Patents by Inventor Randall Roberts

Randall Roberts 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: 20250125548
    Abstract: A receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing having a housing mounting end configured to be mounted to a host circuit board and a slot at a housing mating end configured to receive a mating end of a pluggable module. The receptacle housing includes contact pockets that receive interposer contacts. The receptacle connector includes a flexible circuit having circuit conductors extending between a mating end and a terminating end configured to be terminated to the host circuit board. Each interposer contact includes an inner mating interface forming a separable interface configured to be mated with module contacts of the pluggable module and an outer mating interface connected to the mating end of the corresponding circuit conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Alan Weir Bucher, Brian Patrick Costello, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20250122050
    Abstract: A monitoring system of an elevator system in which an elevator car and a counterweight, which are attached to a tension member, travel through a hoistway in opposite directions is provided. The monitoring system includes a controller to cause the elevator car to travel to a predefined position in the hoistway, a sensor to sense a position of the counterweight with the elevator car stopped at the predefined position and to generate data corresponding to sensing results and a processor operably coupled to the sensor and configured to analyze the data and to calculate, based on analysis results, an elongation of the tension member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Bardia Guilani
  • Publication number: 20250115459
    Abstract: A safety net system is provided for an elevator system including an elevator pit and multiple points of ingress to the elevator pit. The safety net system includes multiple sensors arranged in multiple planes encompassing the multiple points of ingress to perform sensing and to generate data corresponding to sensing results and a processor coupled to the multiple sensors to analyze whether the data indicates a person entering the elevator pit and to take an action based on results of the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Johanna Whitwell, James Tilsley Auxier, Yingxin Gao, Kyler Vensel, Kathleen Nicole Moore
  • Publication number: 20250059004
    Abstract: An escalator system includes a moving step including a plurality of grooves and drivable in a travel direction. A combplate is located at at least a downstream end of the moving step relative to the travel direction at a step-combplate interface. A retraction device is configured to move the combplate along the travel direction from a normal position toward a retracted position when an entrapment of an object is detected at the step-combplate interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventor: Randall Roberts
  • Publication number: 20250051141
    Abstract: An escalator system is provided and includes a balustrade including a skirt with a brush, a moving step, which is drivable to move in a conveyance direction along the balustrade to form a step-skirt interface between ends of the brush of the skirt and a corresponding side of the moving step, and an entrapment monitoring and detection system. The entrapment monitoring and detection system includes a sensor and a processor. The sensor is disposed at the step-skirt interface and is configured to sense an object being present at the step-skirt interface. The processor is configured to determine whether the sensor senses the object being present at the step-skirt interface for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Johanna Whitwell
  • Publication number: 20250042699
    Abstract: An escalator system is provided and includes a combplate, a moving step, which is drivable to move in a conveyance direction along the combplate, to pass by the combplate at a step-combplate interface and an entrapment monitoring and detection system. The entrapment monitoring and detection system includes a sensor disposed at the step-combplate interface and configured to sense an object being present at the step-combplate interface and a processor configured to determine whether the sensor senses the object being present at the step-combplate interface for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Randall Roberts, Johanna Whitwell
  • Publication number: 20240380153
    Abstract: A receptacle connector includes a receptacle housing having a mounting base at a rear configured to be mounted to a host circuit board. The receptacle connector includes a housing insert received in the receptacle housing. The housing insert includes a slot that receives a pluggable module. A flexible circuit is received in the receptacle housing and has a mating end in the housing insert for mating engagement with the pluggable module and a terminating end extending from the receptacle housing for termination to the host circuit board. A flexible circuit support is used to support the flexible circuit in the receptacle housing with support elements engage the flexible circuit to press the circuit conductors into mating engagement with the contacts of the pluggable module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews, Brian Patrick Costello, Sandeep Patel, Christopher William Blackburn
  • Patent number: 12119577
    Abstract: A cable connector module includes a cable card assembly including a circuit card, cables terminated to the circuit card, and a cable holder coupled to the circuit card and holding the cables relative to the circuit card. The cables include cable conductors electrically connected to corresponding cable contacts of the circuit card. The cable holder holds each of the contacts and includes a connecting tab coupled to the circuit card. The circuit card includes front and rear retaining tabs. The cable connector module includes a connector shell having a cavity that receives the cable card assembly. The connector shell includes a front retainer at the front receiving the front retaining tab to hold the front of the circuit card relative to the connector shell. The connector shell includes a rear retainer at the rear receiving the rear retaining tab to hold the rear of the circuit card relative to the connector shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Patent number: 12095193
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a plug housing including a mating end and a cable end. The cable end is oriented perpendicular to the mating end. The plug housing includes a mating chamber at the mating end and a cable chamber at the cable end. The plug connector includes a contact assembly coupled to the plug housing. The contact assembly includes an array of contacts. Each contact includes a mating end and a terminating end. Each contact is a right angle contact having the terminating end being perpendicular to the mating end. The plug connector includes cables terminated to the terminating ends of the contacts. Ends of the cables extend into the cable end of the plug housing. The cables extend from the plug housing at the cable end. The cables extend along linear cable axes from the contacts to the exterior of the plug housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH et al.
