Patents by Inventor Steven J. Millard

Steven J. Millard 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: 8241068
    Abstract: A pluggable connector that includes a connector housing having mating and loading ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The connector housing includes an insert cavity that opens to the mating end. The pluggable connector also includes a plug insert that is disposed within the insert cavity. The plug insert has an air core that extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The pluggable connector also including first and second differential pairs that extend along the longitudinal axis through the plug insert. Each of the first and second differential pairs includes two mating contacts that extend parallel to each other. The air core is located directly between the first and second differential pairs to control the electromagnetic coupling between the first and second differential pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Millard, Megha Shanbhag, Steven Lee Flickinger, Brian Williams, Kasthuri Sankar Damodhara
  • Patent number: 8231390
    Abstract: A flexible circuit is provided. The flexible circuit includes a circuit board mating end and a flexible body extending from the circuit board mating end. A conductive pathway extends through the flexible body to electrically couple circuit boards. A connector pad is positioned on the circuit board mating end. The conductive pathway electrically engages the connector pad. The connector pad is configured to electrically couple the flexible circuit to one of the circuit boards. A layer of uncured material extends between the connector pad and the conductive pathway. The layer of uncured material increases an impedance of the connector pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Millard, Dustin G. Rowe, Bruce A. Champion, Justin A. Pickel
  • Patent number: 8221139
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a front and a rear opposite the housing with a rear wall at the rear. The housing has a slot open through the front that receives a mating connector therein. The housing has contact openings through the rear wall and a ground clip channel in the rear wall open at the rear. Signal contacts are held in the housing and arranged in pairs. The signal contacts are received in corresponding contact openings and are arranged within the slot to mate with the mating connector. Ground contacts are held in the housing and are arranged between corresponding signal contacts. The ground contacts are received in corresponding contact openings and are arranged within the slot to mate with the mating connector. A ground clip is loaded into the ground clip channel. The ground clip engages the ground contacts to create a ground circuit between the ground contacts engaged by the ground clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jie Qin, Steven J. Millard, David W. Helster
  • Publication number: 20120064743
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a front and a rear opposite the housing with a rear wall at the rear. The housing has a slot open through the front that receives a mating connector therein. The housing has contact openings through the rear wall and a ground clip channel in the rear wall open at the rear. Signal contacts are held in the housing and arranged in pairs. The signal contacts are received in corresponding contact openings and are arranged within the slot to mate with the mating connector. Ground contacts are held in the housing and are arranged between corresponding signal contacts. The ground contacts are received in corresponding contact openings and are arranged within the slot to mate with the mating connector. A ground clip is loaded into the ground clip channel. The ground clip engages the ground contacts to create a ground circuit between the ground contacts engaged by the ground clip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jie QIN, Steven J. MILLARD, David W. HELSTER
  • Publication number: 20120052738
    Abstract: A pluggable connector that includes a connector housing having mating and loading ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The connector housing includes an insert cavity that opens to the mating end. The pluggable connector also includes a plug insert that is disposed within the insert cavity. The plug insert has an air core that extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The pluggable connector also including first and second differential pairs that extend along the longitudinal axis through the plug insert. Each of the first and second differential pairs includes two mating contacts that extend parallel to each other. The air core is located directly between the first and second differential pairs to control the electromagnetic coupling between the first and second differential pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: STEVEN J. MILLARD, MEGHA SHANBHAG, BRIAN J. WILLIAMS, KASTHURI SANKAR DAMODHARAN
  • Publication number: 20110312196
    Abstract: A flexible circuit is provided. The flexible circuit includes a circuit board mating end and a flexible body extending from the circuit board mating end. A conductive pathway extends through the flexible body to electrically couple circuit boards. A connector pad is positioned on the circuit board mating end. The conductive pathway electrically engages the connector pad. The connector pad is configured to electrically couple the flexible circuit to one of the circuit boards. A layer of uncured material extends between the connector pad and the conductive pathway. The layer of uncured material increases an impedance of the connector pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: STEVEN J. MILLARD, DUSTIN G. ROWE, BRUCE A. CHAMPION, JUSTIN D. PICKEL
  • Patent number: 8070514
