Methode Electronics, Incorporated

Other

John A DeFranco

Brent E Henderson

Patrick A Bolen

James K Pettit

Pat A Bolen

Lawrence T Rupert

Ronald L Ballast

A clockspring having adhesive so as to resist vibratory motion of the flat ribbon cable and to reduce rubbing of the flat ribbon cable against itself. The clockspring includes a housing, a hub, and a flat ribbon cable connecting the hub to the housing. The flat ribbon cable has an adhesive along a majority of the length of the flat ribbon cable.

Loop back clockspring having adhesive layer

An articulating connector assembly having a housing, a hub being carried in rotatable relation to the housing; and means for signal coupling between the housing and the hub. The signal coupling can consist of means such as optical coupling, inductive coupling, radio frequency coupling, capacitive coupling, and pressure wave coupling. In addition, the articulating connector assembly can further include power coupling which can be accomplished by siding contacts, inductively coupled coils, capacitively coupled electrodes, or optical transmitters and receivers on the hub and the housing. Furthermore, a method of efficiently transmitting and receiving signals between the housing and hub is provided. The method consists of (1) obtaining an input signal, by a signal driver, to produce a driven signal output; (2) coupling the driven signal output to produce a coupled signal; and (3) receiving the coupled signal, by a receiver, to produce an output signal. In addition, the method can further include decoding and encoding, respectively, of the output and input signals.

Articulating connector transmission system for signal data and power

An electrical connector such as a clockspring for carrying electrical signals through a steering wheel provides EMI/RFI shielding. The electrical connector includes a housing formed of a conductive plastic and/or a metallized exterior surface.

Electrical connector with EMI/RFI shielding

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hill, MI, United States of America

John A DeFranco