Patents Examined by Brian S. Webb
  • Patent number: 6434315
    Abstract: A connector is provided for a fiber optic cable which includes a plurality of optical fibers. The connector includes a base housing having a through passage for receiving the cable and fibers along an axis. A receptacle in the housing communicates with the passage and is open-sided transversely of the axis. A fanout insert is positionable into the receptacle and receives and spreads the individual fibers of the cable transversely of the axis. A cover is slidably mounted on the base housing in a direction generally parallel to the axis. Guide ribs and guide rails are provided between the base housing and the cover to guide the cover to a closed position. Complementary interengaging strain relief members are provided on the base housing and cover for embracing the fiber optic cable automatically in response to slidably mounting the cover onto the base housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Igor Grois, Byung Kim, Thomas R. Marrapode, Jeffrey A. Matasek
  • Patent number: 6431892
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting combination electronic apparatus, which comprise a plurality of internal electronic devices, to networks or other devices. The connector of the present invention comprises a novel switching mechanism which selects between the plurality of internal electronic devices based on the attributes of the mating connector received by the connector. Device selection may be controlled by the physical characteristics of the mating connector, the electrical characteristics of the device or network attached to the mating connector or some other distinct attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Allen E. Shupe, Carl Ketcham
  • Patent number: 6431886
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided having a first portion and a second portion for coupling a first printed circuit board to second printed circuit board. The first portion of the connector has board contacts for mechanically and electrically coupling to the first printed circuit board, electrical contacts coupled to the board contacts and a first alignment feature electrically and mechanically coupled to the first printed circuit board. The second portion of the connector has board contacts for mechanically and electrically coupling to the second printed circuit board, electrical contacts coupled to the board contacts and a second alignment feature electrically and mechanically coupled to the second printed circuit board. The first and second alignment portions cooperate to properly align the electrical contacts of the first and second board portions for electrical coupling upon mating of the connector portions. Upon mating the alignment features are electrically coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Robinson Nugent, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel C. Ramey, Kevin R. Meredith
  • Patent number: 6425691
    Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly includes a flexible circuit having a strain relief feature included on the flexible circuit. The board assembly includes a printed circuit board; connector adapted to be secured to the board; and a length of a flexible circuit having a number of conductors therein, one end portion of the length including a tab element, the end portion of which is secured to the connector and includes at least one strain relief member, each member adapted to be secured to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Drew A. Demangone
  • Patent number: 6422884
    Abstract: A pre-wired electrical component for a flexible wiring system has a housing, a flexible power supply cable connected in strain relieving relation to the housing within an inlet opening in the housing, at least one power supply outlet member mounted in an associated power outlet opening in the housing and a rotational circuit selector which includes a first connecting member mounted in fixed position on and exposed externally of the housing. Electrical buses disposed within the housing and separated from each other by a dielectric bus separator electrically connecting the power supply cable to the power supply outlet member and to the first connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sentinel Lighting Wiring Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Babasick, Kenneth E. Golyshko, Lawrence L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6421494
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for strain relieving a communications cable having a non-cylindrical cross section and for optimally positioning a plurality of the cables. The apparatus includes at least two plates oriented adjacent one another. Each of the plates has at least one mounting surface and at least one strain relief surface. The strain relief surface may be angled relative to the mounting surface. At least one fastener draws the plates together to grip the cable between the strain relief surfaces. The apparatus may further include a plurality of laterally extending teeth depending from the strain relief surface of at least one of the plates. The teeth increase the gripping force applied to the cable. The cable may have an electrically conductive inner sheath that is pierced by the teeth on the strain relief surface and the apparatus may be further provided with a ground strap for grounding the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Battey, Michael W. Canning, James M. Carlson, William J. Cregan, Steve A. Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6419507
