Abstract: A harness is provided with one or more first wires each including a first core exposed portion, one or more second wires each including a second core exposed portion, and a bonded portion formed by welding the first and second core exposed portion(s). A total cross-sectional area of the second core(s) is equal to or less than ? of the sum of total cross-sectional areas of the first and second core(s). The bonded portion has two pairs of outer surfaces extending along an extending direction of the first and second wires and facing each other and a distance H between one pair of the outer surfaces (upper/lower surfaces), out of the two pairs of outer surfaces, is longer than a distance W between another pair of the outer surfaces (right/left side surfaces). The second core exposed portion(s) is/are arranged adjacent to the upper surface Up in the bonded portion.

Abstract: In a coil forming device, an edge line in an escape region is formed so that a clearance between the edge line in the escape region and a recess portion in an axis direction is larger than a minimum clearance between the edge line in an inclined region and the recess portion in the axis direction. When a second die is rotated relative to a first die in the clockwise direction the flat-square conductive material end is bent in flatwise bending by the recess portion and the inclined region of a protrusion portion, and then, the flat-square conductive material end reaches the escape region.

Abstract: A vehicle circuit body is provided. The vehicle circuit body includes a bent portion which is formed by bending a plurality of conductor plates with a convex shape toward one side of a lamination direction in which the plurality of conductor plates are laminated, the plurality of conductor plates being laminated such that adjacent conductor plates are spaced apart from each other; and a rigid portion where the plurality of conductor plates extending from the bent portion are joined together to form a single layer. The bent portion is arranged at a position which faces an inner corner or outer corner of a concave-convex shape formed on a body panel.

Abstract: An assembly for forming a medical lead includes a lead body, a plurality of electrical conductors extending about a longitudinal axis of the lead body, and at least one segmented electrode preform that includes an electrically conductive ring and an insulator portion within the electrically conductive ring. The electrically conductive ring includes a plurality of electrode portions and a plurality of raised portions that alternate continuously around the ring. Each of the plurality of electrode portions is continuous at a radius from a center of the electrically conductive ring that corresponds to an outer perimeter of the medical lead. The insulator portion has a plurality of projections each extending into a respective raised portion of the ring beyond a radius that corresponds to the outer perimeter of the medical lead. Each respective electrode portion is electrically coupled to a respective electrical conductor of the plurality of electrical conductors.

Abstract: A connector made of an electrically insulating material that will electrically connect a main conductor and a secondary conductor, the connector including a central section extending along a longitudinal direction, a main part and a secondary part defining a main channel and a secondary channel respectively, parallel to the longitudinal direction and separated by the central section, the connector also includes electrical connection devices made of an electrically conducting material, designed to electrically connect the main conductor and the secondary conductor as soon as they are inserted in the main channel and in the secondary channel respectively.

Abstract: A conducting arrangement comprises a first electrical conductor element having a first contact section with a first material and a second electrical conductor element having a second contact section welded to the first contact section. A side of the second contact section facing the first contact section has a predefined microstructure with a recess. The first material of the first contact section at least partially fills the recess of the predefined microstructure.

Abstract: An electrode lead is provided having a distal side and a circumferential surface, the electrode lead comprising a plurality of interlocked filaments having a conductive core coated with a nonconductive coating and at least one 3D distinct conductive mass at the distal end, wherein the filaments in the conductive mass are having an exposed conductive core and wherein a portion of the filaments with the exposed conductive core are disposed on the circumferential surface. The 3d pattern of spaced-apart regions along or within the electrode lead, each one is a network of spaced-apart conductive segments determining together critical parameters of: directionality of the region and electrical property of the region.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue mapping and ablation. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to expandable medical devices for identifying and treating local anatomical abnormalities within a body lumen. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods of focal treatment for overactive bladders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrical conductors for electrical transmission and distribution with pre-stress conditioning of the strength member so that the conductive materials of aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, copper alloys, or copper micro-alloys are mostly tension free or under compressive stress in the conductor, while the strength member is under tensile stress prior to conductor stringing, resulting in a lower thermal knee point in the conductor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an LED light string manufacturing method, as well as an LED light string manufactured with the method, which generally involves four components that are assembled through three operations or steps to allow for automatic mass production of LED light strings thereby saving material cost and increasing assembling efficiency. The four components include an upper housing member, a lower housing member, electrical wires, and an LED-based light emission element (with or without a cover). Two conductive pins of the LED-based light emission element are fixed to conductors of the electrical wires through welding and are then disposed between the upper and lower members of the housing, which are subjected to ultrasonic fusion for secured combination thereby covering and housing the electrical wires and the LED-based light emission element therein in one operation. The method is simple and very efficient so that the process is simplified and the cost reduced.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a pixel array including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, and pixels arranged in a matrix form, a source driver integrated circuit (IC) for supplying a data voltage to the data lines, a gate driver IC for supplying a gate pulse to the gate lines, and a first flexible film cable bonded to a substrate of the display panel. The first flexible film cable includes lines for transmitting gate timing control signals and gate driving powers received from a printed circuit board to the gate driver IC. The first flexible film cable has a thickness of about 20 ?m to 100 ?m.

