Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080200042 | Land grid array module with contact locating features - A land grid array module is provided that includes a land grid array interface. The interface includes a substrate having a mating face. A contact pad is provided on the mating face of the substrate. The contact pad has an exposed surface with a depression that is configured to restrain transverse movement of a mating contact tip when the mating contact tip is loaded against the contact pad. The substrate layer may include a via having a diameter such that the depression is formed in the contact pad when the contact pad is plated over the via. The depression may also be stamped in the exposed surface of the contact pad. Alternatively, the depression may be surrounded by a raised conductive perimeter that is configured to retain the mating contact tip. | 08-21-2008 |
20080220630 | CONNECTOR FOR STACKING CIRCUIT BOARDS - A connector assembly for connecting first and second circuit boards in a substantially parallel relationship includes a first connector matable to the first circuit board and a second connector matable to the second circuit board. A third connector is matable to the first and second connectors and is positioned therebetween. The third connector includes a wafer configured to provide a predetermined spacing between the first and second circuit boards. | 09-11-2008 |
20090017664 | Coplanar angle mate straddle mount connector - A straddle mount connector for connecting a daughter card to a circuit board includes a dielectric housing extending along a longitudinal axis. The housing has a daughter card side and an opposite straddle mount side. A longitudinally extending mating slot at the daughter card side is configured to receive a mating edge of the daughter card. A longitudinally extending mounting slot at the straddle mount side is configured to receive a mounting edge of the circuit board. The daughter card is inserted in the mating slot at an acute insertion angle with respect to a plane of the circuit board and rotated to a fully mated position wherein the daughter card is substantially coplanar with the circuit board. | 01-15-2009 |
20090093158 | PERFORMANCE ENHANCING CONTACT MODULE ASSEMBLIES - A contact module assembly includes a dielectric body having a mating end with a plurality of mating contacts and a mounting end with a plurality of mounting contacts. A lead frame is at least partially encased by the dielectric body, wherein the lead frame has a plurality of conductors representing both signal conductors and ground conductors extending alone a lead frame plane. The signal and ground conductors extend from respective ones of the mating contacts and the mounting contacts, wherein at least some of the ground conductors include a mating contact terminal proximate the respective mating contact and a mounting contact terminal proximate the respective mounting contact. The ground conductors extend only partially between the mating contact and the mounting contact associated with the respective ground conductor such that a gap exists between the mating contact terminal and the mounting contact terminal of the ground conductor. A commoning member electrically connects the mating contact terminal and the mounting contact terminal of at least one of the ground conductors, wherein the commoning member is oriented in a non-coplanar relation with the lead frame plane. | 04-09-2009 |
20100029105 | CONTACT ORGANIZER FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - A connector system includes a connector assembly and a contact organizer. The connector assembly includes a mounting end and a plurality of contacts protruding from the mounting end. The contact organizer includes a top side, a bottom side and a plurality of channels extending between the top and bottom sides. The contact organizer is movable with respect to the connector assembly between a supporting position and a seated position. When the contact organizer is in the supporting position, the contacts at least partially extend through the channels. When the contact organizer is moved to the supporting position, the contact organizer is moved toward the mounting end of the connector assembly until the top side of the contact organizer engages the mounting end. | 02-04-2010 |
20100075548 | COMPLIANT PIN FOR RETAINING AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A SHIELD WITH A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY - A compliant pin is configured to be press-fit into a cavity of at least one of a connector assembly and a substrate to retain the pin in the cavity. The pin includes a neck, a plurality of compliant beams, and an insertion tip. The neck interconnects the pin with the connector assembly. The beams are configured to engage an inner surface of the cavity to retain the pin in the cavity. The beams are arranged side-to-side and project along a longitudinal plane in a loading direction. The beams have arcuate portions that are arched in different directions transverse to the longitudinal plane. The arcuate portions are shaped to deflect toward the longitudinal plane without substantially engaging one another. The insertion tip interconnects the ends of the beams. | 03-25-2010 |
20100093189 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING SIGNAL AND COAXIAL CONTACTS - A connector assembly includes a housing and contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are in the housing and configured to electrically connect the connector assembly with the mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a coaxial signal contact pattern. The coaxial signal contact pattern includes a center signal contact surrounded by contacts electrically connected to an electrical ground in a manner to emulate a coaxial connection with the mating connector. | 04-15-2010 |
20100093193 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A COMPRESSIVE COUPLING MEMBER - A connector assembly includes a housing, a contact and a compressive coupling member. The housing has a mating interface and a mounting interface on opposing sides of the housing. The mounting interface is configured to engage a first substrate when the housing is mounted to the first substrate. The mating interface is configured to mate with a mating connector that is mounted to a second substrate. The housing is configured to engage and interconnect the substrates in a parallel arrangement. The contact extends between and protrudes from the interfaces of the housing and is configured to provide an electrical connection between the substrates. The compressive coupling member is configured to extend through the substrates and the housing in a direction transverse to the interfaces. The coupling member is configured to apply a compressive force to the housing to secure the housing with the mating connector to electrically and mechanically interconnect the substrates. | 04-15-2010 |
