Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

Sabritec, Inc.

Johannes, Richard

Whetstone, Gene

Gene Whetstone

Timothy Brian Billman

Eric Juntwait

Jeng-Yih Hwang

Richard A Johannes

A connector system including a sensing mechanism that can be used to control signal distribution through the connector system is disclosed. The connector system may include a first connector and a second connector configured to be operatively engaged in both a mated condition and an interlocked condition. The connectors of the connector system include conductive contacts that complete a conductive connection when the connectors are in the mated condition. The connector system includes a fastening mechanism that provides an interlocked condition following mating of the connectors, and may further include a sensor and a sensor trigger that may be used to sense the connection status of the system. The sensor may connected to a controller, with the controller controlling signal distribution through the connector system dependent on the connection status determined by the sensing mechanism. A method for controlling signal distribution through a connector system is also provided.

Connector system with connection sensor

A clamp-type adapter ( ) for a memory module ( ) includes two adapter halves ( ), ( ) with similar structures for snapping over a lower portion ( ) of the memory module, which has a plurality of conductive pads ( ), ( ) on opposite surfaces thereof. Each adapter half includes an elongate housing ( ), a row of alternating outer conductive contacts ( ) and inner conductive contacts ( ) interposed with grounding blades ( ), and a shield ( ) covering the housing. The contacts and the grounding blades are insert molded in the housing. The housing comprises an inner portion ( ) and an outer portion ( ). Each outer/inner contact comprises a contact portion ( )/( ) and a tail portion ( )/( ). The contact portion is exposed to the outside from a bottom surface of the inner portion for engaging with a corresponding contact of the card edge connector. The tail portion extends out from a top surface of the outer portion for contacting a corresponding pad of the memory module. The adapter substitutes direct connection of a memory module to a card edge connector, which connection frequently results in damage to the module's conductive pads after repeated connection/disconnection cycles.

Clamp-type adapter for connecting a memory module to a card edge connector

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a plurality of spaced channels for receiving and retaining conductive spring contacts therein. Each contact is U-shaped and has an anchoring section fixed in the corresponding channel and an engaging section resiliently attached to the anchoring section by a U-shaped bent section and partially extending beyond the housing for engaging with an electronic device. An opening is defined in the bent section through which a wire extends with a conductive core of the wire being fixed to the anchoring section whereby the engaging section overlaps the wire for reducing the space occupied thereby. The engaging section has a free end having side projections received and retained in recesses defined in side walls of the corresponding channels for preloading the engaging section.

Electrical connector with U-shaped spring contacts

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Corona, CA, United States of America

Gene Whetstone