Patents Examined by Paula A. Bradley
  • Patent number: 6171152
    Abstract: An RJ-45 style modular connector having a plastic rectangular housing with an open front end to receive a matching RJ-45 style modular jack, and an opposite open back end. A contact spring assembly of a plurality of wires in separate circuits passes forward through said open back end into the back of said open front end of the housing. The contact assembly also includes a plastic block that supports the plurality of wires by a right angle turn and is vertically oriented with respect to the plurality of wires, and the plastic block inserts and locks into the open back end of the housing. A set of mounting pins is disposed at a bottom edge of the plastic block for connection to a printed motherboard. A signal conditioning part is disposed in the plastic block for providing signal conditioning of signals passing from said set of mounting pins to the contact spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Regal Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Kunz
  • Patent number: 6172590
    Abstract: A mass-producible, cost-effective discrete electrical protection device utilizing a precision gap between two electrically conductive members attached to an electrically insulating substrate to provide over-voltage protection to an electrical device. In one aspect, the electrical protection device is a surface mountable device. In another aspect, the device has through-holes for accommodating leads on an electrical connector. Methods are provided also for making the electrical protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: SurgX Corporation
    Inventors: Karen P. Shrier, Gerald R. Behling, James B. Intrater, Mike Olla, Jimmie D. Felps, Kailash C. Joshi
  • Patent number: 6171132
    Abstract: A readily installed or removed cover for boot for a connection in an electrical cable or fluid line is described. The boot consists of a body portion divided longitudinally into two sections for easy application. The body has a threaded cylindrical proximal end, a middle section, and a generally frustroconical distal end. The proximal end and middle sections are split by a plane preferably located to include the longitudinal axis of the boot. Just before the distal end the plane makes a sharp upward jog to form a shoulder. A slot through the upper part of the distal end completes separation of the two sections. In cross section this slot occupies about 60° of the distal end circumference. The lower section contains the major part of the distal end while the upper section has a tongue corresponding to the slot in the lower section. The edges of the tongue have outwardly extending ridges that fit into corresponding grooves in the lower section to lock the two together when assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: C-K Worldwide Inc.
    Inventor: Stephan John Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6171154
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a front face and a rear face opposite the front face. A mating portion extends from the rear face for mating with a complementary connector. A first contact section is integrally formed on the front face for connecting with a first connector. A second contact section is integrally formed on the front face for connecting with a second connector and includes at least a contact pin extending beyond the front face. An alignment plate having an opening for insertion of the contact pin is assembled to the front face for securely positioning the contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Juntwait, George Lee, Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6171136
    Abstract: A male type USB (universal serial bus) connector includes a substantially rectangular connector body, a cable connected to the connector body and extended out of a hole at a rear side wall of the connector body, two symmetrical insulative shells fastened together and covered on the rear side wall and two opposite lateral side walls of the connector body and a part of the cable to secure the cable in place, and an insulative cap fastened to the connector body and the insulative shells at a front side, the cap having a center coupling hole, which receives a front side wall of the connector body, and a backward coupling flange coupled to the insulative shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Northstar Farest Corp.
    Inventors: Yun-Yu Liu, Ming Kuei Li
  • Patent number: 6168464
    Abstract: A slanted type card edge connector (10) includes an insulative housing (12) defining a central slot (14) for receiving a module therein. Two rows of contacts (18, 19) are provided by two sides of the central slot (14) with tails (20) extending horizontally out of the front surface (22) and the rear surface (24) of the housing (12). The housing (12) includes three securement sections (30) respectively essentially positioned on two opposite ends and the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Edmond Choy, Jeng-Yih Hwang
  • Patent number: 6168474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications connector comprising an internal circuit board having a plurality of circuit board layers that include a plurality of capacitive and inductive devices that counteract the crosstalk created by a first other connector mated to the communications connector. In addition, the communications connector comprises an internal fanout assembly mounted to the internal circuit board that has a plurality of conductors arranged so as to form a compensation area that counteracts crosstalk created by a second other connector mated to the communications connector. The circuit board can comprise at least one capacitive device provided on its outer surface that is manually reducible in size so as to adjust the amount of capacitance created therewith such that the amount of crosstalk compensation provided by the circuit board can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gregory German, Jeffrey Allen Hess, Julian Robert Pharney, William Tracy Spitz, Ted E. Steele
  • Patent number: 6168479
    Abstract: A terminal connection device having an elastic cage 10 with a clamping aperture 13 for a cable C, a conducting component 20 which is provided to carry the cage. An insulating block D linked to the elastic cage carries, on the one hand an arm 31 for opening the cage and on the other hand a conducting connection arm 32, the arms being fitted in such a way that when the block is at the side of the cage, the opening arm 31 bends the loop to allow the connection arm to be introduced into the clamping aperture and to remain pressed against the conducting component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Jean Canault, Santos Guinda
  • 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.
