Patents Issued in March 9, 2004
  • Patent number: 6702584
    Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: SSD Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiromu Ueshima, Kunihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6702585
    Abstract: A communication system is proposed for transmitting at least one of the data, the program, and a combination of them from a host facility to a communicator such as a communication terminal device. In this communication system, the data or the program becomes unable to be used when a predetermined time has elapsed after it is transmitted from the host facility to the communicator. This communication system is provided with the function of giving a warning before the use of the transmission becomes unable and the function of resuming the use in accordance with the user's instruction even after the use becomes unable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: ADC Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Takeya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6702586
    Abstract: A teaching puzzle comprises a book in combination with a game board. The book includes a plurality of pages, each page having a written passage printed thereon and a respective puzzle piece removably attached thereto. Each puzzle piece has front and back sides with a respective first indicia on the back side related to the written passage. The game board has a display area with a piece receiving portion for each puzzle piece demarcated thereon, each piece receiving portion being marked with the same first indica as the back side of the respective puzzle piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sharmac Designs LLC
    Inventor: Sharon A. Miller
  • Patent number: 6702587
    Abstract: An electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting an electrical device to a main circuit board using anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) as part of the interconnect, the electrical connector comprising an adapter board coupled to the main board on one side, the other side of the adapter board defining connecting lands; a layer of ACE on the other side of the adapter board, the other side of the ACE in contact with the device; and a mechanical compression structure coupled to the adapter board, and that provides a compressive load on the device, the ACE and the adapter board, to accomplish a separable electrical connection between the device and the main board, through the ACE and the adapter board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Paricon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Roger E. Weiss, Christopher Cornell
  • Patent number: 6702588
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) includes a base (11) receiving a number of electrical contacts, and a frame (12) assembled on the base. The frame defines an opening (121) in a middle thereof for receiving a CPU (3) therein, two fixing holes (123) at diagonally opposite corners thereof, and two semi-circular orientation holes (122) at two opposite sides thereof. The base includes a planar portion (111) having a top surface (115) and a bottom surface (114). Two orientation projections (119) are formed at the top surface, for interferentially engaging with the orientation holes. Two forked fixing posts (116) are formed at the top surface, for snappingly engaging in the fixing holes of the frame to mount the frame on the base. Two protrusions (117) are formed at the bottom surface, for interferentially engaging in corresponding bores (21) of a PCB (2) to mount the electrical connector assembly on the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert G. McHugh, Fang-Jwu Liao
  • Patent number: 6702589
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a semiconductor device to a circuit board for testing is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes semiconductor circuitry and leads to connect the semiconductor circuitry to the circuit board. Additionally, the semiconductor device is decapped so that at least a portion of the semiconductor circuitry is exposed. The apparatus includes a frame and a fastener. The frame is adapted to mate with the semiconductor device, and forms an opening for accessing the semiconductor circuitry and an edge surface for receiving the semiconductor device. The fastener is connected with the frame for removably connecting the frame to the circuit board. By using a frame instead of a socket, the distance to the semiconductor device once the device is mounted to the circuit board, and particularly the top side of the semiconductor device, can be reduced so that the device may be tested using a probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: David SuitWai Ma, Bing Ren, James J. Dietz
  • Patent number: 6702590
    Abstract: A board to board connector for use in high speed signal transmission applications includes male and female connector components that interengage with each other. Each of the male and female parts has an insulative housing that holds a plurality of individual terminal assemblies in cavities defined by corresponding walls of each connector component. The exterior surfaces of the connector components are plated with a metal so as to provide a unitary grounding datum around each of the individual terminal assemblies. Each of the connector components may utilize a center engagement member that runs lengthwise through the connector components, one of the center engagement members having a contact blade formed integrally therewith and the other of the center engagement members including a plurality of spring arms, also integrally formed with the connector component so that the grounding shield portions of the two connectors make contact with each other first before the terminals of the connector make contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Victor Zaderej, Kenneth M. Stiles, Kent E. Regnier
