Abstract: A high density electrical connector for terminating to conductors of a ribbon cable has an insulative housing defining a cable receiving face, a mating face and at least one row of terminal receiving passages extending therebetween with terminals secured therein. The terminal receiving passages open into opposing channels near the cable receiving face. Each terminal includes a mating portion, an intermediate section and an insulation displacement plate. The intermediate section is defined by a pair of sheared edges extending toward the insulation displacement plate from the mating section. The intermediate section includes a notched region defining a first shoulder and an insert sheared edge. The intermediate section further includes a lateral offset formed such that the mating portion is perpendicular to the insulation displacement plate. The first shoulder, a portion of the intermediate section and the insulation displacement plate are received in a channel near the cable receiving face.

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: There is disclosed a connector (20) for terminating to a plurality of conductors (64). The connector includes a housing (24) having conductor terminating contacts (26) secured therein and defining an axis. First and second terminating covers (28,30) are adapted to be secured to the housing (24) from opposed directions, transverse to the axis of the contacts in a terminating position in which the conductors (64) are terminated to respective ones of the contacts (26), with the terminated conductors extending rearwardly of the housing (24) substantially parallel to the axis. A strain relief member (22) adapted to be secured to the housing (24) includes a transverse member (126) and cover retention means (138,140). The transverse member (126) intersects the rearwardly extending conductors (64) when the strain relief member (22) is secured to a housing (24) terminated to conductors (64) and causes the conductors to extend transverse to the contact axis to pass beyond the transverse member (126).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising a pair of complementary connectors (10a, 12) incorporating "pin saver" structure for preventing pin contacts (16) from being bent when the connectors (10a, 12) are mated or separated in a careless fashion. The "pin saver" structure comprises a plurality of projections or ledges (42, 43, 44, 45) on one of the connectors (10a) for defining extended fulcrums around which the other connector (12) will rotate or turn if the connectors (10a, 12) are mated or separated from one another by relative movement in which the longitudinal axes (31) of the pin contacts (16) in one connector are not maintained substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes (32) of the receptacle contacts (14) in the other connector (10a) during mating or separation.

Abstract: A key retention system for electrical connectors which includes a connector (12) including a lower backshell (42) having at least one generally T-shaped slot (51) extending therein from a side face (52) thereof for receiving a generally T-shaped key (61). Slot (51) and key (61) are configured to permit key (61) to be easily inserted into slot (51) in the correct orientation and to prevent key (61) from rotating or from moving laterally or longitudinally within slot (51) to any appreciable extent. Locking means comprising a projection (81) extending inwardly from the cover (43) for the lower backshell (42) is positioned to extend into the slot when cover (43) is mounted to lower backshell (42) to lock key (61) in position within slot (51).

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) for terminating a multi-conductor cable (100) has a housing (12) including a cable terminating face (18), an opposed mating face (16) and opposed end walls (24,26) having latch means (58,60) thereon. The cable terminating face (18) has major edges and minor edges, with the minor edges contiguous with the end walls (24,26). The major edges extend laterally beyond the profile of the mating face (16). The cable terminating face (18) has a rib (44,46) extending along the major edges, upstanding from the cable terminating face (18). A plurality of contacts (30) are secured in the housing (12) and have respective insulation displacement plates (34) extending from the cable terminating face (18). A terminating cover (14) defines an inner surface (80) and major side edges and has latch arms (86, 88) at opposite ends thereof adapted to engage the latch means (58,60) on the connector housing (12) to retain the terminating cover (14) on the housing (12).

Abstract: An electrical connector (20,20') for terminating to conductors of a cable (24,24') and for mounting through an aperture (150) in a panel (152) has an electrically conductive die cast housing (26) having an aperture (52) therein. The connector (20,20') is adapted to be mounted to the panel (152) proximate the aperture (150) in the panel. A drawn shell (28) having an aperture therein is received in the die cast housing aperture (52) such that the drawn shell (28) and die cast housing (26) are electrically commoned. The drawn shell (28) is adapted to extend through the aperture (150) in the panel (152). An insulative insert having terminals (32) secured therein is received and secured in the drawn shell aperture. The terminals (32) have a cable conductor engaging portion (94,170) adapted to be terminated to respective conductors of the cable (24,24').

Abstract: A method for mounting an electrical connector (10) to a printed circuit board or other support panel (12) with a top-actuated eyelet (20), and an actuation tool (50, 100) for use in practicing the method. The method comprises essentially a two-step mounting process whereby the actuating tool (50, 100) first grips and restrains the connector (10), and thereafter the connector (10) is positioned relative to a printed circuit board (13) and the tool (50, 100) operated to actuate the eyelet (20) to attach the connector (10) to the board (12). The method of the invention permits the eyelet (20) to be used to facilitate positioning of the connector (10) on the printed circuit board (12) and, in general, the method and actuating tool (50, 100) permit connectors (10) to be mounted to printed circuit boards (12) in an efficient, automated manner utilizing less complex and less costly tooling.

Abstract: An automatic key programming and connector transfer system and method for electrical connectors (10) having keying means (40) thereon includes a supply station (56) for storing a plurality of connectors (10) having keys in an unprogrammed orientation; a programming station (57) for receiving connectors (10) from the supply station (56) and for programming the keys, the programming station (57) including a programming device (100) responsive to programming instructions applied thereto; and an output station (58) for receiving connectors (10) having keys programmed to a desired orientation, the output station (58) including a plurality of output station sections (80a-80f) each of which are adapted to receive connectors which have keys programmed to a predetermined one of the plurality of possible programmed states; and monitoring means (60) for monitoring each section (80a-80f) and for controlling the programming device (100) to program the keys of connectors (10) to maintain an adequate supply in each section.

