Abstract: A miniature BNC connector assembly having reduced dimensions includes a plug-side connector configured for engagement with a jack-side connector to form an electrical connection. The plug-side connector includes a plug-side connector body and a bayonet sleeve rotatably connected to the connector body. The bayonet sleeve has an outer diameter not greater than approximately half an inch.

Abstract: A connector system allows for visual determination of mating or engagement of a jack-side connector and a plug-side connector. A jack-side connector has a first securing device and a plug-side connector having a sleeve rotatably coupled thereto. The sleeve has a second securing device that is complementary to the first securing device and an indicator located on an edge of the sleeve. The indicator is contrasted against a characteristic (e.g., color, material, etc.) of a portion (e.g., a washer) of the connector system to provide visual indication that the first securing device is securely engaged with the second securing device.

Abstract: A connector system allows for visual determination of mating or engagement of a jack-side connector and a plug-side connector. A jack-side connector has a first securing device and a plug-side connector having a sleeve rotatably coupled thereto. The sleeve has a second securing device that is complementary to the first securing device and an indicator located on an edge of the sleeve. The indicator is contrasted against a characteristic (e.g., color, material, etc.) of a portion (e.g., a washer) of the connector system to provide visual indication that the first securing device is securely engaged with the second securing device.

Abstract: An electrical contact pair includes a substantially cylindrical first conductor and an elongated second conductor. The second conductor has an end normally biased against the first conductor based on a spring-type resiliency of the second conductor. The second conductor end is bifurcated via a substantially V-shaped notch for engaging the first conductor. The contact pair can be used, for example, in a variety of telecommunications, video and RF (radio frequency) applications including a communications jack, a patch jack, and a digital cross-connect assembly.

Abstract: A miniature BNC connector assembly having reduced dimensions includes a plug-side connector configured for engagement with a jack-side connector to form an electrical connection. The plug-side connector includes a plug-side connector body and a bayonet sleeve rotatably connected to the connector body. The bayonet sleeve has an outer diameter not greater than approximately half an inch.

Abstract: A modular cross-connect includes a chassis configured to receive a cross-connect module therein and including a front face and a rear cover. A plurality of fixed printed circuit boards (PCBs) are mounted in the chassis such that rear facing connectors of each of the fixed PCBs extend outward from the rear cover of the chassis. Each fixed PCB has a front-facing connector configured to mate with a rear-facing connector of a corresponding a cross-connect module. A plurality of slots in the front face of the chassis are configured to receive a cross-connect module and to align a rear-facing connector the cross-connect module for connection with a front-facing connector of the fixed PCB. Each front facing connector of the fixed PCBs includes at least one ground contact and a plurality of signal contacts, such that upon insertion of the cross-connect module into the chassis, the ground contacts engage the rear-facing connector before the signal contacts engage the rear facing connector.

Abstract: A modular cross-connect includes a chassis configured to receive a plurality of cross-connect modules therein and having a front face and a rear cover. A plurality of fixed portions of cross-connect modules are mounted in the chassis such that rear facing connectors of each of the fixed portions extend outward from the rear cover of the chassis. Each fixed portion has a front-facing connector configured to mate with a rear-facing connector of a corresponding removable portion of a cross-connect module. A plurality of reversible slots are formed in the chassis. Each slot is configured to receive a removable portion of a cross-connect module and to align a rear-facing connector of a removable portion of a cross-connect module for connection with a front-facing connector of a fixed portion of a cross-connect module.

Abstract: A modular cross-connect includes a chassis configured to receive a plurality of cross-connect modules therein and having a front face and a rear cover. A plurality of fixed portions of cross-connect modules are mounted in the chassis such that rear facing connectors of each of the fixed portions extend outward from the rear cover of the chassis. Each fixed portion has a front-facing connector configured to mate with a rear-facing connector of a corresponding removable portion of a cross-connect module. A plurality of reversible slots are formed in the chassis. Each slot is configured to receive a removable portion of a cross-connect module and to align a rear-facing connector of a removable portion of a cross-connect module for connection with a front-facing connector of a fixed portion of a cross-connect module.

Abstract: A connector system allows for visual determination of mating or engagement of a jack-side connector and a plug-side connector. A jack-side connector has a first securing device and a plug-side connector having a sleeve rotatably coupled thereto. The sleeve has a second securing device that is complementary to the first securing device and an indicator located on an edge of the sleeve. The indicator is contrasted against a characteristic (e.g., color, material, etc.) of a portion (e.g., a washer) of the connector system to provide visual indication that the first securing device is securely engaged with the second securing device.

