Abstract: An electrical connector having a housing having a pin plate holder and a pin block holder. The pin block holder has a pin block holder stabilizing section. The pin plate holder has a pin plate holder stabilizing portion. With the pin block holder and the pin plate holder fully mated, the pin block holder stabilizing section engages the pin plate holder stabilizing portion to prevent the movement of the pin plate holder relative to the pin block holder in multiple directions.

Abstract: An assembly having an electrical connector and a modular housing. The cooperation of positioning projections of the modular housing with stabilizing sections of the electrical connector provides a stable and precise mating between the electrical connector and the modular housing in four directions which are perpendicular to the plane of insertion of the electrical connector into the modular housing. The cooperation of latches of the electrical connector with latch receiving recesses of the modular housing provides a stable and precise mating between the electrical connector and the modular housing in two directions which are in line with the plane of insertion.

Abstract: An electrical connector with biased latch and method. The electrical connector has a housing and a latch which extends from the housing. The latch has a latching region and a biasing region. The latching region has a latching projection with a reference surface. The biasing region has a biasing member. The cooperation of the biasing member with a mating electrical connector and the reference surface with the mating electrical connector prevents the unwanted movement of the electrical connector relative to the mating electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector with biased latch and method. The electrical connector has a housing and a latch which extends from the housing. The latch has a latching region and a biasing region. The latching region has a latching projection with a reference surface. The biasing region has a biasing member. The cooperation of the biasing member with a mating electrical connector and the reference surface with the mating electrical connector prevents the unwanted movement of the electrical connector relative to the mating electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical contact for insertion into a hole of a substrate. The electrical contact includes a compliant portion having an opening extending between contact arms. At least one contact arm of the contact arms has a resilient engagement section which extends into the opening of the compliant portion and resilient contacting sections which extend from the engagement section in a direction away from the opening. Upon insertion of the compliant portion into the hole of the substrate, the resilient engagement section of the at least one contact arm engages an opposed contact arm of the contact arms, causing each of the resilient contacting sections to move independently of the resilient engagement section and other resilient contacting sections. Each of the resilient engagement section and the resilient contacting sections are deformed and generate independent retention forces which are combined to generate the total retention force of the compliant portion.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a compliant portion having an opening extending between contact arms. A first contact arm of the contact arms has multiple resilient engagement sections extending into the opening of the compliant portion and resilient contacting sections extending from the engagement sections in a direction away from the opening. Upon insertion of the compliant portion into the hole of the substrate, the resilient engagement sections of the first contact arm engage an opposed second contact arm of the contact arms, causing each of the resilient contacting sections to move independently of the resilient engagement sections and independently of other resilient contacting sections. Each of the resilient engagement sections and the resilient contacting sections are deformed and generate independent retention forces which are combined to generate the total retention force of the compliant portion.

Abstract: A header assembly includes a dielectric housing, an electrically conductive outer contact, and a center contact. The housing has a front panel that defines a contact opening therethrough between a front side and a rear side of the front panel. The housing also includes a base panel extending from the rear side of the front panel. The base panel mounts to a circuit board. The outer contact includes a mating segment that extends through the contact opening of the housing and defines a channel that receives the center contact therein. The outer contact also includes a mounting segment that engages the base panel of the housing and is disposed between the base panel and the circuit board. The mounting segment couples and electrically terminates to the circuit board.

Abstract: A connector position assurance device, an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly which provides proper connector position assurance of a connector assembly of small size. The connector position assurance device has a base portion, a first beam and a second beam. The first and second beams extend from the base portion. The base portion includes a latch engagement protrusion. A first beam has a first connector engagement protrusion and a second beam has a second connector engagement protrusion. The first and second connector engagement protrusions are resiliently actuated as the plug is mated to the header. The first and second connector engagement protrusions and the latch engagement protrusion cooperate with the plug when the plug is fully mated to the header to prevent the inadvertent removal of the plug from the header.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a header having a body having a first receptacle and a second receptacle separated by a midwall and a plurality of contacts held by the midwall. The contacts have first pins located within the first receptacle and second pins located within the second receptacle. A first plug is received in the first receptacle. The first plug includes a housing holding a plurality of terminals terminated to corresponding wires having sockets mated with corresponding first pins in the first receptacle. The sockets are configured to be electrically connected to sockets of a second plug received in the second receptacle by the contacts held by the header.

Abstract: A connector position assurance device, an electrical connector and an electrical connector assembly which provides proper connector position assurance of a connector assembly of small size. The connector position assurance device has a base portion, a first beam and a second beam. The first and second beams extend from the base portion. The base portion includes a latch engagement protrusion. A first beam has a first connector engagement protrusion and a second beam has a second connector engagement protrusion. The first and second connector engagement protrusions are resiliently actuated as the plug is mated to the header. The first and second connector engagement protrusions and the latch engagement protrusion cooperate with the plug when the plug is fully mated to the header to prevent the inadvertent removal of the plug from the header.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a header having a body having a first receptacle and a second receptacle separated by a midwall and a plurality of contacts held by the midwall. The contacts have first pins located within the first receptacle and second pins located within the second receptacle. A first plug is received in the first receptacle. The first plug includes a housing holding a plurality of terminals terminated to corresponding wires having sockets mated with corresponding first pins in the first receptacle. The sockets are configured to be electrically connected to sockets of a second plug received in the second receptacle by the contacts held by the header.

