Abstract: An IC card adapter includes a printed circuit board attached on a first edge to solder tails extending from a first connector and on an opposing second edge to solder tails extending from a second connector. The printed circuit board, first connector and second connector form a subassembly. The subassembly is provided with a first keyed interlock surface which mates with a second keyed interlock surface on a lower molded housing adapted to receive the subassembly. The first and second keyed interlock surfaces orient the subassembly and lower housing. The lower molded housing also includes a first latching member which snap-fits with a second latching member on an upper molded housing. When the lower and upper housings are engaged, they define a cavity which encloses the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for use with a circuit card which has a generally planar substrate having multiple conductive elements disposed along at least one edge thereof. Each of the conductive elements is coupled to an electrically conductive trace on the surface of the planar substrate, and at least one conductive cover panel is provided which may be mounted to the planar substrate. An electrical coupling which includes multiple electrical contacts for external connection to the circuit card is provided, and each of the multiple electrical contacts is then coupled to an associated electrical terminal, such as a solder tail, which may then be mated to one of the multiple conductive elements on the planar substrate. A grounding clip is then mounted on at least one of the associated electrical terminals.

Abstract: An IC card assembly includes a one piece molded housing having an open end and a cavity formed therein. The open end includes an interface having a plurality of keyed first interlock surfaces. An IC card is attached to a connector. The connector has a mating interface including second interlock surfaces keyed into oriented engagement with the keyed first interlock surfaces. Spacers are provided for maintaining spacing between the housing and opposed surfaces of the card. Interacting latch members secure the engagement of the connector and the housing.

Abstract: An electrical socket contact which is connectable to a pin contact by insertion movement of the pin contact into the socket contact in an insertion direction. The socket contact includes: a body portion having elements for securing the socket contact in an opening in a receptacle housing so that the body portion is fixed in position in the receptacle; a first beam cantilevered to the body portion; a second beam having a proximal end cantilevered to the first beam and having a distal end spaced a distance from the first beam in a direction away from the first beam and parallel to the insertion direction; a first contact element located at the distal end of the second beam; a support arm secured to the proximal end of the second beam and having a distal end spaced a distance from the proximal end of the second beam in a direction away from the first beam and parallel to the insertion direction; and a second contact element located at the distal end of the support arm.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an electrical connector by the steps of: providing a housing of thermoplastic material having a front surface which will constitute an exterior surface of the connector, a rear surface and an opening extending to the rear surface; installing a conductive contact member so that at least a portion of the conductive contact member is positioned in the opening; and heating a portion of the housing adjacent the rear surface while displacing the portion of the housing to a location to extend across the opening and to contact the conductive contact member, and then allowing the portion of the housing to solidify at that location. The electrical connector may initially have a through opening which extends between the front and rear surfaces and the portion of the housing which is heated will be displaced in a manner to close the opening.

Abstract: An improved IC card construction eliminates the need for a frame thereby increasing the space available within the IC card and the available substrate or PCB surface area making possible the use of additional integrated circuits or other electronic components. The frameless IC card of the invention includes a housing comprising top and bottom covers having interconnected longitudinal side margins providing a rigid IC card housing structure.

Abstract: Microstrip transmission of electrical signals between two arrays of signal conductors such as two printed circuit boards is maintained in an electrical connector in which signal contacts are disposed on opposite sides of the central ground bus. Signal contacts are urged inwardly into engagement with a central dielectric wall and a ground bus is similarly urged outwardly into engagement with the same wall to establish the microstrip configuration between each row of terminals in the central ground bus. The receptacle connector includes a right angle bend and signal contacts as well as the ground bus also have a right angle bend. The insulative housing of a right angle connector comprises upper and lower housing members which are snapped into engagement. Resilient arms, forming a part of the connector mounting assembly on the upper housing member, engage the lower housing member to hold it in place.

Abstract: A surface accessible wiring system for the distribution of power and signal conductors such as telephone or data conductors is disclosed. A raceway comprises a channel member having a plurality of compartments, a cover which can be securely snapped to the raceway channel and a plurality of connector housings. Each raceway component is extruded from a material such as aluminum. Ribs on the cover and the connector housings are securely snapped into engagement with lips on the channels so that the covers can only be removed with the use of a tool. The channels are shallow so that the raceway assembly can be mounted substantially flush with the exterior surface of a wall or a wall panel, either at the base or top of the wall or at desk level.

Abstract: A raceway assembly employing snap-on outlet covers is disclosed. The raceway has multiple compartments extending longitudinally for carrying conductors such as standard house wiring power conductors and telephone or data conductors. Separate outlet housings each comprise a one piece, generally metal, bracket having a front wall on a parallel back wall. Insulative end walls are secured to enclose the interior of the receptacle housings. The brackets have openings in the front wall and outlet conductors, such as duplex receptacles or modular telephone jacks, are secured to the front wall. Access to one compartment is provided by a cutout in the rear wall and the rear wall covers the entire portion of the other compartment. Brackets can be positioned side-by-side with multiple outlet connectors or receptacles being positioned on the same centerline.

