Patents by Inventor David E. Dunham

David E. Dunham 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: 6916188
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided with opposing and interengageable first and second connector components. Each of the two components preferably includes upper and lower housing formed from an insulative material coated with electrically-conductive material, with cavities formed therein that receive terminal assemblies. The upper and lower housings are formed with internal cavities that extend in orthogonal directions. Each cavity contains a terminal assembly of either plug or receptacle structure and may further include either a plurality of power terminals or differential signal terminals. The terminals have contact portions, tail portions and interconnecting portions that are partially encapsulated by an insulative outer shell. In assembling the first and second components, multiple ground connections are made in sequence before any signal or power supply connections are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, Emanuel G. Banakis, David E. Dunham, Robert A. Owsley
  • Patent number: 6890215
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided with opposing and interengageable first and second connector components. Each of the two components has internal cavities that contain terminal assemblies of either plug or receptacle structure and may further include either a plurality of power terminals or differential signal terminals. The terminals have contact portions, tail portions and interconnecting portions that are partially encapsulated by an insulative outer support frames. The shell forms a wafer and two such wafers are combined together to form a terminal assembly. The terminal assemblies are identical in shape, other than for an engagement means that serves to hold two subframes together as a single assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, Emanuel G. Banakis, David E. Dunham, Robert A. Owsley
  • Patent number: 6808414
    Abstract: A modular connector includes at least a pair of dielectric housing modules defining at least one conductor-receiving passage therebetween. The passage is split axially whereby a passage portion is disposed in each housing module. The housing modules are plated with conductive shielding material at least in the area of the split passage. A conductor, for example, a coaxial cable section or a differential signal pair, surrounding by a dielectric sheath is disposed in the conductor-receiving passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Marko Spiegel, David E. Dunham, Victor Zaderej
  • Publication number: 20040097134
    Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities and a plurality of board-engaging pads projecting from the bottom of the housing. A plurality of terminals are received in the cavities. Portions of the housing between the terminals are plated with conductive metal material to electrically shield the terminals from each other and to provide a controlled impedance. The plating is continuous onto the pads for connection to appropriate ground circuit means on the printed circuit board. In an alternative embodiment, a shielded electrical connector assembly includes a pair of connectors both of which have plated housings with interengaging plated portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Victor Zaderej, Kent E. Regnier, David E. Dunham, Kevin Alberts, David Brearley
  • Publication number: 20040087196
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided with opposing and interengageable first and second connector components. Each of the two components preferably includes upper and lower housing formed from an insulative material coated with electrically-conductive material, with cavities formed therein that receive terminal assemblies. The upper and lower housings are formed with internal cavities that extend in orthogonal directions. Each cavity contains a terminal assembly of either plug or receptacle structure and may further include either a plurality of power terminals or differential signal terminals. The terminals have contact portions, tail portions and interconnecting portions that are partially encapsulated by an insulative outer shell. In assembling the first and second components, multiple ground connections are made in sequence before any signal or power supply connections are made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, Emanuel G. Banakis, David E. Dunham, Robert A. Owsley
  • Publication number: 20040072470
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided with opposing and interengageable first and second connector components. Each of the two components has internal cavities that contain terminal assemblies of either plug or receptacle structure and may further include either a plurality of power terminals or differential signal terminals. The terminals have contact portions, tail portions and interconnecting portions that are partially encapsulated by an insulative outer support frames. The shell forms a wafer and two such wafers are combined together to form a terminal assembly. The terminal assemblies are identical in shape, other than for an engagement means that serves to hold two subframes together as a single assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, Emanuel G. Banakis, David E. Dunham, Robert A. Owsley
  • Publication number: 20030203677
    Abstract: A modular connector includes at least a pair of dielectric housing modules defining at least one conductor-receiving passage therebetween. The passage is split axially whereby a passage portion is disposed in each housing module. The housing modules are plated with conductive shielding material at least in the area of the split passage. A conductor, for example, a coaxial cable section or a differential signal pair, surrounding by a dielectric sheath is disposed in the conductor-receiving passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Marko Spiegel, David E Dunham, Victor Zaderej
