially orthogonal to the vertical leg and carries on its upper surface a guide groove for slidably receiving the connecting module and guiding it into mating engagement with an aligned connector attached to the front edge portion of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A self-latching lamp jack comprising first and second dielectric plates disposed in opposing relationship for forming respective opposing sides of the lamp jack. One of the opposing plates is provided with a plurality of interposed wall portions for forming a pair of lamp conductor receiving cavities adjacent one end of the lamp jack. Also, the self-latching lamp jack includes a pair of electrical contact members which are blade-like and are disposed edge-wise between the opposing dielectric plates. Each of the contact members has an end portion disposed in a respective one of the lamp conductors receiving cavities and a midportion provided with a pair of laterally extended tabs which protrude into respectively aligned slots in the plates. The contact members have opposing terminal end portions which extend out of another end portion of the lamp jack.

Abstract: A terminal contact assembly comprising a dielectric sleeve of flexible material having a midportion provided with a transverse integral partition wherein a keyway slot extends from an open end thereof communicating with a longitudinal slot in a defining wall portion of the sleeve, through a restricted portion of the keyway slot, to a larger closed end portion thereof centrally disposed in the partition. This assembly also comprises an elongated rigid contact of electrically conductive material having a midportion with an hour glass configuration including a narrow neck portion or key which is inserted laterally through the longitudinal slot in the sleeve and enters the open end of the keyway slot. The key is pressingly urged through the restricted portion of the keyway slot, by virtue of adjacent portions of the sleeve and the integral partition flexing momentarily to widen the restricted portion, and snaps into the larger closed end of the keyway slot thereby locking the contact axially within the sleeve.

Abstract: A jack module having a relatively thin substantially rectangular dielectric housing having collared plug receiving apertures on one end thereof. The housing has a mounting bar parallel with said end, and the mounting bar has a plurality of slots perpendicular with the end. A plurality of metal strips each having tabs extending from opposing edges are secured in a predetermined substantially parallel arrangement by inserting the tabs on one edge into said mounting bar and engaging a dielectric retaining bar with slots corresponding to the tabs on the opposite edges over the metal strips. Lifters having one end rotatably engaging the housing have opposite ends extending between metal strips to hold them in a predetermined alignment. Upon insertion or removal of plugs from said plug receiving apertures, the metal strips are permitted to move laterally with the lifters.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly including a connector comprised of an elongated dielectric body and an elongated dielectric cap having aligned portions provided with respective cooperating latching devices for removably securing the cap to a rear surface of the body. The body and the cap are provided with aligned through-holes wherein respective electrical contact members are disposed and have protruding end portions extended from the rear surface of the cap. The cap has extending integrally from its rear surface a wall with a surface which is orthogonal to the rear surface of the cap for forming a right-angle support structure wherein an end portion of a printed circuit board may be disposed. Also, the wall has an opposing surface which is disposed adjacent the protruding end portions of the contact members and which may be provided with a mandrel-like structure comprising a linear array of juxtaposed troughs formed in said opposing surface.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly comprising a multi-conductor cable having an end portion terminating in a multi-contact connector which includes a rigid shielding shell of electrically conductive material disposed to receive therein a dielectric insert for supporting a plurality of terminal contact members secured to respective conductors in the cable. The dielectric insert comprises a trough-like body and a cover for disposing over the opening of the body, the cover and an opposing bottom wall of the body being provided with respective similar pluralities of mutually spaced holes wherein the terminal contact members are installed. The cover is provided with a plurality of flexible tabs which engage respective ramp portions of the body for locking the cover on the body to form a unitary terminal-supporting structure prior to assembly in the rigid shielding shell of the connector.

Abstract: A jack module with a lamp assembly that is interconnected at the top front of a printed circuit board and has a bottom guide channel for slidably receiving a tri-jack. The printed circuit board has top and bottom forwardly extending necks which define a notch therebetween. The lamp assembly has a lamp housing with a hollow trunk and tow legs that provide upwardly and downwardly facing channels that slide onto the bottom and top edges of the top neck. The housing, which has a longitudinal bore holding a lamp, encases conductive strips which engage the lamp. The housing is locked to the neck by a retainer that has a boss that snaps into an aperture in the housing. A guide housing is similarly connected to the bottom neck. The lamp housing and bottom guide housing have facing guide channels which respectively receive top and bottom guide rails of the tri-jack in slidable engagement back to a printed circuit board connector in the notch.

Abstract: A jackfield with a split front panel so that it can be removed to provide access to jack modules without breaking patch cord interconnections between jacks. Each jack module includes a printed circuit board having a lamp assembly and a tri-jack connected to the front and extending forwardly. The printed circuit boards are hard wired at the back of the jackfield and the printed circuit boards route the circuits to the tri-jack and the lamp assembly. To remove just a tri-jack, it is pulled forwardly after the split front panel is removed. A lateral bracket retains the printed circuit board to prevent it from being pulled forwardly. To remove the entire jack module, the wire wraps are disconnected from the back of the printed circuit board and the retaining bracket is removed. Then, the entire module can be slid forwardly in its guide slot.

Abstract: An optical system including a symmetrical beamsplitter comprised of a semi-transparent film of light reflective material sandwiched between two optical plates of transparent materials having respective thicknesses and indices of refraction suitable for providing equivalent optical paths on either side of the film. The beamsplitter may be positioned in optical alignment with an image source and oriented to have one of its surfaces at an angle to said source. Thus, a light ray emanating from the source will have a fractional component transmitted through the film along one optical path and a fractional component will be reflected from the film along an equivalent optical path disposed at an angle to said one optical path.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly comprising a round cable having an end portion provided with an adaptor for terminating the round cable in a flat cable connector. The adaptor has a cylindrical end portion disposed for receiving therein a jacketed end portion of the round cable, an intermediate transitional portion wherein a plurality of conductors extending from the cable end portion are permitted to cross over one another and be formed with an array of juxtaposed conductor end portions, and a rectangular end portion out of which the array of juxtaposed conductor end portions extends. The rectangular end portion is provided with outer dimension and resilient properties similar to an equivalent flat cable for insertion and latching into a flat cable connector where the conductor end portions terminating at respective distances from a mating surface of the adaptor extend into respective grooves and are electrically connected to respective contacts of the connector in a predetermined manner.