Patents by Inventor Jeffery W. Mason

Jeffery W. Mason 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).

  • Patent number: 9876298
    Abstract: A flexible connector includes a flexible substrate having a plurality of conductive pads and a plurality of conductive polymer springfingers. Each conductive polymer springfinger extends between a first end and a second end. The conductive polymer springfingers are mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding conductive pads at the corresponding second ends and the conductive polymer springfingers are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to conductors of an electrical component at the corresponding first ends. The conductive polymer springfingers are internally conductive and compressible between the first and second ends. The conductive polymer springfingers are discrete and separated by gaps. The flexible substrate is flexible to allow the second ends of the conductive polymer springfingers to be non-coplanar and to allow the first ends of the conductive polymer springfingers to be non-coplanar for electrical connection with the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne Stewart Alden, III, Chuan Yue
  • Patent number: 9642398
    Abstract: A wearable connector for an electronic textile includes a shell having an upper ring and a lower ring configured to capture the electronic textile therebetween. The shell provides an interior channel at least partially defined by the upper and lower ring. A conductive interface member is received in the interior channel of the shell and is electrically connected to the shell. The conductive interface member has a compressible interface configured to be electrically connected to a conductor of the electronic textile. The conductive interface member is compressed against the conductor by at least one of the upper ring and the lower ring when the lower ring is coupled to the upper ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne S. Alden, III
  • Publication number: 20170112200
    Abstract: A wearable connector for an electronic textile includes a shell having an upper ring and a lower ring configured to capture the electronic textile therebetween. The shell provides an interior channel at least partially defined by the upper and lower ring. A conductive interface member is received in the interior channel of the shell and is electrically connected to the shell. The conductive interface member has a compressible interface configured to be electrically connected to a conductor of the electronic textile. The conductive interface member is compressed against the conductor by at least one of the upper ring and the lower ring when the lower ring is coupled to the upper ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne S. Alden, III
  • Publication number: 20160036142
    Abstract: A flexible connector includes a flexible substrate having a plurality of conductive pads and a plurality of conductive polymer springfingers. Each conductive polymer springfinger extends between a first end and a second end. The conductive polymer springfingers are mechanically and electrically connected to corresponding conductive pads at the corresponding second ends and the conductive polymer springfingers are configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to conductors of an electrical component at the corresponding first ends. The conductive polymer springfingers are internally conductive and compressible between the first and second ends. The conductive polymer springfingers are discrete and separated by gaps. The flexible substrate is flexible to allow the second ends of the conductive polymer springfingers to be non-coplanar and to allow the first ends of the conductive polymer springfingers to be non-coplanar for electrical connection with the electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne Stewart Alden, III, Chuan Yue
  • Patent number: 9088083
    Abstract: A contact includes a contact body including a tip, a spring beam opposite the tip and a shoulder between the tip and the spring beam. A plunger is movable with respect to the contact body and has the plunger having a tip and a shoulder. A biasing member is contained by the shoulders. The biasing member imparts a biasing force on the shoulder of the plunger. The biasing member is compressed as the plunger moves relative to the contact body. The spring beam engages the plunger between the tip and the shoulder of the plunger and is spring biased against the plunger to electrically couple the contact body and the plunger. An electrical path is defined from the tip of the plunger to the spring beam and to the tip of the contact body. The electrical path is routed outside of the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne Stewart Alden, III
  • Patent number: 8840432
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a circuit board having an internal ground plane that defines at least a portion of an internal layer of the circuit board. The circuit board has an exterior side that includes a mounting region and includes electrical contacts arranged on the exterior side within the mounting region for making electrical connection with corresponding signal conductors of electrical wires. Ground shields are mounted to the mounting region of the circuit board and include electrically conductive bodies that are configured to extend over corresponding electrical wires along the mounting region of the circuit board. The bodies of the ground shields include side segments that are configured to extend between the signal conductors of adjacent electrical wires along the mounting region of the circuit board. The bodies are engaged with the internal ground plane of the circuit board to electrically connect the ground shields to the internal ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Stewart Alden, III, Jeffery W. Mason
  • Patent number: 8808009
    Abstract: An interconnect device for electrically connecting first and second electrical components together along a connection axis includes a contact assembly having an insulative carrier and electrical contacts held by the insulative carrier. The electrical contacts include mounting segments and mating segments. The mating segments are configured to be compressed along the connection axis. A frame includes a central opening and at least one perimeter segment that defines a boundary of the central opening. The contact assembly is held within the central opening. The frame includes a compression stop having a stop surface that is configured to engage the second electrical component to limit an amount of compression of the mating segments along the connection axis. The stop surface is aligned with a mating side surface of the perimeter segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne Alden, III
