Patents Examined by P. Austin Bradley
  • Connector door having overtravel stops
    Patent number: 6869297
    Abstract: A jack for receiving and connecting with a compatible plug, the jack including a housing having a plug-receiving chamber therein, the housing having an orifice through which the plug is insertable into and removable from the chamber, and a pivotable prebiased door having a closed position generally disposed over the orifice when the plug is not disposed within the chamber and an open position not generally disposed over the orifice when the plug is disposed within the chamber, the door including a projecting portion for limiting the extent of insertion of the plug into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Jack E. Caveney
  • System and method for powering down a mobile device
    Patent number: 6865683
    Abstract: Described is a mechanism for mobile devices that allows a user to set a time at which the mobile device will automatically power down, and another time at which the mobile device will wake up. The mechanism further allows the mobile device to be awakened earlier than the wake up time if an event is scheduled to occur prior to the wake up time. Furthermore, the mechanism provides for the cancellation of the automatic power down or wake up, based on user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew W. Taylor, Neil R. N. Enns, Andrew D. Padawer
  • Interconnecting structure for electrically connecting two printed circuit boards
    Patent number: 6863542
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printed circuit board-interconnecting structure for integrating two printed circuit boards in a state of being electrically connected. The manufacturing cost is minimized. The board integrating structure permits the automatization of assembling parts, and can meet the occasional requirements for changing the inter-distance between the confronting printed circuit boards. Each printed circuit board has an ordinary connector attached to one side, and a rectangular hollow socket is sandwiched between the confronting printed circuit boards to enclose the connectors, and a short length of flexible flat cable lined with a reinforcement piece traverses the inter-space between the confronting connectors forts conductors to be put in contact with the terminals of the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Orion Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuhito Miyashita
  • Cable connector assembly having positioning structure
    Patent number: 6863546
    Abstract: A cable connector assembly (3) includes a housing (31), a number of contacts, a cable (33), and a enclosure (32). The housing has a mating face (310), an outer side face (315), a receiving space (311) defined in the mating face, a number of passageways (312) in communicating with the receiving space, and a guiding post (313) formed on the outer face and extending along the outer face in a mating direction. The contacts are received in the passageways. The cable electrically connects with the contacts. The enclosure encloses the housing, the contacts, and the cable. The closure has an outer side wall (321), and a positioning post (322) formed on the outer side wall and extending in the mating direction of the cable connector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu-chen Yang, Yung-Chien Chung, Hsien-Chu Lin, Chi-Kai Huang
  • Power-Cord Connecting Set
    Patent number: 6863555
    Abstract: A power-cord connection set including a plug and an outlet, wherein an annular joining protrusion having a tapered cross-section is provided around the terminals of the plug and an annular joining depression having a tapered cross-section and corresponding to the annular joining protrusion is provided around the terminal receptors of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ito
  • Electrical connector assembly
    Patent number: 6860751
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector having a fastening device with two fastening members, each of which has at least two first rib portions, and two biasing members, and a second electrical connector having two limiting members, each of which has at least one second rib portion. When the first and second electrical connectors are interconnected, each biasing member biases a respective one of the fastening members to press one of the first rib portions of the corresponding fastening member against the second rib portion of the corresponding limiting member, thereby arresting movement of the fastening members toward and away from the limiting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: George Ying-Liang Huang
  • Cable structure with improved grounding termination in the connector
    Patent number: 6857899
    Abstract: A cable structure for signal transmission comprises a connector housing and a plurality of housing contacts positioned within a defined contact plane in the connector housing. The housing contacts are configured for engaging external contacts of a device when the cable structure is coupled to a device. At least one signal conductor terminates in the connector housing, and is electrically coupled to one of the housing contacts generally in said contact plane. At least one ground conductor terminates in the connector housing, in a second plane spaced from the contact plane. A shorting bar has a first portion positioned generally in said contact plane and electrically coupled to a housing contact. A second portion of the shorting bar is positioned generally in said second plane and is electrically coupled to the ground conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Tensolite Company
    Inventors: Bruce Reed, Christopher A. Tutt
  • Symmetrical connector
    Patent number: 6857890
