Patents by Inventor Timothy B. Billman

Timothy B. Billman 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: 6638079
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (110; 310), a number of wafers (130; 350) accommodated in the insulative housing, and a number of inner printed circuit boards (120; 320). Each wafer has a wafer body (131; 3113), a number of electrical contacts (132; 330) mounted to the wafer body and a grounding bus (133; 340) mounted to the wafer body. Each inner printed circuit board has a mounting portion (124; 324) detachably inserted between two adjacent wafers to electrically contact with the signal contacts and the grounding buses and a mating portion (123; 323) adapted for engaging with a complementary electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Eric D. Juntwait
  • Patent number: 6634908
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) comprises an insulative housing (10) defining a plurality of channels (14), a plurality of printed substrates (30) partially received in the channels, and a spacer (20) assembled with the printed substrates. The spacer includes a plurality of wafers (21) and defines a plurality of tunnels (200) between every two adjacent wafers for partially receiving corresponding printed substrates. Each wafer has a body portion (22), a plurality of terminals (23) for conductively contacting with the printed substrate, and a grounding bus (24) covering on the body portion. Each grounding bus forms a plurality of grounding members (241, 243, 248) locating on opposite sides of the body portion for conductively contacting with grounding traces formed on two adjacent printed substrates inserted into the tunnels associated with the grounding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Iosif R. Korsunsky
  • Patent number: 6634911
    Abstract: A contact (1) comprises a main portion (11,) a pair of retaining portions 13 extending from a pair of ends of the main portion and substantially perpendicular to the main portion, a pair of compressive tail portions (15) extending from the retaining portions, a pair of arms (14) expending upwardly from top ends of the retaining portions, a pin-like tail portion (12) extending downwardly from the main portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Eric D. Juntwait
  • Patent number: 6623302
    Abstract: A male connector (10) includes first and second individual housing portions (28, 30) engaging with each other, a number of printed substrates (16) held by the first housing portion and a number of signal contacts (18) and a number of grounding terminals (20) held by the second housing portion with the signal contacts confronting the grounding terminals. Each printed substrate has a first edge (108) and a second edge (110) orthogonal with the first edge. The first edges of the printed substrates are hidden behind corresponding lead-in bars (44) of the first housing portion and the second edges of the printed substrates are sandwiched between and removeably held by the signal contacts and the grounding terminals. The second edges are pushed toward the signal contacts because the grounding terminals are somewhat stronger than the signal contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Charles S. Pickles
  • Patent number: 6623310
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical receptacle connector (100; 300) and an electrical header connector (200; 400). The electrical receptacle connector includes an insulative housing (110; 310), a number of wafers (130; 350) accommodated in the insulative housing, and a number of inner printed circuit boards (120; 320). Each wafer has a wafer body (131; 3113), a number of signal contacts (132; 330) and a grounding bus (133; 340). Each inner printed circuit board has a mounting portion (124; 324) extending between two adjacent wafers to electrically contact with the signal contacts and the grounding buses and a mating portion (123; 323). The electrical header connector has an insulative housing (210; 410) and a number of wafers (220; 440) accommodated in the insulative housing to receive therebetween and electrically contact with the mating portions of the inner printed circuit boards of the electrical receptacle connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Iosif R. Korsunsky
  • Patent number: 6620002
    Abstract: A contact strip (1) includes a number of contacts (10) interconnected by a carrier (60). Each contact includes a body portion (12), an upper arm (14) upwardly extending from the body portion for engaging with a first printed circuit board (5) and a lower arm (16) extending downwardly and laterally from the body portion. The lower arm has a free end (162) for resiliently engaging with a second printed circuit board (4) and a curved connecting portion (160) connecting with the body portion. The carrier has a connection stem (62) connecting with the curved connecting portion of the contact. An oblique score (15) is defined between the curved connecting portion of each contact and a corresponding connection stem of the carrier. The contacts can be easily separated from the carrier by bending the connection stems of the carrier along the oblique scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Iosif R. Korsunsky
  • Patent number: 6612869