Abstract: A presently-preferred electrical connector comprises an electrically-conductive terminal pin, and an electrically-insulative connector body comprising a first and a second substantially planar surface and a stud member. The stud member projects from the second substantially planar surface and is adapted to be mounted on a circuit substrate. The connector body has a through hole formed therein. The through hole extends from the first substantially planar surface to the stud member and is adapted to receive the terminal pin. At least a portion of the stud member is coated with an electrically conductive material adapted to establish electrical contact between the terminal pin and an electrical connection point on the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A presently-preferred electrical connector comprises an electrically-conductive terminal pin, and an electrically-insulative connector body comprising a first and a second substantially planar surface and a stud member. The stud member projects from the second substantially planar surface and is adapted to be mounted on a circuit substrate. The connector body has a through hole formed therein. The through hole extends from the first substantially planar surface to the stud member and is adapted to receive the terminal pin. At least a portion of the stud member is coated with an electrically conductive material adapted to establish electrical contact between the terminal pin and an electrical connection point on the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A low-cost miniature coaxial connector is provided, which attaches securely to a coaxial cable. The connector includes inner and outer contacts (30, 32, FIG. 2) constructed of rolled sheet metal and separated by an insulator (34). An inner ferrule (70) formed from a seamless tube, is first crimped around the jacket (24) of the coaxial cable. The braided outer conductor (22) of the cable is wrapped backwards around the crimped inner ferrule. The rear end (60) of the outer contact is held tightly around the braiding by an outer ferrule (72) that is crimped around the rear end of the outer contact. By crimping to the jacket (24) of the cable, the connector is securely held to the cable to withstand relatively large forces pulling the cable away from the connector. The sheet metal outer contact (32) can be reliably crimped in place by the seamless outer ferrule (72) which is crimped around it to hold it tightly around the braiding of the cable outer conductor (22).

Abstract: A connector has upper and lower rows of contacts (20, 22, FIG. 4 ) whose contact tails (40, 42) are soldered to front and rear rows of pads (26, 24) on a circuit board (14), which provides flexibility in downward deflection of all contact tails in a short forward-rearward distance (B) . While the upper tails of the upper row of contacts extend at a downward-forward incline, the lower tails have rear portions (80) with inclined parts (90) that extend at an upward-forward incline, and forward portions (82) with inclined parts (92) that extend at downward-forward inclines. A heating bar (102, FIG. 7 ) for heating the forward ends (120, 122) of the contact tails for reflow soldering to the pads, has slots (124) in its lower surface (106) that extend from its rear end (126) to a location (130) behind its front end (132).

Abstract: A drawer connector is provided with modular components to facilitate the replacement of those portions of the drawer connector that are subject to the greatest wear. The drawer connector comprises mateable female and male panel mount drawer connector housings having mateable terminals press fit or otherwise lockingly engaged therein. The conductive leads are not permanently terminated to the terminals of the drawer connector. Rather, the conductive leads are terminated to modular connector terminals or terminal assemblies which in turn are lockingly but releasably mounted to the respective rear sides of the panel mount assemblies of the drawer connector. Thus, the panel mount assemblies can be discarded and replaced upon the damage of the frequently connected and disconnected terminals therein, while still retaining the time and labor intensive termination work on the conductive leads.

Abstract: A floating panel mount for an electrical connector comprises opposed pairs of multiple cantilevered latch structures. Each latch structure comprises a lower arm cantilevered from a mounting flange. An upper arm is cantilevered from the end of the lower arm remote from the mounting flange, and is angularly aligned thereto. A locking arm is cantilevered from the end of the upper arm remote from the lower arm such that the lower arm and the locking arm extend angularly from opposed ends of the upper arm and from opposite sides thereof. The maximum cross-sectional dimension defined by the upper and locking arms exceeds the maximum cross-sectional dimension of a mounting aperture in a panel. However, the cross-sectional dimensions defined by the upper arms is substantially less than the cross-sectional dimensions of the mounting aperture. The arms can be deflected to enale the latch structures to pass through the mounting aperture.

Abstract: Electrical connectors are slidably received in side-by-side serial array in elongated, hollow tubular cassettes. The cassettes are shaped to receive the connectors only in a single orientation, and protect terminals which partly extend from the connector housings in an intermediate assembly stage. Cassettes are vertically stacked in a feed system, and when the bottom cassette is emptied of connectors, it is released from the stack and replaced with a full cassette.

Abstract: A floating panel mount for an electrical connector comprises opposed pairs of multiple cantilevered latch structures. Each latch structure comprises a lower arm cantilevered from a mounting flange. An upper arm is cantilevered from the end of the lower arm remote from the mounting flange, and is angularly aligned thereto. A locking arm is cantilevered from the end of the upper arm remote from the lower arm such that the lower arm and the locking arm extend angularly from opposed ends of the upper arm and from opposite sides thereof. The maximum cross-sectional dimension defined by the upper and locking arms exceeds the maximum cross-sectional dimension of a mounting aperture in a panel. However, the cross-sectional dimensions defined by the upper arms is substantially less than the cross-sectional dimensions of the mounting aperture. The arms can be deflected to enable the latch structures to pass through the mounting aperture.