Abstract: A receptacle contact includes a resilient contact arm having at least one contact area for contacting a mating contact. A support arm is stamped and formed from an area of a wall of the receptacle contact. The support arm cooperates with the resilient contact arm to support the resilient contact arm. An overstress member is provided on the wall of the receptacle contact. The overstress member is formed to extend into the area of the wall from which the support arm was formed. The overstress member cooperates with the support arm to prevent the support arm from being moved beyond the overstress member and beyond the area of the wall from which the support arm was formed, thereby ensuring that the resilient contact arm and the support arm will provide sufficient normal force to maintain a mechanical and electrical engagement with a mating contact.

Abstract: A receptacle contact includes a resilient contact arm having at least one contact area for contacting a mating contact. A support arm is stamped and formed from an area of a wall of the receptacle contact. The support arm cooperates with the resilient contact arm to support the resilient contact arm. An overstress member is provided on the wall of the receptacle contact. The overstress member is formed to extend into the area of the wall from which the support arm was formed. The overstress member cooperates with the support arm to prevent the support arm from being moved beyond the overstress member and beyond the area of the wall from which the support arm was formed, thereby ensuring that the resilient contact arm and the support arm will provide sufficient normal force to maintain a mechanical and electrical engagement with a mating contact.

Abstract: A receptacle contact for receipt of a mating contact and a method therefore. The receptacle contact has side walls, each of the side walls has an opening provide therein. A resilient contact arm extends between the side walls. Projections extend from the resilient contact arm and extend through the openings of the side walls. A weak area is provided on the resilient contact arm, the weak area positioned between the fixed end and the projections. The projections engage a wall of the opening as the mating contact is inserted into the receptacle contact, causing the at least one contact area to become fixed and allowing the weak area to move into engagement with the mating contact, thereby providing multiple areas of contact between the resilient contact arm and the mating contact.

Abstract: A header connector includes a housing configured to be mounted to a mounting surface of the circuit board and header contacts held by the housing. The header contacts have mating portions and mounting portions. The mounting portions are configured to be surface mounted to corresponding pads on the circuit board. A spring clip is coupled to the housing. The spring clip has a spring finger extending through the circuit board to engage a bottom side of the circuit board opposite the mounting surface of the circuit board. The spring clip pulls the housing and header contacts toward the mounting surface.

Abstract: A header connector includes a housing configured to be mounted to a mounting surface of the circuit board and header contacts held by the housing. The header contacts have mating portions and mounting portions. The mounting portions are configured to be surface mounted to corresponding pads on the circuit board. A spring clip is coupled to the housing. The spring clip has a spring finger extending through the circuit board to engage a bottom side of the circuit board opposite the mounting surface of the circuit board. The spring clip pulls the housing and header contacts toward the mounting surface.

Abstract: A harness connector having a header assembly that includes a header housing that extends between a plug end and a mounting end. The header housing holds header contacts. Optionally, the header housing may be mounted to a printed circuit board at the mounting end with the header contacts being electrically connected to the printed circuit board. One or more plug assemblies are received in the plug end of the header housing along a plug axis. The plug assembly includes a plug housing holding receptacle terminals. The receptacle terminals extend along terminal axes parallel to the plug axis between mating ends and terminating ends. The mating ends are mated with corresponding header contacts. The terminating ends have insulation displacement contacts configured to receive, and be electrically connected to, corresponding wires. The wires extend from the insulation displacement contacts along wire axes that are generally perpendicular to the terminal axes.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a housing that includes a carrier and a shield matable to define the housing. The carrier has terminal channels and terminal latches extending into the terminal channels. The shield having lead-in channels through a face of the shield. Terminals are received in corresponding terminal channels. The terminals are held in the terminal channels by the terminal latches. The carrier and the shield are molded as a single piece with a bridge connecting the carrier and the shield. The bridge is broken during assembly to allow coupling of the shield to the carrier. The lead-in channels are aligned with, and positioned forward of, the terminal channels when the shield is mated with the carrier. The lead-in channels guide mating contacts for mating with the terminals held in the terminal channels.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a housing that includes a carrier and a shield matable to define the housing. The carrier has terminal channels and terminal latches extending into the terminal channels. The shield having lead-in channels through a face of the shield. Terminals are received in corresponding terminal channels. The terminals are held in the terminal channels by the terminal latches. The carrier and the shield are molded as a single piece with a bridge connecting the carrier and the shield. The bridge is broken during assembly to allow coupling of the shield to the carrier. The lead-in channels are aligned with, and positioned forward of, the terminal channels when the shield is mated with the carrier. The lead-in channels guide mating contacts for mating with the terminals held in the terminal channels.

Abstract: A receptacle contact for receipt of a mating contact and a method therefore. The receptacle contact has side walls, each of the side walls has an opening provide therein. A resilient contact arm extends between the side walls. Projections extend from the resilient contact arm and extend through the openings of the side walls. A weak area is provided on the resilient contact arm, the weak area positioned between the fixed end and the projections. The projections engage a wall of the opening as the mating contact is inserted into the receptacle contact, causing the at least one contact area to become fixed and allowing the weak area to move into engagement with the mating contact, thereby providing multiple areas of contact between the resilient contact arm and the mating contact.