FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110113625 | ORTHOGONAL HEADER - An electrically-conductive contact for an electrical connector is disclosed. Such a contact may include a lead portion, an offset portion extending from an end of the lead portion, and a mounting portion that may extend from a distal end of the offset portion. The lead portion and the distal end of the offset portion may each define an imaginary plane that may intersect at a non-zero, acute angle. An electrical connector that is suitable for orthogonal connector applications may include a connector housing securing two such electrical contacts. The distance between the respective mounting portions of the two such contacts may be defined independently of the contact pitch. | 05-19-2011 |
20110021083 | Dual Impedance Electrical Connector - An electrical power connector comprises a housing having a mounting interface and a mating interface. The mating interface defines a plurality of receptacles spaced apart in more than one direction. A plurality of electrical contacts is supported by the housing. These electrical contacts define respective mounting ends that are configured to electrically connect with an electrical component at the mounting interface, and opposed mating ends. At least one of the electrical contacts defines a common contact beam disposed within at least a select one of the receptacles. This common contact beam is configured to be electrically connected to a pair of adjacent electrical contacts of a mated electrical connector. | 01-27-2011 |
20110009011 | High Speed Backplane Connector with Impedance Modification and Skew Correction - Disclosed is an electrical connector that includes a dielectric leadframe housing and a differential signal pair of electrical contacts extending through the leadframe housing. The leadframe housing defines an air pocket adjacent to the pair of electrical contacts. The size of the air pocket may be predetermined to provide for no more than a predefined amount of signal skew between the pair of electrical contacts. The size of the air pocket may be predetermined to provide for a predefined connector impedance. | 01-13-2011 |
20100248548 | Electrical Connector and Method of Manufacture - An apparatus and method are disclosed for manufacturing an electrical connector. A mold is presented having a pair of opposing dies that each define a mold pocket. The mold pockets of each die can be joined to form a mold cavity. Plastic can be injection molded into the mold cavity to form an electrical connector housing. | 09-30-2010 |
20100048056 | Electrical Power Contacts and Connectors Comprising Same - Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact. | 02-25-2010 |
20100048043 | Matched-Impedance Connector Footprints - Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component. The via arrangement may be also be altered to limit cross-talk among neighboring signal conductors. Thus, the via arrangement may be defined to balance the impedance, cross-talk, and routing density requirements of the system. | 02-25-2010 |
20100041275 | Matched-Impedance Connector Footprints - Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component. The via arrangement may be also be altered to limit cross-talk among neighboring signal conductors. Thus, the via arrangement may be defined to balance the impedance, cross-talk, and routing density requirements of the system. | 02-18-2010 |
20100041256 | Matched-Impedance Connector Footprints - Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component. The via arrangement may be also be altered to limit cross-talk among neighboring signal conductors. Thus, the via arrangement may be defined to balance the impedance, cross-talk, and routing density requirements of the system. | 02-18-2010 |
20090203246 | TWO-SIDED FPC-TO-PCB COMPRESSION CONNECTOR - An electrical connector with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) received may carry electrical signals between the FPC and a substrate. Latching mechanisms may serve to position the cap on the body such that the positions facilitate the insertion and retention of the FPC in the cap for a good electrical connection. The FPC may be received loosely in the cap when the cap is in a first position on the body. When the cap is depressed into a second position, the FPC may be compressed between the cap and the body. Mating ends of the contacts may electrically connect to exposed conductive elements of the FPC. Mounting ends of the contacts in the contact housing may electrically connect to the conductive elements on a substrate. If the contacts are compression contacts, the terminals of the contacts may deflect or compress when a force is exerted upon them. The electrical connector may have a sealing surface that is adapted to provide suitable compression against an FPC received by the electrical connector so as to keep out gases or fluids. | 08-13-2009 |
20090203238 | SHARED HOLE ORTHOGONAL FOOTPRINTS - Disclosed are an electrical connector and a method for providing transmit and receive electrical signal contacts to reduce or minimize total crosstalk. Such methods may be particularly suitable for connectors having larger near-end crosstalk aggressors than far-end crosstalk aggressors. The electrical signal contacts may be subdivided on a substrate, such as a midplane PCB, and through the opposing connectors, such that the transmitting contacts are all on one side of the connector and the receiving contacts are on the other side of the connector, with a buffer between them. The buffer may comprise a plurality of “dummy” or “buffer” contacts, which may be unassigned or devoid of electrical connectivity. This is one step beyond the primary assignment of contacts as single-ended or differential signal contacts. The contacts themselves may also receive a secondary assignment according to their desired transmitting, receiving, or buffering function. | 08-13-2009 |