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews, Xinjie Zhang
  • Patent number: 12074396
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a plug housing including a mating end and a cable end perpendicular to the mating end. The contact assembly includes an array of contacts each having a mating end and a terminating end. The contacts are right-angle contacts terminated to an end of a conductor of a cable. The plug connector includes a latch coupled to the plug housing. The latch includes a main body and a latch member extending from the main body. The main body has an actuator is configured to actuate the latch. The latch member includes a securing base coupled to the plug housing to secure the latch to the plug housing. The latch member includes a latching tab configured to be latchably coupled to the mating connector to secure the plug connector to the mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20240250460
    Abstract: A card edge connector includes a connector housing having a cavity and holding a contact assembly in the cavity. The contact assembly has a contact positioner holding contacts in a contact array. Each contact includes a mating end, a terminating end, and an intermediate portion between the mating end and the terminating end. The card edge connector includes a connector sleeve coupled to the connector housing movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The connector sleeve includes an insert received in the cavity having a card slot configured to receive a module circuit board of a pluggable module. The insert includes press anvils configured to engage the intermediate portions of the contacts to move the mating ends of the contacts toward the module circuit board to mate with corresponding contact pads on the module circuit board when moved to the advanced position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Michael John Phillips, Brandon Michael Matthews, Sandeep Patel, Christopher William Blackburn
  • Publication number: 20240250480
    Abstract: A card edge connector includes a connector housing having a cavity and a card slot at a front configured to receive a module circuit board of the pluggable module. The card edge connector includes a contact assembly received in the cavity having a contact positioner holding contacts in a contact array. The contacts are arranged in pairs. Each contact includes a mating end, a terminating end, and an intermediate portion held by the contact positioner. The mating ends extend into the card slot for mating to corresponding signal pads on the module circuit board. The card edge connector includes a shield structure having ground shields located between the pairs of the contacts. The ground shields include ground beams that extend into the card slot for mating to corresponding ground pads on the module circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brian Patrick Costello, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230369806
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a plug housing including a mating end and a cable end oriented perpendicular to the mating end. The plug connector includes a contact assembly having right angle contacts. A latch is coupled to the plug housing having a main body and a latch member extending from the main body. The latch member includes a pivot point. The plug connector includes a pull tab coupled to the main body of the latch at a connection point. The connection point is located forward of a pivot point and above a pivot point. The pull tab pulls on the main body at the connection point to pivot the latch at the pivot point to rotate the main body and the latch member in a downward actuation direction. The pull tab is pulled to release the latching tab from the mating connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Xinjie Zhang
  • Patent number: 11804667
    Abstract: A board-to-board connector assembly includes first and second connector assemblies and a connector interconnect between the first and second connector assemblies. Each connector assembly includes an outer shell and a connector received in a cavity of the outer shell. The connector has a connector body holding contacts in a card slot, which receives a circuit card edge of an add-in card. The outer shell has an outer board guide configured to engage the add-in card and guide mating of the outer shell with the add-in card. The outer shell has a latch configured to latchably engage the add-in card to secure the connector to the add-in card. The connector interposer electrically interconnects the contacts of the connector assemblies to electrically connect the add-in cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Michael John Phillips, Michael David Herring, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230318210
