Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Sotolongo

Thomas J. Sotolongo 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: 4917616
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for use with a motherboard and a daughterboard in a backplane configuration is disclosed. The motherboard connector has an insulative housing with a plurality of signal pins and a plurality of power contacts. A ground bus having upstanding posts is located beween rows of signal pins. A daughterboard signal connector is separate from the daughterboard power, and the daughterboard signal connector has a plurality of ground blades which are matable with the ground bus between adjacent upstanding ground posts. Thus, a substantially constant spacing of signal contacts relative to ground can be maintained through the right angle motherboard/daughterboard connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry W. Demler, Jr., Frank P. Dola, David J. Kimmel, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4881905
    Abstract: A high speed, high density, controlled impedance connector for use between printed circuit boards is disclosed. The connector provides for both power and signal transmission. Closely spaced signal terminals are surrounded by dielectric sleeves positioned in an array, and the plural dielectric sleeves are in turn surrounded by an outer unitary cast conductive housing. The essentially coaxial configuration of the contacts permits minimal variations in the impedance along the length of the signal paths in the connector. The connector is fabricated by first positioning the dielectric sleeves in spaced relationship on prescribed centerlines and subsequently casting or molding the conductive outer housing around the sleeve array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry W. Demler, Jr., Frank P. Dola, David J. Kimmel, John H. Lauterbach, Thomas J. Sotolongo, Grover A. Zwieg
  • Patent number: 4875865
    Abstract: A coaxial electrical connector assembly including an insulative housing having a ground plate with a plurality of apertures sized to receive signal contacts without contact with the ground plate and other apertures sized to engage ground terminals is disclosed. Tabs formed by slits are deflected by the ground terminals inserted into these apertures. This coaxial connector can be employed as an input or output to signal and ground pins used in a backplane connector which form part of a backplane connector assembly for interconnection of a plurality of daughterboards to a motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry W. Demler, Jr., Frank P. Dola, David J. Kimmel, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4869676
    Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including signal interconnection, ground interconnection, and power interconnection means in both a motherboard connector and a daughterboard connector is disclosed. The motherboard connector consists of a single connector having signal terminals, ground terminals, and power terminals. The daughterboard connector assembly consists of a daughterboard signal housing having signal and ground terminals and a separate daughterboard power housing positioned on the opposite surface of the daughterboard from the daughterboard signal connector subassembly. Power terminals in both the motherboard connector and the daughterboard connector are oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard so that daughterboards having varying thicknesses can be employed. This invention can be used in a connector having a cast metallic outer shield or in a connector having a conventional insulative outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry W. Demler, Jr., Frank P. Dola, David J. Kimmel, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4867696
    Abstract: A backplane connector assembly including a motherboard connector and power and signal daughterboard connectors is disclosed. The motherboard connector has a signal section and a power section. Individual signal contacts are located in the signal section of the motherboard connector. A laminated power bus is located in the power section of the motherboard connector which is on the opposite side of the daughterboard from the signal section. Each of a plurality of separate busses in the laminated power bus has tabs extending from one edge and bent at right angles relative to the bus so that the tabs extend orthogonally relative to the daughterboard. This configuration permits daughterboards having different thicknesses to be mated inserted into the same motherboard connector. The laminated power bus permits power to be delivered externally of the motherboard to the daughterboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Henry W. Demler, Jr., Frank P. Dola, David J. Kimmel, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4772212
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly permitting interconnection of signal and ground conductors in a shielded flat cable to a standard connector member having a different signal ground configuration is disclosed. An adapter member having an insulative housing base and cover can be secured to the connector member. A plurality of signal terminals can be disposed in the base member to form insulation displacement terminations to the signal conductors. Separate ground shields surrounding associated pairs of conductors can be commoned using a ground terminal having a single transverse bus strip which is deployed over the cable in the insulative base. The assembled adapter base is received within an outer conductive shell which interconnects an outer cable shield to the outer conductive shell of the standard electrical connector to form a continuous shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4460232
    Abstract: Junction box for connecting plug members to two discrete bus bars in a solar module comprises a dielectric housing which is mounted on the module over tabs connected to respective bus bars. Housing has a pair of integral dielectric receptacle members having terminal members therein having planar blade portions which are engaged by plug members inserted in the receptacles. Terminals each have planar bus terminating portion parallel to floor of housing over aperture in floor which receives tabs therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: AMP, Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4310211
    Abstract: A high current connector system is disclosed for use with photovoltaic modules of the type employed by the solar energy industry. The connector provides quick and positive means of connecting an array of solar cells in a module to a common bus and with a harness connector. The connector is configured to protect against inadvertent electrical shock during mating or unmating of the connector. The connector plug member has a two stage assembly which in the first stage allows for free passage for a conductor through the plug housing and in the second assembly stage provides an environmentally sealed condition for the plug with the seal also serving as a strain relief for the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward D. Bunnell, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4240688
    Abstract: A floor fixture adapted for use with flat undercarpet power distribution systems has a face plate with a snap-in retaining feature requiring no screws and a mounting arrangement which allows for rotation of the fixture after installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1980
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4240687
    Abstract: A transition block connector for use in interconnecting flat conductors and round conductors which provides a minimum connection profile. The connector employs formed contacts which pierce the flat conductor insulation to establish electrical contact without conductor damage, and standard round wire screw type termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1980
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward D. Bunnell, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4224464
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a pre-assembled liquid tight connector for use with flexible jacketed metallic conduit. The connector is comprised of a body member, an electrical ground sleeve, an O-Ring and a gland nut which are assembled as a single unit by flaring the ground sleeve over the body member. The end product is a unitized liquid tight connector which is easy to apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1980
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward D. Bunnell, Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: 4091231
    Abstract: An adjustable floor receptacle includes a comparmentalized construction provided with fire barriers and partitions arranged to insure electrical and mechanical isolation between discrete power and communication cables terminating therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: D257424
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: D257760
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1981
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: D258934
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo
  • Patent number: D261101
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas J. Sotolongo