  • Patent number: 6702591
    Abstract: An interface assembly, which may be used with a current mode data bus, couples to an existing current mode data bus and includes a length of unshielded data bus disposed on a printed circuit board. A plurality of coupler magnetic assemblies are disposed on the circuit board and interface with the unshielded portion of the data bus. A corresponding plurality of coupler circuits are disposed on the circuit board and each cooperate with an associated one of the coupler magnetic assemblies. Providing all of the coupler magnetic assemblies and coupler circuits on the printed circuit board reduces the susceptibility of the unshielded data bus portion to EMI and enables more consistent data channel characteristics to be achieved. An alternative embodiment includes an entire current mode data bus formed on a printed circuit board with terminators at each end of an unshielded portion of the data bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Wayne A. Edwards, Theodore C. Ebbinga
  • Patent number: 6702592
    Abstract: An improved interconnection assembly is disclosed suitable for use, for example, in completing an electronic signal path between a printed circuit board (PCB) and an internal component within a head disc assembly (HDA) of a disc drive. The (PCB) has a primary side suitable for mounting surface mount devices and a secondary side facing a basedeck of the disc drive. The interconnection assembly comprises a conductive pin provisioned within a pin aperture in the PCB and a connector provisioned within a connector aperture in the HDA. The pin is inserted and secured within the pin aperture using primary side operations. A distal end of the conductive pin includes an electrical contact surface at the distal extent of the pin and which intersects an axis of insertion in the pin aperture. The electrical contact surface contacts the connector when the PCB is mated with the HDA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brian L. Harden, Leon J. Valley, Alvin E. Cox
  • Patent number: 6702593
    Abstract: A connector apparatus includes a relay connector (30) with an outer connector section (33) adapted to engage a mating connector and an inner connector section (34) adapted to engage a PCB connector (20). A printed board (10) with a PCB connector (20) is inserted into a casing (11) so that the PCB connector (20) is inside an attachment hole (18) in the casing (11). The inner connector section (34) of the relay connector (30) passes through the attachment hole (18), enters the casing (11), and engages a hood (22) of the PCB connector (20). The outer connector section (33) extends outwardly from the sidewall (11A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6702594
    Abstract: A contact for being received in an electrical socket which interconnects an integrated circuit (IC) package with a printed circuit board (PCB), comprises a contact portion for electrically connecting with a pin of the IC package, a locating portion for interferentially engaging with insulative housing of the electrical socket, and a tail portion having a plurality of clip arms. When a solder block is inserted into the tail portion, the clip arms can deflect to secure the solder block in a predetermined position in the tail portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Genn-Sheng Lee, Ming-Lun Szu
  • Patent number: 6702595
    Abstract: A stable fuse clip for printed circuit boards has a vertical back plate, a pair of forwardly extending vertical flanges, and a rearwardly extending horizontal flange strengthened against bending. The horizontal flange, the bottom edges of the vertical flanges, and the bottom edge of the back plate are horizontally coplanar and rest on the surface of the circuit board. Two legs extend downwardly through the board from the lateral sides of the back plate, and one leg extends downwardly from the distal end of the horizontal flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Turo Company
    Inventors: Arnold Ray Nelson, Derek A. Harris
  • Patent number: 6702596
    Abstract: A cable shield ground connector includes an inner part and outer part clamped together by means of a threaded stud carried by the inner part engaged by a nut. The inner part defines a smoothly tapered, arcuate, conductor-receiving trough portion configured for insertion between the conductors of a service cable and the cable shield. A threaded stud and tang project from the inner part in a direction opposite from the opening defined by the trough portion. A plurality of teeth project integrally from fillets of the outer part in parallel rows to define a jacket-gripping portion of the outer part. The channel-shaped outer part defines a guide for receiving the tang of the inner part. The stud passes through an aperture defined by the web of the outer part and the tang is received in the guide, thereby assuring longitudinal alignment of the inner and outer connector parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6702597
    Abstract: An electric plug-and-socket connection, including a first plug part, in particular a cable harness plug, having a locking slide which can be moved from an initial position into an end position and having another plug part into which the first plug part can be inserted to establish an electric plug-and-socket connection. To prevent the locking slide from assuming its end position before being connected to the other plug part, latching elements provided on the side of the first plug part work together with the locking slide so that they latch with the locking slide in its initial position. By connecting to the other plug part, pins engage in the latching elements in such a way that the latching elements are disengaged and the locking slide can be brought into its end position after connecting the first plug part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pade
