Having Modular Or Multipart Insulating Body Patents (Class 439/701)
  • Patent number: 7384306
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a shield having opposed planar side panels. The shield is configured to receive a shield of a mating connector within the side panels. A dielectric is attached to the shield. The dielectric is configured to receive the coaxial cable and the shield is electrically connected to an outer conductor of the coaxial cable. The side panels are configured to abut and engage side panels of an adjacent connector with a substantially flush fit to form a row of connectors to be located in an outer housing. A separate strain relief member may be attached to the shield. Each of the shield and the strain relief member may include an IDC feature that pierces the cable insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Randall Malstrom, Sean Patrick McCarthy, Alexandra Lynne Matthews Spitler, John Joseph Consoli
  • Patent number: 7383030
    Abstract: A distributed data transmitter (DTXR) which is an adaptive data communication microwave transmitter having a distributable architecture of modular components, and which incorporates both digital and microwave technology to provide substantial improvements in physical and operational flexibility. The DTXR has application in, for example, remote data acquisition involving the transmission of telemetry data across a wireless link, wherein the DTXR is integrated into and utilizes available space within a system (e.g., a flight vehicle). In a preferred embodiment, the DTXR broadly comprises a plurality of input interfaces; a data modulator; a power amplifier; and a power converter, all of which are modularly separate and distinct so as to be substantially independently physically distributable and positionable throughout the system wherever sufficient space is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Dewayne Brown, David Dunson
  • Publication number: 20080113563
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a cable management device is configured to support one or more electrical devices. The cable management device can include: (a) a housing defining an interior space and having one or more apertures extending from an exterior of the housing to the interior space; and (b) one or more electrical outlets located in the interior space of the housing. The housing can include: (a) a stationary portion with a support mechanism; and a cover hingedly attached to the stationary portion. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Roepke, Kenneth Mori
  • Patent number: 7371129
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes first and second connector bodies which are arranged to first be positioned together, and then separated once electrical contacts have been inserted in at least one of the first and second connector bodies. During, after, or both during and after the separating of the two connector bodies, portions of the first and second connector bodies are in direct contact with each other. The first connector body has first and second walls extending therefrom. At least one ramp and at least one stop are arranged on at least one of the first wall, the second wall, and the second connector body. At least one protrusion is arranged on at least one of the first wall, the second wall, and the second connector body. The at least one ramp, the at least one stop, and the at least one protrusion are arranged such that, when the at least one ramp and the at least one stop engage the at least one protrusion, a distance between the first and second connector bodies is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Samtec, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Mongold
  • Publication number: 20080096437
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a cover, a connector housing received in the cover and including a mating port, and a connecting port, and an insulative cap, including a generally rectangular base section with a central opening for allowing said mating port to extend through, and a pair of locking barbs rearwardly from the base section. The cover includes a pair of ribs formed at inner thereof, and a pair of retaining slots between the ribs and corresponding lateral walls thereof, each retaining slot defining a hollow at a root region thereof, tips of the locking barbs are respectively retained within said hollows of retaining slots for holding the insulative cap and the cover together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Peter Kuo
  • Patent number: 7357679
    Abstract: A cable connector (1) includes an insulative housing (10), a number of terminals (20) and a cable (60). The insulative housing includes a base portion (12) and a tongue (14) extending from the base portion. The terminals are received in the insulative housing. Each terminal comprises a contacting portion (21) and an opposite tail portion (22). The contacting portion is located on the tongue, and the tail portion extends beyond the insulative housing. The tail portions of adjacent terminals are different from each other. Each tail portion defines a soldering portion (24) thereon. The cable has conductors (61) soldered to corresponding soldering portions of the tail portions, and the soldering portions are at different height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaojun Wang
  • Publication number: 20080085637
