Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100), a housing (300) mountable to a panel. The coupler base (100) includes a pair of wire retainers (200) for securing the wires (230,231) of a twisted pair cable within wire receiving channels (204,205) of a wire nest (202) of the coupler base (100). Each wire retainer (200) has an arm (232), a strut (236) extending from one end thereof to a cylindrical hinge (234) disposed in a pivot region of the coupler base (100), a vertical section (240) proximate the other end including a latch (242), and a wedge (244) on the lower surface of the arm (232). Upon rotation of the wire retainer about hinge (234) to a closed position, wedge (244) is engageable with a lower one of the conductors (230) to urge it fully into a deeper one of the channels (204) adjacent a channel intersection proximate a conductor crossover.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100), a housing (300) mountable to a panel. The coupler base (100) includes a pair of wire retainers (200) for securing the wires (230,231) of a twisted pair cable within wire receiving channels (204,205) of a wire nest (202) of the coupler base (100). Each wire retainer (200) has an arm (232), a strut (236) extending from one end thereof to a cylindrical hinge (234) disposed in a pivot region of the coupler base (100), a vertical section (240) proximate the other end including a latch (242), and a wedge (244) on the lower surface of the arm (232). Upon rotation of the wire retainer about hinge (234) to a closed position, wedge (244) is engageable with a lower one of the conductors (230) to urge it fully into a deeper one of the channels (204) adjacent a channel intersect ion proximate a conductor crossover.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100) and a housing (300) for coupling to conductors (230,231) of a twisted pair cable (22) by at least one pair of opposing E-shaped electromagnets (206,384) mated about the conductors. The coupler base (100) has movable mounting feet (106) and a fixed engaging member (108) and is capable of single-motion mounting to a panel (224). The coupler housing (300) includes an outer shell (314) of thermally conductive material with heat transfer fins (302), a first cavity (316) for securing a pair of E-shaped electromagnets (384) corresponding to E-shaped electromagnets (206) in the coupler base (100), and a second cavity (324) adapted to house therein an electronics package which is connectable to a control unit.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100) and a housing (300) for current mode coupling onto a twisted pair cable (22) of a data bus (20). The coupler base (100) is mountable to a panel (224), having movable mounting body members (106) and a fixed engaging member (108) and is capable of single-motion mounting to the panel, which has a plurality of predetermined apertures (228) with engagement surfaces (226,227) which correspond to the mounting body members (106) and the fixed engaging member (108). The mounting body members (106) are movable within and removable from the coupler base (100) and contain a spring (218) which exerts a force in the direction away from the fixed engaging member (108) ensuring that the coupler base (100) is securely mounted to the panel (224) by engaging a groove (124) on the mounting feet (106) with an engagement surface (226) on the panel (224).

Abstract: An input/output interface for a junction box (10) having an array of connectors (80) exposed for mating to corresponding connectors (150) terminated to cables (152). The cable connectors (150) are affixed to a rugged panel member (110) which is mounted to a rack (100) into which the junction box (10) is placed, in a manner permitting float during mating with the array of junction box connectors (80). Backshells (166) are secured to the cable connectors (150) which assures no EMI/RFI leakage within the shells (164) of the connectors when mated.

Abstract: A junction box (10) defining an enclosed card cage and including a backplane assembly (200) for interconnecting circuits of daughter cards (130) with associated conductors extending thereinto at an input/output interface. The junction box (10) includes a front panel (50) removable from the front face to permit insertion and removal of respective daughter cards, and includes an array of interior fins (58) engaged with the daughter cards at thermal junctions (64) and an array of exterior fins (52) for dissipating the thermal energy. The rear wall (14) includes shield sections (214) surrounding input/output connectors (208) joined to the backplane assembly. The junction box (10) prevents EMI/RFI leakage therethrough.

Abstract: An integral shell (150) for connectors (102,132) mounted to an edge of a circuit card (100,130). The connectors are secured in cavities (152) of the shell, and the cavities are precisely referenced to a single datum defined by an alignment or datum post (160). A corresponding alignment hole (162) of the circuit card is precisely positioned with reference to the arrays of termini of the circuits, and upon mounting of the shell to the card with the datum post (160) received in the alignment hole (162), the contact sections of the terminals of the several connectors (102,132) remain precisely aligned with the termini and their terminations protected against stress during handling, mating and unmating.

Abstract: An improved current mode coupler comprising a base (100), a housing (300) mountable to a panel. The coupler base (100) includes a pair of wire retainers (200) for securing the wires (230,231) of a twisted pair cable within wire receiving channels (204,205) of a wire nest (202) of the coupler base (100). Each wire retainer (200) has an arm (232), a strut (236) extending from one end thereof to a cylindrical hinge (234) disposed in a pivot region of the coupler base (100), a vertical section (240) proximate the other end including a latch (242), and a wedge (244) on the lower surface of the arm (232). Upon rotation of the wire retainer about hinge (234) to a closed position, wedge (244) is engageable with a lower one of the conductors (230) to urge it fully into a deeper one of the channels (204 ) adjacent a channel intersection proximate a conductor crossover.

Abstract: A backplane assembly (200) for a compact card cage such as a junction box (10) having a forward wall section (202) and a rearward wall section (14) with interconnection circuitry (206) disposed therebetween. Struts (216) join forward and rearward wall sections and the backplane assembly is manipulatable as a unit. Interconnection circuitry (206) can be a laminar assembly of flexible circuit elements (230) with terminals (220) of daughter card-matable connectors (204) of the forward wall terminated to circuits thereof at a first connection region CR.sub.1 and terminals (212)of input/output connectors (208) terminated at a second connection region CR.sub.2. All circuits from second region CR.sub.2 can be directed to an integration region CR.sub.M part of first region CR.sub.1 and selected circuits can be directed to terminals of daughter card-matable connectors elsewhere in first region CR.sub.1 connected by a programmable integration member (130).

