Contacts At Different Distances From Lead Panel Circuit Edge Patents (Class 439/60)
  • Patent number: 6231395
    Abstract: The invention concerns a card reader connector with microcircuit (1) comprising contacts (2) connected to an electronic circuit and designed, when the card (1) is integrated in the reader, to be connected to the card (1) microcircuit contact pads Said connector comprises a wafer (3) made of electrically insulating material comprising cells (4) each freely receiving a brush contact (2) the first end (5) of which projects from the cell (4) and is designed to be contacted with one contact pad of the card (1) microcircuit and the other end (6, 7) rests on one conducting pad of the electronic circuit formed on a card (10) of the printed circuit pressed against the wafer (3) made of electrically insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventor: Emmanuel Odic
  • Patent number: 6227867
    Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a straddle connector including a dielectric housing having a front face forming an island section and a rear face opposite the island section. Upper and lower rows of terminals are embedded within the housing. Each terminal includes a connecting section extending to the island section and a tail section extending beyond the rear face. A retaining slot is defined between the upper and lower rows of tail sections. A PCB having upper and lower rows of golden fingers is inserted into the retaining slot. Each golden finger of one of the upper and lower rows is coated with solder paste. A row of holes is defined in the PCB adjacent to the golden fingers. Each hole is aligned with the extension of the corresponding terminal and has a solder drop disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Spencer Chen, Craig Li
  • Patent number: 6220892
    Abstract: An electrical connector interconnecting a microphone to another conductive member includes an insulating body. The insulating body defines an internal receptacle having a shape for receipt of a microphone therein. An outer surface of the body is configured for disposition adjacent an conductive member, for example a circuit board, to which the microphone is to be electrically connected. A pair of connector elements are configured with the body. Each connector elements includes a first contact foot extending beyond the outer surface for electrical contact with the conductive member, and a second contact foot extending into the receptacle for electrical contact with the microphone. The receptacle generally encases at least a portion of the microphone for maintaining proper relative position between the microphone and insulating body to ensure electrical contact between the connector, microphone, and the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventor: Peter G. Bishop
  • Patent number: 6220868
    Abstract: A card edge connector comprises an insulative housing having a mating face and a mounting face and a plurality of different kinds of conductive contacts. The housing defines an elongate slot in the mating face for receiving a mating edge of a circuit board having an unequal number of conductive pads on opposite faces of the mating edge. The housing also defines a plurality of aligned, transverse cavities on each side thereof for receiving the different kinds of conductive contacts therein. At least two kinds of different contacts are received in the transverse cavities of one side of the housing and a smaller number of contacts are received in the cavities of the opposite side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Pei, Yao-Chi Huang
  • Patent number: 6220867
    Abstract: This invention relates to a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module comprising a dielectric housing unit, a plurality of terminals, an interface card, a retention mechanism, and a motherboard, wherein the join-structure includes a lateral contact and a plate contact type. In the lateral contact type, terminals in upper layer and lower layer are punched and aligned in a single material feeding band in staggered arrangement, and the terminals in the material feeding band can be folded at connection strips to stand in two rows. As to plate contact type, two-layer terminals are cross-inserted to fixing roots, which are designed in two-section manner and supported at two turning points with enhancing protruded strips. The terminals are plugged and fixed in reception grooves of the dielectric housing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Win Win Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tien-Ching Tsai
  • Patent number: 6203328
    Abstract: A connector that acts as a power and signal link between a computer processor and a power source provides a short, compact signal path with the use of high conductivity contacts and flexible cable. A modularity connection scheme is used in which the connector comprises several assemblies. An exemplary connector comprises a first contact assembly, a second contact assembly, and a housing. The internal components of the connector consist of the first contact assembly and the second contact assembly. The first contact assembly is preferably a power contact assembly and comprises a pair of flexible contacts having contact areas. The second assembly is preferably an auxiliary contact assembly and comprises a flexible contact having contact area. The first assembly and the second assembly are inserted into the housing, and are thereby trapped by the housing surfaces to form the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose L. Ortega, Douglas M. Johnescu, Michael V. Strawser
