Patents Examined by Phuongchi T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9893452
    Abstract: Contact structures that are readily manufactured, where contacts in the contact structures provide a sufficient normal force while consuming a minimal amount of surface area, depth, and volume in an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Wagman, Eric S. Jol
  • Patent number: 9819121
    Abstract: A screwless terminal block allows easy insertion and removal of a wire. A housing (2) includes a fixture insertion opening (23) through which a rod-like fixture (6) is inserted to come in contact with a contact pressure spring (4) and deform the spring (4) away from a wire (5). When the fixture (6) is inserted through the fixture insertion opening (23), an acute angle of 45° or less is formed by an axis of the fixture (6) and a straight line connecting a contact point A between the housing (2) and a part of the fixture (6) adjacent to the wire insertion opening (24) and a contact point B between the housing (2) and a part of the fixture (6) adjacent to the spring (4) at a cross-section taken along a plane including the axis of the fixture (6) and parallel to a pressing direction of the spring (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Masaki, Keisuke Yano, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Tajiri, Tomokazu Ikeda, Shinya Tsuji, Taijiro Fujiwara, Masahiro Ono, Masao Nagase, Yusuke Komoguchi
  • Patent number: 9804636
    Abstract: Docking platforms formed in one of the largest-surface-area surfaces of mobile electronic devices. Such a docking platform may comprise a docking accessory cavity having a docking connection system comprising one or more docking connectors formed within the cavity, and optionally two or more electrical contacts within the cavity, the contacts electrically connected to electronics within the electronic device and constructed and arranged to allow electrical connection to detachable docking accessories. The docking connection system is operable to form detachable attachments to multiple independent docking accessories simultaneously. The cavities of the docking platforms are shaped to accommodate a broad range of docking accessories that are specially adapted to sit in a generally flush manner with the back surface of the mobile electronic device while attached to the docking connectors. One type of accessory forms an assembly with an expandable accordion attached to the docking platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: David B. Barnett, Altan Nahum
  • Patent number: 9799981
    Abstract: A small, low-profile plug connector for use with electronic devices provides a latching member with a pair of hooks that engage mating holes in a guide frame, and which can be easily disengaged from the guide frame or opposing connector or housing. The connector includes an elongated actuator interposed between the connector housing and latching member and the actuator terminates in a cylindrical cam member that is captured in a recess on the connector housing such that rearward movement of the actuator imparts a raising action to the latching member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Weber
  • Patent number: 9793661
    Abstract: A differential pin to RF adaptor includes a center conductor contact with an RF connector on one end and a signal contact on the other end. An insulating sleeve surrounds the central contact. A reference contact surrounds the insulating sleeve. The signal pin of the differential pair interfaces with the center conductor contact of the RF connector. The adaptor is structured to slide down over a pair of pins/leads so that the reference contact abuts a circuit board attached to the pins. The pins/leads are shielded all the way to the circuit board, which shields/isolates the pins from common mode and other types of interference. The adaptor maintains the shape of the signal pin and the reference pin during testing. The adaptor maintains a fixed impedance of the pins, which reduces or eliminates uncontrolled impedance and hence preserves system frequency response and reduces/eliminates erroneous ripple currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mende, Gary W. Reed, James D. Pileggi, Karl A. Rinder, Richard A. Booman
  • Patent number: 9793664
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a communication system that includes a communication plug including a plug housing and a plurality of plug contacts positioned at least partially within the plug housing, and a communication jack including a jack housing and a plurality of plug interface contacts (PICs) at least partially positioned within the jack housing. The communication plug and the communication jack are configured to mate together in a first configuration where each of the plug contacts interfaces one of the PICs along the respective plug contact's first section. The communication plug and the communication jack are further configured to mate together in a second configuration where each of the plug contacts interfaces one of the PICs along the respective plug contact's second section, the second section being different than the respective first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Joshua A. Valenti
  • Patent number: 9793632
    Abstract: A spring finger of an electrical connector is disclosed. The spring finger includes a soldering section, a support section extending substantially perpendicularly from an end of the soldering section, a U-shaped first bend extending from an end of the support section opposite the soldering section and forming a first opening facing the soldering section, and a U-shaped contact structure obliquely suspended from an end of the first bend and spaced apart from the support section. The contact structure contacts a mating conductive terminal of a mating connector in a lateral direction parallel to the soldering section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhanglan Xue, Wenke He, Jiayong He