  • Patent number: 6702598
    Abstract: The connector comprises an elongated slot and two end shoulders each including two arms, a groove between the arms, two flexible spaced walls behind the groove, two inner indentations, a hole recessed into either indentation, and a cavity; and two fastening mechanisms each including a trigger member, an inward protrusion, a latched piece at either side below the protrusion, a lower inward projection, and two pivot bars below the latched piece, the pivot bars being fitted into the holes for pivotably connecting the fastening mechanisms in the cavity. In fastening align pins of the card with the slot prior to insertion and pivot the fastening mechanisms inward until the protrusions are snapped into side recesses of the card and the latched pieces are urged against the walls respectively, thereby further inserting the pins into the slot for widthwise and lengthwise fastening the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fang Tien Huang
    Inventor: Chi Cheng Lo
  • Patent number: 6702599
    Abstract: An electronic card connector (1) includes a body portion (2) including a head section (20) with terminals (3) retained therein and a pair of guiding arms (22), an ejecting lever (5) pivotally mounted on the head section for ejecting an inserted card, and a push rod (4) for driving the ejecting lever. One of the guiding arms defines a guiding channel (225) and has a contacting portion (226). The push rod is moveably received in the guiding channel and has a spring tab (44) abutting against the contacting portion of the guiding arm when the push rod moves in a card inserting direction, or in a card ejecting direction. The friction generated by movement of the spring tab along the contacting portion allows an operator to feel a better sense of operation of the card ejecting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinkui Hu, ZiQiang Zhu, Guohua Zhang
  • Patent number: 6702600
    Abstract: A high pressure seal assembly provides an electrical path between the sensor and an external connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Control Products Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: 6702601
    Abstract: The electrical connecting device comprises a male connector and a female connector, each provided with a casing and a contact-support body made of electrically insulating material, which can be coupled by means of threaded lock nuts. The contact-supporting body of the female connector, is made of elastomeric material and the female contacts of the connector are elastically yielding and press-fitted into appropriate seats of the contact-support body. The contact-support bodies of female and male connectors also comprise opposite annular sealing shoulder surfaces, designed to rest one against the other in the coupled condition of the two connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Shield S.r.l.
    Inventor: Roberto Pogliani
  • Patent number: 6702602
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes a bottom housing (10) and a top housing (20) assembled together. The bottom housing and top housing each define a pair of channels (121, 221). A pair of beams (80) has a first block (81) and a second block (85). The first block and the second block each has an arch (84,86). Each beam has a latch releasing portion (83) at a free end thereof. A pair of operating bars (50) has an operation portion (51) and an arm (52) extending from the operation portion, each arm having a retention member (510) formed on outer surface thereof. A pair of latches (70) each has a first claw portion (72) engaging with the bottom housing, a second claw portion (73) for engaging with a complementary connector, and a sloping portion (712) between the first and second claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6702603
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an main housing and a subassembly (60) assembled into the main housing and an engaging device (40). The main housing includes a base (10), and a cover (20) assembled to the base. The subassembly includes a plurality of terminals (64) received therein. The engaging device includes a pull tab mounted on the base, a pair of latch springs (70) cooperating with the pull tab and a pair of fasteners (50) mounted on the main housing. When the electrical connector is adapted to mate with the complementary connector, the pull tab and the fasteners are driven whereby the latch springs and the fasteners engage with the complementary connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 6702604
    Abstract: A universal connector apparatus comprising a first component and a second component. The first component is fixedly secured to a housing of an LCD monitor and includes a wedge shaped projection or protrusion and a first electrical connector. The second component forms a docking station and is fixedly secured to any other support surface where the LCD monitor is to be attached and supported from. The second component includes a second electrical connector intended to matingly engage with the first electrical connector. The LCD monitor is attached to the second component by slidably engaging the wedge shaped protrusion or projection of the first component into a wedge shaped recess formed in the second component. This automatically centers the two electrical connectors before they matingly engage one another and prevents damage to the male pins of the male electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Jerry Moscovitch
  • Patent number: 6702605