    Abstract: A high density interconnection system (100) includes a daughter card header (1) and a backplane receptacle (2). The daughter card header comprises an insulative housing (10) and a number of signal terminals (14) and grounding members (15) received in the housing. The insulative housing is composed of a number of modularized housing portions (11, 12, 13) mechanically assembled with each other. The backplane receptacle has an insulative base (20), a cover (26) attached onto the insulative base, a plurality of circuit boards (27) arranged between the base and the cover, and a plurality of signal contacts (24) and grounding elements (25) received in the insulative base. The insulative base is composed of a plurality of modularized base sections (21, 22, 23) mechanically assembled with each other. The header and the receptacle each have a plurality of fastening means (117, 127, 127′, 137, 204, 205) formed thereon to interconnect the plurality of housing portions and base sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy B. Billman
  • Patent number: 6607401
    Abstract: An interconnection system, comprising: a first connector having an arrangement of contacts therein; and a second connector, mateable with said first connector, and having an arrangement of contacts therein. The second connector can mate with the first connector in a plurality of orientations. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing; and a plurality of contacts in said insulative housing. The connector has four quadrants, with each quadrant housing some of the contacts in an orientation. Each quadrant has an orientation that is different than the other quadrants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Weaver, Jr., Timothy B. Billman
  • Publication number: 20030082954
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2), a conductive shield (3) enclosing the insulative housing and a contact insert (4, 4′). The contact insert has a number of electrical contacts (41-48, 41′-48′) arranged into differential pairs. A first electrical contact of a first differential pair electrically couples with a first electrical contact of a second differential pair to balance an electrical coupling between a second electrical contact of the first differential pair and the first electrical contact of the second differential pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Leonard K. Espenshade, David F. Givens, Timothy B. Billman
  • Patent number: 6551140
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a wafer integrally formed with a pair of terminal pairs and each pair configured by first and second terminals. The first terminal includes a first base portion having a first tail portion, and a first mating portion, the first tail and mating portions extending beyond the wafer. The second terminal includes a second base portion having a second tail portion, and a second mating portion, the second tail and mating portions extending beyond the wafer; wherein the first and second base portions of the first and second terminal are spaced apart from each other in a side-by-side arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Andrew C. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20030003803
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) mounted on a daughter backplane circuit board is used to mate with a complementary connector (2) mounted on the primary backplane circuit board. The connector (1) includes a top housing (11) and a bottom housing (12) and inner circuit boards (3) installed therebetween. Rows of paired signal contacts (5) and grounding plates (4) are arranged in an alternating sequence within the bottom housing (12) to engage with the inner circuit boards (3). Two projections (37) extend out of edges of every inner circuit board (3) so that the inner circuit board (3) can be positioned after the projections (37) are inserted into corresponding holes (15, 19) formed respectively in the top and bottom housing (11, 12) when the connector (1) is assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Eric D. Juntwait
  • Publication number: 20020168898
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a wafer integrally formed with a pair of terminal pairs and each pair configured by first and second terminals. The first terminal includes a first base portion having a first tail portion, and a first mating portion, the first tail and mating portions extending beyond the wafer. The second terminal includes a second base portion having a second tail portion, and a second mating portion, the second tail and mating portions extending beyond the wafer; wherein the first and second base portions of the first and second terminal are spaced apart from each other in a side-by-side arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Andrew C. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20020142675
    Abstract: A male connector (10) includes first and second individual housing portions (28, 30) engaging with each other, a number of printed substrates (16) held by the first housing portion and a number of signal contacts (18) and a number of grounding terminals (20) held by the second housing portion with the signal contacts confronting the grounding terminals. Each printed substrate has a first edge (108) and a second edge (110) orthogonal with the first edge. The first edges of the printed substrates are hidden behind corresponding lead-in bars (44) of the first housing portion and the second edges of the printed substrates are sandwiched between and removeably held by the signal contacts and the grounding terminals. The second edges of the printed substrates are pushed toward the signal contacts by the grounding terminals because the grounding terminals are somewhat stronger than the signal contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy B. Billman
