Medallion Technology, LLC

Cray Computer Corporation

James A Harden, Jr

Steven E Garcia

Randall J Boudreaux

David A Hofmann

Jon M Huppenthal

Catherine A Herzog

Bulges in a wire having helically coiled strands are formed by untwisting the strands in an anti-helical direction at a predetermined position, to form an electrical connector from a length of the stranded wire. The wire is gripped by moving two spaced apart clamp members to a closed position and thereafter rotating the clamp members relative to one another in at least one complete relative revolution in a direction which is anti-helical relative to the coiled strands to form the bulge. The wire is gripped and rotated in the anti-helical direction for a relative rotational interval of greater than one-half, and preferably three-fourths, of a complete relative revolution. Thereafter, during the remaining rotational interval of each relative revolution, the clamp members are opened to permit the wire to be advanced to the next position where a bulge is to be formed.

Rotational grip twist machine and method for fabricating bulges of twisted wire electrical connectors

Twist pins having bulges are fabricated from helically coiled stranded wire. Wire is advanced from a source such as a spool to create slack wire configuration, and wire is then advanced from the slack wire configuration to a position where each bulge is formed. Each bulge is formed by gripping the wire in two spaced apart locations and rotating the wire in an anti-helical direction in a single continuous relative revolution to untwist the strands and form the bulge. The wire is thereafter advanced to the position of the next bulge or the position where the wire will be severed to release the fabricated twist pin. The severed fabricated twist pin is conveyed through a flow of gas in a delivery tube into a receptacle of a cassette where the twist pin is stored until used. The cassette is automatically moved to position an occupied receptacle to receive each newly fabricated twist pin.

High-speed, high-capacity twist pin connector fabricating machine and method

A segment of wire from which an electrical connector has been fabricated is conveyed from a point where the electrical connector wire segment is severed from a length of remaining wire into a receptacle within which the electrical connector wire segment is stored until use. A reduced pressure is applied by a venturi assembly to the wire segment, and a gas flow conveys the wire segment to the receptacle. A cassette defines the receptacles, and the cassette is repeatedly positioned to each newly fabricated wire segment in a different receptacle.

Pneumatic inductor and method of electrical connector delivery and organization

A method is provided for forming a plurality of solder joints for electrically and mechanically coupling a printed circuit board (,) and a flexible circuit (,). Solder is applied to the connection surfaces of the printed circuit board (,), and the connection surfaces of the flexible circuit (,) are tinned. The circuit board (,) and flexible circuit (,) are then positioned so that the connections surfaces of each are in alignment and a gap exists between circuit board (,) and flexible circuit (,). The gap between circuit board (,) and flexible circuit (,) is precisely controlled and permits the solder of the printed circuit to be in contact with the connection surfaces of the flexible circuit (,). The solder is reflowed by applying heat by vapor phase condensation.

Fixed-gap solder reflow method

A connection assembly includes a coaxial cable to microstrip flexible circuit connector and a mating microstrip flex circuit to electronic circuit connector. The coaxial cable to microstrip flex circuit connector comprises a portion which is mechanically attached to the coaxial cable and a portion which is mechanically attached to the microstrip flex circuit. The coaxial cable attachment portion includes a first electrical connector electrically connected to the center conductor and a second electrical connector electrically connected to the shielding conductor of each coaxial cable. The microstrip flex circuit attachment portion includes a third electrical connector electrically connected to each trace and a fourth connector electrically connected to the ground plane conductor. The flex circuit to electrical circuit connector comprises a plurality of unsupported extensions of a trace or the ground plane conductor. The extensions are electrically connected to connection pads of a printed circuit board of an electronic circuit by a surface connection, and can be bent to opposite sides of the electronic circuit to reach connection pads on a printed circuit board.

High density, high bandwidth, coaxial cable, flexible circuit and

Male and female portions of a multi-pin connector (MPC) are separated and connected using a tool or a method in which the two MPC portions are securely retained in lateral and longitudinal alignment throughout separation and connection, to alleviate the difficulties of breaking, bending, mis-aligning and twisting pins of the male MPC portion relative to sockets of the female MPC portion, which may easily occur during separation and connection. The pins and the sockets in lateral and longitudinal alignment while the MPC portions are moved toward and away from one another. The risk of lead-wire breakage due to fatigue from grasping the lead wires during connection and separation is also avoided, because the only contact is with the body portions, not the lead wires, of even small MPCs. A tool includes a receptacle adapted for receiving the two portions of the MPC. A slide member is adapted to contact at least one of the two MPC portions, and an actuator mechanism moves the slide member and the contacted MPC portion toward or away from the other MPC portion.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

James A Harden, Jr