EP0211496B1 - Connecteur électrique à double rangée de connexions - Google Patents

Connecteur électrique à double rangée de connexions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0211496B1
EP0211496B1 EP86304786A EP86304786A EP0211496B1 EP 0211496 B1 EP0211496 B1 EP 0211496B1 EP 86304786 A EP86304786 A EP 86304786A EP 86304786 A EP86304786 A EP 86304786A EP 0211496 B1 EP0211496 B1 EP 0211496B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
terminals
contact
ground
terminal
sections
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP86304786A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0211496A1 (fr
Inventor
Wilbur Arthur Hamsher, Jr.
Joseph Larue Lockard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Whitaker LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/754,784 external-priority patent/US4655515A/en
Application filed by AMP Inc, Whitaker LLC filed Critical AMP Inc
Publication of EP0211496A1 publication Critical patent/EP0211496A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0211496B1 publication Critical patent/EP0211496B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/594—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures for shielded flat cable
    • H01R12/596—Connection of the shield to an additional grounding conductor, e.g. drain wire
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/771—Details
    • H01R12/775—Ground or shield arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors and more particularly to the field of double row connectors for transmission cables.
  • Double row receptacle connectors are known for flat transmission cable, which comprise a connector assembly for mating with a two-row pin array.
  • Such connector assemblies route adjacent closely spaced signal conductors of the flat cable to terminals on alternating sides of the connector while routing the respective ground conductors to a ground bus contained in the connector.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,260,209 discloses such a connector for providing mass termination of a flat transmission cable, where the receptacle terminals for the signal conductors have slotted beam termination sections and are terminated to the conductors by insulation displacement. Similarly the ground conductors are secured in slotted beams of the ground bus.
  • the receptacle terminals and ground bus are disposed along respective recesses of a housing, the conductors of the cable are terminated thereto, a cover is placed over the terminations, and a strain relief member is secured to the assembly.
  • the connector provides for selective programming of ground terminals by connecting selected receptacle terminals to the ground bus instead of to signal conductors, by grounding bars or by sacrificed signal conductors.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,269,466 discloses another double row receptacle connector for flat transmission cable wherein the terminals are disposed in channels along opposing sides of a housing member and respective signal conductors are terminated by insulation displacement to slotted beam termination sections. Cover members are placed against the sides of the housing, locking to the housing at its forward end and to each other at the rearward end providing cable strain relief.
  • a ground bus bar engages the ground conductors by a plurality of slotted beam termination sections. To selectively program the ground terminals of the connector, the ground bus bar can have selectively positioned termination sections to engage sacrificed signal conductors by insulation displacement which signal conductors then proceed forwardly to engage respective receptacle contacts which become ground terminals.
  • EP-A-0 112 019 discloses an electrical connector for signal conductor means and ground conductor means of electrical cable means, the connector comprising electrical terminals having contact sections projecting forwardly thereof, said terminals being secured in a row to a side of a contact-carrying means and then terminated respectively to either said signal conductor means or to said ground conductor means and dielectric cover means covering and protecting the terminations, covering said contact-carrying means and end lengths of said cable means, sealing said terminations and providing strain relief to said cable means, the connector further comprising a receptacle, wherein for the transmission of electrical signals with high reliability and uniformity, said cover means comprises dielectric material moulded about said contact carrying means and said terminals, thereby to provide non-deforming strain relief means to said cable means, said contact carrying means with said terminals secured thereto and being sealingly covered by said cover means providing an assembly which is securable to said receptacle.
  • an electrical connector for signal conductor means and ground conductor means of electrical cable means comprising electrical terminals having contact sections and secured to a side of a contact-carrying means and then terminated respectively to either said signal conductor means or to said ground conductor means and dielectric cover means covering and protecting the terminations, covering said contact-carrying means and end lengths of said cable means, sealing said terminations and providing strain relief to said cable means.
  • the cover means comprises a pair of rigid cover plates which are secured about the contact-carrying means and have projections which bite into the insulation of the cable means.
  • the contact carrying means is formed with passageway in which contact sections of the terminals are received and secured.
  • a connector according to the present invention is defined in Claim 1.
  • EP-A-0 023 936 discloses a connector similar to that of EP-A-0 147 080 in which the contact carrying means is formed with passageways receiving contact sections of the terminals, the cover means being in the form of rigid plates clamped about the contact carrying means and there being no housing as such.