    Abstract: A connector (1) with a contact carrier (2) which has several receiving areas (9) for contact partners and a contact carrier sleeve (5) which can be moved over the contact carrier (2) and fixed there and which has a catch device (6) for locking the connector (1) to a mating connector. The invention providing that the contact carrier (2) and the contact carrier sleeve (5) are made symmetrical to each other such that the contact carrier sleeve (5) can be moved both into a first position and also into at least one second position over the contact carrier (2) and can be fixed in the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hirschmann Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmer Kammerer, Thomas Bürk
  • Connection block suitable for being inserted in a cavity of a metal box of a multicontact connector
    Patent number: 6857882
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connection block suitable for being inserted in a cavity of a metal box of a multicontact connector, the block comprising: an insulating body having a bottom face and a top face together with a side wall extending substantially between said faces, said insulating body being provided with a plurality of holes designed to receive individual contacts, said holes extending between said bottom and top faces; one or more housings each designed to receive a ground pin; and a metal ground element suitable for being electrically connected to the ground pin(s) inserted in said housing(s), said ground element having a contact wall configured in such a manner as to extend over at least a major portion of the periphery of said side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Radiall
    Inventor: Bernard Van Den Meersschaut
  • Cable connector holders and methods for connecting and disconnecting a plurality of cable connectors
    Patent number: 6857900
    Abstract: A set of connectors, such as electrical or fiber-optic cable connectors, is supported on a holder body to form a ganged array of cable connectors. The holder body includes a bearing surface for maintaining a latch release of at least a first one of the cable connectors in a disengaged position to prevent it from latching when the ganged array of connectors is connected to an array of mating connectors. The holder body also defines one or more clearance regions that allow the latch release of at least a second one of the cable connectors to operate, to thereby allow the second cable connector to latch when the set of cable connectors is connected to the array of mating connectors, for releasably retaining the set of cable connectors in place. Spaced-apart clearance regions may be provided for facilitating proper operation and preventing damage to cables and connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Carlyle, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry M. Kleeberger, Paul W. Robinson, Billie D. Eliot, Daniel J. Bagby
  • Card connector
    Patent number: 6851959
    Abstract: A card connector for an IC card according to the present invention is provided with a preventive wall of an anti-floating mechanism in an ejector mechanism on a substrate, for suppressing the floating-up of the inserted IC card. Also, projections of an erroneous insert prevention mechanism for inhibiting the opposite insert of the card are provided with a sheet metal cover to prevent the IC card from floating up or being erroneously inserted, so that the IC card is not damaged and no short-circuit accident occurs. The card connector for an IC card is constructed into a hollow flat housing formed of a substrate and a metal sheet cover combined therewith, having the anti-floating mechanism for suppressing the floating-up of the IC card and the erroneous insert prevention mechanism for preventing the IC card from being inserted in such a manner that the rear end is directed forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Ooya, Kiyoshi Abe
  • Electrical connector for flat type conductor
    Patent number: 6851968
    Abstract: An electrical connector for a flat type conductor comprises terminals (20) with contact portion brought into contact with the flat conductor (F) when the flat conductor moves to the the closed position, and a pressing member (40) rotatable between the open and closed positions, wherein each terminal includes a base (21) and a main arm (22) having a first arm portion (24) and a second arm portion (25), at least one of the first and second arm portions having a sub-arm portion (27 and 33). When the pressure member is moved to the closed position, the sub-arm portion is resiliently deformed about a joint portion between the sub-arm portion and the main arm so that a distal end of said sub-arm portion presses the flat type conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Tsunematsu
  • Low inductance electrical contacts and LGA connector system
    Patent number: 6846184
    Abstract: An electrical contact having transmission-coil sections with at least two tightly wound turns. Active-coil sections are integral with, and positioned between the transmission-coil sections so as to provide electrical signal communication between the two transmission-coil sections, and spring characteristics. The transmission-coil sections are over coated with a conductive noble metal so as to fuse each of the tightly wound turns together to thereby provide for a shortened electrical transmission pathway through the electrical contact. An LGA interposer for providing data communication between a first and a second array of contact pads is also provided having a dielectric housing with an array of cavities; and a plurality of electrical contacts positioned within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: High Connection Density Inc.
