Amphenol Corporation Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160141807 | VERY HIGH SPEED, HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM WITH IMPEDANCE CONTROL IN MATING REGION - A modular electrical connector with separately shielded signal conductor pairs. The connector may be assembled from modules, each containing a pair of signal conductors with surrounding partially or fully conductive material. The modules may have projecting portions, of conductive and/or dielectric material, that are shaped and positioned to reduce changes in impedance along the signal paths as a function of separation of conductive elements, when the connectors are separated by less than the functional mating range. | 05-19-2016 |
20150255926 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH HYBRID SHIELD - An electrical connector with reduced cross talk and controlled impedance. The connector comprises hybrid shields with lossy portions and conductive portions. The synergistic effect of the lossy portions and the conductive portions allows the hybrid shields to be relatively thin such that they can be incorporated into the mating interface regions or other mechanically constrained regions of the connector to provide adequate crosstalk suppression without undesirably impacting impedance. The conductive portions may be shaped to preferentially position the conductive regions adjacent signal conductors susceptible to cross talk to further contribute to the synergy. The conductive regions may include holes to contribute to desired electrical properties for the connector. | 09-10-2015 |
20150236452 | HIGH SPEED, HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SHIELDED SIGNAL PATHS - A modular electrical connector with separately shielded signal conductor pairs. The connector may be assembled from modules, each containing a pair of signal conductors with surrounding partially or fully conductive material. Modules of different sizes may be assembled into wafers, which are then assembled into a connector. Wafers may include lossy material. In some embodiments, shielding members of two mating connectors may each have compliant members along their distal portions, such that, the shielding members engage at points of contact at multiple locations, some of which are adjacent the mating edge of each of the mating shielding members. | 08-20-2015 |
20150236451 | HIGH SPEED, HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SHIELDED SIGNAL PATHS - A modular electrical connector with separately shielded signal conductor pairs. The connector may be assembled from modules, each containing a pair of signal conductors with surrounding partially or fully conductive material. Modules of different sizes may be assembled into wafers, which are then assembled into a connector. Wafers may include lossy material. In some embodiments, shielding members of two mating connectors may each have compliant members along their distal portions, such that, the shielding members engage at points of contact at multiple locations, some of which are adjacent the mating edge of each of the mating shielding members. | 08-20-2015 |
20150132991 | HEAT DISSIPATING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector that includes a terminal adapted to mate with another terminal and at least one heat dissipating element that has opposing ends and an opening therebetween. At least one of the ends includes at least one printed circuit board engagement member configured to engage a printed circuit board for electrical current transfer. The opening receives the terminal such that heat dissipating element substantially surrounds and contacts the terminal. | 05-14-2015 |
20150118922 | MATING INTERFACES FOR HIGH SPEED HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - Mating interfaces for high speed, high density electrical connectors. In some embodiments, a contact comprises a base region, a first elongated member comprising a distal end attached to the base region and a proximal portion, a second elongated member comprising a distal end attached to the base region and a proximal portion, and a strap coupling the distal portion of the first elongated member to the distal portion of the second elongated member, wherein the strap is conductive and compliant such that the distal portion of the first elongated member is capable of moving independently of and is electrically connected to the distal portion of the second elongated member. | 04-30-2015 |
20150056856 | HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An improved broadside coupled, open pin field connector. The connector incorporates lossy material to selectively dampen resonance within pairs of conductive members connected to ground when the connector is mounted to a printed circuit board. The material may also decrease crosstalk and mode conversion. The lossy material is selectively positioned to substantially dampen resonances along pairs that may be connected to ground without unacceptably attenuating signals carried by other pairs. The lossy material may be selectively positioned near mating contact portions of the conductive members. Multiple techniques are described for selectively positioning the lossy material, including molding, inserting lossy members into a housing or coating surfaces of the connector housing. The lossy material alternatively may be positioned between broad sides of conductive members of a pair. By using material of relatively low loss, loss when the conductive members are used to carry signals is relatively low, but an appreciable attenuation of resonances is provided on pairs connected to ground. As a result, an overall improvement of signal to noise ratio is achieved. | 02-26-2015 |
20140329414 | MATING CONTACTS FOR HIGH SPEED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS - An electrical interconnection system with high speed, high density electrical connectors. One of the connectors includes a mating contact portion that has multiple contact surface. The mating contact portion has multiple segments, each with a contact surface, such that multiple points of contact to a complementary mating contact portion in a mating connector are provided for mechanical robustness. Such a mating contact may have parallel elongated members on which the mating surface are positioned, providing for the possibility of more than two contact surface per mating contact portion. The mating contact surfaces may be positioned on the elongated members such that the points of contact are at different distances from the distal end of the mating contact portion. | 11-06-2014 |
20140326495 | HIGH PERFORMANCE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - A printed circuit board for carrying high frequency signals. Conducting structures of the printed circuit board are shaped within breakout regions to limit impedance discontinuities in the signal paths between vias and conductive traces within the printed circuit board. Values of parameters of traces or anti-pads, for example, may be adjusted to provide a desired impedance. The specific values selected as part of designing a printed circuit board may match the impedance of the breakout region to that of the via. The parameters for which values are selected may include the trace width, thickness, spacing, length over an anti-pad or angle of exit from the breakout region. | 11-06-2014 |
20140322985 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge. | 10-30-2014 |
20140308852 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge. | 10-16-2014 |
20140302718 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INCORPORATING CIRCUIT ELEMENTS - An electrical connector electrically connects a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, where the electrical connector includes: (a) an insulative housing; (b) a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing; (c) each of the plurality of signal conductors having a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween; and (d) a passive circuit element electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors, where the passive circuit element is housed in an insulative package and includes at least a capacitor or an inductor. | 10-09-2014 |
20140287627 | MATING INTERFACES FOR HIGH SPEED HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS - Mating interfaces for an electrical connector are provided. In some embodiments, a mating interface comprises: a plurality of conductive elements positioned in a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of conductive elements comprising: a sheet of conductive material formed into a three dimensional structure such that the conductive material is disposed on at least two sides of an opening adapted to receive a mating conductive element; and at least one tab cut in the sheet, the at least one tab comprising a mating contact surface facing the opening and adapted to make contact to the mating conductive element. | 09-25-2014 |
20140273671 | MATING INTERFACES FOR HIGH SPEED HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - Mating interfaces for high speed, high density electrical connectors. In some embodiments, a contact comprises a base region, a first elongated member comprising a distal end attached to the base region and a proximal portion, a second elongated member comprising a distal end attached to the base region and a proximal portion, and a strap coupling the distal portion of the first elongated member to the distal portion of the second elongated member, wherein the strap is conductive and compliant such that the distal portion of the first elongated member is capable of moving independently of and is electrically connected to the distal portion of the second elongated member. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273663 | LEAD FRAME FOR A HIGH SPEED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector designed for high speed signals. The connector includes one or more features that, when used alone or in combination, extend performance to higher speeds. These features may include compensation for tie bars that are used to hold conductive members in place for molding a housing around the conductive members. Removal of the tie bars during manufacture of the connector may leave artifacts in the conductive members and/or housing, which may degrade electrical performance. However, that degradation may be avoided by features that compensate for the artifacts. The conductive members, for example, may include regions, adjacent tie bar locations, that compensate for portions of the tie bar that are not fully removed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273642 | SHUNT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - A shunt for an electrical connector comprising a conductive body having two resilient leg extensions connecting at a hinge, each of the leg extensions terminating at a tail end, is provided. The tail ends extend outwardly away from one another, and each of the leg extensions have at least one contact point on an outer surface thereof for engaging a contact of the electrical connector. The leg extensions curve such that they converge toward one another at a substantially center portion of the conductive body and diverge from one another at at least one other portion of the conductive body that is not the center portion of the conductive body. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273627 | DIFFERENTIAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH IMPROVED SKEW CONTROL - An improved electrical connector is provided by compensating for skew in signal conductors of a differential pair while ensuring a uniform impedance along the differential pair. Skew is equalized by regions of lower dielectric constant preferentially positioned adjacent the longer conductor of each pair. Impedance along the length of the signal conductor is equalized by a compensation portion in the first conductor that offsets for a change in impedance associated with the change in dielectric constant adjacent the longer conductor. The compensation portion may be a widening in the first conductive element relative to a nominal width of the conductive element. The skew compensation portion may be along a longer edge of the longer conductor and the impedance compensation portion may be along the shorter edge of the longer conductor. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273589 | LATCHING CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - The subject matter described herein includes an electrical connector assembly comprising a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a main body, a locking member, and first engagement members. The locking member includes an indented portion. The second connector is configured to receive the first connector. The second connector includes a main body and a latching member that is slidable with respect to the main body. The latching member includes a biasing member and second engagement members configured to receive the first engagement members. The locking member of the first connector is configured to deflect the biasing member of the second connector when the first connector is inserted into the second connector such that the biasing member engages the indented portion of the locking member thereby retaining the locking member in a locked position and indicating proper mating of the first connector and the second connector. The latching member slides with respect to the main body of the second connector to a latched position until the second engagement members receive the first engagement members for securely mating the first and second connectors. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273583 | POSITIVE LOCKING CONNECTOR COUPLING - A coupling that includes, a connector body, an interface coupling, a first collar coupled to the interface coupling that has a main body with an inner retaining member including a first set of teeth and a first engagement member, a second collar surrounding the first collar that has at least one second engagement member and is movable axially between a disengaged position when the first and second engagement members arc disengaged and an engaged position when the first and second engagement members are engaged, and a ratchet ring that is received inside of the first collar, that has a second set of teeth, and that is axially moveable with respect to the connector body between a locked position when the first and second sets of teeth are engaged and an unlocked position when the first and second sets of teeth are spaced from one another. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273582 | ANTI-DECOUPLING MEMBER FOR CONNECTOR COMPONENT - A coupling member for a connector component that includes an inner sleeve configured to surround a shell and that sleeve is rotatable with respect to the shell in a tightening direction to mate with the mating component and a release direction opposite the tightening direction. The inner sleeve has an interface portion and an engagement member. A spring member is wrapped around the shell adjacent the inner sleeve. The spring member has a first tab end that engages the engagement member. When the inner sleeve is rotated with respect to the shell in the tightening direction, the inner sleeve pushes the first tab of the spring member, thereby loosening the spring member around the shell allowing the inner sleeve to rotate in the tightening direction to engage the mating connector component. The first tab end of the spring member prevents the inner sleeve from rotating in the release direction. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273557 | HOUSING FOR A HIGH SPEED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector designed for high speed signals. The connector includes one or more features that, when used alone or in combination, extend performance to higher speeds. These features may include compensation for tie bars that are used to hold conductive members in place for molding a housing around the conductive members. Removal of the tie bars during manufacture of the connector may leave artifacts in the conductive members and/or housing, which may be addressed by the features. The conductive members, for example, may include regions, adjacent tie bar locations, that compensate for portions of the tie bar that are not fully removed. Alternatively or additionally, a housing may include openings around tie bar locations such that a punch may be used to sever the tie bars. These openings may be filled to avoid performance-affecting artifacts. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260669 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HYBRID FLOW SENSING - Systems and method for flow sensing are provided. One system includes a flow conduit configured to allow fluid flow therethrough, a flow disturber disposed in the flow conduit and configured to impart a flow disturbance to the fluid flow and an actuator operably connected to the flow disturber to control the flow disturber to impart the flow disturbance to the fluid flow. The system further includes a plurality of sensors disposed in the flow conduit that are configured to have a geometrical and functional relationship with the flow conduit and the flow disturber, wherein the plurality of sensors are responsive to flow characteristics in the flow conduit. The system also includes a processor operably coupled to the plurality of sensors and configured to determine a flow rate of the fluid flow in the flow conduit using timing characteristics to select a processing method. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260667 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACOUSTIC DETECTION USING FLOW SENSORS - Systems and method for acoustic detection using flow sensors are provided. One system includes a flow conduit configured to allow fluid flow therethrough and a flow disrupter configured to impart a flow disturbance to the fluid flow. The system also includes at least one of a first sensor or a second sensor. The first sensor is disposed within the flow conduit at a first position, wherein the first sensor is responsive to first disturbances and configured to generate signals characteristic of the first disturbances. The second sensor is disposed within the flow conduit at a second position, wherein the second sensor is responsive to second disturbances and configured to generate signals characteristic of the second disturbances. The system additionally includes a processor operably coupled to the first and second sensors, wherein the processor is configured to distinguish between signals characteristic of the first and second disturbances. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260604 | MOISTURE METER - A moisture meter detects one or more conditions within an environment. The moisture meter includes a housing and one or more detection pins structurally supported by the housing. The detection pins being can measure moisture. The moisture meter further includes a sensing probe structurally supported by the housing. The sensing, probe being can measure humidity within the environment. Operation of one of the one or more detection pins and the sensing probe does not interfere with operation of the other of the one or more detection pins and the sensing probe. A method of detecting one or more conditions with a moisture meter | 09-18-2014 |
20140260570 | CONCRETE STRUCTURE MOISTURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - A sensor assembly is provided for measuring moisture content of concrete. The sensor assembly includes a sensor housing that is received within an opening in the concrete. The sensor housing includes an internal bore. The sensor housing is length adjustable so as to match a length of the opening. The sensor assembly further includes a moisture sensor received within the internal bore of the sensor housing. The sensor measure the moisture content of the concrete. | 09-18-2014 |
20140251675 | HIGH SPEED PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD WITH UNIFORM VIA INSIDE DIAMETER - A printed circuit board, and method of manufacture, for high speed signals. The printed circuit board has small diameter vias of uniform inside diameter when plated. The uniformity of the inside diameter, at least over the region in which a press fit segment is inserted, is sufficient to make a reliable electrical and mechanical connection to the press fit segment with reduced risk of damage to the press fit segment. | 09-11-2014 |
20140242831 | ROCKET LAUNCHER CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - A rocket launcher connector assembly that comprises a first connector component coupled to a launch tube and a second connector component is coupled to a rocket. The second connector component includes an interface side configured to engage the mating interface of the first connector component. Spring members of the second component have rounded portions for engaging contact pads of the first component. A housing of the assembly has a connector holding portion for holding the first and second components. The connector holding portion defines an alignment channel that supports the first component and the alignment member is slidably received in the alignment channel in an insert direction. A tolerance member is engaged with both the alignment member and the connector holding portion of the housing, wherein as the alignment member slides in the alignment channel, the tolerance member biases the alignment member in a direction opposite the insert direction. | 08-28-2014 |
20140238223 | FLOAT SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ROCKET LAUNCHER - A float support member that comprises a base for mounting to an object, primary linkages rotatably coupled by a primary pin defining a primary movable pin point that moves both in a lateral direction and a transverse direction, and secondary linkages rotatably coupled to said primary linkages, respectively, by first and second secondary pins, respectively. The first and second secondary pins define first and second secondary movable pin points, respectively, that each move both in a lateral direction and a transverse direction. The first and second secondary linkages being rotatably coupled to the base by first and second stationary pins, respectively, defining first and second stationary pin points, respectively. The position of the primary movable pin point in both the lateral and transverse directions depends on the position of both of the first and second secondary moveable pin points in both the lateral and transverse directions and vice versa. | 08-28-2014 |
20140230545 | SENSOR AND METHOD OF MAKING A SENSOR - A sensor having a metal housing that encloses a sensing device. An end of the housing is crimped, and an overmolding covers the crimped edge and extends from the crimped edge away from the housing. | 08-21-2014 |
20140193995 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH HIGH FLOAT BULLET ADAPTER - A high float connector assembly that comprises a first connector that has at least a first contact, a second connector that is configured to mate to the first connector, wherein the second connector has at least a second contact, a high float bullet adapter that is disposed between the first and second connectors, wherein the high float bullet adapter includes a housing that has at least one hole, and at least one high float bullet subassembly is received in the hole of the housing. The high float bullet subassembly has an inner contact, an insulator that supports the inner contact, and an outer ground body that holds the inner contact and the insulator. The insulator has an end with a lead-in geometry. The inner contact engages the first and second contacts of the first and second connectors, respectfully, wherein the high float bullet subassembly provides float between the connectors. | 07-10-2014 |
20140154909 | CABLE CONNECTOR SYSTEM - A cable connector system that comprises a first contact assembly that includes a housing and a first contact received in the housing, where the first contact has a cable termination portion and an interface portion that includes a first contact surface and a cap that has a first locking surface. A second contact assembly mates with the first contact assembly and includes a housing and a second contact that has a second contact surface configured to engage the first contact surface and the second contact being rotatable with respect to the first contact. A locking member that includes a second locking surface is configured to engage the first locking surface, wherein when the second locking surface engages the first locking surface, the first contact assembly is prevented from moving axially with respect to the second contact assembly while the first contact remains rotatable with the second contact. | 06-05-2014 |
20140145818 | THERMISTOR AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A THERMISTOR - A method of constructing a thermistor includes forming a semiconductor ceramic substrate. The method also includes coating a surface of the substrate with contact material and applying a solder mask on the contact material. The applying includes applying the solder mask to one or more portions of the contact material to leave an exposed area without the solder mask and a masked area with the solder mask. The method includes trimming the contact material at the masked area to adjust a resistance of the thermistor. | 05-29-2014 |
20140137645 | FLUID LEVEL SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fluid level sensor system includes a thermal path component disposed at least partially within a fluid containing volume, the thermal path component including a heat source operably coupled thereto and a control temperature sensor for sensing a control temperature of the thermal path component. Also included is a reference temperature sensor for sensing a reference ambient temperature. Further included is a controller in operable communication with the control temperature sensor, the heat source and the reference temperature sensor, wherein the controller maintains a predetermined temperature difference between the control temperature and the reference ambient temperature by controlling the heat source, wherein an energy level required to maintain the predetermined temperature difference is converted to a fluid level within the fluid containing volume. | 05-22-2014 |
20140109659 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING MOISTURE CONTENT - This disclosure describes improvements in moisture measurement (and related devices) that reduce variations that can occur due to surface moisture on a target object. Embodiments of the devices include a single conductive feature (e.g., a plate) and elements that can generate a moisture content value from capacitance of a target object. In one embodiment, the device can generate a signal from the fringe field capacitance. The device can use properties (e.g., frequency) of the signal to generate an output that encodes the moisture content value. The output and/or the information the output encodes may be found in a look-up table or other repository that correlates frequency to one or more pre-stored and/or pre-determined moisture content values. | 04-24-2014 |
20140102384 | SENSOR ATTACHMENT METHOD INCORPORATING LOCKING RETENTION FEATURE THAT WILL ONLY ENGAGE WHEN THE DEVICE IS PROPERLY INSTALLED - A sensor assembly, which may be part of an engine cooling system, senses a condition within an enclosed volume. The sensor assembly includes a mounting structure projecting from a wall of the enclosed volume. The mounting structure includes an opening extending from an exterior of the mounting structure towards the wall and at least one channel extending along an exterior of the mounting structure. The sensor assembly further includes a connector having a sensing portion for sensing the condition within the enclosed volume. A seal seals the enclosed volume at the extension of the connector through the opening. A retaining device has at least one attachment structure that is insertable into the at least one channel. The attachment structure engages the connector such that the connector is non-removable from the mounting structure. An associated method provides the sensor assembly. | 04-17-2014 |
20140099844 | DIRECT CONNECT ORTHOGONAL CONNECTION SYSTEMS - A direct-attach orthogonal electrical connection system with improved high frequency performance is provided. A conductive member is provided between first and second components, each having signal and ground conductors. The conductive member is electrically coupled to ground conductors of both the first and second components and may also have openings through which signal conductors of the first and second components may connect. As such, signal conductors may be positioned relative to the conductive member such that a uniform impedance is maintained along a signal path throughout the interconnection, reducing noise and reflections. The first-type conductive elements may be formed with multiple beams of different lengths to create multiple points of contact distributed along an elongated dimension. For example, a third beam may be fused to a mating portion to allow a tolerance for deviations in alignment between two directly attached connectors. | 04-10-2014 |
20140098508 | DIRECT CONNECT ORTHOGONAL CONNECTION SYSTEMS - A direct-connect orthogonal electrical connection system with improved high frequency performance is provided. A conductive member is provided between first and second components, each having signal and ground conductors. The conductive member is electrically coupled to ground conductors of both the first and second components and may also have openings through which signal conductors of the first and second components may connect. As such, signal conductors may be positioned relative to the conductive member such that a uniform impedance is maintained along a signal path throughout the interconnection, reducing noise and reflections. The signal conductors may be formed with multiple beams of different lengths to create multiple points of contact distributed along an elongated dimension. For example, a third beam may be fused to a mating portion to allow a tolerance for deviations in alignment between two directly connected connectors. | 04-10-2014 |
20140065883 | MATING CONTACTS FOR HIGH SPEED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS - An electrical interconnection system with high speed, high density electrical connectors. One of the connectors includes a mating contact portion that generates contact force as it is compressed against a wall of the connector housing. The mating contact portion has multiple segments, each with a contact region extending from the wall, such that multiple points of contact to a complementary mating contact portion in a mating connector are provided for mechanical robustness. Additionally, each signal path through the mating interface portions of the connectors can be narrow and has a relatively uniform cross section to provide a uniform impedance. Additional size reduction may be achieved by mounting a ground contact on an exterior surface of a connector housing in alternating rows. Additionally, embodiments in which a wavy contact is used in a cantilevered configuration are also described. | 03-06-2014 |
20140057498 | HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector with improved high frequency performance. The connector has conductive elements, forming both signal and ground conductors, that have multiple points of contact distributed along an elongated dimension. The ground conductors may be formed with multiple beams of different length. The signal conductors may be formed with multiple contact regions on a single beam, with different characteristics. Signal conductors may have beams that are jogged to provide both a desired impedance and mating contact pitch. Additionally, electromagnetic radiation, inside and/or outside the connector may be shaped with an insert electrically connecting multiple ground structures and/or a contact feature coupling ground conductors to a stiffener. The conductive elements in different columns may be shaped differently to reduce crosstalk. | 02-27-2014 |
20140057494 | HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector with improved high frequency performance. The connector has conductive elements, forming both signal and ground conductors, that have multiple points of contact distributed along an elongated dimension. The ground conductors may be formed with multiple beams of different length. The signal conductors may be formed with multiple contact regions on a single beam, with different characteristics. Signal conductors may have beams that are jogged to provide both a desired impedance and mating contact pitch. Additionally, electromagnetic radiation, inside and/or outside the connector may be shaped with an insert electrically connecting multiple ground structures and/or a contact feature coupling ground conductors to a stiffener. The conductive elements in different columns may be shaped differently to reduce crosstalk. | 02-27-2014 |
20140051285 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH INTEGRATED GROUNDING MEMBER AND GRIPPING SLEEVE - An electrical connector that includes a connector body that has opposite first and second ends where the first end is configured to be coupled with a prepared end of a cable. A coupling member has an interface end configured to interface with a mating connector and a free end that is rotatable with respect to the connector body at the second end of the body. A gripping sleeve is configured to receive at least a portion of the coupling member and the connector body. The gripping sleeve includes a main body that has an internal bore with an inner surface. At least one electrically conductive grounding member disposed on the inner surface of the gripping sleeve. The grounding member has a coupling member contact surface and a connector body contact surface that provide a grounding path between the connector body and the coupling member. | 02-20-2014 |
20140030905 | HIGH SPEED ELECTRICAL CONTACT ASSEMBLY - A contact assembly that comprises a conductive outer body that defines an outer perimeter and an insulative insert body that is receivable in that outer body. The insert body supports first and second contacts in a spaced arrangement. The insert body includes an area that surrounds the conductors between the conductors and the outer perimeter of the outer body, wherein the distance between the conductors and the outer perimeter of the outer body defined by the area of the insert body is substantially constant. | 01-30-2014 |
20140004746 | HIGH PERFORMANCE CONNECTOR CONTACT STRUCTURE | 01-02-2014 |
20140004726 | LOW COST, HIGH PERFORMANCE RF CONNECTOR | 01-02-2014 |
20140004724 | PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR RF CONNECTOR MOUNTING | 01-02-2014 |
20130337665 | Midplane Especially Applicable to an Orthogonal Architecture Electronic System - A midplane has a first side to which contact ends of a first differential connector are connected and a second side opposite the first side to which contact ends of a second differential connector are connected. The midplane includes a plurality of vias extending from the first side to the second side, with the vias providing first signal launches on the first side and second signal launches on the second side. The first signal launches are provided in a plurality of rows, with each row having first signal launches along a first line and first signal launches along a second line substantially parallel to the first line. The second signal launches are provided in a plurality of columns, with each column having second signal launches along a third line and second signal launches along a fourth line substantially parallel to the third line. | 12-19-2013 |
20130316594 | MULTI-STAGE BEAM CONTACTS - An electrical connector has a first wafer having a first housing with a first plurality of contact beams extending from the first housing in a first plane. A second wafer has a second housing with a second plurality of contact beams extending from said second housing in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. A dividing panel member extends from the insulative housing between the first plurality of contact beams and the second plurality of contact beams. Each of the contact beams extending from the wafer pair is configured to mate with a corresponding backplane contact in a backplane connector. The contact beams extending from the wafer pair and the backplane contacts are configured such that each pair of corresponding contacts includes a first contact point and a second contact point. When the wafer pair is fully received by the backplane connector, contact between the contact beam and the backplane contact is maintained at both the first and second contact points. Each of the contact beams includes a pivot member configured such that the electrical connector has a low initial insertion force, but a high normal force when fully mated with the backplane connector. | 11-28-2013 |
20130309910 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge. | 11-21-2013 |
20130248221 | CUSHIONED CABLES - The invention relates to a cable having at least two pairs of insulated wires. The adjacent pairs are separated at their contact point(s) by a cushion layer that does not wrap completely around the pairs or any one of the pairs. The cable provides low variability in insertion loss or the ratio of input of voltage injected into the cable vs. output voltage. | 09-26-2013 |
20130231006 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INCORPORATING CURCUIT ELEMENTS - An electrical connector electrically connects a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, where the electrical connector includes: (a) an insulative housing; (b) a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing; (c) each of the plurality of signal conductors having a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween; and (d) a passive circuit element electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors, where the passive circuit element is housed in an insulative package and includes at least a capacitor or an inductor. | 09-05-2013 |
20130225006 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING THICK FILM LAYERS - An electrical connector electrically connects a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, where the electrical connector includes: (a) an insulative housing; (b) a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing; (c) each of the plurality of signal conductors having a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween; and (d) a passive circuit element electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors, where the passive circuit element is housed in an insulative package and includes at least a capacitor or an inductor. | 08-29-2013 |
20130196553 | HIGH SPEED, HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector with electrically lossy materials bridging ground members. The lossy conductive members may be formed by filling a settable binder with conductive particles, allowing the partially conductive members to be formed through an insert molding process. Connectors assembled from wafers that contain signal conductors held within an insulative housing may incorporate lossy conductive members by having filled thermal plastic molded onto the insulative housing. The lossy conductive members may be used in conjunction with magnetically lossy materials. The lossy conductive members reduce ground system do resonance within the connector, thereby increasing the high frequency performance of the connector. | 08-01-2013 |
20130157506 | COUPLING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - An electrical connector assembly that comprises a first connector member supporting a first contact and has a first interface end that defines a first tapered surface, and a second connector member supporting a second contact and has a second interface end that mates with the first interface end. The second interface end has a second tapered surface. The first and second tapered surfaces have substantially the same angle of taper and taper in opposite directions to engage one another to form a friction fit. A coupling member is mounted near one of the interface ends and has an external engagement member that is configured to engage a corresponding external engagement member. A biasing member is disposed in an annular receiving area. The coupling member is movable between an unlocked position when the external engagement members are not engaged and a locked position when the external engagement members are engaged. | 06-20-2013 |
20130148927 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - An optical connector for reducing attenuation in a cable assembly. A support within the connector precludes bending of exposed fiber within the connector that might otherwise occur when the cable assembly is exposed to environmental conditions involving cyclic temperatures. In some embodiments, optical connector assemblies include an optical fiber jacket surrounding a plurality of optical fibers and a support member adjacent to the jacket. The support member includes channels for receiving regions of the optical fibers that are exposed exterior to the optical fiber jacket. The channels of the support member serve to prevent severe bending of the optical fibers which otherwise would give rise to significant signal attenuation. For multi-fiber optical connector assemblies described herein, even during harsh environmental conditions, the signal loss in the optical fibers may be less than about 0.5 dB. The support may be formed as an extension of a ferrule holder. | 06-13-2013 |
20130143442 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED SHIELD AND SHIELD COUPLING - An electrical connector provides shielded signal pathways. The electrical connector includes a shield plate, a first finger that extends from an edge of the shield plate, and a second finger that extends from the edged of the shield and that is adjacent to the first finger. A channel is formed between the first finger and the second finger. A coupling is placed within the channel adjacent the first finger. The coupling includes a contact, a first connecting arm extending from a first end of the contact to a first portion of the first finger, and a second connecting arm extending from a second end of the contact to a second portion of the first finger. The first connecting arm and the second connecting arm provide at least two current paths from the contact to the first finger. | 06-06-2013 |
