Abstract: A hybrid electrical optical connector employing a push-pull plug receptacle combination. A hood structure protruding from the plug component of the connector simultaneously serves to ensure that the plug is properly rotationally oriented with respect to the receptacle prior to insertion, that the individual terminals are guided toward the respective terminal receiving channels, and that the plug is latched in place once fully engaged. A rigid armature allows the plug to be partially assembled and tested prior to final overmolding. In its final overmolded form the plug is impervious to the influx of contamination and can withstand a substantial amount of physical abuse. The inexpensive materials used in the construction of the plug and the ease of assembly yield a low cost plug well suited for use in conjunction with a disposable peripheral device.

Abstract: A high-performance, multi-row contact matrix electrical connector having a spring element in the form of an elongated hollow split tube with a mechanical actuator operatively connected to the tube and including first and second sets of parallel spaced conductors terminating at least at one end thereof in a first and second matrix of contact pads, the matrices and the pads being positioned within the split, movement of the mechanical actuator overcoming the spring element to open and close the connector.

Abstract: A connector assembly is described for fitting in a small space between a display panel device and a printed circuit board device, to electrically connect a multiplicity of closely-spaced conductors on the devices. The connector assembly includes a row of contact elements with opposite ends for contacting the conductors of the devices, and with curved middle portions that are nested in one another. The middle portions of the elements are sandwiched between the substantially flat faces of a housing, and the opposite ends of the elements project through openings in the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector backshell which is divided longitudinally into a pair of separable parts. The longitudinal edges of the two parts embody interlocking means allowing longitudinal sliding engagement of the parts, but preventing lateral separation of the parts even if one or both of the parts is flexed. The backshell housing may be formed from sheet metal. The two parts of the housing may be assembled over a cable after the conductors thereof have been connected to the contacts in a connector shell.

Abstract: An electrical connector containing a grounding ring in the form of a metal bellows which is axially compressed when the mating halves of the connector are interengaged. The bellows provides a windowless EMI/RFI grounding shield for the connector.

Abstract: A self-locking electrical connector is disclosed in which a locking ring is mounted in an annular groove in the interior of a coupling nut on the plug of the connector. When the plug is mated with the receptacle, inwardly extending projections on the locking ring ride up over a low-angle ramp on the shell of the receptacle and then snap into a locking groove formed in the receptacle shell behind the ramp to lock the connector members together. The surface of the locking groove next to the low-angle ramp is formed as a high-angle ramp which allows removal of the projections of the ring from the groove when the coupling nut is rotated with high torque to unthread from the shell. In an alternative embodiment, the locking ring is carried by the receptacle shell, and the locking groove and angular ramps are formed on the inner surface of the coupling nut.

Abstract: An electrical connector in which one connector member contains a grounding ring having a wall of "C"-shaped configuration in longitudinal section. When the mating halves of the connector are interengaged, the shell of the other connector member slides into the grounding ring deflecting the inner peripheral wall thereof outwardly. The ring provides a windowless EMI/RFI grounding shield for the connector.

Abstract: A combined EMI/RFI shield and environmental sealing element for an electrical connector in which a helical coil spring is partially embedded in an elastomeric ring having an enlarged sealing portion on at least one side of the spring. The exposed surfaces of the coil spring engage facing peripheral surfaces on the shells of the mating connector halves of the electrical connector.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector is disclosed which is particularly adapted for use with flat cable having closely spaced conductors. The termination end of each contact in the connector is partially bent about a vertical axis providing an intermediate curved portion and a pair of elongated side edges. The side edges of each contact engage a conductor of the cable at two longitudinally spaced locations thereon while the intermediate curved portion of the contact, which is preferably coated with an insulation material, supports the adjacent conductor of the cable.

Abstract: An interconnection system for coupling electrical and air pressurized conductors carried by an aircraft wing and a missile pylon mounted on the wing. The interconnection system provides a rapidly releasable positive lock between the pylon and the wing.

Abstract: A cable assembly and construction method to enable a cable to be pulled lengthwise in a conduit or otherwise, wherein a perforate plate is placed among insulated wires in a bundle emanating from one end of the cable jacket or sheath. The wires are bonded to each other and to the plate by potting. An epoxy or resin may be used, if desired. Alternatively a paraffin potting step may be employed to provide a base for a resin, a paraffin block being potted between the jacket and the resin.

Abstract: A contact retaining clip is fixed in an insulator cavity by the use of discontinuities around the clip which can be wedged or embedded in the insulator. Preferably a probe is inserted into the clip to expand it. The clip and/or the probe may be heated prior or during insertion or by heating after insertion of the clip but before expansion of the clip.

Abstract: A filter connector is disclosed for reducing electro-magnetic interference. The connector may be in the form of an adaptor which is mounted between mating plug and receptacle members of electrical connectors, such as the type utilized in the telephone industry. The adaptor comprises a monolithic ceramic capacitor mounted between the termination ends of plug and receptacle connector members, with the edges of the capacitor disposed between the two rows of contacts in the connector members. The capacitor has a plurality of parallel, spaced live electrodes on its opposite faces engaging the contacts in the connector members. At least one ground plane is embedded in the ceramic substrate of the capacitor, and is coupled to the housing of the connector members. Other connector and capacitor circuit configurations are disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit is electrically connected to a printed circuit board or the like without the use of intermediate conducting contact elements. The flexible printed circuit has conductive strips thereon each terminating in a conductive pad. The pads and the areas of the insulation sheet of the circuit underlying the pads are deformed to provide contact projections defining cavities therebelow. A backing layer of elastomeric material underlying the insulation sheet embodies points which extend into the cavities. The flexible printed circuit is clamped against the printed circuit board causing the elastomeric layer to be compressed so that the points fill the contact cavities to produce a high-force localized contact between the contact projections and the traces on the printed circuit board. A multi-layer, flexible printed circuit arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A submersible pipe electrical connector assembly in which mating electrical connector members are mounted in the ends of first and second pipe sections which are coupled together by a rotatable threaded coupling sleeve to interengage the connector members. Each connector member has one or more annular contacts therein concentric to the longitudinal axis of its respective pipe section. The contacts have the same diameter and engage each other in axial abutting relationship when the coupling sleeve couples the pipe sections together. One of the connector members has a resilient body with its annular contact mounted on the front face of the body. A cylindrical bellows is embedded in the resilient body concentric with the contact. The bellows is connected at its front to the contact and at its rear to a conductor termination element.

Abstract: An underwater electrical connector having an oil filled chamber in one connector member behind the insulator therein in which the contacts are mounted. A pressure compensating bellows is mounted in the wall of the housing of the connector member. An adjustable piston is also mounted in the wall of the housing for establishing a predetermined pressure on the oil in the chamber, whereby the bellows is preloaded thereby enhancing the pressure compensating characteristics of the bellows.