    Abstract: An electrical connector (100) comprises a first insulative housing (10) comprising a base section (110) extending along a first direction and defining a front end and a rear end thereof in a second direction vertical to the first direction. A mating section (120) extends forward from the front end of the base section in the second direction and a mating cavity (121) is defined in the mating section and opened forward. A receiving chamber (140) is provided in the rear end of the base section (110) and opened rearward. A plurality of terminal grooves (130) is arranged along the first direction and extends along the second direction. A second insulative housing (20) is received and retained in the receiving chamber (140) of the first insulative housing (10) with a plurality of passageways (210) corresponding with and aligning with said terminal grooves (130) in the second direction. A plurality of terminals (30) is retained in the terminal grooves and the passageways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Guo-Jian Shen, Jun-Jian Zhang, Ren-Chih Li
  • Patent number: 7354318
    Abstract: A joint connector according to the present invention is provided with a circuit board, a male connector having male terminals provided on the circuit board at a predetermined interval and standing in one direction and a direction that crosses the one direction, the male terminals being selectively connected by a copper foil circuit, and a female connector in which female connector elements each having female terminals inserted and interlocked in female terminal holders are stacked, wherein the male connector and the female connector are fit to each other. This achieves cost reduction and improvement in work efficiency in electric wire connection by attaining easy electric wire connection and branching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Murakami, Takahiro Imai, Tamaki Takabayashi, Takenobu Yabu, Syougo Tomita, Seiichi Ueno, Katsunori Takeda
  • Patent number: 7351115
    Abstract: A method is provided for modifying an electrical connector that is attached to a printed circuit board. On a wafer module of the electrical connector, a covering material is removed from an attachment area that is located above a signal pathway, and there is removed a connector pin that is connected to the signal pathway. A first end of a wire is attached to the attachment area of the wafer module to electrically connect to the signal pathway. The wire is run through a corresponding through-hole on the printed circuit board and the wafer module is inserted into an empty slot on the electrical connector. A second end of the wire is electrically connected to the printed circuit board or another wafer module. Also provided is an electronic assembly having a wire having a first end attached to a signal pathway of a wafer module of an electrical connector and a second end connected to a printed circuit board or another wafer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond F. Frizzell, Jr., Arch F. Nuttall
  • Patent number: 7351114
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-speed electrical interconnection system designed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional interconnection systems. That is, the present invention provides an electrical connector capable of handling high-speed signals effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Winchester Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Benham, Kenny Padro, Robert D. Godburn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7347744
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of auxiliary connector (10) includes an auxiliary housing (11), a seal (40) attached to the rear of the auxiliary housing (11), and a rear holder (50) mounted on the rear of the seal (40) to retain the seal (40). Auxiliary connectors (10) that are adjacent in an arranging direction are united by the rear holders (50). The united auxiliary connectors (10) are inserted into a frame (60) in the arranging direction through an insertion opening (60A) of the frame (60), and are retained in the frame (60) by engaging a lock (50B) on the last auxiliary connector (10A) and an interlocking portion (61) of the frame (60). The frame (60) has no partition walls between the auxiliary connectors (10). Thus, the connector is narrowed by a total thickness of the partition walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd
    Inventors: Masaaki Tabata, Takeshi Tsuji, Takehiro Nakata, Tomohiko Kobayashi, Satoshi Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20080050981
    Abstract: A fuse cassette for use with Power Distribution Boxes (PDBs) and other electrical devices. The fuse cassette may include a fuse circuit having a power distribution bar for distributing power between a number of terminals. The terminals may include electrical traces having fuse-like characteristics. The traces may open during over current conditions to protect the PDB and devices connected thereto from over current conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Slobadan Pavlovic, Mohamad Zeidan
  • Patent number: 7331800
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Winings, Joseph B. Shuey, Timothy A. Lemke, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Timothy W. Houtz, Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7322863
    Abstract: A modular electronic device where (predominantly) sealed modules are aligned and attached/connected in pre-determined sequences, forming a robust block-like structure with extendable function: Control and/or inter-module communication are implemented without direct electrical interconnect, by non-contact means such as (magnetic, inductive, light, infrared, radio frequency, sound, ultrasound, or other non-contact means). This device's inter-module power transfer may be with or without direct electrical contact, or devices may be internally powered. Power transfer through inductive/transformer action where one or more alignment pins are used as transformer core is one potential implementation. Modules may be fluid filled to facilitate cooling and/or crush resistance to high-pressure environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Rapp
