Abstract: A multilayer circuit board includes an upper surface and an opposing lower surface. An electrically insulating layer is disposed between the upper and lower surfaces. A plurality of electrically conductive upper and lower rear pads are disposed proximate a rear edge on the respective upper and lower surfaces for termination of a plurality of wires. The upper and lower rear pads include respective upper and lower rear ground pads substantially aligned with each other and configured for termination of ground wires. A plurality of electrically conductive front pads are disposed proximate a front edge for insertion into a connector and electrically connected to the upper and lower rear pads. An electrically conductive via extends from the upper rear ground pad to the lower rear ground pad and makes electrical and physical contact with each of the upper and lower rear ground pads.

Abstract: A connector assembly for mounting on and making solderless electrical contact with a printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked wafer assemblies. Each wafer assembly includes a wafer, a plurality of terminals partially embedded in the wafer where each terminal includes a connecting portion embedded in the wafer, a resiliently compressible mating portion for making solderless contact with a corresponding conductive pad of a PCB and a contact portion. The wafer is molded over the terminals. The wafer assembly also includes a plurality of wires terminated in termination regions at the contact portions of the terminals, and a shield disposed in the recess of the wafer and extending across the wafer. The connector assembly further includes a housing molded over the stacked wafers and the termination regions.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board includes a plurality of electrically conductive rear pads for termination of a plurality of wires and a plurality of electrically conductive front pads for insertion into a connector. A plurality of pairs of substantially parallel traces extend between and connect the front pads to the rear pads. At least a first pair of traces and the front and rear pads connected thereto are disposed in a same layer of the multilayer circuit board. At least a second pair of traces is disposed in a same layer, and the rear and front pads connected thereto are disposed in a different layer of the multilayer circuit board. At least a third pair of traces are disposed in different layers of the multilayer circuit board. For each trace extending between and connecting the front and rear pads corresponding to the trace, the trace comprises no more than two vias.

Abstract: In a specific embodiment, a connector 100 is disclosed. The connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 102 defining a rear opening 108 for receiving a plurality of electrical wires 110 and a front opening 106 and a circuit board 104 disposed in the housing 102 and comprising a mating section 112 for mating with a corresponding mating section of a mating connector. The mating section 112 protrudes outwardly from the front opening 106 and terminates at a front edge 118 disposed between opposing side edges 114,116 of the mating section 112.

Abstract: An electrical connector provides electrical connection between first, second, and third printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector defines spaced apart substantially parallel, first, second and third mating slots and includes a plurality of pairs of first terminals and a plurality of pairs of second terminals. For each pair of first terminals: the first terminals are electrically connected to each other; one of the first terminals is disposed in the first mating slot; and the other of the first terminals is disposed in the third mating slot. For each pair of second terminals: the second terminals are electrically isolated from each other; one of the second terminals is disposed in the second mating slot; and the other of the second terminals is disposed in the third mating slot.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprising a housing, first and second circuit boards, and substantially flat cables. The housing includes a mating end for mating with a mating connector and an opposite cable end for receiving a cable. The first and second circuit boards are disposed inside the housing. Each circuit board includes a plurality of conductive front pads disposed closer to the mating end of the housing and a plurality of conductive rear pads disposed closer to the cable end of the housing and electrically connected to the front pads. At least one front pad of the first circuit board faces, aligns with, and is electrically connected to, at least one rear pad of the second circuit board. The substantially flat cables include a plurality of conductors. The uninsulated front ends of the conductors of the cables terminate at the corresponding rear pads of the first circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having an upper housing half removably assembled to a lower housing half via a plurality of fasteners. A circuit board is at least partially disposed in a housing cavity formed by the upper and lower housing halves. The circuit board includes a plurality of conductive front and rear pads electrically connected to each other. Flat cables terminate at the conductive rear pads disposed on upper and lower major surfaces of the circuit board. A plurality of alternating ridges and channels is disposed on a top side of the upper housing half, extending along a length of the housing. Bottom surfaces of the channels along a length of the channels are at a same height or higher than uppermost surfaces of the fasteners in the plurality of fasteners. The channels are configured to transfer heat generated by the connector assembly.

Abstract: In a specific embodiment, a connector 100 is disclosed. The connector 100 comprises an insulative housing 102 defining a rear opening 108 for receiving a plurality of electrical wires 110 and a front opening 106 and a circuit board 104 disposed in the housing 102 and comprising a mating section 112 for mating with a corresponding mating section of a mating connector. The mating section 112 protrudes outwardly from the front opening 106 and terminates at a front edge 118 disposed between opposing side edges 114,116 of the mating section 112.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a longitudinal first body portion, a longitudinal second body portion, a terminal portion, and a contact portion. The longitudinal first body portion has a terminal end, a first transition end opposite the terminal end, and a major surface generally lying in a first plane. The longitudinal second body portion has a contact end, a second transition end opposite the contact end, and a major surface generally lying in a second plane intersecting the first plane. The contact end is distal to the first transition end. The terminal portion extends from the first body portion at the terminal end. The contact portion extends from the second body portion at the contact end.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a circuit board that includes conductive front pads conductive rear pads, a cable terminated at the rear pads, and a unitary front housing assembled to the front end the circuit board. The connector assembly also includes flexible contacts assembled to the unitary front housing. The front pads make contact with and deflect the flexible contacts away from the circuit board. The connector assembly also includes a conductive shield assembled to the unitary front housing, and a unitary rear housing tightly overmolded around at least the circuit board and portions of the unitary front housing, the cable, and the shield.