Abstract: An RJ45 Communication jack has a housing with a top, bottom, front, and back. A foil is immediately adhered to and partially covers the housing. A top or bottom of the housing is covered by a first portion and a second portion of the foil wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a nonconductive gap. The gap extends from the front of the housing to the rear of the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a strand (11) of several wires (12), consisting of an electrically conductive material, which are hard drawn to a final diameter in at least a single or multiblock wire-drawing machine (19, 28) or drawing apparatus in a last drawing step before the stranding, so that in each case the wire or wires (12) have a tensile strength of at least 300N/mm2, and that subsequently the hard drawn wires (12) or a mixture of hard drawn wires (12) and soft-annealed wires are stranded into a strand (11) in a stranding machine (21), without a subsequent annealing process, as well as a strand which is produced according to the present method.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes two electromagnetic interference (EMI) controlling tape application methodologies for unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable, Fixed Tape Control (FTC) and Oscillating Tape Control (OTC). In FTC, tape application angle and edge placement are controlled to maintain position of the tape edges over a base of nonconductive filler in the cable. In OTC, the tape application angle is continuously varied, resulting in crossing of the tape edges over all of the pairs of conductors with varying periodicity. In both implementations, alien crosstalk and return losses are improved, while the filler allows a cylindrical shape for optimized ground plane uniformity and stability for improved impedance and return loss performance.

Abstract: An improved method of making sealant containing twist-on wire connectors from a batch of components, wherein some of the components may be preassembled through automated equipment and at least one or more of the steps performed in the making of a sealant containing twist-on wire connector is performed manually at a station where an operator can simultaneously perform one or more steps to enhance the formation of a twist-on wire connector containing a sealant while at the same time eliminating upfront investments costs for a work station as well as costs for maintenance of a work station.

Abstract: A conductive wire piece set forming method includes: a bending step of bending a conductive wire piece set in a second bent portion; a restraining step of restraining the second bent portion of the conductive wire piece set and a portion adjacent thereto with a clamp portion; and a twisting step of twisting the conductive wire piece set by rotating the clamp portion. The restraint of the conductive wire piece set is performed in such a way that the conductive wire pieces form a predetermined angle with each other.

Abstract: An infrared sensor with a microstructure has a multiplicity of sensor rods protruding from a sensor base and arranged axially parallel to one another. Each of the sensor rods is designed as a thermocouple, in that a first rod end, arranged on the sensor base, is electrically connected to an opposite free second rod end by both a first and a second electrically conductive rod element. The two rod elements have a different Seebeck coefficient, and the first rod element is formed as a hollow profile and the second rod element is arranged in the first rod element such that each thermocouple is formed as a single rod with a small standing area on the sensor base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flux cored wire and the method and apparatus for manufacturing the same. The flux cored wire in accordance with the present invention can prevent the flux filled inside strip from leaking out and the moisture in the atmosphere from penetrating into the flux. The method of the present invention also does not require longer processing time. For this, the flux cored wire in accordance with the present invention is comprised of: an inner tubular body formed with flat strip by curling up the side edges of the strip into a tubular body having a seam and filed with flux inside; and an outer tubular body formed with flat strip by curling up the side edges of the strip into a tubular body having a seam and wrapping around the inner tubular body in tight contact.

