Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Rick Loutzenhiser

Mark D McCall

William L Stein, Sr

An improved IDC trim resistor connector assembly made up of a generally open top cup shape connector with side wall slots and an interior first array of terminal posts arranged for passage therethrough of a first lead wire of sensor circuitry. A first stamped metal IDC terminal is push-on mounted on the terminal posts for IDC cradling and electrically and mechanically receiving and connecting to the first lead wire. A conventional trim resistor substrate is loose mounted but accurately positioned on the connector bottom wall and has an &ldquo;E&rdquo; pattern of resistive material adapted for center leg laser trimming to calibrate the associated sensor circuitry. A first IDC terminal spring leg overlap contacts one side leg of the trim resistor E-pattern and thereby spring clamps the resistor substrate. A cover is snap-latch mounted on the connector and has an access opening to enable laser trimming of the trim resistor after cover installation. One end of a second lead wire is received in a second IDC metal terminal in turn mounted on a second array of connector-interior terminal posts and also having a spring leg overlap electrically contacting and clamping the other E-pattern side leg. Spring barbs on the terminals anchor the same once fully inserted downwardly onto the terminal posts. Connector locking tangs and cover locking ears provide snap-on retention of the cover on the connector, and press-in/keeper internal cover projections cause push-down assembly of the lead wires as the cover is latched onto the connector. Cover locking tangs and cap latching ears provide snap-together locking of a cap on the cover when the cap is pushed down on the cover to seal the access opening after completion of laser trimming and in-filling of the covered container with sealant. In a second embodiment a crimp-type terminal, also provided with a spring clamping leg, is fastened to the second lead wire and has a barbed mounting strap clasping a modified second terminal post array when fully installed thereon.

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Warren, OH, United States of America

Rick Loutzenhiser