Abstract: A cable termination assembly comprises a shielded electrical cable or cables including plural wire conductors and an electrical shield or shields therefor, an electrical bus electrically connected to the cable shield or shields, a housing for supporting therein plural electrical contacts and the bus, a printed circuit board electrically connecting the contacts to the respective wire conductors, an electrical shield attached to and at least partly surrounding the housing, the housing including a wire management comb including plural slots for positioning at least some of the wire conductors in a predetermined arrangement for electrical connection to the printed circuit board and an electrically non-conductive body molded directly to the cable or cables, comb, bus and contacts to form a unified structure therewith, and the bus having a portion thereof extending externally of the molded body and electrically connected to the housing shield.

Abstract: A coaxial cable termination system, includes a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating the conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to the signal conductor, the electrical contact having a contacting portion for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, and a strain relief body molded directly to at least part of the coaxial cable and electrical contact for holding the same in relatively fixed positions with respect to each other; a housing having an opening for receiving therein at one end the terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connection with an external member inserted into the housing means to engage the electrical contact; and an insulator inserted into the opening from the opposite end to insulate the contact from the housing wall bounding the opening. Novel tube-like insulators and bow type contacts also are included.

Abstract: A termination system for coupling to further circuitry one or more miniature coaxial cables terminated with respective impedance matched terminators each including a center signal contact and a concentric tubular sleeve contact having an external contact surface. The termination system includes a receptacle for a single terminator or a carrier block for a plurality of terminators. The receptacle includes a center pin contact extending along an axial extent of the receptacle, an outer tubular shell contact coaxially positioned with respect to the pin contact and having an internal contact surface for electrically connecting with the external contact surface of a terminator sleeve contact, and a spacer for maintaining electrical isolation and spaced relation of the pin and shell contacts for matching the impedance of the receptacle to that of the terminator and cable.

Abstract: A coaxial cable termination system, includes a coaxial cable terminator including a coaxial cable having signal and shield conductors and insulation separating the conductors, an electrical contact electrically connected to the signal conductor, the electrical contact having a contacting portion for electrically connecting with an external member inserted to engagement with respect thereto, a protective insulator for covering at least part of the contacting portion, and a strain relief body molded directly to at least part of the coaxial cable, electrical contact and protective insulator for holding the same in relatively fixed positions with respect to each other; and a housing for receiving therein the terminator to hold the same in position to make electrical connectioin with an external member inserted into the housing means to engage the electrical contact.

Abstract: A low profile cable termination assembly comprises a multiconductor cable, a plurality of contacts, a carrier for carrying the contact in a pair of parallel rows, a housing for holding together in snap-fit relation the carrier and contacts, and a strain relief molded to the cable insulation, contacts carriers and housing. The contacts have cable conductor connecting portions terminating at inwardly angled parts coterminus with an end of the carrier, and the cable extends from the strain relief at right angles to the plane of the contact in each row. Also disclosed is a printed circuit termination assembly of similar construction, except that the contacts are connected to a printed circuit board inserted into a slot in the carrier.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly (200) includes a flat ribbon multiconductor cable (204), able to be slit to separate the conductors into respective pairs of adjacent conductor that are able to be rotated or twisted, a strain relief body (210) directly molded to the cable (204) to form an integral structure therewith, plural electrical contacts (212) that are placed in IDC relation to form IDC junctions with respective conductors (208) of the cable, and a separate cover (214) that can be slid over at least part of the contacts and strain relief body for fastening with respect thereto. The conductor pairs are twisted during the molding step, and as a result of the twist the outboard conductors are brought adequately inboard of the ends of the assembly to facilitate the desired IDC connections while maintaining side and end stackability. A method and apparatus for making the cable termination assembly.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly comprises a shielded electrical cable or cables including plural wire conductors and an electrical shield or shields therefor, an electrical bus electrically connected to the cable shield or shields, a housing for supporting therein plural electrical contacts and the bus, a printed circuit board electrically connecting the contacts to the respective wire conductors, an electrical shield attached to and at least partly surrounding the housing, the housing including a wire management comb including plural slots for positioning at least some of the wire conductors in a predetermined arrangement for electrical connection to the printed circuit board and an electrically non-conductive body molded directly to the cable or cables, comb, bus and contacts to form a unified structure therewith, and the bus having a portion thereof extending externally of the molded body and electrically connected to the housing shield.

