Patents by Inventor John Eugene Westman

John Eugene Westman 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).

  • Publication number: 20230361495
    Abstract: A contact assembly includes a contact positioner having a front slot configured to receive a card edge of a module circuit board of a pluggable module. An upper contact array is coupled to the contact positioner and includes upper contacts and an upper ground shield. The upper ground shield includes an upper ground panel extending along a first side of the upper contacts and an upper ground plate extending along a second side of the upper contacts parallel to and spaced apart from the upper ground panel with the upper contacts therebetween. The contact assembly includes a lower contact array coupled to the contact positioner having lower contacts and a lower ground shield with lower ground panel and a lower ground plate parallel to and spaced apart from the lower ground panel with the lower contacts therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Michael Eugene Shirk, Michael John Phillips, Sandeep Patel
  • Patent number: 11626695
    Abstract: A contact assembly includes signal contact modules and ground contact modules arranged in a contact module stack. Each ground contact module includes a ground leadframe having a ground plate and a dielectric body holding the ground plate. The ground plate includes skewer pockets and spring fingers extending into the corresponding skewer pocket. The contact assembly includes ground skewers extending across the contact module stack. The ground skewers are received in corresponding skewer pockets. The spring fingers engage the ground skewers to electrically connect the ground plate to the ground skewers. Each ground plate is coupled to each of the ground skewers. The ground skewers electrically common each of the ground plates together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Michael Eugene Shirk, Ashika Pandankeril Shaji
  • Publication number: 20230028835
    Abstract: A contact assembly includes signal contact modules and ground contact modules arranged in a contact module stack. Each ground contact module includes a ground leadframe having a ground plate and a dielectric body holding the ground plate. The ground plate includes skewer pockets and spring fingers extending into the corresponding skewer pocket. The contact assembly includes ground skewers extending across the contact module stack. The ground skewers are received in corresponding skewer pockets. The spring fingers engage the ground skewers to electrically connect the ground plate to the ground skewers. Each ground plate is coupled to each of the ground skewers. The ground skewers electrically common each of the ground plates together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Michael Eugene Shirk, Ashika Pandankeril Shaji
  • Patent number: 11456567
    Abstract: A pluggable module is provided and includes a pluggable body including a cavity. The pluggable body extends between a mating end and a cable end opposite the mating end. The mating end is configured to be plugged into a receptacle connector assembly. The pluggable body has a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall at a first side, and a second side wall at a second side. The pluggable module includes a cable assembly coupled to the pluggable body. The cable assembly includes an upper module circuit card, a lower module circuit card, upper cables terminated to the upper module circuit card and lower cables terminated to the lower module circuit card. The upper module circuit card includes upper contact pads proximate to an upper mating edge. The lower module circuit card includes lower contact pads proximate to a lower mating edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher William Blackburn, Michael David Herring, Zachary Galbraith, Kaitlin M. Vaughn, Mohini C. Goel, John Eugene Westman, Christopher David Ritter, Nathan Lincoln Tracy
  • Patent number: 11349237
    Abstract: A card edge connector includes a housing having upper and lower card slots receiving upper and lower module circuit cards of a pluggable module. The card edge connector includes a contact assembly having a contact positioner holding upper and lower contacts. A guide feature guides mating of the contact assembly in the housing. A latching feature latchably secures the contact assembly to the housing. The upper contacts are arranged in first and second upper contact arrays. The lower contacts are arranged in first and second lower contact arrays. Contact tails of the upper and lower contacts are positioned at the bottom of the housing for surface mounting to the host circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher William Blackburn, John Eugene Westman, Michael Eugene Shirk, Michael David Herring, Zachary Galbraith
  • Publication number: 20210265792
    Abstract: A pluggable module is provided and includes a pluggable body including a cavity. The pluggable body extends between a mating end and a cable end opposite the mating end. The mating end is configured to be plugged into a receptacle connector assembly. The pluggable body has a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall at a first side, and a second side wall at a second side. The pluggable module includes a cable assembly coupled to the pluggable body. The cable assembly includes an upper module circuit card, a lower module circuit card, upper cables terminated to the upper module circuit card and lower cables terminated to the lower module circuit card. The upper module circuit card includes upper contact pads proximate to an upper mating edge. The lower module circuit card includes lower contact pads proximate to a lower mating edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher William Blackburn, Michael David Herring, Zachary Galbraith, Kaitlin M. Vaughn, Mohini C. Goel, John Eugene Westman, Christopher David Ritter, Nathan Lincoln Tracy
  • Publication number: 20210265754
    Abstract: A card edge connector includes a housing having upper and lower card slots receiving upper and lower module circuit cards of a pluggable module. The card edge connector includes a contact assembly having a contact positioner holding upper and lower contacts. A guide feature guides mating of the contact assembly in the housing. A latching feature latchably secures the contact assembly to the housing. The upper contacts are arranged in first and second upper contact arrays. The lower contacts are arranged in first and second lower contact arrays. Contact tails of the upper and lower contacts are positioned at the bottom of the housing for surface mounting to the host circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher William Blackburn, John Eugene Westman, Michael Eugene Shirk, Michael David Herring, Zachary Galbraith