    Abstract: The invention provides fitting detecting means that can be attached to a variety of types of electrical connector. Guiding rails 30 are provided on both ends of a male housing 20, these guiding rails 30 allowing detecting units 40 to be attached. The detecting units 40 have spring holders 41 that house coiled springs 60 and sliders 61. Flange members 31 of the guiding rails 30 are inserted into guide grooves 43 of guiding members 42 formed on inner side faces of the spring holders 41, thereby attaching the detecting units 40 to the female housing 20. The detecting units 40, if required, are attached to the female housing 20 before male and female housings 10 and 20 are fitted together. The sliders 61 of the detecting units 40 are pushed by the male housing 10 while the male and female housings 10 and 20 are being fitted together, this compressing the coiled springs 60 as they are being pushed towards the posterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 6416356
    Abstract: In a power converter rack in which power converters of varying heights are stacked, a selectably vertically positionable AC connector module is provided. The AC connector module releasably hooks into apertures in a vertical mounting strip attached to the rack adjacent to an AC cable duct. The AC connector module has a terminal block to which an AC cable can be attached, and a contact block with female power contacts and a protruding grounding pin that makes first contact with an equipment chassis. The grounding pin also has a beveled tip to align the chassis with the AC connector module as it is slid into place in the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Michael Hutchins, Denis Bellemare
  • Patent number: 6413102
    Abstract: A center bond flip chip device carrier and a method for making and using it are described. The carrier includes a flexible substrate supporting a plurality of conductive traces. A cut out portion is formed in each trace at a position within a gap of a layer of elastomeric material provided over the traces. Each cut out portion is sized and configured to receive a solder ball for electrically connecting the carrier with a semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tongbi Jiang, Alan G. Wood
  • Patent number: 6409531
    Abstract: An electrical connector that comprises a pressure surface bearing a first array of electrical contacts. In addition a side-wall has an exterior surface and is physically connected to the pressure surface. The exterior surface bears a second array of electrical contacts, which are electrically connected to the first array of electrical contacts. Additionally, the electrical connector may include a ball screw for pressing the first array into the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: MicroHelix, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Boyd Millard
  • Patent number: 6398559
    Abstract: A connecting terminal assembly, including a covering tape heat-sealed to a mount base so as to cover a number of connecting terminals received in recessed portions of the mount base, is mounted to a surface mounter. Each connecting terminal has two fixed-contact sections, and a central section thereof having leg portions vertically extending from inner ends of the fixed-contact sections and a major portion extending between upper ends of the leg portions. Free-contact sections extend from outer ends of the fixed-contact sections vertically of and longitudinally in an inward direction of the connecting terminal. While the covering tape is being peeled off, each of the connecting terminals received in the recessed portions of the mount base is picked up at its major portion by suction and transferred to be positioned on a first printed circuit board at a desired position and with a desired orientation, by mean of a suction nozzle of the mounter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Kyoshin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6400862
    Abstract: A retro-reflective multi-port fiber optic device (100) includes the triple-fiber ferrule (10) with a GRIN rod lens (12) to couple the light. The triple-fiber ferrule (10) with three fibers (18, 20, 22) thereof is attached to the angled facet of the GRIN rod lens (12) and the WDM filter (14) is attached to the opposite side of the lens (12). A reflective mirror (16) is attached next to the other side of the WDM filter (14) opposite to the lens (12) after alignment. The triple-fiber ferrule (10) is used to couple light in and out of the device, and tune the thin film filter center wavelength to the desired ITU grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optics Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuqiao Liu, Peter C. Chang
  • Patent number: 6390856
    Abstract: A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a contact area, a terminal end composed of a conductive material and being distal to the base and a spring. The terminal end is insulated from the contact area and may have a circumferential groove located thereon. A core may be disposed within the tubular member and has an insulative material disposed about at least one signal conductor. A jack connector is also provided for receiving, for example, the foregoing plug connector and the jack connector includes a body which has a cavity and a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the cavity and configured to be engageable with the tubular member. A second plurality of electrical contacts may also be disposed within the cavity and are also configured to be engageable with the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: J. D'Addario & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James D'Addario, Luc Heiligenstein, Stephen Melamed, Matthew Kowal
  • Patent number: 6386894
