Samtec Incorporated

Santec Corporation

Doug E McCartin

Steve Koopman

Jeremy Wooldridge

Emad Soubh

John K Hynes

Brian A Striegel

Steven P Koopman

Everett Koopman

A probe is provided for testing the electrical characteristics of a device. The probe includes a housing, a plurality of cables, a circuit board located within the housing, and a field-replaceable probe tip. The probe tip includes an array of contacts. Each of the plurality of cables is connected to a corresponding contact. The probe includes a retractable shroud that retracts as the probe is connected to the device. The contacts have bifurcated tips. An alignment assembly for aligning a probe with respect to a device to be tested includes a first alignment block, a second alignment block, and an alignment piece connecting the first alignment block and the second alignment block. The first alignment block and the second alignment block are arranged to be attached to the device to be tested to align the probe with respect to the device to be tested.

Probe having a field-replaceable tip

A probe is provided for testing the electrical characteristics of a device. The probe includes a housing, a plurality of cables, a circuit board located within the housing, and a field-replaceable probe tip. The probe tip includes an array of contacts. Each of the plurality of cables is connected to a corresponding contact. The probe includes a retractable shroud that retracts as the probe is connected to the device. The contacts have bifurcated tips.

A right angle electrical connector assembly includes a connector frame including a plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts including at least one standoff rib extending therefrom, a flexible circuit having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion being arranged to be connected to a circuit board. The flexible circuit includes a plurality of holes arranged to correspond to the plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts is received in a respective one of the plurality of holes, and a height of a first major surface of the second end portion of the flexible circuit is set by the at least one standoff rib of each of the plurality of posts.

Right angle electrical connector

Continuous electrical connectors. A continuous electrical connector is formed by joining a first a number of first connector bodies to a second number of second connector bodies by inserting a pin through corresponding holes in each of the connector bodies. The first connector bodies form a number of first splices when placed end-to-end, and the second connector bodies form a number of second splices when placed end-to-end. The first and second splices are staggered a distance so the bodies form a continuous connector that obviates the need to inventory a multitude of various connector sizes.

Continuous electrical connector and method for making same

Surface mount connectors having staked alignment pins. The bodies of the connectors are formed without alignment pins, and alignment pins are thereafter staked into the bottom surface of the connector body in order to positively locate the connector when mounting to a printed circuit board. Because the alignment pins are not integrally formed with the connector bodies, the connectors may be inventoried in only long strips of, for example, 50 positions. After a customer order is received, the long strips may be cut to the desired number of positions. The alignment pins are thereafter staked into the connector body in order to form a completed connector. The present invention therefore obviates the need to inventory connectors with alignment pins in each of the potentially desired sizes.

Surface mount connectors having staked alignment pins

Connectors formed from long strips of pin headers, which are cut to a length equal to the desired number of connector positions. A pre-molded shroud is then press fit to each end of the cut pin header. The pre-molded shrouds include longitudinally extending arms which engage sides of the pin header in order to firmly hold the shroud in place after placement. Because none of the connector positions on the end of the cut pin header are covered by the shrouds, the completed connector includes the desired number of connector positions. As with the other embodiments of the present invention, the only items that must be inventoried are the long strips of pin headers and the pre-molded shrouds. Any desired size of connector may be formed from these two components.

Connector having press fit mating shrouds

Surface mount connectors having staked alignment pins. The bodies of the connectors are formed without alignment pins, and alignment pins are thereafter staked into the bottom surface of the connector body in order to positively locate the connector when mounting to a printed circuit board. Because the alignment pins are not integrally formed with the connector bodies, the connectors may be inventoried in only long strips of, for example, 50 positions, After a customer order is received, the long strips may be cut to the desired number of positions. The alignment pins are thereafter staked into the connector body in order to form a completed connector. The present invention therefore obviates the need to inventory connectors with alignment pins in each of the potentially desired sizes.

Connectors having press fit mating shrouds. The connectors are formed from long strips of pin headers, which are cut to a length equal to the desired number of connector positions plus four additional positions. A pre-molded shroud is then press fit to each end of the cut pin header. The pre-molded shrouds include vertical holes which are sized to fit snugly over the pins on the end position of the cut pin header in order to remain in place after placement. Additionally, the shrouds include vertical slots which snugly receive the pins on the second-to-last position on each end of the pin header. Because the last two positions on each end of the cut pin header are covered by the shrouds, the completed connector includes the desired number of connector positions. Furthermore, the only items that must be inventoried are the long strips of pin headers and the pre-molded shrouds. Any desired size of connector may be formed from these two components.

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Henryville, IN, United States of America

Doug E McCartin