    Inventors: Zhineng Fan, Che-Yu Li
  • High speed, high density interconnect system for differential and single-ended transmission applications
    Patent number: 6843657
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high density electrical connector which can provide 80 or more twinax connections per linear inch in a 20 millimeter card slot. In a typical electronic system package, 20 millimeters is the spacing from center line to center line of the adjacent parallel daughtercards. Twinax cable is coaxial cable that contains two inner conducting wires rather than one. The two inner conducting wires provide two physical channels. Coaxial cable is called “coaxial” because it includes one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along the same axis. The outer channel serves as ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Litton Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Driscoll, Stephen Vetter, Robert M. Bradley
  • Releasable, repeatable electrical connection employing compression
    Patent number: 6837718
    Abstract: An electrical connection releasably, repeatably electrically couples with respect to a matching connection of a portable cartridge. A substrate in the portable cartridge has electrical contacts on a facing surface of a flex cable mounted on a backing plate. A matching circuitized flexible substrate has electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, which are arranged to match the portable cartridge electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, and is mounted on a compression element with protruding compression members. Elongated electrical contacts are registered with two adjacent individual compression members. A loader exerts a normal force to the cartridge to compress the compression element and create non-wiping contact between the facing electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Louis Brodsky, Dennis Hurley Byrne, Alex Chliwnyj, David Michael Davis, James Mitchell Karp, George G. Zamora
  • Card connector having a card engaging locking mechanism
    Patent number: 6835077
    Abstract: A card connector having a lock member that engages with a card. It is constructed so that when a card is forcefully removed while in a locked state, neither the card nor the lock member is damaged. When a cutout of the card is engaged by the lock member, a free end portion of the lock member is positioned by a support surface of a housing, thereby preventing outward deformation thereof. If a force is applied to forcefully pull out the card while in this state, an engagement surface of the lock member is pushed by the cutout so that an engagement protrusion elastically deforms in a twisting manner, causing the engagement of the cutout therewith to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K.
    Inventors: Keishi Ikeda, Junya Tsuji
  • Apparatus for aircraft seat connector interface to portable electronic devices
    Patent number: 6835068
    Abstract: A connector module for connecting a portable electronic device to a power source and a network on-board a mobile platform, for example an aircraft. The connector module is adapted to be integrated into an interior compartment of the aircraft, either adjacent to or disposed within a seat of the aircraft. The connector module provides a networking port disposed within a housing that is adapted to couple the portable electronic device to the aircraft network. A power port is also disposed within the housing of the connector module and is adapted to receive a DC power cable of the portable electronic device for providing power to the portable electronic device. Several embodiments of the connector module provide various configurations for integrating the connector module into the compartment of the aircraft and/or into the seat of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Drew A. Pappas, Andrew A. Thompson, Scott C. Sanner, Stephen J. Moritz
  • Locking mechanism for electrical connector
    Patent number: 6835087
    Abstract: A front projection 45 and a rear projection 46 are formed facing each other as locking members in one (female type) connector housing 39. A locking projection 29 of a locking arm 27 of the other (male type) connector housing 11 engages with a space between said projections 45 and 46. Both a front surface 29a of the locking projection 29 and the rear projection 46 are formed into taper shapes, and abut each other. Either a rear end surface 29b of the locking projection 29 or the front projection 45 abutting against the rear end surface 29b is formed into an inverse taper side. The locking arm 27 is supported in a middle fulcrum part 31 raised from the male type connector housing 11, and connecting parts 33 and 34 connected to the connector housing 11. The locking projection 29 is positioned in between the middle fulcrum part 31 and the connecting parts 33 and 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Yamawaki
  • Electrical connector assembly with shorting member
    Patent number: 6835079
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a shorting member which is capable of electrically connecting or “shorting” certain contacts within a first connector when disconnected from a second connector to avoid an open circuit condition. The shorting member may be configured to short three or more contacts at the same time, and to be disengaged automatically upon connection of the first and second connectors. Moreover, the shorting member may be formed of a single piece of material and have an opposed pair of arms for engaging each contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Positronic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Gentry, Roger C. Williams, Tim O. Kepley
  • Elastomeric connector interconnecting flexible circuits and circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 6835071
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that includes a rigid circuit board, a connector base, an elastomeric member, a flex circuit and a cover. The connector assembly is compressively sandwiched together. The cover of the assembly provides the compressive force to ensure that a conductive path is established between conductive pads on the rigid circuit board and conductive pads on the flex circuit. The connector assembly may be manufactured entirely through a Z-axis assembly process. That is, each component of the system may be positioned on top of an adjacent component. A method of manufacturing a connector assembly is provided comprising the step of orienting a first circuit having conductive pads at a connector assembly position within a first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Joseph Pupkiewicz, Bohdan Petro Wozniak