Patents Assigned to Whitaker Corporation
  • High-density electrical connectors and electrical receptacle contacts therefor
    Patent number: 6183268
    Abstract: An electrical connector for interconnecting circuit boards comprises a first electrical connector (12) and a second electrical connector (14), the first electrical connector including a first dielectric housing (16) in which an array of electrical blade contacts (34) is mounted, the second electrical connector including a second dielectric housing (42) in which an array of electrical receptacle contacts (58) is mounted, each of the receptacle contacts having hook-shaped fork members (60, 62) extending outwardly from a base member (64) and hook sections (60b, 62b) bent away from each other defining a lead-in for a blade contact section (36) of a blade contact (34) to be electrically connected therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Consoli, James Lee Fedder, Lynn Robert Sipe
  • Automotive cellular phone connector assembly
    Patent number: 6183299
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (20) is primarily intended for use in connecting portable electronic devices (22), such as cellular telephones, to the electrical system of a motor vehicle. The electrical connector assembly (20) includes a plug connector (30) that can be attached to a cord (24) for connection to the portable electronic device. A mating receptacle connector (60) is permanently mounted in the motor vehicle and is attached to an automotive wiring harness. The receptacle connector (60) includes a secondary lock or terminal position assurance member (110) that forms the front cover of the receptacle connector (60) when properly positioned. Primary terminal latches (100) securing receptacle terminals (62) in a housing (74) are exposed on the top and bottom surfaces and the secondary lock (110) surrounds these primary latches (100) when properly positioned on the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby Gene Ward, Wolfgang Hoelscher
  • Electrical contact
    Patent number: 6183312
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in a simple form, an electrical contact in which a latch member protective section, which protects a flexible latch member and prevents reverse insertion of the electrical contact into a connector housing, is structurally strengthened, and which is equipped with an anti-overstress member that prevents overstress in the flexible latch member. The electrical contact 1 is equipped with a latching section 20 which has a flexible latch member 25 that latches the contact to a connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Yamamoto
  • Mounting fixture for use with an electrical connector
    Patent number: 6183295
    Abstract: A board-mounted electrical connector makes it possible to sufficiently reduce stress in the connector housing caused by threaded attachment fixtures. Metal fixtures (30) for mounting of the electrical connector to a circuit board are arranged in end sections (27) of a thin and long housing (20). The metal fixtures (30) are secured in oblong openings (72) provided in end portions (46) of a metal shield (40) attached to an outside surface of the housing (20) so that they cannot rotate inside the openings. The metal fixtures (30) are retained in the openings by means of integral resilient retaining members (71) of the shield (40) being disposed in grooves (36) in the metal fixtures (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Hashimoto
  • Electrical connector assembly
    Patent number: 6183291
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector assembly in which a slider member can be securely supported with respect to a housing, so that variation in the position of a flexible printed circuit when the slider member and the flexible printed circuit are inserted into a mating connector can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Watanabe, Hidenori Muramatsu
  • Unidirectional telemetry system
    Patent number: 6184798
    Abstract: A telemetry system comprises a plurality of beacons. Each beacon repetitively transmits a packet having a first predetermined time duration. The beacon transmits the packet a first predetermined number of iterations. A monitoring receiver observes for the transmitted packets within each of a plurality of time slots. Each slot has second predetermined time duration. The first predetermined time duration is less than the second predetermined time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Egri
  • Shielding cover having parts held together by latch members
    Patent number: 6178096
    Abstract: A shielding cover for a GBIC module (30) including a pair of cover parts (38, 40) formed with complementary features to surround a printed circuit board (32) of the module. A pair of latch members (42, 44) hold the two cover parts together and also provide a latching function when a module is inserted into a guide structure (12) mounted to a host board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Flickinger, Lori A. Mayer, Wilmer L. Sheesley, William L. Herb, Thomas G. Schaedler
  • Card edge connector
    Patent number: 6176725
    Abstract: The present invention provides a card edge electrical connector which makes it possible to achieve reliable grounding of a daughter board to a mother board via latch members thereof. Card edge connector (1) is equipped with an insulating housing (10), which is to be attached to a mother board (50) and which has a daughter board-accommodating recess (11) that extends in the direction of length thereof, and metal latch members (30), which are disposed in the vicinity of end portions of the housing (10) with respect to the direction of length of the housing and which hold a daughter board (60) at a second angle when the daughter board (60) is rotated to the second angle after being inserted into the daughter board-accommodating recess (11) at a first angle. The latch members (30) are connected to a ground path of the mother board (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kobayashi, Shinichi Hashimoto
