Abstract: An encoder includes a housing, a light source coupled to the housing, and a light sensor coupled to the housing and positioned to receive a light beam from the light source. The encoder also includes a wheel having opaque and transmissive sections which may be positioned to pass through the light beam before it reaches the light sensor. The encoder further includes a floating aperture piece, which defines at least one aperture. The aperture is positioned so that the light beam must pass through it before reaching the light sensor. The floating aperture piece slidably engages the housing while allowing a loose tolerance between a position of the wheel and a position of the housing, thereby substantially eliminating a positioning error between the aperture and the wheel.

Abstract: An encoder includes a housing, a light source coupled to the housing, and a light sensor coupled to the housing and positioned to receive a light beam from the light source. The encoder also includes a wheel having opaque and transmissive sections which may be positioned to pass through the light beam before it reaches the light sensor. The encoder further includes a floating aperture piece, which defines at least one aperture. The aperture is positioned so that the light beam must pass through it before reaching the light sensor. The floating aperture piece slidably engages the housing while allowing a loose tolerance between a position of the wheel and a position of the housing, thereby substantially eliminating a positioning error between the aperture and the wheel.

Abstract: An encoder includes a housing, a light source coupled to the housing, and a light sensor coupled to the housing and positioned to receive a light beam from the light source. The encoder also includes a wheel having opaque and transmissive sections which may be positioned to pass through the light beam before it reaches the light sensor. The encoder further includes a floating aperture piece, which defines at least one aperture. The aperture is positioned so that the light beam must pass through it before reaching the light sensor. The floating aperture piece slidably engages the housing while allowing a loose tolerance between a position of the wheel and a position of the housing, thereby substantially eliminating a positioning error between the aperture and the wheel.

Abstract: A surface mountable card edge connector 10 includes a housing 16 having a transverse base 18 and opposed endwalls 28; a generally C-shaped outer shell member 44; a generally C-shaped inner support member 60; two resilient members 76 disposed in channels 74 defined between portions of the shell and support members 44,60; and a flexible film circuit assembly 80. Free ends 56 of the shell member 44 define a card receiving slot 58 of selected width greater than the thickness of a card 112 insertable thereinto. Facing portions 78 of each the resilient members 76 extend into the card receiving slot 58. The film assembly 80 is disposed in a loop extending into the card receiving slot 58 and around the sides 19 of the shell member 44 such that exposed circuitry 88,90 at selected regions of the film assembly 80 is located in the card receiving slot 58 and proximate the resilient members 76.

Abstract: A tool for removal and insertion of a backplane or other electrical member with respect to a housing comprises a frame which can be fixed with respect to the housing and a carriage which can be connected to the electrical member. The carriage is guided in floating relation with respect to the frame and is movable in a first direction to remove the electrical member and in a second direction to insert the electrical member. Fixing the frame with respect to the housing prevents movement of the frame away from the housing, thereby enabling application of force to the carriage sufficient to overcome resistance to insertion of the electrical member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ZIF card edge connector utilizing flexible film circuitry, where a daughter board, for example, may be electrically connected to a mother board upon which the connector is surface mounted. The connector preferably comprises an elongated housing consisting of a base, a pair of spaced apart side walls upstanding therefrom, and a pair of end walls to define the elongated slot. Placed therewithin is a U-shaped spring member where its arms upstand near the side walls. To effect opening and closing of the connector, a card release slide member is disposed within the U-shaped spring member in contact with the spring member arms, where the card release slide member is adapted to shift longitudinally to effect a lateral movement of the spring member arms. At least one release member is mounted in an end wall to effect the shifting of the card release slide member. However, a pair of cooperating slide members, one in each end wall, may be provided.