Abstract: A cable connector assembly and related method characterized by a flat ribbon insulated coaxial multiconductor cable including multiple conductors and respective coaxial shields therefor, plural contacts electrically connected to respective conductors, a grounding bus for electrically connecting the coaxial shields, and an insulating body for holding together the cable, plural contacts and grounding bus. The contacts are held by the insulating body in a dual-in-line pattern and the contacts in each row are connected to respective conductors alternating with conductors connected to contacts in the other row. The grounding bus includes a plurality of fingers, alternate ones of which engage oppositely disposed sides of respective relatively adjacent coaxial shields.

Abstract: A test clip for a plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) includes a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting with respective leads of the PLCC, an electrically non-conductive body for supporting such contacts in spaced-apart positions, and a retaining mechanism for holding the test clip in operative position with respect to the PLCC. The retaining mechanism includes plural latching arms at respective corners of the test clip and a slide actuator therefor. The slide actuator also is operative to deflect the contacts from a normally open position to a closed position engaging respective leads of the PLCC.

Abstract: A modular electrical connector system provides relatively high density pin out capability for high speed signal transmission and coupling while maintaining discrete wire capability. The system includes plural cable terminators, plural connector blocks, each having plural cells to receive and hold respective terminators with the contacts thereof aligned for connection with further contacts inserted to engage the same, and a frame to hold the connector blocks securely in relative position to each other. Each cable terminator includes one or more contacts for electrically connecting with the cable conductor, electrical insulating molded about the junction of the contact and conductor, and a flexible locking mechanism to facilitate locking and removal of the terminator from its connector block cell, preferably from the back thereof, without disturbing other terminators in the connector block.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly, includes a multiconductor electrical cable having plural electrical conductors and insulation, electrical contacts for effecting electrical connection between a respective conductor of said cable and a further member, said electrical contacts having a connecting means for connecting with a respective conductor of said cable and having contacting means for contacting with such further member, a separation between two adjacent parts of said insulation for exposing a portion of plural conductors along the major axial extent thereof, at least one of said conductors including at said separation a knuckle bent out of the major axial extent of the conductor for connecting with the connecting means of a respective electrical contacts, and at least a second of said conductors being generally continuous in the major axial extent thereof at said separation, at least one of said insulation parts having been slid along said second of said conductors to close the axial distance of said separat

Abstract: A strain relief and a cable termination assembly using the same. The strain relief includes tapered beams for minimizing stress applied to a cable during relative movement, particularly angular movement, namely bending, of the cable and a cable termination; the tapered beams undergo controlled bending according to a prescribed function, a securing mechanism secures the tapered beams to the cable termination, and a holding mechanism holds the beams with respect to the cable to control the bending thereof. A low profile cable termination assembly and a printed circuit termination assembly also are disclosed.

Abstract: A test clip for a plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) includes a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically connecting with respective leads of the PLCC, an electrically non-conductive body for supporting such contacts in spaced-apart positions, and a retaining mechanism for holding the test clip in operative position with respect to the PLCC. The retaining mechanism includes plural latching arms at respective corners of the test clip and a slide actuator therefor. The slide actuator also is operative to deflect the contacts from a normally open position to a closed position engaging respective leads of the PLCC.

Abstract: A miniature terminator for a miniature coaxial cable includes a center signal contact extending along an axial extent of the terminator, a second tubular sleeve contact coaxially positioned with respect to the signal contact and having an external contact surface for electrically connecting with an external member for grounding or shielding, a spacer for maintaining electrical isolation and spaced relation of the contacts, and a strain relief for mechanically securing the terminator to the coaxial cable. The terminator impedance substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable itself and this characteristic plus miniaturization help make the terminator appear physically and operationally as an extension of the coaxial cable. The invention also relates to a terminator system for coupling a plurality of coaxial cables terminated with respective terminators to further circuitry.