Abstract: A connector assembly for mounting on and making solderless electrical contact with a printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked wafer assemblies. Each wafer assembly includes a wafer, a plurality of terminals partially embedded in the wafer where each terminal includes a connecting portion embedded in the wafer, a resiliently compressible mating portion for making solderless contact with a corresponding conductive pad of a PCB and a contact portion. The wafer is molded over the terminals. The wafer assembly also includes a plurality of wires terminated in termination regions at the contact portions of the terminals, and a shield disposed in the recess of the wafer and extending across the wafer. The connector assembly further includes a housing molded over the stacked wafers and the termination regions.

Abstract: A connector that is configured to mate with different mating connectors by virtue of having different removably assembled interchangeable front housing portions includes a rear housing portion that includes a plurality of rear contacts. When the connector is to mate with a particular mating connector, a particular front housing portion of the connector that corresponds to the particular mating connector is selected from a plurality of available different front housing portions. The particular front housing portion is removably assembled to the rear housing portion, so that a plurality of front contacts of the particular front housing portion makes solderless physical and electrical contact with the plurality of rear contacts of the rear housing portion. The plurality of front contacts of the front housing portion are adapted to mate with corresponding contacts of the particular mating connector.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes, a housing, a circuit board that includes a conductive front pad and a conductive rear pad electrically connected to the front pad, and a cable that includes an insulated conductor having a conductor surrounded by an insulating material. The conductor has a diameter not greater than 24 AWG. The uninsulated front end of the conductor is terminated at the rear pad and includes a preformed bend. The connector assembly also includes a recess formed in an external surface and on a lateral side of the housing. The recess is designed to receive and house a spring member of a pull tab that is assembled to the housing. The vertical separation between the recess and the circuit board is h, the average thickness of the cable is t, and h?3t. The preformed bend may include first and second portions connected by a substantially flattened joint.

Abstract: An electrical connector provides electrical connection between first, second, and third printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector defines spaced apart substantially parallel, first, second and third mating slots and includes a plurality of pairs of first terminals and a plurality of pairs of second terminals. For each pair of first terminals: the first terminals are electrically connected to each other; one of the first terminals is disposed in the first mating slot; and the other of the first terminals is disposed in the third mating slot. For each pair of second terminals: the second terminals are electrically isolated from each other; one of the second terminals is disposed in the second mating slot; and the other of the second terminals is disposed in the third mating slot.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes, a housing, a circuit board that includes a conductive front pad and a conductive rear pad electrically connected to the front pad, and a cable that includes an insulated conductor having a conductor surrounded by an insulating material. The conductor has a diameter not greater than 24 AWG. The uninsulated front end of the conductor is terminated at the rear pad and includes a preformed bend. The connector assembly also includes a recess formed in an external surface and on a lateral side of the housing. The recess is designed to receive and house a spring member of a pull tab that is assembled to the housing. The vertical separation between the recess and the circuit board is h, the average thickness of the cable is t, and h?3t. The preformed bend may include first and second portions connected by a substantially flattened joint.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having an upper housing half removably assembled to a lower housing half via a plurality of fasteners. A circuit board is at least partially disposed in a housing cavity formed by the upper and lower housing halves. The circuit board includes a plurality of conductive front and rear pads electrically connected to each other. Flat cables terminate at the conductive rear pads disposed on upper and lower major surfaces of the circuit board. A plurality of alternating ridges and channels is disposed on a top side of the upper housing half, extending along a length of the housing. Bottom surfaces of the channels along a length of the channels are at a same height or higher than uppermost surfaces of the fasteners in the plurality of fasteners. The channels are configured to transfer heat generated by the connector assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector provides electrical connection between first, second, and third printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector defines spaced apart substantially parallel, first, second and third mating slots and includes a plurality of pairs of first terminals and a plurality of pairs of second terminals. For each pair of first terminals: the first terminals are electrically connected to each other; one of the first terminals is disposed in the first mating slot; and the other of the first terminals is disposed in the third mating slot. For each pair of second terminals: the second terminals are electrically isolated from each other; one of the second terminals is disposed in the second mating slot; and the other of the second terminals is disposed in the third mating slot.

Abstract: Connectors or connector assemblies include first and second latching members attached to a housing thereof for latching the connector to a mating connector are provided. When the connector mates with the mating connector in a first/second mating orientation, the first/second latching member, but not the second/first latching member latches the connector to the mating connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a unitary base elongated along a longitudinal direction. A first tongue extends forwardly from the base and has a uniform thickness along the longitudinal direction. The first tongue comprises a plurality of spaced apart first contacts. A second tongue extends forwardly from the base and comprises a plurality of spaced apart second contacts. The first and second tongues define a gap therebetween that extends from a front edge of one of the first and second tongues toward the unitary base.