Abstract: Integrated signal pair elements are disclosed that can be inserted into and removed from a backplane connector housing as a single piece. Each element includes an insulative frame that supports a pair of conductive terminals in a spaced-apart arrangement. The frame is attached to a ground shield that provides a ground plane that extends around three sides of the signal pair. Cable wires can be terminated to tail portions of the signal pair and an insulative material is molded over the cable wire termination area to form an integrated signal pair element. The individual signal pair elements may also be commoned together in a linear array of signal pair elements by a commoning member that contacts the ground shields of the array of signal pair elements.

Abstract: Integrated signal pair elements are disclosed that can be inserted into and removed from a backplane connector housing as a single piece. Each element includes an insulative frame that supports a pair of conductive terminals in a spaced-apart arrangement. The frame is attached to a ground shield that provides a ground plane that extends around three sides of the signal pair. Cable wires can be terminated to tail portions of the signal pair and an insulative material is molded over the cable wire termination area to form an integrated signal pair element. The individual signal pair elements may also be commoned together in a linear array of signal pair elements by a commoning member that contacts the ground shields of the array of signal pair elements.

Abstract: Integrated signal pair elements are disclosed that can be inserted into and removed from a backplane connector housing as a single piece. Each element includes an insulative frame that supports a pair of conductive terminals in a spaced-apart arrangement. The frame is attached to a ground shield that provides a ground plane that extends around three sides of the signal pair. Cable wires are terminated to tail portions of the signal pair and an insulative material is molded over the cable wire termination area to form an integrated signal pair element. The individual signal pair elements may also be commoned together in a linear array of signal pair elements by a commoning member that contacts the ground shields of the array of signal pair elements.

Abstract: Integrated signal pair elements are disclosed that can be inserted into and removed from a backplane connector housing as a single piece. Each element includes an insulative frame that supports a pair of conductive terminals in a spaced-apart arrangement. The frame is attached to a ground shield that provides a ground plane that extends around three sides of the signal pair. Cable wires are terminated to tail portions of the signal pair and an insulative material is molded over the cable wire termination area to form an integrated signal pair element. The individual signal pair elements may also be commoned together in a linear array of signal pair elements by a commoning member that contacts the ground shields of the array of signal pair elements.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a hollow conductive cage with a front end and an opening to an interior portion of the cage. The opening is configured to receive a module assembly therein. The cage has a bottom with a bottom opening communicating with the interior portion, and the bottom is configured to be joined to a circuit board. A layered EMI shield member is provided between the bottom of the cage and the circuit board and the shield member extends completely around the bottom opening of the cage. The EMI shield member is formed as a flexible, low-cost assembly that utilizes a pair or insulative layers that flank a conductive layer.

Abstract: An EMI gasket assembly as used in angled shielding cage applications and includes a gasket frame with an opening that receives the front end of the cage therein. The gasket frame has guides disposed on one side of it that contact the cage and orient it at an angle to the gasket frame. The gasket frame further includes at least a pair of clips that retain a conductive, compressible in place around the frame opening.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly includes a hollow conductive cage with a front end and an opening to an interior portion of the cage. The opening is configured to receive a module assembly therein. The cage has a bottom with a bottom opening communicating with the interior portion, and the bottom is configured to be joined to a circuit board. A layered EMI shield member is provided between the bottom of the cage and the circuit board and the shield member extends completely around the bottom opening of the cage. The EMI shield member is formed as a flexible, low-cost assembly that utilizes a pair or insulative layers that flank a conductive layer.

Abstract: A cable connector is provided that has a connector housing that is thin and takes the form of a wafer. Terminals are held within the housing and termination portions extend lengthwise from the terminals. The termination portions extend out from the housing for terminating bare conductors of signal wires to them. A grounding shield is provided that extends over the signal terminals from their contact portions at the front end of the connector to their rear termination portions. The grounding shield thereby provided a ground extent over the termination area that increases the electrical affinity of the signal wires to the grounding shield so as to reduce crosstalk and noise during operation at high frequencies. In one embodiment, the grounding shield includes a separate extension that is connected to the base grounding shield. In another embodiment, the grounding shield has a length sufficient to extend over the termination area.