  • Patent number: 7318757
    Abstract: An electrical connector may include a connector housing and a plurality of identical leadframe assemblies received in the connector housing. Each of the leadframe assemblies may define a leadframe mating sequence. The leadframe assemblies may be arranged relative to one another to define a connector mating sequence that differs from the leadframe mating sequence. Each leadframe assembly may define a leadframe mounting footprint. The leadframe assemblies may be arranged relative to one another such that the leadframe mounting footprints are staggered, i.e., offset relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7316578
    Abstract: The present invention provides a test apparatus which comprises: a test head which applies a test pattern to the electronic device; a main frame which includes multiple frame-side connectors and which supplies control signals to the test head via the frame-side connectors; and a cable unit which provides optical connection between the frame-side connectors and the test head, and which transmits the control signals to the test head. With such an arrangement, the cable unit comprises: multiple optical fiber cables which transmit the control signals; multiple unit-side connectors which are provided at the ends of the optical fiber cables, and which are provided corresponding to the multiple frame-side connectors; a unit fixing portion which fixes the cable unit to the main frame; and a connector holder which holds the unit-side connectors in a manner which enables each unit-side connector to be inserted/extracted into/from the frame-side connector independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ono, Toshiyuki Okayasu, Akihiro Fujimoto, Masashi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7316591
    Abstract: A one-piece holding frame formed of plastic for a plug-type connector, in which several connector modules are arranged adjacent to one another. Several wall segments with window-like openings are formed in the collar-shaped mating side of the holding frame via slots. Two wall segments that lie opposite of one another respectively form a receptacle for one connector module, wherein projections arranged on the connector modules snap into the openings of the holding frame when the connector modules are inserted into the holding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Harting Electric GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Albert Ferderer
  • Patent number: 7307227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker device comprising a bottom switch part (2) that can be brought into electrical contact with bus bars, a top switch part (1) which can be placed onto the bottom switch part (2) and is provided with at least one fuse link, switch module, contactor or similar, and a terminal module (3) for especially at least one outgoing feeder (42). The bottom switch part (2) is provided with contact elements (5, 6, 7) that are in electrical contact with the bus bars (9, 10, 11) and can be contacted in a contact-proof manner by means of plug-in contacts (17, 18, 19) of the top switch part (1) via one respective access slot (12, 13, 14) located in a top area of the bottom switch part (2). The terminal module (3) is pivotally mounted (50) on the side of the top switch part (1) of bottom switch part (2) and is provided with electrical contacts (38, 39, 40) that can be laterally inserted into the top switch part (1) and are allocated to each outgoing feeder (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Woehner GmbH & Co. KG Elektrotechnische Systeme
    Inventor: Alex Buettner
  • Patent number: 7297031
    Abstract: Re-configurable electrical connector including a pair of endcaps, a pair of elongate rails, each removably attached at one end to one of the endcaps, and connector modules arranged between the endcaps and including one or more male or female connecting members adapted to electrically connect at a first end to one electrical component or part thereof and at a second, opposite end to another electrical component or part thereof. The connector modules are individual modules in the sense that they are separated from one another. When the rails are detached from the endcaps, each connector module can be moved relative to the rails, i.e., slid off of the end of the rails, to enable different configurations of connector modules to be positioned between the endcaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Testing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Leddy
  • Patent number: 7297033
    Abstract: A connector for preventing a load from being applied to terminals, substrates, etc., after sub-connectors are fitted together. The connector has a plurality of first sub-connectors fixed to a substrate and a plurality of second sub-connectors paired with the corresponding first sub-connectors, and includes a male frame having a plurality of accommodating parts in which the second sub-connectors are separately accommodated so as to be freely movable and a female frame to which the male frame fits. The female frame accommodates the plurality of first sub-connectors such that the first sub-connectors are connected to the corresponding second sub-connectors. The connector further includes guide means for guiding each of the second sub-connectors into a connected position relative to the corresponding first sub-connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Sakamoto, Tomihiko Nagayoshi
  • Patent number: 7297032
