Abstract: A modular connector that economically provides high signal integrity in a harsh environment, such as an automobile. The connector may include structures that provide precise and stable positioning of conductors, such as contacts. Those structures may include a contact carrier position assurance component (CCPA) that ensures that a contact carrier is and remains latched in a designed position. The contact carrier position assurance component may slide into a closed position, locking a plurality of contact carriers into the designed position simultaneously. For an unsealed connector, the CCPA may slide into a connector housing in a direction transverse to the direction in which the contact carriers are inserted into the housing. For a sealed connector, the CCPA may slide into the closed position in the same direction in which the contact carriers are inserted, facilitating sealing the connector.

Abstract: A compact connector that economically provides high signal integrity in a harsh environment, such as an automobile, which may be a right-angle connector. The connector may include a contact carrier position assurance component (CCPA) that ensures that a contact carrier is and remains latched in a designed position, which improves signal integrity. The CCPA may retain the mating interface portions or the contact carrier in the desired location relative to the mating direction, but may be narrow and fit into a narrow slot perpendicular to the mating direction of the connector so as to enable the connector to extend only a small distance in the mating direction beyond the mating face of a mating connector. Such a connector may also have a connector position assurance device that facilitates reliable operation of the connector.

Abstract: Reliable, versatile, modular electrical connectors and modules thereof. A connector includes a housing and multiple types of modules. The housing includes latches for retaining the modules in position and key members for module type indication and preventing insertion of wrong modules. A module can include multiple types of power terminals and one or more types of signal terminals. Module housing can be configured for retaining the multiple types of terminals in position. For a plug configuration, the connector can include a cover attached to the housing, a locking member attached to the cover and pivotable between a pre-locked position and a locked position, a slider movable by the locking member in a direction perpendicular to a connector mating direction after the insertion of a mating component, and a CPA movable from a pre-installed position to an installed position for retaining the locking member at the locked position.

Abstract: A modular connector that economically provides high signal integrity in a harsh environment, such as an automobile. The connector may include structures that provide precise and stable positioning of conductors with respect to ground structures, even for press fit connectors in which there is a large force on the conductors when mounted to a PCB. Such features may include a multipiece housing for terminal assemblies that holds one or more conductors with transverse portions. The multiple pieces of the housing may slidably engage. One of the pieces may be configured with channels, closed at the top, to slide onto a portion of the conductors and restrain the conductors when the connector is pressed onto a PCB. Other features may include hold-downs with high retention force, and shields with features that precisely and stably position the terminal assemblies with respect to a conductive housing.

Abstract: Reliable high speed connectors with integrated power. The connectors can be connected to both provide high signal integrity and supply reliable power in a harsh environment, such as an automobile. A connector can include a housing comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a subassembly chamber for receiving a terminal subassembly, and multiple terminal channels each for receiving an individual terminal. The terminal subassembly comprises a pair of terminals configured for transmitting high-speed signals. The individual terminals are configured for transmitting power signals and/or low-speed signals. When the connector is a plug, the front portion of the housing comprise position assurance features configured to restrain movements of the individual terminals in respective terminal channels. A seal can be disposed closer to the position assurance features than the rear portion. When the connector is a receptacle, the rear portion of the housing comprise a flange facing an inner side of a panel.

Abstract: A reliable hybrid electrical connector. The connector includes power and signal modules disposed in a space at least partially enclosed by a housing, with first ends facing housing rear and second ends extending out of housing bottom. Power and signal cables are attached to the first ends of the power and signal modules, respectively, and extend out of the housing rear through a rear cap. The rear cap has a cavity with a first sealing member therein forming a seal around the power and signal cables. A cover is disposed at a top of the housing with a second sealing member around the cover and between the cover and the housing. A third sealing member is disposed between a hoop disposed around a sheath of the power cable and the power module. The housing further includes portions protruding outwardly and configured for securing the connector on another component.

Abstract: A modular connector system with components that can be economically assembled to provide reliable high signal integrity in a harsh environment (e.g., automobile). A connector includes a subassembly disposed in a cavity of a housing. The connector has features configured to restrain movements within the subassembly and/or between the subassembly and housing, which would otherwise be problematic due to the harsh environment. The subassembly includes a subassembly housing, a terminal disposed therein, and first and second shields partially stacked. The stacked portion of the first shield includes a stop device protruding toward the subassembly housing through a slot of the second shield, and/or a position limiting device protruding away from the subassembly housing to engage a stop device of the housing. The housing includes a beam with a distal end engaging the first shield. The connector includes a CCPA having a stop device abutting both the first and second shields.

Abstract: A modular connector system with components that can be economically assembled to both provide high signal integrity and supply reliable power in a harsh environment, such as an automobile. A connector includes a housing having a mating end, a back end, cavities extending from the mating end toward the back end, and latches extending inside the housing and having distal ends toward the back end. Signal and power terminal assemblies are disposed in respective cavities and engage respective latches. A signal terminal assembly includes a signal terminal, a signal cable attached to the signal terminal, and a shield substantially encircling the signal terminal and cable attachment. A power terminal assembly includes an insulative holder, a power terminal held in the insulative holder, and a power cable attached to the power terminal. Other disclosed techniques enable signal and power terminal assemblies stably and interchangeably disposed in the cavities.

Abstract: A modular connector with components that can be economically assembled to provide high signal integrity in a harsh environment. The connector includes an insulative housing bounding a mating interface, a conductive housing engaging a rear of the insulative housing and having tubes extending through the rear of the insulative housing to the mating interface, and lead assemblies disposed in respective tubes. The conductive housing has a channel extending from its top to its front. The insulative housing has a top extension extending beyond its rear, and a locking feature extending from its rear into the channel through the front of the conductive housing. A member is disposed in the channel and has opposite ends disposed in the top extension and locking feature of the insulative housing, respectively. Such a configuration prevents relative movement of components within the connector in a harsh environment and therefore provide more consistent signal paths.

Abstract: The connector has an insulating base, a plurality of terminals, and at least two conductive plastic blocks. The insulating base has a tongue plate configured with at least an indentation. The terminals contains a first signal terminal set, a second signal terminal set, and a power terminal set configured on the tongue plate. The terminals are either positive or negative terminals, and each terminal has a contact section. The contact sections of the first signal terminal set are configured at a distance above the indentation. The conductive plastic blocks are in contact with the contact sections of the negative terminals of the first and second signal terminal sets, respectively. The distance provides additional contact area with the air so that the electrical property is improved and higher transmission speed is achieved. The shielding effect of the conductive plastic blocks reduces cross interference between adjacent terminals.

Abstract: The connector has an insulating base, a plurality of terminals, and at least two conductive plastic blocks. The insulating base has a tongue plate configured with at least an indentation. The terminals contains a first signal terminal set, a second signal terminal set, and a power terminal set configured on the tongue plate. The terminals are either positive or negative terminals, and each terminal has a contact section. The contact sections of the first signal terminal set are configured at a distance above the indentation. The conductive plastic blocks are in contact with the contact sections of the negative terminals of the first and second signal terminal sets, respectively. The distance provides additional contact area with the air so that the electrical property is improved and higher transmission speed is achieved. The shielding effect of the conductive plastic blocks reduces cross interference between adjacent terminals.