Abstract: A miniature electrical connector (10) having two rows of closely spaced signal contacts (40) extending from a board-mounting face (30) to a mating face (32), and having extended height. An insert (100) is assembled within a large cavity (36) of the housing (20) to define inner walls of passageways of the housing containing the contacts (40). A planar metal member (102) of the insert can define a ground bus for preventing crosstalk between the two rows of contacts, or can facilitate assembly and retention of the insert in the housing, or both, providing very thin elongate inner walls for the contact passageways while simplifying molding of the housing.

Abstract: A high density connector (12 ) for connecting to circuitry on a flexible circuit substrate (16). The connector (12 ) includes a stiffener member (14 ) that is attached to the connector housing (36 ) so that the flexible substrate (16) is clamped therebetween. Tails (46) of ground buses (40) within the connector extend through flexible substrate (16 ) and through openings (48) in the stiffener member (14) and are bent over into recesses (58) to hold the stiffener member (14) and connector (12) firmly against the substrate (16) along the entire length of the connector. Pivotal levers (90) are provided to cooperate with the stiffener member (14) to secure connector (12 ) to a mating connector (18 ) in mating engagement when pivoted to a closed position, and to separate the connectors (12,18 ) with minimum bowing of connector (12) when pivoted to an open position.

Abstract: A keying arrangement for electrical connectors is disclosed for preventing the inadvertent mating of a plug to the wrong receptacle. The opposing ends of the mating plug (14) and receptacle (12) have polygonal openings (80,94) formed completely through their housings that contain opposing polygonal-shaped keys (100) that are axially aligned. Each of the keys is retained in its respective polygonal opening by a pair of wing-like flanges (116) extending from the key that overlies a first surface (86) formed in the housing adjacent the polygonal opening and a locking tab (122) projecting from the key that underlies another surface (92) spaced from the first surface (86).

Abstract: A keying arrangement for electrical connectors is disclosed for preventing the inadvertent mating of a plug to the wrong receptacle. The opposing walls (28,30;18,20) of the mating plug (14) and receptacle (12) have openings (52,53;36,37) formed therein that contain opposing keys (40,51;54,56,58). One key has a projection (44) and the other key (54,56,58) has a groove (62,70). The groove is in alignment with the projection where the plug and receptacle are designated to mate. The keys are used in pairs, one key at each end of the connector to prevent partial mating and the resulting potential damage. The keys are in diagonally opposite positions to prevent inadvertent partial mating along an edge of the connector. The keys are removable and replaceable so that keying configurations can be changed in the field.

Abstract: A high density connector for electrically connecting a high density cable to a matable electrical connector has a housing with a plurality of terminals provided therein. The terminals have sharp outer edges which enable the terminals to cooperate with a portion of the connector to provide the securing force required to retain the terminals in position. The positioning of the terminals in the housing is accurately controlled through the use of an alignment tool which is manufactured from a material which does not expand or contract when exposed to various environmental conditions. Therefore, the precise positioning of the terminals is guaranteed and is repeatable for many connectors.

Abstract: A high density connector for electrically connecting a high density cable to a matable electrical connector has a housing with a plurality of terminals provided therein. The terminals have sharp outer edges which enable the terminals to cooperate with a portion of the connector to provide the securing force required to retain the terminals in position. The positioning of the terminals in the housing is accurately controlled through the use of an alignment tool which is manufactured from a material which does not expand or contract when exposed to various environmental conditions. Therefore, the precise positioning of the terminals is guaranteed and is repeatable for many connectors.

Abstract: A high density connector for electrically connecting a high density cable to a matable electrical connector has a housing with a plurality of terminals provided therein. The terminals have sharp outer edges which enable the terminals to cooperate with a portion of the connector to provide the securing force required to retain the terminals in position. The positioning of the terminals in the housing is accurately controlled through the use of an alignment tool which is manufactured from a material which does not expand or contract when exposed to various environmental conditions. Therefore, the precise positioning of the terminals is guaranteed and is repeatable for many connectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for terminating conductors of a ribbon cable to a dielectric housing has a movable frame member and a stationary frame member. The movable frame member has a laminated subassembly and a staking block provided thereon. A support member is positioned on the movable frame member and is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support member cooperates with the staking block to insure that the staking block is not movable relative to the movable frame member. This allows the staking block to coin or deform top walls of recesses of the dielectric housing. Alternatively, when the support member is in the second position, the support member does not cooperate with the staking block, thereby allowing the staking block to move relative to the movable frame.

Abstract: A high density ribbon cable connector includes bipartite strain relief halves adapted to trap between them a high density ribbon cable. The strain relief halves and ribbon are snap latchable into position within a fixture housing with the cable extending through an elongate slot in the fixture housing, and adjacent to a fixture face having conductor aligning grooves emanating from and fanning out in opposite directions from the elongate slot. The grooves form a template for the positioning of the conductors for accurate alignment prior to termination. The fixture housing also includes terminal clearance slots aligned with each groove, where two rows of clearance slots are provided on each side of the slot. The fixture housing is snap latchable into a terminal housing, where conductor receiving slots of electrical terminals are inserted into the terminal clearance slots, and electrically terminate the conductors to the electrical terminals.

Abstract: A high density connector for electrically connecting a high density cable to a matable electrical connector has a housing with a plurality of terminals provided therein. The terminals have sharp outer edges which enable the terminals to cooperate with a portion of the connector to provide the securing force required to retain the terminal in position. The positioning of the terminals in the housing is accurately controlled through the use of an alignment tool which is manufactured from a material which does not expand or contract when exposed to various environmental conditions. Therefore, the precise positioning of the terminals is guaranteed and is repeatable for many connectors.

