Abstract: An electrical connector for use with providing an electrical termination to an end of a cable having a conductor helically disposed between a core and a layer overlying the core. The connector includes a first portion having an opening sized greater than a diameter defined by the helically disposed conductor but less than a diameter of the layer. A second portion has an opening sized greater than a diameter defined by the helically disposed conductor. A third portion is configured to receive a conductor of a second cable. As a result of the end of the cable being sufficiently inserted through the opening of the first portion, the helically disposed conductor is exposed about a length of the cable extending through another side of the first portion and received in the opening of the second portion.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use with providing an electrical termination to an end of a cable having a conductor helically disposed between a core and a layer overlying the core. The connector includes a first portion having an opening sized greater than a diameter defined by the helically disposed conductor but less than a diameter of the layer. A second portion has an opening sized greater than a diameter defined by the helically disposed conductor. A third portion is configured to receive a conductor of a second cable. As a result of the end of the cable being sufficiently inserted through the opening of the first portion, the helically disposed conductor is exposed about a length of the cable extending through another side of the first portion and received in the opening of the second portion.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100), a housing (300) mountable to a panel. The coupler base (100) includes a pair of wire retainers (200) for securing the wires (230,231) of a twisted pair cable within wire receiving channels (204,205) of a wire nest (202) of the coupler base (100). Each wire retainer (200) has an arm (232), a strut (236) extending from one end thereof to a cylindrical hinge (234) disposed in a pivot region of the coupler base (100), a vertical section (240) proximate the other end including a latch (242), and a wedge (244) on the lower surface of the arm (232). Upon rotation of the wire retainer about hinge (234) to a closed position, wedge (244) is engageable with a lower one of the conductors (230) to urge it fully into a deeper one of the channels (204) adjacent a channel intersection proximate a conductor crossover.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100), a housing (300) mountable to a panel. The coupler base (100) includes a pair of wire retainers (200) for securing the wires (230,231) of a twisted pair cable within wire receiving channels (204,205) of a wire nest (202) of the coupler base (100). Each wire retainer (200) has an arm (232), a strut (236) extending from one end thereof to a cylindrical hinge (234) disposed in a pivot region of the coupler base (100), a vertical section (240) proximate the other end including a latch (242), and a wedge (244) on the lower surface of the arm (232). Upon rotation of the wire retainer about hinge (234) to a closed position, wedge (244) is engageable with a lower one of the conductors (230) to urge it fully into a deeper one of the channels (204) adjacent a channel intersect ion proximate a conductor crossover.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100) and a housing (300) for coupling to conductors (230,231) of a twisted pair cable (22) by at least one pair of opposing E-shaped electromagnets (206,384) mated about the conductors. The coupler base (100) has movable mounting feet (106) and a fixed engaging member (108) and is capable of single-motion mounting to a panel (224). The coupler housing (300) includes an outer shell (314) of thermally conductive material with heat transfer fins (302), a first cavity (316) for securing a pair of E-shaped electromagnets (384) corresponding to E-shaped electromagnets (206) in the coupler base (100), and a second cavity (324) adapted to house therein an electronics package which is connectable to a control unit.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100) and a housing (300) for current mode coupling onto a twisted pair cable (22) of a data bus (20). The coupler base (100) is mountable to a panel (224), having movable mounting body members (106) and a fixed engaging member (108) and is capable of single-motion mounting to the panel, which has a plurality of predetermined apertures (228) with engagement surfaces (226,227) which correspond to the mounting body members (106) and the fixed engaging member (108). The mounting body members (106) are movable within and removable from the coupler base (100) and contain a spring (218) which exerts a force in the direction away from the fixed engaging member (108) ensuring that the coupler base (100) is securely mounted to the panel (224) by engaging a groove (124) on the mounting feet (106) with an engagement surface (226) on the panel (224).

