Patents by Inventor Steven A. Neu
Steven A. Neu 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).
-
Patent number: 9692476Abstract: A wireless connector includes a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) (901, 902) disposed within a housing of the electronic system. Each PCB comprises a plurality of transceivers (910a, 910b, 920a, 920b) configured to wirelessly transmit and receive modulated carrier signals (910, 920). Each transceiver in the system is configured to receive signals transmitted by every other transceiver in the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Douglas B. Gundel, Zulfiqar A. Khan, Alexander W. Barr, Steven A. Neu
-
Publication number: 20170077647Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing including a longitudinal bottom wall defining a plurality of contact openings for receiving a plurality of contacts, first and second side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing sides thereof, first and second end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing ends thereof, first and second pairs of latch openings at opposing ends of the bottom wall, and first and second protrusions extending upwardly from the bottom wall and disposed between respective first and second pairs of latch openings. Each latch opening extends through the bottom wall and through a side wall and is configured to allow a latch to eject a mating connector by moving within the opening Each of the protrusions is configured to engage a corresponding opening in a latch of a mating connector cover or strain relief assembled to the electrical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Steven A. Neu, Alexander R. Mathews
-
Patent number: 9553401Abstract: A strain relief for an electrical cable includes a longitudinal base portion including curved side portions extending upwardly from opposing longitudinal sides thereof, and first and second opposing strain relief latches extending from opposing lateral sides of the base portion. Each latch includes a curved connecting portion extending from a lateral side of the base portion first curving upwardly and then curving downwardly and terminating at an arm portion that extends downwardly. The arm portion is configured to resiliently deflect outwardly to accommodate secure attachment of the strain relief to an electrical connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Patent number: 9537236Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing including a longitudinal bottom wall defining a plurality of contact openings for receiving a plurality of contacts, first and second side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing sides thereof, first and second end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing ends thereof, first and second pairs of latch openings at opposing ends of the bottom wall, and first and second protrusions extending upwardly from the bottom wall and disposed between respective first and second pairs of latch openings. Each latch opening extends through the bottom wall and through a side wall and is configured to allow a latch to eject a mating connector by moving within the opening. Each of the protrusions is configured to engage a corresponding opening in a latch of a mating connector cover or strain relief assembled to the electrical connector.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Steven A. Neu, Alexander R. Mathews
-
Publication number: 20160365649Abstract: An electrical contact terminal includes a base portion for positioning and retaining the electrical contact terminal within a connector housing, an insulation displacement connecting portion extending upwardly from the base portion and comprising a pair of spaced apart arms defining an opening therebetween for receiving and making electrical contact with an electrical conductor, and a contact portion extending downwardly from the base portion and configured to float when the electrical contact terminal is retained and positioned within a connector housing. The contact portion includes a first arm, a second arm, and an arcuate base portion. The first arm extends downwardly and includes a first end attached to the base portion and an opposite second end. The second arm extends downwardly and includes a free first end closer to the base portion and an opposite second end farther from the base portion. The second arm is configured to deflect when making electrical contact with a mating contact pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Patent number: 9509094Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing. The connector housing includes a longitudinal bottom wall having a plurality of contact openings, first and second side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing sides of the bottom wall, first and second end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing ends of the bottom wall, and first and second pairs of latch openings at opposing ends of the bottom wall. Each latch opening extends through the bottom wall and through a side wall and is configured to allow a latch to eject a mating connector by moving within the opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Patent number: 9509089Abstract: A latch for securing and ejecting a mating connector from a connector housing includes a hinge portion configured to pivotably attach the latch to a connector housing, an arm portion extending from a first side of the hinge portion along a first direction, and a pair of discrete spaced apart hinge arms extending from an opposite second side of the hinge portion along a second direction different than the first direction. The hinge arms are configured to eject the mating connector through a pair of corresponding spaced apart latch openings extending through a bottom wall and through side walls of the connector housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Patent number: 9455503Abstract: An electrical contact terminal includes a base portion for positioning and retaining the electrical contact terminal within a connector housing, an insulation displacement connecting portion extending upwardly from the base portion and comprising a pair of spaced apart arms defining an opening therebetween for receiving and making electrical contact with an electrical conductor, and a contact portion extending downwardly from the base portion and configured to float when the electrical contact terminal is retained and positioned within a connector housing. The contact portion includes a first arm, a second arm, and an arcuate base portion. The first arm extends downwardly and includes a first end attached to the base portion and an opposite second end. The second arm extends downwardly and includes a free first end closer to the base portion and an opposite second end farther from the base portion. The second arm is configured to deflect when making electrical contact with a mating contact pin.