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and substantially identical contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a plurality of sets in the housing. The contacts are configured to electrically couple with the mating connector. Each set of contacts is arranged to communicate a different type of data signal with the mating connector. Optionally, the contacts are formed as substantially identical pins. The different sets of contacts may concurrently communicate the different types of data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Allison Trout, James Lee Fedder, Juli S. Olenick, Steven J. Millard
  • Publication number: 20110292966
    Abstract: A flexible circuit configured to electrically couple circuit boards is provided. The flexible circuit includes opposite circuit board mating ends and a flexible body extending therebetween. Conductive pathways extend along the body of the flexible circuit to electrically couple the circuit boards. The flexible circuit also includes a temperature sensing circuit including leads having a distal end coupled to a temperature sensor and a temperature contact located proximate to one of circuit board mating ends. The temperature sensor is located at an intermediate position along the body between the circuit board mating ends. The temperature contact is configured to deliver temperature signals from the temperature sensor representative of a local flexible circuit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JUSTIN DENNIS PICKEL, STEVEN J. MILLARD
  • Patent number: 8033835
    Abstract: An interconnect assembly for interconnecting first and second electrical components includes a substrate having opposed first and second surfaces and a first array of contacts on the first surface for engaging corresponding elements on the first electrical component. The first array of contacts defines a compressible interface that mates with the first electrical component. The first array of contacts includes signal contacts transferring data signals across the compressible interface and the first array of contacts includes a combination of power contacts that jointly convey power across the compressible interface. The interconnect assembly also includes a second array of contacts on the second surface for engaging corresponding elements on the second electrical component. The second array of contacts having signal contacts electrically connected to the signal contact of the first array of contacts and power contacts electrically connected to the power contacts of the second array of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Mulfinger, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Richard Elof Hamner, Steven J. Millard
  • Publication number: 20110151687
    Abstract: An interconnect assembly for interconnecting first and second electrical components includes a substrate having opposed first and second surfaces and a first array of contacts on the first surface for engaging corresponding elements on the first electrical component. The first array of contacts defines a compressible interface that mates with the first electrical component. The first array of contacts includes signal contacts transferring data signals across the compressible interface and the first array of contacts includes a combination of power contacts that jointly convey power across the compressible interface. The interconnect assembly also includes a second array of contacts on the second surface for engaging corresponding elements on the second electrical component. The second array of contacts having signal contacts electrically connected to the signal contact of the first array of contacts and power contacts electrically connected to the power contacts of the second array of contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ROBERT NEIL MULFINGER, JASON M'CHEYNE REISINGER, RICHARD ELOF HAMNER, STEVEN J. MILLARD
  • Patent number: 7942680
    Abstract: A socket connector includes a housing having a mating interface configured to mate with an electronic component and a mounting interface configured to mount to a circuit board. Signal contacts are held by the housing and extend between the mating interface and the mounting interface. Power contacts are held by the housing and extend between the mating interface and the mounting interface. The power contacts are configured to transmit power from the circuit board to the electronic component. Each of the power contacts have at least one commoning element. A metallic power plate is coupled to the commoning elements of a plurality of the power contacts to electrically common the power contacts to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Robert MacDougall, Steven J. Millard, Brian Patrick Costello
  • Patent number: 7896698
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and substantially identical contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a plurality of sets in the housing. The contacts are configured to electrically couple with the mating connector. Each set of contacts is arranged to communicate a different type of data signal with the mating connector. Optionally the contacts are formed as substantially identical pins. The different sets of contacts may concurrently communicate the different types of data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Allison Trout, James Lee Fedder, Juli S. Olenick, Steven J. Millard
  • Publication number: 20110021077
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and substantially identical contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a plurality of sets in the housing. The contacts are configured to electrically couple with the mating connector. Each set of contacts is arranged to communicate a different type of data signal with the mating connector. Optionally, the contacts are formed as substantially identical pins. The different sets of contacts may concurrently communicate the different types of data signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Allison Trout, James Lee Fedder, Juli S. Olenick, Steven J. Millard
