Patents by Inventor Timothy Houtz
Timothy Houtz 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).
-
Publication number: 20080032524Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventors: Timothy Lemke, Timothy Houtz
-
Publication number: 20060246756Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array is arranged in a first pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts. The second linear array is arranged in a second pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts that is different from the first pattern. The signal contacts define differential signal pairs. The signal contacts in the first linear array are elongated along a direction along which the first linear array extends.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz, Steven Minich
-
Publication number: 20060234532Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a linear array of electrical blade contacts is disclosed. Each contact may have a free-ended mating portion that extends from a mate surface of a dielectric base. The first linear array may include a first signal contact, a second signal contact positioned adjacent to the first signal contact and forming a differential signal pair therewith, and a ground contact positioned adjacent to the second signal contact. The first signal contact, the second signal contact, and the ground contact may each be elongated in a direction along the linear array.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2006Publication date: October 19, 2006Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz, Steven Minich
-
Publication number: 20060234531Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2006Publication date: October 19, 2006Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz, Steven Minich
-
Publication number: 20060223349Abstract: A connector includes conductive pins inserted into apertures in a housing. The pins may include a single groove or a pair of opposing grooves in which ribs of the housing are disposed. The ribs may conform to the shape of the grooves to retain the pins in the housing apertures. The apertures may includes an extended side opening that opens onto an upper surface of the housing to enable a contact beam and shielding bar to be inserted from the top. Solder balls may be disposed on an underside of the connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2005Publication date: October 5, 2006Inventor: Timothy Houtz
-
Publication number: 20060068635Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2005Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Timothy Lemke, Timothy Houtz
-
Publication number: 20060014431Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing; electrical contacts connected to the housing; an outer shield connected to the housing; and at least one inner shield mounted along a portion of a front side of the housing. The inner shield includes a general C shaped substantially unvarying and uniform front end, and two legs extending reward from the front end. Each leg comprises a rear end with a portion which extends into the housing to attach the rear end to the housing. The front end of the inner shield is not directly mechanically attached to a front of the outer shield.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2004Publication date: January 19, 2006Inventors: Joseph Shuey, Timothy Houtz, Dean Geibel
-
Publication number: 20050287849Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first linear array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second linear array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz
-
Publication number: 20050266728Abstract: Complementary contact and contact block designs are disclosed that help prevent movement of a contact received in the contact block when an electrical connector is press-fit or otherwise connected to a printed circuit board. A protrusion may be included on one or both beams of a dual beam contact, and a contact cavity may be formed in the contact block. The protrusion and the contact cavity may include complementary shapes such that the protrusion abuts a wall within the contact cavity, preventing the contact from moving relative to the contact block as the electrical connector is connected to a printed circuit board. The protrusion and a wall of the contact cavity additionally may include other complementary shapes (e.g., a radius or angle shape) such that a length of the protrusion abuts the contact cavity wall, providing a longer load bearing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2005Publication date: December 1, 2005Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.Inventor: Timothy Houtz
-
Publication number: 20050164555Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2005Publication date: July 28, 2005Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefann Sercu, Timothy Houtz
-
Publication number: 20050079763Abstract: Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also, disclosed is a method of manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portions of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2001Publication date: April 14, 2005Inventors: Timothy Lemke, Timothy Houtz