Patents by Inventor Darrell W. Zielke

Darrell W. Zielke 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).

  • Patent number: 9831606
    Abstract: A communication connector including elongated contacts, and an optional flexible compensation circuit. The elongated contacts include a plurality of contact pairs. Each pair includes first and second contacts configured to transmit a differential signal. The elongated contacts may each have first and second portions with first and second heights, respectively. The first height is greater than the second height. The first portion of the first contact is positioned alongside the first portion of the second contact to capacitively couple the first and second contacts together. The optional flexible compensation circuit includes compensation circuitry configured to at least partially reduce crosstalk between the elongated contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Jon Clark Riley, Bret Taylor, Charles R. Bragg, Darrell W. Zielke, Tom Sauter, Hua Wang
  • Publication number: 20170110833
    Abstract: A communication connector including elongated contacts, and an optional flexible compensation circuit. The elongated contacts include a plurality of contact pairs. Each pair includes first and second contacts configured to transmit a differential signal. The elongated contacts may each have first and second portions with first and second heights, respectively. The first height is greater than the second height. The first portion of the first contact is positioned alongside the first portion of the second contact to capacitively couple the first and second contacts together. The optional flexible compensation circuit includes compensation circuity configured to at least partially reduce crosstalk between the elongated contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Jon Clark Riley, Bret Taylor, Charles R. Bragg, Darrell W. Zielke, Tom Sauter, Hua Wang
  • Publication number: 20170110834
    Abstract: A communication connector including elongated contacts, and an optional flexible compensation circuit. The elongated contacts include a plurality of contact pairs. Each pair includes first and second contacts configured to transmit a differential signal. The elongated contacts may each have first and second portions with first and second heights, respectively. The first height is greater than the second height. The first portion of the first contact is positioned alongside the first portion of the second contact to capacitively couple the first and second contacts together. The optional flexible compensation circuit includes compensation circuitry configured to at least partially reduce crosstalk between the elongated contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Jon Clark Riley, Bret Taylor, Charles R. Bragg, Darrell W. Zielke, Tom Sauter, Hua Wang
  • Patent number: 9608379
    Abstract: A communication connector including elongated contacts, and an optional flexible compensation circuit. The elongated contacts include a plurality of contact pairs. Each pair includes first and second contacts configured to transmit a differential signal. The elongated contacts may each have first and second portions with first and second heights, respectively. The first height is greater than the second height. The first portion of the first contact is positioned alongside the first portion of the second contact to capacitively couple the first and second contacts together. The optional flexible compensation circuit includes compensation circuity configured to at least partially reduce crosstalk between the elongated contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Jon Clark Riley, Bret Taylor, Charles R. Bragg, Darrell W. Zielke, Tom Sauter, Hua Wang
  • Patent number: 9515437
    Abstract: A wire contact, such as an insulation displacement connector, having a wire receiving gap partially defined by a side portion. The side portion has a cutting portion with a first thickness and a non-cutting portion with a second thickness. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. The cutting portion is configured to cut through the insulation of the wire when the wire is pressed into the wire receiving gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Bragg, Darrell W. Zielke
  • Publication number: 20160036179
    Abstract: A wire contact, such as an insulation displacement connector, having a wire receiving gap partially defined by a side portion. The side portion has a cutting portion with a first thickness and a non-cutting portion with a second thickness. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. The cutting portion is configured to cut through the insulation of the wire when the wire is pressed into the wire receiving gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Charles R. Bragg, Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 8287714
    Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 8277629
    Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 8182655
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to plating systems configured to strip plate a selected portion of a workpiece (e.g., a lead frame) and methods of plating. In one embodiment, a plating system is configured to plate a selected portion of a workpiece and at least partially compensate for wheel run out. As an alternative, or in addition, to the plating system being configured to at least partially compensate for wheel run out, in another embodiment, a plating system is configured to plate the selected portion of the workpiece and provide for controllably adjusting plating dimensions on the selected portion to be plated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 7744732
    Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 7655117
    Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Publication number: 20090255821
    Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Publication number: 20090242412
    Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Publication number: 20090057158
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to plating systems configured to strip plate a selected portion of a workpiece (e.g., a lead frame) and methods of plating. In one embodiment, a plating system is configured to plate a selected portion of a workpiece and at least partially compensate for wheel run out. As an alternative, or in addition, to the plating system being configured to at least partially compensate for wheel run out, in another embodiment, a plating system is configured to plate the selected portion of the workpiece and provide for controllably adjusting plating dimensions on the selected portion to be plated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventor: Darrell W. Zielke
  • Patent number: 7278879
    Abstract: A connector isolation station system includes ports to receive connectors and includes shield members. The shield members have material properties to substantially shield, attenuate, absorb, diminish, or otherwise hinder or at least partially block wireless signals and noise from impinging upon or otherwise interfering with signal transmissions occurring through the connectors located in the connector isolation station. For instance, transmissions through adjacent connectors are substantially prevented from interfering with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Chin-Hwan Kim, Jeffrey P. Seefried, John Redfield, Darrell W. Zielke, Patrick S. McNutt, Phillip Phung
  • Patent number: 7039183
    Abstract: A termination block having spaced apart rear and front faces with rear and front apertures, respectively, and a plurality of mounting surfaces on the rear face. A screw receiving portion receiving a screw is positioned at each mounting surface. An interior recess is between the rear and front faces, accessible from the rear and front faces through the rear and front apertures. A terminal connection pad is positioned at the rear face at each mounting surface, and a plurality of tines extend through the rear aperture and are positioned within the interior recess for access through the front aperture. Each tine has a flat contact end portion. A plurality of trace members positioned at the rear face, each electrically coupling together one of the terminal connection pads and one of the tines. The terminal connection pads, tines and trace members are formed as part of a stamped, thin, flat lead frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell W. Zielke, Aubrey D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6626694
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a body with a plurality of contact cavities therein, and a plurality of insulation penetrating beam contacts received within the cavities. Each contact has a first end portion to engage a wire located at a first cavity end and a second end portion with a protrusion at a second cavity end. The connector also includes a plurality of resilient spring arms positioned adjacent to the contact cavities. Each arm has a hinge portion attached to the body and a resiliently movable free end portion with a receiving aperture receiving therein the contact protrusion when the contact is in the contact cavity at which the spring arm is positioned. The second cavity end is open and the spring arm is resiliently movable to permit insertion and removal of the contact through the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell W. Zielke, Philip R. Mansur
  • Publication number: 20030073339
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a body with a plurality of contact cavities therein, and a plurality of insulation penetrating beam contacts received within the cavities. Each contact has a first end portion to engage a wire located at a first cavity end and a second end portion with a protrusion at a second cavity end. The connector also includes a plurality of resilient spring arms positioned adjacent to the contact cavities. Each arm has a hinge portion attached to the body and a resiliently movable free end portion with a receiving aperture receiving therein the contact protrusion when the contact is in the contact cavity at which the spring arm is positioned. The second cavity end is open and the spring arm is resiliently movable to permit insertion and removal of the contact through the open end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell W. Zielke, Philip R. Mansur
  • Patent number: 6475019
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a body with a plurality of contact cavities therein, and a plurality of insulation penetrating beam contacts received within the cavities. Each contact has a first end portion to engage a wire located at a first cavity end and a second end portion with a protrusion at a second cavity end. The connector also includes a plurality of resilient spring arms positioned adjacent to the contact cavities. Each arm has a hinge portion attached to the body and a resiliently movable free end portion with a receiving aperture receiving therein the contact protrusion when the contact is in the contact cavity at which the spring arm is positioned. The second cavity end is open and the spring arm is resiliently movable to permit insertion and removal of the contact through the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell W. Zielke, Philip R. Mansur
  • Patent number: D460419
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell W. Zielke, Philip R. Mansur