Abstract: A shielded electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rearward end. A front ESD shield is disposed about the exterior of at least a substantial portion of the forward mating end of the dielectric housing. A rear EMI shield is disposed about the exterior of at least a substantial portion of the rearward end of the dielectric housing. The front ESD shield is electrically isolated from the rear EMI shield by an outwardly projecting portion of the dielectric housing physically separating the shields. The shielded electrical connector is adapted for mating with a complementary mating connector which includes a peripheral metal shield. A latch arm is folded back from a forward end of the peripheral metal shield of the mating connector for engaging a latch member inside the forward mating end of the dielectric housing of the shielded electrical connector.

Abstract: An edge card connector is provided for use with a circuit card having an edge and a plurality of contact pads near the edge. The connector includes a housing having an elongated slot for receiving the edge of the circuit card therein, along with terminal cavities adjacent to the slot. A plurality of terminals are inserted into the terminal cavities. At least some of the terminals each include a contact section extending into the slot for engaging a contact pad on the circuit card, along with an enlarged body section. A thin flexible contact arm extends between the body section and the contact section. A finger portion extends alongside the thin flexible contact arm to increase the capacitance of the terminal and, thereby, reduce the impedance of the circuit through the terminal.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is adapted for mounting to a circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a bottom mounting portion adapted for mounting to the surface of the circuit board. A one-piece conductive shield is mounted on the housing and includes an integral ground strap for connection to an appropriate ground pad on the circuit board, an integral locating peg projecting below the bottom mounting portion and adapted for positioning in an appropriate locating hole in the circuit board, and an integral boardlock post projecting below the bottom mounting portion and adapted for positioning in an appropriate locking hole in the board. The shield has at least one ear portion wrapped about an edge of the housing, with the ear portion having a threaded aperture and a positioning tab snappingly interengaged with a locking shoulder on the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mating with a complementary connector. The electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating portion. A cross-shaped ground plate structure is disposed in the mating portion of the housing when the electrical connector is mated with the complementary connector. The cross-shaped ground plate structure defines four plate edges and four quadrants. At least one terminal is mounted in the mating portion of the housing in at least some of the quadrants defined by the cross-shaped ground plate structure. A pair of outboard terminals are mounted in the mating portion of the housing outside a pair of the plate edges of the cross-shaped ground plate structure.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for interconnecting a flat flexible circuit to a printed circuit board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an elongated mouth for receiving the flat flexible circuit. Terminals are mounted in the housing and are adapted for coupling appropriate conductors of the flat flexible circuit with circuit traces on the printed circuit board. An actuator has an elongated tongue for insertion into the mouth of the housing to maintain the flat flexible circuit in engagement with the terminals. At least one latch/mounting clip is mounted on the housing, and a complementary interengaging latch is provided between a first portion of the clip and the actuator to hold the actuator in its inserted position on the housing. A second portion of the clip is adapted for operative association with the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a housing having a through passage. A male electrical contact is stamped and formed from generally planar smooth metal material for mating with a female contact having a contact-engaging surface. The male contact includes a generally planar body portion which, when the male contact is mated with the female contact, is oriented generally perpendicular to the contact-engaging surface. The male contact includes a pin portion projecting from the body portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact. The pin portion is twisted approximately 90.degree. relative to and in the plane of the body portion to present a smooth side of the pin portion for engaging the contact-engaging surface of the female contact. The twisted area of the pin portion is press-fit into the through passage in the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing with a latch structure is provided. The latch is releasably engageable with corresponding structure on a mateable electrical connector housing. The latch structure resiliently and deflectably extends from the electrical connector housing. At least one rib extends from the surface of the electrical connector housing adjacent the deflectable end of the latch structure to prevent fishhooking of cables or the like into the space between the latch structure and the housing. The rib for preventing such fishhooking is further engageable with the latch structure to prevent overstress. Side walls disposed in spaced relationship to the latch structure may further prevent overstress and fishhooking.

Abstract: A low insertion force mating electrical contact structure includes a pair of hermaphroditic terminals. Each hermaphroditic terminal is provided with dual cantilevered contact beams disposed in spaced parallel relationship and extending from a common base. The terminals are stamped from flat metallic material to provide each beam with a plurality of opposite but symmetrical bends relative to its initial central plane. The bends define rear and front contact surfaces on each beam and with rear and front cam surfaces leading into the respective contact surfaces. Identical hermaphroditic terminals as described can be mated with low insertion forces initially achieved by sliding cam interaction between the respective rear and front cam surfaces of two such terminals. The normal forces and deflection gradually increase as the terminals approach their fully mated condition.

Abstract: A zero insertion force electrical contact assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a bifurcate contact and a trifurcate contact. The bifurcate contact includes a pair of parallel contact beams cantilevered from a base. The contact beams include cam surfaces adjacent outwardly disposed portions remote from the base. The contact beams further include contact surfaces facing one another. The trifurcate contact includes a base, a central contact post extending from the base and a pair of cam arms extending from the base and on opposite sides of the contact post. Inwardly facing portions of the cam arms include converging cam surfaces. The cam arms and the contact posts are dimensioned to enable the contact arms to be disposed between the cam arms and around the contact post with little or no contact forces. Upon sufficient insertion, however, the respective camming surfaces will cause the cantilevered contact beams to be urged toward one another and into electrical contact with the contact post.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for extracting an electrical terminal having a canted locking lance from a first housing, and preparing the locking lance of the terminal for insertion in the same or a second similar housing. The connector housing includes an outer wall having a window formed therein for receiving a free end of the locking lance. The lance free end engages an edge of the window when the terminal is fully inserted in the connector housing, thereby preventing withdrawal of the terminal from the housing. A tool is provided with first and second lance engaging portions, the first lance engaging portion including a projection of predetermined dimensions receivable in the window to depress and deform the locking lance, allowing extraction of the terminal from the connector housing. Deformation of the lance is limited to a repairable amount. The second lance engaging portion of the tool includes a hook-like lance reforming member insertable beneath the lance and a floor of the terminal.

Abstract: An electrical terminal having improved retention in a connector housing is disclosed. The terminal is slidingly received in a housing cavity through a rearward end of the housing. When fully inserted in the cavity, the terminal engages a stop wall adjacent the mating end of the housing. A canted locking lance extends at a given angle from the terminal body. The lance cooperates with a window formed in the housing wall when the terminal is fully inserted in the housing cavity. When the terminal is fully inserted, the housing edge adjacent the window is engaged by the lance to prevent withdrawal of the terminal from the housing cavity. First and second lance portions are defined by a branch or fork in the free end of the lance, with the first lance portion extending at a steeper angle than the second lance portion. The corner formed at the housing wall adjacent the window is thereby received between the two lance portions to prevent withdrawal of the terminal from the housing cavity.