20100093194 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH VARIABLE STACK HEIGHTS HAVING POWER AND SIGNAL CONTACTS - A connector assembly includes a housing, a signal contact and a power contact. The housing has a mounting body and a mating body coupled together and separated by a gap. The gap permits air to flow between the lower and mating bodies. The mating body is configured to engage an upper substrate and the mounting body is configured to engage a lower substrate to mechanically interconnect the upper and lower substrates. The signal contact extends between and protrudes from the mating and mounting bodies and is configured to communicate a data signal between the mating and mounting bodies. The power contact extends between and protrudes from the mating and mounting bodies and is configured to communicate electrical power between the upper and lower substrates. The housing separates the upper and lower substrates by a predetermined stack height. | 04-15-2010 |
20100093195 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING MULTIPLE CONTACT ARRANGEMENTS - A connector assembly includes a housing and substantially identical contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a plurality of sets in the housing. The contacts are configured to electrically couple with the mating connector. Each set of contacts is arranged to communicate a different type of data signal with the mating connector. Optionally the contacts are formed as substantially identical pins. The different sets of contacts may concurrently communicate the different types of data signals. | 04-15-2010 |
20100093232 | RECEPTACLE CONTACT WITH A WIDENED MATING TIP - A receptacle connector includes a housing and a receptacle contact. The housing includes a cavity extending through the housing from the mating side to the mounting side. The receptacle contact is disposed within the cavity and is configured to receive a mating contact of the mating connector. The receptacle contact includes elongated shafts disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis and mating tips coupled to the shafts. The mating tips have tapered shapes between the shafts and outer ends of the mating tips. The tapered shapes are wider than the shafts in a lateral direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. The receptacle contact is configured to receive a mating contact of a mating connector between the mating tips to electrically couple the mating connector with the receptacle connector. | 04-15-2010 |
20100144176 | Electrical Connector System - An electrical connector system may include multiple wafer assemblies configured to engage with a substrate. A ground strip of the electrical connector system may be coupled with a first wafer assembly and a second wafer assembly. The ground strip is configured to engage with the substrate and provide a common ground potential between the first wafer assembly, the second wafer assembly, and the substrate. | 06-10-2010 |
20100151726 | Electrical Connector System - A wafer assembly of an electrical connector system may include a metal center ground plane and a plurality of plastic ribs overmolded on the metal center ground plane. The plastic ribs may be positioned in a configuration that forms a plurality of electrical contact channels on the metal center ground plane. An array of electrical contacts may be positioned substantially within the plurality of electrical contact channels. In some implementations, the electrical connector system may also include a wafer housing and a header module that include guidance components that align the header module with the wafer housing when the wafer housing mates with the header module. The electrical connector system may also include a power contact that passes through aligned openings in the wafer housing and the header module to provide a power transmission path between the first substrate and the second substrate. | 06-17-2010 |
20100151741 | Electrical Connector System - An electrical connector system may include a center housing that defines a plurality of first electrical contact channels on a first side face of the center housing and a plurality of second electrical contact channels on a second side face of the center housing. A first array of electrical contacts is positioned substantially within the plurality of first electrical contact channels on the first side face of the center housing. A second array of electrical contacts is positioned substantially within the plurality of second electrical contact channels on the second side face of the center housing. The first array of electrical contacts is paired with a third array of electrical contacts to form a first plurality of differential pairs of electrical contacts. The second array of electrical contacts is paired with a fourth array of electrical contacts to form a second plurality of differential pairs of electrical contacts. | 06-17-2010 |
20110021077 | CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING MULTIPLE CONTACT ARRANGEMENTS - A connector assembly includes a housing and substantially identical contacts. The housing is configured to mate with a mating connector. The contacts are arranged in a plurality of sets in the housing. The contacts are configured to electrically couple with the mating connector. Each set of contacts is arranged to communicate a different type of data signal with the mating connector. Optionally, the contacts are formed as substantially identical pins. The different sets of contacts may concurrently communicate the different types of data signals. | 01-27-2011 |
20110104911 | BRIDGE CONNECTORS AND CIRCUIT BOARD ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING THE SAME - A bridge connector configured to electrically and mechanically couple adjacent circuit boards. The connector includes a connector housing that has a mating side configured to interface with board surfaces of adjacent circuit boards when mounted thereon. The housing includes a contact-receiving slot that at least partially defines a restricted space. The connector also includes a bridge contact that is held within the slot and the restricted space. The bridge contact has a pair of contact ends that are spaced apart from each other and project from the mating side. The contact ends are inserted into corresponding through-holes of the adjacent circuit boards when the housing is mounted thereon. The bridge contact is sized and shaped relative to the restricted space to float within the slot such that the bridge contact at least one of shifts and pivots therein. | 05-05-2011 |
