Abstract: A multi-fiber ferrule and optical fibers therein make easier contact with other multi-fiber ferrules and connectors with a small fiber tip radius and a modulus of elasticity. A method for qualifying multi-fiber ferrules (and connectors) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A contact retention assembly includes a body, an outward angled tine and an inward angled tine. The body extends between a front end and a back end. The outward angled tine extends from the body to a housing engagement surface and is configured to engage a portion of a housing. The inward angled tine extends from the body to a contact engagement surface and is configured to engage a contact in order to retain the contact within the assembly. The inward angled tine extends from the body in a different direction than the outward angled tine.

Abstract: A terminal adapter for an electronic package having a stub terminal is provided. The adapter includes an adapter housing configured to be fitted over the electronic package and enclosing the terminal of the electronic package, a terminal receptacle formed in the housing, and at least one screw terminal assembly fitted within said terminal receptacle and locked thereto with deflectable mounting legs.

Abstract: A light pipe having one or more exterior protrusions that function as a secondary light source and an alignment component. The one or more exterior protrusions may provide a secondary light source by reflecting light from a primary light source. The one or more exterior protrusions also may function to align the light pipe with a lamp assembly or an object on which the light pipe is mounted. Further, a lamp assembly having a light pipe receiving portion, with one or more slits to allow an opening to expand upon insertion of the light pipe, and to provide a retention force upon contraction.

Abstract: Electrical connectors (40, 104) including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts (12, 112) and auxiliary contacts (16, 130) that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (6, 140) located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact (12, 112) will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact (16, 130) can be longer than the main contact (12, 112). Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact (12, 112), because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact (16, 130). I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor (6, 140), so when the auxiliary contact (16, 130) is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided including first and second housings having rear ends configured to receive first and second sets of electrical contacts. The first and second housings have front ends that are matable with one another to join corresponding contacts from the first and second sets. The first and second housings are movable between initial and final positions. The electrical connector includes a lever member engaging the first and second housings and moving the first and second housings between the initial and final positions as the lever member is rotated through a range of motion. The lever member includes a cam arm having a first retention element and a second retention element. The electrical connector includes a lever retention block within an interior region of the first housing that has a pivot chamber that retains, and permits the rotation of, the first retention element within the pivot chamber.

Abstract: The invention is a stacked patch antenna having a plurality of patch antennas having respective operating frequency bands arranged in a stack, each antenna comprising a radiating conductive patch and a first cable comprising a plurality of coaxial conductors separated from each other by dielectric. A first conductor of the first cable carries the feed signal for the uppermost antenna and is conductively coupled to a null point of the radiating conductive patch of the uppermost antenna and passes through apertures at the null points of the other ones of the antennas in the stack. Each of the successively lower antennas in the stack is coupled to another one of the plurality of conductors of the cable, which conductors reference the other patches to ground. With this arrangement, high isolation is maintained between the frequency operating bands.

Abstract: A sensor front end is disclosed that is able to discriminate objects based on their range from the sensor. The sensor includes an antenna that transmits a sensor signal and, if an object is present receives a reflected signal therefrom. A pulsed oscillator provides a pulsed first signal having a first frequency and phase, and wherein the pulsed oscillator provides the pulsed first signal for a predetermined pulse duration and with a predetermined pulse repetition frequency. The pulsed oscillator provides the pulsed first signal to a first input port of a dual mode mixer that is further coupled to the antenna via a second port. The dual mode mixer transmits a portion of the pulsed first signal from the first input port to the second port and thus to the antenna to be transmitted as the sensor signal. In addition, the dual mode mixer uses a portion of the first signal to mix with the received reflected signal. The dual mode mixer then provides a mixed signal as an output at a third port.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided including first and second housings configured to mate with one another to join corresponding electrical contacts when moved between initial and final positions. The electrical connector includes a lever member engaging and moving the first and second between the initial and final positions as the lever member is rotated about a rotational axis. The lever member includes a cam arm having a pivot post received by the first housing and first and second notches. The first housing includes a post slot for rotatably and slidably retaining the pivot post relative to the rotational axis and a first rack engaging the first notch. The second housing has a second rack engaging the second notch. The first and second racks and notches cooperate to move the first and second housings between the initial and final positions as the lever member is rotated.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprising a housing having a jack interface that has a receptacle jack therein, which is configured to receive a plug. The connector assembly also includes a sensor bezel removably attachable to said jack interface. The sensor bezel includes an outer frame configured to engage the jack interface. The sensor bezel also includes jack cavities extending therethrough to allow passage of a plug when inserted into said receptacle jack. A sensor array is secured to the outer frame proximate the jack cavities. The sensor array comprises a sensor contact overlaying the jack interface. The sensor contact is aligned with, and configured to engage, a sensor probe associated with a plug insertable into the receptacle jack.