  • Patent number: 6152742
    Abstract: A high speed, high density surface mount connector which may be easily manufactured. The connector is formed by injection molding a ground plate into a portion of an insulative housing, leaving conducting beam portions and tail portions extending from opposite ends of the housing. A mating section of the housing is separately made. Signal contacts are sandwiched between the two pieces of the housing, which are then mated. The signal contacts are parallel to the ground plate but spaced apart from it, forming individual transmission lines. In use, the tail portions are soldered to a printed circuit board. The beam portions are bent to form contact springs. They make contact to a back plane when the connector is pressed against the back plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Cohen, Mark W. Gailus
  • Patent number: 6129555
    Abstract: A connector assembly used for balanced transmission includes a jack connector and a card-edge plug connector. The jack connector includes a plurality of pairs of jack-type signal contact elements arranged parallel to each other in an array, a plurality of jack-type ground plate elements arranged alternately with said plurality of pairs of jack-type signal contact elements in said array, a jack-type insulating body made of an electrically insulating material and jack-type ground contact element. The card-edge plug connector includes a plurality of pairs of plug-type signal pads, a plurality of slits arranged alternately with said plurality of pairs of plug-type signal pads, at least one plug-type ground layer and a plurality of signal patterns each extending from a respective one of said plug-type signal pads. The connector assembly has a strip-line structure. Also, virtual ground planes are created at a region between each pair of the plurality of pairs of plug-type signal pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Daikuhara, Tadashi Kumamoto, Junichi Akama
  • Patent number: 6095821
    Abstract: A card edge connector for mounting on a circuit board and removeably receiving a circuit card includes an elongated housing defining a card receiving slot. Numerous terminal receiving cavities intersect and extend to both sides of the slot. Alternate cavities include stamped reference (ground or power) terminals and signal terminals, all having downwardly extending board contacts and upwardly extending spring arms. There are numerous similar sets of face to face contacts, each including a reference contact parallel to and substantially overlying an opposed pair of signal contacts. The upwardly extending reference terminal spring arms include oversize pad portions for reducing crosstalk by increasing coupling between the reference and signal terminals. The circuit paths to the circuit board are in an array symmetrical about the centerline of the circuit card, with parallel inner lines of circuits containing only reference contacts and outer lines of circuits containing only signal contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Augusto P. Panella, Kai Mook Cheong, Harold Keith Lang, Irvin R. Triner, Shyh-Lin Tung, Alan S. Walse
  • Patent number: 6042386
    Abstract: A high speed, high density surface mount connector which may be easily manufactured. The connector is formed by injection molding a ground plate into a portion of an insulative housing, leaving conducting beam portions and tail portions extending from opposite ends of the housing. A mating section of the housing is separately made. Signal contacts are sandwiched between the two pieces of the housing, which are then mated. The signal contacts are parallel to the ground plate but spaced apart from it, forming individual transmission lines. In use, the tail portions are soldered to a printed circuit board. The beam portions are bent to form contact springs. They make contact to a back plane when the connector is pressed against the back plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Cohen, Mark W. Gailus
  • Patent number: 6019639
    Abstract: A method and structure of an electrical connector is provided for tuning the impedance of the connector according to a given impedance of an electrical circuit in which the connector is interconnected. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a receptacle for receiving a complementary electrical component. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. The terminals include body portions located in the housing and contact portions for engaging respective contacts on the electrical component. The body portions include mechanically non-functional sections of a given area which effect a given capacitance. The mechanically non-functional sections are selectively trimmable to selectively vary the area thereof and thereby vary the capacitance of the terminals and, therefore, the impedance of the connector to match the given impedance of the electrical circuit. The connector includes a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David L. Brunker, Frank A. Harwath, Dennis K. Scheer
  • Patent number: 6015299
