Patents by Inventor David C. Horchler

David C. Horchler 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: 10439317
    Abstract: The interposer can include a substrate and first and second electrical connectors mounted to the substrate. The first electrical connector is configured to mate with a hard disk drive subassembly, and the second electrical connector is configured to mate with a flat flex circuit subassembly. The hard disk drive subassembly includes a hard disk drive case, a printed circuit board, and a third electrical connector mounted to the printed circuit board. The first and third electrical connectors are configured to mate with each other through the hard disk drive case so as to mate the interposer to the hard disk drive subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Robert E. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9871323
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes first and second mezzanine electrical connectors that include respective first and second arrays of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts can be receptacle, or one can be a plug and the other can be a receptacle. Each electrical connector can further include at least one alignment member that cooperate to align the first and second arrays of electrical contacts relative to each other. Each electrical connector can further include at least one orientation member that allows the first and second electrical connectors to mate when in a predetermined orientation relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Lewis Robin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170294737
    Abstract: The interposer can include a substrate and first and second electrical connectors mounted to the substrate. The first electrical connector is configured to mate with a hard disk drive subassembly, and the second electrical connector is configured to mate with a flat flex circuit subassembly. The hard disk drive subassembly includes a hard disk drive case, a printed circuit board, and a third electrical connector mounted to the printed circuit board. The first and third electrical connectors are configured to mate with each other through the hard disk drive case so as to mate the interposer to the hard disk drive subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: FCI USA LLC
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Robert E. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20170125946
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes first and second mezzanine electrical connectors that include respective first and second arrays of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts can be receptacle, or one can be a plug and the other can be a receptacle. Each electrical connector can further include at least one alignment member that cooperate to align the first and second arrays of electrical contacts relative to each other. Each electrical connector can further include at least one orientation member that allows the first and second electrical connectors to mate when in a predetermined orientation relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Lewis Robin Johnson
  • Patent number: 9543703
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes first and second mezzanine electrical connectors that include respective first and second arrays of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts can be receptacle, or one can be a plug and the other can be a receptacle. Each electrical connector can further include at least one alignment member that cooperate to align the first and second arrays of electrical contacts relative to each other. Each electrical connector can further include at least one orientation member that allows the first and second electrical connectors to mate when in a predetermined orientation relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Lewis Robin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140017957
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes first and second mezzanine electrical connectors that include respective first and second arrays of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts can be receptacle, or one can be a plug and the other can be a receptacle. Each electrical connector can further include at least one alignment member that cooperate to align the first and second arrays of electrical contacts relative to each other. Each electrical connector can further include at least one orientation member that allows the first and second electrical connectors to mate when in a predetermined orientation relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Lewis Robin Johnson
  • Patent number: 8277241
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an electrical connector assembly having first and second electrical connectors configured for mating. Each connector includes a housing that supports a plurality of electrical contacts. The contacts are arranged in first and second rows, and define a first terminal end extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and a second hermaphroditic terminal end extending from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Mark R. Gray
  • Patent number: 7690923
    Abstract: An electrical connector with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) received may carry electrical signals between the FPC and a substrate. Latching mechanisms may serve to position the cap on the body such that the positions facilitate the insertion and retention of the FPC in the cap for a good electrical connection. The FPC may be received loosely in the cap when the cap is in a first position on the body. When the cap is depressed into a second position, the FPC may be compressed between the cap and the body. Mating ends of the contacts may electrically connect to exposed conductive elements of the FPC. Mounting ends of the contacts in the contact housing may electrically connect to the conductive elements on a substrate. If the contacts are compression contacts, the terminals of the contacts may deflect or compress when a force is exerted upon them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Robert E. Marshall
  • Publication number: 20100075516
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided having first and second electrical connectors configured for mating. Each connector includes a housing that supports a plurality of electrical contacts. The contacts are arranged in first and second rows, and define a first terminal end extending from the housing and configured to connect with an electrical component, and a second hermaphroditic terminal end extending from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Mark R. Gray
  • Publication number: 20090203246
