Patents by Inventor Kent E. Regnier

Kent E. Regnier 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).

  • Horizontally configured connector
    Patent number: 8678839
    Abstract: A connector of horizontal construction includes at least a pair of first and second halves that are mated together along a common mating line. A plurality of mating blades are supported in a vertical arrangement within a mating portion of the connector. The connector includes two distinct fasteners for holding the housing halves together. A fastener can be provided as a horizontal attachment member that extends widthwise in the mating portion in a space between the circuit cards. A second fastener can be provided as an exterior retainer that engages at least part of the outer circumference, or perimeter of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Bruce Reed, Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, Jay Neer
  • GROUND TERMINATION WITH DAMPENED RESONANCE
    Publication number: 20140065856
    Abstract: A system of dampening resonance is provided. In an embodiment, ground traces may be coupled to a common or ground plane via dampening elements such as resistors a predetermined distance from a non-dampened coupling. Ground terminals in a connector have with a separated electrical length that allows for a potential to exist between the ground terminal and a common ground. When the ground terminals are coupled to the ground traces, the dampening element, which may be a resistor, helps convert energy traveling over ground terminal into heat, thus reducing or preventing resonance conditions in the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher
  • Vertical connector for a printed circuit board
    Patent number: 8657631
    Abstract: An connector assembly is provided that may be utilized for vertical applications on a circuit board. The assembly includes a housing that supports a plurality of wafers that in tern support a plurality of terminals. The housing includes a base and a nose and can have two slots in the nose and the terminals extend to both slots. A guide frame can be positioned on the housing to help support the housing. The terminals can be arranged in a row on both sides of the two slots. The tails of the terminals can be configured with respect to the slots so as to provide desirable performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, John Jantelezio
  • Resonance modifying connector
    Patent number: 8651881
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that is suitable for modifying the resonant frequency of ground terminals used in conjunction with high data rate signal terminals. Ground terminals may be interconnected with a conductive bridge so as to provide ground terminals with a predetermined maximum effective electrical length. Reducing the effective electrical length of the ground terminal can move the resonance frequencies of the connector outside the operational range of frequencies at which signals will be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher, Jerry A. Long
  • METHOD OF MOUNTING A CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20140020246
    Abstract: A board-mountable connector is provided. The connector includes a shield and an insulative housing with a tongue. Terminals are supported by the housing in two rows and the rows extend from a mating interface to a board mounting interface. The terminals may be mounted to the board via surface mount technology in two rows that are at about 0.4 mm pitch. The two rows of terminals are configured in a signal, signal, ground triangular configuration so as to provide a triangular terminal arrangement that extends from the mating interface to the mounting interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott D. Sommers, Kent E. Regnier, Michael R. Kamarauskas, Emanuel G. Banakis, Galen F. Fromm
  • RESONANCE MODIFYING CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20130340251
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that is suitable for modifying the resonant frequency of ground terminals used in conjunction with high data rate signal terminals. Ground terminals may be interconnected with a conductive bridge so as to provide ground terminals with a predetermined maximum effective electrical length. Reducing the effective electrical length of the ground terminal can move the resonance frequencies of the connector outside the operational range of frequencies at which signals will be transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher, Jerry A. Long
  • Ground termination with dampened resonance
    Patent number: 8614398
    Abstract: A system of dampening resonance is provided. In an embodiment, ground traces may be coupled to a common or ground plane via dampening elements such as resistors a predetermined distance from a non-dampened coupling. Ground terminals in a connector have with a separated electrical length that allows for a potential to exist between the ground terminal and a common ground. When the ground terminals are coupled to the ground traces, the dampening element, which may be a resistor, helps convert energy traveling over ground terminal into heat, thus reducing or preventing resonance conditions in the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher
  • Electrical connector
    Patent number: 8597055
    Abstract: An I/O connector has a housing that contains a plurality of individual terminal wafers containing terminal dedicated to either ground signals or differential signals. The terminals are arranged in widthwise order to define broadside coupled differential signal terminal pairs. The ground terminals are wider than the signal terminals to provide shielding to the differential signal pairs. The body portions of the ground terminals can include notches that provide for increased retention of the ground terminals in the wafer and provide increased flow for molding material during the formation of the wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher
  • Connector with wire module actuated by a crimp tab
    Patent number: 8550832
    Abstract: A plug connector is provided that can be electrically coupled to wires provided in a cable. The connector includes a leadframe that supports contacts and insulation displacement terminals in electrical communication. The connector includes a wire module that includes wire channels. A cage is provided to support the leadframe and the wire module. When wires from the cable are inserted into the wire channels, the wire module can be translated so that the insulation displacement terminals engage the wires. In an embodiment, the electrical path between a contact and a corresponding insulation displacement terminal can extend through magnetics and the magnetics can help increase the signal to noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Johnny Chen
  • Connector with terminals forming differential pairs
    Patent number: 8545240
