Patents by Inventor Alex M. Sharf
Alex M. Sharf has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8672707Abstract: A connector assembly including an assembly housing having a leading end, a back end, and an interior cavity extending therebetween. The interior cavity opens to the leading end. The connector assembly also includes a communication connector that is disposed in the interior cavity proximate to the leading end and movably held therein. The connector assembly also includes a board connector located a distance away from the communication connector. The connector assembly also includes a flexible cable assembly that has communication cables extending between and communicatively coupling the board connector and the communication connector. The communication connector is configured to engage a mating connector when the communication connector and the mating connector are mated along a mating axis. The communication connector and the cables are permitted to float relative to the assembly housing when the communication connector mates with the mating connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Robert Paul Nichols, Neil Franklin Schroll, Alex M Sharf
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Publication number: 20130217260Abstract: A connector assembly including an assembly housing having a leading end, a back end, and an interior cavity extending therebetween. The interior cavity opens to the leading end. The connector assembly also includes a communication connector that is disposed in the interior cavity proximate to the leading end and movably held therein. The connector assembly also includes a board connector located a distance away from the communication connector. The connector assembly also includes a flexible cable assembly that has communication cables extending between and communicatively coupling the board connector and the communication connector. The communication connector is configured to engage a mating connector when the communication connector and the mating connector are mated along a mating axis. The communication connector and the cables are permitted to float relative to the assembly housing when the communication connector mates with the mating connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Paul Nichols, Neil Franklin Schroll, Alex M. Sharf
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Patent number: 8262412Abstract: An electrical connector includes a contact module that has a lead frame and a dielectric frame that encases the lead frame. The dielectric frame includes opposite sides and a mating edge and a mounting edge. The dielectric frame has voids that extend from the sides to expose the lead frame. The lead frame has a plurality of contacts that have transition portions that extend between mating portions that extend from the mating edge and mounting portions that extend from the mounting edge. The transition portions have compensation segments and intermediate segments between the compensation segments. The intermediate segments are encased in the dielectric frame. The compensation segments are exposed by the voids. The compensation segments have a geometry that differs from a geometry of the intermediate segments.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Timothy R. Minnick, David W. Helster, Alex M. Sharf, Chad W. Morgan
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Patent number: 8142236Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7976318Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan Charles Wickes
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Patent number: 7789716Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7775802Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: George R. Defibaugh, James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan C. Wickes
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Publication number: 20100144167Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan Charles Wickes
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Publication number: 20100144201Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: George R. Defibaugh, James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan C. Wickes
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Patent number: 7591655Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20090221192Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7549897Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20080182460Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20080182438Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20080176452Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 6384341Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board is provided that simultaneously optimizes impedance and interference within the multi-layer circuit board and a controlled impedance connector to which it is attached. The multi-layer circuit board includes at least one signal circuit layer, a plurality of signal contacts grouped in differential pairs and located on one signal circuit layer, and a plurality of ground contacts located on at least one ground circuit layer. The signal contacts are arranged in a pattern, or matrix, in which differential pairs of signal contacts are staggered in rows of the pattern. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, each differential pair of the multi-layer circuit board is more tightly coupled to a ground contact than to any other signal contact. The multi-layer circuit board, also includes a plurality of signal trace segments arranged in pairs. Both signal trace segments of a pair are equal in length and connect to signal contacts via linear routing channels.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Brent R. Rothermel, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, David W. Helster