Abstract: A cable connector is provided that has a connector housing that is thin and takes the form of a wafer. Terminals are held within the housing and termination portions extend lengthwise from the terminals. The termination portions extend out from the housing for terminating bare conductors of signal wires to them. A grounding shield is provided that extends over the signal terminals from their contact portions at the front end of the connector to their rear termination portions. The grounding shield thereby provided a ground extent over the termination area that increases the electrical affinity of the signal wires to the grounding shield so as to reduce crosstalk and noise during operation at high frequencies. In one embodiment, the grounding shield includes a separate extension that is connected to the base grounding shield. In another embodiment, the grounding shield has a length sufficient to extend over the termination area.

Abstract: An IC card includes a generally rectangular frame. A circuit board assembly is mounted on the frame, with the circuit board assembly including a generally planar dielectric substrate having circuit traces and at least one electrical component mounted thereon. A receptacle connector including terminals is mounted at an edge of the circuit board assembly, with the terminals being adapted to mechanically and electrically engage the circuit traces on the circuit board assembly. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the frame and the receptable connector for securing the receptacle connector at the edge of the circuit board assembly and for ensuring a mechanical and electrical connection between the terminals and the circuit traces on the circuit board assembly. The invention also contemplates a method of fabricating the IC card according to the above.

Abstract: A shielded electrical receptacle connector assembly for an IC card includes a circuit substrate and a conductive cover for shielding the substrate. The assembly includes a housing adapted for mounting at a front edge of the circuit substrate. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the housing and are adapted for engaging circuit traces on the circuit substrate. A conductive shield is mounted on the housing and includes contact portions adapted for engaging ground circuit traces on the circuit substrate; a downwardly stepped lip extending along a rear edge of the shield vertically spaced from an overlapping front edge portion of the cover; attachment portions projecting from opposite ends of the downwardly stepped lip at a level spaced vertically from the cover for securing the shield to the housing; and at least one mounting finger projecting forwardly from the shield into a passage in a front mounting flange of the housing to hold the leading edge of the shield to the housing.

Abstract: A grounding system is provided for a card-receiving header connector assembly. The header connector assembly includes a header connector mounted on a printed circuit board for receiving an IC card. The IC card includes a receptacle connector and a receptacle shield. A plurality of terminals are mounted within the header connector and are adapted for mating to terminals of the receptacle connector of the IC card. A grounding shroud is mounted on the header connector and includes a main body plate and a plurality of ground contact portions formed therein for engaging corresponding contacts on the receptacle shield of the IC card. The ground contact portions each are formed by a generally C-shaped spring arm having opposite ends joined to the main body plate of the shroud, with a portion of the spring arm between the ends being formed downwardly for asymmetrically engaging the contacts on the receptacle shield of the IC card.

Abstract: A universal grounding clip is provided for a card-receiving connector which is mounted on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a generally U-shaped housing having guide arms adapted to guide the outside edges of a PC card into mating engagement with the connector. The PC card includes grounding contacts along the outside edges of the card. The universal grounding clip is mounted on each guide arm and includes a contact portion on an inside surface of the respective guide arm for engaging the corresponding grounding contact at the edge of the PC card during insertion of the card and discharging static electricity from the card prior to complete mating of the card and connector. A grounding pad on the grounding clip is provided along a bottom surface of the respective arm and is adapted to be electrically coupled to a ground circuit on the printed circuit board. A grounding pad is also provided along a top surface of the arm for engaging a bottom ground portion of a top stacked connector.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a receptacle connector for use in an IC card assembly wherein the receptacle connector is adapted for mounting generally at an edge of a circuit substrate. A housing is provided with an upper surface and a plurality of terminal-receiving passages in a dual row configuration extend parallel to the upper surface. The circuit substrate is adapted to be located a given vertical distance from the upper surface of the housing. A plurality of receptacle terminals are inserted into the passages with surface mount tail portions of the terminals projecting outside the passages. The vertical distance between the circuit substrate and the top of the housing is determined. The tail portions of the two rows of terminals initially project in a generally straight planar array from a rear face of the housing.

