Cisco Technology, Inc.

Kevin Franklin Casey

Frederic Michael Kozak

Robert Gregory Twiss

Milton Palmer Hilliard

Christopher Eugene Zieman

Troy Williams Glover

Kurt Kordes

Norman Lester Creekmore

M Onder Cap

Mark Cameron Cassada

Mark Allen Rosen

Steven Fleming

Kevin Craig Redmon

An apparatus includes a first electrical connector including a first housing, a contact element having a first portion connected to the first housing, and a first elastic element for supporting the first portion in the first housing. The first elastic element is deflectable to permit the contact element to move relative to the first housing. The apparatus also includes a second electrical connector including a second housing and a second elastic element that is deflectable to receive and retain a second portion of the contact element that protrudes from the first housing.

Apparatus and method for allowing alignment mismatch in electrical connections

Methods and apparatus for enabling internal circuitry associated with a device to be efficiently replaced in an operating environment for the device are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a device includes an enclosure that defines an interior of the device, and a circuit arrangement that is located in the interior. A data port interface is located in the interior, and the device also includes a receptacle and a protection circuitry arrangement. The receptacle is coupled to the circuit arrangement, and the protection circuitry arrangement provides protection to the circuit arrangement. The protection circuitry arrangement has an interface that is removably coupled to the receptacle such that at least a portion of the protection circuitry arrangement is contained in the interior of the device.

Field replaceable module for protection circuitry

Methods and apparatus for providing a switch that includes multiple parts, and is arranged to function after extended periods of being in a depressed state are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multi-part switch includes a first contact, a second contact, and a plate. The first contact is electrically coupled to a first lead on a circuit board, and a second contact is electrically coupled to a second lead on the circuit board. The plate includes an electrically conductive area that contacts the first contact and the second contact to allow a signal to flow from the first contact to the second contact through the plate. In contacting the first contact and the second contact, the plate applies a compressive force to the first contact and to the second contact.

Methods and apparatus for constructing a multi-part switch

Methods and apparatus for discharging cables that are to be coupled to a connector are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes at least one signal contact, a housing, and a ground arrangement. The housing defines a receptacle configured to receive a part of a cable assembly. The signal contact is disposed within the receptacle, and is configured to contact a first contact of the cable assembly when the cable assembly is received in the receptacle such that a signal may pass between the signal contact and the first contact. The ground arrangement is at least partially disposed on the housing, and is arranged to contact and to ground the first contact before the first contact contacts the at least one signal contact.

RJ style connector to eliminate cable electrostatic discharge events

A circuit board assembly includes a circuit board which defines circuit board pads, a set of surface mount electronic components soldered to a first set of the circuit board pads using a surface mount soldering process, and a set of surface mount coupling devices soldered to a second set of the circuit board pads using the surface mount soldering process. Each surface mount coupling device is configured to couple at least a portion of an object to the circuit board. Each surface mount coupling device includes a set of surface mount pads connected to the second set of the circuit board pads by solder joints resulting from the surface mount soldering process, a set of legs extending from the set of surface mount pads, and a body portion connected to the set of legs, the body portion providing a fixed structure relative to the circuit board for securing the object.

Techniques for coupling an object to a circuit board using a surface mount coupling device

An EMI shield, or module cage, mounts to a circuit board such that a first portion of the module cage extends above a first planar surface of the circuit board and a second portion of the module cage extends below a second planar surface of the circuit board. The module cage surrounds a corresponding transceiver module and allows airflow to travel across the transceiver module and through the module cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to a planar surface of the circuit board to cool the transceiver module. In one arrangement, multiple module cages attach to the circuit board in a modular configuration. Such a configuration allows attachment, to the circuit board, of the number of module cages corresponding to the number of transceiver modules required or utilized by the circuit board.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Kevin Franklin Casey