Patents by Inventor Steven E. Minich

Steven E. Minich 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).

  • Publication number: 20090170351
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector assembly adapted to isolate shock forces during mating. Such an electrical connector assembly may include a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a first guide module. The second electrical connector may be adapted to mate with the first electrical connector. The first guide module may be located adjacent to the first electrical connector and may include an opening for receiving a first guide post. There may be no direct mechanical attachment between the first electrical connector and the first guide module. Such an arrangement, may isolate the first electrical connector from any forces created by the mating of the guide post with the opening of the guide module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7553170
    Abstract: A surface mount electrical connector is disclosed. Such an electrical connector may include a connector housing and a leadframe assembly received into the connector housing. he connector housing may define a first planar surface, and have a first rigidity. The leadframe assembly may have a second rigidity that is greater than the first rigidity. Thus, the leadframe assembly may cause the first surface to remain planar at a solder reflow temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20090159314
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include a first connector with electrically-conductive contacts. The contacts may have blade-shaped mating ends, and may be arranged in a centerline. The electrical connector may include a second connector with electrically-conductive receptacle contacts, which may also be arranged in a centerline. The connectors may be mated such that the mating portion of a first contact in the second connector may physically contact of a corresponding blade-shaped mating end of a contact in the first connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jonathan E. Buck
  • Publication number: 20090149041
    Abstract: An orthogonal backplane connector systems having midplane footprints that provide for continuity of impedance and signal integrity through the midplane and allow for the same connector to be coupled to either side of the midplane. This design creates an orthogonal interconnect without taking up unnecessary PCB real estate. The midplane circuit board may include a first differential signal pair of electrically conductive vias disposed in a first direction, and a second differential signal pair of electrically conductive vias disposed in a second direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second differential signal pair of electrically conductive vias are electrically connected through the midplane circuit board. Each pair may be associated with and be located in between ground vias. A ground via that is large relative to the signal vias may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Danny L.C. Morlion, Steven E. Minich, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7540744
    Abstract: In an electrical system, such as an orthogonal, midplane architecture, backdrilling vias may enable selective connectivity to components of the midplane board without custom connectors and/or contacts. A first contact and a second contact may be received within a shared backdrilled via at opposite ends. The backdrilled via may establish electrical connectivity between the first contact and an internal conductive path of a midplane board. Because the backdrilling removes a portion of the via, the first contact and the second contact may be electrically isolated. The electrically conductive path between the first mounting contact and the internal conductive layer may be used for low-speed communications channel, power, ground, control signaling, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20090124101
    Abstract: Connector systems include electrical connectors orthogonally connected to each other through shared through-holes in a midplane. An orthogonal vertical connector includes jogged contacts to offset for or equalize the different length contacts in the right-angle connector to which the vertical connector is connected. A first contact in the right angle connector may mate with a first contact in the vertical connector. A second contact in the right angle connector may mate with a second contact in the vertical connector. The first contact in the right angle connector may be greater in length than the adjacent second contact of the right angle connector. Thus, the second contact of the vertical connector may be jogged by the distance to increase the length of the second contact by the distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Danny L.C. Morlion
  • Publication number: 20090117781
    Abstract: Disclosed are electrical connectors and methods of assembling an electrical connector having “standard” (i.e., with electrical contacts having in-line tails), jogged (i.e., with electrical contacts having jogged tails but not connected orthogonally to another connector through a substrate), and/or “orthogonal” (i.e., with electrical contacts having jogged tails that are used in an orthogonal application) leadframe assemblies in the same connector. This provides the flexibility of using some of the available contacts in an orthogonal application and, at the same time, having remaining contacts available for routing on the midplane PCB. Though this could be done using only orthogonal leadframe assemblies, the combination of standard leadframe assemblies with orthogonal leadframe assemblies creates additional spacing between the PCB vias, so that signal traces can be more easily routed on the midplane PCB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas M. Johnescu, Steven E. Minich, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7503804
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an organizer for a backplane connector. The organizer includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion. The first extending portion includes a plurality of first openings. The plurality of first openings are configured to receive at least one first projecting member from a first side of a plurality of leadframe assemblies. The second extending portion is connected to the first extending portion. The second extending portion includes a plurality of second openings configured to receive at least one second projecting member from a second side of the leadframe assemblies. The second extending portion includes at least one contact section configured to be electrically connected to an electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7500871
    Abstract: Connector systems include electrical connectors orthogonally connected to each other through shared through-holes in a midplane. An orthogonal vertical connector includes jogged contacts to offset for or equalize the different length contacts in the right-angle connector to which the vertical connector is connected. A first contact in the right angle connector may mate with a first contact in the vertical connector. A second contact in the right angle connector may mate with a second contact in the vertical connector. The first contact in the right angle connector may be greater in length than the adjacent second contact of the right angle connector. Thus, the second contact of the vertical connector may be jogged by the distance to increase the length of the second contact by the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Danny L. C. Morlion
  • Patent number: 7497736
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include a first connector with electrically-conductive contacts. The contacts may have blade-shaped mating ends, and may be arranged in a centerline. The electrical connector may include a second connector with electrically-conductive receptacle contacts, which may also be arranged in a centerline. The connectors may be mated such that the mating portion of a first contact in the second connector may physically contact of a corresponding blade-shaped mating end of a contact in the first connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jonathan E. Buck