  • Patent number: 9444193
    Abstract: Electrical connector assembly includes a housing assembly having first and second housing shells that are coupled to each other along a housing seam and define an interior cavity therebetween. The housing seam extends along a three-dimensional (3D) path. The electrical connector assembly also includes an electrical connector having a back end that is disposed within the interior cavity and a front end that is configured to mate with an external mating connector. The electrical connector also including a conductive gasket having a 3D gasket frame that substantially matches the 3D path of the housing seam. The 3D gasket frame being a discrete structure that is positioned along the housing seam to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) leakage through the housing seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Richard Elof Hamner
  • Patent number: 8888533
    Abstract: A cable header connector includes a cable including a pair of signal wires, a contact sub-assembly terminated to the cable and a ground shield providing electrical shielding for the contact sub-assembly. The contact sub-assembly has a mounting block having contact channels therein. The contact sub-assembly has a pair of signal contacts each received in corresponding contact channels and held in the contact channels by an interference fit. The contact channels receive corresponding signal wires of the cable and position the signal wires in position adjacent to the corresponding signal contacts. The signal contacts are laser welded to the signal wires of the cable at terminating ends of the signal contacts after being positioned in the contact channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Brian Keith McMaster, Jr., Megha Shanbhag, Eric Douglas Springston, II, Robert Lee Putt, Jr., Jeffrey Alan Schleig, Julia Anne Lachman
  • Patent number: 8747164
    Abstract: A card edge connector is provided for mating with a printed circuit board (PCB) having a card edge. The connector includes a housing having a card slot. The card slot is configured to receive the card edge of the PCB therein. The card slot includes opposing first and second sides. Signal contacts are held by the housing. The signal contacts include signal mating segments arranged in opposing first and second rows that extend along the opposing first and second sides, respectively, of the card slot. The signal mating segments are arranged in differential signal pairs, wherein the signal mating segments within a differential pair are arranged within the same row of the first and second rows. A ground contact is held by the housing. The ground contact includes a base and first and second ground mating segments that extend outwardly from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Brian Keith McMaster, Jr., Michael Frank Cina
  • Publication number: 20140051295
    Abstract: A cable header connector includes a cable including a pair of signal wires, a contact sub-assembly terminated to the cable and a ground shield providing electrical shielding for the contact sub-assembly. The contact sub-assembly has a mounting block having contact channels therein. The contact sub-assembly has a pair of signal contacts each received in corresponding contact channels and held in the contact channels by an interference fit. The contact channels receive corresponding signal wires of the cable and position the signal wires in position adjacent to the corresponding signal contacts. The signal contacts are laser welded to the signal wires of the cable at terminating ends of the signal contacts after being positioned in the contact channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Brian Keith McMaster, JR., Megha Shanbhag, Eric Douglas Springston, II, Robert Lee Putt, JR., Jeffrey Alan Schleig, Julia Anne Lachman
  • Patent number: 8636544
    Abstract: Plug assembly including first and second plug connectors that are configured to be stacked with respect to each other. Each of the first and second plug connectors has a mating side that extends between leading and trailing ends along a plug axis. The mating side includes an attachment area and an exposed area that are laterally adjacent to each other. Each of the first and second plug connectors also has an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield section coupled to the mating side at the attachment area. The mating sides of the first and second plug connectors interface with each other when the first and second plug connectors are stacked. The EMI shield section of the first plug connector engages the mating side of the second plug connector at the exposed area. The EMI shield section of the second plug connector engages the other mating side at the exposed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric David Briant, Brian Keith McMaster, Jr., Daniel Lee Gorenc, John Eugene Westman
  • Publication number: 20130244454
    Abstract: A daughter card assembly including a printed circuit board that defines a board plane and has a mating edge, a trailing edge, and a side edge that extends between the mating and trailing edges. The mating edge extends lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and has electrical contacts positioned therealong. The mating edge is configured to engage a card connector when the mating edge is moved in an insertion direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The daughter card assembly also includes a latching sub-assembly that is coupled to the circuit board and extends along the side edge. The latching sub-assembly includes a coupling arm that extends in the insertion direction and has a latch end that is proximate to the mating edge. The latch end is configured to removably couple to the card connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Jared Evan Rossman
  • Patent number: 8529282