Abstract: Described here are angioplasty balloon devices for generating shock waves to break up calcified plaques along a length of a vessel and methods of making such devices. Generally, the devices may be used in angioplasty and/or valvuloplasty procedures, but may alternatively be used in other applications. In some variations, the device may include an elongate member, a plurality of electrode assemblies, and at least one tubular sleeve interposed between adjacent or neighboring electrode assemblies that form a continuous outer profile between the electrode assemblies. These devices may have a smooth, continuous outer profile without substantial profile transitions and/or may have stiffening sections between electrode assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for winding wires of electrical connector, which includes adopting a unique process to wind wires around a ring body, wherein first and second wire groups each including four different color wires are respectively wound around upper and lower half portions of the ring body and respectively forming first and second input terminal wires and first and second output terminal wires. The first and second input terminal wires are twisted with corresponding ones to thereby achieve reduction of reluctance and better application to high frequency signals.

Abstract: A socket is provided for an LED light string and is formed by jointing two unsymmetrical casing members through thermal fusion by application of ultrasonic wave to thereby securely combine with electrical wires and a luminous element. The first and second casing members are provided with raised-and-recessed inter-engageable structures including holes and protrusions and multiple tiny bosses that is thermally fusible through application of ultrasonic wave for adhesion purposes. The first casing member includes a receiving channel for receiving electrical wires therein and the second casing member includes hold-down blocks and holding blocks for holding the electrical wires in position.

Abstract: After melted enamel coating is discharged, a fusion process of electrical wire-to-wire connection is carried out inside a crimping connector. In the conductor connection method based on the fusion process, a plurality of enamel-coated conductor wires are inserted in the crimping connector prior to the start of the fusion process. Further, a temporary crimping process that provides the crimping connector a temporary crimping by mechanical pressurizing means is also performed. Addition of force at both end parts or either end part of the cross-section orthogonal to the axis of the above crimping connector may cause expansion, which needs to be suppressed with external force. At the same time, the cross-sectional areas corresponding to both end parts or either end part should preferably be as small as possible. The temporary crimping is applied to the crimping connector for this purpose.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an ultra-low-resistance superconducting joint that has high shielding characteristics. The process includes: corroding copper on the outer surface at the end of a NbTi/Cu superconducting wire to form terminal NbTi superconducting filaments; inserting same number of NbTi superconducting filaments into each through hole of the niobium layer of a Nb/NbTi/Cu multilayer composite rod; pressing at the outside of the Nb/NbTi/Cu multilayer composite rod to combine the Nb/NbTi/Cu multilayer composite rod and NbTi superconducting filaments together to form a joint; and inserting the joint into a YBCO tube, and then filling the YBCO tube with molten bismuth-lead-tin-cadmium (BiPbSnCd) alloy solder to form a superconducting joint with high shielding and low resistance characteristics.

Abstract: A gas blocking cable includes cabled wires, where each wire includes cabled conductors having interstitial areas there between. An insulation material circumferentially surrounds the cabled conductors and a conductor filling material is positioned within the interstitial areas between conductors. A shield circumferentially surrounds the cabled wires so that a cable is formed with areas between the wires. A wire filling material is positioned within the areas between the wires. Each of the conductor filling material and wire filling material is inert, non-flammable and able to withstand a temperature of at least approximately 200° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable having at least two pairs of insulated wires. The adjacent pairs are separated at their contact point(s) by a cushion layer that does not wrap completely around the pairs or any one of the pairs. The cable provides low variability in insertion loss or the ratio of input of voltage injected into the cable vs. output voltage.

Abstract: An electric wire holding structure includes a plurality of electric wires each including a conductive part provided with a plurality of core wires and an insulating part covering the conductive part. The conductive part includes a rectangular conductive part which is formed at an end of the conductive part to have a rectangular outer shape in a section perpendicular to an extending direction of the electric wires. The rectangular conductive parts of the respective electric wires are bonded together by welding with ultrasonic vibration. The rectangular conductive parts of a plurality of the electric wires are piled in a brick laying manner to be bonded by welding.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a housing that supports a plurality of electrical contacts. Each electrical contact defines a mating end and an opposing mounting end, and a plurality of mounting terminals disposed at the mounting end. The mounting terminals of each contact are arranged in at least one column extending along a longitudinal direction, such that each column is spaced along a lateral direction, and the mounting terminals of adjacent contacts are longitudinally offset.

Abstract: A wedge connector assembly including an installation tool having a tool body and a frame connected to the tool body. A sleeve is received by the frame and a wedge is received by the sleeve. A firing mechanism is movably connected to the tool body. A movable ram extends from the tool body into the frame such that movement of the ram drives the wedge into the sleeve when the installation tool is fired. A piston is movably disposed in the tool body between the ram and the firing mechanism. The piston is moved when the firing mechanism is activated, thereby driving the wedge into the sleeve. An indicator disposed on the ram indicates when the installation tool is in a proper firing position to substantially prevent over-torquing the installation tool.

Abstract: A method for applying a shield tape to conductors that comprises folding a first edge of the shield tape in a first direction from a central portion while folding a second edge in a second direction opposite the first direction; applying a fold to the first edge by folding the first edge back over onto the central portion forming a receiving area while wrapping the shield tape around the conductors; tightening the shield tape around the conductors such that the conductive layer of the shield tape is on the outside of insulating layer and facing away from the conductors while positioning the receiving area to receive a drain wire; installing a drain wire in the receiving area; and closing the shield tape around the conductors and the drain wire to form an enclosure around the conductors with the second edge overlapping the fold at an outside surface of the enclosure.

Abstract: A transverse wedge connector system for forming an electrical connection with first and second elongate electrical conductors includes an electrically conductive first connector member, an electrically conductive second connector member, an insert member, and a clamping mechanism. The first connector member includes a first body having a first channel portion and a first abutment portion. The first channel portion defines a first channel to receive the first conductor. The second connector member includes a second body having a second channel portion and a second abutment portion. The second channel portion defines a second channel to receive the second conductor.

Abstract: A cluster block is arranged on an outer peripheral surface of a stator core. A lead wire is continuous with a U-phase coil, which extends from a coil end of the stator core, and is then connected to a U-phase connector. A lead wire is continuous with a V-phase coil, which extends from the coil end, and is then connected to a V-phase connector. A lead wire is continuous with a W-phase coil, which extends from the coil end, and is then connected to a W-phase connector. The lead wires are twisted and entwined with one another.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing active fixation helices for the stimulation and/or sensing of organs, an elongated helix precursor body is produced that has one or more electrical conductors surrounded by an insulating material. This helix precursor body is then shaped into a helix, material removed in predetermined places in order to expose the areas of the conductors which will be used as electrodes in the final product. The body is coated with an electrically conducting biocompatible coating which is subsequently partly removed in continuous loops from around the electrodes in order to electrically insulate them from each other and to ensure that the electrically active areas of the electrodes are of the correct dimensions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process, for fabricating a medical lead for stimulation of tissue of a patient, comprises: forming a plurality of electrode assemblies wherein each electrode assembly of the plurality of electrode assemblies comprises a respective plurality of segmented electrodes angularly separated by ribs formed in one or more segments of thermoplastic tape; electrically coupling a conductor to each segmented electrode; molding polymer material around each segmented electrode of the plurality of segmented electrodes to interlock each segmented electrode with polymer material to form a distal end of the medical lead; and fusing the one or more segments of thermoplastic tape of each of the plurality of electrode assemblies with the polymer material.

Abstract: Embodiments of submersible composite cables include a non-composite electrically conductive core cable, a multiplicity of composite cables, including a multiplicity of composite wires, around the core cable, and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite cables. Other embodiments include an electrically conductive core cable; a multiplicity of elements selected from fluid transport, electrical power transmission, electrical signal transmission, light transmission, weight elements, buoyancy elements, filler elements, or armor elements, arranged around the core cable in at least one cylindrical layer defined about a center longitudinal axis of the core cable when viewed in a radial cross section; a multiplicity of composite wires surrounding the elements in at least one cylindrical layer about the center longitudinal axis; and an insulative sheath surrounding the composite wires. The composite wires may be metal matrix or polymer composite wires.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a USB cable capable of being fed out of and returned to a cable reel is disclosed along with a cable reel that houses the cable and provides connectivity for the cable.