  • Patent number: 8787035
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect device includes a frame having frame walls that define a socket that extends along a socket axis between an open top and an open bottom of the frame. The socket is configured to receive an electronic package through the open top. The electrical interconnect device also includes a contact assembly having an insulative carrier that holds an array of conductive elastomeric columns with each of the elastomeric columns having opposite first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are internally conductive between the first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are configured to electrically interconnect the electronic package to a second electronic component. The insulative carrier is configured to float within the frame in a direction generally parallel to the socket axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne S. Alden, III, William B. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8727808
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including an interposer having a side surface and an array of electrical contacts exposed along the side surface. The electrical contacts are located within a contact region that extends along the side surface. The electrical contacts are configured to engage an electronic module mounted over the contact region. The connector assembly also includes a shield wall that is attached to and extends along the side surface. The shield wall separates the contact region into shielded sub-regions. The shield wall includes a conductive material and is electrically coupled to the interposer. At least one electrical contact is located within each shielded sub-region. The shield wall extends between adjacent electrical contacts to shield the adjacent electrical contacts from electromagnetic interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation, Tyco Electronics Japan G.K.
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Takeshi Nakashima, Junya Mizushima
  • Publication number: 20130280955
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a circuit board having an internal ground plane that defines at least a portion of an internal layer of the circuit board. The circuit board has an exterior side that includes a mounting region and includes electrical contacts arranged on the exterior side within the mounting region for making electrical connection with corresponding signal conductors of electrical wires. Ground shields are mounted to the mounting region of the circuit board and include electrically conductive bodies that are configured to extend over corresponding electrical wires along the mounting region of the circuit board. The bodies of the ground shields include side segments that are configured to extend between the signal conductors of adjacent electrical wires along the mounting region of the circuit board. The bodies are engaged with the internal ground plane of the circuit board to electrically connect the ground shields to the internal ground plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: WAYNE STEWART ALDEN, III, JEFFERY W. MASON
  • Patent number: 8550825
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect device includes a substrate that has opposite first and second outer surfaces. Arrays of conductive elastomeric columns are held by the substrate. Each of the columns has opposite first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are internally conductive between the first and second ends. A shield is mounted exterior of the first outer surface of the substrate with the shield having an insulative carrier that holds an array of conductive pads arranged in a complementary pattern as the array of elastomeric columns. The conductive pads have inner surfaces and outer surfaces. The shield is positioned relative to the substrate such that the inner surfaces of the conductive pads engage the first ends of corresponding elastomeric columns. The outer surfaces are configured to engage corresponding mating contacts of an electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne S. Alden, III
  • Publication number: 20130260578
    Abstract: An interconnect device for electrically connecting first and second electrical components together along a connection axis includes a contact assembly having an insulative carrier and electrical contacts held by the insulative carrier. The electrical contacts include mounting segments and mating segments. The mating segments are configured to be compressed along the connection axis. A frame includes a central opening and at least one perimeter segment that defines a boundary of the central opening. The contact assembly is held within the central opening. The frame includes a compression stop having a stop surface that is configured to engage the second electrical component to limit an amount of compression of the mating segments along the connection axis. The stop surface is aligned with a mating side surface of the perimeter segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne Alden, III
  • Patent number: 8535093
    Abstract: A socket includes a socket body having a first surface and a second surface with a plurality of openings extending between the first and second surfaces. Sleeve assemblies are received in corresponding openings of the socket body. Each sleeve assembly includes a socket contact configured to interconnect a first electronic component and a second electronic component and each sleeve assembly includes a conductive sleeve extending along a majority of a length of the socket contact between the first and second electronic components. The conductive sleeve provides electrical shielding for the socket contact such that each socket contact is individually shielded from other socket contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery W. Mason
  • Publication number: 20130237076