    Abstract: A card edge connector for mounting on a circuit board and removeably receiving a circuit card includes an elongated housing defining a card receiving slot. Numerous terminal receiving cavities intersect and extend to both sides of the slot. Alternate cavities include stamped reference (ground or power) terminals and signal terminals, all having downwardly extending board contacts and upwardly extending spring arms. There are numerous similar sets of face to face contacts, each including a reference contact parallel to and substantially overlying an opposed pair of signal contacts. The upwardly extending reference terminal spring arms include oversize pad portions for reducing crosstalk by increasing coupling between the reference and signal terminals. The circuit paths to the circuit board are in an array symmetrical about the centerline of the circuit card, with parallel inner lines of circuits containing only reference contacts and outer lines of circuits containing only signal contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan S. Walse, Harold Keith Lang, Augusto P. Panella, Irvin R. Triner, Shyh-Lin Tung
  • Patent number: 6000950
    Abstract: FPC connector (20) has multiple beam-shaped primary contacts (50) arranged on one side of an opening (30a) in housing (30) and multiple U-shaped secondary contacts (60) arranged along the other side of the opening. A tongue (45) of outer housing (40) together with the contact edge of the FPC (10) is inserted in the U-shaped portions of these U-shaped secondary contacts (60). This results in the forming of electrical contact between contact points (65, 53) of the contacts (60) and the primary contacts (50) with the conductive pads (12, 13) arranged in two rows along the contacting edge of the FPC (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Kajinuma
  • Patent number: 5997312
    Abstract: A grounding contact (1) for inducing noise on a pair of contacts (215) in a high speed, high density electrical connector (2) to ground includes a first section (10) and a second section (11) separated from each other. The first section (10) includes a contact portion (102) for engaging with a daughter board (40) inserted into the connector (2), a fitting portion (104) interferentially engaging with a housing (201) of the connector (2), and a terminal portion (12) to be fitted into a hole of a printed circuit board. The second section (11) includes a contact portion (112) for engaging with the daughter board (40), a fitting portion (114) interferentially engaging with the housing (201) of the connector (2), and a terminal portion (13) for engaging the terminal portion (12) and joining the two sections (10, 11) of the grounding contact (1) together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Ming Ho, Royce Huang, Hsiang-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 5995372
    Abstract: A card-type electronic device, such as a memory card, has a package structure in which a reduction in thickness is achieved while retaining the shielding effect and in which, if the device should be inserted incorrectly, no power source short-circuiting occurs without a mechanism for preventing incorrect insertion. The memory card 20 has a one-side-metal-plate type package structure and includes a plastic frame 11, a printed circuit board 12 which has a card contact edge section 14 for an input/output interface at an end thereof and on which semiconductor memory devices are mounted, and a metal panel 13. The plastic frame 11 is placed between the printed circuit board 12 and the metal plate 13. The distance D.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tohru Asakura
  • Patent number: 5986880
    Abstract: The cage-supported hard disk drives in a computer server system are coupled to connectors on the cage back plane circuit boards and are controlled by a pair of array controller cards which are hot-plug connected in a redundant manner on the system I/O board using a pair of connectors mounted on the I/O board, each connector having first and second sets of electrical contacts thereon. Connector edge portions of the array controller cards are plugged into the I/O board connectors and have first and second sets of electrical contacts that engage the corresponding first and second sets of electrical contacts on their associated I/O board connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Santeler, Reza M. Bacchus, Michael L. Sabotta
  • Patent number: 5980323
    Abstract: An electrical connector (10, FIG. 5) is provided for connecting to a smart card C. The connector includes a two-piece molded plastic frame (11) having a horizontal planar top face (76), and also includes a plurality of resilient sheet metal electrical contacts (16). Each contact has a curved card-engaging part (30), a fixed part (46) that is fixed to the frame, and a central part (38) for connecting the card-engaging part to the fixed part. The central part has a first branch (44) forming a U-shaped fold of about 150.degree., a second branch (42) extending at an upward-rearward (U,R) incline from the fold to the card-engaging part, and a lower branch (40) that extends rearwardly from the fold to the fixed part. The branches (40,42,44) of the central part are each downwardly deflectable to enable easy deflection of the card-engaging part in a contact of small longitudinal (M) length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Herve Guy Bricaud, Bernard Juret
  • Patent number: 5982635
