Abstract: The invention provides a connector that incorporates an insert that may protect the contacts of a card slot. The insert may also double as a structural member so that the opening of the card slot does not deform. The insert may be a device that engages the card slot of an edge card. In one embodiment, the insert may include a wall stop, a grip, and a protective member. The grip may extend from a back side of the wall stop and the protective member may extend from a front side of the wall stop.

Abstract: Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of power contacts include two or more opposing contact beams of a first type that are spaced apart along at least a portion of the length thereof when the power contact is in an unmated state; and two or more opposing contact beams of a second type. The contact beams of the second type are spaced apart so that the contact beams of the second type pinch the contact beams of the first type when the power contact is mated with a mating contact, thereby causing the contact beams of the first type of deflect inwardly toward each other.

Abstract: Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact.

Abstract: Methods for setting contact height in an electrical connector are disclosed. Each of a plurality of electrical contacts may be seated in a connector housing such that each contact has a respective initial height relative to the housing. At least one of the contacts is pressed on such that, after the pressing, each of the contacts has approximately the same height relative to the connector housing. The pressing may bend the at least one contact at least until it has set. Before the pressing, the initial contact heights have a first tolerance. After the pressing the pressed contact heights have a second tolerance that is smaller than the first tolerance. The pressing operation bends the contacts to a point that exceeds the yielding limit of the contact material, and may deform the contacts such that the several contacts have about the same contact height relative to the connector housing.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of an electrical connector includes a housing, a wafer positioned adjacent the housing and being movable in relation to the housing, a first contact extending through the housing, a first fusible element mounted on an end of the first contact for securing the first contact to the housing and to a first location on a substrate, a second contact extending through the housing and the wafer and being movable in relation to the housing, and a second fusible element mounted on an end of the second contact for securing the second contact to a second location on the substrate so that the second contact can deflect substantially independent of the housing and the first contact in response to relative movement between the housing and the second location on the substrate.

Abstract: A retention member aligns and stabilizes one or more insert molded lead assemblies (IMLAs) in an electrical connector. The retention member provides for alignment and stability in the x-, y-, and z-directions. Such a retention member may be in connection with a right angle header connector. The retention member provides stability by maintaining the true positioning of the terminal ends of the contacts. The retention member is expandable in length, and may be sized and shaped to fit a single header assembly or multiple position configurations.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: A retention member aligns and stabilizes one or more insert molded lead assemblies (IMLAs) in an electrical connector. The retention member provides for alignment and stability in the x-, y-, and z-directions. Such a retention member may be in connection with a right angle header connector. The retention member provides stability by maintaining the true positioning of the terminal ends of the contacts. The retention member is expandable in length, and may be sized and shaped to fit a single header assembly or multiple position configurations.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a modular electrical connector includes a plug having a printed circuit board, a contact finger positioned on a portion of the printed circuit board, and a housing for supporting and constraining the printed circuit board so that the portion of the printed circuit board extends from the housing. The printed circuit board has a flexible portion that permits the portion of the printed circuit board to translate in relation to the housing. The modular electrical connector also includes a receptacle for mating with the plug and having a first contact for electrically contacting the contact finger when the plug and the receptacle are mated, and a housing having a slot formed therein for receiving the portion of the printed circuit board when the plug and the receptacle are mated.

Abstract: Electrical connectors and contacts are disclosed. An electrical connector having a contact receiving well extending along a contact receiving direction, and having a generally T-shaped cross-section along a direction transverse to the contact receiving direction. An electrical contact may be received in the contact receiving well. The contact may include a generally planar body portion, a groove and shoulder for use with a pressing tool, a first contact portion extending from a first end of the body portion, and a second contact portion extending from a second end of the body portion. The contact is adapted to be received into a generally T-shaped contact receiving well to prevent movement of the electrical contact therein. The electrical contact includes burrs formed by stamping to cut into the receiving well, and a contact tail with double bend, allowing the tail to float within a cavity of the contact receiving well.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing; a plurality of electrical contacts connected to the housing, and fusible elements. Each contact includes a fusible element mounting post and a deflectable spring arm with a contact surface. The electrical contacts each include a blanked, substantially flat metal member. The fusible elements are connected to the fusible element mounting posts.

Abstract: A receptacle comprises a receptacle housing having a body, a plug interface portion extending therefrom, and a contact support member with pivot areas formed therein for urging contacts disposed in the housing into alignment. A receptacle further comprises a shielding shell having cantilevered beams formed therein. The shielding shell has a projection extending therefrom for contacting a latch arm extending from the receptacle housing. A shielding gasket is disposed around the shielding shell and has overlapping rows of beams extending therefrom. The shielding gasket also has a projection extending therefrom that is situated in a channel formed in a latch arm. The latch arm is formed as part of a latch plate comprising a latch bar, two latch arms, and at least one projection for contacting ground.

Abstract: A header assembly is mounted to a backplane and receives a complementary electrical connector. The header assembly has an insulating shroud having a base with backplane and connector sides and a primary edge, and differential signal pin pairs, ground shields, and ground pins mounted to the base. The signal pin pairs are arranged into rows extending in a first direction along the base and along the base primary edge, and columns extending in a perpendicular second direction along the base. The signal pins in each pair are adjacently arranged into a sub-row extending in the first direction. Each signal pin in a pair has an inner side facing the other pin in the pair, an opposing outer side, and primary and non-primary sides facing toward and away from the base primary edge, respectively. One ground shield is associated with each signal pin. Each ground shield extends through the base between the connector side and the backplane side, and includes first and second attached wings arranged at right angles.

Abstract: A header for interconnecting electrical components comprises at least one column of conductors interposed between ground planes, wherein the column of conductors comprises at least a first, second and third conductor. The first conductor is a ground line, the second and third conductors are signal lines, and the first conductor is electrically connected to one of the ground planes, wherein the second conductor is positioned in the column in interposed relation between said first and third conductor.

Abstract: A receptacle for an electrical connector comprising a housing having a first face and a second face, a plurality of electrical terminals each extending from the first face to the second face, and a plurality of longitudinal sides interposed between the first face and the second face. Conductive shielding is superimposed over at least some of the longitudinal sides, and includes latches extending into the housing and proximal to at least some of the electrical terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a daughter and a mother printed wiring board. A receptacle is connected to one board on one face and to the header on the other. The header has a conductive housing with opposed end walls and a medial pin receiving wall where it is connected to the other board. The receptacle housing is electrically connected to the header conductive housing by removable springs extending from the end walls of the header housing and separate removable grounding pins extend to a printed wiring board from the medial wall.