  • Patent number: 7867032
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are in the housing and configured to electrically connect the connector assembly with the mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a coaxial signal contact pattern. The coaxial signal contact pattern includes a center signal contact surrounded by contacts electrically connected to an electrical ground in a manner to emulate a coaxial connection with the mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Allison Trout, James Lee Fedder, Juli S. Olenick, Steven J. Millard
  • Publication number: 20100304603
    Abstract: A socket connector includes a housing having a mating interface configured to mate with an electronic component and a mounting interface configured to mount to a circuit board. Signal contacts are held by the housing and extend between the mating interface and the mounting interface. Power contacts are held by the housing and extend between the mating interface and the mounting interface. The power contacts are configured to transmit power from the circuit board to the electronic component. Each of the power contacts have at least one commoning element. A metallic power plate is coupled to the commoning elements of a plurality of the power contacts to electrically common the power contacts to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALAN ROBERT MACDOUGALL, STEVEN J. MILLARD, BRIAN PATRICK COSTELLO
  • Patent number: 7837479
    Abstract: A mezzanine connector assembly is configured to electrically interconnect first and second circuit boards. The connector assembly includes a mounting body, a mating body, contacts and dielectric layers. The mounting body is configured to be mounted to the first circuit board. The mating body is disposed opposite of the mounting body and is configured to mate with the second circuit board. The mating body is separated from the mounting body by a separation gap along a vertical direction. The contacts extend between the mounting body and the mating body along the vertical direction. The contacts are configured to be coupled with the first and second circuit boards to electrically join the first and second circuit boards. The dielectric layers discretely surround corresponding ones of the contacts in the separation gap between the mounting body and the mating body. The dielectric layers are separated from one another by an air gap in the separation gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Millard, Juli S. Olenick
  • Patent number: 7794233
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly couples a circuit board with at least one of a motherboard and a backplane board. The connector assembly includes a connector and a flexible circuit member. The connector has a mating interface and a mounting interface. The mating interface electrically couples the connector with the circuit board. The mounting interface secures the connector to the motherboard. The flexible circuit member electrically interconnects the mating and mounting interfaces with one another and with at least one of the motherboard and the backplane board. The flexible circuit member electrically interconnects the circuit board with the backplane board via a conductive pathway that bypasses the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Millard, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Richard Elof Hamner
  • Publication number: 20100227482
    Abstract: An electrical contact includes a conductor extending along a length between a tail and a tip. The conductor has a front mating interface configured to be engaged by a mating component such that the conductor is deflected rearwardly by the mating component. A mechanical support beam is disposed along a rear of the conductor and is configured to provide mechanical support for the conductor to resist rearward deflection of the conductor. Electrical conductivity of the conductor is greater than electrical conductivity of the mechanical support beam. Mechanical strength of the mechanical support beam is greater than mechanical strength of the conductor. Optionally, a flexible substrate may be provided between the conductor and the mechanical support beam, where the conductor has a length that extends along at least a portion of the length of the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALAN ROBERT MACDOUGALL, STEVEN J. MILLARD, JAMES A. LEIDY
  • Publication number: 20100128447
    Abstract: A memory module includes a circuit board having socket mating contacts at a socket interface and VRM contacts at a VRM interface. Memory devices are coupled to the circuit board. The memory devices are electrically connected to corresponding socket mating contacts and the memory devices are electrically connected to corresponding VRM contacts. A voltage regulator module is coupled to the circuit board at the VRM interface. The voltage regulator module is electrically connected to the VRM contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALAN ROBERT MACDOUGALL, STEVEN J. MILLARD, JAMES A. LEIDY
  • Publication number: 20100093189
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing and contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are in the housing and configured to electrically connect the connector assembly with the mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a coaxial signal contact pattern. The coaxial signal contact pattern includes a center signal contact surrounded by contacts electrically connected to an electrical ground in a manner to emulate a coaxial connection with the mating connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID ALLISON TROUT, JAMES LEE FEDDER, JULI S. OLENICK, STEVEN J. MILLARD