20130130550 | CONNECTOR SHIELD WAFER HAVING IMPROVED PIN CONDUCTOR - This invention relates generally to an electrical connector assembly for interconnecting printed circuit boards. More specifically, this invention relates to a high speed, high density electrical connector and connector assembly having wafers with an improved pin conductor. The connector contains a shield plate having at least one contact end that is bent in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the shield plate. | 05-23-2013 |
20130109232 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH HYBRID SHIELD | 05-02-2013 |
20130081520 | CONNECTOR TOOL - A tool for a connector that comprises a main body that has first and second opposite ends. The first end is configured to receive a torque device and has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The second end is configured to grasp a connector and has a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape, thereby defining an open side of the second end. The second end has at least one engagement member for engaging the connector. | 04-04-2013 |
20130081265 | CONNECTOR TOOL - A tool for a connector that comprises a shaft and a clasp that has a substantially semi-cylindrical cross-sectional shape. The clasp includes a main body and opposite first and second ends. The first end is adapted to couple to the shaft and the second end is adapted to grasp a connector. The first end has a transverse diameter that is larger than a transverse diameter of the second end such that a step is disposed between the first and second ends that defines a recessed longitudinal portion along the main body configured to provide a low profile for clearance between adjacent connectors. | 04-04-2013 |
20130078871 | HIGH PERFORMANCE CABLE CONNECTOR - A cable connector with improved performance and ease of use. The connector has staggered ports to reduce crosstalk and to prevent incorrect insertion of a plug into a receptacle. The plug may be constructed with subassemblies, each of which has a lossy central portion. Conductive members embedded within an insulative housing of the subassemblies may be used to electrically connect ground conductors within the subassemblies. Further, the connector may have a quick connect locking screw that can be engaged by pressing on the screw, but requires rotation of the screw to remove. Additionally, a ferrule may be used in making a mechanical connection between a cable bundle and a plug and making an electrical connection between a braid of the cable bundle and a conductive shell of the plug. The ferrule may be in multiple pieces for easy attachment while precluding deformation of the cable, which disrupts electrical performance. | 03-28-2013 |
20130078870 | HIGH PERFORMANCE CABLE CONNECTOR - A cable connector with improved performance and ease of use. The connector has staggered ports to reduce crosstalk and to prevent incorrect insertion of a plug into a receptacle. The plug may be constructed with subassemblies, each of which has a lossy central portion. Conductive members embedded within an insulative housing of the subassemblies may be used to electrically connect ground conductors within the subassemblies. Further, the connector may have a quick connect locking screw that can be engaged by pressing on the screw, but requires rotation of the screw to remove. Additionally, a ferrule may be used in making a mechanical connection between a cable bundle and a plug and making an electrical connection between a braid of the cable bundle and a conductive shell of the plug. The ferrule may be in multiple pieces for easy attachment while precluding deformation of the cable, which disrupts electrical performance. | 03-28-2013 |
20130065454 | HIGH PERFORMANCE CABLE CONNECTOR - A cable connector with improved performance and ease of use. The connector has staggered ports to reduce crosstalk and to prevent incorrect insertion of a plug into a receptacle. The plug may be constructed with subassemblies, each of which has a lossy central portion. Conductive members embedded within an insulative housing of the subassemblies may be used to electrically connect ground conductors within the subassemblies. Further, the connector may have a quick connect locking screw that can be engaged by pressing on the screw, but requires rotation of the screw to remove. Additionally, a ferrule may be used in making a mechanical connection between a cable bundle and a plug and making an electrical connection between a braid of the cable bundle and a conductive shell of the plug. The ferrule may be in multiple pieces for easy attachment while precluding deformation of the cable, which disrupts electrical performance. | 03-14-2013 |
20130017733 | HIGH PERFORMANCE, SMALL FORM FACTOR CONNECTOR WITH COMMON MODE IMPEDANCE CONTROL - Techniques for improving electrical performance of a connector. The techniques are compatible with the form factor of a standardized connector, such as an SFP connector or stacked SFP. The resulting connector has reduced insertion loss for high speed signals. Such techniques, which can be used separately or together, include shaping of conductive elements within the connector while still retaining the same mating contact arrangement. Changes may be made at the contact tail portions or in the intermediate portions where engagement to a connector housing occurs. The techniques also include the incorporation of lossy bridging members between conductive elements designated to be ground conductors. For connectors according to the stacked SFP configuration, multiple bridging members may be incorporated at multiple locations within the connector. | 01-17-2013 |
20130012038 | HIGH PERFORMANCE, SMALL FORM FACTOR CONNECTOR - Techniques for improving electrical performance of a connector. The techniques are compatible with the form factor of a standardized connector, such as an SFP connector or stacked SFP. The resulting connector has reduced insertion loss for high speed signals. Such techniques, which can be used separately or together, include shaping of conductive elements within the connector while still retaining the same mating contact arrangement. Changes may be made at the contact tail portions or in the intermediate portions where engagement to a connector housing occurs. The techniques also include the incorporation of lossy bridging members between conductive elements designated to be ground conductors. For connectors according to the stacked SFP configuration, multiple bridging members may be incorporated at multiple locations within the connector. | 01-10-2013 |
20120289095 | DIFFERENTIAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH IMPROVED SKEW CONTROL - An electrical interconnection system with high speed, differential electrical connectors. The connector is assembled from wafers each containing a column of conductive elements, some of which form differential pairs. Skew control is provided for at least some of the pairs by providing a profile on an edge of the shorter signal conductor of the pair. The profile may contain multiple curved segments that effectively lengthen the signal conductor without significantly impacting its impedance. For connectors in which ground conductors are included between adjacent pairs of signal conductors, patterned segments of varying parameters may be included on edges of the signal conductors and ground conductors to equalize electrical lengths of all edges in a set of edges for which there is common mode or differential mode coupling as a signal propagates along each pair. | 11-15-2012 |
20120276774 | REEL FOR MINIMIZING UNREELED CABLE LENGTH - A reel for connecting a cable to the reel and power connections that includes a winding reel housing that has a biasing member and a connection assembly. The assembly is received in the housing and has an insulator with two recesses, a return barrel terminal and a power barrel terminal. One of the insulator recesses receives a return barrel terminal and the other insulator recess receives a power barrel terminal. The return barrel terminal is connected to a return contact, and the power barrel terminal is connected to a power contact. The power contact is connected to a power output member and the return contact is connected to a return output member. The return barrel terminal is rotateable with the return contact while maintaining electrical contact with the return contact and the power barrel terminal is rotateable with the power contact while maintaining electrical contact with the power contact. | 11-01-2012 |
20120264332 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH GROUNDING MEMBER - An electrical connector that comprises a connector body that has opposite first and second ends. The first end is configured to be coupled with a prepared end of a cable. A coupling member that has an interface end configured to interface with a mating connector and a free end opposite the interface end that is rotatable with respect to the connector body at the second end of the connector body. A resilient grounding member is disposed between an outer surface of the second end of the connector body and the free end of the coupling member. Each of the connector body, the coupling member, and the resilient grounding member is conductive thereby creating a grounding path between the connector body and the coupling member. | 10-18-2012 |
20120264322 | COUPLING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - An electrical connector assembly that comprises a first connector member including a first connector body supporting a first contact. The first connector body is formed of a substantially rigid material and has a first interface end. The first interface end has a substantially conical shape that defines a first tapered surface. A second connector member includes a second connector body supporting a second contact configured to mate with the first contact. The second connector body is formed of a substantially rigid material and has a second interface end that mates with the first interface end. The second interface end of the second connector member has a second tapered surface. The first and second tapered surfaces have substantially the same angle of taper and taper in opposite directions to engage one another in a friction fit wherein the angle of taper is between about 3.5° to 6.5°. A coupling member is mounted near one of the first and second interface ends and has an internal engagement member that is configured to engage a corresponding external engagement member of the other of the first and second connector bodies. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261238 | MULTIPOSITION SWITCH - A multiposition switch that comprises a base member accommodating a plurality contact members, respectively. The plurality of contact members are adapted to electrically mate to a host printed circuit board. A routing subassembly is rotatably coupled to the base member. The routing subassembly includes a routing member that defines a plurality of electrical paths between the contact members for switching between combined and uncombined positions. An actuator is coupled to the rotating member for rotating the routing member with respect to the base member between the combined and uncombined positions. | 10-18-2012 |