  • Blind matable panel mount connector system
    Patent number: 6176738
    Abstract: A connector (10) is provided that is mountable in cutout (82) of a panel (80) and incrementally movable therein. First flanges (30) of a first layer (28) pass through recesses (84) along sides of the cutout (82) until second flanges (38) of a second layer (36) abut the near surface of the panel adjacent the recesses. The connector is then translated laterally to a fully mounted position until stop member (44) seats in a locking position with respect to an edge (96) of the cutout, thus maintaining the connector in its fully mounted position with first and second flange layers sandwiching portions of the panel therebetween, and preventing the connector from moving inadvertently to its initially inserted position. Mating connectors (10,100) mounted on respective panels (80,170) define an ultra low mated height permitting the panels to be very close together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Consoli, Lynn Robert Sipe
  • Sealed electrical conductor assembly
    Patent number: 6176739
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly 10 includes a seal 20 including sealing apertures 25 that including glands for sealing a wire extending through the aperture. A sealing unit 24 includes a lead in recess 26, a contact ingress seal gland 28, a core seal gland 30 and a contact egress seal gland 29. The core seal gland 30 establishes the primary seal with a wire extending through the seal, and the ingress seal gland 28 is deformable between the core seal gland 30 and the contact during contact insertion to protect the core seal gland 30 from damage. A pattern 40 of stress relieving recesses 42 et seq. surrounds the seal apertures, and include canted webs 43 et seq. The stress relieving recesses aid flexure of the seals and the seal glands. Other stress relieving recesses 56 located between seal apertures including perpendicular webs 57.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Robert Denlinger, Ralf Jaklin, John Mark Myer
  • Card connector
    Patent number: 6174192
    Abstract: The present invention provides a card connector which, while being relatively compact for a card connector includes a connector member and arm members, is equipped with an engaging means for both members which has sufficient engaging strength. Card connector (10) has a connector member (11) which has a housing (20) in which electrical contacts are accommodated, a pair of arm members (12, 13), which are mounted on both ends of the connector member (11), and which include guide means. The connector (11) and arm members (12, 13) include engaging structures (25, 26, 56, 57), which are engaged so that portions of the connector member (11) and arm members (12, 13) overlap with each other. Screw-accommodating holes (26a, 57a) and pin-accommodating holes (25a, 56a), which pass through both arm members when the members are engaged are located in the engaging structures of both members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Watanabe, Hidenori Muramatsu
  • Card connector
    Patent number: 6171122
    Abstract: A compact card connector is equipped with an efficient stop means for an ejection member and that affords easy mounting of the ejection member which serves as a card-ejecting means. The card connector has an ejection member (90) that is capable of pivoting within a connector (21) in order to eject a card. The pivoting of the ejection member (90) is stopped by a supporting member (50) that is fixedly mounted to the connector (21). Supporting members (50, 50a), along with a plate member (40), constitutes a support means for an FPC (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Futatsugi, Hidenori Muramatsu, Katsumi Yamaguchi
  • Quad cable
    Patent number: 6169251
    Abstract: A quad cable is constructed with a conducting hollow shield (2) encircling an insulating hollow buffer (3), and insulated conductors (4) encircled by the buffer (3), each of the conductors (4) being spaced from the shield (2) by a distance less than being spaced from a central axis (5) of the shield (2), with the buffer (3) having a lower dielectric constant than that of solid insulation (6) on the each of the conductors (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Lloyd Grant, Mukesh M. Patel
  • Slot 1 retention device for processor module
    Patent number: 6168450
    Abstract: Retention systems for use with processor modules (20) on circuit boards upon mating with connectors (12). Such systems utilize end blocks (44) at ends (36) of the connector, having retention members (54) for securing the processor module in its mated position with the connector, stabilizing the module and relieving stress from the connector. Resilient members (80) are compressed by a leading end (26) of the module at sides (32) thereof upon full insertion into the retention members (54), maintaining sufficient pressure on the latching system (34,60) to remove looseness from the assembly and stabilize the module against the effects of vibration and other movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Samuel Davis, Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr.
