Patents by Inventor Tod M. Harlan

Tod M. Harlan 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: 20110158590
    Abstract: A cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a mounting cavity (221); an optical module (5) accommodated in the mounting cavity and capable of moving therein along a front-to-back direction; at least one fiber (6) coupled to the optical module; an elastomeric member (9) disposed in the mounting cavity and arranged behind the optical module; and a cap member (7) combined with the elastomeric member and fixed to the insulated housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TOD M. HARLAN
  • Patent number: 7950933
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical socket comprising a wafer defining a plurality of slots extending between an upper face and a lower face of the wafer; an upper frame mounted on the upper face of the wafer, a lower frame mounted on the lower face of the wafer, and a plurality of contacts each having a base portion floating received in corresponding slots. The upper frame defines a plurality of interior walls to form a plurality of first openings. The lower frame defines a plurality of interior walls to form a plurality of second openings. The contact comprises an upper contacting arm extending through a corresponding first opening and beyond an upper surface of the upper frame, and a lower contacting arm extending through a corresponding second opening and beyond a lower surface of the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precison Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tod M. Harlan
  • Publication number: 20110103752
    Abstract: An optical connector (100) defining a receiving space (101) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) and an optical fiber module (3) retained in the insulative housing (1). The insulative housing (1) has a base (12) and a tongue (13) extending forwardly from the base (12). The base (12) has a front wall (121) and a cavity (125) extending therethrough. The optical fiber module (3) is received in the cavity (125) and has at least a position post (32) extending forwardly beyond the front wall (121). A protecting mechanism (126) extends into the receiving space (101). The protecting mechanism (126) has a front end (1260) arranged at front of the position post (32) to make the receiving space (101) having a first insertion length (X) and a second insertion length (Y). The second insertion length (Y) is larger than the first insertion length (X).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Stephen Sedio, James M. Sabo, Tod M. Harlan
  • Patent number: 7922506
    Abstract: A card edge connector for receiving a module and includes an insulative housing having a mounting face, a pair of side walls with a central slot formed therebetween, a tower portion extending upwardly from the side wall; a number of contacts mounted to the housing and each defining a retaining portion to fix with the housing, a deflectable contacting arm extending upwardly from the retaining portion and a soldering portion extending downwardly from the retaining portion and projecting beyond the mounting face; and an ejector rotatably mounted on the tower portion of the housing. The ejector includes a base portion, an ejecting portion extending inwardly from the base portion and protruding into the central slot to eject the memory module from the central slot and a cam lobe extending inwardly from the base portion to drive the module down, the cam lobe is located above the ejecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Richard Lee Malehorn
  • Patent number: 7794287
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (40) and a terminal module (10). The terminal module includes a dielectric wafer (2), a number of terminals (1) assembled within the dielectric wafer and a coupling foil (3) disposed on the dielectric wafer and having a plurality of circuit traces (31-34) extending along a first plane. Each terminal is formed with a joint (134-164). The circuit trace includes a body portion (312-342) aligned with a selected terminal of the number of terminals and a connection portion (311-341) fanning out from the body portion toward a specific terminal. The joint of the specific terminal comes to contact with the connection portion along a contact direction orthogonal to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Terrance F. Little
  • Patent number: 7775803
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways, and a plurality of contacts received in the passageways, respectively. The passageways each defines two inner walls opposite to each other, the two inner walls each having at least one first retention device. The contacts each include a base, an upper arm extending from one side of the base and a lower arm extending from another side. The upper arm further defines two protrusions on opposite sides thereof and the lower arm defines two protrusions on opposite sides thereof. In assembly, protrusions on upper arm are located above the first retention device of the passageways, and protrusions on the lower arm are located below the first retention device of the passageways such that movement of the contact in the passageway along length axis of the passageway is limited in a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian J. Gillespie, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin E. Walker
  • Publication number: 20100167564