  • each of the terminals of a row are secured to a separate contact-carrying member. Terminals at those contact locations designated as signal locations are terminated to signal conductors of a row of respective transmission cables; terminals at ground locations are welded to a ground plane which is terminated to ground conductors of the cables; and the terminal subassemblies thus formed are then overmolded with said dielectric material.
  • a contact section of each receptacle contact terminal extends forwardly of the overmolded covering to be received in a respective passageway of the forward housing member. When individual cables are used, the dielectric covering also provides spacing between the cables. Ribbon cable may also be used with the present invention.
  • the terminal subassemblies Prior to overmolding to form the terminal assemblies of the first embodiment, the terminal subassemblies are completed in the following manner.
  • the stripped ends of the signal conductors are routed along channels on one side of a dielectric contact-carrying member to which the terminals are affixed; and the signal conductors are then laser welded to respective signal terminals.
  • the one or two stripped ground conductors associated with each respective signal conductor are routed along channels on the other side of the dielectric contact-carrying member to which a single ground plane is affixed; and the ground conductors are laser welded to the ground plane.
  • ground terminals At pre-selected locations along the front end of the ground plane are electrical connections to terminals, forming ground terminals whose integral receptacle contact sections extend forwardly from the overmolded terminal assembly laterally aligned with the receptacle contact sections of the signal terminals and to be received in passageways of the forward housing member.
  • the locations of the ground contact sections in one of the terminal assemblies is independent of the locations of the ground contact sections in the other assembly.
  • the terminal assemblies of the first embodiment can be secured to each other prior to assembly to the forward housing member by means of one or two projections from each assembly extending through slots in the other assembly between the conductors, whereafter the projections are cold-staked.
  • the assemblies may have lateral latching projections at the forward ends which latchingly engage corresponding lateral latches of the forward housing member.
  • the receptacle contact sections may be retained in the terminal-receiving passageways such as by conventional rearwardly extending lances of the terminal, engaging forwardly facing stop surfaces on sidewalls of the passageways, and the forward terminal ends engaging rearwardly facing stop surfaces of the forward passageway ends.
  • the assemblies can be removed if desired by a tool which has projections to extend inwardly from the mating surface to depress the terminal lances, and by the lateral housing latches being urged outwardly, whereafter the assemblies can be urged rearwardly.
  • Each terminal assembly of the first embodiment of the present invention provides minimized impedance discontinuity for each row of its conductors and terminals through providing apertures in the ground plane opposite each signal contact, embedding and holding the terminals immobile within the subassembly, and providing nondeforming cable strain relief which also precisely spaces the respective cables when individual cables are used.
  • the present invention also provides high integrity laser welding of conductors to contacts, and sealing and protecting of the terminations.
  • the connector in a second embodiment, includes a premolded forward housing member having a contact-receiving portion and a contact-carrying portion extending rearwardly from the medial plane of the contact-receiving portion.
  • Two rows of terminal-receiving passageways extend rearwardly from the mating face of the forward housing member through the contact-receiving portion of the housing; channels extend along the top and bottom surfaces of the contact-carrying portion of the housing aligned with the passageways.
  • Receptacle contact terminals are first secured in the housing with their contact sections secured in the passageways and body sections and termination sections disposed along the channels rearwardly therefrom, with the signal terminals alternating with ground terminals within each row.
  • Each signal terminal is opposed by a ground terminal in the opposing row, to which are respectively terminated the signal conductor and the one or two ground conductors associated therewith, of a respective transmission cable.
  • the signal conductor is preferably disposed along and held by interference fit within a slotted termination section of the signal terminal and then connected thereto by laser welding.
  • the one or two ground conductors are similarly disposed along and held by interference fit within a slotted termination section of the ground terminal and then laser welded thereto.
  • the transmission cables are arranged in a single row extending rearwardly from the housing member in the medial plane of the housing's contact-carrying portion.
  • moldable dielectric material is then molded sealingly over the contact-carrying portion and the conductor/terminal terminations and along insulated portions of the transmission cables for strain relief, forming a dielectric cover means which seals the terminations and holds the terminals immobile.
  • a transverse second strain relief is formed during the molding of the cover means and spaced rearwardly along the transmission cables a selected distance from the cover means, with longitudinally extending web sections at each end of the row of cables integrally joining the second strain relief and the cover means,
  • the strain relief provided by said embodiments does not deform the transmission cables, like other conventional strain relief methods.
