Amp LLC

Amp General Patent Counsel

John C Asick

John Michael Landis

Clair W Snyder, Jr

George H Douty

Leon T Ritchie

John A Woratyla

Dale R Zell

James S Staron

Clifton W Huffnagle

Joseph R Goodman

Kermit M Jones, Jr

Stephen M Yingst

Robert John Kinkaid

Earl William McCleerey

John E Lucius

Karen Elizabeth Benjamin

Michael S Peppler

Thomas J Zola

Donald A Berry

A back shell assembly (2) for a multi-contact electrical connector (8) comprises back shell members (4) and (6) which can be latched together about the connector (8). One back shell member (2) has a first cable strain relief member (14) projecting therefrom and having side walls (28) and a base wall (26) which is formed with a pocket (32). The other back shell member (6) has projecting therefrom a second cable strain relief member (42) having a base wall (54) and side walls (56) from which project crimping flanges (62). When a shielded electrical cable (C) has been terminated to the connector (8) a portion of the cable (C) having the braid shield (S) thereof folded back therealong, is laid in second strain relief member (42) and the two strain relief members (14) and (42) and their back shell members (4) and (6) are mated after which flanges (62) are crimped down into the pocket (32) so that the cable is tightly gripped by the strain relief members (14) and (42) which make firm and permanent electrical connection with the braid shields (S).

Ferruleless back shell

A receptacle contact (22) adapted to be received in a connector housing (26), or a connector housing (26) having the receptacle contact (22) received therein, wherein the receptacle contact (22) is a three sided contact forming a U-shaped channel (68) for receiving a contact element (46). The contact (22) comprises a pair of tapered fixed beams (64,66) at least portions of which are curved inwardly toward each other with a smooth continuous curvature to a spacing at least less than the diameter or cross section width of a contact element (46) to be received therebetween. The tapered fixed beams (64,66) taper from forward and trailing ends (70,72) toward a midpoint (74). The contact (22) may have a center rib (96) integral with and extending between the bases (86,94) that are integral with the ends (70,72) of the fixed beams (64,66). The rib (96) includes retention means (98,102) for securing the contact in a contact receiving passage (32) of a connector housing (26). The retention means (98,102) cooperate with the walls (106,114) of the contact receiving passage (32) to secure the contact (22) to one side of the passage (32).

Electrical connector and tapered fixed beam contact therefor

A connector assembly (24) for terminating a cable (102) includes a two-piece housing (80, 98) having therein a dual diameter strain relief (200, 202, 159) incorporated in a cylindrical channel (166). The channel (166) has a smaller diameter portion (200) adjacent the termination of the cable conductors (154) and a larger portion (202) adjacent and axially aligned with the smaller diameter portion (200). Forces on cable (102) are transferred from cable (102) to covers (80, 98) through a cable tie in a recess (212, 220) appropriate for the diameter of the cable.

Dual diameter cable strain relief

An input/output connector system (20) having spring contacts (68) in the header assembly (22) that engage pins (34) also in the header assembly (22) upon demating the receptacle assembly (24). The spring contacts (68) may remain in contact with the pins (34) while the receptacle assembly (24) is in mating engagement with the header assembly (22) or alternatively provide a make-before-break or break-before-make engagement with the pins (34) upon mating of the receptacle and header assemblies (24, 22).

Switching connector

A multi plane connector system is formed by a header assembly mounted on at least one side of a circuit board and a connector commoning terminals of header assemblies on adjacent circuit boards. The terminals of the header assemblies can either be through-the-board mounted or surface mounted in either a soldered or spring loaded condition. The connector preferably includes latching means and can be back plane or ground plane mounted.

Multi-plane interconnection system

A receptacle assembly (24) having spring biased latches (136) with catches (155) extending normal to a planar portion thereof. Latches (136) extend beyond the receptacle assembly (24) to be received and operate in channels (170) in header assembly (22). Catches ride up a ramp (172) in the channel (170) further biasing the latches (136) then seat in detent (176). Upon a sufficient force (018) being transferred by a cable (102) to the receptacle assembly (24), catch (155) pivotally deforms from its normal position, catch (155) slides along a surface (174, 178) of the channel (170) out of detent (176) then the receptacle and header assemblies (24,22) are pulled apart.