    Abstract: A cable connector module includes a cable card assembly including a circuit card, cables terminated to the circuit card, and a cable holder coupled to the circuit card and holding the cables relative to the circuit card. The cables include cable conductors electrically connected to corresponding cable contacts of the circuit card. The cable holder holds each of the contacts and includes a connecting tab coupled to the circuit card. The circuit card includes front and rear retaining tabs. The cable connector module includes a connector shell having a cavity that receives the cable card assembly. The connector shell includes a front retainer at the front receiving the front retaining tab to hold the front of the circuit card relative to the connector shell. The connector shell includes a rear retainer at the rear receiving the rear retaining tab to hold the rear of the circuit card relative to the connector shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230246382
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a plug housing including a mating end and a cable end perpendicular to the mating end. The contact assembly includes an array of contacts each having a mating end and a terminating end. The contacts are right-angle contacts terminated to an end of a conductor of a cable. The plug connector includes a latch coupled to the plug housing. The latch includes a main body and a latch member extending from the main body. The main body has an actuator is configured to actuate the latch. The latch member includes a securing base coupled to the plug housing to secure the latch to the plug housing. The latch member includes a latching tab configured to be latchably coupled to the mating connector to secure the plug connector to the mating connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230238728
    Abstract: A plug connector includes a plug housing including a mating end and a cable end. The cable end is oriented perpendicular to the mating end. The plug housing includes a mating chamber at the mating end and a cable chamber at the cable end. The plug connector includes a contact assembly coupled to the plug housing. The contact assembly includes an array of contacts. Each contact includes a mating end and a terminating end. Each contact is a right angle contact having the terminating end being perpendicular to the mating end. The plug connector includes cables terminated to the terminating ends of the contacts. Ends of the cables extend into the cable end of the plug housing. The cables extend from the plug housing at the cable end. The cables extend along linear cable axes from the contacts to the exterior of the plug housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews, Xinjie Zhang
  • Patent number: 11682853
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a card slot at a mating end configured to pass through a panel opening of a panel forward of the panel for receiving a circuit card. A cable end of the housing is rearward of the panel. The electrical connector assembly includes contacts held in the housing. The electrical connector assembly includes cables terminated to the contacts and extending from the housing. The electrical connector assembly includes a connector mounting bracket having a collar surrounding a window receiving the housing. The connector mounting bracket has mounting latches extending from the collar with latch fingers configured to be coupled to the panel. The connector mounting bracket includes a biasing element configured to engage the panel to bias the panel against the mounting latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS, GMBH
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230025918
    Abstract: A board-to-board connector assembly includes first and second connector assemblies and a connector interconnect between the first and second connector assemblies. Each connector assembly includes an outer shell and a connector received in a cavity of the outer shell. The connector has a connector body holding contacts in a card slot, which receives a circuit card edge of an add-in card. The outer shell has an outer board guide configured to engage the add-in card and guide mating of the outer shell with the add-in card. The outer shell has a latch configured to latchably engage the add-in card to secure the connector to the add-in card. The connector interposer electrically interconnects the contacts of the connector assemblies to electrically connect the add-in cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Michael John Phillips, Michael David Herring, Brandon Michael Matthews
  • Patent number: 11515666
    Abstract: A communication system includes a plug connector mated with a receptacle connector. The receptacle connector includes a housing holding a contact assembly. The housing includes a front housing that receives an inner housing, which receives contact holders and receptacle contacts of the contact assembly. The receptacle connector housing includes a height profile defined between top and bottom walls with a housing latch and guide pockets contained within the height profile. The plug connector includes a housing holding a cable assembly with a circuit card received in a card slot of the receptacle housing. The plug connector housing includes alignment embossments received in the guide pockets and latches coupled to the alignment embossments are latchably coupled to the receptacle connector. The latches are contained within a height profile of the plug connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GmbH
    Inventors: Randall Robert Henry, Brandon Michael Matthews