With Mating Connection Region Formed By Bared Cable Patents (Class 439/495)
  • Patent number: 6817892
    Abstract: As a structure for electrically connecting conductors of a flat cable (flat wire member) with a circuit board, an end of the flat cable is split into split pieces, and connectors (second connectors) are mounted at the ends of the respective split pieces. A connector (first connector) provided with two connecting portions for the connectors are mounted on the circuit board. When the respective connectors mounted on the flat cable are connected with the connector, the respective conductors of the split pieces are brought into contact with terminals accommodated in the connector. The flat cable or the flat wire member can be easily and securely connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Sakai, Hiroki Hirai, Kenji Okamura
  • Publication number: 20040224555
    Abstract: A flatwire connector suitable for the automotive environment is provided. The connector generally includes a male connector having a housing receiving the flatwire and a female connector having a housing structured to receive the male connector. The male connector has surfaces which firmly engage the upper and lower surfaces of the flatwire to provide mechanical support thereto. Additionally, a spring-loaded shield is provided which automatically covers the exposed conductive elements of the flatwire protecting them from the environment. A primary lock is formed which allows simple mating of the male and female connectors while requiring a minimal mating or insertion force. Finally, the unique structure of the cover and its slidable locking member provide a simple to use, but secure and protective secondary locking feature to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harvinder Singh, Prasanna Ramsagar
  • Patent number: 6811431
    Abstract: A connector for connecting a contact pad of a flexible printed circuit board against terminals of an electronic component comprises a body and a reinforcing plate, wherein the body is combined with the electronic component and two parallel sliding channels are mounted on the body corresponding to two sides of the terminals of the electronic component, and the reinforcing plate is combined with the contact pad of the flexible printed circuit board so as to increase the stiffness of the contact pad, and two sides of the reinforcing plate cooperate with the two parallel sliding channels of the body, thereby connecting the contact pad of the flexible printed circuit board against the terminals of the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Tsun Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6808412
    Abstract: One end of the flexible printed circuit is electrically connected with the contact terminals of the cable accommodation portion in the connector body by the engagement of the end face of the stopper member biased by the elastic force of the leaf springs with the step of the back panel in the flexible printed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Ishii
  • Publication number: 20040180572
    Abstract: An electrical power connector for flexible circuit boards capable of ensuring that free rotations of a mobile cover thereof and a base thereof are maintained even if a pivotal axis thereof is fractured, while also providing a flexible circuit board thereof with pressing and connection effects. One side of the positioning axis defines the close position of the mobile cover for pressing and connecting a flexible circuit board and forming an electrically connected pressure portion with a contact arm of the terminal. The points of displacement of the pressure portion from the open position to the close position do not exceed a line from a center of the support portion of the support arm to the contact fin of the contact arm for electrically connecting the flexible circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Hsien-Yu Chiu
  • Patent number: 6790073
    Abstract: A flexible cable connector assembly includes an electrical connector (1) and a flexible cable (40, 50). The electrical connector includes an insulative housing (10) defining an elongated slot (15) in a top surface thereof, a number of conductive terminals (20) received in the housing and a stuffer (30) mountable on the housing. The stuffer includes a base plate (31) having a lower surface and opposite side surfaces. A pressing plate (32) extends downwardly from the lower surface of the base plate. The base plate defines a groove in one side surface extending towards the other side surface for allowing the flexible cable to extend laterally therethrough. When the stuffer is mounted onto the housing, the pressing plate is inserted into the slot, the base plate covers the insulative housing and the groove is in communication with the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Fang Wu
  • Patent number: 6790074
    Abstract: An electrical power connector for flexible circuit boards capable of ensuring that free rotations of a mobile cover thereof and a base thereof are maintained even if a pivotal axis thereof is fractured, while also providing a flexible circuit board thereof with pressing and connection effects. One side of the positioning axis defines the close position of the mobile cover for pressing and connecting a flexible circuit board and forming an electrically connected pressure portion with a contact arm of the terminal. The points of displacement of the pressure portion from the open position to the close position do not exceed a line from a center of the support portion of the support arm to the contact fin of the contact arm for electrically connecting the flexible circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: P-Two Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Hsien-Yu Chiu
  • Publication number: 20040166726
