Patents Examined by T C Patel
  • Patent number: 6109930
    Abstract: An enhanced electrical arrangement for a computer includes a first circuit board, and a second circuit board arranged essentially parallel to the first circuit board. A removable array connector is positionable between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The array connector causes the first circuit board to be in electrical communication with the second circuit board. A clamping arrangement is provided for urging the first circuit board and the second circuit board toward each other, so as to exert a force against the array connector and cause an electrical connection between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The clamping arrangement includes a back-up plate positionable adjacent to a major surface of the second circuit board, and an arm pivotally connected to the back-up plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Max J. Koschmeder, James L. Peacock
  • Patent number: 6106315
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a shunt contact for short circuit interconnection of terminals in a housing, where during insertion of the terminal in the housing, the short circuit contact is biased away from the terminal by engagement of a housing locking lance thereagainst so that damage to the shunt contact is minimized, in particular reduced rubbing of the gold plated contact surface and reduced risk of buckling due to abutment of the contact mating end with the shunt during insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Lalange, Olivier Pamart
  • Patent number: 6106335
    Abstract: Two rows of insulation displacement contacts are received in a connector housing. The contacts each comprise an insulation displacement end, a medial portion and a tail end. The medial portions are arranged across the housing body in grooves and the tail portions of the two rows extend from the housing in a common plane. Two non-proximate contacts of each row are connected at their medial portions by a capacitative coupling member which may comprise a chip capacitor or a pair of conducting plates connected by a bridge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Merchant, Howard Reynolds, Rowland White
  • Patent number: 6106305
    Abstract: An elastomeric connector having fine pitched contacts is provided in addition to a method for connecting components using such a connector and a method of manufacturing the same. The connector includes a body formed from an elastomeric material with contacts arranged to extend through the body and exposed at each side of the body. The contacts are bent to form a contact surface that is oriented at an angle with respect to the sides of the body. The contacts may include a radiused section that is formed in the elastomeric material. Grooves may be formed in the body of the connector separating adjacent contacts and providing additional flexibility of the connector. The contacts may provide for a wiping action of between 0.003 and 0.015 inches and the connector may provide for a spring force of greater than between 15 and 90 grams per contact after 10,000 cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Kozel, James M. Kudla, Mark Stack
  • Patent number: 6102712
    Abstract: A board-mount connector for a circuit board, including a plurality of contact elements, an electro-insulating body for supporting the contact elements in a mutually insulated arrangement, a plurality of external terminals located on an outer surface of the electro-insulating body, and a plurality of electro-conductive paths formed on a surface of the electro-insulating body to be electrically connected with respective ones of the contact elements and respective ones of the external terminals. The electro-conductive paths include a first terminal layer formed to cover an inner surface of a through hole for holding the contact element, a conductive line continuously formed on the outer surface of the electro-insulating body to be electrically connected at one end thereof with the first terminal layer, and a second terminal layer formed on the outer surface of the electro-insulating body to be electrically connected with the other end of the conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
    Inventor: Kouji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6102722
    Abstract: An upgradeable communication connector for use in wired telecommunication networks. The connector has a connector housing with an upgrade component passage for receiving an electrical upgrade component having at least one electrical contact terminal. A number of electrically conductive connector terminals are supported by the housing. The connector terminals have first end portions for contacting a mating connector, and second end portions for making electrical connections between the connector terminals and outside circuits. At least one of the connector terminals has a contact portion in the region of the upgrade component passage for electrically contacting a contact terminal of the upgrade component when the component is within the component passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jaime Ray Arnett
  • Patent number: 6102715
    Abstract: An adapter to connect either Type I or Type II cards into a PCMCIA compliant PC Card interface on a personal computer. A protective shutter mechanism receives both Type I and Type II cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Great American Gumball Corporation
    Inventor: Charles A. Centofante
  • Patent number: 6102710