Abstract: An input/output interface for a junction box (10) having an array of connectors (80) exposed for mating to corresponding connectors (150) terminated to cables (152). The cable connectors (150) are affixed to a rugged panel member (110) which is mounted to a rack (100) into which the junction box (10) is placed, in a manner permitting float during mating with the array of junction box connectors (80). Backshells (166) are secured to the cable connectors (150) which assures no EMI/RFI leakage within the shells (164) of the connectors when mated.

Abstract: A junction box (10) defining an enclosed card cage and including a backplane assembly (200) for interconnecting circuits of daughter cards (130) with associated conductors extending thereinto at an input/output interface. The junction box (10) includes a front panel (50) removable from the front face to permit insertion and removal of respective daughter cards, and includes an array of interior fins (58) engaged with the daughter cards at thermal junctions (64) and an array of exterior fins (52) for dissipating the thermal energy. The rear wall (14) includes shield sections (214) surrounding input/output connectors (208) joined to the backplane assembly. The junction box (10) prevents EMI/RFI leakage therethrough.

Abstract: An integral shell (150) for connectors (102,132) mounted to an edge of a circuit card (100,130). The connectors are secured in cavities (152) of the shell, and the cavities are precisely referenced to a single datum defined by an alignment or datum post (160). A corresponding alignment hole (162) of the circuit card is precisely positioned with reference to the arrays of termini of the circuits, and upon mounting of the shell to the card with the datum post (160) received in the alignment hole (162), the contact sections of the terminals of the several connectors (102,132) remain precisely aligned with the termini and their terminations protected against stress during handling, mating and unmating.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100), a housing (300) mountable to a panel. The coupler base (100) includes a pair of wire retainers (200) for securing the wires (230,231) of a twisted pair cable within wire receiving channels (204,205) of a wire nest (202) of the coupler base (100). Each wire retainer (200) has an arm (232), a strut (236) extending from one end thereof to a cylindrical hinge (234) disposed in a pivot region of the coupler base (100), a vertical section (240) proximate the other end including a latch (242), and a wedge (244) on the lower surface of the arm (232). Upon rotation of the wire retainer about hinge (234) to a closed position, wedge (244) is engageable with a lower one of the conductors (230) to urge it fully into a deeper one of the channels (204 ) adjacent a channel intersection proximate a conductor crossover.

Abstract: A backplane assembly (200) for a compact card cage such as a junction box (10) having a forward wall section (202) and a rearward wall section (14) with interconnection circuitry (206) disposed therebetween. Struts (216) join forward and rearward wall sections and the backplane assembly is manipulatable as a unit. Interconnection circuitry (206) can be a laminar assembly of flexible circuit elements (230) with terminals (220) of daughter card-matable connectors (204) of the forward wall terminated to circuits thereof at a first connection region CR.sub.1 and terminals (212)of input/output connectors (208) terminated at a second connection region CR.sub.2. All circuits from second region CR.sub.2 can be directed to an integration region CR.sub.M part of first region CR.sub.1 and selected circuits can be directed to terminals of daughter card-matable connectors elsewhere in first region CR.sub.1 connected by a programmable integration member (130).

Abstract: A thermal junction (64) with an edge (106) of a daughter card (100) in a card cage enclosure (10). A front panel (50) of the enclosure includes an array of interior fins (58) extending to edges (60) adjacent the edges (106) of the array of daughter cards (100). Spring clips (62) mounted along the fin edges engage the card edges simultaneously upon the front panel (50) being placed in position, and spring arms (70) of each clip establish a plurality of assured thermal connections of the card edges with the fins, for the front panel (50) to dissipate heat from the circuit cards (100) to the exterior of the enclosure (10). With cards having a metal shielding layer (110), the spring clips (62) also define a ground to the enclosure wall.

