Abstract: A socket for an electrical part comprises a socket body having a stationary portion to which a number of contact pins are disposed so as to be contacted to or separated from a number of terminals disposed to an electrical part, each of the contact pins having first and second contact portions between which each of the terminals is clamped. The socket body is provided with a slide plate to be transversely slidable in a usable state of the socket, and one of the first and second contact portions is displaced by sliding the slide plate to thereby open or close the first and second contact portions.

Abstract: A socket for receiving a semiconductor component (10) having an electric terminal (12) comprises a contact (31), to which the electric terminal is connected, and a driving mechanism for moving the contact (31) toward the electric terminal (12) when the semiconductor component is inserted into an insertion position in the socket. The driving mechanism has a movable separation member (40) for keeping the contact (31) away from the insertion position of the semiconductor component (10) when the semiconductor component is not inserted in the socket. The socket also has a spring (50) which is compressed as the semiconductor component (10) is inserted, and pushes back the movable separation member (40) toward the semiconductor component.

Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.

Abstract: A card connector which permits insertion of a card from a side of an insulator thereof is provided. A protruded portion is formed on the bottom of a rear end of a slider movably accommodated with a hollow insulator. When the slider is moved in the direction of insertion of a card (miniature card) to bring a recessed terminal array portion of the card to a position exactly above a protruded terminal array portion of a circuit board, the protruded portion is caused to drop into a recess formed in a bottom wall of the hollow insulator to thereby incline the slider with respect to the direction of insertion of the card to fit the recessed terminal array portion of the miniature card on the protruded terminal array portion of the circuit board. The slider is urged against the bottom wall of the hollow insulator by a spring, and urged toward an insertion opening of the hollow insulator by another spring. An ejector button is arranged in the hollow insulator for returning the card to a level position.

Abstract: A socket for an electrical part comprises a socket body provided with a mount portion on which an electrical part such as IC package is mounted, a plurality of contact pins mounted to the socket body to be separated from and contacted to terminals such as IC leads of the electrical part and an upper operation member disposed to the socket body to be vertically movable. The contact pins each comprises a stationary contact piece to be contacted to a lower surface of the terminal and a movable contact piece to be contacted to an upper surface of the terminal so as to clamp the terminal therebetween in a manner that when the upper operation member is moved vertically, the movable contact piece is deformed to be separated from and contacted to the terminal.

Abstract: A card reader for receiving a smart card (12), has a minimum number of special molded parts, with the parts easily assembled. The card reader includes a molded main enclosure (30) with bottom and side walls (71,73,75,77), a circuit assembly (32) that includes a plate-like frame (40) that holds a smart card connector (42) with contacts for engaging pads on the card, and a front device (34). The frame (40) is formed by a simple circuit board with the smart card connector and an I/O connector (44) mounted on the board and connected by traces (56) on the board. The board is installed on the main enclosure by placing the rear end (70) of the board under a tab (74) of the enclosure and pivoting down the board while pegs (84) on the enclosure are received in locating holes (80) drilled in the rear end of the board.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical card connector (hereinafter referred to as "connector") which is used for a card C such as an IC card. The invention proposes a structure in which scratches are not formed on the surface of the card when the card C is inserted into the connector or when the card C is ejected from the connector. The connector has a body, a slider, and a cover. The slider is disposed so as to be slidable. The connector has a contact position regulating mechanism which, when the slider is in an initial position, retracts a contact to the outside of a card insertion space S1 and, when the slider reaches a pushed-in position, causes the contact to protrude into the card insertion space S1. When the slider is in the initial position, the contact position regulating mechanism causes the contact to be retracted to the outside of the card insertion space.

Abstract: A card connector which permits insertion of a card from a side of an insulator thereof is provided. A protruded portion is formed on the bottom of a rear end of a slider movably accommodated with a hollow insulator. When the slider is moved in the direction of insertion of a card (miniature card) to bring a recessed terminal array portion of the card to a position exactly above a protruded terminal array portion of a circuit board, the protruded portion is caused to drop into a recess formed in a bottom wall of the hollow insulator to thereby incline the slider with respect to the direction of insertion of the card to fit the recessed terminal array portion of the miniature card on the protruded terminal array portion of the circuit board. The slider is urged against the bottom wall of the hollow insulator by a spring, and urged toward an insertion opening of the hollow insulator by another spring. An ejector button is arranged in the hollow insulator for returning the card to a level position.

Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.

Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.

Abstract: For a plug connector for card-edge mounting, in particular a plug connector with 2 or more rows, it is proposed that the printed circuit board connection side of the plug connector should have at least one press-on body which is connected to the insulating body of the plug connector so as to be capable of rotating or hinging and in which the soldering connections of the contacts of the plug connector are held.

Abstract: A landing type smart card reader 10 is provided having a base 14, a cover 12, and a contact carrier 50. Spring arms 22 formed in the cover 12 cooperate with the contact carrier 50 to bias the contacts 18 away from an inserted smart card 102. Upon insertion of a smart card 102, the spring arms 22 will disengage the contact carrier 50 and the contacts 18 will land on and make electrical connection with pads of the smart card 102.

Abstract: An IC card connection unit according to the invention is for use in electronic equipment into which an IC card is inserted. It included a body provided with a contacting arrangement for contacts, and a card supporter fixedly attached to the body, provided with a recess for forming a card insertion path. A card butting part movable when pressed by the tip of the IC card is disposed in the card insertion path, and a pressing force applied to the card butting part is converted into a force acting in the direction crossing the direction of the card insertion path, whereby contacts of the equipment are shifted so as to be in contact with contacts of the IC card while the IC card is retained in the card insertion path.

Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.

Abstract: A flexible circuitry connector includes an improved contact spring assembly that is compared with a plurality of discrete spring elements arranged longitudinally along the connector. Flexible circuitry is supported by the spring elements and held against a circuit card by each such spring element in a manner such that the spring elements apply a series of discrete contact forces for the length of the spring assembly, thereby eliminating any problems due to circuit card thickness variations and warpage as well as other compliance issues.

Abstract: A zero-insertion force connector having a frame which includes a selectively deformable base. Contacts are supported by the base and are selectively displaced from an insertion path when the base is deformed, allowing insert elements, such as wire from flat cable, or a printed circuit board, to be inserted between the contacts without substantial resistance. Releasing the force which is deforming the base allows the base to return to its rest shape under a natural resiliency of the material used to make the base, which causes the contacts to move against the inserted element and establish electrical communication.

Abstract: A connector for a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable includes an insulator having an insertion opening for a flexible printed circuit board or a flexible flat cable, a plurality of contacts supported by the insulator, contact leg portions formed on the contacts, which come into elastic contact with an upper or lower inner surface of the insertion opening in the insertion direction, and a pusher which is adapted to elastically deform the contact leg portions to disconnect the latter from the inner surface of the insertion opening.

Abstract: A connector for a printed circuit board having a housing defining a hollow. There is a plurality of slits in the back wall and a terminal is inserted in each one. The terminal includes a pressing piece which is capable of flexing under the influence of the introduction of a retainer so that it is spaced apart from the circuit board. The gap therebetween is greater than the thickness of the board. The housing is also provided with weakened areas, including slits in the sides of the housing and a line of reduced thickness on an upper wall of the housing, which facilitate movement of the upper wall and the pressing piece into the flexed position. The gap therebetween is greater than the thickness of the board. After the retainer and circuit board have been fully inserted, the pressing piece returns to its rest position, in which the gap is equal to or less than the thickness of the circuit board. This provides a good electrical contact between the pressing piece and the board.

Abstract: An interactive surgery planning and display system mixes live video of external surfaces of the patient with interactive computer generated models of internal anatomy obtained from medical diagnostic imaging data of the patient. The computer images and the live video are coordinated and displayed to a surgeon in real-time during surgery allowing the surgeon to view internal and external structures and the relation between them simultaneously, and adjust his surgery accordingly. In an alternative embodiment, a normal anatomical model is also displayed as a guide in reconstructive surgery. Another embodiment employs three-dimensional viewing.

