Abstract: An assembly of electric connectors and plug connectors and cap connectors used therein has guiding ribs providing for a smooth joining of the plug connectors and cap connectors, Ribs 16a, 16b and 16c extending from the bottom wall 14 are provided respectively in cavities 6, 8 and 10 of the cap connector 1. All ribs are of the same configuration and have outside surfaces 26, 28 perpendicular to the bottom wall 14, an outside surface 30 parallel to the bottom wall and a slanted surface 20 forming a roughly P-shaped cross section. In the plug connectors, slots of the same configuration as said ribs are formed, thus providing smooth connection by limiting vertical and horizontal deviations during their joining.

Abstract: The electrical connector (24) of the present invention includes a coupling (26, 26') for attaching the connector (24) to an equipment cabinet (10) that will permit a certain amount of movement of the connector along the mating axis (64) after mating with a mating connector (32). The coupling (26, 26') includes U-shaped channels (68) attached to the cabinet that receive rollers (88) attached to the connector. The rollers have a V-shaped groove (98) that receives a circular portion (112) of a spring (108) for holding the connector (24) in position during mating but will expand allowing the mated connector pair (24, 32) to move along the mating axis (64) after mating.

Abstract: An interconnect and system for establishing temporary electrical communication with semiconductor components having contact bumps are provided. The interconnect includes a substrate with patterns of contact members adapted to electrically contact the contact bumps. The substrate can be formed of a material such as ceramic, silicon, FR-4, or photo-chemically machineable glass. The contact members can be formed as recesses covered with conductive layers in electrical communication with conductors and terminal contacts on the substrate. Alternately, the contact members can be formed as projections adapted to penetrate the contact bumps, as microbumps with a rough textured surface, or as a deposited layer formed with recesses. The interconnect can be employed in a wafer level test system for testing dice contained on a wafer, or in a die level test system for testing bare bumped dice or bumped chip scale packages.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle of the type having movable shutter members positioned to prevent insertion of objects other than electric plugs through the plug blade-receiving openings into contact with line terminals. Two identical shutter members, each having a camming portion and a blocking portion, are mutually assembled for relative, linear movement in either of two, opposite directions from a centered position to which they are biased by a pair of coil springs. Rigid objects inserted through the receptacle openings contact an angularly disposed surface on the camming portion of the shutter members, causing lateral movement of the element. When the blades of a plug are inserted, both shutter members move laterally to permit continued advance of the blades into the terminal contacts. When a single object is inserted, the blocking portion of one shutter element prevents advance of the object. A lip on the blocking portion prevents passage of the inserted object around the shutter element.

Abstract: A wedge connector with a shell and a wedge. The shell has insulation piercing sections to pierce through insulation of electrical conductor cables. The wedge has a frame and piercing supports movably attached to the frame. The piercing supports pierce through insulation of the cables such that conductors in the cables are directly contacted by both the shell and the wedge.

Abstract: A board-to-board connector assembly (10) includes a plug connector (12) and a receptacle connector (14), each of which includes an insulative housing (16, 60) and a plurality of contacts (26, 64) therein. A pair of grounding shields or grounding plates (39) are positioned on two sides of the housing (16) of the plug connector (12) wherein a plurality of grounding pins (44) of each grounding plates (39) are selectively connected to some of the contacts (26) of the plug connector (12), and a corresponding number of engagement arms (42) are positioned opposite to such grounding pins (44), respectively.

Abstract: A flexible circuitry connector includes an improved contact spring assembly that is compared with a plurality of discrete spring elements arranged longitudinally along the connector. Flexible circuitry is supported by the spring elements and held against a circuit card by each such spring element in a manner such that the spring elements apply a series of discrete contact forces for the length of the spring assembly, thereby eliminating any problems due to circuit card thickness variations and warpage as well as other compliance issues.

Abstract: The male connector used in an electrical junction box employs a guide rib which is disposed perpendicular to the long side of an enclosing rib which encircles the male tab opening. The guide rib, positioned on both long sides of the enclosing rib, guides the tab into the male tab opening in order to prevent damage which occurs when there is misalignment of the tab with the male tab opening. In order to further assist in the realignment of the tab with the male tab opening, the surfaces of the enclosing rib and the guiding rib are sloped towards the male tab opening to allow the tab to be guided into the male tab opening during assembly of the junction box.

Abstract: The invention comprises an electrical connector having a body with an inner member with contact receiving passages therein. The contact receiving passages have latching arms which can be deflected into channels. The inner member has latching grooves disposed along sides thereof. A secondary locking member has latching arms to be received along the sides of the inner member within the latching grooves. The secondary locking member has cross arms. The secondary locking member has a first latched position wherein contacts can be received within the contact receiving passages and a second latched position wherein the cross arms are received within the channels thereby locking the contacts therein.