    Abstract: An electrical connector with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) received may carry electrical signals between the FPC and a substrate. Latching mechanisms may serve to position the cap on the body such that the positions facilitate the insertion and retention of the FPC in the cap for a good electrical connection. The FPC may be received loosely in the cap when the cap is in a first position on the body. When the cap is depressed into a second position, the FPC may be compressed between the cap and the body. Mating ends of the contacts may electrically connect to exposed conductive elements of the FPC. Mounting ends of the contacts in the contact housing may electrically connect to the conductive elements on a substrate. If the contacts are compression contacts, the terminals of the contacts may deflect or compress when a force is exerted upon them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Horchler, Robert E. Marshall
  • Patent number: 6739892
    Abstract: A modular jack for receiving complimentary plugs. The jack comprises a ground shield, a dielectric housing, a shield insert, a switching block, a circuit board sub-assembly, a plurality of terminal contacts, and a plurality of switching contacts. The ground shield has a plug receiving face that is open to expose a plug receiving cavity and is adapted to receive a complimentary plug. The ground shield also has a mounting face which defines grounding springs that extend inward towards the plurality of switching contacts. Portions of some of the terminal contacts extend in cantilever fashion into the plug receiving cavity while portions of some the terminal contacts extend through the ground shield forming terminal posts. A number of the terminal contacts have contact switching pads upon which mating portions of the switching contacts rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yakov Belopolsky, David C. Horchler, David F. Fusselman
  • Patent number: 6416335
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a housing and at least one electrical contact. The housing has a first side with a first section and a second section. The first section is adapted to contact a first side of an electronic component and be fixed thereto. The second section comprises a positioning locator standoff adapted to be located in front of a second side of the electronic component for contacting a mechanically cooperating, but electrically non-mating electrical connector at the first side of the housing when the housing is located against the first side of the electronic component. The at least one electrical contact is connected to the housing and has a first end adapted to be attached to the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Berg Technology Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: 6361373
    Abstract: A micro miniature electrical connector element which is manufactured by first providing an axial insulative member having a conductive terminal retaining means. An insulative housing which has a peripheral wall and an axial opening is also provided. The axial insulative member is inserted into the axial opening such that the conductive terminal is fixed in the conductive terminal retaining means. This connector is non-barbed and is manufactured without insert molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: 6200171
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprising an electrical contact; and a housing. The housing comprises a first member and a second member. The first member comprises a contact receiving channel. The second member is over-molded onto the first member. The electrical contact is located in the channel and retained on the housing by a capture of the contact between the first and second members. The first member and the contact extend past a first end of the capture of the contact between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Fusselman, Robert D. Gale, David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: 6179646
    Abstract: A cable clamp assembly which is adapted for use with a range of cable diameters. The assembly includes a tubular base section, a first finger extending axially from the tubular base section and having a cable engagement projection and a second finger extending axially from the tubular base section and having a cable engagement projection. The assembly also provides flex relief and strain relief at any adjacent crimp to wire or solder to wire interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: 6038762
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mounting an electrical connector on a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board is initially positioned on locating projections on a tooling plate. Eyelets are positioned in hold down apertures in the connector. The hold down apertures initially engage the locating projections to align the connector pins with pin receiving apertures on the printed wiring board. Engagement continues until the pins are positioned in the apertures and the lower end of the eyelet is deformed to engage the innerside of the down aperture and the lower side of the printed wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Clark, David C. Horchler, Stuart C. Stoner, Glenn J. Pontius, William K. Nailor, III
  • Patent number: 6012931
    Abstract: A connector having a set of terminals (10) that are preferably coplanar and are used to connect electrical components, such as surface mount components, with a printed circuit board (PCB). The connector uses an insulative wafer (50) to achieve and to maintain the coplanarity of the terminals (10). Initially, the terminals (10) are overbent so that as the wafer (50) is being placed in the connector housing (5), the terminals (10) contact the wafer (50) on a slope (55) of the wafer (50). In other words, as the wafer (50) is being mated with the connector housing (5), the wafer (50) pushes against the terminals (10) to establish coplanarity. Thus, the wafer (50) works in conjunction with the terminals (10) in the connector housing (5) to establish coplanarity. Therefore, the connector supports the terminals (10) for positioning while ensuring that the terminals (10) are coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gwen L. Michaux, David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: 5980325
    Abstract: A micro miniature electrical connector element which is manufactured by first providing an axial insulative member having a conductive terminal retaining means. An insulative housing which has a peripheral wall and an axial opening is also provided. The axial insulative member is inserted into the axial opening such that the conductive terminal is fixed in the conductive terminal retaining means. This connector is non-barbed and is manufactured without insert molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: D746236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: David C. Horchler
  • Patent number: D751507
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventor: David C. Horchler