    Abstract: An interposer substrate for mounting an integrated circuit chip to a substrate, and method of making the same, are shown. The interposer substrate comprises power supply paths and controlled impedance signal paths that are substantially isolated from each other. Power supply is routed through rigid segments and signals are routed through a thin film flexible connector that runs from the upper surface of the interposer substrate to the lower surface. Bypass capacitance is incorporated into the interposer substrate and connected to the power supply so that it is positioned very close to the integrated circuit chip. The interposer may be fabricated by forming a multilayered thin film structure including the signal paths over a rigid substrate having vias formed therein, removing the central portion of the substrate leaving the two end segments, and folding and joining the end segments such that the vias are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Solomon I. Beilin, William T. Chou, David Kudzuma, Michael G. Lee, Michael G. Peters, James J. Roman, Som S. Swamy, Wen-chou Vincent Wang, Larry L. Moresco, Teruo Murase
  • Patent number: 6102752
    Abstract: A two-part electrical socket contact for insertion into a cavity of a housing the cavity having a flexible contact securing element, said contact being provided with a contact body comprising a contact making section for making contact with a complementary contact pin or contact blade, and a connecting section for making connection with an electrical conductor, the contact making section being provided with at least two facing contact springs, and an outer cantilever spring enveloping the contact making section of the contact body, the outer cantilever spring being basically of a box-shaped design comprising a top, a bottom and two sides, the top of the outer cantilever spring consisting of a lower and an upper layer with the upper layer running parallel but spaced apart from the lower layer, and being provided with an opening to accommodate the contact securing element and the edges of the upper layer being bent over at right angles towards the lower layer and with the upper layer being narrower in its width
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Otto Bommel, Rolf Jetter
  • Patent number: 6099333
    Abstract: A network interface device is disclosed that connects a plug of a telephone test equipment to the telephone lines of the central office of a telephone service supplier, while at the same time disconnects customer's telephone lines from the telephone lines of the central office. Conversely, when the plug of the telephone test equipment is removed, the customer's telephone lines are reconnected to the telephone lines of the central office. The connection/disconnection is accomplished simultaneously by the insertion of the plug of the telephone test equipment into the cavity of a jack of the network interface device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bassel Hage Daoud, Christopher M. Helmstetter
  • Patent number: 6095824
    Abstract: A board-to-board connector assembly includes a plug connector and a receptacle connector having first and second housings receiving first and second contacts therein, respectively. Tail sections of the contacts are surface mounted to PCBs on which the plug and receptacle connectors are seated. A pair of mounting retainers are disposed in corresponding mounting recesses defined in opposite distal ends of both the first and second housings. The mounting retainers are inserted into the corresponding mounting recesses of the plug and receptacle connectors from top surfaces thereof. The tail portions of the contacts and bottom surfaces of the horizontal portions of the mounting retainers are surface mounted onto the corresponding PCBs. The plug and receptacle connectors are then mated together to electrically connect the PC boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert G. McHugh
  • Patent number: 6095839
    Abstract: A multi-directional electrical connector (20) includes an insulated housing (22) having an electrical contact (60) disposed in a first cavity portion (38) of a contact receiving cavity (36). A contact portion (70) of the contact (60) extends into a second cavity portion (50) of the cavity to engage a mating contact received in the second cavity portion (50). The contact (60) includes a body (62) having a pair of contact portions (70) extending into two separate blade-receiving sections (52) of the second cavity portion (50). Each of the contact portions (70) may be mated with a mating contact inserted into the blade-receiving sections (52) from two adjacent faces of the housing (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Scott Kline
  • Patent number: 6095823
    Abstract: A system for detachable mounting a component onto a printed circuit board comprises a printed circuit board having a through-hole, a compression spring constructed from, or coated with, an electrically conductive material, and a component having an electrical contact thereon. The compression spring having a first end of a diameter larger than the diameter of the through-hole, and a second end smaller than the diameter of the through-hole. The second end of the compression spring passes through the through-hole and is secured at its first end to the first side of the printed circuit board. The second end of the compression spring protrudes beyond the second side of the printed circuit board. When the component is placed against the second side of the printed circuit board, the compression spring is compressed and the desired electrical connection is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Paul Banks
  • Patent number: 6089910
    Abstract: A connection structure of a movable connector includes: a movable connector having a housing body; a panel wall having a panel hole in which the movable connector is inserted; a complementary connector to be coupled with the movable connector; and an elastic water-proofing packing which is fit over an outer periphery of the housing body. The elastic packing has a peripheral groove in which an inner peripheral edge of the panel wall abutting the panel hole is fit. In this configuration, the connection structure for a movable connector can be used in the place containing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Suzuki, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6089877