  • Patent number: 7445453
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a pickup cap for an electrical connector includes a first portion having a substantially planar major surface. The pickup cap also includes a first and a second beam extending from the first portion for interferedly engaging projecting features on the electrical connector so that the pickup cap can be held on the electrical connector by frictional forces between the projecting features and the first and second beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Gregory A. Hull
  • Patent number: 7442054
    Abstract: An electrical connector according to the invention may include a first signal contact that defines a first side and a first edge, wherein the first side is greater in length than the first edge, the first edge having a first edge width, and a second signal contact that defines a second side and a second edge, wherein the second side is greater in length that the second edge, the second edge having a second edge width. The first signal contact and the second signal contact may be positioned edge-to-edge. A gap may be defined between the first edge of the first signal contact and the second edge of the second signal contact. The gap may have a gap width that is approximately equal to at least one of the first edge width and the second edge width. The connector may have a column pitch, and the gap width may be based on the column pitch. The gap width may be approximately 0.3-0.4 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Lemke, Steven E. Minich, Joseph B. Shuey, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20080261417
    Abstract: A right-angle electrical connector is disclosed. The right-angle electrical connector may include an electrically conductive contact and a connector housing that contains the electrically conductive contact. The electrically conductive contact may define a mounting end and a mating end. The connector housing may include a mating portion and a guide portion. The mating portion may receive the mating end of the electrically conductive contact. The mating portion may define a mating plane. The guide portion may be connected to the mating portion and may define a guide plane orthogonal to the mating plane. The guide portion may extend beyond the mating portion. The mating portion may also define a mounting plane. The mounting plane may be orthogonal to the mating plane. The guide portion may define a void between the guide plane and the mounting plane, suitable for receiving a header wall of a complementary connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080248693
    Abstract: A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector is disclosed. Such a connector may include a first column of electrical contacts comprising a first arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by first ground contacts, and a second column of electrical contacts adjacent to the first column, the second column of electrical contacts comprising a second arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by second ground contacts. The connector may be devoid of electrical shield plates between the first column of electrical contacts and the second column of electrical contacts. The connector may be capable of transferring differential signals at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second through the connector while producing no more than an acceptable level of cross talk on any of the differential signal pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Winings, Joseph B. Shuey, Timothy A. Lemke, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Timothy W. Houtz, Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7431616
    Abstract: A connector may include lead frame assemblies that each includes contacts arranged in a column. Differential signal pairs may be formed from contacts of adjacent lead frame assemblies. A contact of such differential signal pairs may be staggered along the lead frame assembly with respect to the other contact of the pair. Additionally, adjacent lead frame assemblies may be structurally identical but one of the lead frame assemblies may be rotated 180° with respect to the adjacent lead frame assembly. A connector may include contacts that may be front loaded so that, after the connector is connected to a substrate, individual contacts may be removed without removing the connector from the substrate. The connectors may be capable of being rotated 90° relative to one another such that they may be connected to opposite sides of a substrate such as a midplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080207038
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an electrical connector includes a housing having a body. The body defines a contact-receiving aperture extending therethrough, and a heat-transfer aperture extending therethrough in substantially the same direction as the contact-receiving aperture for facilitating circulation of air through the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080203547
    Abstract: An insert molded leadframe assembly (IMLA) for an electrical connector is disclosed. The IMLA may include an array of electrically conductive contacts, a dielectric leadframe housing overmolded onto the array of contacts, and a mass disposed within the leadframe housing. The additional mass may shift the IMLA's center of gravity, thereby providing a counterbalance to a non-proportional ball-grid array connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7407413
    Abstract: An electrical connector system is disclosed and may include a header connector and a receptacle connector. The contacts in the header connector may be edge-coupled to limit the level of cross-talk between adjacent signal contacts. For example, a differential signal in a first signal pair may produce a high-field in the gap between the contacts that form the signal pair, and a low-field near a second, adjacent signal pair. The contacts in the receptacle connector may be broadside-coupled and configured to receive the contacts from the header connector while minimizing signal skew. For example, the overall length of the contacts within a differential signal pair may be the same. The contacts in the connector system may include differential signal pairs, single-ended contacts, and/or ground contacts. The connector system may be devoid of any electrical shielding between the signal contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080176453
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include a first connector with electrically-conductive contacts. The contacts may have blade-shaped mating ends, and may be arranged in a centerline. The electrical connector may include a second connector with electrically-conductive receptacle contacts, which may also be arranged in a centerline. The connectors may be mated such that the mating portion of a first contact in the second connector may physically contact of a corresponding blade-shaped mating end of a contact in the first connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jonathan E. Buck
  • Publication number: 20080153330
    Abstract: A pickup cap for an electrical connector is disclosed. The pickup cap may include a planar body portion and a plurality of opposing legs extending from a side of the body portion. A respective friction pad may extend from each leg. The friction pads may be received into complementary slots in the housing of an electrical connector. Friction between the friction pads and walls that define the slots may be sufficient to secure the pickup cap to the connector. The planar body portion may include a pickup portion. When the pickup cap is received into the connector housing, the legs may bow slightly. The pickup portion, however, may remain generally planar, and generally parallel to the mating plane defined by the vertical connector, even when the pickup cap is fully inserted into the connector housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich