Abstract: An electrical connector having first and second coacting engagable parts for mating a plurality of spaced electrical contacts in which the system includes predictable alignment, contact force and wiping features. The connector may use flexible circuit tape as the contact elements in which a plurality of modules may be utilized to be aligned separately to avoid cumulative alignment errors. The flexible circuit tape may be a TAB type tape which is configured to allow the end user with the capability to program the signal/ground ratio of the interconnect.

Abstract: A plug and socker connector for a printed circuit board has the socket part open at the bottom so that it can be attached to the board by latches engaging in openings in the board, leaving conductive tracks on the board exposed within the socket part. A plug has external resilient contacts so that when the plug is inserted in the socket, the contacts press against the conductive tracks of the board. Other fastening means for holding the socket against the board are disclosed, and the socket can be double so that a plug can be inserted on either side of the board.

Abstract: An electrical connector 63 includes at least one length of wire 54 having an insulating means 55 with at least one portion 58 of the wire 54 extending free from the insulating means 55 and a housing 62 adapted to hold the free end 58 and a length of the insulating means relative to a first contact point 102 on an electrical article 100 to be interconnected with connector 63 to wire 54. Wire 54 includes one portion 56 inelastically deformed to provide a second contact point 60 adapted to engage the first contact point 102. Housing 62 includes portions adapted to position the second contact point 60 in bearing relationship with the the first contact point 102 with the spring beam 56 being deflected to provide a normal force engagement between the first and second 102,60 contact points sufficient to assure a stable, low resistance interface.

Abstract: In a circuit card assembly for use within an information processor (computer) wherein the assembly includes a fiber optic connector assembly as part thereof, there is provided means for enabling electrical connections to be made to the circuit card's circuitry in the same area as the fiber optic connector's housing so that charging of the card (to the potential of the mother board to which it will be coupled) can occur prior to coupling of the card to the board. Once the card is positioned and thus connected to the board, the charging means of the invention can be removed and a desired fiber optic connector inserted within the housing so that desired optical connections can be made with corresponding components (e.g., receiver, transmitter) which form part of the circuit card assembly. Both optical and electrical connections thus occur within the same housing.

Abstract: A connector with a retractable base plate to protect its contact outlets, the connector functioning to ensure connections between various parts of television type cathode ray tubes and correspoding printed circuits, comprises a contact holder casing, a sliding base part supporting the contact holder casing, the sliding base part having hollowed out housings, integral therein, contact outlets into which the housings are respectfully inserted, guiding and click and spring work systems for maintaining said contact outlets in said housing, the aforementioned guiding and click and locking systems functioning to lock the base plate onto the casing whereby pressure brought on the casing perpendicular to the printed circuit causes the base plate coming into contact with the printed circuit to undergo translation, effectuating the passage of contact end pieces from the housing through holes in the base plate whereby the contact outlets can be brazed.

Abstract: An electric connection box includes a pair of upper and lower cases connected together to provide a casing, one of the upper and lower cases having an electrically insulating housing. A wiring assembly is accommodated within the casing and includes an electrically insulating plate and a plurality of bus bars mounted on the insulating plate. External connection terminals are electrically connected to the bus bars and have respective contact portions received within the insulating housing. Each of the external connection terminals includes a base portion, a plurality of contact portions formed on one lateral edge of the base portion, and a bus bar-gripping portion formed on the other lateral edge of said base portion. The base portion is fixed to the case, with the contact portions extending into the housing. When the wiring assembly is covered or enclosed by the covers, the bus bar-gripping portion is press-fitted relative to the bus bar.

Abstract: A card connector to be used for memory cards having a connector body and a plate-like frame attached to a frame member having a card insertion and removal opening(s), and a slider(s) operable in association with the card insertion/removal operation attached to the frame in an overlapping manner. The card connector is made thin with high mechanical strength assured. In particular, a plurality of cards may be overlappingly mounted on the card connector. Both release of the cards, held at setting positions and card unloading, are carried out by a single operation of actuators.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical connector assembly. More specifically, it relates to an electrical connector and assembly and to a method for spatially configuring multiple connector assemblies on circuit-bearing substrates. The connector assembly is configured with a ramp on the upper surface of the connector housing to guide and support the flexible cable of one connector assembly over the housing of an adjacent connector so permitting a denser spatial arrangement of connector housings on a printed circuit board than could be previously achieved.