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for electrically interconnecting a sensor (104) in a beverage dispensing apparatus (102) to a sensor control system contained within a separate unit concurrent with attachment of said beverage dispensing apparatus to said separate unit are disclosed, comprising locking members (114) disposed on the beverage dispensing apparatus, a base plate (200) on the separate unit having receptacles (210) adapted to matably engage and align the beverage dispensing apparatus, a plurality of base plate conductor members (212), disposed on the lower surface of the base plate and electrically coupled to the sensor control system, a plurality of dispenser apparatus conductor members (118), electrically coupled (202) to the sensor and disposed on an upper surface (112) of the beverage dispensing apparatus such that as the beverage dispensing apparatus is matably engaged with the base plate the conductor members are brought into alignment and communicative contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard A. Carr
  • Patent number: 6383035
    Abstract: An electric connection box, for use in vehicles etc., has vertical parallel bus bars which permit a variety of bus bar circuits to be easily made. The electric connection box has upper and lower casing parts containing the vertical bus bars which may be identical, each having a sheet-form bar body, a plurality of tab terminals, and a plurality of pressure contact blades. At least some of the tab terminals project at regular intervals on one side of the bus bar body and at least some of the pressure contact blades project on the opposite side. To connect the bus bars electrically to form a bus bar circuit, wires are brought into pressure contact with the appropriate pressure contact blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Kasai
  • Patent number: 6379197
    Abstract: An insulative circuit board receives a forged terminal and a simplified terminal plate, inserted through a through hole and guided by insertion slots, to form a complete terminal connector. The terminal plate firmly fixes to the insulative circuit board by locking into integrally formed locking steps. The terminal is retained by the snap-in terminal plate. and preventive elements formed integrally with the circuit board. Preventive elements prevent unexpected disassembly when the terminal and the terminal plate loose threaded engagement and eliminates the need for after-integration processing. A guiding element, integral with the terminal, guides the terminal into threaded engagement with the terminal plate. The guiding element also prevents damage to a terminal plate screw hole and speeds assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: SMK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsuda, Nobuyuki Mano
  • Patent number: 6375487
    Abstract: A connector cable assembly having an end adapted to be connected to a device. The connector cable assembly includes a connector at the end of the connector cable, a wire electrically connected to the connector, an insulating cover at least partially surrounding the wire, an overmolding at least partially surrounding a portion of the insulating cover, a seal portion adjacent the overmolding, and a clip positionable over at least a portion of the overmolding. The clip includes an engaging member for securing the clip and the connector to the device. Preferably, the overmolding is made from a thermoplastic material that at least partially surrounds the connector. It is also preferred that the seal portion is integral with the overmolding. The invention also provides a method of connecting a connector cable to a device having a housing defining an opening and having therein a socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Tennessen
  • Patent number: 6375476
    Abstract: A socket for an LGA or BGA package is provided which is of relatively simple construction and which provides reliable and efficient interconnection of the package and a printed circuit board. The socket comprises a contact assembly having an array of resilient conductive columns having respective contact ends, the columns being mounted on a thin insulative sheet. The contact assembly is supported on a frame of insulating material and which has alignment posts for alignment of the contact assembly to the frame and for alignment of the frame and mounted contact assembly to an associated circuit board. The frame also includes elements for soldering or bonding the socket to a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Goodwin, Roy Burton
  • Patent number: 6371768
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a male and female connector. The male connector has electrical contacts in a housing for conducting AC or DC current. The female connector also includes a housing with electrical contacts to electrically couple with the male electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are coupled between a power source and a rechargeable power user, such as batteries in an electric vehicle. A mechanism to terminate power of the rechargeable power user is coupled with the system to prohibit use of the rechargeable power user during charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Otto Dunkel GmbH
    Inventors: Larry L. Neblett, David A. Lescamela, Thomas E. Zielinski, Guenter Rohr
  • Patent number: 6371775
    Abstract: A synthetic resin fastening cap which allows a connecting cap at the end of a plug cord to move in a broad angle range on the wiring terminal of a distributor of an automobile. The fastening cap is provided with a cord lead-out opening by cutting away approximately one-half of the skirt portion of the fastening cap in the circumferential direction so that the plug cord is led out of the fastening cap. The head portion of the fastening cap has a predetermined thickness so that a recess that is set at the same dimension as the height of a projection of the connecting cap is formed in the head portion and the projection of the connecting cap is inserted in this recess for preventing the connecting cap from slipping out of the fastening cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Seiwa Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nakatsuka