Abstract: A thermal junction (64) with an edge (106) of a daughter card (100) in a card cage enclosure (10). A front panel (50) of the enclosure includes an array of interior fins (58) extending to edges (60) adjacent the edges (106) of the array of daughter cards (100). Spring clips (62) mounted along the fin edges engage the card edges simultaneously upon the front panel (50) being placed in position, and spring arms (70) of each clip establish a plurality of assured thermal connections of the card edges with the fins, for the front panel (50) to dissipate heat from the circuit cards (100) to the exterior of the enclosure (10). With cards having a metal shielding layer (110), the spring clips (62) also define a ground to the enclosure wall.

Abstract: A resilient spring defining a platform surface (250) and including a pair of side-by-side spring arms (244) extending in a common axial direction from the platform surface. Each of the spring arms defines an end (252) in an adjacent relationship to the base of the other spring arm, whereby the spring arms (252) extend generally in opposing transverse directions and in the common axial direction to define a pair of bearing surfaces (260) disposed to engage a common support surface (242) of another member (38). Locking lances (258) extend from side walls (254) of the spring in a direction opposed to the axial direction of the spring arms (252) to engage ledges along side walls (262) of a cavity (70) of the other member in a manner permitting only biased movement toward the common support surface (242) when an additional member (52) to be spring biased is placed on and urged against the platform surface (250).

Abstract: An electromagnet insert for a data coupler comprises a dielectric member defining positions for at least one electromagnet with mating faces of the electromagnet exposed in one direction along a common planar surface. The member includes a pair of wire-receiving arcuate channels coursing from one side to an opposite side of the member defining pathways on each side of a central leg of the electromagnet. The arcuate channels are shaped to match the optimum-shaped loop of a twisted pair cable of a data bus.

Abstract: An upper member for inducting power in a coupler assembly having an electromagnet core is a subassembly of a top body member and a bottom body member which enclose a circuit substrate. The circuit substrate is disposed within a cavity between the top and bottom body members, and includes electrical components surface mounted on at least one surface of the circuit substrate. EMI/RFI shielding is formed by plating of at least the surfaces around the cavity surrounding the circuit substrate, and conductively joining the top and bottom body members completely surrounding the circuit substrate thereby protecting the electrical components from EMI/RFI interference.

Abstract: A mounting means for mounting a first member to a second member includes at least one fixed engaging member disposed on the first member to engage one of a plurality of engaging surfaces on the second member. At least one movable engaging member is disposed to engage another of the second member engaging surfaces. The movable engaging member is positioned on the first member and is operable between a disengaged and engaged positions whereby the movable engaging member positions both of the engaging members into engagement in the operable position and disengagement in the inoperable position.

Abstract: An improved data coupler assembly provides an improved electromagnet insert having conductive wires positioned within arcuate channels formed along with electromagnet insert. Sealing means to position and seal the conductor wires to the assembly are included. Improved electromagnetic shielding by using metallic plating on the upper member of the coupler assembly provides effective, but lightweight, EMF/RFI protection. A rugged resilient spring means improves the formation of an electromagnet core by biasing the electromagnet insert, and thereby biasing together each electromagnet pair form cores having a minimal air gap. A quick-action panel mounting means secures the coupler assembly to a panel, and improved aligning means precisely secures the upper member of the coupler assembly to the lower member.

Abstract: An LRM connector is joined to printed circuit boards and secured to cover plates of the LRM at an end thereof to be mated with mother board connector mounted within a black box. The LRM connector is float mounted within cover plates on said LRM and aligns itself with the mother board connector when the LRM is inserted into the black box while maintaining sealing engagement with the cover plates. A metal shroud of the LRM connector provides EMI shielding and engagement with the metal shroud of the mother board connector even if the two metal shrouds are slightly misaligned with respect to each other. A method for assembly includes forming separate contact subassemblies having dielectric material molded around body sections; rearward contact sections on free ends of elongated cantilever beams remain joined to carrier strips until being soldered to conductive pads of the VHSIC circuit cards; then the carrier strips are broken off.

Abstract: An electrical connection of a terminal contact to an electrical conductor is crimped by applying compressive force to the right and left sides of the barrel of the contact but not at the center and not applying it directly toward the center, thus forming an "oblique" crimp. Such an oblique crimp can be formed using a punch die and an opposing anvil die each having a crimping surface with a central recessed relief area whereby the crimping surface does not compress the center of the contact barrel. On each side of the relief area is a substantial diagonal portion of the crimping surface, and outward therefrom is a transverse shoulder, both of which engage the contact barrel during crimping. This crimping is especially useful for contacts having closed or seamless barrel walls and also especially for crimping a slightly oversized barrel to a many-stranded conductor without an intermediate sleeve, and it is particularly useful where confined crimping is required.

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12), which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12) which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A pair of track members is fastened to a framework of a black box forwardly of each mother board connector of an array thereof mounted on the mother board of the black box. The track members extend forwardly in parallel from end flanges of the connector to leading ends fastened to the black box framework at the LRM-receiving aperture, so that an LRM placed between the pair of tracks is movable to the mother board connector for mating of the LRM connector therewith. The trailing ends of the track members extend through precisely located holes through end flanges of the mother board connector and through the mother board after which the end portions are fastened to frame members behind the mother board. The track members can be hollow enabling fluid to be circulated therethrough to dissipate heat from the LRM. The track members can constitute the means to fasten the mother board connector to the mother board, and also the mother board to the framework of the black box.