Abstract: An electronic shelf having a back plane and side walls which are themselves printed circuit boards in communication with the back plane. Each side walls has connectors which may be opened for the sliding reception of an edge card into the shelf, the connectors then being closed to make electrical contact with the edge cards through terminals in the connector. Each connector has flexible conductors to permit opening and closing of the connector and conveniently the flexible conductors are provided by a flexible cable. Use of flexible cable permits minimizing distances between conductors and terminals. Also covered is an electrical connecor with specific features suitable for its use upon a side wall of the shelf.

Abstract: A sealed ZIF connector for mating to a complementary connector with an internal PCB is for use with non-gold-plated terminals for a cost effective design. Such a connector may be for use in an automobile, for connection to a motor management electronics module. The connector is provided with a pivotable camming member having an oval camming surface positioned between contact arms of the terminals. In the pre-mated condition the camming surface spreads the terminal contact arms apart and the connectors can be coupled until the end of the PCB is almost against the camming surface. Upon rotation of the camming mechanism, the cam releases the contacts which bias against the PCB, whereby the cam subsequently abuts the end of the PCB to slightly separate the connectors. Separation of the connectors causes a wiping action between the contacts and the PCB to clean the surfaces from oxidation layers. The latter thus allows use of tin plated contacts for ZIF connectors.

Abstract: A zero insertion/extraction force printed circuit board card connection system comprises a cam-operated locking mechanism disposed along an edge portion of the printed circuit board. The extrusions along the circuit board mate with an extrusion fixed to the card cage having a plurality of electrical connectors. The card connection system allows the connectors to be held away from the circuit board during insertion/extraction and provides a constant mating force once the circuit board is positioned. The card connection system provides a simple solution to the need for a greater number of electrical signal connections.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for making a mechanical and electrical contact between contact surfaces disposed in a row along one edge-part of a printed circuit board and a respective contact finger disposed in a row in a plane of a magazine intended for several circuit boards. The row of contact surfaces is located immediately adjacent the contact fingers, and the contact fingers are moved into electrical and mechanical contact with respective contact surfaces by means of an elongated device which is moved in a direction so as to move the contact fingers into a position in which they coact with the contact surfaces. The elongated device is intended to be inserted into the magazine in a direction which lies parallel with the row of contact surfaces.

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector includes a pair of spring clamp jaws, each having a flexible circuit attached thereto. The clamp jaws are confrontationally arranged so that a portion of each clamp jaw adjacent to the rearward end thereof define a channel through which the flexible circuits pass. Each flexible circuit is attached to a spring clamp jaw within a region on the circuit that is free of tracings. An actuator provided within concave portions of each jaw to open the same and bring the conductive tracings on the flexible circuits into registration with the conductive tracings on a substrate. Wiping action between the tracings is generated by engagement between an abutment surface on a fixture and a camming surface carried on the connector. A centering action to register the tracings is simultaneously generated.

Abstract: An electrical connector for removably receiving a daughter card includes a first group of contact springs, which extend in their free, undeflected state into a card-receiving slot, and a second group of contact springs, which are displaced from this slot in their undeflected state. This connector also includes an actuator, which can be moved to engage the second group of contact springs so that they are moved into the card-receiving slot. The actuator can be left in a position in which it is not so engaged when a first type of daughter card is inserted in the connector, with slotted portions of the daughter card passing over surfaces of the actuator. The actuator is moved into this engagement with the insertion of a second type of daughter card as surfaces on the daughter card push on surfaces of the actuator. The actuator also includes means by which it is locked to this second type of daughter card so that it is restored to its unengaged position as the daughter card is withdrawn from the connector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ZIF card edge connector utilizing flexible film circuitry, where a daughter board, for example, may be electrically connected to a mother board upon which the connector is surface mounted. The connector preferably comprises an elongated housing consisting of a base, a pair of spaced apart side walls upstanding therefrom, and a pair of end walls to define the elongated slot. Placed therewithin is a U-shaped spring member where its arms upstand near the side walls. To effect opening and closing of the connector, a card release slide member is disposed within the U-shaped spring member in contact with the spring member arms, where the card release slide member is adapted to shift longitudinally to effect a lateral movement of the spring member arms. At least one release member is mounted in an end wall to effect the shifting of the card release slide member. However, a pair of cooperating slide members, one in each end wall, may be provided.