    Abstract: A connector for a ribbon cable includes a housing having a ribbon cable receiving region extending between a front surface and a back surface of the housing. A ribbon cable disposed in the ribbon cable receiving region. The ribbon cable has contact sections arranged at the back surface of the housing. Retention clips arranged on the back surface of the housing that receive a portion of the ribbon cable. The retention clips are arranged at a fixed spacing such that the contact sections of the ribbon cable are accessible between each of the retention clips for receiving contact elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Christian Otto Boemmel, Rolf Jetter
  • Patent number: 6780046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection system for flexible flat strip cables (1a,1b) with parallel strip conductors lying at a distance from one another which are bared in the contact area (4), with a first housing part (2a) on whose floor (3) is fastened a principal flexible flat strip cable (1a) and a second housing part (2b) in which a branch flexible flat strip cable is fixed, with flexible tongues (5) which press the bared area of the branch flexible flat strip cable (1b), with the housing parts (2a,2b) in the inserted state, against the bared area of the principal flexible flat strip cable (1a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Friedrich Bach, Michael Hopf, Robert Janitschke
  • Patent number: 6773288
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connection system for flexible flat strip cables (1a,1b) comprising conductors arranged parallel to one another, which are stripped of insulation in the area of the connection which is to be made and which are provided with means of positive fixing of the flexible flat strip cables to be connected in a connection housing (2), which has two housing parts (2a,2b) able to be joined together and a slide (3) for the pressing together in the areas which have been stripped of insulation, of the flexible flat strip cables (1a,1b), which are to be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Hans-Otto Geltsch, Michael Hopf, Robert Janitschke
  • Patent number: 6773287
    Abstract: An electrical connector (1) for a flat conductor (40) having engagement steps (42) comprises terminals (32) arranged in a housing (10) and having contact portions (33A), and a pair of engagement members (13) having engaging means (13A), which engage the engagement steps of the flat conductor in concert with the contact portions to firmly hold the flat conductor in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Takashita
  • Patent number: 6767233
    Abstract: An electrical connector for a flat cable (C) comprises a housing (1) having an open mouth (14), a plurality of terminals (2) arranged and maintained at the housing and having contact sections (12) at positions facing to the open mouth of the housing, a pressure member (15) rotatable around a rotational axis (18A) and between an open position where the flat cable is inserted from the open mouth into an insertion space and arranged on the contact sections and a closed position where the flat cable is pressed towards the contact sections. The connector also comprises at least one bearing section (4) provided in the terminal for rotation of the pressure member at the rotational axis and at least one engaging section (10 and 17A) provided in the terminal and the pressure member and holding the pressure member at the open position by an engaging force generated by concerted movement of the terminals and the pressure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hirose Electric, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 6755682
    Abstract: An FPC connector has a structure not damaging contacts of terminals upon assembling. In the FPC connector, each of the terminals has a contact beam extending into the FPC inserting portion and a pivot beam extending substantially parallel in upper side of the contact beam, and a cut-out portion is formed on a lower edge at a tip end portion of the pivot beam for forming a pivot portion of the actuator. The actuator is formed with through openings corresponding to pivot portions of respective terminals, a peripheral edge portion of each of the through hole being formed into a cross-sectionally substantially circular shape shaft portion to engage with the pivot portion. Pushing projecting portions is provided between adjacent shaft portions for pivoting according to pivot motion of the actuator for urging the FPC toward the contacts of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kunishi, Hideki Iijima, Kouji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20040110412
    Abstract: A holder 2 which holds a FPC 4 is coupled with a connector 1. The connector 1 includes a female housing 3 and a terminal metal fitting 14. The female housing 3 houses the terminal metal fitting 14. The terminal metal fitting 14 includes a pair of contact pieces 20a and 20b. The holder 2 is inserted in between the pair of contact pieces 20a and 20b. It is assumed that a temperature change is &Dgr;T, the linear expansion coefficient of the holder 2 is &bgr;a, and the distance between a first fixing portion C and a contact S is 1a. It is also assumed that the linear expansion coefficient of the terminal metal fitting 14 is &bgr;b, and the distance between a second fixing portion and the contact S is 1b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirohisa Ueda
  • Patent number: 6743045
    Abstract: In a flexible connector having a fitting portion for connection, with a counterpart connector. A plurality of flexible conductive wires (31) are arranged on a plane in parallel with each other and extend to have end portions. The flexible conductive wires are held by an insulator (8) which makes the fitting portion cooperate with the end portions of the flexible conductive wires. A flexible reinforcing member (6) is placed at one side of the plane to reinforce the flexible conductive wires and mechanically couples to the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Akihisa Endo, Kazukuni Hisatomi, Nobukazu Kato