  • Patent number: 6168478
    Abstract: The invention discloses an insulation displacement connector terminal having a snap type retention mechanism which securely retains the terminal within its cooperative housing. The terminal has a plurality of flexible tabs protruding from the surface of the terminal. While the terminal is being inserted into its housing, the tabs deflect to pass through the entry slot of the housing. Upon full insertion of the terminal within its housing, the tabs snap back to its original protruded position, wedging the terminal against the entry slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bassel Hage Daoud
  • Patent number: 6168457
    Abstract: A electric wire connecting structure including a first wire connector which taps into electric current flowing through a first electric wire, a second wire connector connected to a second wire, and a bridge integrally connecting the first wire connector and the second wire connector, such that electric current is transmitted from the first wire to the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yoengseog Kim
  • Patent number: 6168455
    Abstract: An in-line connector for coaxial cable connectors, which enables two flush cut cables of two different diameters to be spliced together without further cutting of the cable's insulator or outer conductor jacket. A longitudinal connector has an internal concentrically mounted conductor member which contacts the inner wire conductor of each cable to be spliced. A pair of metallic sleeves extend from the conductor and are inserted into each cable to make contact with the woven metallic sheath of each cable. Each of said sleeves comprises two sections having two different internal diameters to accommodate differently sized cables. A collapsible sleeve is concentrically mounted to each end of the connector and engages the connector to inhibit relative rotation. A lock nut threadably engages each of the collapsible sleeves to cover the connection and secure each cable to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Rally Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Saied Hussaini
  • Patent number: 6168465
    Abstract: A terminal structure and a universal low noise blockdown converter having a multiple number of terminals for receiving a radio wave signal transmitted from satellites and converting it to an intermediate-frequency signal. The terminal structure includes: a terminal joint module having a multiple number of cylindrical outer conductors each having a core conductor inside the cylinder and a plate-like attachment base on which the cylindrical outer conductors are put together, wherein the outer conductors and the attachment base are integrally formed of an identical material or different materials. The universal low noise blockdown converter includes the above-described terminal structure in such an arrangement that the attachment base is fixed to one end face of the converter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hirota
  • Patent number: 6168476
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric terminal mounting seat, a contact terminal set mounted in the terminal mounting seat, a metal shield enclosing the terminal mounting seat, and a dielectric casing enclosing the metal shield. The terminal mounting seat includes a base member and a cover member. The base member includes a bottom wall with front and rear portions. The contact terminal set is mounted on the bottom wall, and extends from the front portion to the rear portion. The base member further has a top side formed with an opening. The cover member is mounted movably on the base member so as to close the opening and so as to clamp the contact terminal set against the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Connecteck, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheng-Ho Yang
  • Patent number: 6165023
    Abstract: A communication connector arrangement has a contact wire support, and at least a first and a second pair of terminal contact wires with portions fixed on the support. Each pair of contact wires has contact portions for establishing electrical connections with a mating connector. A first leading portion of a first contact wire of the first pair, and a second leading portion of a second contact wire of the second pair, extend generally parallel to one another and are terminated at their ends by a capacitance element. Capacitive crosstalk compensation is thus produced at the contact portions of the terminal contact wires, when the latter are engaged by the mating connector. In a disclosed embodiment, the arrangement includes a jack frame joined with the contact wire support, and the terminal contact wires are positioned inside a connector opening in the jack frame to connect electrically with a plug connector when inserted in the connector opening in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Lamar Troutman, William Tracy Spitz
  • Patent number: 6165010
    Abstract: A desktop extension power and telephone port station includes a station body and a base. The station body defines a body chamber therein and the base includes a supporting shell that defines a shell chamber for receiving a weight member therein for stability. A light emitting diode (LED) indicator, a telephone notch, a fuse switch, and an electrical socket are arranged to mount on a front surface of the station body. An elongated telephone cord has a first end connected to the telephone notch mounted on the front shell and a second end connected to a telephone clip. An elongated electrical wire has a first end portion connected to the electrical socket, the fuse switch and the LED indicator and a second end portion connected to an electrical plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Prazoff
  • Patent number: 6164977
    Abstract: A coaxial connector has a board mount end (14) for mounting on a circuit board, with a standoff (70) thereat to lie above circuit board traces and allow the passage of wash fluid that washes away soldering flux etc., which minimizes a change in impedance along the standoff to reduce signal losses. The standoff, which is connected to the outer contact (24) of the connector, has a circular inner surface (90) that faces the pin part (34) of the center contact, and which has segments (81-84) which, together, extend at least about 180.degree. about the pin. The outer contact which surrounds a mount-end insulator (62) and the inner contact, has a slot (120) at the mount end to enable the installation of the center contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Lester Joaquin Lester
  • Patent number: 6164997
    Abstract: An arrangement for protecting a multi-port electrical connection between a component housed in a housing part and a cable from its environment, for example from varying weather conditions. The arrangement comprises a single piece tube like adapter, said adapter having a non-uniform internal cross-sectioned portion for receiving a first electrical connection part in a single predetermined orientation and an internal circumferential seal for sealing against the cable passing through said adapter and connected to the first electrical connection part. The arrangement additionally comprises an external surface portion of non-uniform cross-section locatable within a receiving recess of the housing part in a single predetermined orientation and an external circumferential seal for sealing against a part of the receiving recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventor: David Paul Davies
  • Patent number: 6165008
    Abstract: An electrical connector for a flexible flat cable comprises a dielectric housing defining an elongate slot, a number of terminals retained in the housing, a shield enclosing the housing, and a stuffer inserted into the slot for biasing an inserted flexible flat cable into contact with the terminals. Each terminal has a tail portion for connecting with a signal conductor of the inserted cable. The shield comprises a pressing plate extending into the slot of the housing. The pressing plate connects with a bottom wall of the shield via a pair of linkers and is parallel to the bottom wall. Each linker is trapezoidal in shape. Each linker connects with the pressing plate at a first junction portion having a small width and with the bottom wall of the shield at a second junction portion having a large width, thereby preventing a top wall of the shield from upwardly deflecting relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming Chuan Wu, Ta Chin Lee, Shih Wei Hsiao
  • Patent number: 6164992
    Abstract: When a lever attached to a male connector is rotated, the male connector is engaged with a female connector. The lever includes: a pair of lever walls pivotally supported by both side walls of the male connector; protrusions to be engaged with the female connector, formed on one sides of the lever walls; and an operating portion for connecting ends of the lever walls on the other side. Rigidity is given to the lever by forming a rib zone, which is integrally bent toward the male connector, on the pair of lever walls and the operating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiaki Okabe