    Abstract: A combined connector includes a first housing that has a first terminal receiving chamber for receiving a first terminal and a second housing that is stacked on the first housing and has a second terminal receiving chamber for receiving a second terminal. The first housing includes a retaining projection which projects and inserts into the second terminal receiving chamber to retain the second terminal in the second terminal receiving chamber and a terminal retaining portion which retains the first terminal received in the first terminal receiving chamber and is disposed so as to contact with the second housing in a state that the first housing and the second housing are stacked together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki -Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Kobayashi, Rikiya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7294026
    Abstract: A building automation system is provided in which a controller is connected to remote modules through a zone enclosure using RS-485 cables. Branches of modules extending from the zone enclosure are connected together by removable jumpers at the zone enclosure. Sets of branches of modules using different protocols are isolated from each other. Shorts in the RS-485 cables can be determined by disconnecting and reconnecting the branches from the network. The zone enclosure has a patch panel that contains modular RS-485 connectors. An RS-485 cable from the controller and pulled through the building along with other data cables is connected to the RS-485 connectors at the back of the patch panel. The modules are connected to the RS-485 connectors at the front of the patch panel through RS-485 cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Mark J. Donnell, Paul M. Herbst, Timothy M. Nitsch, Robert E. Fransen
  • Publication number: 20070254531
    Abstract: A reinforcing tab for reinforcing connection between a circuit board and a surface-mounted connector includes a fixing wall to be fixed to a housing of the connector and a connecting wall defining a connecting surface on its end to be connected to the circuit board. The connecting wall extends from the fixing wall and includes a bend at least at a part. Further, the connecting wall has a recess on the connecting surface at a position corresponding to the bend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Honda, Tadashi Tsuruzawa
  • Patent number: 7275955
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (100) includes a first connector (200), a second connector (500) and an insulative base housing (1). The first connector includes a first housing (30) and a number of first terminals (20) fitted in and outwardly projecting from one end of the housing. The second connector has a second insulative housing (31) and a number of second terminals (21) fitted in and extending beyond one end of the second housing. The base housing includes a first holding portion for supporting the first connector and a second holding portion for supporting the second connector. The base housing defines an accessible mating interface (10) having a number of passages (122) are arranged in a first row and a second row to respectively dispose the first terminals and the second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David (Tso-Chin) Ko
  • Publication number: 20070218776
    Abstract: An assembly for a water heater combustion chamber access door including a bracket having a plurality of leg members, each leg member having a distal portion sized and shaped to connect to the door and a proximal portion connected to a hub member having an opening with a slot; and a fuel supply line connector having a tab adapted to engage the slot and another tab adapted to engage the hub member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: American Water Heater Company, a corporation of The State of Nevade
    Inventors: Michael A. Garrabrant, Roger D. Veen
  • Patent number: 7270571
    Abstract: A cable core locating element includes a base formed of a plurality of clamping slots for clamping one of many cores of a cable each, with a free end of the core projected from a front side of the base. When the free ends of the forward projected cores are stripped and the base is assembled to an electronic connector, the stripped free end of each of the cores is lapped over and soldered to a wire soldering section of one of many terminals of the electronic connector, so as to electrically connect the electronic connector to the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Joinsoon Electronics Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Yuan Huang, Huo-I Ho
  • Patent number: 7261602
    Abstract: An adapter module used to convert optical signals to electrical signals or electrical signals to optical signals utilizing a “C” shaped retaining clip to secure the adapter module housing together. The retaining clips are used in place of screws, rivets or snap fits and provide an easy and simple way to assembled adapter modules. The retaining clips require no additional structure thereby minimizing the overall size of the adapter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Brian Keith Lloyd
  • Patent number: 7255608
    Abstract: A connector body component for a connector assembly in which the connector body component has a plurality of independent body segments secured together to form a single assembly. The connector body segments are held together within a housing member and may include interlocking structures on wall surfaces thereof. Forming the connector body in independent segments allows one body segment to be replaced in the event of damage to the connector body or one conductive element held in the connector body, thus eliminating the need to replace the entire connector body. This saves significant time and expense when repairing or modifying a connector body having a plurality of independent conductors coupled to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Monroe A. Lalumandier, James V Leonard, Richard E Meyer, William J Ebert