  • Publication number: 20040102083
    Abstract: To provide a receptacle connector and a plug connector, wherein the receptacle connector has a greater force for holding the plug connector in the pull-out direction, verification of their fitting can be done easily and even if the fitting work is done blindly, incomplete fitting will not be made, and these merits can be accomplished while their thicknesses are reduced. A receptacle connector with latch arms comprising a receptacle connector body having a groove into which a plug connector is inserted, a contact provided in the receptacle connector body, and a pair of latch arms extending outward in the depth direction from two locations spaced from each other in the width direction of the receptacle connector body, the pair of latch arms being able to undergo elastic deformation in the width direction. Each latch arm is provided with a retaining part, and the retaining part is provided with a guiding part, a fixed side width fitting face and a fixed side depth fitting face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Kuroda, Kiyoshi Aramoto
  • Patent number: 6739902
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat flexible cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing for receiving the flat flexible cable, the housing having arm holders at opposite ends thereof. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing for electrically engaging appropriate conductors of the flat flexible cable. An elongated actuator is movably mounted on the housing and includes a body with a pressing portion for biasing the cable against the contact portions of the terminals. The actuator is fabricated of rigid ceramic material. A pair of connecting arms are mounted at opposite ends of the actuator and are of a resilient material other than ceramic for insertion into the arm holders of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Junichi Miyazawa, Yoshikazu Ito
  • Publication number: 20040092157
    Abstract: A bracket includes a female connector housing, bus bar circuits, pressure welding edges, and a lower cable support rib. The female connector housing has a cable wiring surface on which a plurality of cables are wired. The bus bar circuits are disposed on the cable wiring surface in an exposed state. The pressure welding edges are formed on the bus bar circuits to connect the cables to the bus bar circuits by pressure welding. The lower cable support rib is disposed on the cable wiring surface for supporting the cables not to be contacted to the bus bar circuits except the pressure welding edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Sawayanagi
  • Patent number: 6733325
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided with a connector (first connector) to be mounted on a circuit board and a connector (second connector) for holding a flat cable flat wire member). When the two connectors are connected with each other, an end portion of the cable is inserted into the connector to bring conductors of the cable into contact with mating terminals. The connector is provided with a plate-shaped holder, and the cable is supported on this holder in such a state as to be displaceable in widthwise direction. On the other hand, the connector is provided with a pair of locking pieces as a positioning portion. When the two connectors are connected with each other, the respective locking pieces directly come into contact with the cable being inserted into the connector from widthwise outer sides, thereby positioning the cable with respect to the connector in widthwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Sakai, Hiroki Hirai, Kenji Okamura, Tomoyuki Sakata
  • Patent number: 6733326
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit connector capable of resisting against lateral pressure, includes an insulating base seat in which multiple terminals are inlaid. Each of two sides of the insulating base seat being formed with an insertion hole. Two pivot members, first ends of the pivot members being respectively inserted in two sides of the insulating base seat, each pivot member being formed with a stop plate near a second end thereof, in normal state, the stop plate abutting against a lateral side of the insulating base seat. A pressing cover board pivotally connected with the pivot members for correspondingly covering the insulating base seat and tightly pressing a flexible printed circuit to electrically connect with the terminals of the insulating base seat. The stop plate abuts against the lateral side of insulating base seat to resist against lateral external force and prevent the pivot member from being deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Super Link Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ipson Lee
  • Patent number: 6726497
    Abstract: An FPC connector permits downsizing and not exerting residual stress on terminals irrespective of the pivoting position of an actuator while an FPC is not connected. The FPC connector is provided with biasing beams respectively arranged adjacent contact terminals disposed in an insulative housing. The biasing beams are pivotable about support points at intermediate portions thereof. The biasing beams are pivoted by means of pivotal actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Nogawa, Hideki Iijima
  • Patent number: 6722905
