Molex Corporation

Other

Union Machinery Co., Ltd.

Masashi Seto

Shinsuke Kunishi

Kenji Watanabe

Akihiro Miyachi

Kazuhiro Shimada

Minoru Fukushima

Shinichi Aihara

Kouichi Inoue

Hideo Tamura

Toshihiro Niitsu

Mitsuo Fujikura

Yasuhiro Ishikawa

Akira Kanesige

A card system according to the present invention comprises a card connector, which is provided in an electronic device, a wireless communication card, which is inserted removably into the card connector, and an antenna unit, which is provided in the electronic device and connected electrically to the card connector. In the card system, the card connectorcomprises connector-side device terminals, which are connected electrically to the electronic device, and a connector-side antenna terminal, which is connected electrically to the antenna unit. Accordingly, the wireless communication cardcomprises card-side device terminalsand a card-side antenna terminal, which are connected electrically with the connector-side device terminalsand with the connector-side antenna terminal, respectively, when the wireless communication cardis inserted into the card connector

Card system

A fiber optic connector is provided for mating with a complementary connecting device along a mating optical axis. The connector includes an outer housing having a forward mating end, a rear end and a resilient latch arm for latching engagement with the complementary connecting device. The outer housing includes walls at the rear end thereof substantially surrounding the optical axis to define a cavity opening rearwardly of the housing. An inner housing is fitted into the rearwardly opening cavity in the outer housing, wherein the walls of the outer housing constrain the inner housing in &ldquo;X&rdquo; and &ldquo;Y&rdquo; directions generally perpendicular to the optical axis. The inner housing includes an optical element receiving cavity communicating with the optical axis. Complementary interengaging retaining members are provided between the inner and outer housings to hold the inner housing in the rearwardly opening cavity of the outer housing against movement in a &ldquo;Z&rdquo; direction generally parallel to the optical axis.

Optical receptacle

A connector assembly includes a multi-part housing for mating with a complementary connecting device. The housing has a first housing part of a first, resilient plastic material and includes a resilient latch portion for latching engagement with the complementary connecting device. The housing has a second housing part of a second plastic material with less resiliency than the first plastic material and includes a cavity for receiving and retaining an operative component of the connector assembly.

Connector assembly with multi-part housing

A connector assembly includes a plug connector having a plug housing and a sheath movably mounted about the plug housing. A receptacle connector receives the plug connector in mated condition. A primary latch is provided between the plug housing and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition. A release is provided on the sheath for unlatching the primary latch means in response to movement of the sheath relative to the plug housing. A secondary latch is provided between the plug housing and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition in the event of inadvertent unlatching of the primary latch means. An interengaging press-fit rib-and-slot structure is provided between the plug connector and the receptacle connector when the connectors are mated.

Latching system for connector assemblies

A connector assembly includes a plug connector having a plug housing and a sheath mounted about the plug housing. A receptacle connector receives the plug connector in mated condition. A complementary interengaging first latch is provided between the plug housing of the plug connector and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition. A complementary interengaging second latch is provided between the sheath of the plug connector and the receptacle connector for holding the connectors in mated condition.

Disclosed is a fail-safe optical connector including a plug having an engagement portion and a receptacle for mating with the plug. The receptacle has a resilient latch for coupling with the engagement portion of the plug. The plug has a cover slidably mounted thereon with at least one actuating piece formed on its front side. The actuating piece has a trapezoidal projection formed on its free end. The trapezoidal projection abuts the engagement projection of the latch to disengage it from the engagement portion of the plug when the cover moves backward. The plug has at least one latch projection formed on either side of the front end adapted to mate with and aperture in a yieldable wall on the receptacle.

Fail-safe optical connector

An electrical connector system includes an elongated dielectric connector housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and have contact portions spaced along the opening. An actuator is mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat circuit into the opening and a second position wherein a pressure plate of the actuator biases the circuit against the contact portions of the terminals. The flat circuit includes at least one latch aperture. The connector housing includes at least one latch projection allowing free insertion of the flat circuit into the opening but engaging the latch aperture in the circuit to resist withdrawal of the circuit from the opening.

Electrical connector system for flat circuitry

An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals in a generally parallel array. The housing has opposite sides and a front end, with an opening between the sides for receiving an end of the flat cable in engagement with contact portions of the terminals. A pressure member is rotatably mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position pressing conductors of the flat cable against the contact portions of the terminals. Overhanging extensions project inwardly from the opposite sides of the housing to prevent release of the flat cable from the connector in the event undesired external forces are applied to the cable which would tend to bias the pressure member toward its first position.