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) has a dielectric housing (22) with at least one channel (46) therein. A contact (26) having a mating end (74), a mounting end (84) and a body section (94) extending therebetween is disposed in the channel. The body section (94) between the mating end and the mounting end defines an axis. The body section also defines opposed first and second major surfaces (96,98). A first protrusion (104) extends from one of the major surfaces proximate the mating end (74) of the contact and a second protrusion (106 or 108) extends from one of the major surfaces at a location spaced from the mating end (74) farther than the first protrusion (104). In this manner the contact (26) is caused to resiliently bend forming an "S" bend which provides a slight interference fit at spaced locations along the length of the contact to retain the contact in the channel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical connector (20) having a mating face (26) and a rear housing face (28) and a plurality of contact receiving passages (32) extending therebetween. A spacer plate (22) extends rearwardly from proximate the rear housing face (28) to a rear face (52) and extends laterally between first and second flanges (202,302). The spacer plate (22) has a plurality of solder tail receiving channels (42) extending forward from the rear face (52) toward the rear housing face (28) for receiving one or more solder tails (40) of contacts (34). A plurality of contacts (34) secured in the housing (24) with each contact (34) having a solder tail (40) defining side profile edges (90,92). The channels (42) extend through the spacer plate (22) from a first surface (76) to a second surface (404) and are further defined by opposed sidewalls (400,402) having portions in the region where solder tails are positioned that are substantially the same width.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical connector (20) having a mating face (26) and a rear housing face (28) and a plurality of contact receiving passages (32) extending therebetween. A spacer plate (22) extends rearwardly from proximate the rear housing face (28) to a rear face (52) and extends laterally between first and second flanges (202,302). The spacer plate (22) has a plurality of solder tail receiving channels (42) extending forward from the rear face (52) toward the rear housing face (28) for receiving one or more solder tails (40) of contacts (34). A plurality of contacts (34) secured in the housing (24) with each contact (34) having a solder tail (40) defining side profile edges (90,92). The side profile edges (90,92) of the solder tails (40) are tapered through a limited length (420,448) from a wider width to a narrower width. The channels (42) extend through the spacer plate (22) from a first surface (76) to a second surface (404) and are further defined by opposed sidewalls (400,402).

Abstract: There is disclosed a connector (20) including dielectric housing (24) having a mating face (26) and a rear housing face (28) with a plurality of contact receiving passages (32) extending therebetween. A spacer plate (22) extends rearwardly from proximate the rear housing face between first (202) and second (302) flanges. The spacer plate (22) has a plurality of solder tail receiving channels (42) extending forward from the rear face toward the rear housing face for receiving one or more solder tails (40) of contacts (34). The channels (42) define therebetween beams (120 or 122) having detents (70) for seating a solder tail (40). A plurality of contacts (34) are secured in the housing (24). The spacer plate (22) has a first slot (200) between the first flange (202) and a first channel (242) adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A one-piece, cast metal insert (40) has a base (42) from an edge of which upstands a flange (54). The base has a bore (48) therethrough for receiving a resilient locking metal clip (86) for securing the bracket (40) to a circuit board (CB) and for making contact with a ground conductor (GC) on the circuit board (CB). An internally screw threaded shank (60) projecting from the flange (54) has external retention ribs (68 and 70) for securing it in an opening (26) in a mounting ear (34) of a shielded electrical connector housing (2). The housing (2) with the bracket (40) assembled thereto can be mounted on the circuit board (CB) by means of a robot. The connector can then be secured to a panel (P) for example in a computer, by passing a screw (S) through the panel (P) to mesh with the screw thread (66) of the shank (60).

Abstract: Electrical device, such as a connector receptacle, which is intended for mounting on the same side of a circuit board as the conductors are on comprises a housing having one surface which is opposed to the surface of the circuit board. The conductors in the device extend along the one surface of the housing and beyond an adjacent face of the housing. The end portions of the conductors extend in a zig-zag manner to a contact portion. The zig-zag compliant portions are unrestrained and can adapt themselves to slight movement of the housing without damage to the solder connections between the conductors on the circuit board and the contact portions of the conductors.