    Abstract: An interconnect structure adapts one or more signals conducted between a printed circuit board (PCB) and an integrated circuit (IC) including leads, the IC having signal requirements not provided by the PCB. The interconnect structure includes sockets that provideA. conductive paths between the circuit board and some, but not all, of the leads on the package. To adapt the signals, the interconnect structure also includes an intermediate adaptor board that includes one or more electrical components. The adaptor board and the sockets fit beneath the package containing the IC and above the PCB, and do not extend beyond the lateral boundaries of the package. Heat generated by these components during operation of the IC is dissipated through the IC package via a layer of thermally conductive material sandwiched between the component and the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Concept Manufacturing, Incorporated
    Inventors: L. William Menzies, Stephen W. Menzies, Dale S. Mackey
  • Patent number: 5980267
    Abstract: An improved connector scheme for a power pod power delivery system provides a low-resistance, low inductance path between a power source and a power consuming module. Specifically, the present invention is a connector scheme comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of sets of planar pads, each of the plurality of sets of planar pads being coupled to a power source and/or a signal source, and a flexible connection for detachably coupling with each of the plurality of sets of planar pads on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Ayers, Bill Samaras, Dan R. McCutchan
  • Patent number: 5941715
    Abstract: An electric connector for receiving an interface card (4), the connector including two rows of terminals (2 and 3), each terminal (2, 3) having a contact portion (22, 32) supported between a supporting portion (26, 36) and a retaining portion (23, 33) for positive contact with the inserted interface card (4), and an endpiece (27, 37) stopped against an inside wall of the casing of the electric connector to support the retaining portion (23, 33) against a stop edge (15, 16) inside the casing, the contact portions of the two rows of terminals (2 and 3) being disposed at different elevations so that less frictional resistance is produced when an interface card (4) is inserted into the electric connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: A-Chao Huang
  • Patent number: 5936584
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) local area network (LAN) adapter card for a personal computer conforms to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard 2.0 (extended), providing a credit-card sized RF LAN communications terminal that plugs into the side of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, and the like. The RF LAN adapter card includes a minimum height, broadband integrated antenna that provides a vertically polarized RF signal with good horizontal range. The combination of the antenna and its surrounding radome provide a high gain, omnidirectional radiation pattern that overcomes the parasitic distortions imposed by the close proximity of the personal computer housing. The adapter card housing includes internal RF shielding structures that shield the antenna from noise radiated by radio frequency signal circuits within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark John Lawrence, William B. Nunnery
  • Patent number: 5921784
    Abstract: A card edge connector comprising a housing, signal contacts and a ground contact. The housing has a card edge receiving area. The signal contacts are connected to the housing. The ground contact is connected to the housing and generally surrounds a corresponding signal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors USA Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Petersen, Ronald P. Sidor, Robert J. Shiley, II
  • Patent number: 5921785
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in an electric connector for a flat, flexible cable having conductors on one side comprising: an insulating housing having a cavity to receive the connecting end of a flat, flexible cable and a plurality of terminal pairs parallel arranged at regular intervals and fixed in the cavity; and an actuator slidably nested in the insulating housing. The actuator has a blade to press the connecting end of the flat, flexible cable against the contacts of the terminals of each pair when the blade of the actuator is inserted in the cavity of the insulating housing. The contacts of the terminals of each pair face one side of the blade, and are aligned and spaced from each other in the direction in which the flat, flexible cable is inserted in the cavity of the insulating housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Hidehiro Ii
  • Patent number: 5919049
    Abstract: A card edge connector having a housing, signal contacts and a four bladed ground contact. The housing has a card edge receiving area. The signal contacts are connected to the housing and the four bladed ground contact is also connected to the housing. The four bladed ground contact has a one piece frame with two pairs of opposing contact blades on opposite sides of the card edge receiving area in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Petersen, Ronald P. Sidor, Robert J. Shiley, II
  • Patent number: 5920463
    Abstract: A device with components arranged on a p.c. board and attached by connector contact pads, fasteners for additionally fixing the components in place, and at least one connector strip positioned above the p.c. board surface and attached to the p.c. board, with the fasteners being structural elements molded on the connector strip, and at least one component being arranged and fixed in place between the structural elements and the p.c. board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thomas, Karl Wutz, Ehrenfried Fabry
  • Patent number: 5901049
