Abstract: A electrical connector system comprising a plug assembly and a socket assembly. The plug assembly includes a plurality of conductive pads. The socket assembly includes a first set of spring contacts and a second set of spring contacts. The first set of spring contacts are oriented in a direction opposing an orientation of the second set of spring contacts. Each spring contact within the first and second sets of spring contacts contact one of the plurality of conductive pads.

Abstract: Electrical connectors (40, 104) including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts (12, 112) and auxiliary contacts (16, 130) that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor (6, 140) located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact (12, 112) will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact (16, 130) can be longer than the main contact (12, 112). Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact (12, 112), because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact (16, 130). I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor (6, 140), so when the auxiliary contact (16, 130) is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold.

Abstract: Electrical connectors 40, 104 including contact terminals that can be unmated without previously disconnecting power include main contacts 12, 112 and auxiliary contacts 16, 130 that are shunted by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor 6, 140 located between the main and auxiliary contact. The main contact 12, 112 will be disconnected first and the auxiliary contact 16, 130 can be longer than the main contact 12, 112. Arcing will not occur at the mating end of the main contact 12, 112, because the current will be shunted to the still connected longer auxiliary contact 16, 130. I2R heating will increase the resistance in the PTC resistor 6, 140, so when the auxiliary contact 16, 130 is disconnected, current will be below the arcing threshold. Multiple latches 54A, B and 60A, B or 180 and 196 permit only discontinuous mating of electrical connectors, so that the connectors can be disconnected without arcing for a range of currents.

Abstract: A connector for establishing an electrical connection with a wire includes a retention member and a contact pin. The retention member has a first surface and a second surface adapted to retain the wire therebetween. At least a portion of the contact pin is insertable into the wire. A method for establishing an electrical connection with a wire includes retaining the wire and inserting a contact pin into the wire.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrical connector (10) including a housing (12) with a mating face (16), a rear face (18) opposite to the mating face (16), a side (20), and an end (26), the end (26) having a holding feature (30) thereon. The housing (12) is mountable onto a surface of a substrate with either the rear face (18) or the [mating face] side (20) being placed against the surface. A hold down (40) is securable to the housing feature (30). The hold down (40) has a substrate securing portion (42) and housing securing portion (46). The housing securing portion (46) is securable to the holding feature (30) in at least two orientations to secure the housing (12) to the substrate when it is mounted in either orientation.

Abstract: A connector (10) including a housing (12) and a plurality of terminals (40) extending in respective passageways (30) through the housing (12) from a mating face (14) to a board-mounting face (16) , the terminals (40) having board-mounting sections (60) extending beyond the board-mounting face (16) . Each passageway (30) has a preselected dimension from an outer housing wall (20) to an inner housing wall (26) . Each terminal (40) has a thickness dimension less than the passageway dimension. The board-mounting section (60) and at least a portion of the body section (50) of the terminal (40) adjacent thereto is embossed laterally from the plane of the body section a selected distance. Upon staking the terminals (40) in the respective passageways (30) , the embossed portion (52) of each terminal (40) is disposed adjacent the outer housing wall (20) and the remaining portion of the body section (50) is disposed adjacent an inner housing wall (26) .

Abstract: An improved compliant section (30) for a terminal connectable to a circuit board (54), the compliant section (30) having legs (32) with outer edges (34) thereof forming selected shapes axially therealong and an elongate hole (38) having a selected shape stamped transversely through the terminal separating the legs (32) and defined between inwardly facing edges (36) thereof. The selected shapes of the leg outer edges (34) are continuous surfaces, first diverging then converging toward an insertion end (40) of the terminal and having a widest dimension at a selected axial location. The hole (38) has first and second ends (42, 44) and a transverse median M at a selected axial location.