    Abstract: A board connector for fixing a printed circuit board on which a conductor circuit is formed includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing, an operating lever and an auxiliary lever. The first connector housing, accommodating a plurality of first terminals therein. The second connector housing, accommodating a plurality of second terminals therein, and provided above the first connector housing. The operating lever, pivotably coupled to the first connector housing and the second housing for moving the first connector housing and the second connector to closer each other between a first position and a second position. The auxiliary lever, pivotably coupled to the operating lever and the first connector housing for restricting the pivotal range of the operating lever. The first connector housing and the second connector housing have a space for inserting end portions of the printed circuit board therebetween when the operation lever is located in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Negishi, Yuji Hatagishi
  • Publication number: 20040067679
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which it is possible to easily recognize that a holder has been reliably engaged with a female housing. The connector (1) includes the holder (2) and the female housing (3). The holder (2) holds an end part (4a) of an FPC (4). The holder (2) has a pair of first walls (7) One of the first walls (7a) is provided with a lock hole (13) in its inner face. A width (L) of the first wall (7a) is equal to a width (La) of the FPC (4). The female housing (3) has a pair of second walls (22). One of the second walls (22a) is provided with an engaging projection (25) and a recess (26) in its outer face (27). The engaging projection (25) is projected from the outer face (27) , and the recess (26) is recessed from the outer face (27). The engaging projection (25) is engaged in the lock hole (13), thereby to allow the female housing (3) and the holder (2) to be engaged with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Toshiro Maejima
  • Patent number: 6699066
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) includes a receptacle connector (10), a clamping device (20) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (30) having an edge (301) with conductive elements (300) thereon. The receptacle connector includes an insulative housing (100) defining a central slot (104) in a top surface (101) thereof and terminal passageways (1041) communicating with the central slot receiving respective conductive terminals (110). The clamping device includes two clamping panels (200) and two connecting sections (210) downwardly extending from two ends of the clamping panels. The clamping device defines a space (214) between the clamping panels for receiving the edge of the FPC. The edge of the FPC and the connecting section of the clamping device are inserted into the central slot of the housing and the conductive elements contacting respective terminals. The clamping panels clamp the FPC and the connecting sections thereof engaging with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Fang Wu
  • Patent number: 6695642
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for flexible flat cable used for electrically connecting a plurality of contacts and a flexible flat cable. The electrical connector assembly includes a housing in which the contacts and the flexible flat cable are inserted; and a housing lock to be freely rotatably engaged in the housing and press the flexible flat cable for the holding in such a manner as to bend the flexible flat cable. This permits the flexible flat cable to be prevented from slipping off and also permits it to be kept in its connected and held state even when used in an environment subjected to vibration and external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Shindo, Kazushi Miyahara
  • Publication number: 20040033717
    Abstract: A connecting device includes a plurality of resilient terminal pieces, each of which has a connecting end portion connected electrically to a corresponding one of conductive contacts on a flexible printed board, and a resilient contact end portion opposite to the connecting end portion. A positioning unit is provided on the flexible printed board and a circuit board for positioning the flexible printed board on the circuit board so as to enable the contact end portion of each of the terminal pieces to contact electrically a corresponding one of contact pads on the circuit board. As such, each of the contact pads can be connected a respective one of the conductive contacts on the flexible printed board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Fred Peng
  • Publication number: 20040023551
    Abstract: A connector includes contacts each having a contact portion, an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion between the contact portion and a connection portion, and a pressure receiving portion; a housing fixing the contacts; and a slider having urging portions pivotally moved between the connection and pressure receiving portions of the contacts to urging the contact portions against the circuit board, thereby achieving reliable connection and miniaturization of the connector. In an aspect, the housing is formed on the side of a board insertion opening with a recessed portion for conducting the board. In another aspect, the contact includes upper and lower contact portions one above the other arranged alternately staggered so as to be connected to a circuit board having contact portions alternately staggered, so that no defective connection occurs, even if the circuit board is inserted erroneously upside down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Masayuki Suzuki, Jun-Ichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6679713
    Abstract: A connector (1) for a flexible circuit board (30) has a housing (2), a pressing means (12), and parallel contacts (6) each having a conductive arm (8) and arranged at a pitch to form a row in the recess (3) of the housing. The pressing means (12) can be swung to close the recess so that an inner end portion of the flexible board (30) overlying the conductive arms (8) will be pressed down onto these arms. Reinforcement metals (20) face one another over the row of the contacts (6) and are attached to opposite sides (5) of the housing (2), so as to be soldered to a rigid printed circuit board. Each reinforcement metal (20) has a resilient support (25) for urging upwards the flexible board (30) in a direction away from the conductive arms (8) so as to keep the board in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuto Miura