Abstract: A squib connector assembly comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and a tip; a female contact disposed within the tip of said housing for mating engagement with a male contact in a mating squib socket; and a ground contact having at least one resilient spring beam disposed on an external surface of the tip of said housing.

Abstract: A configuration for coupling a dielectric resonator to a microstrip transmission line that maintains a relatively high Q value of the dielectric resonator. The dielectric resonator-to-microstrip transmission line coupling configuration includes a dielectric resonator, a metal wall, and a microstrip conductor mounted on a dielectric substrate surface such that the dielectric resonator is near the microstrip conductor. The dielectric resonator is configured to resonate in an intrinsic non-radiating hybrid electromagnetic mode, and the metal wall is configured as a mirror for conceptually forming an image of the resonating dielectric resonator. When an electromagnetic wave is transmitted on the microstrip transmission line, the dielectric resonator is excited to resonate in the hybrid electromagnetic mode, thereby allowing electromagnetic field coupling between the microstrip transmission line and the dielectric resonator, while maintaining a high Q value of the dielectric resonator.

Abstract: A machine (10) for terminating a conductor to an electrical terminal (34) of a partially assembled connector (16) includes a frame (12) and an anvil (20) supported by the frame arranged to receive the partially assembled connector. The connector has an insulating housing (32) wherein the terminal is positioned against a constriction 38 within the insulated housing and the terminal tabs (42) and barrel (40) are extending outside the housing. A ram (22) carrying crimping tooling (28) is in sliding engagement with the frame and arranged to undergo reciprocating motion in a crimping direction (24) into crimping engagement with the terminal and in an opposite return direction (26) away from the terminal. A housing feed mechanism (80, 86, 108, 110, 114, 122, 124, 126) is coupled to the frame and effects the pushing of the insulating housing over the terminal.

Abstract: A phase shifter is disclosed in which parasitic elements in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch are designed and utilized to provide a predetermined phase shift. In one embodiment, a circuit containing three MEMS switching modules, each of which includes a pair of series-coupled reactances is described. The first reactance is determined by an inductor, the second by a capacitor representing the MEMS switch contact in either the up or down positions, and wherein the capacitive reactance is greater than the inductive reactance for the MEMS switch contact in the up position and less than the inductive reactance for the MEMS switch in the down position. The three MEMS switching modules are configured such that a switched high pass/low pass phase shifter topology can be realized with the appropriate actuation of the MEMS switch contacts.

Abstract: A cap for covering an electrical connector has a hollow tube with an exterior that is reversely tapered relative to the interior of the hollow tube, which adapts the tube for manufacture by a tapered mold core pin and a tapered molding die cavity, and which adapts the tube to funnel an electrical cable along the hollow tube.

Abstract: Right angle apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for connecting electrical components are disclosed. The preferred embodiments comprise a printed circuit board body element, grounding and keying elements, used to connect printed circuit boards with cables and the like. The preferred embodiments provide a grounded connection to a vehicle chassis or other ground.

Abstract: A surface-mountable mm-wave signal source is provided. The surface-mountable mm-wave signal source comprises: a conductive metal base; a mm-wave signal source disposed over an upper portion of the metal base; a first radio frequency transmission line carrying a quasi-TEM signal from the mm-wave signal source, which is disposed over an upper portion of the metal base and proximate the signal source; a first mode transformer at least partially integrated into the upper portion of the metal base to convert the quasi-TEM signal carried by the planar transmission line into a rectangular waveguide mode signal; a waveguide well having upper and lower ends disposed within the base for carrying the rectangular waveguide mode signal from an upper portion of the base to a lower portion of the base; and a second mode transformer at least partially integrated into the lower portion of the base to convert the rectangular waveguide mode signal to a quasi-TEM signal within a second radio frequency transmission line.

Abstract: Connector position assurance apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed. The preferred embodiments comprise a connector position assurance mechanism mounted upon a plug assembly component. The connector position assurance mechanism provides a relatively fixed connection to a mounting latch which is used to ensure connection between the plug assembly and a header assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided including first and second housings configured to be matable with one another to join electrical contacts. The first and second housings are movable between initial and final positions, at which the electrical contacts partially and fully mate, respectively. The electrical connector includes a lever member that engages the first and second housings, moving the first and second housings between the initial and final positions. The lever member includes a cam arm having first, second, and third gear surfaces. The second housing includes first and second mating posts that are configured to engage the first, second, and third gear surfaces at first, second, and third distances, respectively, from the rotational axis as the lever member rotates through a range of motions to move the first and second housings between the initial and final positions. The first, second, and third distances are all different.

Abstract: Fuse relay box apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture are shown. A fuse relay box comprises a cover and base, with optional seal. The base comprises a number of channels adapted for use by either a fuse or relay. Some channels may be useable by a diode as well. Terminals for the contacts of these components are connected to the contacts of the components through the channels. Mounting flexibility is also provided so the box is either side or bottom mounted.