20120205149 | PHOTOVOLTAIC JUNCTION BOX - A photovoltaic junction box that comprises a housing that has at least first and second sides and the second side has at least one heat dissipating component. A conductor plate is received in the housing. The conductor plate supports at least one heat emitting component and at least one heat conducting component corresponding to the heat dissipating component of the housing. A mounting flange extends from the second side of the housing. At least a first gap is located between the second side of the housing and the mounting flange. The gap creates an air channel that allows air to flow between the housing and the mounting flange. | 08-16-2012 |
20120202387 | MEZZANINE CONNECTOR - A footprint of an electronic assembly formed from conductive pads on a surface of a printed circuit board. One or more vias may connect each pad to a conductive structure within the printed circuit board. The footprint may be such that the vias for the pads are aligned along columns, leaving wide routing channels between the columns. The pads may have different shapes. For example, some of the pads may each have two solder attachment regions that are electrically connected to a ground plane, while other pads may each have one solder attachment region that is electrically connected to a signal trace. The solder attachment regions may be arranged in such a pattern that they align with respective contact tails of a connector assembly. A signal path may be formed between a solder attachment region and a corresponding contact tail through a solder ball attached to the contact tail. | 08-09-2012 |
20120202386 | MEZZANINE CONNECTOR - A two-piece mezzanine connector for high speed, high density signals. One piece of the connector may have conductive elements with beam-shaped mating contacts. The beams may include openings to control mechanical properties while allowing edge to edge spacing between adjacent beams to be selected to provide desired electrical properties. The openings may be teardrop shaped, with a larger width at a distal end of the beams. Beams associated with signal conductors may have openings that are shaped differently from openings of beams associated with ground conductors. For a first connector piece, mating contact regions of signal conductors may be wider than mating contact regions of ground conductors. For a second connector piece adapted to mate with the first connector piece, mating contact regions of signal conductors may be narrower than mating contact regions of ground conductors. These contact shapes may provide float while maintaining a high contact density. | 08-09-2012 |
20120202363 | MEZZANINE CONNECTOR - A two-piece mezzanine connector for high speed, high density signals. The connector is assembled from wafers that may be formed of identical wafer halves. The halves may have interior portions that form a channel in which a lossy member may be captured for selectively configuring the connector for high frequency performance. The lossy member may be serpentine, to both provide different spacing relative to signal and ground conductors and to provide compliance to press against ground conductors when captured between wafer halves. Instead of, or in addition to, the lossy member captured between two wafer halves, the wafer halves may each have lossy material overmolded on at least one side, so that an assembled wafer may have lossy material disposed on the outside. The wafers may have dovetail projections that are secured within dovetail channels, forming structural members of the connector. | 08-09-2012 |
20120196482 | MULTI-STAGE BEAM CONTACTS - An electrical connector has a first wafer having a first housing with a first plurality of contact beams extending from the first housing in a first plane. A second wafer has a second housing with a second plurality of contact beams extending from said second housing in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. A dividing panel member extends from the insulative housing between the first plurality of contact beams and the second plurality of contact beams. Each of the contact beams extending from the wafer pair is configured to mate with a corresponding backplane contact in a backplane connector. The contact beams extending from the wafer pair and the backplane contacts are configured such that each pair of corresponding contacts includes a first contact point and a second contact point. When the wafer pair is fully received by the backplane connector, contact between the contact beam and the backplane contact is maintained at both the first and second contact points. Each of the contact beams includes a pivot member configured such that the electrical connector has a low initial insertion force, but a high normal force when fully mated with the backplane connector. | 08-02-2012 |
20120142217 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH GROUNDING MEMBER - An electrical connector that comprises a connector body that has opposite first and second ends. The first end is configured to be coupled with a prepared end of a cable. A coupling member that has an interface end configured to interface with a mating connector and an free end opposite the interface end that is rotatable with respect to the connector body at the second end of the connector body. A resilient grounding member is disposed between an outer surface of the second end of the connector body and the free end of the coupling member. Each of the connector body, the coupling member, and the resilient grounding member is conductive thereby creating a grounding path between the connector body and the coupling member. | 06-07-2012 |
20120135639 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH GROUNDING MEMBER - An electrical connector that comprises a connector body that has opposite first and second ends. The first end is configured to be coupled with a prepared end of a cable. A coupling member that has an interface end configured to interface with a mating connector and an free end opposite the interface end that is rotatable with respect to the connector body at the second end of the connector body. A resilient grounding member is disposed between an outer surface of the second end of the connector body and the free end of the coupling member. Each of the connector body, the coupling member, and the resilient grounding member is conductive thereby creating a grounding path between the connector body and the coupling member. | 05-31-2012 |
20120000701 | ADJACENT PLATED THROUGH HOLES WITH STAGGERED COUPLINGS FOR CROSSTALK REDUCTION IN HIGH SPEED PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS - An electrical signal connection, an electrical signaling system, and a method of connecting printed circuit boards. The electrical signal connection having a first conductive via and a second conductive via disposed in a first printed circuit board. A first conductive trace with a first end and a second end has the first end electrically coupled to the first conductive via at a first distance from the top surface of the first printed circuit board. The second end of the first conductive via is electrically coupled to the second printed circuit board. A second conductive trace with a first end and a second end has the first end being electrically coupled to the second conductive via at a second distance from the top surface of the first printed circuit board. The second end being is electrically coupled to the second printed circuit board. | 01-05-2012 |
20110256753 | ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY WITH KEYING AND GUIDANCE FEATURES - An interconnection system including a two-sided guide pin assembly for aligning connectors on circuit boards. The interconnection system may connect daughter cards disposed on two sides of a backplane. The guide pin assembly includes a first guide pin, a second guide pin facing in a direction opposite to the first guide pin, and at least one separable polarizing member disposed between the guide pins. At least one of the guide pins may be symmetrical and the polarizing member may provide a projection for blocking insertion of the guide pin into a guidance block unless the polarizing member is orientated to align with an orientation member inside the guidance block. Though, one of the guide pins may be asymmetrical to provide a keying feature that only fits into a corresponding guidance block configured with a complementary keying feature. | 10-20-2011 |
20110230096 | HIGH BANDWIDTH CONNECTOR - An improved open pin field connector is provided for enhanced performance when carrying high speed signals by selective application of one or more techniques for controlling electrical performance parameters. Lossy material may be positioned adjacent to conductive elements of the connector so as to reduce resonance in pairs of conductive elements and/or to provide a desired characteristic impedance for pairs of differential signal conductors. The lossy material may be shaped and positioned to avoid capacitive coupling that might otherwise increase cross talk. In a right angle connector, the lossy material may have a step-wise increase in thickness to provide comparable loss along longer and shorter conductive elements. Conductive elements may be shaped to balance performance characteristics of pairs selected to carry differential signals regardless of orientation along a row or column. Alternatively, conductive elements may have narrowed regions, covered with lossy portions, for reducing resonance while supporting DC signal propagation. | 09-22-2011 |