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways, and a plurality of contacts received in the passageways, respectively. The passageways each defines two inner walls opposite to each other, the two inner walls each having at least one first retention device. The contacts each include a base, an upper arm extending from one side of the base and a lower arm extending from another side. The upper arm further defines two protrusions on opposite sides thereof and the lower arm defines two protrusions on opposite sides thereof. In assembly, protrusions on upper arm are located above the first retention device of the passageways, and protrusions on the lower arm are located below the first retention device of the passageways such that movement of the contact in the passageway along length axis of the passageway is limited in a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Brian J. Gillespie, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin E. Walker
  • Patent number: 7658621
    Abstract: A connector assembly (100) includes a mother board (12), a mother receptacle (11), a daughter board (22), a daughter receptacle (21), and a connecting device (30) mounted between said two boards. The connecting device includes a shroud (31), a pair of standoffs (32) mounted at opposite sides of the shroud and engageable with the two boards, and an extender (33) positioned alongside the shroud and between the pair of standoffs. The extender defines a lower interface (332) mating with the mother receptacle and an upper interface (331) mating with the daughter receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert W. Brown, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin E. Walker, Terrance F. Little
  • Patent number: 7654828
    Abstract: A socket, adapted for electrically connecting a printed circuit board to an IC package, comprises a housing and a plurality of contacts arranged in an angular fashion within the passageways. The housing defines a mating face and a mounting face opposed to the mating face and a number of angular passageways extending from the mating face to the mounting face. Each contact includes a bend portion, a first leg and a second leg extending from two opposed ends of the bend portion. The second leg has an arc contacting portion extending out of the mating face for contacting with the IC package. Firstly a solder ball is disposed on a bottom surface of the bend portion and soldered to the printed circuit board to mount the contact to the printed circuit board. Or secondly the contacts (Mounting end) have no solder balls and solder paste is applied to PCB then connector is placed onto PCB and reflow soldered into place without use of solder balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Terrance F. Little
  • Patent number: 7651371
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) for receiving a mating plug (200) having an insulative housing (10), a set of first contacts (21), and a set of second contacts (22). The insulative housing includes a base portion (13), a wafer (14), and a latch mechanism fastened the wafer to the base portion. The electrical contacts are attached to the insulative housing and each has a contact section (214, 222) connecting with the plug and a mounting section (213, 224) extending out of the insulative housing. The contact sections of the first contacts are staggered with the contact sections of the second contacts along a mating direction of the electrical connector, and wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are closed to a front edge of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chong Yi, Tod M. Harlan, Richard L. Malehorn, Jia-Yong He, Terrance F. Little
  • Publication number: 20090263989
    Abstract: A connector assembly (100) includes a mother board (12), a mother receptacle (11), a daughter board (22), a daughter receptacle (21), and a connecting device (30) mounted between said two boards. The connecting device includes a shroud (31), a pair of standoffs (32) mounted at opposite sides of the shroud and engageable with the two boards, and an extender (33) positioned alongside the shroud and between the pair of standoffs. The extender defines a lower interface (332) mating with the mother receptacle and an upper interface (331) mating with the daughter receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Robert W. Brown, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin E. Walker, Terrance F. Little
  • Publication number: 20090263990
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a mother board (12), a mother receptacle (11), a daughter board (22), a daughter receptacle (21), and a connecting device (30) mounted between said two boards. The connecting device includes a number of fixing portions, a shroud (31) defining an insertion slot (313) and engageable with said two boards via the fixing portions, and an extender (32) inserted in the insertion slot. The extender defines a lower opening (322) mating with the mother receptacle and an upper opening (321) mating with the daughter receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Robert W. Brown, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin E. Walker, Terrance F. Little
  • Patent number: 7604508
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) for electrically connecting a substrate (4) to a printed circuit board (5) comprises an insulative housing (2) and a plurality of contacts (3) arranged in matrix. The insulative housing defines a receiving slot (21) extending along a front-to-back direction from front surface thereof, a plurality of rows of through passages (23) arranged along a lateral direction of the insulative housing and each through passage extending substantially along an angular axis of both the front-to-back direction and lateral direction to communicate with the receiving slot. Through passages of the same row are spaced arranged along the front-to-back direction. The matrix of contacts is respectively arranged in said through passages of the insulative housing in an interference capacity with said receiving slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Terrance F. Little