    Abstract: Insulation displacement contact (20) having a conductive element (22) with an aperture (24). Contact portions (32) defined by parts of the edge of the aperture (24) converge towards each other and have opposed contact edges (32c) between which is defined a channel (42). Wires (48) introduced into an enlarged portion (24a) of the aperture (24) can be laterally moved into the channel (42) to cut insulation of the wire (48) and make electrical connection between a conductor (52) of the wire and the contact edges (32c). To improve stability, the contact element (22) has, at opposite edges, oppositely directed flanges (46, 48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Krone GbmH
    Inventor: Laval Chung Long Shan
  • Patent number: 6702606
    Abstract: The electrical connecting element for a connecting of fine wire cables (strands) consists of a contact pin having preferably points at both its ends and a radially projecting abutment flange on the shaft of the pin which contact pin penetrates through insulations. A shoulder between tip and shaft ensures that the pin which has been pressed in can not be torn out and the flange acts for a limiting of the depth of penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Woertz AG
    Inventor: Roman Marcel Bolliger
  • Patent number: 6702607
    Abstract: A wiring harness suitable for disposition in the roof of a motor vehicle comprising one or more standardized circuit units is disclosed. The circuit units incorporate a connector at at least one end or at at least one intermediate portion for collectively arranging electrical cables therein. The circuit unit is flexible, disposed in a flat shape, and capable of being provided with a fold for redirection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 6702608
    Abstract: An electric workstation in the shape of a hollow cabinet allows bringing electrical power connections to a site remote from a municipal electrical power supply. The cabinet is provided with one or more electrical sockets for connecting of electrically-powered tools and equipment, as well as one or more reels for holding electrical extension cords. A pair of front stationary legs and rotating wheels that allow easy moving of the cabinet to the desired location supports the cabinet. A handle secured adjacent the upper part of the cabinet allows to pull or push the cabinet when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Bernard A. Brennan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6702609
    Abstract: An IC socket is provided which realizes a uniform pressure of contact with an IC package over the entire length of a row of contacts and thereby enables an appropriate evaluation of characteristics of the IC package. The IC socket mounted on a printed circuit board includes: a socket base having a large number of contacts arranged in a row and brought into contact with leads of an IC package; a cover bearing on the contacts through an elastic body; and fixing portions for securing the cover to the socket base; wherein a contact surface between the elastic body and the contacts is curved in a longitudinal direction and the curved surface is so shaped as to generate a uniform contact force between the contacts and the leads of the IC package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Suzuki, Yuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6702610
    Abstract: A modular jack assembly (1) includes an outer case (2) and a plurality of insert subassemblies (3). The outer case defines a plurality of chambers (23) and a plurality of pairs of engaging channels (231) communicating with corresponding chambers. Each insert subassembly is received in a corresponding chamber and has a pair of resilient latch arms (422, 522) engaging with a corresponding pair of engaging channels for retaining the insert subassembly in the outer case. The latch arms can be elastically deformed to each other to disengaging from the engaging channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qisheng Zheng, Zhenghua Xu, JunXian Liu
  • Patent number: 6702611
    Abstract: The male connector 10 serves in itself as a shielding shell by forming the cylindrical hood portion 14 with a conductive aluminium sleeve 31, and leakage of noises from the slit of the shielding shell as in the conventional arrangement may be avoided since the hood portion 54 encloses completely around the male terminal fitting 36, thereby improving the shielding property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sho Miyazaki, Tetsuo Ichioka
  • Patent number: 6702612
    Abstract: A bus bar to be inserted in a circular through hole provided in a casing and connecting terminals provided inside and outside the casing has a circular section in a portion passing through the through hole. The outer periphery of the circular section is covered with a grommet having a circular section, and the ratios of the grommet in vertical and transverse directions are equal to each other. Accordingly, when a bus bar body including the bus bar and the grommet is fitted in the through hole, the grommet has compression ratios equal to each other in the vertical and transverse directions. Consequently, the fitting portions of the bus bar and the grommet uniformly come in close contact with each other, and a sealing property can be fully maintained in the fitting portions of the grommet and the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Miyazaki, Kei Sasaki, Hiroshi Aihara
  • Patent number: 6702613
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector that provides guiding and centering of a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention further relates to a front sleeve assembly for use with a coaxial cable transmission line connector which incorporates a center conductor insulator with a tapered entry to guide and center a center conductor pin within the connector. The present invention also relates to a compression ring assembly for mounting a connector to a cable, the assembly having a collet engaging a tapered rear seal to compress the collet about the cable. The present invention further relates to a method of mounting a connector to a cable with a compression ring assembly incorporating a collet and tapered rear seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: M'Hamed Anis Khemakhem, Vicki Reinheardt, James R. Kerekes