    Abstract: An electronic device has an opening for up to two data carrier devices or, respectively, chip cards with row-type contact surfaces positioned alongside one another. The devices or, cards are stackable over one another in offset fashion. In a region of the terminal side lying opposite the plug opening it comprises two rows of contact springs lying next to one another, said rows being spatially offset upwards by the height of a card, and also offset in the insertion direction in a manner corresponding to the card offset. The resilient ends at the plug side of these contact springs respectively contact the contact surfaces of inserted data carriers from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helge Schmidt, Gerhard Ackermann
  • Patent number: 5876214
    Abstract: A card edge slot connector includes an insulative housing defining a central slot for receiving a card therein with a plurality of passageways disposed therein by two sides of the central slot. A corresponding number of signal contacts are received within the passageways, respectively. At least an elongated grounding member is disposed in the inner portion of the housing with a series of grounding straps extending from the grounding member into the corresponding passageways, respectively, wherein each grounding strap shares the same passageway with the corresponding signal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert G. McHugh, Hsiang-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 5853303
    Abstract: A method and structure of an electrical connector is provided for tuning the impedance of the connector according to a given impedance of an electrical circuit in which the connector is interconnected. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a receptacle for receiving a complementary electrical component. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. The terminals include body portions located in the housing and contact portions for engaging respective contacts on the electrical component. The body portions include mechanically non-functional sections of a given area which effect a given capacitance. The mechanically non-functional sections are selectively trimmable to selectively vary the area thereof and thereby vary the capacitance of the terminals and, therefore, the impedance of the connector to match the given impedance of the electrical circuit. The connector includes a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David L. Brunker, Frank A. Harwath, Dennis K. Scheer
  • Patent number: 5852725
    Abstract: A PCI/ISA bus single board computer card using EISA bus connectors and an EISA bus backplane slot for transmitting PCI bus and ISA bus signals. The computer card comprises EISA bus connectors having a first group of connectors interleaved with a second group of connectors. The first group of connectors transmit ISA bus signals and has a structure identical to conventional ISA bus connectors. The second group of connectors transmit PCI bus signals. The backplane comprises a plurality of PCI bus slots, a plurality of ISA bus slots and at least one EISA bus slot. Each slot comprises a plurality of clamping connectors. Each of the clamping connectors of the EISA bus slot has an upper part and a lower part. The upper part connects to a slot of the ISA bus and lower part connects to a slot of the PCI bus through the backplane circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Juei-Hsiang Yen
  • Patent number: 5848920
    Abstract: An elongate strip of electrical terminals adapted to be inserted into a row of terminal-receiving passages in connector housing is disclosed. The strip includes a series of terminals joined by a mid-carrier strip and includes alternating first and second terminals. The terminals have base portions with retention sections adapted to be inserted into the terminal-receiving passages. Spring arms having contact portions extend from first ends of the base portions. Tail portions extend from second, opposite ends of the base portions. The mid-carrier strip joins the alternating first and second terminals at the base portions of the first terminals and at the spring arm of the second terminals. A second carrier strip joins the tips of the tail portions of only the first terminals so that the adjacent ends of the second terminals can be formed independent of the first terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Thomas Klein, Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
  • Patent number: 5842885
    Abstract: An edge connector is provided for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having an elongated mating portion with a board-receiving slot for receiving the mating edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of spring contact elements are mounted in the housing along one side of the slot and extending into the slot for contacting respective ones of the contact pads on the printed circuit board. A shield is mounted on the housing substantially about the mating portion. The shield has at least one resilient portion extending into the slot for contacting the printed circuit board and biasing the board against the spring contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignees: Molex Incorporated, Nintendo Kabushikikaisya
    Inventors: Junji Takamoto, Kazunori Koshiishi, Katsutoshi Tojo
  • Patent number: 5820392
