Patents Examined by Harshad C. Patel
  • Modular jack with improved grounding member
    Patent number: 7670173
    Abstract: A modular jack (100) adapted for receiving a pair of mating connectors includes an insulative housing (1) having a pair of cavities (10) for receiving the corresponding mating connectors, a number of terminal modules (3) received in the cavities for electrically connecting with the mating connector, and a conductive outer shield (2) enclosing the corresponding insulative housing. The modular jack further has a detachable grounding member (7) made from conductive material and electrically connected with the conductive outer shield for grounding. The grounding member has a number of contacting plates (7121,7131,7141) extending into the corresponding cavities for connecting and grounding the corresponding mating connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Hua Hu, Qing Wan, Li-Chun Wu
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 7670153
    Abstract: An electrical connector including a pair of connector bars and a pair of biting pads. The connecting bars are configured to be located on opposite sides of a plate section of a first member. The connector bars include holes to receive a bolt for clamping the connector bars directly against each other. The pair of biting pads are connected to the connector bars. The biting pads include surfaces which are configured to contact the opposite sides of the plate section and bite onto the opposite sides as the connector bars are clamped against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Burndy Technology LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Kulig
  • Tamper evident connector system
    Patent number: 7661981
    Abstract: An electrical assembly is disclosed that provides evidence of tampering. The assembly includes a plug housing with a seal cover attached thereto. A wire dress cover is attached over the seal cover, and a locking insert is placed through the wire dress cover and is held in place by a serialized lock-wire. The locking insert overlies a jack screw, which prevents the disconnection of the plug housing or removal of a wire cover without first removing the locking insert or lock-wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Mitchell Cross, David Allen Klein
  • Electrical connection guide assembly for break-apart personal mobility vehicle
    Patent number: 7661961
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle includes a first vehicle unit and a second vehicle unit. A connection assembly, for electrically coupling a first electrical plug-in unit fixedly mounted to the first vehicle unit and a second electrical plug-in unit fixedly mounted to the second vehicle unit, includes a guide disposed on the second vehicle unit intermediate the first electrical plug-in unit and the second electrical plug-in unit. The first electrical plug-in unit has a first plurality of electrical wires and has an outer configuration. The second electrical plug-in unit has a second plurality of electrical wires. The guide has an aperture sized to accept the outer configuration of the first electrical plug-in unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ranger All Season Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas G. Brinkhous, Craig C. Ulmer
  • Card edge connector positioning apparatus
    Patent number: 7661973
    Abstract: A card edge connector positioning apparatus has a first retaining trough, a second retaining trough and a support member. The first retaining trough is closer to a distal end of the positioning apparatus than the second retaining trough. The support member has a first edge and a second edge at two opposite sides. The first edge is wedged in the first retaining trough to form a movement fulcrum. The second edge is held in the second retaining trough to form a gap greater than that of the first edge in the first retaining trough. Thus the second edge has a greater displacement in the second retaining trough than that of the first edge in the first retaining trough. Thereby a displacement space for installation tolerance is formed for the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Dragonstate Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chi Lee, Shih-Chia Lai
  • Receptacle connector assembly for IC card and IC card connector
    Patent number: 7654867
    Abstract: Disclosed is a receptacle connector assembly for an IC card, comprising: a connector housing (20) having a top surface (21), a bottom surface (22), and a peripheral wall (23) located between the top surface and bottom surface; a plurality of terminals (30) mounted in the connector housing and extending from the peripheral wall; a shielding member (40) removably attached to the top surface of the connector housing and having a portion extending over the terminals; and a supporting member (50) removably attached to the connector housing and covering the portion of the shielding member extending over the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Kenny Tai, Maslow Lin, Scott Lu
  • Electrical or optical or hydraulic connector that self-aligns the plug with respect to the base, particularly for offshore connections
    Patent number: 7654842