  • Publication number: 20020137373
    Abstract: A male connector (10) includes first and second individual housing portions (28, 30) engaging with each other, a number of printed substrates (16) held by the first housing portion and a number of signal contacts (18) and a number of grounding terminals (20) held by the second housing portion with the signal contacts confronting the grounding terminals. Each printed substrate has a first edge (108) and a second edge (110) orthogonal with the first edge. The first edges of the printed substrates are hidden behind corresponding lead-in bars (44) of the first housing portion and the second edges of the printed substrates are sandwiched between and floatingly held by the signal contacts and the grounding terminals. The second edges are pushed toward the signal contacts because the grounding terminals are somewhat stronger than the signal contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Charles S. Pickles
  • Publication number: 20020137400
    Abstract: An electrical connector (50) mounted on a daughter backplane circuit board is used to mate with a complementary connector (60) mounted on the primary backplane circuit board. The connector (50) includes a top housing (51) and a bottom housing (52) and inner circuit boards (70) installed therebetween. Rows of paired signal contacts (80) and grounding plates (90) are arranged in an alternating sequence within the bottom housing (52) to engage with signal trace pairs (71) on one surface of the inner circuit boards (70) and grounding layers on both surfaces thereof. Similar arrangement of signal contacts and grounding plates (63) is adopted within the complementary connector (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Eric D. Juntwait, Charles S. Pickles
  • Patent number: 6454586
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10) defining a slot (12), a row of low-speed signal contacts (18) and an insert module (16) received in respective opposite sides of the slot. The insert module has rows of high-speed signal contact (27) confronting the row of low-speed signal contacts. The insert module is pivotable in the slot from a first position, where the connector is ready for receipt of a daughter board (70), to a second position, where the insert module and the row of low-speed contacts sandwich the daughter board therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy B. Billman
  • Publication number: 20020132477
    Abstract: A male connector (10) includes first and second individual housing portions (28, 30) engaging with each other, a number of printed substrates (16) held by the first housing portion and a number of signal contacts (18) and a number of grounding terminals (20) held by the second housing portion with the signal contacts confronting the grounding terminals. Each printed substrate has a first edge (108) and a second edge (110) orthogonal with the first edge. The first edges of the printed substrates are hidden behind corresponding lead-in bars (44) of the first housing portion and the second edges of the printed substrates are sandwiched between and removeably held by the signal contacts and the grounding terminals. The second edges are pushed toward the signal contacts because the grounding terminals are somewhat stronger than the signal contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Charles S. Pickles
  • Publication number: 20020127903
    Abstract: A male connector (10) includes first and second individual housing portions (28, 30) engaging with each other, a number of substrates (16) held by the first housing portion and a number of signal contacts (18) and a number of grounding terminals (20) held by the second housing portion with the signal contacts confronting the grounding terminals. Each substrate has a first edge (108) and a second edge (110) orthogonal with the first edge. The first edges of the substrates are hidden behind corresponding lead-in bars (44) of the first housing portion and the second edges of the substrates are sandwiched between and removeably held by the signal contacts and the grounding terminals. The second edges are pushed toward the signal contacts by the grounding terminals because the grounding terminals are stronger than the signal contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Charles S. Pickles
  • Patent number: 6447317
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10) having a slot (12), a row of low-speed signal contacts (18) and an insert module (16) received in respective opposite sides of the slot. The insert module has two rows of high-speed signal contact modules (40) confronting the row of low-speed signal contacts. The insert module is pivotable in the slot from a first position, where the connector is ready for receipt of a daughter board (70), to a second position, where the insert module and the row of low-speed contacts sandwich the daughter board therebetween. The electrical connector provides a pair of actuators (208) pivotably located at the top of the insulative housing. In the second position, the actuators abut against the back portion of the insert module to pivot toward the daughter board, thereby ensuring electrical connection between the high-speed contacts in the insert module and the solder pads on the daughter board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy B. Billman
  • Patent number: D464631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy B. Billman