Abstract: An elongated printed circuit (PC) board connector having a plurality of terminal pins aligned in a linear array has attached to its terminal pins an elongated, linear, U-shaped bus bar with a plurality of apertures in its lower edge. A plurality of U-shaped conductors are inserted through respective pairs of edge apertures in the bus bar, with the distal ends of each of the conductors adapted for coupling to a terminal on a PC board upon which the connector is mounted by means of a pair of support columns and nut/bolt combinations. The bus bar, terminal pins and conductor combination is then dip soldered to establish mechanical coupling and electrical connection therebetween.

Abstract: A rack for use in mounting a plurality of input/output modules in a programmable controller or process control computer system or the like has a plurality of first connectors mounted on a circuit board for making detachable electrical connection to the respective modules and has second connector means for connecting the circuit board to the controller system. A rack member molded of a stiffly resilient insulating material has a bottom with apertures therein mounted over the circuit board to permit access to the first connectors and has a pair of juxtaposed integral side walls upstanding from the bottom of the rack to engage respective opposite latteral edges of the modules to guide the modules into respective first connectors in compact side-by-side relation to each other within the rack member.

Abstract: A digital bus backplane is disclosed that has interface circuitry located on the backplane. The backplane includes a backplane circuit board containing signal bus lines each operable for conducting electrical signals, several connectors each physically coupled to the backplane circuit board and each operable for electrically contacting the signal pins of a daughter board inserted into the connector, and many transceivers each physically coupled to the backplane circuit board and each electrically connected between one of the contact pins of a connector and one of the signal bus lines, where each transceiver is operable for relaying electrical signals between a daughter board and a signal bus line.

Abstract: An electronic card which can share the same edgeboard connector with another electronic edgeboard. A hole having a shape and dimensions corresponding to the top surface of the edgeboard connectors and special contact means allow the mounting of the electronic card in a horizontal plane around the edge connector. The special contacts are inserted in an empty space between the contacts and the inner surface of the edgeboard connectors so that the edgeboard connector can still accept regular edgeboard. The electronic card may be connected to only one said of the edgeboard connector, or it can be simultaneously connected to several edgeboard connectors. A tool for fast insertion of the electronic card is also disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit device for connection to contacts located near each other in a row of first contacts in a recess or recesses of electrical apparatus along a first contact axis, the device including a printed circuit board carrying electronic components, and a connecting member attached to and extending from the board and sized to be received in and supported by the recess or recesses with the board oriented transversely to the first contact axis. Second contacts are supported by the member and include contact areas spaced from each other along the first contact axis for mating with corresponding first contacts, whereby the device is connected to corresponding first contacts without blocking access to other first contacts.

Abstract: A circuit board edge connector for mounting on a circuit board and electrically connecting conductive traces thereon to contact elements in a connecting mating member into which the edge connector may be inserted. More particularly, the edge connector includes contact elements positioned in a housing with elongated fingers on the contact elements extending onto a blade extending outwardly from the housing and pins on the contact elements extending outwardly from the housing for electrical engagement with conductive traces on the circuit board on which the edge connector is mounted. Upon inserting the blade into a slot in the connecting mating member, the fingers electrically engage the contact elements therein to complete the electrical path from the conductive traces on the board.

Abstract: An apparatus for interconnecting functional component circuits and branch circuits of a wiring harness. A wiring board includes a plurality of tab contact members and mounted on one surface of the wiring board is a first printed-circuit board including a plurality of control element components forming functional component circuits. Also mounted on the other surface of the wiring board is a second printed-circuit board which includes the functional element components of the components forming the functional component circuits.

Abstract: An electrical connector and an apparatus for providing staging of electrical connections between a motherboard and a daughterboard is disclosed. An angled insulator having first and second legs forms a pie-shaped cavity for receiving one edge of a printed circuit board. The first leg forms a fulcrum about which the printed circuit board is rotated until it abuts an alignment surface of an electrically insulating stiffener formed in the second leg. A second connector is used for providing staging of electrical connections. Protective end caps prevent the insertion of a printed circuit board until it is properly aligned.