  • Patent number: 7247058
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a main housing having a forward mating face and a rearward mounting face, and a plurality of contact modules received in the main housing. Each contact module includes an upper contact module and a lower contact module joined to the upper contact module along side edges of the upper and lower contact modules. Each upper and lower contact module includes a contact housing holding rows of contacts including pairs of signal contacts and individual ground contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Nancy Lee Reeser, William Crusey Van Scyoc, Michael Warren Fogg
  • Patent number: 7238062
    Abstract: A knockdown universal serial bus connector includes a first main body with a first plug formed thereon, a cable electronically connected to the first main body and the first plug, and a second main body with a second plug formed thereon. The second main body is slidably attached to the first main body. It is simple and economical to use the knockdown USB connector to link two USB ports to provide higher power for a higher-power USB device. After the second main body is detached from the first main body, the first main body can be a single USB connector to connect an external device to a personal computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zheng-Heng Sun
  • Patent number: 7229318
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array is arranged in a first pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts. The second linear array is arranged in a second pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts that is different from the first pattern. The signal contacts define differential signal pairs. The signal contacts in the first linear array are elongated along a direction along which the first linear array extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Winings, Joseph B. Shuey, Timothy A. Lemke, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Josef Sercu, Timothy W. Houtz, Steven E. Minich
  • Patent number: 7214104
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a leadframe assembly and a connector housing is disclosed. The leadframe may include a lead frame and an electrical contact extending at least partially through the lead frame. The connector housing contains the leadframe assembly in each of one or more directions and also allows the leadframe assembly to move relative to the housing in the each direction. After the connector is mounted to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, the housing is free to move in at least one direction relative to the leadframe assemblies. The connector may also include a contact receiving wafer having a face that at least partially defines an aperture that extends therethrough. A terminal portion of the contact may extend at least partially into the aperture. The faces that define the aperture contain the terminal portion of the contact in each of a plurality of directions and also allows the terminal portion of the contact to move in each direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Minich, Donald K. Harper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7204723
    Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector includes a main body, a plug with four signal pins, a plug module, and a cable. The plug is formed in the plug module. The plug module is mounted to the main body. The cable is linked to the main body and electronically connected to the signal pins of the plug. It is simple and economical to replace any components of the USB connector expediently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zheng-Heng Sun
  • Patent number: 7195519
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a mating end and a loading end. First and second contact wafers are loaded into the loading end of the housing. The first and second contact wafers each have a dielectric carrier holding a contact therein. The carriers have outer walls, wherein at least one of the outer walls on each of the carriers has a spacer engagement element provided thereon. A wafer spacer is configured to be positioned between the first and second contact wafers. The wafer spacer is positioned in one of different first and second orientations relative to the side walls of the first and second contact wafers. The wafer spacer has opposed first and second side walls that are separated by a spacer core thickness. The first side wall has a wafer engagement element provided thereon. When the wafer spacer is in the first orientation, the wafer spacer separates the first and second contact wafers by a first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Richard McAlonis, Attalee S. Taylor, Richard Elof Hamner
  • Patent number: 7186151
    Abstract: An electrical connector connected to a flat cable, a wire harness, and a method for arranging wire harness is disclosed. Arranging the wire harness is easy and simple, the cost is low, and the degree of freedom in the housing construction is high. The electrical connector 10 has a plurality of mutually stackable base housings 11a, 11b, and 11c having the same shape, with each of these base housings 11a, 11b, and 11c having contact receiving cavities 16a, 16b, and 16c in a single row. At least one lock housing 40 is attached to the uppermost and/or lowermost base housing of the plurality of stacked base housings 11a, 11b, and 11c. A plurality of contacts 30a, 30b, and 30c are connected to the flat cable 2 and are inserted in the contact receiving cavities 16a, 16b, and 16c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP K.K
    Inventor: Ryuichi Komiyama
  • Patent number: 7175479