Abstract: A connector assembly which enables conductive paths of a first body to be electrically connected to the conductive paths of a second body. The assembly comprising:at least two spigot members; anda connecting member having a cover member into which a resilient member and a displaceable member are assembled.Each of the members of the connecting member are provided with corresponding orifices that form a passageway which is shaped so that it can engage with a groove formed on a respective spigot member. In operation, the spigot members are inserted into a respective passageway and the connecting member moved relative thereto so that the groove and passageway co-operate with one another to clamp the first and second bodies together, and thereby effect electrical connection between the respective conductive paths.

Abstract: A pressure make/break interconnect for two sets of coplanar, parallel traces (30 and 46) includes contact pads (50 and 52) on the ends of the one or both sets of traces (30 and 46), the pads (50 and 52) being wider than the spaces between the traces (30 and 46) but staggered so that there is room for the pads (50 and 52) to fit between the traces (30 and 46). One of each facing pair of the traces (30 and 46) or pads (50 and 52) has on its facing surface a bump (66), which serves as the actual contact point and aids in increasing the contacting pressure. An interconnect support (70) behind one of the pads (50 or 52) is configured to aid in intensifying the pressure applied through the bump (66), ensuring good contact.

Abstract: A connector clamp for attaching conductive surface pads on a flexible sheet to a printed wiring board having complementary conductive surface pads is bent from an elongated precut pattern. The resulting clamp member includes a series of transverse fingers along one leg of a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The fingers are opposed by a continuous leg joined to them by a continuous central base that completes the U-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The internal width across the central base exceeds the combined thickness of the sheet and board secured by the clamp. It exerts clamping force along a line extending across both clamp legs to assure both mechanical and electrical connection between the joined elements.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a flexible printed cable (14, 23) to a circuit board 13 comprises a dielectric housing (3, 10, 20) having electrical contact members (2a, 11, 21) secured in opposing sides of the housing, the contact members having contact sections (2a, 11A, 21c) inside of the housing for electrical connection to exposed conductors of the flexible printed cable when a section is positioned in the housing and maintained in connection therewith by a cover member (4, 12, 22) which is pivotally mounted on the housing and latched hereto by latch members (10A, 12A; 20b, 22a).

Abstract: An electrical connector terminates ribbon cable intended for electrical connection to a PCB. The connector presents multiple contacts from the ribbon cable for engagement with mating terminals on the PCB as the connector is first moved into position for mounting on the PCB. Guide pins on the connector are slidably received in associated guide holes in the PCB to assure that each contact is properly positioned to engage its mating terminal. Thereupon, fasteners are tightened for firmly securing the connector to the PCB and, in the process, the contacts are moved relative to their mating terminals in a wiping action while still in engagement with them. Relative movement between the contacts and the terminals ceases when the fasteners are fully tightened. Individual groups of contacts are independently biased into engagement with the terminals with a predetermined minimum of force.

Abstract: A clamping system for use in connecting high density flexible circuit to a rigid printed circuit board. The clamping system utilizes metal-on-elastomer (MOE) strips contained in a MOE holder and held in place by clamping components to provide electrical connections between the high density flexible circuit and the rigid printed circuit board. The clamping system utilizes a flexible mouth surrounding the high density flexible circuit to alleviate stress on the high density flexible circuit, a special plating on the conductors of the high density flexible circuit to prevent oxidation, and a stiffener clamp to provide stability for the MOE strips.

Abstract: A low insertion force electrical connector system comprises a receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows. A low insertion force system selectively spaces apart or closes the electrical contacts to limit insertion of a circuit board with a low force. Devices are provided for aligning and locking the circuit board within the receptacle and an actuating system is arranged to serially operate the aligning and locking devices first followed by the low insertion force system.