    Abstract: A card edge connector (10) includes an insulative housing (12) defining a card receiving central slot (14) for receiving a card (200) therein. Two rows of passageways (16) are respectively positioned by two sides of the central slot (14) for receiving a plurality of signal contacts (18) therein, respectively. A corresponding number of grounding contacts (20) are positioned in the same passageways (16) with the signal contacts (18), respectively, in a one-by-one relationship with the signal contact (18) wherein each grounding contact (20) is disposed in a lower and inner position in the corresponding passageway (16) in comparison with the signal contact (18) which shares the same passageway (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsu Lin, Robert G. McHugh, Hsiang-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 5815120
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) local area network (LAN) adapter card for a personal computer conforms to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard 2.0 (extended), providing a credit-card sized RF LAN communications terminal that plugs into the side of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, and the like. The RF LAN adapter card includes a minimum height, broadband integrated antenna that provides a vertically polarized RF signal with good horizontal range. The combination of the antenna and its surrounding radome provide a high gain, omnidirectional radiation pattern that overcomes the parasitic distortions imposed by the close proximity of the personal computer housing. The adapter card housing includes internal RF shielding structures that shield the antenna from noise radiated by radio frequency signal circuits within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark John Lawrence, William B. Nunnery
  • Patent number: 5812797
    Abstract: A computer system architecture in which functionally compatible electronic components are located on modular printed circuit boards. Thus, a type of processor used by the system can be changed by replacing the printed circuit board incorporating the processor. Similarly a type of peripheral bus used can be changed simply by replacing the printed circuit board containing the peripheral controller. High-density connectors connect the circuit boards. Some embodiments of the invention use a single backplane. Other embodiments place peripheral slots on a second, passive backplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: The Panda Project
    Inventors: Stanford W. Crane, Jr., Maria M. Portuondo, Willard Erickson, Maurice Bizzarri
  • Patent number: 5810620
    Abstract: An electrical connector having an electrical plug (102) to be plugged into an electrical receptacle (130). The electrical plug (102) includes an electrically insulative plate-like substrate and a plurality of first electrical contacts (118) formed in parallel on at least a side surface at one end of the substrate for a predetermined length from the one end. The plug further includes a shielding part (126) formed of an electrical conductor which substantially shields all of the substrate in a position nearer an end other than the one end having the electrical contacts (118). The electrical receptacle includes an electrically insulative receiving member (138) forming at least part of a recess in which the substrate of the plug is inserted. A plurality of second electrical contacts (142) are arranged in the receiving member (138) so as to contact the plurality of contacts in the plug whenever the substrate of the plug is inserted into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Kobayashi, Kenji Omachi, Yutaka Tatsuno, Masahiro Hagihara, Atsushi Kidawara, Tadayoshi Hara, Nobuyoshi Yazawa
  • Patent number: 5800203
    Abstract: A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contacts on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. An elongated dielectric housing includes a board-receiving face and a board-mounting face. An elongated slot is disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of pairs of alternating transversely spaced terminal-receiving cavities define two rows of first and second cavities on opposite sides of the slot lengthwise of the housing. The pairs of transversely spaced cavities are separated by transverse walls. A plurality of retention bosses are molded integrally with the housing in alignment with said second cavities and projecting from the board-mounting face a predetermined distance. A pair of first and second shapes of terminals are received in each pair of first and second cavities, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory R. Pratt, Kent E. Regnier
  • Patent number: 5791942
    Abstract: A high frequency electrical connector including a plurality of parallel contacts, a plurality of terminals, and conductors interconnecting the contacts to the terminals in a manner such that signals flowing through proximate contacts are transmitted in opposite directions to reduce near-end crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Stewart Connector Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anila Patel
  • Patent number: 5784259
    Abstract: A card-type electronic device, such as a memory card, has a package structure in which a reduction in thickness is achieved while retaining the shielding effect and in which, if the device should be inserted incorrectly, no power source short-circuiting occurs without a mechanism for preventing incorrect insertion. The memory card 20 has a one-side-metal-plate type package structure and includes a plastic frame 11, a printed circuit board 12 which has a card contact edge section 14 for an input/output interface at an end thereof and on which semiconductor memory devices are mounted, and a metal panel 13. The plastic frame 11 is placed between the printed circuit board 12 and the metal plate 13. The distance D.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tohru Asakura