20090170351 | Electrical Connector Adapted To Isolate Mating Forces - Disclosed is an electrical connector assembly adapted to isolate shock forces during mating. Such an electrical connector assembly may include a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a first guide module. The second electrical connector may be adapted to mate with the first electrical connector. The first guide module may be located adjacent to the first electrical connector and may include an opening for receiving a first guide post. There may be no direct mechanical attachment between the first electrical connector and the first guide module. Such an arrangement, may isolate the first electrical connector from any forces created by the mating of the guide post with the opening of the guide module. | 07-02-2009 |
20090130912 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MATING GUIDE - An electrical connector with at least two connector portions. A first connector portion and a second connector portion may each be mountable on a respective surface, such as a printed circuit board. The first and second connector portions may each include a housing. The housing of the first connector portion may include a bore and an adjacent pin. The housing of the second connector portion may also include a bore and an adjacent pin. The pin of the first connector portion may be received in the bore of the second connector portion, and the pin of the second connector portion may be received in the bore of the first connector portion, when the two connector portions are mated to one another. In one embodiment, the first and second connector portions may be substantially identical to one another. | 05-21-2009 |
20090124140 | UTCA-COMPLIANT POWER CONTACTS - Disclosed are blade contacts that may be suitable for mating with μTCA-standard receptacle contacts. Such a blade contact may define a body portion, and a tab portion extending from a mating end of the body portion. The tab portion may be a tapered tab portion that tapers from a first width at the mating end of the body portion to a second, lesser width at a distal end of the tab portion. The body portion may define a single beam portion from which the tab portion and one or more terminal pins extend. Alternatively, the body portion may define a first beam portion from which the tab portion extends, and a second beam portion from which the terminal pins extend. Thus, the body portion may be generally L-shaped. Electrical connectors including such contacts are also disclosed. | 05-14-2009 |
20090111298 | Retention Member - An electrical connector may include a connector housing, a first leadframe assembly received in the connector housing, a second leadframe assembly received in the connector housing and a retention member. Each leadframe assembly may include a leadframe housing, and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts extending therethrough. Each leadframe housing may include a recess. The retention member may include a first body portion, a first member extending from the first body portion and a second member extending from the first body portion such that a face of the first member opposes a face of the second member. The first member may apply a first force against a first surface of each respective recess and the second member may apply a second force against a second surface of each respective recess. | 04-30-2009 |
20090088028 | POWER CONNECTORS WITH CONTACT-RETENTION FEATURES - A power receptacle contact may include first and second contact beams that deflect independently of one another during mating of the power receptacle contact with a complementary blade contact. Each beam may extend from abutting respective body portions. The power receptacle contact may include a first clip that extends from the first contact beam. The first clip may define a blade receiving area between the first and second contact beams. A power connector may include a housing and a contact received in the housing. The contact may includes first and second protrusions that prevent the contact from moving in a first direction. | 04-02-2009 |
20090023330 | Systems For Electrically Connecting Processing Devices Such As Central Processing Units And Chipsets - A cable assembly for electrically connecting processing devices may be provided. The cable assembly may include a cable such as a flat flexible cable. The cable may include a plurality of electrical leads at a first and second end. The electrical leads at the first end may be mounted to a respective contact in a first electrical connector. Similarly, the electrical leads at the second end may be mounted to a respective contact in a second electrical connector. The cable assembly may further include respective first and second clamps that may positioned at each end of the cable. The first and second clamps may be used to secure the first and second electrical connectors to a substrate of processing device. | 01-22-2009 |
20090017652 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SYSTEM HAVING A CONTINUOUS GROUND AT THE MATING INTERFACE THEREOF - A connector interface may include an arrangement of contacts in a first connector, and a corresponding, complementary arrangement of contacts in a second connector mating with the contacts of the first connector. The contacts may be signal contacts or ground contacts. When the connectors are mated, a ground may be established between the connectors by the mating of the ground contacts from the respective connectors. The ground contacts in the first connector may be shaped to bridge together an array of ground contacts in the second connector when the connectors are mated. Such bridging tends to establish a continuous ground along the array of ground contacts, creating a more robust ground than in an otherwise identical connector. | 01-15-2009 |