  • Patent number: 6702614
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (40) with cavities (41) and resiliently deformable locks (43) that project into the cavities (41). Terminal fittings (10) are insertable into the cavities (41) and deform the locks (43) in a deforming direction (DD) that intersects the inserting and withdrawing directions (IWD) of the terminal fitting (10). The locks (43) then restore and locking surfaces (64) of the locks (43) lock the terminal fittings (10) in the cavities (41). Each locking surface (64) has an upper locking surface (58) furthest into the cavity (41) and a lower locking surface (61). The lower locking surface (61) is at an obtuse angle to the withdrawing direction of the terminal fitting (10), whereas an angle of the upper locking surface (58) to the withdrawing direction is smaller than the angle of the lower locking surface (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto Nakamura, Ryotaro Ishikawa, Hajime Kawase, Yuuichi Nankou, Naoya Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 6702615
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) for being mounted onto a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing (2), a number of conductive terminals (3) retained in the housing, a metal shell (4) mounted on the insulative housing, a number of separated grounding tabs (5) and a spacer (6). The shell has two resiliently mating pieces (44) extending downwardly and sidewardly from opposite ends thereof. Each grounding tab has a main body (50), and a soldering portion (503). When the shell is assembled to the housing, the mating pieces of the shell abut against the main bodies of the grounding tabs and the soldering portions of the grounding tab electrically connect with grounding traces of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon, Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Hao Fan
  • Patent number: 6702616
    Abstract: A retaining terminal structure of a connector is for serving as a retaining terminal that provides retaining and positioning effects when assembling a connector. The retaining terminal as a formed integral by metal extrusion includes an L-shaped corner portion; a butting portion formed at a top portion thereof and for serving as butting ground guidance with a connected connector, so as to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD); and a retaining portion formed at a side thereof and for serving as a retaining member when the retaining terminal is corresponded and assembled. Using the integrated structure of the retaining terminal having ground guidance, and retaining and positioning effects, a number of terminals and retaining components at an interior of the connector is reduced, thereby decreasing steps and production expenses needed for assembly of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: North Star Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Chi-Sen Chang, Yun-Yu Liu, Yi-Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 6702617
    Abstract: A connector for cables containing at least one twisted pair for transmission of very high frequency signals. The conductors of the pair are connected in a connection block by insulation displacement contacts to contact blades, adapted to ensure contact in an interface block with the corresponding contact blades of the other connector. When connection is made, the geometry of the elements of the connection block is the same as the geometry of the elements of the interface block. This geometry is adapted so that the differential mode impedance between the conductors of each pair and the common mode impedance between the conductors and the shielding of the pair are respectively equal to the differential mode impedance between the contact blades and the common mode impedance between the contact blades and the shielding of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Clement, Franck Subias
  • Patent number: 6702618
    Abstract: A modular jack (100) in accordance with the present invention includes an insulative housing (1) defines a cavity for receiving a plug connector, a conductive shield (2) substantially surrounding the insulative housing and a module assembly (10) installed in the cavity of the insulative housin. The module assembly includes a magnetic module (3), a first printed circuit board (PCB, 4), a second PCB (5), and a grounding plate (9). A contact array (6) is soldered to the first PCB. The first PCB is attached on a bottom wall (312) of the magnetic module. The second PCB carries capacitors and resistors and a pair of light emitting diodes (LEDs 501, 502) soldered on a front portion thereof. The second PCB is disposed off from a top wall (311) of the magnetic module. The magnetic module defines a passageway (38) and the grounding plate has a flat portion (90) received therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James H. Hyland, Kevin E. Walker
  • Patent number: 6702619
    Abstract: A horizontal electric connector includes an insulating housing, a first electric contact, with a contacting part that is press-fitted into the housing from the rear and contacts a counterpart conductive part, and a leg that extends from the contacting part, comes out of the housing at the rear and descends, and a second electric contact, with a contacting part that is press-fitted into the housing from the rear at a position lower than the first electric contact and contacts a counterpart conductive part, and a leg that extends from the contacting part, comes out of the housing at the rear and extends forward along the bottom of the housing. A leg supporting part is provided on the bottom of the housing, into which the leg of the second electric contact is press-fitted from the rear, to prevent deformation of the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: J. S. T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Kuroda, Daichi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6702620
