International Business Machines Corporation

Thomas & Betts International LLC

Augat Inc.

Thomas G Macek

William Louis Brodsky

David W Dranchak

David E Engle

Fletcher W Chapin

Kishor V Desai

James D Herard

Timothy Lee Sharp

George Joseph Shovlowsky

Richard Ronald Hall

Alan D Knight

David J Stabile

Ronald P Locati

John J Squires

Andrew J Kempf

Jeffrey Scott Campbell

Edwin Lorimer Thomas

James R Petrozello

Chi Shih Chang

Wai Mon Ma

George J Saxenmeyer, Jr

Bruce C Hauver, Sr

John G Baumberger

Raymond A Busacco

William S Ebert

Maganlal S Patel

David Edward Dunham

John R Tallis

Larry Michael Massaglia

James R Bentlage

Vadim Stinsky

David E Hessian

Jason C Perry

Rod A Smith

John R Radzik

A power connector for a Cable Television (CATV) housing accepts two conductors at a first end. A first conductor, typically a power conductor is secured to a pin terminal of the connector. A second conductor, typically a ground conductor, is secured to the body of the connector. The connector is useful for easily and conveniently providing power to a CATV housing.

Hardline CATV power connector

A coaxial cable connector includes a sleeve and a collar configured to receive the sleeve substantially therein, the sleeve is configured to receive a coaxial cable and has at least one slot extending longitudinally forming a plurality of sides, each side having at least one tooth for engaging a coaxial cable. A threaded nut is also provided with one end of the nut disposed coaxially around and rotatable about a mating area of the collar. The connector also includes a ground coupler that is centrally disposed along a common longitudinal axis within one end of the collar and one end of the nut. The connector can also include an actuator that is configured to receive a coaxial cable and is centrally disposed along a common longitudinal axis within one end of the collar and is disposed within the collar such that the innermost end of the actuator abuts the outermost end of the sleeve, whereby inward pressure on the actuator forces the sleeve into press fit engagement between the collar and the jacket of a coaxial cable.

Post-less coaxial cable connector

A circuitized structure including a flexible circuit with at least one layer of dielectric having a plurality of electrically conductive members (e.g., copper pads) thereon. An elastomeric member including a plurality of upstanding portions each having a respective metallic pad member thereon is utilized, this elastomeric-pad structure being bonded to the flexible circuit at locations relative to respective ones of the conductive members so as to assure substantially independent force exertion thereon, e.g., when the flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a separate, circuitized substrate such as a printed circuit board. A method for making an elastomeric support member for use in such a circuitized substrate is also provided.

Circuitized structure including flexible circuit with elastomeric member

A cable connector is comprised of at least a first piece including a ferrule having serrations for mechanically connecting with different parts of a coaxial cable, a mandrel and a closing collar. A second piece of the connector is comprised of an entry body including a pin terminal, a support insulator and an actuator. Additionally, the connector provides a visual determination of the complete mating of one piece of the connector to the other.

Coaxial cable connector

An auto seizing connector is provided having complimentary male and female portions. The female portion includes a movable closing collar having a converging passage that surrounds a first terminal associated with the female portion. A fitting retained within a cavity of the female portion proximate the closing collar is pressed against the closing collar as the distal end of the male portion is inserted into the cavity, causing the closing collar to move with respect to the first terminal, thereby causing the first terminal to seize or securely engage a second terminal associated with the male portion when the connector portions are fully mated.

Auto seizing connector

A test apparatus and method for testing circuitized substrates such as printed circuit boards or ceramic substrates having one or more chips thereon. The apparatus includes one substrate (e.g., printed circuit board) located on a base and adapted for having another circuitized substrate (e.g., flexible circuit) positioned thereon and electrically coupled to conductive elements (e.g., copper pads) thereof. Elastomeric members may be used to force the flexible circuit against the conductors of the substrate being tested, this substrate positioned either within or upon a cover which is located over the flexible circuit and which assists in compressing the flexible circuit against the printed circuit board's conductive elements to assure positive connection therewith. The cover may also include elastomeric members to facilitate such connection and a pivotal arm for being actuated to engage the substrate being tested. Positioning as well as relative quick separation (removal) of the substrate is attainable upon completion of the testing.

Test apparatus for circuitized substrate

An electrical connector for being electrically coupled to at least one electrical conductor. The connector includes a housing and at least one contact positioned therein and including a tip portion which protrudes from the housing to engage the conductor. Significantly, the contact, initially of a non-stressed configuration, is preloaded within the housing to assume a curved configuration and to engage the respective conductor in such a manner that sound, positive engagement occurs in a substantially non-wiping manner. The housing may thus be stationarily positioned relative to the circuit member, the circuit member able to thus press against the tip portion of the contact to complete coupling. The remaining part of the invention may be electrically coupled to an external conductor, e.g., a cable.

Electrical connector with preloaded contact

A connector assembly has a plurality of electrical circuit members and interposer frames with resilient contact members pressed together by a centrally located actuation screw. The actuation screw is supported within a threaded hole in an actuation bar on one side of one of the circuit members. Turning the actuation screw in its threaded hole causes various parts of the connector assembly to be pressed together simultaneously under an evenly distributed load. A load distribution plate located between the actuation screw and the nearest circuit member reduces the bending stresses in that circuit member. Alignment bushings and pins extending through openings in the circuit members maintain the various parts of the assembly in proper alignment while the actuation screw is being turned.

Electrical connector alignment and actuation assembly

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., a circuit board and module), which, in one embodiment, includes a housing, at least one flexible circuit within the housing and a spring means attached to the flexible circuit at two spaced locations for exerting force against the flexible circuit to cause the circuit to engage respective conductive pads on the circuit members when the circuit members are moved toward each other (e.g., compressed). The shape of the spring means conforms substantially to the portion of the flexible circuit between the locations of attachment. In another embodiment, a connector for interconnecting such circuit members includes a housing adapted for being located between both members and at least one elongated, compressible contact member in the housing and including conductive end portions for engaging the circuit members. The contact occupies a first, prestressed position before engagement and is adapted for moving to a second, compressed position during the engagement. The conductive end portions of the flexible circuit in the first embodiment and the contact member in the second embodiment preferably comprise a plurality of dendrites for providing enhanced connections.

High density connector

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., circuit module and printed circuit board) which assures highly reliable yet separable connections for these members. The connector includes an electrically insulative (e.g., plastic) frame which defines an internal opening therein. Bridging this opening are a plurality of individual, resilient contact members which are maintained in a suspended and spaced orientation within the opening by a plurality of pairs of elongated insulative members (e.g., polymer rods). Each of the contacts is thus readily removable from the connector's frame to thus facilitate repair and/or replacement. As described, the connector is capable of providing wiping connections, thus assuring removal of debris or other contaminants from the respective conductive pads for each circuit member. In another embodiment, the connector includes a common carrier (e.g., plastic) having therein a plurality of cylindrical shaped resilient contact members (e.g., silicone) which further include a quantity of conductive (e.g., metallic) particles therein. To assure a wiping form of engagement with the respective conductive pads, each of the terminal ends of each contact member preferably includes a plurality of dendritic, interdigitated members thereon.

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., printed circuit boards) wherein the connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts, these contacts including at least one semi-spherical end portion for engaging a respective conductor on one of the circuit members. Significantly, the semi-spherical end portion is capable of moving in two different directions of rotation during such engagement to provide an effective wiping motion against the surfaces of the member's conductor. In one embodiment, the connector includes contacts with opposed, semi-spherical end portions, while in another embodiment, a singular semi-spherical end portion is taught.

High density, separable connector and contact for use therein

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., circuit module and printed circuit board) which assures highly reliable yet separable connections for these members. The connector includes an electrically insulative (e.g., plastic) frame which defines an internal opening therein. Bridging this opening are a plurality of individual, resilient contact members which are maintained in a suspended and spaced orientation within the opening by a plurality of pairs of elongated insulative members (e.g., polymer rods). Each of the contacts is thus readily removable from the conenctor's frame to thus facilitate repair and/or replacement. As described, the connector is capable of providing wiping connections, thus assuring removal of debris or other contaminants from the respective conductive pads for each circuit member. In another embodiment, the connector includes a common carrier (e.g., plastic) having therein a plurality of cylindrical shaped resilient contact members (e.g., silicone) which further include a quantity of conductive (e.g., metallic) particles therein. To assure a wiping form of engagement with the respective conductive pads, each of the terminal ends of each contact member preferably includes a plurality of dendritic, interdigitated members thereon.

An electrical connector assembly including a bilayered elastomeric element of integral construction for providing effective contact force (pressure) between corresponding arrays of conductors located on two circuit members (e.g., one a flexible circuit and the other a more rigid, circuit board or card). High density connections are assured in a sound, effective manner. The elastomer, preferably silicon rubber, includes a base layer with several spaced openings therein and an adjacent layer of several upstanding projections (e.g., cylindrical or box-like) spacedly located relative to the adjacent openings within the first layer. The first layer openings accommodate bulged elastomeric during compression to assist in preventing undesirable elastomeric buckling, thereby assuring the desired contact force (pressure) application.

Growing community of inventors

Endicott, NY, United States of America

Thomas G Macek