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an electrical, optical or hydraulic connector (1) equipped with an electrical, optical or hydraulic plug, respectively, intended to be connected to an electrical, optical or hydraulic base, that self-aligns the plug (3) relative to the base (5), particularly for “offshore” connections, in which the plug (3) and the base (5) are attached to respective support parts (11, 7) intended to be positioned with respect to one another in order to approximately align the plug (3) and the base (5) in order to connect said plug and base to one another, characterized in that it has a mechanical driving mechanism (19) enabling the plug (3) or the base (5) to move forward or backward, in order to be connected into the base (5) or the plug (3), respectively, and a self-aligning mechanism (17) for the plug (3) or the base (5) relative to the base (5) or the plug (3), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Carrier Kheops BAC
    Inventors: Yves Cadoret, Mathieu Benoist
  • Electrical connector having a space allowing an elastic connecting member to be escaped
    Patent number: 7654827
    Abstract: In an electrical connector for connecting connection objects to each other in a connecting direction, a holding member has an accommodating portion between a first and a second surface to which the connection objects are opposed, respectively, when connected to said electrical connector. A connecting member has elasticity and is placed in the accommodating portion. The holding member includes a first and a second wall which define the accommodating portion therebetween. At least one of the first and the second walls includes a restraining portion defining a space which allows a portion of the connecting member to elastically move in a predetermined direction crossing the connecting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Arai, Seiya Matsuo, Akane Yoneta
  • Communication port
    Patent number: 7651346
    Abstract: A communication port is susceptible to contaminates such as dirt, dust, and moisture if not properly protected. A communication port that automatically protects against contaminates includes a housing defining an opening and configured to receive a device connector. A face plate is disposed on the housing. The face plate defines a window generally aligned with the opening. A door is slideably disposed on the housing and biased toward a position covering the opening and the window. Exerting a force on the door exposes the opening and the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Francis, Steven William Marzo, John A. Yurtin
  • Supply side backfeed meter socket adapter
    Patent number: 7648389
    Abstract: A utility meter adapter plugs between a utility meter and its meter socket to provide a power pigtail suitable for a solar electric system to backfeed power to the utility. A round plastic base has several connector jaw blades underneath positioned like a meter to fit in a meter socket and its jaw sockets. A corresponding set of jaw sockets is provided for the jaw blades on the meter to plug into the topside. The jaw sockets in the adapter on the load side of the meter are pigtailed to terminal lugs with a conduit access. A solar electric system backfeed can be run through conduit tubing to the terminal lugs on top of any flush walls, thus avoiding any disturbances to the pre-existing walls and service panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Solarcity Corporation
    Inventors: Damien Scott, Dennis Alan Cox, Ben Tarbell
  • Adjustable cable connector wire guide and connector assembly incorporating the same
    Patent number: 7645173
    Abstract: A cable connector wire guide and a connector assembly including the same. The wire guide includes first and second portions defining a cable opening. The first and second portions are configured to allow for expansion of the cable opening to allow cables of different dimensions to be received within the cable opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Thermal Controls LLC
    Inventor: Brian S. Larkin
  • Short-circuit member for a commutator and an armature
    Patent number: 7642687
    Abstract: The number of conductor members in a first conductor member group and the number of conductor members in a second conductor member group are equal to each other and are odd numbers. An inner terminal of each conductor member is displaced from an outer terminal of the same conductor member by 90 degrees with respect to the circumferential direction of the corresponding conductor member group. Each outer terminal of the first conductor member group is displaced from a corresponding one of the outer terminals of the second conductor member with respect to the circumferential direction of the first conductor member group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Kageyama, Toshio Yamamoto
  • Data protecting apparatus and data protecting method
    Patent number: 7637755
    Abstract: In a vehicle audio apparatus, the detection switch is turned off when the lock claw is released from the lock-claw holder to open the front panel. The bi-directional switches are thereby turned off, disconnecting the data lines SD+and SD? between the USB interface unit of the main unit and the USB socket of the front panel. Thereafter, the front panel is opened, releasing the connector (22) from the connector 13 and ultimately disconnecting the power-supply lines (VBUS and GND). Hence, the vehicle audio apparatus is prevented from being abruptly disconnected from the power supply. This prevents the data stored in the USB memory from being destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Asaya Hondo, Toshimasa Matsuoka
  • Card edge connector and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 7628654