Abstract: A cable assembly 40 having integral strain relief means includes a housing 42 having a plurality of terminal members 28 secured in a cable terminating cavity 60 therein, an electrical cable 30 having a plurality of discrete conductors 36 therein terminated to respective terminal members 28 and potting material 23 disposed in the cavity 60. The inner surface of a sidewall 59 of the housing 42 extends at an oblique angle between front 48 and rear walls 54 thereof. The front wall 48 has an inwardly directed peninsula shaped protrusion 52 extending into the cable terminating cavity 60, the protrusion 52 and the obliquely extending sidewall 59 defining a cable receiving channel 62 therebetween. The electrical cable 30 including an insulating cover portion 32 is inserted into a cable receiving opening 64 in the front housing wall 48 and along the cable receiving channel 62 and about the protrusion 52 .

Abstract: A connector which has alignment holes to receive alignment posts of a mating connector, includes conductive clips in each alignment hole having forwardly extending spring arms to be engaged and deflected laterally by forward ends of respective alignment posts. The clip spring arms discharge the electrostatic potential between the connectors upon being engaged by the alignment posts to chassis ground, when the clips are in conductive engagement with the shielding of the connector and the alignment posts are conductive and in conductive engagement with the shielding of the mating connector and to conductive framework to which the mating connector is mounted. The clips can have a spring arm extending rearwardly from the connector housing to be engaged by the shielding of the connector upon complete assembly. The alignment posts can be force fit into a metal shell of the mating connector through holes precisely aligned with reference holes of the mating connector housing.

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12), which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A cable strain relief assembly has a first cover (30, 180) fastenable to a cable face (26) of an electrical connector (20) having an array (28) of cables (22) extending therefrom such that the cable array (28) extends over a transverse aperture (50, 184) near the rearward end (36) of the first cover (30, 180). The second cover (80, 182) is securable over the cable array (28) to the first cover (30, 180) at their rearward ends (36, 86) in a manner clamping the cables (22) into the aperture and against surfaces (52, 54, 190) adjacent the forward (56) and rearward (58) sides of the aperture (50, 184).

Abstract: A key member (50) for an electrical connector (10,100) is removably securable in the housing (12,110) thereof without fasteners and has a rearward retention section (56) comprised of preferably four radially inwardly deflectable quadrants (70) which ride over retention projections (42,130) within connector passageways (28,114). The retention projections (42,130) seat in a recess (82,86) of the key member retention section (56) to secure the key member (50) in the passageway (28,114) against axial movement or misalignment while another polygonal shaped passageway section (36,122) secures a polygonal shaped section (52) of the key member (50) against rotation. The retention projections (42,130) are preferably annular or semiannular to seat in an annular recess (82,86).

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12), which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A dielectric protector (50) for an array of wire wrap posts (18) includes a transverse body section (52) having a like array of holes (56) therethrough corresponding to ends (22) of respective posts (18), with body section (52) just forwardly therefrom; holes (56) permit access to post ends (22) by test probes. Pairs of latch arms (70,80) extend to housing (12) from sides (72,82) of body section (52) having latching recesses (76,86) at outwardly deflectable free ends (74,84), which latch to latching projections (24,26) in channels (30,34) along sides (28,32) of housing (12). Gripping sections (78,88) extend in pairs outwardly of outer face (66) from integral hinge joints (90) joining latch arms (70,80) to body section (52) and are manually deflectable together to deflect free ends (74,84) outwardly and delatch post protector (50) from housing (12).

Abstract: Plug connector modules (22) are ganged together side-by-side by a pair of integral spring latch members (70) secured along commoned end surfaces (42) of the modules (22) to comprise a plug connector assembly (20) manipulatable as a unit. Integral spring latch members (70) include discrete securing sections (76) securable to axial key members (50) within modules (22) near end surfaces (42). Forward ends (84) of spring latch members (70) include latching recesses (100) to latch to latching projections (152) of a receptacle connector (150), latching plug assembly (20) to receptacle connector (150) in mated engagement. Gripping sections (110) of spring latch members (70) are deflectable toward each other about fulcrum sections (112) which action deflects free ends (84) outwardly and disengages latching recesses (100) from latching projections (152) to delatch assembly (20) from receptacle connector (150) for unmating thereof. Spring latch members (70) may be removable from plug connector modules (22) for repair.