Abstract: In a cable termination system, there is provided a terminator pair for terminating conductors of respective cables. Each terminator comprises a body of insulating material having a pair of contact anchor portions joined by a diagonal web portion at one end of the body and diagonally spaced at the other end of the body to receive the diagonal web portion of the other terminator for mating compact interengagement, and at least one contact anchored in each contact anchor portion for connecting a respective signal conductor of the respective cable to another member. The contact anchor portions are substantially rectangular in transverse profile and occupy respective quadrants of the terminator pair which correspondingly are substantially rectangular for mating receipt in a cavity in a housing or holder. The terminator pairs constitute basic building blocks for the system and are insertable into housings to provide a high density multi-connector pin-out configuration.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly has a staggered stripped cable insulation pattern to enhance the electrical isolation of plural ground isolation conductors from one or more signal conductors in the assembly, and a stepped crimp pattern at a juncture of the cable with a molded strain relief body provides an improved strain relief interaction therebetween. The cable termination assembly is made by removing the cable insulation in a pattern that exposes plural conductors while leaving an insulation portion covering part of one of the conductors to insulate the latter from the other conductors, and the exposed conductors are coupled to electrical contacts while the insulation portion left behind helps to assure the electrical isolation of the conductors from each other.

Abstract: Plural electrical conductors, for example those contained in transmission line cable or in other devices, are connected to respective electrical contacts positioned on a contact carrier. The carrier has relatively raised and recessed surface portions that facilitate separating the contacts, guide signal conductors to respective contacts and isolate ground conductors from the respective junctions of signal conductors and contacts. A programmable ground bus connects all the ground conductors and has selectively provided signal/ground tabs bendable to engage respective signal conductors and contacts. The ground bus and contacts have a partial soldered coating and a laser scans respective junctions of conductors with contacts and/or with the ground bus to flow the solder and form secure mechanical and electrical connections. A strain relief body molded about at least part of the junctions, contact carrier, contacts, conductors and bus forms a unified structure.

Abstract: A cable termination assembly has a staggered stripped cable insulation pattern to enhance the electrical isolation of plural ground isolation conductors from one or more signal conductors in the assembly, and a stepped crimp pattern at a juncture of the cable with a molded strain relief body provides an improved strain relief interaction therebetween. The cable termination assembly is made by removing the cable insulation in a pattern that exposes plural conductors while leaving an insulation portion covering part of one of the conductors to insulate the latter from the other conductors, and the exposed conductors are coupled to electrical contacts while the insulation portion left behind helps to assure the electrical isolation of the conductors from each other.

Abstract: A modular electrical connector system provides relatively high density pin out capability for high speed signal transmission and coupling while maintaining discrete wire capability. The system includes plural cable terminators, plural connector blocks, each having plural cells to receive and hold respective terminators with the contacts thereof aligned for connection with further contacts inserted to engage the same, and a frame to hold the connector blocks securely in relative position to each other. Each cable terminator includes one or more contacts for electrically connecting with the cable conductor, electrical insulating molded about the junction of the contact and conductor, and a flexible locking mechanism to facilitate locking and removal of the terminator from its connector block cell, preferably from the back thereof, without disturbing other terminators in the connector block.

Abstract: A wire stripper apparatus for stripping insulation from a coaxial type electric cable having a central conductor and a drain wire, which may be randomly located about the cable axis, includes piercing members to pierce through the cable insulation and pushing surfaces for pushing the drain wire out of the way of the piercing means so that during piercing and stripping of the cable insulation the drain wire is not damaged. The piercing members may be needle-like members having curved tips that pierce the cable insulation, on the one hand, and nudge, i.e. the pushing function, the drain wire out of the path of the penetrating needle-like members, on the other hand. The method is for stripping insulation of cable, especially of the aforesaid type, including such piercing and pushing steps.