Thomas & Betts Corporation

Randal B Lord

Wayne T Wellinsky

An electrical connector provides for the termination of discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable. The connector includes a connector housing which supports a plurality of electrical contacts. The contacts include insulation displacing contact portions. The insulation displacing contact portions are arranged in longitudinally and vertically spaced rows within the connector housing. A conductor holding block is movably supported by the housing with respect to the insulation displacing contact portions. The conductor holding block includes contact slots which are longitudinally and vertically spaced for receipt of the insulation displacing contact portions. The holding block further includes vertically spaced rows of conductor receiving passages in communication with the contact slots for receipt of the conductors in a pair of conductor rows. The connector further includes a conductive shield positioned between the vertically spaced rows of terminated conductors so as to shield the terminations of one row of conductors from the conductors of the other row.

Electrical connector having an improved conductor holding block and

A fiber optic sensor for the sensing of forces imposed on the sensor in a predetermined direction comprises a housing and an optical fiber of a type which is self-deformable in response to forces imposed on the sensor. The housing retentively engages first and second opposed ends of the fiber and places the fiber in tangential contiguity with an interior surface of the housing. The housing defines a cavity aside the fiber permitting movement of the fiber therein and distal from the tangential contiguity thereof with the interior surface. In the predetermined force imposition direction, the cavity is successive to the interior surface of the housing. A system is provided for generating an input signal for control of automobile occupant protection apparatus of an automobile having a preselected forward travelling direction, the system comprising first apparatus, inclusive of a first fiber optic sensor responsive to first forces imposed thereon in a first direction opposite the preselected forward travelling direction, for providing a first output indicative of characteristics of the first forces, second apparatus, inclusive of a second fiber optic sensor responsive to second forces imposed thereon in a second direction different from the direction opposite the preselected forward travelling direction, for providing a second output indicative of characteristics of the second forces and third apparatus responsive to the first and second outputs for selectively generating the input signal.

Growing community of inventors

Inman, SC, United States of America

Randal B Lord