  • the providing of alternating and opposing signal and ground terminals minimizes impedance problems.
  • the terminations are by high integrity laser welding and are sealed thereafter.
  • a plurality of double row connectors of the present invention can be placed side by side, each having a low profile to electrically mate with a multi-row pin array of a printed circuit board, or they can be placed end-to-end to mate a long double row of pins.
  • the double row connector of the present invention may be used with a variety of transmission cables, such as ribbon cable, coaxial cable and two-lead cable.
  • the connector assembly 200 of the present invention is shown in Figure 1 and comprises a forward housing member 10 and a pair of terminal assemblies 12. Assemblies 12 are securable to housing 10 by latching projections 14 on each assembly 12 at the forward end 16 and laterally thereof engaged by latching arms 18 of housing 10. Box-type receptacle contact sections 20 of electrical contact terminals 22 extend in a row forwardly of forward end 16 of each assembly 12, to be received within terminal-receiving passageways 24 of housing 10 and preferably secured therewithin such as by locking lances 26 engaging stop surfaces 28 within passageways 24, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.
  • a row of electrical transmission cables 150 extends rearwardly from each assembly 12 with their signal and ground conductors terminated to terminals 22.
  • Each terminal assembly 12 has a cover means 30 molded over a terminal subassembly comprising the terminals 22, the terminations of the signal and ground conductors thereto, and end portions of the transmission cables 150, all of which will be described with greater particularity below.
  • Connector assembly 200 is matable with two rows of pin contacts of a pin array of a printed circuit board (not shown), and a keying feature 32 is shown on forward housing member 10 for proper mating with a shroud member around the pin array.
  • Terminal assemblies 12 are preferably first secured to each other prior to latching into housing 10, by means of one or more relatively vertical projections 34 on each assembly entering into axial slots 36 in the respective other assembly with free ends 38 extending beyond the remote surface thereof after which the projections' free ends 38 are cold-staked or deformably enlarged against the remote surface, as seen better in Figure 11A.
  • FIG. 2 shows the terminal subassembly 40, from which a terminal assembly 12 is formed when subassembly 40 is overmolded by cover means 30.
  • a dielectric contact-carrying member 42 is molded from a suitable material and has spaced channels 44 located on relatively top surface 46 and extending rearwardly from front end 48 to conductor-positioning section 50 at the rearward end 52 of contact-carrying member 42.
  • Terminal-securing projections 54 extend upwardly from bottom channel surfaces 56 near front end 48.
  • Relatively bottom surface 58 of contact-carrying member 42 is planar forwardly of conductor-positioning section 50, with securing projections 60 extending downwardly spaced across planar bottom surface 58 proximate front end 48; such a securing projection 60 is shown in Figure 3.
  • Ground plane 62 is to be secured to bottom surface 58 by projections 60 as will be explained later.
  • terminals 22 are stamped and formed, preferably of Copper Alloy 725.
  • Each terminal 22 has, proceeding rearwardly from contact section 20, intermediate section 64, relatively upwardly angled section 66, and securing section 68, with conductor-connecting section 70 at the rearward end thereof.
  • Securing section 68 and conductor-connecting section 70 of each terminal 22 is disposed in a respective channel 44.
  • Securing section 68 has a hole 72 therein corresponding to securing projection 54 in channel 44 through which projection 54 extends.
  • Projection 54 is cold-staked (or heat-staked, as desired) to enlarge the end of projection 54 over securing section 68 and thus secure terminal 22 to top surface 46 of contact-carrying member 42 by enlarged end 74.
  • each receptacle terminal 22 extend forwardly of front end 48 along the longitudinal axis of terminal 22 and channel 44 while conductor-connecting section 70 is disposed proximate and forwardly of conductor-positioning section 50 of contact-carrying member 42.
  • ground plane 62 has an elongated planar section 76 from which tab sections 78 extend forwardly at a slight angle downwardly with short tab ends 80 extending horizontally forwardly therefrom. Tab sections 78 are formed at preselected locations as will be explained later.
  • a conductor-connecting section 84 preferably comprising a bent-back portion of the metal blank from which ground plane 62 is stamped and formed, the rearward end being a bight section 82.
  • Proximate the forward end of ground plane 62 and thereacross are disposed a plurality of holes 86 corresponding to securing projections 60 on bottom surface 58 of contact-carrying member 42.