Positive retention connector latch

Shroud assembly for mounting to a panel opening includes a ground plane spring manufactured in continuous strip form. Individual spring strips are severed from the continuous strip and sandwiched between sidewalls of the shroud and a rim member. First spring fingers extend into the cavity which receives the connector and second spring fingers extend through apertures in the rim member to bear against the panel. Pegs on the sidewalls cooperate with holes in the strips and the rim member.

Receptacle assembly with ground plane spring

Surface mount connector has terminals which float axially in passages through housing. Each terminal is spring loaded toward mounting face to provide compliance between solder tails and pads on printed circuit board. Metal clips have legs received in holes through board which anchor connector independently of solder tails.

Surface mount connector with floating terminals

A shielded backplane assembly is formed by a plurality of pairs of first and second shrouds, each pair enclosing an array of pin terminals from opposite sides of the backplane. A profiled ground plane, which engages a chassis cover, profiles entry to the second shroud to make wiping contact with a shielded connector received therein. The assembly also includes covers for enclosing the unused portions of each pin array.

Shielded backplane assembly

An intercard connector system is formed by a connector matable with a circuit board mounted header assembly. The connector carries a plurality of terminals each having a first end profiled to engage a conductor and an opposite second end profiled to engage a pin terminal of the header assembly. The profiling of the connector and header assemblies are such as to allow multiple configurations in high density arrays.

Input/output intercard connector

An extractor for removing connectors from high density locations is formed by a pair of hermaphroditic members each pivotally attached to the connector adjacent one end with their opposite ends slidably and pivotally interconnected. Actuation of the extractor causes rotation about the pivots and sliding rotation of the other end to achieve cammed extraction of the connector.

Extractor means multi-plane interconnection system

A bussing system for interconnecting circuits on pairs of adjacent parallel spaced circuit boards is formed by a bussing connector for each pair of circuit boards and a connector assembly on each circuit board. Each connector assembly has a header mounted on a first side of the circuit board, a shroud mounted on the opposite side of the circuit board, and a plurality of terminals mounted extending through the header, shroud and circuit board and making electrical contact with the latter. Each bussing connector includes a plurality of terminals mounted therein, each capable of engaging a pin terminal extending from a header of a first circuit board and a pin terminal extending from a shroud of a second circuit board.

Bussing connector system

A crossover contact for use in interconnecting circuits on pairs of adjacent parallel spaced circuit boards is formed by a folded over contact having two leg portions which are formed along axes which are parallel, the planes of the respective leg portions being stepped from each other. Thus the contact is able to engage pin terminals of a first row of a pin header and pin terminals of a second row of a pin shroud thereby bussing the two rows.

Multi-plane crossover contact

A bussing system for interconnecting pairs of circuit boards in a closely spaced array of parallel spaced circuit boards is formed by a bussing connector for each pair of circuit boards and a pair of blade headers on each circuit board. The first header is mounted on a first side of a respective circuit board and the second header is mounted aligned on the opposite side of the circuit board. Each header is provided with a plurality of terminals having one end in electrical contact with the circuitry of the circuit board and an opposite end projecting from the respective header. The bussing connector has a housing containing a plurality of terminals each arranged to engage a terminal extending from a first header of a first circuit board and a terminal extending from a second header of an adjacent second circuit board.

Bussing system for stacked array of panel boards

An improved electronics containing cartridge and cartridge holder are disclosed. The cartridge is utilized to encase electronic circuitry, such as a bubble memory, which can be selectively added to main equipment via the cartridge holder. The cartridge itself is made by an improved system which eliminates the environmental concerns of printed circuit board manufacture. The circuit board of the cartridge is formed by molding a substantially planar member with a plurality of circuit trace forming grooves therein. The circuitry is stamped from a metal web and inserted into the respective grooves. The contacts of the holder and cartridge are arranged for low wear operation. Both of the cartridge and the holder are provided with means which are readily exchangeable and provide a plurality of keyed configurations to assure that only the proper cartridge will be inserted into the respective holder.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

John C Asick