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that comprises a housing with a front wall that separates a mating end from a loading end. The housing has a module support shroud that extends from the front wall toward the loading end and that has a latch element provided thereon. The connector also includes a contact module having an array of contacts that are held in a dielectric carrier. The contact module includes a mating end, sides and a module end. The module end slides along the module support shroud as the contact is loaded into the housing, until the mating end is located proximate to the front wall when the contact module is fully loaded. A retention latch member is formed separate from, and held by, the contact module. The retention latch member extends beyond the module edge and engages the latch element on the module support shroud to retain securely the contact module in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Richard McAlonis, Attalee S. Taylor, Richard Elof Hamner
  • Patent number: 7172468
    Abstract: A divided connector has a cover (70) that is mounted on a frame (10) in a direction orthogonal to an inserting direction of auxiliary housings (40) into the frame (10). Latches (71) on the inner surfaces of the cover (70) contact guide surfaces (42B) of an insufficiently inserted auxiliary housing (40) to push the auxiliary housing (40) to a proper position and doubly lock the auxiliary housing (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Nishide
  • Patent number: 7160135
    Abstract: A cable connector assembly (500) includes a number of connector bodies (100) each defining a mating port for mating with complementary connectors and a common housing (200) encapsulating the connector bodies therein with the mating ports exterior accessible. Each of the connector bodies includes a latch member (3) assembled on one side thereof. The connector bodies are arranged in an upper row and a lower row such that the mating ports of the upper row and lower row are in a substantially mirror-image disposition relative to a line between the upper and lower rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 7156702
    Abstract: A connector includes a first housing, a second housing arranged on an upper face of the first housing, and a cover engaged to at least one of the first housing and the second housing so as to cover the upper face of the first housing and an upper face of the second housing. The first housing, the second housing and the cover are engaged to each other at a first engagement state and a second engagement state. A plurality of press contact terminals with wires are inserted into the first housing and the second housing respectively in the first engagement state. Spaces for allowing the insertion of crimp terminals into the first housing and the second housing respectively are formed between the first housing and the second housing and between the cover and the second housing in the first engagement state. The second housing and the cover are advanced into the spaces in the second engagement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7137845
    Abstract: A plug connector consisting of a female plug and a male plug comprises a plurality of signal contacts that are combined into an assembly, and a plurality of power contacts that likewise are combined into an assembly. The power contact assembly has a housing provided with insulation piercing contacts, as well as a cable guide that includes a cable receiving opening and is pivotally provided on the housing, so that it can swivel between an open position in which a cable can be pushed into the cable receiving opening, and a closed position in which the cable is forced into the insulation piercing contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Harting Electronics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jean Francois Bernat, Jean-Merri De Vanssay
  • Patent number: 7134916
    Abstract: A cable connector (1) includes an insulative housing (10), a number of terminals (20) and a cable (60). The insulative housing includes a base portion (12) and a tongue (14) extending from the base portion. The terminals are received in the insulative housing. Each terminal comprises a contacting portion (21) and an opposite tail portion (22). The contacting portion is located on the tongue, and the tail portion extends beyond the insulative housing. The tail portions of adjacent terminals are different from each other. Each tail portion defines a soldering portion (24) thereon. The cable has conductors (61) soldered to corresponding soldering portions of the tail portions, and the soldering portions are at different height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaojun Wang
  • Patent number: 7125290
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an inner housing, where the inner housing includes a rib which is alignable with the slot in an outer housing to polarize the inner and outer housings together. The rib includes an interruption providing a gap in the rib defining a forward rib portion and an aft rib portion. Alternatively, the inner housing can be received directly in a mating low profile housing where a flexible arm containing an aperture is received over the forward rib portion to latch the two housings together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Galen M Martin, Matthew F Foriska
  • Patent number: 7121888
    Abstract: The multiple wire cable connector comprises an outer housing having at least one opening for a multiple wire cable to pass therethrough and at least one inner housing for arranging therein termination sockets of the wires of the multiple wire cable the inner housing comprising a front end for contacting a device to be electrically connected to the wires of the multiple wire cable, and a receiving end for receiving the wires of the multiple wire cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Konrad W. Brandt, Guenter Ploehn