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Publication number: 20160134034Abstract: A board mount electrical connector (3) includes an insulative connector housing (1100) including a longitudinal bottom wall (1102) defining a plurality of contact openings (1104) for receiving a plurality of contacts (1200), first and second side walls (1106, 1108) extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing sides thereof, first and second end walls (1110, 1112) extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing ends (1102c, 1102d) thereof, first and second pairs of latch openings (1114, 1116) at opposing ends of the bottom wall, and first and second protrusions (1154, 1156) extending upwardly from the bottom wall and disposed between respective first and second pairs of latch openings. Each latch opening extends through the bottom wall and through a side wall and is configured to allow a latch to eject a mating connector by moving within the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Steven A. Neu, Alexander R. Mathews
-
Patent number: 9175813Abstract: A light having integrated light and thermal guides and separable electrical connectors. The light has a base for connection to a power supply, a light circuit electrically connected with solid state light sources such as LEDs, and a driver circuit for receiving power from the power supply and providing power to drive the light sources. A light guide is coupled to the light sources for receiving and distributing light from the light sources, and a thermal guide is integrated with the light guide for providing thermal conduction from the light source for cooling the light. The separable connectors include a first connector for providing an electrical connection between the driver circuit and light circuit, a second connector for providing an electrical connection between the power supply and driver circuit, and a third connector for providing a ground connection to the driver circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Charles N. DeVore, Kayla A. Hagens, Wesley A. Raider, Larry A. Schleif, Steven Feldman, Steven A. Neu
-
Publication number: 20150222029Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing including a longitudinal bottom wall defining a plurality of contact openings for receiving a plurality of contacts, first and second side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing sides thereof, first and second end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing ends thereof, first and second pairs of latch openings at opposing ends of the bottom wall, and first and second protrusions extending upwardly from the bottom wall and disposed between respective first and second pairs of latch openings. Each latch opening extends through the bottom wall and through a side wall and is configured to allow a latch to eject a mating connector by moving within the opening. Each of the protrusions is configured to engage a corresponding opening in a latch of a mating connector cover or strain relief assembled to the electrical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Steven A. Neu, Alexander R. Mathews
-
Publication number: 20150085903Abstract: A wireless connector includes a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) (901, 902) disposed within a housing of the electronic system. Each PCB comprises a plurality of transceivers (910a, 910b, 920a, 920b) configured to wirelessly transmit and receive modulated carrier signals (910, 920). Each transceiver in the system is configured to receive signals transmitted by every other transceiver in the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Douglas B. Gundel, Zulfiqar A. Khan, Alexander W. Barr, Steven A. Neu
-
Publication number: 20140377980Abstract: An electrical contact terminal includes a base portion for positioning and retaining the electrical contact terminal within a connector housing, an insulation displacement connecting portion extending upwardly from the base portion and comprising a pair of spaced apart arms defining an opening therebetween for receiving and making electrical contact with an electrical conductor, and a contact portion extending downwardly from the base portion and configured to float when the electrical contact terminal is retained and positioned within a connector housing. The contact portion includes a first arm, a second arm, and an arcuate base portion. The first arm extends downwardly and includes a first end attached to the base portion and an opposite second end. The second arm extends downwardly and includes a free first end closer to the base portion and an opposite second end farther from the base portion. The second arm is configured to deflect when making electrical contact with a mating contact pin.