Methode Electronics, Incorporated

Mark W Stack

Charles A Kozel

John T Scheitz

James M Kudla

John G Oldendorf

Marlon C Daniels, Jr

An electrical connector including a wire clamp electrical connector portion and a wire trap electrical connector portion. The wire clamp portion includes a moving arm and a stationary arm where each arm has a respective contact end. An entrance exists between the contact ends. In an open position of the entrance of the wire clamp electrical connector portion, the contact ends are separated by a predetermined gap for receiving a conductor. The gap has a dimension which is greater than a diameter of a conductor. In a closed position of the entrance of the wire clamp electrical connector portion, contact ends are urged toward each other so as to contact and secure the conductor. The wire trap portion includes a moving arm and a stationary arm where the moving arm has a contact end and the stationary arm has a contact surface. An entrance exists between the contact end and the contact surface. In an open position of the entrance of the wire trap electrical connector portion, the contact end and the contact surface are separate by a predetermined gap so as to accept a conductor, where the conductor has a diameter greater than a dimension of the gap. In a closed position of the entrance of the wire trap electrical connector portion, the contact end and the contact surface are separated by a distance greater than the predetermined gap due to the introduction of the conductor into the entrance while the third contact end and the contact surface are urged toward each other so as to contact and secure the conductor.

Wire clamp, wire trap electrical connector

An insulation displacement contact for connecting to a flat conductor of a flat cable, where the flat conductor has a width dimension greater than its thickness dimension. The insulation displacement contact including a base, a first tine connected to the base and a second tine connected to the base. The first tine having a first edge and a second edge. The first edge being adjacent to a free end, where the free end has a first knife edge. The second tine having a third edge and a fourth edge. The third edge being adjacent to a free end, where the free end has a knife edge. The third edge of the second tine opposes the first edge of the first tine. The first edge of the first tine being separated from the third edge of the second tine by a first distance. The fourth edge of the second tine opposes the second edge of the first tine. The second edge of the first tine being separated from the fourth edge of the second tine by a second distance. The first distance being greater than the second distance. A support surface positioned between the first tine and the second tine so as to urge the conductor towards the base.

Flex cable termination apparatus and termination method

An elastomeric connector having fine pitched contacts is provided in addition to a method for connecting components using such a connector and a method of manufacturing the same. The connector includes a body formed from an elastomeric material with contacts arranged to extend through the body and exposed at each side of the body. The contacts are bent to form a contact surface that is oriented at an angle with respect to the sides of the body. The contacts may include a radiused section that is formed in the elastomeric material. Grooves may be formed in the body of the connector separating adjacent contacts and providing additional flexibility of the connector. The contacts may provide for a wiping action of between 0.003 and 0.015 inches and the connector may provide for a spring force of greater than between 15 and 90 grams per contact after 10,000 cycles.

Elastomeric connector having a plurality of fine pitched contacts, a

An electronic circuit module having a metal cover is provided for interconnecting with a host device. The module includes an interface whereby electronic signals can be exchanged between the module and the host device. A mechanism for electrically grounding the metal cover to the ground plane of a printed circuit board housed within the module is provided along with a device for connecting the ground plane of the printed circuit board to a signal reference ground potential supplied by the host device. The present invention includes a module frame for attaching the metal cover thereto. A printed circuit board, including a ground plane, is mounted within the frame. A connector having a plurality of contact elements electrically connected to various the circuits disposed on the printed circuit board, including at least one contact element electrically connected to the ground plane is also adapted to fit within the module frame. The connector includes at least one grounding member. The grounding member forms an electrical connection with one of the contact elements of the connector which is electrically connected to the ground plane of the printed circuit board. With the module fully assembled, the grounding member engages the metal cover, thereby forming a ground path between said cover and the ground plane. The contact element connected to the ground plane of the printed circuit board is positioned within the connector to receive the ground pin of a mating connector located on the host device.

PC card receptacle with integral ground clips

An elastomeric connector having fine pitched contacts is provided in addition to a method for connecting components using such a connector and a method of manufacturing the same. The connector includes a body formed from an elastomeric material with contacts arranged to extend through the body and exposed at each side of the body. The contacts are bent to form a contact surface that is oriented at an angle with respect to the sides of the body. The contacts may include a radiused section that is formed in the elastomeric material. Grooves may be formed in the body of the connector separating adjacent contacts and providing additional flexibility of the connector.

A memory card assembly is provided having a one-piece construction including a cardedge receptacle for slidingly receiving the conductive fingers of a printed circuit board and providing for an electrical connection without soldering. The one-piece construction is achieved by the injection molding of an internal frame to capture the protruding edges of the top and bottom metallic covers. Sufficient normal force of the cardedge receptacle is maintained by a brace member.

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Hoffman Estates, IL, United States of America

Mark W Stack