International Business Machines Corporation

Molex Corporation

Howell B Schwartz

Richard A Johnson

Frank A Harwath

Donald J Brinkman

Glenn A Landgraf

Basil D Washo

Prabjit Singh

David L Brunker

Laurence S Samuelson

Timothy C O'Sullivan

Daniel G Landry

A diverging rail edge geometry for an air bearing slider. The air bearing slider provides reduced sensitivity to skew and roll static attitude without contributing to significant increases in cost and complexity. A support structure is formed with an air bearing surface having at least one air bearing rail, pad or other structure disposes thereon. The air bearing pad or rail is formed having at least one edge diverging from the side edges of the support structure. The edges of the rails may also be curved.

Method and apparatus for providing diverging rail edge geometry for air

A female electrical contact is disclosed to include an elongate body having a terminal portion at one end and a receptacle portion at the other end for receiving a complementary male pin. A pair of cantilevered arms are provided of substantially equal length and in opposed relationship to each other with contact portions at their distal ends. The cantilevered arms are axially offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of insertion of the complementary male pin, whereby the male pin engages the contact portions sequentially. The cantilevered arms are bowed inwardly so that the contacted portion of one of the arms engages the other arm under a preload.

Female electrical contact

A connector pin that has one or more regions along its length modified in cross-section so the region deforms plastically as a result of stress induced by displacement of connected members. As used herein, plastic definition means that the structure approaches a condition where it will continue to yield without increase in load. Each region therefore provides a deformable or 'plastic' hinge, limiting a moment applied to the solder joint as a result of lateral displacement of the connector relative to the circuit board.

Load limited pin for an electrical connector

A female contact for an electrical connector in which the contact comprises a resilient, conductive beam with a curve of constant radius. One end of the beam bears against a flat wall section of a bore into which a male contact pin is inserted to make contact. The strip curves away from the wall, and as the pin is inserted it flattens the strip against the wall.

Electrical connector with a constant radius of curvature beam

An electrical connector is disclosed for interconnection to a printed circuit board having signal traces and ground circuitry thereon. The connector includes signal contacts for termination to the signal traces on the printed circuit board. A conductive housing has receptacles, including insulators, for mounting the signal contacts therein. A plurality of ground projections are formed integral with the housing for interconnection to the ground circuitry on the printed circuit board.

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Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America

Howell B Schwartz