Abstract: An electrical connector, bridge connector and opening accessory to protect the contacts on flexible circuitry of such connectors from being damaged by the sharp edges of a printed circuit board like member wherein the opening accessory is provided with spaced apart cam means that spread apart cam bearing portions of the connectors outside flexible circuitry mounted thereon is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed which can electrically terminate flexible cable to a printed circuit board. The connector includes an insulating housing having a plurality of terminals which extend forwardly towards the front face. The terminals are each provided with horizontal base sections, and a retention leg. The terminals include first contact portions. The terminals further comprise spring portions having a second contact portion opposed from the first contact portion. A lever section extends from the spring portion. A cam actuator is installed on the connector housing with individual cam sections aligned with, and below, the lever sections of the terminals. The cam actuator is rotatable relative to the housing to cam the terminals open for insertion of the conductors.

Abstract: A connector assembly (16) for a memory card (10) includes a frame (24) and a contact-carrying carriage member (30) pivotally mounted to the frame. Guide rails (26, 28) are formed integrally with the frame and extend away from the frame. A first of the guide rails (26) is, together with t he frame, securely mounted to support structure, while the other guide rail (28) is free to flex relative to the frame. Insertion of the card causes the carriage member to be pivoted, against the biasing action of a spring 984), so that the contact members (60) engage respective contact pads (14) on the card. The guide rails are spring loaded toward each other to generate a friction force against the opposed edges (20, 22) of the card which is sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring (84) on the carriage member, thereby retaining the card in the connector assembly.

Abstract: Surface-mount solder-tails (124) for use in a surface-mount edge connector (100) and other surface-mount components. The terminal members (120) are each formed with an upper-section providing a bearing surface to facilitate slidable insertion of a circuit board within connector housing (10), a mid-section which serves to anchor terminal members (120) within housing (10), and an improved solder-tail section (124) of compact design for establishing electrical contact with conductive traces on the surface of a motherboard (30). The improved solder-tails (124) are provided with an elbow to increase the length, thereby increasing the resiliency in the vertical and horizontal directions. Alternatively, solder-tails (124) may be narrowed or annealed to achieve the same result. Edge connector (100) minimizes an aggregate normal force imparted to said second circuit board (30) while maintaining a proper electrical connection, and the solder-joints are well-protected from stresses imparted to the motherboard.

Abstract: A socket for an electric part comprises a socket body for connecting an electric part, a movable plate having a plurality of terminal insertion holes formed therein and being adapted to move along an upper surface of the socket body, a plurality of contacts in the socket body, and a no-load insertion space formed alongside each contact and adapted to facilitate a no-load insertion of a terminal of the electric part. The terminal of the electric part can be inserted into the no-load insertion space through the terminal insertion hole formed in the movable plate. The terminal can then be brought to a position in which it contacts the contact from the no-load insertion space by causing the movable plate to move laterally in one direction. Likewise, the terminal can be moved into the no-load insertion space from the contacting position by causing lateral movement of the movable plate in the other direction, in order to realize a no-load insertion and withdrawal of the electric part.

Abstract: In the card connector disclosed by the present invention, a movable member is disposed between left- and right-hand arms (8) of a U-shape slide (8) housed in a housing (15). The movable member (15) is movable between a first position where the contacts (13) of the contact pieces (13) held by the housing are separated from a card setting position and a second position where the contacts project into the card setting position. The movable member is displaced with the movement of the slider. When a card (8) is not being inserted and the slider (8) is located in the advance position, the movable member is held at the first position above-mentioned. When the card is inserted and at least the slider reaches the retracted position, the movable member is held at the second position. When the movable member is held at the second position, the contacts come in contact with external terminals of the card.

Abstract: A memory card connector arranged is related such that, at the time of initial insertion and removal of a memory card, the contact pieces of the connector do not come in contact with the external contact pieces of a memory card, thus preventing the operator from receiving the spring loads stored in the contact pieces, at the time of such insertion and removal. At a set position of the memory card, the slider engaged with the memory card is moved toward the contact pieces with the use of a raised guide surface. Accordingly, the contact pieces displaced against the resiliency thereof come in contact with the external contact pieces of the memory card.

