Litton Systems, Inc.

Western Geophysical Company of America

Robert G Knowles

Robert A Domke

John S Freismuth

A multichannel separable fiber optic connector includes two-part splice fixtures which are retained in the center body of the connector. A keying arrangement between the splice fixture halves and the center body insure that the fixture halves are always mated together in the same angular relationship, and a common sleeve in the center body aligns the fixture halves along a common surface. The optic fibers and fiber splices are protected by removable backshells which are environmentally sealed to the center body and to the cable jacket.

Environmentally sealed multichannel fiber optic connector

A connector for fiber optic cables includes an elongated tubular housing and a pair of termination assemblies which surround the end of each fiber optic cable. A lens element is adjacent one end of each termination assembly, and a sleeve surrounds each lens element and a portion of the termination assembly, and a lip on the sleeve spaces and coaxially aligns the lens elements one from the other.

Fiber optic cable connector

A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule which receives the end of a fiber optic cable. The optic fiber of the cable is located in an axial bore in the terminal face of the ferrule, and an annular central portion defined by a groove which surrounds the axial bore is radially inwardly pinched to position the optic fiber in the center of the terminal face.

Fiber optic connectors

A connector for terminating a flat cable comprises a contact support, a pressure member, and a strain relief. A metal clip on either end of the connector acts as a latch to maintain the three elements in a single package and to transmit the forces imposed by the strain relief directly to the contact support. A detent formed on the contact support provides a two-position catch for the latch. A protuberance formed on the clip bites into the end wall of the pressure member to prevent withdrawal of the clip from a slot formed in the pressure member and to allow displacement of the end wall in response to flexure of the clip.

Flat cable connector with strain relief and two-position latch

A connector used in terminating a flat multi-conductor cable comprises a contact support and a pressure cap. The contact support houses a plurality of insulation displacement contacts, each contact comprising a boxlike end and an elongated electrical contacting section. Two opposite sides of the boxlike end include a longitudinal slot which receives the conductive elements of the cable to establish a four point contact therewith, and the remaining two sides are peaked to form a structure for piercing the insulation of the cable. The box is seamed along a longitudinal corner thereof and is reinforced by a recess in the contact support in which the box is located. The pressure cap comprises an array of apertures which correspond to the array of displacement contacts housed by the contact support. Each aperture is formed with a network of pressure members which cooperate to push the conductive elements of the multi-conductor cable into mating engagement with the slots of the displacement contacts, and to reinforce the boxlike ends.

Insulation displacement connector for a flat multi-conductor cable

A flat cable connector includes a contact support with an integrally molded latch and a pressure member which mates therewith. The latch comprises a folded beam and a latching bar which cooperate with a two-position catch on the pressure member. The folded beam gives the latch a greater flexibility than would normally be possible and avoids excess strain which could cause beam failure.

Integral low profile latch for a flat cable connector

A metal clip provides a two position latch for a flat cable connector. In the first position of the latch, an upper pressure member is held spaced from a lower contact support. After the cable has been placed in the connector, pressure on the two connector halves will cause a joining thereof to the cable and the catching of the latch to establish the second position. The metal clip provides a latch which is stronger than one made of plastic and which additionally aids in reinforcing the pressure member.

Connector with low profile latch

A solderless electrical contact is shown having first and second ends for connection to conductive elements joined by a central section having a C-shaped cross section with opposing arms tapering to a reduced end thickness for press-fit mounting into a printed circuit board aperture. The tapering arms of the C-shaped cross section provide uniformly stressed beams that allow the radii of each arm to better conform to tolerance variations of the aperture without creating undue stresses therein.

Solderless electrical contact

An electrical connector system is shown in which a sheet metal contact with an open barrel wire receiving portion is attached to a wire conductor by spirally crimping the open barrel closed upon the wire. The spiral crimp is formed from multiple opposed indents, each arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the contact and each decreasing in depth to smoothly merge with the diameter of the open barrel portion to prevent stress build-up. Shoulders are provided on each side of the crimped surface of the open barrel to strengthen the contact and prevent distortion.

Growing community of inventors

Litchfield, CT, United States of America

Robert G Knowles