Abstract: The invention relates to the forces generated in the cantilever beam type contacts by deflecting pins or leads. More particularly, the invention teaches associating the cantilever beam with an elastomer which supplements the beam's capability of exerting force due to being deflected.

Abstract: Connector housings having as an integral part thereof, compensators to accommodate variation in circuit board thickness to enable a plurality of connectors to be mounted thereon simultaneously. More particularly, the compensators include depending, collapsible projections on the bottom surfaces of the housings which are selectively collapsed in response to the thickness of the board at each mounting site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the compliant section on contact elements which are received in plated through holes in printed circuit boards and are structured to hold such elements therein without soldering. More particularly, the invention discloses an improved structure relative to the legs forming the moving members of the compliant section. The invention further discloses an improved structure to stabilize the element against normal forces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a card edge connector having means so that a circuit card may be freely inserted into and withdrawn therefrom. The connector includes an upper housing slidably mounted on cam means so that upon the upper housing being slid vertically upwardly, contact elements extending upwardly thereinto are forced into the card receiving slot and against a card which may be positioned therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to zero insertion force card edge connectors with flexible film circuitry interconnecting the mother printed circuit board on which the connector is mounted and the daughter printed circuit card received in the connector. Actuation of cam means closes the connector and moves the circuit pads on the film up and down against the card circuit pads to provide wipe and back-wipe.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a contact element for use in card edge connectors on which the contact surface is located at the free end of the cantilever beam and includes a sharp spherical radius.

Abstract: The present invention relates to card-latching systems on zero insertion force card edge connectors. More particularly, the latching system includes spring members having the lower ends thereof secured to the lower housing of the connector at each end of the card edge receiving slot and a concavo-convex intermediate section extending through a cam member attached to the vertically moving upper housing so the upper ends of the spring members are cammed in and out of engagement with the card inserted in the connector.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a biasing means provided in one end of a card-receiving slot of a card edge connector. The biasing means includes a spring loaded wedge slidably positioned in a sloping passage at one end of the slot. The wedge includes a vertical surface which engages a side of the card as the card is inserted in the slot. The wedge moving down the sloping passage increases the slot length to accommodate the card width without exerting significant longitudinal force against the end walls of the connector. Further, the wedge cannot be moved up the passage by an uneven force being exerted on the card; accordingly, the card can only be removed from the slot in a straight line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector system for electrically connecting a circuit card to a circuit board. More particularly the connector system includes an upper card-carrying member mated into a lower board mounted member without requiring insertion forces. Cam means on the lower member move the upper member laterally to electrically engage the contact elements positioned in both members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a terminal which may be attached to a ceramic chip or other type substrate and which may be plugged into a PCB and thereby provide electrical connections between the substrate and the conductive traces on the board. More particularly, the terminal includes a receptacle for receiving the edge of a chip for mechanical retention and electrical contact, a spring member which protects the chip from thermal and mechanical stresses, means for insertion into a board's plated-through hole, and means establishing redundant short electrical paths between the pad on the chip and the traces on the PCB. Further, the terminal may be encapsulated in an elastomeric material which provides additional spring resiliency and also provides an environmental seal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact clip which may be attached to a ceramic or other type substrate and which may be plugged into a PCB and thereby provide electrical connections between the substrate and the conductive traces on the board. More particularly, the clip includes a receptacle for receiving the edge of a substrate for mechanical retention and electrical contact, a spring arm which protects the substrate from thermal and mechanical stresses, a low force pluggable pin section for insertion into a board's plated-through hole, and means establishing redundant short electrical paths between the pad on the substrate and the traces on the PCB.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector into which a printed circuit board or card may be inserted and card guides associated with the connectors which guide and support the inserted card. More particularly, the connector consists of two housings having a common center card-receiving slot with terminals lining the walls thereof. Pins on the terminals pass through the base of the housings for insertion into a printed circuit mother board or the like. The guides have slots into which the edges of the printed circuit board slide. A flexible latch on the guides lock the boards against inadvertant movement.

Abstract: A zero insertion force (ZIF) connector is preassembled with electrical terminals in a dielectric housing. The housing is molded with integral features that facilitate snap on assembly of a camming mechanism for the terminals. A multiblade insertion tool enters the housing to register with the contacts and to drive the terminals into apertures of a circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for providing input-output paths to and from a densely crowded multi-lager PCB (printed circuit board). More particularly the invention includes a pair of modules having a plurality of spaced conductive members extending normally therethrough and with the ends projecting laterally from opposing sides. The ends of the conductive members are inserted into plated through holes in the PCB on one side and into plated through holes on cards on the other sides. The cards have circuits extending from the plated through holes to an edge as does the PCB. The two cards and PCB are plugged into card-edge connectors as a unit. The connectors may be mounted on a mother board, back panel or the like.

Abstract: A card edge terminal is provided with a longitudinally trifurcated portion defining a resilient beam which presses against a circuit card and provides a wiping action of its contact surface along the card. The wiping action will tend to clean away debris and contaminants.

Abstract: A unitary, molded card straightener is selectively mounted along the mouth of a card edge connector. The straightener funnels the card edge toward the mouth of the card edge connector and impinges against the side of the card prior to entry thereof into the connector, so that warpage in the card is flattened by the straightener.

Abstract: Power bus bars and ground return bus bars of relatively massive sizes are incorporated into high speed electronic circuitry provided on a large number of circuit cards which are coupled to the power and ground return bus bars with minimized millivolt resistance losses and reactance losses.

Abstract: A terminal is disclosed of the type in which a conductor is terminated by moving the conductor transversely of its axis into a slotted opening having a width less than the diameter of the wire. The terminal comprises two metal plates which pivot transversely of each other and which have individual slotted openings defined by slicing edges. The slotted openings overlie each other to provide a common wire-receiving opening so that a wire in either an upper section or a lower section of the common opening will tend to narrow the width of the corresponding other section.

Abstract: A contact for use in printed circuit boards in which a portion thereof is split or sheared to form at least a pair of legs for insertion into an aperture in said circuit board with the adjacent legs each having a surface which face and abut each other in the shear plane therebetween and with said legs being offset with respect to each other in said shear plane. When the offset legs are inserted in an aperture in a circuit board they are forced towards each other along the shear plane with the facing surfaces experiencing a strong component of force normal to said shear plane. Such normal force in turn produces a large frictional force between said facing surfaces which, together with the spring-like force generated as the legs are forced together, produce a strong opposing force against the walls of the aperture.

Abstract: A card cage for holding printed circuit cards comprising modular cage elements each having a pair of parallel slots formed therein and spaced apart a distance to slidably receive the edges of a printed circuit card and to retain said card therein. The said modular elements are stacked together, one upon the other, to form the card cage with each module having contact retaining cavities formed in the corners thereof. Securing means in the form of conductive rods or bolts extend through the corner edges of the stack of card holding modules to supply the required power supply voltages into the card cage system and also to secure together the stack of modules. Such conductive rods are exposed to the cavities in the ends of the modules. Individual contact means retained in the cavities connect the rods or bolts to conductive areas on the corners of the individual printed circuit cards and thereby supply the power voltages to said cards.