Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a contact loading end and a locking member rotatably mounted in the housing and substantially enclosed within the connector. The locking member has a circumferential edge portion that is exposed through a window of the connector to permit finger rotation of the locking member. A backshell at least partially encloses the housing. The backshell includes a chamber between the contact loading end of the housing and a back wall of the backshell. The backshell includes side walls that have windows opening to the chamber to provide access to the edge portion of the locking member.

Abstract: An electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector receptacle is provided and includes a housing configured and adapted for selective matable connection with a corresponding complementary connector receptacle; a pair of latch arms provided on opposite sides of the housing; and a pair of latch guards extending from the sides of the housing and overlying at least a portion of a respective latch arm. Each latch arm includes a hinge joint spaced a selected distance rearwardly from a forward end thereof for joining the latch arm to a respective side of the housing. Accordingly, as a latch arm is twisted about the hinge joint, at least a portion of the latch arm abuts against the respective latch guard and additional twisting of the latch arm about the hinge joint is prevented.

Abstract: A socket is provided which has an insulative housing surrounding a metal substrate. The substrate has an array of apertures which are located in spatially arranged order to accommodate the precise pattern desired for the device to be connected. Contact assemblies include stamped and formed contacts having an insulative plastic molded over a central section of the contact. A grounding clip surrounds the housing and is conductively connected to the substrate, and has spring arms which are connectable to heat sink hardware on one side thereof and to a printed circuit board on the other side.

Abstract: A socket is provided which has an insulative housing surrounding a metal substrate. The substrate has an array of apertures which are located in spatially arranged order to accommodate the precise pattern desired for the device to be connected. Contact assemblies include stamped and formed contacts having an insulative plastic molded over a central section of the contact. A grounding clip surrounds the housing and is conductively connected to the substrate, and has spring arms which are connectable to heat sink hardware on one side thereof and to a printed circuit board on the other side.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward contact loading end. The housing includes first and second opposite sides. The housing is configured for insertion into a panel opening that has an inner edge. The housing is inserted into the panel opening in a first direction in an insertion position and is movable within the panel opening in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction from the insertion position to a latched position. A latch member extends from the first side of the housing and has first and second ends attached to first and second opposite ends of the first side of the housing. An arcuate latch beam joins the first and second ends of the latch member, and a latch element positioned on a forward facing surface of the latch beam engages the inner edge of the panel opening to hold the housing in the latched position.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a connector housing holding a plurality of electrical contacts and a backshell including a backshell housing having a connector receiving end and a cable exit end. The connector housing is coupled to the connector receiving end of the backshell housing. A plurality of organizing elements are within the backshell housing. The organizing elements are arranged in a transverse row within the backshell housing. The organizing elements are configured to receive and support a plurality of electrical cables arranged in first and second transverse rows. The first and second rows are in a tiered relationship with one another and the electrical cables are transversely offset from one another.

Abstract: A socket connector for an electronic package includes a socket housing and a loading caddy having a forward end and a rearward end. The forward end includes an opening dimensioned to receive the electronic package. The loading caddy is coupled to the housing for linear and rotational movement therewith. The loading caddy rotates through a first range of motion adapted to align the electronic package with respect to the housing, and descends linearly through a second range of motion to load the electronic package into the housing.

Abstract: A socket is provided which has an insulative housing surrounding a metal substrate. The substrate has an array of apertures which are located in spatially arranged order to accommodate the precise pattern desired for the device to be connected. Contact assemblies include stamped and formed contacts having an insulative plastic molded over a central section of the contact. The molded inserts are receivable in the apertures of the substrate and are later swaged to retain them and the contacts to the substrate.

Abstract: A socket for an electronic package includes a cover and a base slidably joined with one another. A cam assembly drives the cover relative to the base between open and closed positions, and a bias element directly contacts the cam assembly to force the cam assembly to a fully open position when the cam assembly is moved from the closed position. The cam assembly is adapted for linear displacement relative to the base when actuated, and the bias element exerts a force on the cam assembly to locate the cover in the open position. The bias element is located between the cover and the base.

Abstract: A socket is provided which has an insulative housing surrounding a metal substrate. The substrate has an array of apertures which are located in spatially arranged order to accommodate the precise pattern desired for the device to be connected. Contact assemblies include stamped and formed contacts having an insulative plastic molded over a central section of the contact. The molded inserts are receivable in the apertures of the substrate and are later swaged to retain them and the contacts to the substrate.

Abstract: A socket for an electronic package includes a cover and a base slidably joined with one another. A cam assembly drives the cover relative to the base between open and closed positions, and a bias element directly contacts the cam assembly to force the cam assembly to a fully open position when the cam assembly is moved from the closed position. The cam assembly is adapted for linear displacement relative to the base when actuated, and the bias element exerts a force on the cam assembly to locate the cover in the open position. The bias element is located between the cover and the base.

Abstract: A cover assembly is provided that includes an electronic socket with a socket cover having a bottom surface. The cover assembly includes a transport cover with a top surface and bottom surface. The top surface is configured to form a vacuum seal with a tool, and the bottom surface includes a locating post and a flexible beam with a protusion. The locating post is configured to engage the socket cover. The flexible beam is biased by the socket cover such that the protrusion releasably engages the bottom surface of the socket cover retain the transport cover to the socket cover.

Abstract: A cover assembly is provided that includes an electronic socket with a socket cover having a bottom surface. The cover assembly includes a transport cover with a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is configured to form a vacuum seal with a tool, and the bottom surface includes a locating post and a flexible beam with a protrusion. The locating post is configured to engage the socket cover. The flexible beam is biased by the socket cover such that the protrusion releasably engages the bottom surface of the socket cover to retain the transport cover to the socket cover.

Abstract: An electrical connector for electrical connection to a circuit board (12) and for receiving a module card (16) and an operating circuit card (14) comprises a dielectric housing (24) having adjacent card-receiving areas (26, 28), first electrical contacts (18, 20) mounted in the dielectric housing and having termination sections (18c, 20c) for electrical connection with conductive members of the circuit board and contact sections (18a, 20a) extending into one of the card-receiving areas (28) for electrical connection to conductive members of the module card (16) when inserted into the one of the card-receiving areas, and second electrical contacts (22) mounted in the dielectric housing and having contact portions (22b) extending into the one of the card-receiving areas (28) for electrical connection with conductive members of the module card (16) and extending into the other of the card-receiving areas (26) for electrical connection with conductive members on the operating circuit card (14) when inserted into

Abstract: Retention system (10) for guiding a processor module during mating, and retention thereafter, having a pair of retention members (12) with upper sections (20) pivotable from upright positions to recumbent positions with respect to lower sections (22) when a processor module is absent. Retention members (12) latch a module (16,100) therebetween upon full insertion into guide channels (52). Module (16) includes latching surfaces (78) that latch beneath latch surfaces (76) defined on a latch (70) that is deflectable outwardly to delatch. Module (100) includes latch projections (102) that seat in apertures (88) adjacent the guide channel entrance.