    Abstract: A plug connector is disclosed for electrically connecting two printed boards consisting of a blade connector with a plurality of blade contacts arranged in a prescribed grid dimension and a spring clip adapted thereto with a plurality of spring contacts, whereby not only the blade contacts, but also the spring contacts are respectively connected to the printed boards via press-in pins arranged in the prescribed grid dimension. In the blade connector, to realize high-current contacts in the same grid dimension, one or more blade contacts are respectively allocated--via a blade body to press-in pins residing perpendicularly in a row, and in the spring clip one or more spring contacts are allocated-via a spring body--to press-in pins residing perpendicularly in a row, whereby the number of the spring contacts is equal to or greater than the number of blade contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Seidel
  • Patent number: 6089886
    Abstract: An electrical plug assembly includes a secondary plug assembly which releasably mates with a rotatable default plug assembly. The default plug assembly is moveable between a storage position and a deployed position and includes a plurality of default prongs of a first physical configuration. A casing associated with the default plug assembly includes a recess for receiving the default plug assembly in the storage position. The distinct secondary plug assembly includes a main body and a plurality of secondary prongs of a second physical configuration extending from the front of the main body. The secondary plug assembly attaches to the default prongs to assume a mated position, such as by sliding the secondary plug assembly rearwardly over the default prongs. A suitable latch and catch arrangement is used to releasably secure the secondary plug assembly to the default plug assembly. Preferably, the only connection between the secondary plug assembly and the casing is via the default plug assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ericsson, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason D. Mareno
  • Patent number: 6086390
    Abstract: A coupling part is carried by a junction device housing for movement between a position wherein a face surface of the coupling part is flush (co-planar) with a face surface of the junction device housing and a plurality of user-selectable positions wherein the coupling part is recessed within the housing. A lift and latch mechanism urges the coupling part to its flush disposition and serves to latch the coupling part in a selected one of multiple recessed dispositions. In an alternative embodiment, a latch mechanism which includes a finger is slidably carried by the housing for movement with respect to the housing to insert an end of the finger into one or multiple notches in the coupling part to latch the coupling part in either a flush or recessed disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: David Haut
  • Patent number: 6086384
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an improved electronic device, along with the product of that method is disclosed. A flat flexible substrate is provided with a generally round hole of a given diameter and with a conductive film on the substrate in an area at least about the hole. A generally round terminal pin is provided with a given diameter greater than that of the hole. The difference between the diameter of the pin and the diameter of the hole is on the order of 5% to 50% of the diameter of the hole. A non-conductive adhesive is applied to a portion of the pin or the substrate surrounding the hole. The pin is inserted into the hole in the substrate such that the non-conductive adhesive is scraped longitudinally from or along the pin to an area about the hole and the pin, leaving the pin in contact with the conductive film. An improved interface is established between the pin and the conductive film of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert M. Fuerst, Todd A. Hester, Fred Love Krehbiel
  • Patent number: 6086383
    Abstract: A surface mounted electronic interconnect device. The device includes a coaxial electrical pad comprising a plurality of conductive surfaces on a substrate corresponding to the conductor arrangement of a coaxial connector; and, a coaxial connector comprising a dielectric material having a center opening and isolated electrically conductive interior and exterior surfaces that are planar with the ends of the connector. The dielectric separates the inner conductive surface from the outer conductive surface and is tubularly shaped having an inner wall for the electrically conductive interior surface. The coaxial connector inner and outer conductors may alternatively be comprised of microsprings. The coaxial connector has first and second ends, the first end for attachment to an electronic package and the second end for pluggable attachment to a PC board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin V. Fasano, Kevin M. Prettyman
  • Patent number: 6086419
    Abstract: An electrical plug connector is matable with a pin header and includes a molded plug housing with multiple contact apertures extending between a mating face and a rear face. Angularly spaced ribs extend into the contact receiving aperture to support each contact. Each rib is opposed to molded pawls that are deflectable when a contact is inserted from the rear of the housing. The ribs and the pawls are located at different angularly spaced intervals so that they do not overlap and so that the one piece housing can be molded in a straight pull manner. An annular retaining section on each contact is held between the pawls and the ribs when each contact is fully inserted into a corresponding aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Gary Ray Marpoe, Jr.