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that is suitable for controlling the resonance frequency of ground terminals used to shield high-speed differential pairs. Ground terminals may be commonized so as to provide ground terminals with a predetermined maximum electrical length. Reducing the electrical length of the ground terminal can move a resonance frequency of the ground terminals of the connector outside the range of frequencies at which signals will transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick R. Casher, Kent E. Regnier
  • Resonance modifying connector
    Patent number: 8540525
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided that is suitable for modifying the resonant frequency of ground terminals used in conjunction with high data rate signal terminals. Ground terminals may be interconnected with a conductive bridge so as to provide ground terminals with a predetermined maximum effective electrical length. Reducing the effective electrical length of the ground terminal can move the resonance frequencies of the connector outside the operational range of frequencies at which signals will be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher, Jerry A. Long
  • CAGE, RECEPTACLE AND SYSTEM FOR USE THEREWITH
    Publication number: 20130210269
    Abstract: A cage can include a thermal plate positioned so as to be aligned with a bottom of a channel. An adjustable biasing system is provided to urge a module toward the thermal plate. The adjustable biasing system may be a riding heat sink. The thermal plate may include a fin to help increase its surface area. A housing with a card slot aligned with the channel can be provided in the cage to provide a receptacle that has a card slot aligned with the channel. A receptacle so configured allows for greater thermal energy to be removed from a module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Jay H. Neer, Kent E. Regnier, Cleaver Brinkerhoff, Harold Keith Lang
  • Impedance controlled electrical connector
    Patent number: 8506332
    Abstract: A board-mountable connector is provided. The connector includes a shield and an insulative housing with a tongue. Terminals are supported by the housing in two rows and the rows extend from a mating interface to a board mounting interface. The terminals may be mounted to the board via surface mount technology in two rows that are at about 0.4 mm pitch. The two rows of terminals are configured in a signal, signal, ground triangular configuration so as to provide a triangular terminal arrangement that extends from the mating interface to the mounting interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott D. Sommers, Kent E. Regnier, Michael R. Kamarauskas, Emanuel G. Banakis, Galen F. Fromm
  • DIFFERENTIALLY COUPLED CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20130196550
    Abstract: A connector is provided with a pair of terminals configured to provide a differential signal pair. A ground terminal is positioned on opposing sides of the differential pair. The body of the differential pair is configured so as to bring the differential pair closer together. In an embodiment, the % coupling on the differential pair is increase at least 10% more than a design where the four terminals are positioned at a constant pitch between the tail and the contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick R. Casher, Jerry Kachlic, Michael Rowlands, Kent E. Regnier
  • ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
    Publication number: 20130157512
    Abstract: An I/O connector has a housing that contains a plurality of individual terminal wafers containing terminal dedicated to either ground signals or differential signals. The terminals are arranged in widthwise order to define broadside coupled differential signal terminal pairs. The ground terminals are wider than the signal terminals to provide shielding to the differential signal pairs. The body portions of the ground terminals can include notches that provide for increased retention of the ground terminals in the wafer and provide increased flow for molding material during the formation of the wafers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher
  • Connector with impedance tuned terminal arrangement
    Patent number: 8465302
    Abstract: A connector housing includes a plurality of wafers containing terminal dedicated to either ground signals or differential signals. Terminals in adjacent wafers can be arranged to provide broadside coupled differential signal pairs. Terminals dedicated for use as ground terminals can be wider than the signal terminals to provide shielding between adjacent differential signal pairs. The signal terminals of each differential signal terminal pair can a constant width from their contact portions to a location proximate their tail portions and the terminals diverge from broadside alignment and increase in their width until they end at the terminal tail portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Harold Keith Lang
  • Connector system
    Patent number: 8465319
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing (130) with stacked elongated ports (110a, 110b). Each of port includes terminals (150a, 150b) aligned along a vertical side. The top port and the bottom port can be configured so that the terminals are aligned along opposite vertical sides. The terminals can be supported by wafers (170a, 170b) and the wafer for the top and bottom port can be substantially different heights. The ports can be configured to provide a higher density such as port to port pitch of less than 14 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Philip J. Dambach
  • Connector shield with integrated fastening arrangement
    Patent number: 8460033
    Abstract: A shield for a connector that can provide a card-receiving slot is disclosed. The shield includes sides that provide an enclosure. The shield includes a fastener that is held in place by a retaining notch in a bottom of the shield. The retaining notch is configured to support the fastener in place and restrain it from unintended translation or rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Harold Keith Lang, Patrick R. Casher
  • RESONANCE REDUCING CIRCUIT BOARD
    Publication number: 20130141181
    Abstract: A circuit card is provided that includes ground traces that extend from a resistor to a commoning bar, where a resultant electrical length between the resistor and the commoning bar and is configured to reduce energy carried on the ground terminals that could otherwise result in cross-talk. In an embodiment, the ground trace may be configured in a meandering manner. In another embodiment, the ground trace may be split and joined by an inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kent E. Regnier, Patrick R. Casher
  • Housing with a plurality of wafers and having a nose portion with engagement members
    Patent number: 8449312
    Abstract: A connector subassembly is provided that may be utilized for both internal and external applications. The subassembly includes a housing that supports a plurality of wafers with terminals. The housing includes engagement members to secure the housing to either the shield or the guide frame. The engagement members can include an angled portion that allow the housing to form a dovetail joint with the guide frame and/or a multi-faceted portion to engage a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Keith Lang, Kent E. Regnier, Jerry A. Long