Abstract: A system for providing low insertion force electrical interconnections between high density contacts for use in interconnecting circuit packages. A housing has disposed therein one or more pre-buckled beam connectors. Each connector has a resilient insulative strip carrying a plurality of buckling beams electrically isolated from each other. The beams are aligned on the plane defining the strip in parallel with ends extending away from the strip edges in opposing directions. Means are provided for deforming the strip within the housing prior to effecting desired interconnections whereby the beams are pre-buckled. Upon urging contacts into proximity with the beam ends, the buckling force is released causing each beam's ends to be urged away from the strip into engagement with respective contacts, thereby effecting desired interconnection between contacts and through one or more beams.

Abstract: A zero insertion force edge card connector is described, for connecting to cards with closely-spaced conductive pads, which is rugged and reliable. The connector includes numerous elongated contacts, each having a middle portion embedded in a dielectric frame element, a terminal end portion extending from the frame towards a card-receiving region, and a tail portion extending from the frame element to a base. The frame element is movably supported on the base by the flexible tail portions of the contacts, and can move towards and away from the card-receiving region by bending of the tail portions. The multiple contacts avoid uncontrolled rotation of the frame element. A spring urges a pair of frame elements together, and a cam controls movement of the frame elements.

Abstract: An electrical connector for providing electrical connection to a substrate having contact elements thereon (e.g., a printed circuit board) wherein torsional contacts are utilized. The contacts, actuated by a vertically moving, slidable member (e.g., a cam plate) and horizontally moving actuator (e.g., a linear cam), resume a normal, twisted configuration to effect such connection with the respective contact elements. Each contact, preferably metallic (e.g., beryllium copper), includes a curvilinear edge segment while each contact element (e.g., plated copper wire) in turn includes a curvilinear contacting surface, these two members thus providing a single point form of contact while assuring effective wiping motion to remove undesirable contaminants, debris, etc. which may be located thereon. Relatively high contact forces (e.g., 200,000 PSI) are possible using the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connector for use in electrically connecting a ROM or IC card, or the like card to a main printed circuit board of an apparatus. In the connector, a movable member is mounted which causes a contact of the card to be resiliently contacted by a contact of a contactor portion connected to the main printed circuit board when the card is inserted a specified degree, and which causes the contact of the contactor portion to move away from the card a distance greater than the thickness of the card when the card is withdrawn. This arrangement involves no troublesome operation in connection with the expansion and contraction control of the contactor portion and can effectively prevent possible wear and deterioration of the contacts.

Abstract: A ZIF connector includes cam operated locking means which engage and position an inserted PCB card before the contacts engage the board.

Abstract: A test socket has movable contact elements blanked from sheet metal to provide each element with a mounting leg part, a contact part at an edge of the blanked sheet metal, and a resilient curved part between the leg and contact parts permitting the contact part to be moved into and out of engagement with terminals of an IC unit to be tested in the socket and has a plurality of projections formed in side-by-side relation to each other in the edge of the sheet metal at the contact part for improving the making and breaking of electrical connection to the IC unit terminal.

Abstract: A card connector has a connector main body including therein a first cam block extending along the card-receiving inserting slit and capable of a first horizontal movement and also a second cam block extending along the inserting slit and in parallel relation with the first cam block. The second and first cam blocks cause the second cam block to move in a second horizontal direction by one directional first horizontal movement of the first cam block, and are brought to be in cam engagement by a first cam surface for causing the second cam block to move in the second horizontal direction by a first half movement of the first horizontal movement in the other direction. The second and first cam blocks are brought to be in cam engagement by a second cam surface for causing the second cam block to move in the vertical direction by a latter half movement of the horizontal movement in the other direction.

Abstract: A card connector, having a card insertion slit in a connector body and a resilient contacting piece for engaging a card inserted in the slit, uses just a single cam block having a card supporting surface for supporting and moving a card inserted into the card insertion slit. A plain cam surface on the single cam block opens and closes the contacting piece for allowing the card to be easily inserted and for moving a contact surface of the contacting piece against the card for rubbing the card to improve the electrical contact when the card is subsequently moved. The single cam block is diagonally movably supported on the connector body for movement along a diagonal movement path.