20110230095 | HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An improved broadside coupled, open pin field connector. The connector incorporates lossy material to selectively dampen resonance within pairs of conductive members connected to ground when the connector is mounted to a printed circuit board. The material may also decrease crosstalk and mode conversion. The lossy material is selectively positioned to substantially dampen resonances along pairs that may be connected to ground without unacceptably attenuating signals carried by other pairs. The lossy material may be selectively positioned near mating contact portions of the conductive members. Multiple techniques are described for selectively positioning the lossy material, including molding, inserting lossy members into a housing or coating surfaces of the connector housing. The lossy material alternatively may be positioned between broad sides of conductive members of a pair. By using material of relatively low loss, loss when the conductive members are used to carry signals is relatively low, but an appreciable attenuation of resonances is provided on pairs connected to ground. As a result, an overall improvement of signal to noise ratio is achieved. | 09-22-2011 |
20110212632 | HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND PCB FOOTPRINT - An interconnection system that includes a daughter card and backplane electrical connectors, each mounted to a printed circuit board at a connector footprint. The backplane connector has conductive elements with transition regions that allow the mating contact portions to be positioned on a uniform pitch while contact tail portions can be shaped to improve signal integrity or to provide a more compact and/or mechanically robust footprint. The conductive elements in both connectors are configured such that the contact tails of the ground conductors align from column to column, but the planar portions of the ground conductors in one column align with a pair of signal conductors in the other column, which improves mechanical and signal integrity. Mechanical integrity may be improved by forming the connector footprints with pads for the ground conductors that span multiple columns. | 09-01-2011 |
20110165784 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge. | 07-07-2011 |
20110123157 | OUTDOOR TRANSCEIVER CONNECTOR - A cable connector assembly for outdoor connection to transceivers. Electrical connection between a component of the cable connector assembly and a connector inside an electronic assembly to which the cable connector assembly is attached is made through a force generated by a biasing member within the cable connector assembly. The biasing member may generate the force as the cable connector assembly is attached to an adapter. Once the cable connector assembly is disengaged from the adapter, the force is released, allowing easy removal of the cable connector assembly, without the need to release a latch. In an environmentally sealed connector in which access to a release mechanism may be restricted, such a structure provides ease of use for either electrical or optical connectors. For optical cable connector assemblies, the optical cable connector may be coupled to a transceiver such that biasing force generated within the cable connector assembly holds the transceiver in a mating relationship with a connector within an electronic assembly but can be easily removed. | 05-26-2011 |
20110104948 | SURFACE MOUNT FOOTPRINT IN-LINE CAPACITANCE - An interconnection system with capacitors integrated into a printed circuit board footprint of an electrical connector. One end of each capacitor shares a pad on the printed circuit board with a contact tail of a conductive element in a connector. The shared pads are not connected through vias to internal circuit structures. Rather, a via, such as which would conventionally be formed as part of the connector mounting pad, is formed as part of a separate, adjacent pad. A second end of the capacitor is attached to the adjacent pad, forming an electrical connection between the conductive element and the via through the capacitor. Incorporating capacitors into the footprint reduces the number of vias required, which improves signal integrity. The capacitors may be placed on the printed circuit board separately from the connector or may be incorporated into the connector, allowing the connector and capacitors to be placed in one operation. | 05-05-2011 |
20110059652 | MULTI-PATHWAY CONNECTOR FOR CIRCUIT BOARDS - A connector includes a contact and a housing that receives the contact. The contact includes at least first and second prongs and a tension portion joining the first and second prongs that biases the prongs away from one another. The housing includes a slot shaped to receive the contact such that the first and second prongs are forced together against the bias of the tension portion. | 03-10-2011 |
20100240244 | MULTI-PORT CABLE CONNECTOR WITH TWO-STAGE RETENTION CLIPS - A device of and method for making a multi-port cable connector is disclosed. The device comprises a connector housing having a plurality of orifices and a clip receiving portion extending into each orifice, each orifice being adapted to receive a corresponding cable connector therein and each clip receiving portion including, at least one grooved engagement surface disposed in a sidewall of the clip receiving portion and defining a first stage, and at least one second grooved engagement surface disposed below the at least one first grooved engagement surface in a sidewall of the clip receiving portion and defining a second stage; and comprises a plurality of retention clips adapted to slide between the first stage and the second stage in a corresponding clip receiving portion, each retention clip including a pair of engagement arms having a notched engagement surface for alternately engaging the pair of first engagement surfaces and the pair of second engagement surfaces. | 09-23-2010 |
20100221940 | SURFACE MOUNT COAXIAL CONNECTOR WITH SWITCHING FUNCTION - An electrical connector that comprises a body including an interface part adapted to engage a mating connector and a mounting part adapted to mount to a surface of a printed circuit board. An internal bore extends through the interface and mounting parts. A fixed interface contact is provided in the internal bore at the interface part. The fixed interface contact is configured to engage a corresponding contact of the mating connector. An actuating contact is received in the internal bore and is axially moveably within the internal bore between first and second positions. First and second stationary contacts are supported by the mounting part. Each of the first and second stationary contacts have a first contact end received in the internal bore of the body and a second exposed end that extends outside of the body for connection to the printed circuit board. The first and second stationary contacts define first and second electrical paths, respectively, wherein movement of the actuating contact between the first and second positions switches the electrical path between the first and second electrical paths, respectively. | 09-02-2010 |
20100210151 | ELECTRICAL CONTACTS - A device of and method for an improved electrical contact is disclosed. The electrical contact includes a plurality of axially-aligned electrically conductive wires, each wire being in electrical contact with at least one other wire at a peripheral surface thereof; an electrically conductive inner sleeve disposed around the plurality of wires and having at least one slot extending axially from a leading end that is adapted to allow the inner sleeve to expand radially; an outer shell disposed around the inner sleeve for protecting at least a leading end of the plurality of wires and the inner sleeve; and an attaching portion disposed at a terminal end of the plurality of wires, the inner sleeve, and the outer shell, the attaching portion being in electrical contact with at least the plurality of wires and the inner sleeve and being adapted to place at least the plurality of wires and the inner sleeve in electrical contact with a first electronic device. | 08-19-2010 |
20100203761 | MICRO GANGMATE MULTI-PORT MODULAR RF CARD EDGE CONNECTOR - A connector assembly includes: at least one signal contact adapted to terminate at least one conductor of a cable; at least one terminal adapted to receive the at least one signal contact; a housing including a channel configured to receive the at least one terminal and adapted to receive at least a portion of a printed circuit board; and means for biasing the at least one terminal against the circuit board, thereby pressing the at least one signal contact against the circuit board to inhibit horizontal movement of the at least one signal contact relative to the at least a portion of a printed circuit board. | 08-12-2010 |
20100202736 | HIGH DENSITY FRONT PANEL OPTICAL INTERCONNECT - A connector assembly has a cable assembly, plug assembly and a socket assembly. The socket assembly is a female member which is received within an opening at the front face of a panel. The plug assembly is a male member which then engages the socket at the front face of the panel. The cable assembly connects the cables carrying optical fibers to the plug assembly. As the socket assembly receives the plug assembly, doors on the respective housings open and ferrule carriers carried by the socket and plug assemblies mate. The plug assembly has a movable front end which permits the fibers to move in both horizontal and vertical directions. | 08-12-2010 |
20100158457 | RUGGEDIZED, LIGHTWEIGHT, AND COMPACT FIBER OPTIC CABLE - A fiber optic cable is described. The fiber optic cable includes optical fibers, a matrix substantially encasing the optical fibers, a tape substantially around the matrix, a tube substantially around the tape, a strength member around the tube, and a jacket substantially on an outer periphery of the fiber optic cable. | 06-24-2010 |
20100124848 | FILTERED POWER CONNECTOR - An improved power connector provides improved signal integrity in an interconnection system. The connector includes a filter element between a supply contact and a return contact. The filter element may be primarily capacitive, but may also include a resistance and a ferrite member. For connectors that include multiple sets of supply and return contacts, a single filter element may be included, or multiple filter elements may be included between multiple pairs of power and return contacts. The filter element may be formed within a connector housing or otherwise incorporated when the connector is manufactured. Alternatively, the filter element may be inserted into a receptacle such that filtering may be selectively incorporated as the connectors are used. When connected to a conducting loop for carrying power supply, the filter element provides substantially zero attenuation at frequencies below about 50 MHz and in excess of 10 dB of attenuation over a range that extends above 500 MHz. | 05-20-2010 |