Abstract: A replaceable chip module for electrically connecting one or more first circuit members to a second circuit member. The replaceable chip module includes a module housing has a plurality of device sites each capable of receiving at least one first circuit member. A first connector is located in each of the device sites. The first connector includes one or more first contact members having a first compliant member defining a first circuit interface engageable with the first circuit member, a resilient, dielectric encapsulating material defining a second compliant member surrounding a portion of the first contact member, the first and second compliant members providing a first mode of compliance, and at least one end stop positioned to engage with the first contact member in a second mode of compliance. A second connector is positioned to electrically connect the first connector to the second circuit member.

Abstract: An electrical terminal connection is made by interconnecting two identical terminals having U-shaped blades. In the past, electrical connections have typically been made by inserting a blade terminal into a receptacle terminal. One embodiment of the inventive connection includes a terminal having a spring contact strip with a plurality twisted contact louvers within each U-shaped blade. Another embodiment of the inventive connection includes a terminal having a U-shaped blade with corrugated sides. Both embodiments increase the contact area while reducing the engagement force necessary to mate the terminals.

Abstract: A carrier socket for receiving a component having a lead portion extending outwardly from the component, wherein the lead portion is a section of a lead remaining after another portion of the lead has been removed, the socket including: a housing having a cavity for receiving the component therein; a contact wheel positioned within the cavity so as to make electrical contact with the lead portion of the component when the component is inserted into the cavity; and a foot portion, extending outwardly from a surface of the housing so as to make electrical contact with an external contact, wherein the foot portion is electrically coupled to the contact wheel when the component is inserted into the cavity.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, two types of polymeric dielectric systems useful in construction of a high-temperature electrostatic chuck are disclosed. Further, a high temperature power connection for transmitting power from a supply source to a conductive extension from the electrostatic chuck conductive layer is described. The first polymeric dielectric system provides for the use of polyimide films which do not require an adhesive to adhere to an underlying substrate support platen. The self-adhering polyimide film comprises from one to three layers of polyimide material, wherein at least one outer layer of polyimide material is thermoplastic in nature, for the purpose of adhesion and/or encapsulation. When the film comprises two layers, one of the layers is a non-thermoplastic polyimide having an increased glass transition temperature of about 350.degree. C. or greater.

Abstract: A platelike member (10) for being associated with an electrical device (70), includes openings or recesses (30) for receiving terminals (50) therein, the openings or recesses (30) being arranged in columns and rows. The openings or recesses (30) in one column and/or row are at least partly offset with respect to ones in adjacent columns and/or rows, and at least some of the columns and rows are intersected by at least one means (20) for reducing or absorbing stress and/or strain. Thus, the platelike member (10) can absorb and/or reduce thermal and/or mechanical stress and/or strain induced during the assembling and mounting operation while allowing a high density arrangement of the terminals (50).

Abstract: An electrical disconnect for use with an appliance includes a base assembly and a pull-out head assembly. The base assembly includes an insulative housing having isolated compartments therein. Within the compartments are mounted wire connectors for receiving load and line conductors. The head assembly includes a handle on a top surface thereof and contacts extending downwardly from a bottom surface thereof. The head assembly is selectively positionable within the base assembly so that the electrical contacts of the head assembly electrically couple the line and load conductors associated with the wire connectors. The contact of the head assembly directly contacts a side portion of the line and load wire connectors, respectively. The electrical disconnect also includes a series of wire guides associated with each wire connector. The wire guide includes a tapered opening to assist in guiding conductors into the wire connectors.

Abstract: A receptacle apparatus for a compact electronic module for effectuating data communication between the module and an interface circuit. The receptacle apparatus includes a cover arrangement and a combined locking and communication effecting structure. The receptacle apparatus is also designed in various embodiments to be installed on a removeable cover of a system so as not to hamper with removal of that cover.

Abstract: After terminals have been inserted into terminal accommodating chambers, ends of retaining rods projecting from a spacer are moved toward entrances of refuge spaces for elastic retaining pieces that primarily retain the terminals. Then, the ends of the retaining rods are fitted into the refuge spaces. As a result, flexion of the elastic retaining pieces is regulated. On the other hand, when the terminals are inserted incompletely, the refuge spaces are substantially closed by the elastic retaining pieces.

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.

Abstract: An interconnection providing multiple electrical interconnections at a fine pitch can be formed in a pluggable and unpluggable form using multiple connector channels and rows of contact elements in each of a plug and socket. The contacts may be a mixture of active and passive contacts. Furthermore, a contact support structure may provide improve spring characteristics in the contacts. The contacts may be formed in a number of configurations including vertical staggering, alternating or offset patterns, multi-level tail exit designs, rotated contacts, staggered or nonalign retention features and dedicated power contacts. Anchors or permanent latches, separable latches, and polarization keys may also be utilized. Alternative embodiments may include straddlemount and attachment clip embodiments.

Abstract: The terminal block of the present invention provides both a simple high strength mechanical connection with a circuit board as well as a good electrical connection. The terminal block has a snapfit with a side edge of the circuit board due to a cooperation between pins of the terminal block and holes through the circuit board. The terminal block simplifies assembly and improves the mechanical connection of the terminal block with the circuit board.