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Publication number: 20140377971Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing. The connector housing includes a longitudinal bottom wall having a plurality of contact openings, first and second side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing sides of the bottom wall, first and second end walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall at opposing ends of the bottom wall, and first and second pairs of latch openings at opposing ends of the bottom wall. Each latch opening extends through the bottom wall and through a side wall and is configured to allow a latch to eject a mating connector by moving within the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2013Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Publication number: 20140370734Abstract: A latch for securing and ejecting a mating connector from a connector housing includes a hinge portion configured to pivotably attach the latch to a connector housing, an arm portion extending from a first side of the hinge portion along a first direction, and a pair of discrete spaced apart hinge arms extending from an opposite second side of the hinge portion along a second direction different than the first direction. The hinge arms are configured to eject the mating connector through a pair of corresponding spaced apart latch openings extending through a bottom wall and through side walls of the connector housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2013Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Publication number: 20140349513Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing including a longitudinal body portion and first and second pairs of opposing end portions. The body portion has a plurality of contact openings extending therein in an insertion direction for supporting a plurality of electrical contact terminals. The first and second pairs of opposing end portions extend from opposing ends of the body portion in the insertion direction. At least one end portion in each pair of opposing end portions includes a ridge extending in the insertion direction for guiding a cover latch along a side surface of the ridge and guiding a strain relief latch along an opposing side surface of the ridge. The ridge has an inclined top surface for resiliently deflecting a cover latch and an inclined side surface for resiliently deflecting a strain relief latch. The ridge has an end portion for latching onto a cover latch and a strain relief latch.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Publication number: 20140342596Abstract: A strain relief for an electrical cable includes a longitudinal base portion including curved side portions extending upwardly from opposing longitudinal sides thereof, and first and second opposing strain relief latches extending from opposing lateral sides of the base portion. Each latch includes a curved connecting portion extending from a lateral side of the base portion first curving upwardly and then curving downwardly and terminating at an arm portion that extends downwardly. The arm portion is configured to resiliently deflect outwardly to accommodate secure attachment of the strain relief to an electrical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Inventors: Alexander R. Mathews, Steven A. Neu, Steven Feldman
-
Publication number: 20140206218Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector comprising: at least one flexible electrically connecting element having a plurality of terminals at each end thereof; a first insulation element and a second insulation element configured to position said terminals for electrically connecting with a socket located on a printed circuit board, wherein said first insulation element has a first sidewall and said second insulation element has a second sidewall; and a supporting element having at least one sidewall, configured to engage with said first insulation element and second insulation element. Wherein a displacement space is defined between said at least one sidewall of said supporting element and at least one of said first sidewall and second sidewall to allow said first and second insulation elements to move relative to said supporting element. This present invention also provides an electrical connector assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Deng Liu, Qilin Chen, Steven Feldman, Steven A. Neu
-
Patent number: 8721350Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector comprising: at least one flexible electrically connecting element having a plurality of terminals at each end thereof; a first insulation element and a second insulation element configured to position said terminals for electrically connecting with a socket located on a printed circuit board, wherein said first insulation element has a first sidewall and said second insulation element has a second sidewall; and a supporting element having at least one sidewall, configured to engage with said first insulation element and second insulation element. Wherein a displacement space is defined between said at least one sidewall of said supporting element and at least one of said first sidewall and second sidewall to allow said first and second insulation elements to move relative to said supporting element. This present invention also provides an electrical connector assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Deng Liu, Qilin Chen, Steven Feldman, Steven A. Neu
-
Publication number: 20130257278Abstract: A light having integrated light and thermal guides and separable electrical connectors. The light has a base for connection to a power supply, a light circuit electrically connected with solid state light sources such as LEDs, and a driver circuit for receiving power from the power supply and providing power to drive the light sources. A light guide is coupled to the light sources for receiving and distributing light from the light sources, and a thermal guide is integrated with the light guide for providing thermal conduction from the light source for cooling the light. The separable connectors include a first connector for providing an electrical connection between the driver circuit and light circuit, a second connector for providing an electrical connection between the power supply and driver circuit, and a third connector for providing a ground connection to the driver circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Charles N. DeVore, Kayla A. Hagens, Wesley A. Raider, Larry A. Schleif, Steven Feldman, Steven A. Neu