  • Patent number: 9787018
    Abstract: A one-piece rubber plug (50) is arranged on a rear end part of a housing (70) and a rear holder (30) to be locked to the housing (70) is arranged behind the rubber plug (50). A receptacle (10) is fit externally to the housing (70) from front and an opening end part of the receptacle (10) is held in close contact with lips (55) of the rubber plug (50). The receptacle (10) includes short side walls (15) that face each other in a first direction and long side walls (14) that face each other in a second direction. Receptacle-side escaping portions (19) retracted more in a front-back direction than inner peripheries of opening end parts of the long side walls (14) are provided on inner peripheries of opening end parts of the short side walls (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahisa Chonan
  • Patent number: 9780482
    Abstract: A method of dry-mating a first connector part and a second connector part wherein the first and second connector parts are brought into a first mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first and second connector parts. A sealed inner space is formed between the first and second connector parts. The sealed inner space is evacuated through an evacuating port. The evacuation port is arranged such that it is located on an inner sealed side of the engaged seal in the first mated state. Further, the first connector part and the second connector part are brought into a second mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part such that the evacuation port is located on an outer side of the engaged seal so that it is no longer in flow communication with the sealed inner space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant, Andrew Thompson, Daniel Walton
  • Patent number: 9774136
    Abstract: A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: NANOPORT TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Jing Yin Szeto, Jeremy Zhi-Qiao Chan
  • Patent number: 9774133
    Abstract: A screwless terminal block allows easy insertion and removal of a wire. A housing (2) includes a fixture insertion opening (23) through which a rod-like fixture (6) is inserted to come in contact with a contact pressure spring (4) and deform the spring (4) away from a wire (5). When the fixture (6) is inserted through the fixture insertion opening (23), an acute angle of 45° or less is formed by an axis of the fixture (6) and a straight line connecting a contact point A between the housing (2) and a part of the fixture (6) adjacent to the wire insertion opening (24) and a contact point B between the housing (2) and a part of the fixture (6) adjacent to the spring (4) at a cross-section taken along a plane including the axis of the fixture (6) and parallel to a pressing direction of the spring (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Masaki, Keisuke Yano, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Tajiri, Tomokazu Ikeda, Shinya Tsuji, Taijiro Fujiwara, Masahiro Ono, Masao Nagase, Yusuke Komoguchi
  • Patent number: 9768567
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing comprising a rear base and a mating tongue extending forward from the base; a row of upper terminals and a row of lower terminals retained on the housing, each terminal including a contacting section exposed to mating tongue and a pin leg section from the base, and the contacting sections of the upper and lower terminals being aligned with each in a vertical direction. The contacting sections of each row terminals are arranged in different central pitch, the pin leg sections of the upper and lower terminals are aligned with each in a front and back direction and the pin leg sections of each row are arranged with a same central pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chih-Pi Cheng, Wen He, Quan Wang, Chao-Chieh Chen, Yue Zhou, Feng Zeng, Lu Dai, Hao Zhou
  • Patent number: 9768540
    Abstract: A socket assembly is for a meter center including at least one meter having a stab. The socket assembly includes a base member; and a jaw assembly having a first jaw member and a second jaw member coupled to the first jaw member, each of the first jaw member and the second jaw member having a number of retaining edges and being structured to engage the stab. The jaw assembly is structured to rotate between a first position corresponding to disengagement between the number of retaining edges and the base member, and a second position corresponding to engagement between the number of retaining edges and the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Albert Boyd Cable
  • Patent number: 9768549
    Abstract: A signal connector includes a main body and positioning device. The main body has a front section with an end connector and a rear formed by an accommodating groove with a threaded hole and insert hole. The positioning device is received into the accommodating groove of the main body, composed of a clamping piece and screwing elements. The clamping piece is at the bottom of the groove, with a threaded hole. The screwing element is inserted through the insert hole and secured in the threaded hole. After foresaid are combined, the conducting filament of a transmission line can be tightly clamped by the clamping piece by rotating the screwing element to move the clamping piece upward, ensuring enhanced signal transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Ching-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 9768522