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) has a dielectric housing (22) defining a mating face (26) and a mounting face (58). The housing (22) has a plurality of terminal receiving passages (30) extending from the mating face with terminals (32) secured therein. An eletrically conductive shell (36) has a shroud portion (44) that encircles the mating face (26) to engage shielding of a complementary shielded connector and to shield the terminals (32) secured in the housing (22). A tab (48) extends from the shell (36) to interengage with a ground strap (52) and secure the ground strap (52) to the connector (20). A ground path is thereby completed from the shell (36) through the tab (48) then the ground strap (52), and possibly a securing means (92), to a ground pad (118a;118b) on a printed circuit board (120) on which the connector (20) is mounted.

Abstract: A key retention system for electrical connectors which includes a connector (12) including a lower backshell (42) having at least one generally T-shaped slot (51) extending therein from a side face (52) thereof for receiving a generally T-shaped key (61). Slot (51) and key (61) are configured to permit key (61) to be easily inserted into slot (51) in the correct orientation and to prevent key (61) from rotating or from moving laterally or longitudinally within slot (51) to any appreciable extent. Locking means comprising a projection (81) extending inwardly from the cover (43) for the lower backshell (42) is positioned to extend into the slot when cover (43) is mounted to lower backshell (42) to lock key (61) in position within slot (51).

Abstract: An electrical connector asembly (10) for mounting to a planar surface (96) has an elongate electrically conductive diecast housing (12) having an aperture (42) therein. A drawn shell (14) having an aperture therein is received in the diecast housing aperture (42). Barbs (60, 62) engage the peripheral edge (50) of flange (46), center drawn shell (14) and assure electrical continuity between drawn shell (14) and diecast housing (12). A burr relief pocket (70) in diecast housing (12) accommodates any burrs (68) from barbs (60, 62) such that flange (46) seats against housing surface (48). A thermoplastic header insert (16) having terminal receiving passages (78) with terminals (82) secured therein is received in and secured in the drawn shell aperture. Insert (16) engages barbs (60, 62) in an interference fit and is centered and partially retained thereby.

Abstract: A cable terminating cover retention system having two terminating covers (68, 70), each having leg means (72, 74) proximate the endwalls (90, 92) thereof, cooperate with an aperture (45) in a terminal support block (44) of connector housing (28). As conductors (56) are terminated on insulation displacement contacts (20) by moving the terminating covers (68, 70) toward the terminal support block (44), the leg means (72, 74) complement each other to substantially fill the aperture (45) and engage the sidewalls (102) of the apertures (45) in a first interference fit. As termination of the conductors (56) is completed, each leg means (72, 74) enters a recess or aperture (124, 126) in the other cable terminating cover (70, 68) and engages a protrusion (128, 130) therein in a second interference fit.

Abstract: A solder joint inspection feature (86) for evaluating the solder joint (88) securing a contact solder tail (58) of a surface mount connector to a printed circuit board (2). A solder joint inspection feature (86) is incorporated in the solder tail (58) of contacts (40) in a surface mount electrical connector a predetermined distance from the end. When the solder tails (58) are soldered, such as to traces (4) on a printed circuit board (2), an acceptable solder fillet (88a) will cover the inspection feature and thus the inspection feature (86) will not be visible. If the distal end (61) of the solder tail (58) is not close enough to the trace or if the fillet is formed with insufficient solder, the solder joint (88b) is unacceptable as indicated by the visible solder joint inspection feature (86).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (12, 17) including means (17) for securing the connector assembly to a printed circuit board (11). The electrical connector housing (12) has an eyelet (17) disposed in an aperture (12b) in a mounting flange (12c) in an interference fit. The eyelet (17) has a flange (21) engaging the mounting flange (12c) of the housing (12), an inverted conical end (18b; 30b) remote from the flange (21) and a generally tubular shank (20, 23; 32, 30) extending therebetween. A first section (20) of the shank provides the interference fit with the aperture (12b). A second section (23) of the shank extends below the mounting flange for disposition within an aperture (11a) in the printed circuit board (11). The second section (23) may be tapered or of a smaller diameter than the first section (20).

Abstract: An insert retention device for retention of same in a dielectric housing serving as a screwlock especially suitable for high speed connector assemblies; these insert retention devices are desirable because of their characteristics when cold pressed into a plastic housing and are useful for electronic printed circuit board assembly and the like.

Abstract: Multi-contact connector for a flat conductor cable comprises a housing having a cable receiving face and a trough-like cable receiving opening extending into the cable receiving face. A plurality of contact terminals are mounted in the opening in side-by-side relationship. Each terminal has a spring contact portion which engages one of the conductors of the cable when the cable is inserted. The contact portions are arranged in three rows, the first row comprising the contact portion of every third terminal and which is adjacent to the cable receiving face. The second row and the third row are also formed from every third terminal and the contact portions in these rows are located at increasing distances from the cable receiving face. When the cable is inserted, its leading edge encounters the contact portions of the terminals in the first row and upon further movement into the opening, encounters the contact portions of the terminals in the second and third rows.

Abstract: Zero insertion force connector clip assembly for connecting conductors on a flexible film to conductors on a circuit board comprises a stamped and formed metallic clip and a lifting tool mounted on the clip. The clip has cantilever springs extending from one of its side edges towards the surface of the circuit board. The springs are arcuately formed to define bearing portions which bear against the circuit board conductors and each spring has a portion extending from the bearing portion towards the clip bar. Each spring also has a tool engageable section which extends substantially parallel to the clip bar. The lifting tool comprises a platelike member mounted against the clip bar having edge portions disposed between the end portions of the spring and the clip bar. The springs can be raised from the surface of the circuit board by manipulating the tool as a lever to raise the bearing portions of the springs so that a cable can be inserted beneath the bearing portions.