Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

Richard F Granitz

William H Rose

David T Shaffer

David J Gingerich

Dimitry G Grabbe

Joseph L Lockard

Douglas W Glover

Jack S Conrad

Earl R Kreinberg

William R Evans

George R Schmedding

Paul S Vinson

Earl E Masterson

Donald W Milbrand, Jr

Donald R Harner

James P Wolowicz

Roel J Bakker

Lang Thanh Le

John W Wanat

Andrew Michael Hunt

Aern Evert Rider, Deceased

The invention is directed to an electrical distribution system for an automobile having a power distribution bus and a signal distribution bus. An area module has an electrical connection with the power distribution bus and the signal distribution bus. The area module has connections to individual feature modules. The feature modules have power and signal distribution for electrical components. The area and the feature modules distribute power and signal to the electrical components from the power distribution bus and the signal distribution bus.

Power and signal distribution for automotive electronics using area and

An electronic card (10) has a housing (12) containing integrated circuitry. On a surface (14) of the card are contact pads (26, 28) connected to the internal circuitry. The contact pads are covered by a movable shield (32). An electrical connector assembly (50) mounted on a printed circuit board (52) includes a base member (56) having contact members (62, 64) in contact with contact pads (54) on the printed circuit board. The connector assembly further includes a hollow casing (66) pivotably mounted on the base member (56). The electronic card (10) is inserted within the casing (66), which is arranged to move the shield (32) so as to expose the contact pads (26, 28) of the card (10). The casing (66) holding the card (10) is then pivoted so that the contact pads (26, 28) of the card (10) engage the contact members (62, 68). A latch member (112) is provided for maintaining the contact pads in engagement with the contact members.

Electronic card and connector assembly for use therewith

An electronic component (16, 18) having contact pads (20) is surface mounted to a circuit board (27) by means of electrical terminals (1) each comprising a head (2) having a flat, contact pad engaging, face (6) and a shank (4), which may be in form of a compliant pin, extending normally of the pad engaging face (6). Each pad engaging surface (6) has a gold covering provided by electroplating or by inlaying. The circuit board (27) has metal lined through holes (30) in the same pattern as the pads (20) of the electronic component (16, 18). The shank (4) of each terminal (1) is inserted into the metal lining (36) of a respective hole (30) in the circuit board (27) so that the head (2) of the terminal (1) lies against a land (38) of one of the linings (36), after which the electronic component (16, 18) is seated on the circuit board (27) with each contact pad (20) of the electronic component (16, 18) in engagement with the gold covered face (6) a respective terminal (1). Another embodiment of the invention includes an array (50) of contacts interposed between the components (16, 17) and the circuit board (27) so that the contacts (52) are electrically in between the pads (20) and the respective gold covered faces (6).

Surface mounting an electronic component

A lead frame assembly comprises a stamped and formed lead frame having spaced pairs of electrical terminals and other contact sections. Severable sections initially interconnect potential electrical circuit sections of the lead frame separating the lead frame into separate metal members defining discrete electrical circuits if severed. A dielectric covering is molded over the lead frame exposing the pairs of terminals and other contact sections for termination or electrical engagement. Openings are formed in the housing exposing the severable sections of the lead frame for severing, to be selectively severed creating separate electrical circuit sections, or to be retained unsevered, as desired. After the molding of the covering over the lead frame, the article thus fabricated can be customized by selective severing and connecting of components as desired.

Lead frame assembly having severable electrical circuit sections

A connector system for distributing power to daughter cards in a card cage includes a power connector for each card mounted on framework of the card cage. Each power connector has individual terminals connected to power conductors connected to a power supply and at least one terminal connected to a return path conductor. Each power connector includes a channel along which an active edge of the card is inserted and moved longitudinally from an open end, opposed from another channel aligned therewith, until the daughter card is fully inserted into the card cage, and signal transmission connectors along the back card edge mate with connectors of the backplane of the card cage. The daughter card is then locked in position; its power connector is then actuated, camming contact sections of its terminals into electrical engagement with contacts along the active edge of the daughter card. Each daughter card is thus powered and correspondingly disconnectable independently of the other daughter cards. An interference arrangement prevents the power connector from being actuated unless the card is locked in position, and prevents unlocking and removal of the card unless the power connector is deactuated. A dielectric rail along the card's active edge is shaped to fit the channel of the power connector and protect the active edge and contact sections therealong exposed in recesses of the rail. A daughter card may have two active edges, each with a rail insertable into channels of a pair of opposed power connectors.

Power connector system for daughter cards in card cages

A reference conductor for improving signal integrity in connectors and connector systems. More particularly the reference conductor includes a conductive plate positioned between adjacent rows of signal conductors in a connector and which is electrically connected to reference circuits on substrates associated with the connector to provide a low inductance signal return path.