20100110719 | ILLUMINATION FIBER OPTIC RIBBON - An illumination fiber optic ribbon includes optically-transmissive fibers which are adjacent to each other. At least two of the optically-transmissive fibers are twisted together to form a twisted segment. Where the two optically-transmissive fibers are not twisted forms a non-twisted segment. The twisted segments and non-twisted segments alternate along the length of the ribbon. Bends are disposed along the twisted segment and are formed by twisting adjacent optically-transmissive fibers. A light source is connected to one or both ends of the optically-transmissive fibers. The light source emits a light flux into the ribbon so that light emits from the bends in the twisted segment. | 05-06-2010 |
20100093233 | PUSH ON TERMINAL ASSEMBLY - A terminal assembly includes a terminal and a barrel. The terminal has a coupling portion that fastens to a conductor, a mating portion with compression tabs arranged to form a channel, and an interlocking member on at least one of the compression tabs. The barrel is separate from the terminal and has a bore formed therethrough configured to receive the compression tabs of the mating portion. The barrel includes an interlocking member corresponding to the interlocking member of the at least one compression tab. | 04-15-2010 |
20100093216 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED SHIELD AND SHIELD COUPLING - An electrical connector provides shielded signal pathways. The electrical connector includes a shield plate, a first finger that extends from an edge of the shield plate, and a second finger that extends from the edged of the shield and that is adjacent to the first finger. A channel is formed between the first finger and the second finger. A coupling is placed within the channel adjacent the first finger. The coupling includes a contact, a first connecting arm extending from a first end of the contact to a first portion of the first finger, and a second connecting arm extending from a second end of the contact to a second portion of the first finger. The first connecting arm and the second connecting arm provide at least two current paths from the contact to the first finger. | 04-15-2010 |
20100081317 | GROUNDING BAND FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS - A conductive band for an electrical connector that includes an elastic metal strap with first and second ends and an array of flexible members extending between the first and second ends. Each of the first and second ends has a terminal lead. A clip is coupled to the terminal leads of the first and second ends. | 04-01-2010 |
20090239395 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LEAD FRAME - An electrical interconnection system with high speed, high density electrical connectors. The connector is assembled from wafers containing columns of conductive elements, held in an insulative housing. The conductive elements may each have a plurality of beams of different lengths such that the mating contact surfaces of the first beam are offset, in a direction perpendicular with the columns, from the mating contact surfaces of the second beam. The mating contact surface of the shorter beam of each conductive element may be behind the mating contact of the longer beam such that the width of the conductive element is reduced while still protecting the shorter beam from stubbing upon connector mating. The multi-beam conductive elements may be used as signal or ground conductors. | 09-24-2009 |
20090197483 | CONNECTOR WITH REFERENCE CONDUCTOR CONTACT - An electrical connector with a reference contact for improved shielding. The contact provides multiple points of contact between members in the ground structure of two mating connectors. The points of contact are arranged to provide desirable current flow in the signal paths and ground structures of the connectors. The contact is stamped from a shield plate and has multiple elongated members that provide spring force for adequate electrical connection. The elongated members are curved to position the points of contact with the desired orientation. Such a contact structure may be used alone or in combination with other compliant structures providing further points of contact. | 08-06-2009 |
20090186534 | Electrical Connector Contact - An electrical connector contact includes a metal strip, a shear-formed tab extending the strip to a point with a shear-formed rounded edge corners intersecting at the point to form a small double curvature contact tip. | 07-23-2009 |
20090186495 | Interposer Assembly and Method - An interposer assembly for forming electrical connections between contact pads on opposed substrates includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a lateral shift interface between the plates and a plurality of electrical circuit paths extending between contact surfaces at the top of the top plate and at the bottom of the bottom plate. The circuit paths maintain electrical connections between opposed pairs of pads on the substrates despite misalignment of the substrates or lateral shifting of the plates at the interface because of forces exerted on the substrates. The plates are secured together to permit limited lateral movement at the interface. The assembly may have a circuit board plate between the top and bottom plates and two lateral shift interfaces. The contacts may have very small and high contact pressure shear-formed contact tips. | 07-23-2009 |
20090111319 | STRAIN RELIEF BACKSHELL ASSEMBLY - A backshell assembly that includes a housing configured to terminate a cable. The housing has a main body defining a central longitudinal axis, a connector interface for mating with an electrical connector, and at least one adjustment extension extending from the main body opposite the connector interface and substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis. An adjustable strain relief structure is coupleable to the cable and the housing. The adjustable strain relief structure including at least one adjustment member cooperating with the adjustment extension of the housing such that the adjustment member is pivotable between different cable positions with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the housing. A movable locking member is coupleable with the adjustment extension of the housing and the adjustment member of the adjustable strain relief structure to releasably lock the adjustment member in a selected cable position with respect to the housing. A biasing member is supported by the locking member. The biasing member biasing the locking member into engagement with the adjustment extension of the housing and the adjustment member. The biasing member allows adjustment of the adjustment member between the different cable positions with respect to the adjustment extension of the housing without disassembly of the housing and the adjustable strain relief structure. | 04-30-2009 |
20090061684 | MIDPLANE ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO AN ORTHOGONAL ARCHITECTURE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM - A midplane has a first side to which contact ends of a first differential connector are connected and a second side opposite the first side to which contact ends of a second differential connector are connected. The midplane includes a plurality of vias extending from the first side to the second side, with the vias providing first signal launches on the first side and second signal launches on the second side. The first signal launches are provided in a plurality of rows, with each row having first signal launches along a first line and first signal launches along a second line substantially parallel to the first line. The second signal launches are provided in a plurality of columns, with each column having second signal launches along a third line and second signal launches along a fourth line substantially parallel to the third line. | 03-05-2009 |
20090011641 | HIGH SPEED, HIGH DENSITY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connector includes a wafer formed with a ground shield made from a non-conductive material made conductive with conductive particles disposed therein, thereby eliminating the necessity of the metal ground shield plate found in prior art connectors while maintaining sufficient performance characteristics and minimizing electrical noise generated in the wafer. The wafer housing is formed with a first, insulative housing at least partially surrounding a pair of signal strips and a second, conductive housing at least partially surrounding the first, insulative housing and the signal strips. The housings provide the wafer with sufficient structural integrity, obviating the need for additional support structures or components for a wafer. Ground strips may be employed in the wafer and may be formed in the same plane as the signal strips. The second, conductive housing may be connected (e.g., molded) to the ground strips and spaced appropriately from the signal strips. The wafer may also include air gaps between the signal strips of one wafer and the conductive housing of an adjacent wafer further reducing electrical noise or other losses (e.g., cross-talk) without sacrificing significant signal strength. | 01-08-2009 |
20080227314 | FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - An electrical connector assembly for connecting a flexible circuit to a circuit board includes a flexible circuit attached to a clamp member and a plurality of alignment posts extending from the circuit board. The clamp member has notches that receive the posts to place the contact field of the flexible circuit above the contact field of the circuit board. A spring assembly attached to the clamp member has a manually-operated drive that moves a cam member deflecting the spring against the posts, generating a spring force pressing the clamp member against the circuit board. Barriers formed on the posts prevent contact of the flexible circuit with the circuit board until the contact fields are properly aligned. | 09-18-2008 |
20080207019 | FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - An electrical connector assembly for connecting a flexible circuit to a circuit board includes a flexible circuit attached to a clamp member and a plurality of alignment posts extending from the circuit board. The clamp member has notches that receive the posts to place the contact field of the flexible circuit above the contact field of the circuit board. A spring assembly attached to the clamp member has a manually-operated drive that moves a cam member deflecting the spring against the posts, generating a spring force pressing the clamp member against the circuit board. Barriers formed on the posts prevent contact of the flexible circuit with the circuit board until the contact fields are properly aligned. | 08-28-2008 |