  • Patent number: 6491545
    Abstract: A modular shielded coaxial cable connector includes at least a pair of dielectric housing modules defining at least one cable-receiving passage therebetween. The passage is split axially whereby a passage portion is disposed in each housing module. The housing modules are plated with conductive shielding material at least in the area of the split passage. A coaxial cable section is disposed in the cable-receiving passage. The cable section includes a conductive core surrounded by a dielectric sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Marko Spiegel, David E. Dunham
  • Publication number: 20020142629
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mounting on a surface of a printed circuit board having a plurality of holes. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages. A plurality of first conductive terminals are mounted in some of the passages and include first tail portions insertable in an insertion direction into the holes in the printed circuit board with an interference fit. A plurality of second conductive terminals are mounted in other of the passages and include second tail portions engageable with the surface of the printed circuit board. The second tail portions are constructed to exert forces on the connector in a direction opposite the insertion direction away from the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Victor Zaderej, Kent E. Regnier, David E. Dunham, Kevin Alberts, David Brearly
  • Patent number: 6394823
    Abstract: An edge card connector is provided for use with a circuit card having an edge and a plurality of contact pads near the edge. The connector includes a housing having an elongated slot for receiving the edge of the circuit card therein, along with terminal cavities adjacent to the slot. A plurality of terminals are inserted into the terminal cavities. At least some of the terminals each include a contact section extending into the slot for engaging a contact pad on the circuit card, along with an enlarged body section. A thin flexible contact arm extends between the body section and the contact section. A finger portion extends alongside the thin flexible contact arm to increase the capacitance of the terminal and, thereby, reduce the impedance of the circuit through the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David E. Dunham, Russell J. Leonard
  • Patent number: 6287146
    Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, with a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages and include tail portions projecting from the housing. At least one ground member is mounted on the housing and includes a ground contact arm projecting forwardly for engaging a complementary mating connector. An ESD clip projects downwardly from the ground member for insertion into an appropriate mounting hole in the printed circuit board. A tail aligner is mounted to the rear end of the housing and has a plurality of apertures through which the end portions of the terminals extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Hazelton P. Avery, Emanual G. Banakis, David E. Dunham, Jeannette H. Legge, David G. Mead
  • Patent number: 6206730
    Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is mountable on a printed circuit board in association with an adapter for receiving a complementary mating connector. The connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals having tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board. A metal shield is mounted to the housing about the tail portions of the terminals. The shield includes at least one ESD clip for insertion into an appropriate hole in the printed circuit board, at least one ground contact arm for engaging the complementary mating connector, at least one grounding tab for engaging the adapter and at least one grounding leg for connection to an appropriate ground circuit on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Hazelton P. Avery, Emanual G. Banakis, David E. Dunham, Jeannette H. Legge, David G. Mead
  • Patent number: 6068504
    Abstract: An improved mass connector termination assembly reduces mistermination errors and gives dual termination capability for simultaneous termination of selected wires to two different terminals. This simultaneous termination also simplifies the isolation of differential signal wire pairs. Three arrays of terminals are held within a terminal housing and include elongated contact portions that extend within a plug or receptacle portion of the connector housing and insulation displacement portions that extend along a terminating face of the connector. The terminal arrays extend through the connector between these two faces. Multiple contact portions of one of the three terminal arrays are bussed together with a single terminal and these single terminals are aligned with the terminals of the other two terminal arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Gardner, David E. Dunham, Gene Whetstone
  • Patent number: 5788535
    Abstract: An adaptor assembly which functions as an extender for coaxial cable connectors. The adaptor assembly includes a support element which provides for support and isolation of a terminal within an assembly housing and minimizes electrical signal degradation by providing only a minimal amount of dielectric material to support the terminal within the housing. Additionally, a metal bushing is provided as part of an auto-seizing assembly and prevents lock-up of the adaptor assembly during installation of the assembly onto a coaxial cable connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Augat/LRC Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim R. Stinsky, David E. Dunham
  • Patent number: D412700
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Gardner, Gene Whetstone, David E. Dunham