Abstract: A PC strand is untwisted to separate surrounding wires from a core wire, a synthetic resin powdered coating material is uniformly adhered by being applied and heated over the outer periphery of the core wire and surrounding wires in this untwisted state, the product is cooled to form a resin film, and then the surrounding wires are twisted back to the original state with respect to the core wire. Pre-heating is performed before the coating step and post-heating is performed after the coating step, the pre-heating temperature is set 30 to 130° C. higher than the post-heating temperature, a synthetic resin powdered coating material having an average grain size of 40 to 50 ?m is used, and the process line speed is 5 to 10 m/min.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a process, for fabricating a medical lead comprises: providing a splicing tube having a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinal grooves; placing a first plurality of conductors within the plurality of angularly spaced grooves defined on an exterior surface of the splicing tube; placing a second plurality of conductors within the plurality of angularly spaced grooves and adjacent to the first plurality of conductors such that a portion of the distal ends overlap a portion of the proximal ends; positioning conductive filler material adjacent to the overlapped portions of the distal and proximal ends; electrically coupling the proximal ends of the first plurality of electrodes to respective proximal ends of the second plurality of electrodes; molding insulative material about at least the electrode assembly and the splicing tube; and fusing the splicing tube with the insulative material from the molding and the lead body.

Abstract: There is provided a method of connecting electric wires in which connecting strength is improved, and at the same time, dispersion of the connecting strength can be depressed. The method of connecting electric wires includes a step for removing coatings of a plurality of electric wires 51 thereby to expose conductors 52, a step for holding at least two places of a plurality of the electric wires 51, a step for twisting the conductors together while keeping a distance between the two holding places constant, and a step for welding the conductors by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a wire harness covering having a predetermined three-dimensional geometry is provided. The system and method make use of a mold and a post-molding fixture. In a first phase, the mold is used during an injection molding process to form a substantially flat and partially-cured harness covering having an intermediate, substantially two-dimensional shape. In a second phase, the post-molding fixture is used after the injection molding process to orient the harness with covering to a predetermined three-dimensional geometry corresponding to the desired final shape.

Abstract: A method for terminating a telecommunications cable where the cable comprises a plurality of twisted pairs of wires is disclosed. The method comprises providing an interconnection module comprising a pair of contacts for each of the twisted pairs, aligning the end portions and interconnecting each of the aligned end portions with a corresponding pair of conductive contacts. Aligning comprises arranging the end portions such that when connected to the contact pairs, the twisted pairs remain uncrossed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a USB cable capable of being fed out of and returned to a cable reel is disclosed along with a cable reel that houses the cable and provides connectivity for the cable.

Abstract: A smaller conductor having an uninsulated portion and an insulated portion is positioned adjacent a larger conductor having an insulated portion and a conductive portion located within the insulated portion of the larger conductor. The two conductors are joined by a discontinuous metal band having respective ends extending across a top portion of the insulated portion of the larger conductor to make electrical contact with the uninsulated portion of the smaller conductor, then bending downward on one side of the conductor pair and then upward and through the insulated portion of the larger conductor such that a first of the ends of the metal band is positioned in contact with the conductive portion of the larger conductor; the metal band bending downward on the opposite side of the conductor pair and then upward and through the insulated portion of the larger conductor such that a second of the ends of the metal band is positioned in contact with the conductive portion of the larger conductor.

Abstract: A method for reducing crosstalk between a plurality of wires in a network cable using a network cable jack that includes a printed circuit board (PCB) for balancing both inductive and capacitive coupling. The method includes using two distinct inductance zones separated by a neutral zone. Significant gains in degrees of freedom are achieved for designing PCB trace patterns in which a pair of inductive coupling zones jointly offset the inductive coupling caused by a specification plug and the jack contacts, both in magnitude and phase angle. Further, using distinct inductance zones offers more freedom regarding the placement of capacitive plates for use in capacitance balancing as well as the placement of terminals and insulation displacement contacts. Although the magnitude of a capacitive coupling is determined by the length of the capacitor plates parallel to current carrying traces, the approach allows capacitive and inductive coupling to be balanced independently.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for manufacturing an integrated circuit (IC) package and an integrated circuit (IC) package. The process, without limitation, includes providing an integrated circuit chip having a configuration, and forming a layer of overcoat material over the integrated circuit chip based upon the configuration.

