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: 20080146053
    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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080146046
    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: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7387535
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a connector housing and a leadframe assembly received in the connector housing. The leadframe assembly may include a dielectric leadframe housing and first and second electrically-conductive contacts extending through the leadframe housing. Each of the contacts may define a respective broadside and a respective mating end. The leadframe housing may define a hinge between the mating ends of the first and second contacts. The leadframe housing may be folded along the hinge such that the broadside of the first contact is positioned along the broadside of the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7384289
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7354274
    Abstract: An connector assembly comprises a first connector comprising a first plurality of compliant electrical contacts arranged in first a linear array, a first insertion side, and a first opposed end. The illustrative connector assembly also comprises a second connector comprising a second plurality of compliant electrical contacts arranged in a second linear array, a second insertion side, and a second opposed end. The second plurality of compliant electrical contacts face and are parallel to the first plurality of compliant electrical contacts. The second plurality of compliant electrical contacts are spaced apart from the first linear array of electrical contacts and form a recess there between having an insertion end and termination end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7347719
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a connector system includes a first electrical connector for mounting on a first substrate. The first electrical connector has a housing, and a contact mounted on the housing. The connector system also includes a second electrical connector for mounting on a second substrate. The second electrical connector includes a housing having a projection formed thereon, and a contact mounted on the housing. The second electrical connector is capable of mating with the first electrical connector so that the contact of the first electrical connector electrically contacts the contact of the second electrical connector and the projection contacts the first substrate so that at least a portion of the weight of the second electrical connector and the second substrate is transmitted to the first substrate by way of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean E. Geibel, Steven E. Minich, Donald K. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7347740
    Abstract: A lead frame assembly is disclosed in which holes may be formed in contacts of the assembly and a dielectric material extends along a length of the contact. The dielectric material may be further secured to the contact by filling the hole. The dielectric material may span across two or more contacts of the lead frame assembly and also across gaps formed between the contacts, or may span across an entire side of a lead frame assembly. The dielectric material may add mechanical strength and robustness to the lead frame assembly while helping to reduce dust accumulation on electrical contacts of the assembly. The dielectric material may abut only one side of one or more contacts in the lead frame assembly and thus may not affect edge-coupling effect of contacts that form differential signal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7344391
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises two signal contacts, each having an L-shaped body portion, a first contact arm connected to a first end of the L-shaped body portion, and a second contact arm also connected to the first end of the L-shaped body portion. For each signal contact, the first contact arm and the second contact arm define a plug contact receiving space therebetween, and the L-shaped body extends from a first end to a second end opposite the first end. The signal contacts are positioned so that an edge of each of the L-shaped bodies is proximate and opposite the edge of the other signal contact, thereby electrically edge coupling the contacts. The edges of the L-shaped bodies may extend along the entire length of the bodies and along the contact arms, thereby providing electrical edge coupling throughout the length of the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080045079
    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: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Danny L.C. Morlion
  • Patent number: 7331830
    Abstract: A high-density orthogonal connector is disclosed and may include electrical contacts that are configured to receive contacts from an orthogonal header connector while minimizing signal skew and signal reflection. The electrical contacts in the connector may define contact pairs (e.g., differential signal pairs). Each contact pair may include a lead portion and a mating interface that extends from the lead portion. The lead portions of the contact pair may define a first plane. One contact of the contact pair defines a first mating interface defining a second plane and the other contact in the contact pair defines a second mating interface defining a third plane. The second plane and the third plane may be both substantially parallel to and offset from the first plane in opposite directions. The contact pair may be configured such that the overall length of each contact within the pair may be substantially the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7331800
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20080026637
    Abstract: A card assembly includes two spaced-apart circuit boards defining an interior region between the cards. Connectors may be mounted on the circuit boards and be located within the interior region. That is, respective interior sides of the circuit boards may face each other and the interior region. A connector may be mounted on each interior side. Mounting the connectors in the interior region provides an assembly that defines a mating footprint that is independent of the respective thicknesses, and variations in the thicknesses, of the spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7320609
    Abstract: A card assembly includes two spaced-apart circuit boards defining an interior region between the cards. Connectors may be mounted on the circuit boards and be located within the interior region. That is, respective interior sides of the circuit boards may face each other and the interior region. A connector may be mounted on each interior side. Mounting the connectors in the interior region provides an assembly that defines a mating footprint that is independent of the respective thicknesses, and variations in the thicknesses, of the spaced-apart printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7318757
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include a connector housing and a plurality of identical leadframe assemblies received in the connector housing. Each of the leadframe assemblies may define a leadframe mating sequence. The leadframe assemblies may be arranged relative to one another to define a connector mating sequence that differs from the leadframe mating sequence. Each leadframe assembly may define a leadframe mounting footprint. The leadframe assemblies may be arranged relative to one another such that the leadframe mounting footprints are staggered, i.e., offset relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Publication number: 20080003879
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a connector housing and a leadframe assembly received in the connector housing. The leadframe assembly may include a dielectric leadframe housing and first and second electrically-conductive contacts extending through the leadframe housing. Each of the contacts may define a respective broadside and a respective mating end. The leadframe housing may define a hinge between the mating ends of the first and second contacts. The leadframe housing may be folded along the hinge such that the broadside of the first contact is positioned along the broadside of the second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7309257
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a connector housing and a leadframe assembly received in the connector housing. The leadframe assembly may include a dielectric leadframe housing and first and second electrically-conductive contacts extending through the leadframe housing. Each of the contacts may define a respective broadside and a respective mating end. The leadframe housing may define a hinge between the mating ends of the first and second contacts. The leadframe housing may be folded along the hinge such that the broadside of the first contact is positioned along the broadside of the second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7278856
    Abstract: A protective housing removably attached to an electrical connector to prevent damage to contacts of the connector during, for example, shipping or handling of the electrical connector before the connector is connected with an electrical device such as a second electrical connector. The contact protector may include a pull portion of adhesive tape that abuts a housing of the electrical connector, creating an interference fit. The contact protector may include a handle integrated with the contact protector to facilitate removal of the contact protector from the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7258551
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a wafer having flexible members that allow the wafer to expand or contract in response to movement of solder pads on a PCB. As a PCB to which a connector is attached is heated during, for example, normal use, it may expand, which may result in the outward movement of the solder balls at the point of connection with the PCB. The flexible members in the wafer enable the wafer to likewise expand so that it does not impede the movement of the solder connections and cause a stress to be placed on the solder connections at the PCB connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7247050
    Abstract: An electrical contact having a body portion and an curvaceous tail portion extending from the body portion is disclosed. The tail portion may include first and second curved portions defining first and second points of contact, respectively. The first and second points of contact may be offset from one another in a direction of insertion and may be separated by a distance measured perpendicular to the direction of insertion. The distance may be greater than the diameter of a through-hole into which the contact is intended to be inserted. At least a portion of the tail portion may be adapted to rotate upon insertion into the through-hole. The tail portion may exert a force on the sidewalls of the through-hole sufficient to retain the electrical contact in the through-hole. The tail portion may also include a sharp tip that digs into the through-hole plating, thereby impeding movement of the tail portion in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7229318
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array is arranged in a first pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts. The second linear array is arranged in a second pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts that is different from the first pattern. The signal contacts define differential signal pairs. The signal contacts in the first linear array are elongated along a direction along which the first linear array extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Winings, Joseph B. Shuey, Timothy A. Lemke, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Josef Sercu, Timothy W. Houtz, Steven E. Minich