20080286992 | BATTERY CONTACT - A compressible electrical contact is disclosed. The compressible electrical contact may include a nose portion, a corrugated portion and a tail portion. The tail portion may extend from a first end of the corrugated portion and the nose portion may extend from an opposite end of the corrugated portion. The corrugated portion may define a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first and second surfaces may have a width. The corrugated portion may also have a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. A plurality of corrugations may be formed in the third and fourth surfaces of the corrugated portion. | 11-20-2008 |
20080286991 | BATTERY CONTACT - A compressible electrical contact is disclosed. The compressible electrical contact may include a nose portion, a corrugated portion and a tail portion. The tail portion may extend from a first end of the corrugated portion and the nose portion may extend from an opposite end of the corrugated portion. The corrugated portion may define a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first and second surfaces may have a width. The corrugated portion may also have a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. A plurality of corrugations may be formed in the third and fourth surfaces of the corrugated portion wherein a first corrugation may extend at least partially between an upper portion and a lower portion of the nose portion. | 11-20-2008 |
20080261417 | LOW PROFILE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - A right-angle electrical connector is disclosed. The right-angle electrical connector may include an electrically conductive contact and a connector housing that contains the electrically conductive contact. The electrically conductive contact may define a mounting end and a mating end. The connector housing may include a mating portion and a guide portion. The mating portion may receive the mating end of the electrically conductive contact. The mating portion may define a mating plane. The guide portion may be connected to the mating portion and may define a guide plane orthogonal to the mating plane. The guide portion may extend beyond the mating portion. The mating portion may also define a mounting plane. The mounting plane may be orthogonal to the mating plane. The guide portion may define a void between the guide plane and the mounting plane, suitable for receiving a header wall of a complementary connector. | 10-23-2008 |
20080248693 | SHIELDLESS, HIGH-SPEED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS - A shieldless, high-speed electrical connector is disclosed. Such a connector may include a first column of electrical contacts comprising a first arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by first ground contacts, and a second column of electrical contacts adjacent to the first column, the second column of electrical contacts comprising a second arrangement of differential signal pairs separated from one another by second ground contacts. The connector may be devoid of electrical shield plates between the first column of electrical contacts and the second column of electrical contacts. The connector may be capable of transferring differential signals at data transfer rates of at least ten gigabits per second through the connector while producing no more than an acceptable level of cross talk on any of the differential signal pairs. | 10-09-2008 |
20080248670 | ELECTRICAL POWER CONTACTS AND CONNECTORS COMPRISING SAME - Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact. | 10-09-2008 |
20080207038 | SURFACE-MOUNT CONNECTOR - A preferred embodiment of an electrical connector includes a housing having a body. The body defines a contact-receiving aperture extending therethrough, and a heat-transfer aperture extending therethrough in substantially the same direction as the contact-receiving aperture for facilitating circulation of air through the body. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205822 | ORTHOGONAL HEADER - An electrically-conductive contact for an electrical connector is disclosed. Such a contact may include a lead portion, an offset portion extending from an end of the lead portion, and a mounting portion that may extend from a distal end of the offset portion. The lead portion and the distal end of the offset portion may each define an imaginary plane that may intersect at a non-zero, acute angle. An electrical connector that is suitable for orthogonal connector applications may include a connector housing securing two such electrical contacts. The distance between the respective mounting portions of the two such contacts may be defined independently of the contact pitch. | 08-28-2008 |
20080200051 | Contact Protector - The invention provides a connector that incorporates an insert that may protect the contacts of a card slot. The insert may also double as a structural member so that the opening of the card slot does not deform. The insert may be a device that engages the card slot of an edge card. In one embodiment, the insert may include a wall stop, a grip, and a protective member. The grip may extend from a back side of the wall stop and the protective member may extend from a front side of the wall stop. | 08-21-2008 |
20080200049 | Overmolded Electrical Contact Array - The invention provides a connector incorporating an overmolded housing that may control the position of the mounting ends of the connector and may provide a structure to help transfer the forces for press fit of the connector to the printed circuit board (PCB). Such a connector may include a first leadframe assembly having a plurality of contacts, a second leadframe assembly having a plurality of contacts, an edge card, and a tail alignment housing. Each contact may include a lead portion and a mounting end. The lead portions of the contacts may engage the edge card. The tail alignment housing may include a housing body and a plurality of tail supports extending from the housing body. The tail alignment housing may be overmolded onto at least a portion of the mounting ends. | 08-21-2008 |