Flat cable connector

A zero force electrical connector is adapted for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The housing has a first end adapted for receiving the flat cable in engagement with the terminals, a rear end and opposite sides. An actuator is mounted to the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the cable into engagement with the terminals and a second position biasing the cable against the terminals. Complementary interengaging stops are provided between the housing and the actuator near the rear end of the housing for limiting rotation of the actuator relative to the housing in a first direction. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the housing and the actuator near the front end of the housing for preventing rotation of the actuator relative to the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Zero insertion force electrical connector for flat cable

A zero insertion force electrical connector is provided for a flat cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals. The housing has a front end with an opening for receiving an end of the flat cable in engagement with contact portions of the terminals. An actuator is pivotally mounted relative to the housing for floating movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position biasing the cable against the terminals. A cam surface on the actuator abuts a counter cam surface on the housing as the actuator rotates and translates about a moving pivot from its first position to its second position sandwiching the end of the flat cable between the contact portions of the terminals and the actuator.

An electrical connector assembly is provided for releasably connecting a first connector to a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a first connector including an elongated dielectric housing having a generally rigid locating post disposed at each opposite end of the housing and adapted to pass through the circuit board. A second connector is adapted for mounting to the opposite side of the circuit board and includes an elongated dielectric housing having an outwardly opening semi-cylindrical locating channel at each opposite end of the elongated housing of the second connector for receiving the locating posts and establishing a non-conductive interference fit therewith. A pair of boardlocks are disposed generally on opposite lateral sides of each of the locating channels and are adapted for insertion into appropriate boardlock holes in the circuit board. Terminals are mounted on the housing of the first connector and are adapted to extend into appropriate terminal-receiving holes in the printed circuit board.

Printed circuit board mounted electrical connector assembly

An electrical connector is adapted for mounting to a mounting surface of an electrical apparatus through the engagement of a vacuum-suction nozzle of a pick and place machine. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a first interface adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting surface of the electrical apparatus, a second interface opposite the first interface and opposite side walls extending between the interfaces. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing for interconnection to circuitry on the electrical apparatus. A removable cover is positionable on the housing over at least a portion of the second interface. The cover has a generally planar, smooth surface for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle. Slidable retention shoulders are provided between the cover and the side walls of the housing and are adapted to retain the cover on the housing with substantial force in a direction generally normal to the smooth surface of the cover. However, the slidable retention shoulders allow the cover to be mounted on and removed from the housing with minimal or zero force laterally of the normal direction.

Electrical connector cover

A low profile hermaphroditic electrical connector is provided for mounting on the surface of a first printed circuit board and is adapted to mate with an identical second connector mounted on the surface of a second printed circuit board to electrically and mechanically couple the boards together. Each connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of stamped female and male terminals. Each terminal includes a surface mounting portion for electrically engaging the respective printed circuit board, a mating portion adapted to mate with the mating portion of the terminal of the opposite gender of the other hermaphroditic connector, and a portion for holding the terminal in the housing. The mating portion of the female terminal includes two opposed, spaced apart contact arms. The arms and the terminal holding portion both project from the mounting portion. The mating portion of the male terminal includes a contact post adapted to be received between the contact arms of the female terminal. The post and the terminal holding portion both project from the mounting portion. The male terminal includes a lip projecting beneath a shoulder on the housing to resist lifting of the surface mounting portion off the respective printed circuit board during unmating of the connectors.

Board to board electrical connectors

A floating type electric connector adapted to be mounted on a circuit board comprising a housing having an integrally formed movable housing portion, a stationary housing portion, and a resilient joint portion connecting the four corners of the stationary housing portion to the corresponding four corners of the movable housing portion and a plurality of female terminals attached to each housing Each female terminal comprises a contact section and a base section joined together by an intermediate resilient section. The contact section of the female terminal is attached to the movable housing portion while the base section is attached to the stationary housing portion, thereby permitting the floating of the movable housing portion with respect to the stationary housing portion.

Floating type electric connector

Disclosed is an improved electrical connector terminal mount which has an engagement piece integrally formed in the terminal base. The engagement piece functions to fix the terminal in an associated terminal slot. The engagement piece is a metal strip cut away from the base of the terminal in the form of flattened 'V'-shaped cantilever arm. The metal strip consists of a first section bent outward on one side of the base of the terminal and a second section integrally connected to and extending inward from the end of the first section toward the other side of the base of the terminal ending in a free end. An engagement slot perpendicular to the terminal slot is formed within which the engagement piece fits, thereby enabling the terminal to fixedly lie along the center line of the terminal slot and to prevent the vertical movement of the terminal out of the terminal slot.

Growing community of inventors

Zama, Japan

Masashi Seto