  • Ground plane 62 is secured onto bottom surface 58 by securing projections 60 extending through holes 86 and their ends 88 being enlarged by cold-staking (or heat-staking, as desired) to deform them against the bottom of ground plane 62.
  • Tab sections 78 extend forwardly of front end 48 of contact-carrying member 42 in subassembly 40. It is preferable to have apertures 142 which will be opposed from securing sections 68 of the plurality of terminals 22 after forming terminal subassembly 40; such apertures 142 assist in impedance matching by increasing the insulative distance between signal terminals and ground plane in the finished terminal assembly.
  • Connector assembly 200 can have ground contacts at any desired location in either row, and the ground locations in one row are independent of the ground as signal locations in the other row, thus providing for independently programmable grounds.
  • tab sections 78 of ground plane 62 are integral therewith and positioned at those selected locations forwardly of which a ground is desired in the connector assembly 200. Preferably such positioning is accomplished by forming tab sections at all locations and striking off those not wanted for grounds. Rearwardly of those ground locations no signal conductor will be located which is intended to be used for signal transmission. In a ribbon cable, for example, although a signal conductor will be disposed at those ground locations it would not be used for signal transmission and, hence, is sacrificed.
  • terminal 22 will be located at such ground locations secured to top surface 46 of contact-carrying member 42 and its intermediate section 64 welded to a tab end 80, as shown in Figure 5.
  • Tab end 80 preferably has a semicircular recess 90 to enhance the strength of the weld 92.
  • terminal 22 will provide the ground contact section to electrically connect ground plane 62 to respective ground pins of the pin array.
  • terminal 22 is not welded nor in engagement with ground plane 62 at tab section 78 or tab 80 but is laterally spaced therefrom.
  • Cables 150 as shown herein are tri-lead transmission cables having a signal conductor 152, two ground conductors 154 spaced laterally therefrom, and outer insulative jacket 156 having a rectangular cross section.
  • Other types of transmission cable are usable with the present invention, such as round individual cables, coaxial cables having one ground conductor, tri-lead cables having an inner jacket around the signal conductor and a foil shield within the outer jacket and around the ground and insulated signal conductors, and also ribbon cable having a plurality of signal and associated ground conductors. Cables 150 are prepared for termination by removing the insulative outer jacket 156 from end portions thereof, exposing the signal and ground conductors.
  • cables 150 are disposed in the plane of contact-carrying member 42, and signal conductors 152 are diverted relatively upward and ground conductors 154 relatively downward.
  • Signal conductors 152 are disposed along respective signal channels 94 of conductor-positioning section 50 and forwardly proximate upper surface 46 of contact-carrying member 42 to and along respective conductor-connecting sections 70 of signal terminals 22 for termination thereto.
  • Signal channels 94 have an upwardly sloping bottom surface 96 proceeding forwardly from rearward end 52.
  • Lead-in 98 has chamfered corners to facilitate placement of a respective signal conductor 152 into and along channel 94.
  • Conductor-connecting section 70 of each signal terminal 22 preferably includes a narrow conductor-receiving slot 100 as seen in Figure 6A.
  • Slot 100 preferably is narrower than the diameter of signal conductor 152 such that signal conductor 152 may be press fit thereinto and held in interference fit thereby prior to laser welding of the conductors to the terminal.
  • Slot 100 is preferably formed by opposing spaced end surfaces 102 of stamped tabs extending laterally from sides of the terminal blank whose free ends are bent around toward each other proximate the top surface of the blank during forming of the terminal.
  • a length of signal conductor 152 is then held in interference fit proximate the top of slot 100 by slight spring action by and between end surfaces 102 and is then welded to conductor-connecting section 70 by weld 104, as seen in Figure 6B.
  • the top edges of slot 100 preferably are smoothed to facilitate receipt of the conductor thereinto, and a tapered lead-in 106 to slot 100 is also preferred.
  • the pair of ground conductors 154 are diverted relatively downward and forwardly along a pair of respective ground channel portions 108 extending forwardly from rearward end 52 of contact-carrying member 42, as shown in Figure 7.
  • Each pair of ground channel portions 108 converge into a single wider main ground channel 110 in conductor-positioning section 50 along bottom surface 58.
  • Each pair of now-adjacent ground conductors 154 is disposed side by side forwardly along main ground channel 110 to and along a respective portion of conductor-connecting section 84 of ground plane 62 for termination thereto.