Abstract: A holder for receiving cards with electronically stored data or printed circuit boards. The holder has guide means to receive the card. The holder is provided with a connector with contact springs for contacting connection strips located on the card. One end of each contact spring is clamped while the other is free to move and make contact with the connection strips. The contact springs include the parts formed by bending and shaped so as to minimize pressure and friction against the connection strips of the card.

Abstract: A contacting apparatus for a chip-card is provided. The contacting apparatus can be located for instance in an automatic teller machine or a telephone. The chip-card can be inserted into the contacting apparatus by an operator. If the chip-card is located in the contacting apparatus, the inadvertent removal of a card located in a card reading position might be undesirable. The contacting apparatus of the invention protects against such inadvertent removal of the card by including a protective collar which surrounds the end of the chip-card extending out of the contacting apparatus, or device within which the contacting apparatus is arranged, when the card is in its reading position.

Abstract: In the disclosed electrical connector, the card inserted from the inlet is moved, together with the slider abutting against this card, in a state being inclined to the specified placing plane, resisting the thrusting force to the inlet side by the thrusting means, and when this card and slider reach the specified position, the card and slider are oscillated about the oscillating fulcrum part to position them on the specified placing plane, thereby causing the contact formed on the contact piece part of the conductor piece to contact elastically with the contact of the card, while fixed the slider on the specified placing plane by the lock mechanism.

Abstract: A connector comprises a housing having a longitudinal slot in a top wall thereof for receiving a member being switched. Secured to a lower wall of the housing are contacts placed in recesses provided in side walls of the housing. The housing has a longitudinal passageway for reciprocations of a key therein for opening and closing the contacts. The key is made in the form of a rod having a projection which engages with inner surfaces of arms of the contacts when the key is moved. Projections are made on a wall of each recess, the outside surfaces thereof being embraced by the inner surfaces of the arms of the contacts when they are opened.

Abstract: An external pack connector has a recess for receiving an external pack, a table member slidably mounted in the recess and biased oppositely to a direction of insertion of the external pack, a resilient contact member projecting into the recess, and a rotatable lever engaged with the table member and the contact member and rotatable against a spring force of the contact member.

Abstract: A bistable zero insertion force connector assembly including one or more conductive contact members. Each conductive contact member includes mating ends or contact arms having contact surfaces and a resilient central segment. Variable engagement means cooperates with each conductive contact member to displace the member from a first stable state to a second stable state and vice versa, with minimal force the member being maintained in the first or second stable states by means of stresses induced in the resilient central segment. In the first stable state the contact surfaces of the mating ends or contact arms are disposed in mating proximity to the contact surfaces of the device to be electrically connected therewith with zero force/zero contact while in the second stable state there is secured engagement between the respective contact surfaces. Wiping contact between the respective contact surfaces during transition between the first and second stable states enhance reliability of the electrical connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector achieves improvements in connecting a patient plate to an electrosurgical generator. The connector is preferably of the lever operated type, and electrical contacts are connected on the lever and connected within a passageway internally in a housing of the connector. A tongue portion of the patient plate is inserted in the passageway. Upon closure of the lever, the contacts on the lever extend into the passageway above the lower contacts to mechanically contact and retain the tongue portion between the contacts and to electrically contact the tongue portion by which to conduct current to the patient plate. A recess is formed in the lower marginal area of the passageway and a retaining structure on the lever member extends into the passageway to deform the tongue portion into the indention.

Abstract: An external memory pack has a circuit board having an electrical contact, a case for covering the circuit board, an opening formed in the case to expose the electrical contact of the circuit board, a slidable shutter for opening and closing the opening and an actuator for actuating the shutter for sliding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camming means for a zero insertion force connector or the like. The camming means has cam profiles which extend through an extension of the housing of the connector. The cam profiles are configured to distribute the forces to the extension of the housing, thereby eliminating the forces applied the cam slides which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cam slides. The positioning of the cam profiles relative to each other ensures that the camming means can be used in connectors in which space is at a premium.