  • Patent number: 7119463
    Abstract: A boot for a vibration motor of a mobile communication device is provided. The motor has a generally flat upper surface and is adapted to be installed in a mounting slot in a mobile communication device frame with the upper surface substantially parallel to an adjacent surface of said frame, and the mounting slot is at an angle with respect to a normal of the adjacent surface. The boot has an outer surface corresponding to the shape and angle of said mounting slot, an exposed surface generally parallel to said adjacent surface, and a motor-receiving slot for receiving said vibration motor, the motor-receiving slot having an axis angled from an axis of the mounting slot and generally normal with respect to the adjacent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Chao Chen, Robert Pillips
  • Patent number: 7114964
    Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first linear array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second linear array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford L. Winings, Joseph B. Shuey, Timothy A. Lemke, Gregory A. Hull, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Josef Sercu, Timothy W. Houtz
  • Patent number: 7108566
    Abstract: An electrical plug connector includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing includes first electrical contacts arranged in first and second contact zones. The second housing includes second electrical contacts arranged in first and second contact holders. The second contact holder is displaceable with respect to the second housing in a direction of mating when the first and second housings are mated. The second contact holder is displaceable between a first position where the second electrical contacts of the second contact holder mechanically engage the first electrical contacts and a subsequent second position where the second electrical contacts of the first contact holder mechanically engage the first electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kressmann, Guenther Mumper, Konrad Helmut Roth, Bart Van Sebroeck
  • Patent number: 7108567
    Abstract: An electrical device (100) for interconnecting two parallel printed circuit boards at a large distance includes a plug connector (1), a receptacle connector (1?), and a mating extender (2) disposed between the plug connector and the receptacle connector. The mating extender includes a subassembly of wafer (21), a pair of identical caps (20) disposed on the top and bottom portions of the subassembly of wafer, and a pair of shroud-halves (22) sliding on the subassembly of the wafer. The subassembly of wafer is made up of a number of wafer modules (24) parallel with each other. Each wafer module has a wafer support (26) and a number of contacts (28) embedded in the wafer support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., LTD
    Inventors: Iosif R. Korsunsky, Kevin E. Walker, Lewis R. Johnson, Tod M. Harlan, Robert W. Brown, Richard Malehorn, II
  • Patent number: 7090534
    Abstract: A cable assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (1) defining a plurality of passages (13) therethrough, an alignment device (3) having a spacer (300) sealing up rear openings of the passages and defining a number of through holes (302) in alignment with the passages, a plurality of contacts (2) received in corresponding passages, and a cable (5) having a number of conductors (50) electrically connected to the contacts. Each contact 9 includes a mating portion (20) and an opposite tail portion (22) passing through the through hole and arranged by the alignment device. The alignment device defines a plurality of channels (304) communicating with corresponding through holes for positioning the conductors of the cable and a positioning flange for preventing the conductors from escaping from the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., LTD
    Inventors: Jerry Wu, Hongbo Zhang, Peter Kuo
  • Patent number: 7088972
    Abstract: A distributed data transmitter (DTXR) which is an adaptive data communication microwave transmitter having a distributable architecture of modular components, and which incorporates both digital and microwave technology to provide substantial improvements in physical and operational flexibility. The DTXR has application in, for example, remote data acquisition involving the transmission of telemetry data across a wireless link, wherein the DTXR is integrated into and utilizes available space within a system (e.g., a flight vehicle). In a preferred embodiment, the DTXR broadly comprises a plurality of input interfaces; a data modulator; a power amplifier; and a power converter, all of which are modularly separate and distinct so as to be substantially independently physically distributable and positionable throughout the system wherever sufficient space is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLP
    Inventors: Kenneth Dewayne Brown, David Dunson
  • Patent number: 7074071
    Abstract: A plug connector consisting of a female plug and a male plug comprises a plurality of signal contacts that are combined into an assembly, and a plurality of power contacts that likewise are combined into an assembly. The power contact assembly has a housing provided with insulation piercing contacts, as well as a cable guide that includes a cable receiving opening and is pivotally provided on the housing, so that it can swivel between an open position in which a cable can be pushed into the cable receiving opening, and a closed position in which the cable is forced into the insulation piercing contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Harting Electronics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jean Francois Bernat, Jean-Merri De Vanssay