Abstract: A connector is provided for joining two flat flexible cables. The connector comprises a carrier having an elongated base, a pair of guides extending orthogonally from opposed ends of the base and a generally planar support extending from the base and disposed between the guides. The connector further comprises a resilient clip having opposed arms extending from a connecting member and converging toward one another. Slits may be formed in the clip to define a plurality of independent clamping fingers aligned respectively with conductive traces on the flat flexible circuit members. The circuit members are disposed in face to face contact on the support of the carrier, and the clip is slidably advanced over the circuit members and the support. Thus, the arms of the clip hold the flat flexible circuit members in face to face contact with one another and against the support of the carrier.

Abstract: In a flexible circuit connector assembly, a first circuit has exposed contacts which are positioned in register with the termination pads of another circuit by means of a connector which mechanically clamps the two circuits together. The connector includes a frame having an undersurface to which the first circuit is affixed. Locating posts project from that surface and are received in locating apertures in the second circuit to properly position the connector and the attached circuit relative to the second circuit. A generally C-shaped spring member engages around the frame with its arms extending beyond the locating posts and with its bridging segment extending more or less perallel to the frame reference surface.

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector assembly is provided for allowing the electrical connection of a flat, flexible cable having conductors therein and a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a plastic housing having spring contacts arranged in parallel configuration. The housing is secured to the printed circuit board by the tail ends of the spring contacts. A cover plate is pivotably and slidably mounted to the housing. An end of the cable may be inserted between the cover and housing when the cover plate is pivoted to an oblique position with respect to the housing. The cover plate is then pivoted towards the contacts and moved rearwardly to lock it in the closed position. The housing and cover plate include mutually engaging components which effect such locking upon sliding the cover plate towards the housing.

Abstract: A ceramic card assembly which provides high density three dimensional semiconductor device packaging and overcomes the power distribution and thermal management problems that have impaired prior ceramic cards. The ceramic card assembly combines ceramic cards with flexible power distribution structures which provide low inductance and low resistance power distribution, making ceramic cards available for high performance VLSI systems. Each ceramic card assembly comprises a ceramic card having a plurality of chip sites and power contacts thereon, and at least one flexible power distribution structure having alternating insulation (i.e. polyimide) layers and conductor (i.e., copper) layers, the flexible power distribution structures are mounted adjacent to the ceramic cards so that conductive layers of the ceramic cards are selectively exposed to the power contacts. The ceramic card assemblies are preferably combined into a field replaceable unit that includes cold plates between ceramic cards.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for connecting a plurality of electrical cable conductors to a corresponding plurality of conductors on a printed wiring board is provided. A section of the insulation at the termination end is displaced away from the adjacent section of insulation, thereby exposing bare conductors between the two insulated sections. The prepared termination end of the cable is then attached to a wire retaining device which guides the exposed conductors horizontally and vertically into physical contact with the printed wiring board conductors while isolating the conductors from each other. The retaining device is firmly clamped to the printed wiring board, thereby squeezing the ribbon cable conductors between the printed wiring board and the retaining device to provide an excellent electrical contact between the respective cable and printed circuit board conductors.