  • Publication number: 20040002255
    Abstract: A leg portion is provided at a second connector so that a gap is created between a flat circuit body and a circuit board. The leg portion also serves as a positioning projection, and a locking hole for being engaged with the positioning projection is provided at the flat circuit body. A guiding groove for receiving the leg portion is formed at a first connector. A guiding part for receiving the first connector in a sliding manner is formed at an end of an opening of the first connector, and an inclined part for sliding the guiding part there along is formed at an end of an engaging part of the second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hirohisa Ueda, Kaoru Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20040002254
    Abstract: An electrical connector for a flat type conductor comprises terminals (20) with contact portion brought into contact with the flat conductor (F) when the flat conductor moves to the the closed position, and a pressing member (40) rotatable between the open and closed positions, wherein each terminal includes a base (21) and a main arm (22) having a first arm portion (24) and a second arm portion (25), at least one of the first and second arm portions having a sub-arm portion (27 and 33). When the pressure member is moved to the closed position, the sub-arm portion is resiliently deformed about a joint portion between the sub-arm portion and the main arm so that a distal end of said sub-arm portion presses the flat type conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 6669503
    Abstract: For connecting an object having protruding portions protruding reverse to each other in a first direction, a connector includes a housing for guiding the object to an inserted position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a contact held by the housing, and an actuator movable in a predetermined direction with respect to the housing so as to bring the object into press contact with the contact. The housing has receiving portions for receiving the protruding portions, respectively. The actuator has cover portions to face the receiving portions and to cover the protruding portions, respectively, when the object is brought into press contact with the contact. The cover portions respectively having slant surfaces to be engaged with the protruding portions of the object, when the object is located at a position deviated from the inserted position, to force the object towards the inserted position following the movement of the actuator to bring the object into press contact with the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Kumi Hirose
  • Publication number: 20030236026
    Abstract: A positioning section for positioning a terminal section of the flexible printed circuit is provided at a position adjacent to a movable ground terminal and a movable signal terminal of a fixed ground terminal and a fixed signal terminal in a cable accommodation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshio Endo
  • Publication number: 20030236024
    Abstract: A flexible cable connector assembly includes an electrical connector (1) and a flexible cable (40, 50). The electrical connector includes an insulative housing (10) defining an elongated slot (15) in a top surface thereof, a number of conductive terminals (20) received in the housing and a stuffer (30) mountable on the housing. The stuffer includes a base plate (31) having a lower surface and opposite side surfaces. A pressing plate (32) extends downwardly from the lower surface of the base plate. The base plate defines a groove in one side surface extending towards the other side surface for allowing the flexible cable to extend laterally therethrough. When the stuffer is mounted onto the housing, the pressing plate is inserted into the slot, the base plate covers the insulative housing and the groove is in communication with the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventor: Min-Fang Wu
  • Publication number: 20030236025
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (1) includes a receptacle connector (10), a clamping device (20) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) (30) having an edge (301) with conductive elements (300) thereon. The receptacle connector includes an insulative housing (100) defining a central slot (104) in a top surface (101) thereof and terminal passageways (1041) communicating with the central slot receiving respective conductive terminals (110). The clamping device includes two clamping panels (200) and two connecting sections (210) downwardly extending from two ends of the clamping panels. The clamping device defines a space (214) between the clamping panels for receiving the edge of the FPC. The edge of the FPC and the connecting section of the clamping device are inserted into the central slot of the housing and the conductive elements contacting respective terminals. The clamping panels clamp the FPC and the connecting sections thereof engaging with the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventor: Min-Fang Wu
  • Patent number: 6666711
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a plurality of sheet-type terminals (20 and 30) which are received into corresponding receiving slots (11 and 12) of a housing (10) and are arranged parallel each other in a direction. The terminals (20, 30) have connection sections (23 and 33) at their ends, which are arranged so as to face the same side and protrude outward from a bottom surface of the housing. The movable member (40), which presses a flat cable (C) toward contact sections (26, 36), is movably supported at an open mouth of the housing (10). The connection sections (23 and 33) have connection surfaces (23A and 33A) for contact with circuit sections of a circuit board, which are staggered in a receiving direction of the terminals to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Takashita, Mitsuo Ishida, Kazuhisa Tsunematsu