    Abstract: A contact includes a contact body including a tip, a spring beam opposite the tip and a shoulder between the tip and the spring beam. A plunger is movable with respect to the contact body and has the plunger having a tip and a shoulder. A biasing member is contained by the shoulders. The biasing member imparts a biasing force on the shoulder of the plunger. The biasing member is compressed as the plunger moves relative to the contact body. The spring beam engages the plunger between the tip and the shoulder of the plunger and is spring biased against the plunger to electrically couple the contact body and the plunger. An electrical path is defined from the tip of the plunger to the spring beam and to the tip of the contact body. The electrical path is routed outside of the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne Stewart Alden, III
  • Publication number: 20130237091
    Abstract: A socket includes a socket body having a first surface and a second surface with a plurality of openings extending between the first and second surfaces. Sleeve assemblies are received in corresponding openings of the socket body. Each sleeve assembly includes a socket contact configured to interconnect a first electronic component and a second electronic component and each sleeve assembly includes a conductive sleeve extending along a majority of a length of the socket contact between the first and second electronic components. The conductive sleeve provides electrical shielding for the socket contact such that each socket contact is individually shielded from other socket contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffery W. Mason
  • Publication number: 20120258616
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect device includes a substrate that has opposite first and second outer surfaces. Arrays of conductive elastomeric columns are held by the substrate. Each of the columns has opposite first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are internally conductive between the first and second ends. A shield is mounted exterior of the first outer surface of the substrate with the shield having an insulative carrier that holds an array of conductive pads arranged in a complementary pattern as the array of elastomeric columns. The conductive pads have inner surfaces and outer surfaces. The shield is positioned relative to the substrate such that the inner surfaces of the conductive pads engage the first ends of corresponding elastomeric columns. The outer surfaces are configured to engage corresponding mating contacts of an electrical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JEFFERY W. MASON, WAYNE S. ALDEN, III
  • Publication number: 20120257366
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect device includes a frame having frame walls that define a socket that extends along a socket axis between an open top and an open bottom of the frame. The socket is configured to receive an electronic package through the open top. The electrical interconnect device also includes a contact assembly having an insulative carrier that holds an array of conductive elastomeric columns with each of the elastomeric columns having opposite first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are internally conductive between the first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are configured to electrically interconnect the electronic package to a second electronic component. The insulative carrier is configured to float within the frame in a direction generally parallel to the socket axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JEFFERY W. MASON, WAYNE S. ALDEN, III, WILLIAM B. MURPHY
  • Patent number: 8167644
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for electrically connecting an electronic module to an electrical component. The electrical connector includes electrical contacts having mounting bases that are initially mechanically connected together by a connection strip. The connection strip extends along a connection path from the mounting base of one of the electrical contacts to the mounting base of the other electrical contact. The connection strip is broken along the connection path such that the electrical contacts are separated from each other. The electrical connector also includes a insulator having a module side and an opposite component side. The mounting bases of the electrical contacts are mechanically connected to the insulator on the module side of the insulator. The insulator includes a punch opening that extends into the module side of the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Scott Spicer
  • Publication number: 20120003879
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for electrically connecting an electronic module to an electrical component. The electrical connector includes electrical contacts having mounting bases that are initially mechanically connected together by a connection strip. The connection strip extends along a connection path from the mounting base of one of the electrical contacts to the mounting base of the other electrical contact. The connection strip is broken along the connection path such that the electrical contacts are separated from each other. The electrical connector also includes a insulator having a module side and an opposite component side. The mounting bases of the electrical contacts are mechanically connected to the insulator on the module side of the insulator. The insulator includes a punch opening that extends into the module side of the insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Scott Spicer
  • Patent number: 7726976
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect includes a contact array having an insulator holding a plurality of contacts. Each of the contacts include a conductive polymer column having first and second opposite contact tips for interconnecting first and second electronic packages, wherein each of the contacts are individually shielded from adjacent ones of the contacts. Optionally, a frame may be provided on the insulator and positioned between each of the contacts, wherein the frame defines a shield concentrically surrounding each of the contacts. The frame may be conductive and non-coplanar with, and parallel to, the insulator, wherein the frame is electrically isolated from the contacts and provides shielding between adjacent ones of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne S. Alden, III