Abstract: An electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting electrically conductive paths of a first circuit with corresponding electrically conductive paths of a second circuit. The system includes backer structure with guide structure that is adapted to receive a first circuit which has a first array of pad-type contacts, and a cooperating connector assembly component that includes contact carrier structure with camming structure and that is adapted to receive a second circuit which has a second array of pad-type contacts corresponding to the pad-type contacts of the first array, and actuator structure that includes camming structure for interaction with camming structure of the contact carrier structure. Elastomeric foam structure interconnects the actuator and said contact carrier structures in a manner enabling the camming structures to engage.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting a flexible circuit having a row of printed contact areas to a PC board having a corresponding row of terminal posts employs a connector having a housing with a bottm wall and a pair of side walls at least one of which is movable with respect to the other. A row of post-receiving passages are present in the bottom wall which passages are arranged to receive the posts of the PC board. An edge margin of the flexible circuit is clamped between the housing side walls so that the contact areas thereon are aligned with the passages in the housing bottom wall and a set of springs positioned inside the housing flexes the circuit edge margin so that when the movable housing side wall is in its closed position, the row of contact areas overhang the passages in the housing bottom wall.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus for locating conductor wires of a cable over mounting pads on a substrate is characterized by a base having a recess into which the conductors are introduced. The base has grooves which support the conductor wires in parallel. A portion of the conductor wires extend cantilever fashion past the forward edge thereof. A cover has an array of resilient fingers which impart a biasing force to extending wires of a multiconductor cable to urge these wires into contact with conductive mounting pads provided on a substrate as the base and cover are drawn together.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a flat cable comprising a base housing (30) accommodating electrical contacts (50) and a cover housing (10) which is arranged to slide vertically with respect to the base housing. The cover housing and the base housing have grooves (11a, 11b) which mate with guide projections (31a, 31b) to guide the relative movement between the housings. The cover housing at a first position enables a part of a flat cable (1) to be positioned in an opening (45) of the base housing and upon movement of the cover housing to a second position, a projection (14) of the cover housing presses exposed conductors of the flat cable in engagement with the contacts. The cover housing can be maintained at its first position by a first locking means (31a) and at its second position by a second locking means (16, 37).

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector is provided for flat cables having conductors on one or both sides. The ZIF connector includes a base having a plurality of generally parallel slots for receiving generally C-shaped portions of contacts with contact arms of unequal lengths. An actuator is slidably urged into contact with an initial fulcrum on the base. The actuator defines a cable channel into which the flat cable can be inserted such that the cable is guided between the arms of the C-shaped contacts. The actuator then is rotated about its initial fulcrum of the base, and the cable is urged into contact with anti-overstress fulcrums on the base. Continued rotation of the actuator urges the cable into the opposed arms of the contacts to make electrical connection. Resilient deflectable locking latches engage the actuator and hold the actuator into a fully seated condition.

Abstract: The connector assembly is for connecting the conductive network of a flexible printed circuit to the conductive network of a rigid printed circuit board. The connector assembly comprises an alignment body structure mountable on the printed circuit and for positioning the flexible printed circuit for electrical communication with the rigid printed circuit. The alignment structure has a central aperture in alignment with the printed circuit contacts and a horizontal insertion aperture for ingress and egress of the flexible printed circuit in the plane of the rigid printed circuit. The connector assembly further comprises an elastomeric conductor disposed within the alignment structure so that the elastomeric conductor is between the communicative portions of the flexible printed circuit and the rigid printed circuit.

Abstract: An electrical connector for temporary attachment to two sets of linearly arrayed electrical contacts on opposite exposed sides of a rectangular-block-shaped electrical component, such as an integrated circuit chip, mounted on a circuit board. The electrical connector includes two sets of lineraly arrayed conductive pins for connection to the first and second sets of contacts of the board-mounted component. Each set of pins is held by a slab of circuit-board material. When the connector is positioned over the board-mounted component for attachment thereto, a first end portion of each pin is disposed beneath its respective slab for connection to a corresponding contact of the electrical component, and the other end portion of each pin is exposed for connection to some other electrical component.

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector for electrically and mechanically connecting the terminal pins of a pin grid array semiconductor device to corresponding terminal pins on a printed wiring board. The connector includes first and second identically molded plastic substrates, each having a grid pattern of apertures therethrough where the grid corresponds to the spacing of the terminal pins on the pin grid array semiconductor device. Formed proximate one end of each of the rectangular apertures is a rectangular post which projects outwardly from a major surface of the substrate and which has a height approximately equal to the thickness dimension of the substrate, such that when the first substrate is inverted relative to the second substrate, the projecting posts of one will fit into the rectangular apertures of the other.

Abstract: A connector mechanism for electrically connecting two structures 22, 24 carrying conducting lines 26, comprises fixed contacts 28 on one of the structures and floating contacts 30 on the other of the structures, the floating contacts being free to move towards and away from the fixed contacts and across the fixed contacts as independent motions, under the control of a common actuator 50, 52, 54, each floating contact being an electrically integral part, carried by the actuator, of a flexible conductive film 34.