  • Card reader assembly
    Patent number: 6168082
    Abstract: A card reader 10 includes a base 14 and a cover 60 securable together to define a card-receiving cavity 90 and a plurality of right angle terminals 102 therein disposed in a terminal housing 12. The base 14 defines a terminal-receiving section 32 of the terminal housing 12 and the cover 60 defines a terminal-securing section 74 of the terminal housing 12, the two sections together defining terminal-receiving passageways 79 within which the bodies of the terminals 102 extend. Upon assembling the base 14 and cover 60 together, the terminals 102 are secured in position in the terminal-receiving passageways and the terminal contact surfaces 106 extend into the cavity 90 proximate the cover 60, and a card 170 can be inserted into the cavity 90 with the contact pads 172 facing the cover 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Karen Elizabeth Benjamin, Dennis Leroy Kemmick
  • Electrical connector assembly having a grounding clip
    Patent number: 6164986
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrical connector assembly having a connector housing for terminating wires from a shielded cable. The cable has shielding therearound. A grounding clip commons the shielding from the cable. The ground clip has an opening through which the cable extends with tabs therein to provide electrical connection to the shielding of the cable and electrical engagement tabs to provide engagement with an adjacent structure. An overmolded housing is molded over the cable and the grounding clip, wherein the electrical engagement tabs extend above and below the overmolded housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Frantz, Keith S. Koegel, Robert Neil Whiteman, Jr.
  • Electrical safety receptacle
    Patent number: 6166618
    Abstract: An electrical safety receptacle (10) including a dielectric housing (12), first electrical contacts (14) in the housing for electrical connection to one side of an electrical power line, second electrical contacts (16) in the housing for electrical connection to the other side of the electrical power line, and power-interruption members (48) provided as part of the second electrical contacts to interrupt the electrical power when an operating and/or environmental temperature exceeds the thermal rating thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Robertson, Harry M. Capper, Deborah Laun, Kurt Werner, David Middleton, Howard S. Ryan
  • Stacked LAN connector
    Patent number: 6162089
    Abstract: Stacked LAN connector (10) adapted for mounting to a circuit board (24) and including a stacked USB component (150) and a modular jack component (200) secured in respective portions of main housing (50), around which is an outer shield (32). An inner shield (130) shields the arrays of contacts of the modular jack component (200) and the stacked USB component (150) as they depend from the board mounting face to be connected to circuits of the circuit board (24). LEDs (28,30) indicate full mating by a modular plug with the modular jack component. The connector saves board real estate otherwise occupied by a modular jack positioned beside a stacked USB connector on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Patrick Costello, Benjamin Jacobson, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Michael S. Abbott, Barry D. Holtzclaw
  • Card connector
    Patent number: 6162074
    Abstract: The present invention provides a card connector which allows secure stopping of ejection levers in a header housing accommodating a plurality of cards. An intermediate wall (20) has a stop member (22) that stops pivoting of an ejection lever (41) of ejection mechanism (40). The intermediate wall is formed separately from a partition wall (13), which is formed as an integral part of header housing (10) of card connector (1) and which forms a partition between a plurality of cards, but the intermediate wall is attached to the partition wall (13). An inclined surface (25) facilitates insertion of the cards, and it is located on an end surface on the card insertion side of the stop member (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Abe, Yoshihisa Yamamoto
  • Lamp socket
    Patent number: 6162084
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lamp socket which can easily be connected to a discharge lamp, and which has a high degree of safety. The lamp socket includes first and second housings which are fastened together so that the housing clamp a plurality of wires of a shielded cable, and electrical terminals which are connected to the wires. The first and second housings have main body sections which support the terminals, and extension sections which protrude from the main body sections and from which the wires extend. A shielding conductor of the shielded cable is fastened to outside surfaces of the extension sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Ping Chen, Kimihiro Miyake