  • Patent number: 5772448
    Abstract: A printed circuit board that includes contact slider regions between conductive pads on the printed circuit board is disclosed. The printed circuit board is particularly suited for high density situations. According to one embodiment, a printed circuit board according to the invention includes a connection edge for insertion into a connector, a first row of conductive pads disposed on one or both sides of the printed circuit board proximate to the connection edge and extending away therefrom in a predetermined direction, and a row of slider regions disposed on one or both sides of the printed circuit board proximate to the connection edge and extending away therefrom in the predetermined direction, the slider regions being interposed between the conductive pads of the first row. The printed circuit board according to the invention is not only more reliable and easier to manufacture, but it also wears substantially better than previously designed high density circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Craig Ekrot, Bassam Nakhle Elkhoury
  • Patent number: 5764488
    Abstract: A printed circuit board having a footprint that is capable of receiving one of two electronic components having differing pin configurations. The footprint includes a first and a second common pin receptor arranged about a first axis. The first and second common pin receptors are configured to receive a first and a second pin on either of the electronic components. The footprint also includes a third pin receptor that is positioned along the first axis so as to be interposed between the first and the second common pin receptors and is configured to receive a third pin receptor of the first electronic component. The footprint also includes a fourth pin receptor that is positioned along a second axis, that is orthogonal to and intersects the first axis at the location of the third pin receptor. The fourth pin receptor is configured to receive a third pin of the second electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: AST Research, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Silva, Mitchell G. Dorfmeyer
  • Patent number: 5742479
    Abstract: A card-type electronic device, such as a memory card, has a package structure in which a reduction in thickness is achieved while retaining the shielding effect and in which, if the device should be inserted incorrectly, no power source short-circuiting occurs without a mechanism for preventing incorrect insertion. The memory card 20 has a one-side-metal-plate type package structure and includes a plastic frame 11, a printed circuit board 12 which has a card contact edge section 14 for an input/output interface at an end thereof and on which semiconductor memory devices are mounted, and a metal panel 13. The plastic frame 11 is placed between the printed circuit board 12 and the metal plate 13. The distance D.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tohru Asakura
  • Patent number: 5740020
    Abstract: A computer housing and expansion card design facilitates the addition and removal of expansion cards from the front of a computer housing without disassembly of the housing, and further facilitates the connection of external cables to the expansion cards from the back of the computer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Dennis Palatov
  • Patent number: 5653018
    Abstract: The connection of the circuit board (7) of the appliance to connector blocks (10) is obtained by inserting and soldering holders (11) having connecting terminals (16) to the circuit board, connector blocks (10) being loosely attached to said connecting terminals (16). The mutual mechanical and electric connection is obtained by inserting the assembly into a case which secures the connector blocks to the circuit board, on one hand, and by fastening clamps which establish a connection of the connecting terminals (16) to connected conductors. The assembly of the appliance is particularly rational since the holders (11) with the connecting terminals are placed on the circuit board together with the remaining, non-represented components and are soldered thereto in common, the connector blocks (10) being simply slid on. The assembly is thus well suited for automation. The connector blocks abut to the edges of the circuit board (7), thus allowing a good space utilization and a compact construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Saia AG
    Inventors: Felix Anderau, Bernard Bourqui
  • Patent number: 5599203
    Abstract: A smart card connector 2 for use with a smart card 100 includes both data contacts 12 and normally open end position contacts 12'. The smart card 100 includes both data contact pads 102 and at least one end position contact pad 104 positioned to engage the end position contacts 12'. When the smart card is fully inserted in the connector card slot 10 so that the data contacts 12 are aligned with the data contact pads 102, two normally open end position contacts 12' engage the end position contact pad 104. The two end position contacts 12' are then electrically commoned to provide a signal to a card reader that the smart card 100 is fully inserted and data communication can begin between the smart card 100 and the card reader. Both the data contacts 12 and the normally open end position contacts 12' can comprise substantially identical cantilever beams mounted in the housing base of the smart card connector 2, and the end position contact pad 104 is laterally offset form the data contact pads 102.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: John L. Broschard, III