Abstract: After melted enamel coating is discharged from the crimping connectors, electrical wire-to-wire connection, that is, the fusion process, is carried out inside the crimping connector. In this conductor connection method based on the fusion process, plural the above enamel-coated conductor wires are inserted in the above crimping connector prior to the start of the fusion process. Further, the temporary crimping process which provides the crimping connector a temporary crimping by mechanical pressurizing means is also a part of entire process. Addition of force at both the end parts or either one of them of the cross-section orthogonal to the axis of the above crimping connector may cause expansion, which needs to be suppressed with external fore. At the same time, the areas of cross-section corresponding to both the end parts or either of them mentioned above should preferably be held as small as possible. The above temporary crimping is applied to the above crimping connector for this purpose.

Abstract: A bypass blade is pivotably connected to the first terminal pad, and movable between open and closed positions. The bypass blade is electrically connected between the first and third terminal pads when in the closed position. A first disconnect blade is pivotally connected to a second terminal pad and movable between open and closed positions. The first disconnect blade is electrically connected between the first and second terminal pads when in the closed position. A second disconnect blade is pivotally connected to a fourth terminal pad and movable between open and closed positions. The second disconnect blade is electrically connected between the third and fourth terminal pads when in the closed position. An interrupter lever is connected to an interrupter and electrically connected to the third terminal pad. A hook ring is connected to the first and second disconnect blades. The hook ring is movable between closed and open positions.

Abstract: Manufacturing is carried out while including the steps of: from a trunk line 12, drawing out electric wires 13a to be a branch line 14 longer than a required length of the branch line 14; forming a branch line portion 17 by applying tape winding to the drawn-out electric wires 13a; making, as a trunk line accompanying part 17a, a part from a base end P2 to a branching position P1 of the branch line portion 17 accompany the trunk line 12 and making, as a main branch line part 17b, a part from the branching position P1 to a front end P3 of the branch line portion 17 distant from the branch line 12; and applying an protecting treatment 19 by tape winding to the whole.

Abstract: When electric wires (joint conductors) are disposed adjacent each other in a peeled state of coatings, a gap corresponding to the total thickness of both conductors' insulating films as skin layers is formed between end joined face portions of the conductors. The gap becomes larger because the conductors are tapered. Therefore, the adhesion between both conductors is impaired, with a consequent fear of occurrence of joining imperfection. In opposed joined face portions of electric wires (joint conductors), the conductors are deformed from the tips of their axes to the joined face side in such a manner that exposed portions at the tips of the conductors and insulating film faces located in the vicinity thereof are flush with each other or the exposed portions are projected.

Abstract: A multiple-use connection system includes an elongate body having an axial tail-receiving passage and having lengthwise sides, and at least two essentially parallel rows of axially-spaced pin receptacles transverse to the tail-receiving passage, the pin receptacles of one of the parallel rows being exposed along one of the lengthwise sides. A patchbay for selectively connecting pairs of connector pins with ones of a plurality of tail conductors includes an insulating body having an axial passageway adapted for receiving a tail and having pairs of aligned pin receptacles, the pairs of pin receptacles being axially spaced from one another, one pin receptacle of each of the pairs of pin receptacles having an exposed portion adapted for being directly probed, where selective placement of pairs of aligned pins into the insulating body effects electrical connection of a pair of pins to a selected one of the tail conductors.

Abstract: A termination device to facilitate interconnection of a twisted pair communications cable to IDCs includes: a housing having an aperture and a pair of first and second IDCs extending within the aperture; a twisted pair communications cable having a twisted pair of first and second conductors; and a termination device. The termination device comprises: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of the first and second conductors and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide the first IDC into engagement with the first conductor at a first engagement location and the second IDC into engagement with the second conductor at a second engagement location, the first and second engagement locations being positioned within the channel and within the twist of the first and second conductors.