  • Publication number: 20090130913
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) for receiving a mating plug (200) having an insulative housing (10), a set of first contacts (21), and a set of second contacts (22). The insulative housing includes a base portion (13), a wafer (14), and a latch mechanism fastened the wafer to the base portion. The electrical contacts are attached to the insulative housing and each has a contact section (214, 222) connecting with the plug and a mounting section (213, 224) extending out of the insulative housing. The contact sections of the first contacts are staggered with the contact sections of the second contacts along a mating direction of the electrical connector, and wherein the contact sections of the first contacts are closed to a front edge of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Chong Yi, Tod M. Harlan, Richard L. Malehorn, Jia-Yong He, Terrance F. Little
  • Patent number: 7491078
    Abstract: A stacked connector for flexible printed circuits (FPCs) includes a housing (1), two rows of terminals (20, 21) and an actuator (3) having a pressing portion (31). The housing defines a first and second receiving cavity (131,132) respectively for receiving one FPC in each cavity therein and a third receiving cavity (133) located between the first and the second receiving cavity. The terminal includes a contacting portion (203/213) with a contacting point (2031) and an actuating portion (2032/2132) thereon, the contacting points of two rows respectively project into the first and the receiving cavity and the actuating portions of the two rows both project into the third receiving cavity. The pressing portion is inserted into the third receiving cavity and presses the actuating portions of terminals to urge the contacting points to connect with the FPCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance Little, Tod M Harlan
  • Patent number: 7484964
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical connector assembly comprises a supporting frame defining different sections arranged adjacent to each other. Each has generally a rectangular configuration with supporting surfaces along inner peripheral. A plurality of wafers each is supportively received in the section along its bottom edges by the supporting surfaces. Each wafer includes a plurality of contact terminals each arranged in the wafer. Each contact terminal has a tail portion extending beyond the bottom surface. A pick-up cap is properly attached to the supporting frame to position the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Walker, Joanne E. Shipe, Tod M. Harlan, Brian J. Gillespie, Darrell Wertz
  • Patent number: 7467960
    Abstract: The present invention provides a receptacle (100) having structures for reducing arcing when a plug (300) is drawn out of the receptacle (100). The receptacle (100) includes a number of electrical contacts (20), each of the electrical contacts (20) being slidably mating with a corresponding conductive terminal (34) of the plug (300) and therefore defining a mating area on the electrical contact (20). Each of the electrical contacts (20) includes a conductive area (222) to abut the corresponding terminal when the plug (300) are fully mated in the receptacle (100) and a less conductive area (224) where the conductive terminal (34) slides thereto and then leave the electrical contact (20) therefrom when the plug (300) is being drawn out of the receptacle (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tod M. Harlan, Terrance F. Little
  • Publication number: 20080305656
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical connector assembly comprises a supporting frame defining different sections arranged adjacent to each other. Each has generally a rectangular configuration with supporting surfaces along inner peripheral. A plurality of wafers each is supportively received in the section along its bottom edges by the supporting surfaces. Each wafer includes a plurality of contact terminals each arranged in the wafer. Each contact terminal has a tail portion extending beyond the bottom surface. A pick-up cap is properly attached to the supporting frame to position the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin E. Walker, Joanne E. Shipe, Tod M. Harlan, Brian J. Gillespie, Darrell Wertz
  • Patent number: 7462053
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an electrical connector contact comprising the steps of providing a conductive contact including opposing beams defining a contact gap therebetween and a joint portion joining the opposing beams and re-positioning at least one of the beams to reduce dimension of the contact gap by applying a force to the contact to make it be displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terrance F. Little, Tod M. Harlan, Kevin E. Walker
  • Patent number: 7445460
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing defining a mating interface and a mounting interface, a plurality of passageways arranged obliquely between the mating and mounting interfaces. A plurality of recesses is defined in the mating interface, and each is associated with a passageway. A plurality of contact each is assembled into a corresponding passageway. Each of the contacts includes a fall-out-preventing arrangement properly located within the recess limiting further downward movement of the contact within the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Fan, Nan-Hong Lin, Tod M. Harlan