    Abstract: A card edge connector includes a housing, a first conductive part, a second conductive part, a supporting conductive part, a connecting element, a first harness, and a second harness. The housing has an insertion hole for receiving an electronic substrate therein. The first conductive part and the second conductive part are disposed in the insertion hole and are configured to come in contact with respective terminals disposed on a surface of the electronic substrate. The supporting conductive part is disposed in the housing in such a manner that supporting conductive part is farther away from the surface of the electronic substrate than the first conductive part is. The connecting element couples the second conductive part and the supporting conductive part, the first harness is coupled with the first conductive part, and the second harness is coupled with the supporting conductive part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Hori, Taku Iida, Yasushi Matsumura, Yoshio Hironaka, Takashi Kamiya, Masashi Hiramatsu, Toshihiro Miyake, Hiroki Kamiya
  • Coaxial cable and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 7628647
    Abstract: In each of plural coaxial cables 11, a tip portion of an outer sheath 12 is removed and portions of an outer conductor 13, an insulator 14, and a center conductor 15 are exposed in this order in a step-like manner. A ground bar 20 having lock nails 23 for locking the coaxial cables 11 individually is fastened to the exposed portions of the outer conductors 13. The coaxial cables 11 are fixed being sandwiched between the ground bar 20 and a pressing member 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Semba, Takayoshi Koinuma
  • Electrical connector and inserting method thereof
    Patent number: 7628655
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulating body with a main body portion in which a first receiving space is concavely formed. Spaced first terminal passages extend in a top surface of the first receiving space. A second receiving space is formed in the front end of the main body portion and connected with the first receiving space. A tongue plate extends forwards from a front end face of the main body portion and has a working surface in which spaced second terminal passages extend. The second receiving space is located above the tongue plate. First and second conductive terminals are respectively correspondingly received in the first and the second terminal passages. When a memory card is inserted into the connector, there is no other in-series disturbed signal noise for stable signal transmission; and when the memory card is inserted to its position, it cannot swing and can be connected stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Lotes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu Sheng Chen
  • Tamper evident connector system
    Patent number: 7625229
    Abstract: An electrical assembly is disclosed that provides evidence of tampering. The assembly includes a plug housing with a seal cover attached thereto, the seal cover including latching arms. A wire dress cover is attached over the seal cover, and a locking element is placed through the wire dress cover and is rotatably latched in place to the latching arms. The locking element overlies a jack screw, which prevents the disconnection of the plug housing or removal of a wire cover without first removing the locking element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Scott M Cross, David A Klein, Joel D Sandburg
  • Short-circuit member for a commutator and an armature
    Patent number: 7626307
    Abstract: The number of conductor members in a first conductor member group and the number of conductor members in a second conductor member group are equal to each other. An inner terminal of each conductor member is displaced from an outer terminal of the same conductor member with respect to the circumferential direction of the corresponding conductor member group. Each outer terminal of the first conductor member group is displaced from a corresponding one of the outer terminals of the second conductor member with respect to the circumferential direction of the first conductor member group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Kageyama, Toshio Yamamoto
  • Electrical connecting apparatus
    Patent number: 7625219
    Abstract: The electrical connecting apparatus disclosed herein includes a frame member having a recess for receiving a device under test provided with a plurality of electrodes, a plurality of contacts provided in correspondence to the electrodes, a plurality of slots formed in the bottom portion of the recess of the frame member and arranged parallel to each other so as to receive the contacts such that the tip of each contact can abut the corresponding electrode, an elastic member disposed across the slots over the bottom portion within the recess to elastically hold the contacts, and a cap member mounted on the frame member and sandwiching the elastic body together with the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Eichi Osato, Yoshihito Goto
  • Electrical connector with a compliant cable strain relief element
    Patent number: 7621772
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a wire termination sub-assembly having a housing holding a plurality of contacts at a wire termination end of the housing. The contacts are configured to be electrically coupled to wires of a cable. The wire termination sub-assembly further includes a strain relief element coupled to the housing. The strain relief element includes an end wall having an opening therein, and the strain relief element includes a flexible beam extending axially inward from the opening. The flexible beam is configured to engage the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn Phillip Tobey