    Abstract: A dual serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) connector that includes a first SATA connector interface, a second SATA connector interface, and a housing. The first SATA connector interface and the second SATA connector interface may be mounted in the housing in a double stack configuration parallel to each other. The first SATA connector interface and the second SATA connector interface may also be mounted in the housing longitudinally in an end-to-end configuration. The footprints on a printed circuit board (PCB) associated with the SATA connector interfaces provide less manufacturing problems and good electrical performance. Dual SATA interfaces on a single connector save PCB space and manufacturing assembly time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Lynch, John C. Schwartz, Robert Schum, Endre C. Veka, Thomas G. Ruttan
  • Patent number: 6702621
    Abstract: A battery connector (5) has an insulative housing (1), an elongate insulative insert (2) and a plurality of terminals (3) insert molded with the insert. The housing defines a plurality of passageways (101) receiving corresponding terminals and a bottom opening (16) transecting the passageways. The insert has a body portion (20) received in the opening and lock portions (21) formed on opposite ends of the body portion engaging with the housing. Each terminal has a contacting portion (31), a connection portion (33), a mounting portion (35) and two spring portions (32, 34). The mounting portion forms a bulge (350) thereon. One of the spring portions is shaped generally having a profile of three-fourth circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryan Yeh
  • Patent number: 6702622
    Abstract: A LAN connector is connected with a LAN cable connector inserted thereinto. The LAN connector comprises a flexible portion formed outside a modem-cable-connector occupied space within a housing having a size accommodating the LAN cable connector being inserted thereinto, and a stopper portion formed within the modem-cable-connector occupied space. The stopper portion is displaceable together with the flexible portion. When the modem cable connector is inserted into the housing, the flexible portion is not pushed and bent by the modem cable connector, and the stopper portion stops the modem cable connector. When the LAN cable connector is inserted into the housing, the flexible portion is pushed and bent by the LAN cable connector so as to cause the stopper portion to be withdrawn out of the modem-cable-connector occupied space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masahiko Sato, Masuo Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6702623
    Abstract: A connector (1) is configured in a manner that two stages of insulation housings (23) are disposed therein each of which is additionally provided with common terminal chambers (28) each capable of housing a crimp-style terminal or a crimped terminal (25) or a press contact terminal (26) thereby to house the crimped terminals (25) and the press contact terminals (26) in a mixed manner within the connector. The common terminal chambers (28) of each of the insulation housings (23) are formed by partition walls (29) erected from a base plate portion (27), and the crimped terminal (25) or the press contact terminal (26) is inserted from the upper opening of each of the common terminal chambers (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Fukuda, Takeya Miwa, Shinji Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6702624
    Abstract: An electronic component has an insert member embedded in a resin portion by an insert molding method, with a part of the insert member exposed at an outer surface of the resin portion. At least a part of the exposed portion of the insert member is depressed relative to the outer surface of the resin portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronic Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Akimoto, Katsumi Arai, Katsuma Ushijima, Takahiro Abe
  • Patent number: 6702625
    Abstract: A side spacer in a connector is attached by insertion to a housing body from a side thereof and a terminal abutting portion having an inclination angle &bgr; is formed in at least one side edge of a lance for temporarily retaining a terminal. The inclination angle &bgr; is set greater than an angle &agr; formed between an imaginary line connecting the corner portion of the upper surface at the tip end of a female terminal and the corner portion of the upper surface of a tentative retaining projection and the inserting direction of said terminal into the connector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Endo
  • Patent number: 6702626
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (10) with a retainer (20) that can be moved between partial and full locking positions on the housing (10). The retainer (20) has resilient locking pieces (24F, 24R) formed with full locking projections (26F, 26R) and partial locking projections (25) that move over corresponding fastening projections (15F, 15R) on the housing (10) to lock the retainer (30) in the partial and full locking positions. Free ends (24a) of the resilient locking pieces (24F, 24R) are engageable with one another to limit deformation of the resilient locking pieces (24F, 24R) and to prevent detachment of the retainer (20) from the housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Ichio
