Patents by Inventor James L. Fedder
James L. Fedder 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).
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Patent number: 8727814Abstract: An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal includes a base and an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end. A slit formed through the insertion portion and extending from or between the base and between the first end defines a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A substantially central axis extends between opposite ends of the slit so that a segment of the first leg is deformed in one direction away from the axis, while a segment of the second leg is deformed in a direction away from the axis opposite the first leg. The deformed first leg segment and the deformed second leg segment are offset from the center of the slit.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 8348680Abstract: A removable daughter card assembly including a circuit board having a leading edge. The daughter card assembly also includes connector modules that are configured to be mounted to the circuit board proximate to the leading edge. The connector modules face in an insertion direction for engaging corresponding mating connectors when advanced in the insertion direction. The card assembly also includes an elongated stiffener that is configured to be mounted to the circuit board. The stiffener includes a plurality of support walls and a bridge member that couples to each one of the support walls. The support walls are secured to the circuit board. The bridge member extends substantially parallel to and proximate to the leading edge and is dimensioned to prevent bowing along the leading edge. At least two of the support walls comprise alignment features that are configured to engage corresponding guide features of a communication system.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Justin S. McClellan, Jeffrey B. McClinton, James L. Fedder
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Publication number: 20120295452Abstract: A removable daughter card assembly including a circuit board having a leading edge. The daughter card assembly also includes connector modules that are configured to be mounted to the circuit board proximate to the leading edge. The connector modules face in an insertion direction for engaging corresponding mating connectors when advanced in the insertion direction. The card assembly also includes an elongated stiffener that is configured to be mounted to the circuit board. The stiffener includes a plurality of support walls and a bridge member that couples to each one of the support walls. The support walls are secured to the circuit board. The bridge member extends substantially parallel to and proximate to the leading edge and is dimensioned to prevent bowing along the leading edge. At least two of the support walls comprise alignment features that are configured to engage corresponding guide features of a communication system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: JUSTIN S. MCCLELLAN, JEFFREY B. MCCLINTON, JAMES L. FEDDER
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Patent number: 8142236Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7976318Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan Charles Wickes
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Patent number: 7789716Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7775802Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2009Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: George R. Defibaugh, James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan C. Wickes
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Patent number: 7753742Abstract: 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. 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20100144167Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan Charles Wickes
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Publication number: 20100144201Abstract: High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2009Publication date: June 10, 2010Inventors: George R. Defibaugh, James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, John E. Knaub, Timothy R. Minnick, Chad W. Morgan, Alex M. Sharf, Lynn R. Sipe, Evan C. Wickes
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Patent number: 7713098Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a tool. The electrical connector includes a contact having a compliant jog section disposed between first and second ends of the contact. The tool is required to press-fit the connector to an electrical device without deforming the compliant jog section of the contact.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: David A. Trout, James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor
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Patent number: 7670196Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7597581Abstract: A connector including a housing and a contact is disclosed for electrically connecting a first electrical device to a second electrical device across the contact in such a manner that the contact is broken if the connector is removed from the second electrical device. The contact includes a press-fit connection that may be either a compliant eye-of-the-needle or a cylindrical tail.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: David A. Trout, James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor, Jason E. Vrenna
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Patent number: 7591655Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20090221192Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Inventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Patent number: 7549897Abstract: 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. 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: James L. Fedder, Douglas W. Glover, David W. Helster, Chad W. Morgan, Brent Rothermel, Alex M. Sharf, Attalee S. Taylor, David A. Trout
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Publication number: 20090075503Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a tool. The electrical connector includes a contact having a compliant jog section disposed between first and second ends of the contact. The tool is required to press-fit the connector to an electrical device without deforming the compliant jog section of the contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventors: David A. Trout, James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor
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Patent number: 7470129Abstract: A connector assembly including a modified contact is disclosed for connecting a first electrical device to a second electrical device. In a first embodiment, the connector assembly includes a tool necessary to press-fit the connector to the second electrical device. In a second embodiment, the connector assembly includes two connectors that mate in such a manner so as to render the modified contact unusable if the two connectors are unmated.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: David A. Trout, Daniel R. Ringler, James L. Fedder, Attalee S. Taylor
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Publication number: 20080293272Abstract: A connector assembly including a modified contact is disclosed for connecting a first electrical device to a second electrical device. In a first embodiment, the connector assembly includes a tool necessary to press-fit the connector to the second electrical device. In a second embodiment, the connector assembly includes two connectors that mate in such a manner so as to render the modified contact unusable if the two connectors are unmated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: David A. TROUT, Daniel R. RINGLER, James L. FEDDER, Attalee S. TAYLOR
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Publication number: 20080293264Abstract: A connector including a housing and a contact is disclosed for electrically connecting a first electrical device to a second electrical device across the contact in such a manner that the contact is broken if the connector is removed from the second electrical device. The contact includes a press-fit connection that may be either a compliant eye-of-the-needle or a cylindrical tail.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: David A. TROUT, James L. FEDDER, Attalee S. TAYLOR, Jason E. VRENNA