  • Publication number: 20030232536
    Abstract: A connector includes a contact, a housing, and an actuator . The housing holds and fixes the contact. The actuator presses an FPC, an object to be connected, and thereby connects the FPC and the contact. The connector further includes a first member that is fixed to the housing. The housing includes an insertion slot therein the FPC is inserted and thereto an open portion is formed. The first member includes a projection segment that projects toward the open portion of the insertion slot. The projection segment is provided with a chamfered portion on a side facing the open portion of the insertion slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuichi Saito, Kumi Hirose
  • Patent number: 6659794
    Abstract: Slits to be used for insertion of an FFC are formed in the root section of each of guide ribs of a male connector housing. A retainer provided integrally with the male connector housing is engaged with a rear-end opening section of the male connector housing. The FFC is sandwiched between a projecting section of the male connector housing and a recessed section of the male connector housing, in a folded manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Yamatani, Isao Yamaguchi, Nozomi Itoh, Shigeru Oyamada, Shinji Itoh
  • Publication number: 20030220013
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit connector capable of resisting against lateral pressure, includes an insulating base seat in which multiple terminals are inlaid. Each of two sides of the insulating base seat being formed with an insertion hole. Two pivot members, first ends of the pivot members being respectively inserted in two sides of the insulating base seat, each pivot member being formed with a stop plate near a second end thereof, in normal state, the stop plate abutting against a lateral side of the insulating base seat. A pressing cover board pivotally connected with the pivot members for correspondingly covering the insulating base seat and tightly pressing a flexible printed circuit to electrically connect with the terminals of the insulating base seat. The stop plate abuts against the lateral side of insulating base seat to resist against lateral external force and prevent the pivot member from being deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Ipson Lee
  • Publication number: 20030211773
    Abstract: One end of the flexible printed circuit is electrically connected with the contact terminals of the cable accommodation portion in the connector body by the engagement of the end face of the stopper member biased by the elastic force of the leaf springs with the step of the back panel in the flexible printed circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Ishii
  • Patent number: 6641431
    Abstract: A connector 20 comprises a support portion 22a supported by a housing 21, and connection end portions 22b and 22c extending from the support portion 22a in a bifurcated manner, wherein a conductor 3 of a flat cable 1 is held between the connection end portions 22b and 22c to electrically connect to the terminal and a projection portion 22d, which can bite into the conductor 3, is formed on at least one of the connection end portions 22b and 22c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6638090
    Abstract: The invention provides a miniaturized and simplified connector for a flexible flat cable. A male connector 12 is formed from bus bars B and a male housing 13, the bus bars B being welded to a tip end of a flexible flat cable C, the male housing 13 being molded so as to cover these bus bars B and a tip end portion of the flexible flat cable C. An opening portion 13b is formed in one face of the male housing 13. A female connector 17 is formed from terminal fittings 20 and a female housing 18, the terminal fittings 20 having resilient contacts 20b capable of resiliently making contact with the bus bars B when the connector 12 is fitted into the connector 17. A latching means 16 is provided between the female housing 18 and the male housing 13, and a waterproofing rubber ring 21 is located between an inner face of the female housing 18 and an outer face of the male housing 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigekazu Wakata
  • Patent number: 6619979
    Abstract: A top-contacting insertion socket for flat cable includes a main body formed of a plurality of terminal cavities for each receiving a terminal therein, and a top cover pivotally connected to a top of the main body and upward turnable to expose the terminal cavities and enable easy insertion of a flat cable into the terminal cavities. A space is left between an inner top surface of the main body and internal connecting pins of the terminals for a tongue portion of the top cover to insert thereinto, such that the tongue portion is pressed at a lower side against the internal connecting pins for a lower side of which to electrically contact with a bare upper side of the flat cable located below the internal connecting pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Yen Yu-Feng
  • Publication number: 20030157829
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat electrical circuit having a bottom surface and a top surface. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening for receiving an end of the flat circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing spaced laterally along the opening. At least some of the terminals have first flexible contact arms for engaging the bottom surface of the flat circuit and second flexible contact arms for engaging the top surface of the flat circuit. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening and a closed position engaging the top surface of the flat circuit and biasing the bottom surface of the circuit against the first flexible contact arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kunishi, Tomisaburo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6602083