  • Patent number: 6702627
    Abstract: A connector has a housing (1) and retainer mount hole (8) is open in the housing (1) from its bottom surface over to its opposite side surfaces. Upon being moved from a partial locking position to a full locking position, A retainer (7) can be moved from a partial locking position to a full locking position and is guided obliquely forward by guides (22-25). Thus, the retainer (7) can be constantly guided to a specified position regardless of a variation in the fitted position of the retainer (7) in the retainer mount hole (8) along forward and backward directions. Since the retainer (7) and terminal fittings (4) can constantly have a proper positional relationship, a problem of a varying function of the retainer (7) to detect the insufficiently inserted states of the terminal fittings (4) due to a variation in the fitted position of the retainer (7) can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Nankou, Ryotaro Ishikawa, Hajime Kawase, Toshikazu Sakurai, Yukihiro Fukatsu, Shinya Fujita
  • Patent number: 6702628
    Abstract: A connector housing (10) has a wide cavity group (11L) and a narrow cavity group (11S). A front holder (30) is mounted to the front of the housing (10), but corresponds only to the narrow cavity group (11S). Thus, the front holder (30) has a small area as compared to a front holder corresponding to all the cavities. Accordingly, a degree of shrinkage of the front holder (30) during resin molding is suppressed, thereby making a dimensional variation of the front holder (30) smaller. As a result, displacements between the smaller cavities (12S) and the portions of the front holder (30) corresponding to the smaller cavities (12S) are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tanaka, Tsuyoshi Mase
  • Patent number: 6702629
    Abstract: A watercraft, equipped with a jet drive power source, with improved stability is disclosed. The jet drive power source is configured to produce power along a predetermined direction and form a drive line based upon the predetermined direction. The drive line bisects a plane of the keel at a predetermined angle that is less than about 4 degrees. The drive shaft and the output shaft are not substantially parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Bombardier Motor Corporation of America
    Inventor: Rick Adamczyk
  • Patent number: 6702630
    Abstract: The invention relates to an auxiliary system for providing positive steering to marine crafts using jet propulsion systems, typically personal jet driven watercrafts such as jet boats and jet skis. In one embodiment, it includes, among other features, a combination of keel members attached to a stern section of a hull. The keels are interconnected using tie rods to the directional steering drive assembly. In other embodiments, the keels are instead attached directly to the directional nozzle or integrally made with the nozzle, and where a hood is included in the directional nozzle assembly, notches may be included in the keels to allow for full operation of the hood into its lowest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Walkowiak
  • Patent number: 6702631
    Abstract: A hybrid gear/sprocket-based transmission is provided for driving a pair of coaxial, counter-rotating propellers in aircraft and airboats. A drive shaft couplable to an engine crank shaft extends rearward into the transmission case, and a pair of coaxial hollow driven shafts extend rearward out of the transmission case, to which are attachable a pair of propellers. A gear train, containing an even number of gears, reverses the rotational direction of the engine; a sprocket train, containing two sprockets and a chain connecting them, retains the rotational direction of the engine. Improved stability characteristics are imparted by supporting the drive shaft at two points within the case and also by positioning the drive and the driven shafts in vertical alignment. The adaptability of the transmission to being coupled with an automobile engine confers improved noise, reliability, and fuel efficiency characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: W. Bishop Jordan
  • Patent number: 6702632
    Abstract: A lubrication system is provided that allows delivery, and preferably regulated delivery, of lubricant to a coupling between a crankshaft and the driveshaft of, for example, an outboard motor. The lubrication system includes a passageway through which lubricant flows, and preferably a flow restrictor regulates the amount of lubricant delivered through the passageway. In one mode, the passageway is generally formed vertically through the central axis of a vertically oriented crankshaft and extends between the crankcase chamber and the coupling. Lubricant, such as crankcase oil, is able to flow through the passageway and onto the coupling. One or more seals preferably inhibit lubricant from flowing beyond the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Marine Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Kameoka
  • Patent number: 6702633
    Abstract: A universal foot fin is disclosed for use with float tubes and pontoon boats which can be selectively adapted to propel either forward or backward in the water, while simultaneously allowing the user to walk forward in either adaptation without removing the fin assembly. The fin assembly is described as being either (in simplest form) a separate FIN member to be attached to mounting fixtures which can be permanently affixed to or molded integral on wading boots, or as a complete assembly including a base member to be secured to wading boots by an releasable binding mechanism In use the fin member pivotally retracts in an upward position for walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Dux Fin Co.
    Inventor: Carroll Johnson