  • Patent number: 5564933
    Abstract: A system for removing electrical charges from a memory card when the card is electrically coupled to a header connector of an electronic apparatus. The header connector has a plurality of pin terminals mounted therein, including a plurality of pin signal terminals. The memory card includes a circuit substrate, and an elongate receptacle mounted at an edge of the substrate. A plurality of receptacle terminals are mounted within the receptacle, and include receptacle signal terminals which are adapted for electrical connection to corresponding pin signal terminals. A pair of cover plates sandwich the circuit substrate therebetween. At least a portion of one of the cover plates is conductive. The receptacle terminals includes at least one receptacle ground terminal substantially the same length as the other of the receptacle terminals and coupled to the conductive portion of the one cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Christophe Bouchan, Frank G. Bordron, Gilbert S. Saksik, Stephen W. Updegraff
  • Patent number: 5562461
    Abstract: A circuit board electrical connector which includes a first connector (10) connectable to a first external member (Q) and a second connector (30) connectable to the first connector at one end and a second external member at the other end opposite to the one end. The first connector includes an insulation block (11) with a connection recess (12) having an opening on a front side thereof; a plurality of first contact elements (20, 21) disposed within the insulation block such that contact portions are exposed in the connection recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu Obara, Satoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 5527730
    Abstract: An insulating film is formed on the surface of the base of a semiconductor, and a portion of the insulating film is removed to cause the surface to appear outside. The exposed surface is terminated with hydrogen, and then energy beams are applied to selectively remove the terminating hydrogen. Metal is selectively deposited on the portion terminated with left hydrogen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Conon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuzo Kayaoka, Tetsuo Asaba, Kenji Makino, Hiroshi Yuzurihara, Kei Fujita, Seiji Kamei, Yutaka Akino, Yutaka Yuge, Mineo Shimotsusa, Hideshi Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 5522737
    Abstract: A method and structure of an electrical connector is provided for tuning the impedance of the connector according to a given impedance of an electrical circuit in which the connector is interconnected. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a receptacle for receiving a complementary electrical component. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. The terminals include body portions located in the housing and contact portions for engaging respective contacts on the electrical component. The body portions include mechanically non-functional sections of a given area which effect a given capacitance. The mechanically non-functional sections are selectively trimmable to selectively vary the area thereof and thereby vary the capacitance of the terminals and, therefore, the impedance of the connector to match the given impedance of the electrical circuit. The connector includes a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David L. Brunker, Frank A. Harwath, Dennis K. Scheer
  • Patent number: 5496180
    Abstract: A surface mountable electrical connector 10 for use with a circuit board 70 of the type having one or more rows 74,82 of closely spaced trace termini 76,84 on the mounting surface 72 of the board 70, the connector 10 including a housing 12 having one or more rows of closely spaced electrical terminal members 30,46 therein. The terminal members 30,46 include elongate arm portions 36,52 extending from the housing 12 to surface mount contact sections 38,54 at free ends thereof. Each terminal associated with an outer row 74 of circuit board termini 76 includes a portion immediately adjacent and inwardly from the contact section 38, which is abruptly directed away from the mounting surface 72 to minimize wicking of solder to a nearby inner row termini 84.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Fabian, Timothy L. Kocher, Shane D. Northcraft, Douglas R. Sarver, Mark R. Thumma
  • Patent number: 5469332
    Abstract: A PC card includes a board assembly enclosed by top and bottom covers. The board assembly includes a PC board with end housings on its opposite ends. A connector is mounted within one of the end housings and electrically interconnected to the PC board. Key-receiving slots extend through the opposite sides of the first and second end housings. Tracks on the opposite sides of the top and bottom covers form keyways extending between the key-receiving slots on the opposite sides of the board assembly. Elongated keys extend through the key-receiving slots of the end housings and through the keyways to secure the top and bottom covers to the board assembly. Releasable latches hold the keys within the keyways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Robodyne Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Alvite