Berg Technology, Inc.

E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Harold W Sundy

William Arthur Northey

John D Walden

William K Nailor, Iii

Richard S LaBarbera

William A Northey

James L Korzik

A self-switching interposer (10) for connecting a mating connector, such as a connector on the end of a cable, to a connector interface, such as a multi-pin connection socket on an electronic computer, includes a housing (12,16), first and second (24) sets of terminals supported in the housing, and a printed circuit board (30) for electrically connecting the first and second sets of terminals. The interposer further includes a switching system (42) for electrically connecting at least a group of the connected terminals to an electronic network (52) when the housing is not mated to a mating connector. The switching system includes a mechanical actuator (60) for disconnecting the group of connected terminals from the electronic network when the housing is mated to a mating connector. As a result, the interposer (10) will connect the connector interface to the network (52) except when the interposer is mated with a mating connector. The network may be used as a terminator circuit, a testing circuit, or for other purposes.

Self-switching connector for electronic systems

An anti-electrostatic discharge electrical connector assembly (10) includes a housing (12, 18), a plurality of terminals (14, 20) supported in the housing, and a grounding system (36) for electrically connecting at least a group of the terminals to ground when the connector (10) is not fully mated to a mating connector. In the preferred embodiment, the grounding system (36) includes a printed circuit board (26) that is in contact with the terminals (20) and has a grounding area thereon, a conductive grounding bar (48) that is biased into contact with the grounding area (38), and a camming system (54, 60) for moving the grounding bar away from the grounding area when the connector assembly is substantially fully mated with a mating connector or interface. When the assembly (10) is connected to a mating connector or interface, ally electrostatic discharges will be passed to ground through the terminals, the grounding area and the ground bar.

Connector with passive switch for electrostatic discharge

Mini channel extender apparatus

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Landisburg, PA, United States of America

Harold W Sundy