Abstract: A memory card which includes a circuit substrate having a generally planar surface, comprises a frame with an opening in one of a top or a bottom wall thereof for receiving the circuit substrate. A support structure on the frame supports the circuit substrate within the card. A cover closes the opening and encloses the circuit substrate and the electrical component within the internal card space created by the frame and cover. The support structure of the frame includes a plurality of shelves at different vertical locations within the frame to support the circuit substrate at different vertical levels to accommodate varying heights of electrical components mounted on one or both surfaces of the substrate. The circuit substrate includes a peripheral edge area with cutouts corresponding to only one of the shelves whereby only the periphery of the substrate need be modified for locating and supporting the circuit substrate at different levels within the card.

Abstract: An improved ejector mechanism is disclosed in conjunction with a header connector into which an IC pack is loaded and from which it is ejected. The IC pack includes a shell having a vertically extending leading face and at least one row of contacts extending a horizontal distance defining a contact array. A unitary ejecting lever is pivotally mounted to the header connector, with one end of the lever being effective to engage and eject the IC pack from the header connector. A unitary push-rod is reciprocally axially movably mounted on an appropriate support at one side of the header connector. One end of the push rod is engageable with the opposite end of the ejecting lever for pivoting the lever in response to movement of the push-rod. The one end of the ejecting lever engages and ejects the IC pack along a leading face thereof in an area defined horizontally by the distance the row of contacts extends and vertically by the height of the leading face of the memory card.

Abstract: A manually manipulatable tray is provided for supporting electrical connectors. The tray includes a thin sheet of formed plastic material having side walls, an open end, a closed end and a floor. The floor has a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart, upwardly extending rails generally parallel to the side walls and defining generally parallel channels therebetween. A pair of finger-gripping portions are formed on a respective pair of the rails spaced inwardly of the side walls a sufficient distance such that an individual can finger-grip the finger-gripping portions with the individual's hands substantially being within the side walls of the tray. The pair of finger-gripping portions are located on opposite sides of a mid-point located generally equidistant between the open and closed ends of the tray.

Abstract: A fixture for testing the withdrawal force of a male projection from a receptacle terminal of an electrical connector. The fixture includes a frame, with a weight supported on the frame. The weight has a male projection protruding upwardly therefrom. The weight has a value corresponding to a desired withdrawal force. The projection has a shape corresponding to that of the terminal. A positioning member is supported above the male projection for positioning the electrical connector with the receptacle terminal thereof in alignment with the male projection. The positioning member is movably mounted relative to the frame for moving the electrical connector and receptacle terminal toward the male projection to interconnect the projection in the receptacle terminal and for moving the connector in an opposite direction to test if the interconnection between the male projection and the receptacle terminal is sufficient to lift the weight.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mounting to a substrate such as a printed circuit board or the like. The connector includes an insulative housing having a top, opposite sides and a base portion which is mountable to the printed circuit board. A conductive shield is positionable about at least a portion of the housing. A unitary conductive ground strap is mounted on the housing in engagement with the shield and includes a pair of legs depending along the opposite sides of the housing. The legs have tail portions at the distal ends thereof projecting beyond the base portion of the housing for insertion into holes in the printed circuit board to ground the shield to appropriate ground traces on the board.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mounting to a substrate such as a printed circuit board or the like. The connector includes an insulative housing having a top, opposite sides and a base portion which is mountable to the printed circuit board. A conductive shield is positionable about at least a portion of the housing. A unitary conductive ground strap is mounted on the housing in engagement with the shield and includes a pair of legs depending along the opposite sides of the housing. The legs have tail portions at the distal ends thereof projecting beyond the base portion of the housing for insertion into holes in the printed circuit board to ground the shield to appropriate ground traces on the board.