Abstract: A high density ribbon cable connector includes bipartite strain relief halves adapted to trap between them a high density ribbon cable. The strain relief halves and ribbon are snap latchable into position within a fixture housing with the cable extending through an elongate slot in the fixture housing, and adjacent to a fixture face having conductor aligning grooves emanating from and faning out in opposite directions from the elongate slot. The grooves form a template for the positioning of the conductors for accurate alignment prior to termination. The fixture housing also includes terminal clearance slots aligned with each groove, where two rows of clearance slots are provided on each side of the slot. The fixture housing is snap latchable into a terminal housing, where conductor receiving slots of electrical terminals are inserted into the terminal clearance slots, and electrically terminate the conductors to the electrical terminals.

Abstract: An active connector assembly (10) for use in acting on electrical signals is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a receptacle (14) for mounting on a printed circuit board (30), a pin header (12) for receiving signals from other data handling systems and a circuit card (16) attached electrically and mechanically along one edge (16a) to contact elements (26) in the pin header (12) and having an opposing edge (16b) for insertion into the receptacle (14) and electrical engagement with contact elements (28) therein.

Abstract: An electrical connector (2) for electrically connecting a printed circuit board (6) to a cable (8) has terminals (4) which are provided therein. The cable (8) is maintained in the connector (2) in a recess provided between a housing ( 10) and a shroud (12) of the connector (2). An end of the cable extends into a board receiving channel, the end of the cable having exposed conductors provided thereon. An edge of the printed circuit board (6) is inserted into a board receiving channel of the connector (2) under reduced insertion force conditions. The connector is then rotated relative to the board, causing the terminals to resiliently engage the board. The resilient engagement causes the circuit board (6) to be placed in electrical connection with the cable (8). The board is maintained in position relative to the connector by locking projections (32), thereby insuring that a positive, reliable electrical connection will be effected.

Abstract: A terminal is terminated onto the end of a flat power cable by punching a plurality of holes through an end section of the cable and its conductor means, placing a plate section of the terminal over or under the punched cable end section so that apertures through the plate section are vertically aligned with the punched holes, solid copper inserts are placed in the aligned hole arrangements, and the insert ends protrude above and below the top and bottom surfaces of the stacked package and are staked by punches to enlarge the insert ends into heads securing the package together and enlarging the diameter of the inserts to tightly fill the holes and apertures forming a plurality of gas-tight electrical connections. A pair of terminals is similarly securable to respective conductors of a dual conductor cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector (2) has a series of terminals (14) which extend from a first surface (78) to a second surface (60). The terminals (14) have a cable terminating sections (16) provided proximate the first surface (78), and board engagement sections (20) provided proximate the second surface (60). Transition sections are provided between the cable terminating sections (16) and the board terminating sections (20). The transition sections are provided to compensate for the different centerline spacing of sections (16, 20). The transition sections have shoulders (26) provided thereon, the shoulders (26) cooperate with retention surfaces (68) of the connector (2) to insure that the terminals (14) are maintained in accurate alignment.

Abstract: Electrical connector (1) comprises a housing body (52) which has a plurality of contact terminals (2) extending therein. Each terminal (2) has one contact leg (6 ) which extends from a shank portion (24) to a mating surface (78) of housing body (52). The use of only one contact leg (6) for each terminal (2) allows the mating zone of the connector (1) to have increased tolerances, thereby allowing for a slightly misaligned mating pin (80) to be inserted therein. Portions of inner ends (20) of the shank portions (24) are provided to cooperate with shoulders (70) of the housing body (52), thereby insuring that the terminals will have a positive stop means as the terminals are inserted into the housing body. The cooperation of inner ends (20) and shoulders (70) also insures that the terminals (2) will be prevented from movement when the connector housing is terminated to a ribbon cable (48).

Abstract: A method of producing a plurality of electrical terminals (28) which are in the form of a continuous strip is disclosed. At least one web of insulation material (20) is molded over the terminals (28), so that the insulation material (20) completely surrounds and tightly engages each terminal (28). This method insures that the terminals (28) will be accurately and precisely maintained in position by the insulation material (10). Consequently, the web of insulation material (10) can act as a carrier strip as other operations are performed on terminals (28).

Abstract: Electrical connector intended for use between spaced-apart parallel circuit boards comprises a rigid insulating housing having oppositely facing connector mating surfaces which are opposed to the surfaces of the circuit boards. Sheet metal conductors are contained in the housing assembly, each conductor having end portions which extend beyond the connector mating surfaces. Each conductor has an intermediate spring portion which is within the housing assembly so that the end portions of the conductors can be moved recessively into the housing with accompanying flexure of the spring. In use, the connector is clamped between the opposed surfaces of the circuit boards with the end portions of the conductors opposed to terminal pads on the circuit board surfaces. The spring portions of the conductors are flexed so that the end portions are urged against, and into, the terminal pads thereby to establish electrical contact.

Abstract: A flat multiconductor cable has a reworked and sized portion in which the span tolerance (distance between the outside conductors in the cable) is substantially reduced as compared to the unsized portion of the cable. An apparatus is also disclosed for reworking and sizing a flat multiconductor cable in order to reduce the tolerances in the reworked cable. A multi contact electrical connector can be installed on the reworked portion of the cable although the same connector may not be capable of accepting the cable in its original condition because of the relatively wide dimensional tolerances in the cable.

Abstract: Dual-in-line switch comprises a housing assembly having a plurality of side-by-side slide housings therein. The slide housings each have a spring means therein which bears against a pivoted contact bar which overlaps the first and second switch conductors and is pivoted on one of the conductors. When the slide housing is moved, it causes rocking of the contact bar to change the condition of the switch. The spring means in the slide housing comprises two bellows springs, each of which has a fixed end which bears against the interior wall of the slide housing and a free end. The free ends are integral with each other and bear against the rockable contact bar.