    Abstract: A daughter card assembly including a printed circuit board that defines a board plane and has a mating edge, a trailing edge, and a side edge that extends between the mating and trailing edges. The mating edge extends lengthwise along a longitudinal axis and has electrical contacts positioned therealong. The mating edge is configured to engage a card connector when the mating edge is moved in an insertion direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The daughter card assembly also includes a latching sub-assembly that is coupled to the circuit board and extends along the side edge. The latching sub-assembly includes a coupling arm that extends in the insertion direction and has a latch end that is proximate to the mating edge. The latch end is configured to removably couple to the card connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Jared Evan Rossman
  • Patent number: 8328565
    Abstract: A receptacle connector includes contacts having posts and contact tails extending from the posts. The contact tails are configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The contacts have mating sections extending from the posts. The mating sections are configured for mating with a mating connector. The contacts define signal contacts and ground contacts with the signal contacts arranged in pairs and the pairs of signal contacts being separated by at least one ground contact. The receptacle connector also includes a housing holding the signal and ground contacts in parallel at a predetermined pitch. The housing has a front and a rear with a cavity at the front being configured to receive the mating connector. The housing has walls defining channels that receive the signal and ground contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Brian Keith McMaster, Michael Frank Cina
  • Patent number: 8308500
    Abstract: A power connector system for an appliance includes a cable assembly comprising a plug having plug contacts terminated to discrete wires of the cable assembly. The power connector system also includes a receptacle assembly having a receptacle housing having a cavity that receives the plug. The receptacle housing is configured to be received in a cutout of a bezel of the appliance such that the cavity is accessible from an exterior of the appliance. The receptacle housing holds receptacle contacts that are mated to the plug contacts when the plug is received in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Davison, John Eugene Westman, Steven Lee Flickinger
  • Publication number: 20120225588
    Abstract: A card edge connector is provided for mating with a printed circuit board (PCB) having a card edge. The connector includes a housing having a card slot. The card slot is configured to receive the card edge of the PCB therein. The card slot includes opposing first and second sides. Signal contacts are held by the housing. The signal contacts include signal mating segments arranged in opposing first and second rows that extend along the opposing first and second sides, respectively, of the card slot. The signal mating segments are arranged in differential signal pairs, wherein the signal mating segments within a differential pair are arranged within the same row of the first and second rows. A ground contact is held by the housing. The ground contact includes a base and first and second ground mating segments that extend outwardly from the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Brian Keith Mcmaster, JR., Michael Frank Cina
  • Patent number: 8231411
    Abstract: A card edge connector is provided for mating with a printed circuit board (PCB) having a card edge. The connector includes a housing having an elongate card slot and a mounting side. The card slot extends a slot length and is configured to receive the card edge of the PCB therein. The mounting side extends a side length and a width. The side length of the mounting side extends in a direction that extends along a direction of the slot length of the card slot. Signal contacts are held by the housing. The signal contacts include first signal contacts and second signal contacts. The first and second signal contacts have respective first and second signal mounting segments that are arranged in first and second signal rows, respectively, that extend along the side length of the mounting side of the housing. The first and second signal rows are spaced apart from each other along the width of the mounting side. Ground contacts are held by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John Eugene Westman, Brian Keith McMaster, Jr., Edmund Luther Jacobs, Edward Eugene Knisely, Jr., Alan Anthony Kordas, Craig William Clewell
  • Patent number: 8113876
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating an electrical cable having an insulated conductor surrounded by a ground shield. The electrical connector includes a housing, an electrical contact held by the housing, an inner ferrule configured to extend between the ground shield and the insulated conductor of the electrical cable, and an outer ferrule extending around the inner ferrule such that the ground shield of the electrical cable extends between the inner and outer ferrules when the electrical connector terminates the electrical cable. A rear cover is connected to the housing. The rear cover extends around and compresses the outer ferrule such that the ground shield of the electrical cable is captured between the inner and outer ferrules when the electrical connector terminates the electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jared Evan Rossman, John Eugene Westman
  • Publication number: 20120021654
    Abstract: A receptacle connector includes contacts having posts and contact tails extending from the posts. The contact tails are configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The contacts have mating sections extending from the posts. The mating sections are configured for mating with a mating connector. The contacts define signal contacts and ground contacts with the signal contacts arranged in pairs and the pairs of signal contacts being separated by at least one ground contact. The receptacle connector also includes a housing holding the signal and ground contacts in parallel at a predetermined pitch. The housing has a front and a rear with a cavity at the front being configured to receive the mating connector. The housing has walls defining channels that receive the signal and ground contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN EUGENE WESTMAN, BRIAN KEITH MCMASTER, MICHAEL FRANK CINA