Abstract: A surface mount, miniature connector with an integral power or ground bus bar is formed by a pair of mating housing members each defining a mating face and an oppositely-directed surface mount face with a plurality of terminal passages extending between the faces. A like plurality of terminals is provided, each mounted in a respective passage with a mating portion directed towards the mating face and a solder tail extending from the surface mount face. Each housing is provided with an elongated longitudinally extending groove which receives therein an elongated rigid conductive bus bar member having at least one leg which extends beyond the surface mounting face of the respective housing. Each bus bar is of sufficient length to bus at least one connector housing and to provide strength to the underlying circuit board and prevent the connector from being pulled off the mounting surface during connector unmating.

Abstract: A surface applied electrical raceway assembly comprising an extruded rear panel and an extruded cover which form a plurality of elongate compartments for deploying wires or other electrical conductors is disclosed. At any position along its length, the raceway can be attached to hanger brackets mounted on a wall. Continuous recesses including a tongue and groove configuration on the exterior of the rear panel and channels in at least one compartment permit attachment of the raceway to the hangers at any position and the installation of interfaces, such as standard duplex outlets, at any position along the raceway length. A storage compartment for receiving excess plug cables is also disclosed. The rear panel and the covers can be cut to length and together with accessory fittings can be used to form customized raceways with outlets at any desired location.

Abstract: A connector formed of mating connector halves for interconnecting corresponding conductive traces of opposed printed circuit boards. Each connector half is formed of an insulative housing with electrical elements. The electrical elements include terminals of separable signal contacts arranged in rows and a central blade-like bus functioning as a reference ground plane or as a power member. When the connector halves are mechanically joined, they will electrically interconnect conductive traces of one printed circuit board with conductive traces of the other printed circuit board.

Abstract: A surface mount electrical connector for use on printed circuit boards including plug and receptacle connectors is disclosed for use with parallel and perpendicular printed circuit boards. Box and pin terminals are positioned in rows adjacent a ground bus. The connectors are attached to the boards by posts on the ground bus. The terminals are insertable in cavities in the connector housings and can be retained in a partially inserted position. Mounting the connector housing on the printed circuit board independently inserts the terminals fully into housing cavities with compliant solder tails on each terminal being in contact with conductive pads on the boards despite deformities or warpage of the boards.

Abstract: A raintight electrical junction box is disclosed for use outdoors and includes a base member having a peripheral channel while the cover has a labyrinth profiled to be received in the channel, when the cover is placed over the base member. The mating geometry of the labyrinth and the channel provide a gasketless peripheral seal between the cover and base member.

Abstract: A watertight enclosure for use in an outdoor junction box for use in housing electrical connections such as solar panel installations includes a mating base and cover. The base is bounded by an upstanding peripheral wall having a channel profiled in the top. The mating cover has an outwardly facing channel formed by upper and lower peripheral parallel flanges. The lower flange on the cover fits into the channel in the box member and the upper flange overlaps the outer wall leaving a slight gap providing the only opening to the otherwise enclosed duct about the periphery of the assembly. Wires passing through bores in the upstanding wall are sealed by compressing elastomeric spheres which bore into conformity with the wires passing therethrough.

Abstract: A surface mount, miniature connector with an integral power or ground bus bar is formed by a pair of mating housing members each defining a mating face and an oppositely-directed surface mount face with a plurality of terminal passages extending between the faces. A like plurality of terminals is provided, each mounted in a respective passage with a mating portion directed towards the mating face and a solder tail extending from the surface mount face. Each housing is provided with an elongated longitudinally extending groove which receives therein an elongated rigid conductive bus bar member having at least one leg which extends beyond the surface mounting face of the respective housing. Each bus bar is of sufficient length to bus at least one connector housing and to provide strength to the underlying circuit board and prevent the connector from being pulled off the mounting surface during connector unmating.

Abstract: A telephone line tester is a self-contained unit which, when plugged into a premise wiring telephone jack, determines whether or not a signal of adequate power is being received. If a satisfactory signal is received, the tester will give a visual indication thereby denoting the operating condition of the telephone normally connected to the jack.

Abstract: Connector for right angle printed circuit board interface comprises two-piece dielectric housing with right angle contact elements therein each having a first arm and a second arm with respective first and second ends. First ends are pins fixed to a daughter card while second ends are compliant with surface contacts on a mother board. Compliance is provided by lateral flexure of first arms while the second arms move axially as second ends bear against surface contact. The second arms have bearing portions at an oblique angle to the board which are resiliently disposed against like angled surfaces in the housing so that second ends shift laterally during application to provide wiping. An aligning fixture on the mother board also serves as keying means.

Abstract: Nodal contacts for piezoelectric audio transducer comprise an annular surface in a conductive housing member which is attached resiliently to a circuit board. The transducer is clamped resiliently between the annular surface and first and second contacts mounted to the board. The first contact is situated on a semicircular wall which forms a resonant cavity and the second contact is situated on a post in an aperture defined by the wall. An alternative embodiment utilizes a plastic housing member with slots in the top thereof which allow resilience of the annular surface.