    Abstract: In an electrical connector for a flat cable, a pressure member (15) can freely rotate between an open position to open an inserting space to enable the insertion of the flat cable (C) into an open mouth and a close position to press the flat cable to contact section (12) closing the inserting space. A part of an upper wall (7) of a housing (1) has a opening which is open towards the open mouth (14). The pressure member (15) can move into the opening when it turns over to the open position, and is supported by a bearing section (11) at a support member held in the housing so as to freely rotate. The upper edge (9A) of the bearing section of the support member is positioned outer than the inner surface of the upper wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 6595796
    Abstract: A backer plate (40) secured to leading end portion (20) of flexible film circuit (10), providing rigidity to facilitate manipulation of the circuit during mating with and unmating from a receptacle connector (26). Backer plate (40) may either be molded of insulative material or be conductive to serve as a ground connection. Backer plate (40) has side walls (48) beside the flex film that provide flanges (54) to precisely guide mating with connector (26) along slots (32), and may also provide detents (56) for retention in the connector. Backer plate (40) may also provide bosses (60) to stop forward movement at a precise location aligning the strip circuits with connector contacts (30). Flanges (54) offset from the central plane of the strip/backer plate assembly, line up with slots (32) offset from the central plane of cavity (24) in order to permit insertion only when the assembly is properly oriented, thus serving to polarize the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Scott Koegel, Earl Chester Myers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6589068
    Abstract: A Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC) connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of first and second terminals (2, 3) and two stuffer members (4). The insulative housing includes a first and a second chambers (14, 15) for receiving the first and the second terminals therein. Two FPCs are respectively inserted into the first and the second chambers for electrically connecting with the first and the second terminals. The stuffer members are respectively inserted into the first and the second chambers for tightly pressing the FPCs against the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 6585538
    Abstract: A connector system for printed circuit boards uses extensions of the traces of the printed circuit board as connector pins by supporting the malleable traces with isolated support pillars. This eliminates the need for electrical junctions between the connector and the printed circuit board. The support pillars provide the necessary mechanical properties for the connector pins. The conductive trace may be adhered to one side of the support or may be draped over the top to cover both sides and may be plated with the material of the support to provide a uniform electrical conductivity over the surface of the formed pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harvinder Singh, Vijay Patel, Michael Howey, Bharat Patel, Jin Zhou
  • Patent number: 6586681
    Abstract: The invention concerns laminated and extruded flat flexible cable, also called electrical flat conductors, especially its contacting. The invention is characterized by the fact that stripping (5) of the flat flexible cable occurs in a region that lies at a spacing from the end (7) of flat flexible cable (1). The invention also concerns embodiments and a matching connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: I & T Innovation Technik Vertriebe-Ges.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Winfried Adams, Artur Schubert
  • Publication number: 20030104721
    Abstract: A Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC) connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a number of first and second terminals (2, 3) and two stuffer members (4). The insulative housing includes a first and a second chambers (14, 15) for receiving the first and the second terminals therein. Two FPCs are respectively inserted into the first and the second chambers for electrically connecting with the first and the second terminals. The stuffer members are respectively inserted into the first and the second chambers for tightly pressing the FPCs against the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 6568955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical connector which at least partially receives a foil with printed conductors embedded therein, and comprises an insulating housing with an insertion aperture for the foil and at least one foil contact with a contact section for contacting the printed conductors. The foil contact has a connection section for connection to an electric component and an actuating zone to receive mechanical pressure. To ensure reliable contacting and inexpensive production and simplified assembly of the components, the foil contact is bent as one piece from a punched spring sheet and has at its first contact arm an end section which is bent approximately to a U-shape, which can be brought into contact with the two contact arms by mechanical pressure. According to the invention, the connector also comprises an actuator to actuate this foil contact in which retaining webs are integrally formed which penetrate the foil when the actuator is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea, Claudius Rieder, Josef Woller