20110294312 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR MOUNTING A RIBBON CABLE ON A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - A connector and cable assembly is provided for mounting on a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a ribbon cable having an end that includes an electrical conductor. The assembly also includes an electrical connector that includes a dielectric body comprising a circuit side, a cable side that is opposite the circuit side, and a contact opening that extends through the body. The electrical connector also includes an electrical contact having a cable segment and a tail extending from the cable segment. The electrical contact is held within the contact opening such that at least a portion of the cable segment extends along the cable side of the body and at least a portion of the tail projects from the circuit side of the body. The cable segment is electrically connected to the electrical conductor of the ribbon cable. The tail is configured to be separably mated with the printed circuit board. | 12-01-2011 |
20110317375 | ALIGNMENT PIN FOR RETAINING A MODULE ON A CIRCUIT BOARD - An alignment pin is provided. The alignment pin includes an alignment member that is configured to extend from a surface of a circuit board. The alignment member has a flange that engages an electronic module. The flange aligns and retains the electronic module on the circuit board. A coupling member extends from the alignment member. The coupling member is configured to be through hole mounted to an aperture in the circuit board. The coupling member has a retention feature that creates a press-fit between a surface of the aperture and the coupling member. The coupling member has a cross-sectional width at the retention feature that is greater than a diameter of the aperture. The retention feature accommodates a press-fit with apertures having different diameters. | 12-29-2011 |
20130122744 | GROUNDING STRUCTURES FOR HEADER AND RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLIES - A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly and a contact module coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder having a first side wall and an opposite second side wall. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second side walls. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a frame assembly that is received in the chamber. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame that supports the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A plurality of ground clips are received in the chamber and extend from the front of the conductive holder. The ground clips are mechanically and electrically connected to the conductive holder. | 05-16-2013 |
20130288521 | CONTACT MODULES FOR RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLIES - A contact module includes a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder with receptacle signal contacts arranged in differential pairs. A ground shield is received in the conductive holder between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground shield has a mounting end with ground pins extending from a mounting edge at the mounting end of the ground shield. Forces are imparted on the ground pins during coupling with a circuit board. The mounting end has a plurality of bearing surfaces proximate to the ground pins. The bearing surfaces engage at least one of the conductive holder and the frame assembly to transfer the forces between the ground shield and at least one of the conductive holder and the frame assembly. | 10-31-2013 |
20130288525 | RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY FOR A MIDPLANE CONNECTOR SYSTEM - A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder and electrically shielded by the conductive holder. The frame assembly has a plurality of receptacle signal contacts having mating portions extending from the conductive holder. The receptacle signal contacts are arranged in differential pairs carrying differential signals. Ground shields are received in the conductive holder between the frame assembly and the conductive holder. The ground shields have grounding beams extending along the mating portions of the receptacle signal contacts. The grounding beams are arranged on four sides of each differential pair of the receptacle signal contacts. | 10-31-2013 |
20130288539 | RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY FOR A MIDPLANE CONNECTOR SYSTEM - A receptacle assembly includes a contact module having a conductive holder and a frame assembly received in the conductive holder. The frame assembly includes a first frame and a second frame, each frame having at least two frame members each supporting a differential pair of receptacle signal contacts and being separated by a gap. The first and second frames are interested such that at least one frame member of the first frame is received in a corresponding gap of the second frame between frame members of the second frame and such that at least one frame member of the second frame is received in a corresponding gap of the first frame between frame members of the first frame. | 10-31-2013 |
20140242841 | GROUNDING STRUCTURES FOR CONTACT MODULES OF CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES - A connector assembly includes contact modules each having a wafer, a first ground frame extending along a first side of the wafer and a second ground frame extending along a second side of the wafer. The wafer has a dielectric body holding a plurality of signal contacts. The first ground frame has beams extending from a front of the first ground frame. The second ground frame has shields at least partially surrounding corresponding mating portions of the signal contacts. Each first ground frame is mechanically and electrically connected to an adjacent second ground frame of an adjacent contact module. Each second ground frame is mechanically and electrically connected to an adjacent first ground frame of an adjacent contact module. | 08-28-2014 |