Reference conductor for improving signal integrity in electrical

A high density interconnection system (2) is configured to provide a reliable interconnection between boards (4, 6). In order to accommodate space restrictions, the circuit boards (4, 6) are placed in a three-dimensional arrangement. The electrical interconnections between boards (4, 6) are provided by electrical connectors (10) rather than by a mother board. The use of electrical connectors (10) enables the signal paths length between the boards to be minimized, thereby allowing for high speed signal transmission.

High density board to board interconnection system

The present invention is directed to a multi-pin coax connector assembly having connector housings made of metal or conductive plastic which serves as a reference ground for all signals. The connectors have passages extending therethrough. Pin and socket terminals are insert molded with insulating material and are positioned in the passages. The insulating material spaces the terminals from the conductive connector housing as well as providing air gaps along most of the length of the terminals. The air gaps cooperate with the insulating material to provide controlled impedance. As the signals travel at a high rate of speed along the terminals, the terminals are bent to minimize the reflection of the signal. The connectors are provided with power and ground busses along the outside surfaces thereof, the busses of the first connector making electrical connection with the respective busses of the second connector. A camming assembly means is also provided to cam the terminals of the connectors together, which provides for a positive wipe action as the terminals of the connectors are cammed into electrical engagement with each other. The camming assembly means also allows for reduced insertion force of the connectors, as the terminals of one connector do not engage the terminals of the other connector until the camming assembly means is operated.

High density coax connector

A lead frame assembly comprises a stamped and formed lead frame having spaced pairs of electrical terminals and other contact sections. Severable sections initially interconnect potential electrical circuit sections of the lead frame separating the lead frame into separate metal members defining discrete electrical circuits if severed. A dielectric covering is molded over the lead frame exposing the pairs of terminals and other contact sections for termination or electrical engagement. Openings are formed in the housing exposing the severable sections of the lead frame for severing, to be selectively severed creating separate electrical circuit sections, or to be retained unsevered, as desired. After the molding of the covering over the lead frame, the article thus fabricated can be customized by selective severing and connecting of components as desired. Thus a method has been described for making a customizable lead frame assembly.

Method of making a customizable electrical article

A motor brush assembly comprises a stamped and formed lead frame including electrical terminals at spaced locations and a dielectric housing member secured onto the lead frame with the electrical terminals being exposed and accessible for electrical termination to electrical power wires and lead wires of capacitors and inductors. Cavities are located in the housing member in which the inductors are disposed. Metal brush holders are positioned in brush holder locations on the housing member and lugs thereof are electrically stapled onto the lead frame. Openings are located in the housing member exposing severable sections of the lead frame separating the lead frame into separate brush circuits. If inductors are to be disposed in the circuit path between the terminated power leads and the brush holder locations, the respective severable sections are also severed which interconnect the lead frame between the associated pairs of terminals corresponding to each inductor. A ground terminal extends outwardly from the housing member.

Motor brush assembly

A high density interconnect system is described which comprises a laminated board including a conductive power plane and a ground plane insulated from each other and containing a series of holes therethrough. Signal contacts, ground contacts, power contacts, data bus interconnect contacts, and feed-through contacts are selectively mounted in the series of holes with the ground contacts and power contacts connected to the respective ground plane and conductive power plane and the other contacts insulated therefrom. Front contact housings are secured against the laminated board means and contain spring-loaded contacts in openings therein for electrical engagement with the signal contacts and for electrical engagement with pins of a signature board. Rear contact housings house contact sections of the signal, power, ground, and data bus interconnect contacts to which input/output connectors of computer boards are connected for supplying power thereto, and operating signals from the computer boards are transmitted via the signal contacts to the signature board which conducts tests on the board under test to test the same. A cam-operative apparatus moves a platen carrying the signature board so that the pins of the signature board are moved into electrical engagement with the spring-loaded contacts.

High density interconnect system

A modular plug board system is disclosed for interconnecting an array of parallel cards in a card cage. The cards are pluggably connected to the IO circuit board of a machine to be programmed by the plug board system. A rear board of the plug board system is divided into sections which impinge one another in side to side relationship. The sections are pluggably connected to corresponding cards and are individually removable from the plug board system to allow for individual removal of the cards from the card cage and from pluggable connection with the IO circuit board. One or more cards may be eliminated from the card cage to allow for discrete wire or cable connection directly from the IO circuit board to an appropriate section of the plug board system.

Modular plug board system

The disclosure relates to a tool for storing and assembling conductive contact elements into a miniature pin board, the tool including an elongate body having a lengthwise supply chamber communicating with open ends of the body. One open end is formed into a resiliently expansible throat which allows dispensing of individual contact elements. The opposite open end of the body is provided with resilient fingers having jaws which are biased toward each other to grip and remove a contact element from the pin board.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Richard F Granitz