    Abstract: A method of forming a joint between a coaxial cable and, a coaxial connector includes the steps of: preparing a cable having an inner conductor, a dielectric, a corrugated outer conductor surrounding the dielectric layer, and a jacket such that an end of the inner conductor is exposed, an end of the outer conductor is exposed arid is flattened to form a ring devoid of corrugations, and a portion of the dielectric layer is cored out to form a solder chamber between the inner conductor and the ring of the outer conductor; preparing an assembly comprising a coaxial connector comprising an inner contact, a dielectric spacer, and an outer conductor body having a tail, with a solder preform encircling the tail; inserting the tail and solder preform into the solder chamber; and melting the solder preform to create a joint between the ring and the tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. Harwath, Jeffrey D. Paynter, James P. Fleming, David J. Smentek
  • Patent number: 9762000
    Abstract: A breakaway coaxial cable connector includes a first conductive body configured to engage a first cable, and a second conductive body configured to engage a second cable. The first conductive body and the second conductive body are configured to be selectively coupled to each other so as to maintain electrical connectivity between the first cable and the second cable during operation of the connector when a first tension force below a predetermined threshold level is applied between the first cable and the second cable. The first conductive body and the second conductive body are configured to be selectively de-coupled from each other so as to interrupt electrical connectivity between the first cable and the second cable during operation of the connector when a second tension force above the predetermined threshold level is applied between the first cable and the second cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: PPC Broadband, Inc.
    Inventor: Noah P. Montena
  • Patent number: 9755368
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a connector body defining a front mating cavity with a first inner side and a second inner side opposite to the first inner side, and a rear cable supporting platform with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first inner side and a plurality of terminals. The terminals include two rows of contacting sections arranged along the first and second inner sides of the mating cavity and soldering legs extending to the platform to be welded to a cable. The soldering legs are arranged in one row and exposing to the first surface of the platform while the second surface of the platform has no soldering legs to be welded to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chih-Pi Cheng, Wen He, Quan Wang, Feng Zeng
  • Patent number: 9755371
    Abstract: The electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of upper/first contacts and lower/second contacts retained in the housing, a reinforcement piece located between the upper contacts and the lower contacts in the vertical direction, and a metallic shield enclosing the housing. The housing includes a first insulator carrying the first contacts with a first tongue thereof, and a second insulator carrying the second contacts with a second tongue thereof, and the reinforcement piece is located between the first insulator and the second insulator wherein the reinforcement piece includes a relatively thin conductive film or layer located between the first mating tongue and the second mating tongue in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Zhao, Jing-Jie Guo
  • Patent number: 9755380
    Abstract: A receptacle includes an insulating housing including a base and a mating tongue, upper contacts and lower contacts, a metallic shell and a shielding plate. The contacts include plate contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue. The shielding plate is disposed in the mating tongue and the base and isolated from the upper and lower contacts. The metallic shell is retained on the base and surrounding the mating tongue to define a mating port which is inserted with a plug connector in either of two insertion orientations. The front sides of the shielding plate is exposed to the front side of the mating tongue and the lateral sides of the shielding plates is exposed to the corresponding lateral sides of the mating tongue for protection under an improper angular mating of the plug connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Chih-Pi Cheng, Shuo-Hsiu Hsu, Chih-Kai Yang, An-Jen Yang
  • Patent number: 9748697
    Abstract: Pluggable connector includes a plug housing configured to couple to a communication cable. The plug housing has a plug cavity. The pluggable connector also includes a module board that is disposed within the plug cavity and configured to be communicatively coupled to the communication cable. The module board has a mating edge configured to interface with a mating connector. The module board includes a plurality of signal pathways and a plurality of ground pathways in which the signal pathways are interleaved between corresponding ground pathways. The signal and ground pathways include respective contact pads that are disposed proximate to the mating edge for engaging corresponding contacts of the mating connector. Each of the ground pathways has separate first and second trace segments and a damping component that electrically joins the first and second trace segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION, TYCO ELECTRONICS JAPAN G.K.
    Inventors: Sandeep Patel, Linda Ellen Shields, Bruce Allen Champion, Chad William Morgan, Masayuki Aizawa