  • Conductor-connecting section 84 of ground plane 62 preferably comprises a plurality of slots 112 which are in communication with respective openings 114 in rearward bight section 82 which neck down as they merge with slots 112.
  • the width of each slot 112 is preferably narrower than twice the diameter of a ground conductor 154 such that the pair of ground conductors 154 may be press fit thereinto and held in interference fit thereby prior to laser welding of the pair of ground conductors to the ground plane.
  • a dimple-like projection 116 extending from planar section 76 of ground plane 62 towards and to each slot 112 centrally thereof to facilitate precisely locating the pair of adjacent ground conductors 154 within the slot adjacent the outer surface of conductor-connecting section 84 for welding to ground plane 62 by weld 118. It is preferable that the top edges of slots 112 are smoothed to facilitate receipt of the pairs of conductors thereinto. Placement of two ground conductors in a single slot 112 halves the number of such slots needed, and the number of separate weld joints to be made.
  • the signal conductors and ground conductors are preferably laser welded to the respective conductor-receiving sections of the terminals and ground plane.
  • Laser welding is generally known and is discussed extensively in Materials Processing Theory and Practices, Volume 3: Laser Materials Processing , (edited by M. Bass, North-Holland Publishing Company, 1983) especially Chapter 3, "Laser Welding," J. Mazumder, pp. 113-200.
  • laser welding in electronics is described in Electronics , September 22, 1981 in an article by Henderson on pages 149-154 entitled “Dual Lasers Speed Termination of Flexible Printed Wiring.”
  • terminal subassembly 40 is placed in a mold cavity with contact sections 20 and cables 150 extending outwardly therefrom. Moldable dielectric material is injected into the mold cavity and dielectric cover means 30 is molded over contact-carrying member 42. Cover means 30 sealingly secures and protects end portions of cables 150, signal conductors 152 and their terminations to conductor-connecting sections 70 of terminals 22 at welds 104, ground conductors 154 and their terminations to conductor-connecting section 84 of ground plane 62.
  • Cover means 30 also sealingly secures and protects the entirety of ground plane 62 and welds 92 of tab ends 80 with those terminals 22 selected to be grounds, and the entirety of terminals 22 beginning just rearwardly from contact sections 20 centrally of intermediate sections 64. By sealing and embedding end portions of the transmission cables 150, cover means 30 supports them and provides strain relief therefor. Also formed during the overmolding process are downwardly extending projections 34 and corresponding slots 36, and lateral latching projections 14.
  • transverse bars for second cable strain relief as shown in Figure 13, joined by web sections to cover means 30, or as in the aforesaid EP-A-0112019 It is preferred to form a downwardly tapered surface 120 on cover means 30 proximate forward end 16 of terminal assembly 12 extending laterally thereacross.
  • Figures 9 to 11B demonstrate the final steps in assembling connector assembly 200.
  • a pair of terminal assemblies 12 are secured together by projections 34 of each assembly 12 extending through corresponding slots 36 of the other assembly and their free ends 38 being enlarged such as by cold-staking.
  • the pair of assemblies 12 is moved forwardly into housing member 10, with contact sections 20 of terminals 22 entering corresponding terminal-receiving passageways 24 wherein the contact sections are individually secured such as by locking lances 26 each extending rearwardly to engage a forwardly facing stop surface 28 on a corresponding wall of the respective passageway 24.
  • Forward end 112 of each contact section 20 is engageable with rearwardly facing stop surfaces 124 proximate forward end 126 of passageway 24 which communicates with mating face 128 of housing member 10.
  • Tapered surface 130 of lateral latch 14 facilitates riding over corresponding housing latch arm 18 having beveled surface 132 and urging it outwardly.
  • Latching surface 134 of lateral latch 14 latches behind corresponding latching surface 136 of latch arm 18.
  • Cavities 138 extending rearwardly from mating surface 128 of housing 10, facilitate molding of latching surface 136.
  • Tapered surfaces 120 on the upper and lower surfaces of the secured pair of assemblies 12 engages corresponding tapered housing surfaces 140 to facilitate insertion and provide a slight interference fit of assemblies 12 in housing member 10.
  • the pair of terminal assemblies 12 could be removed, if desired, from housing 10 by unlatching all locking lances 26, and by unlatching latch arms 18, and pulling assemblies 12 rearwardly.
  • a connector having more than two rows of contacts with independently programmable grounds by stacking together a like plurality of single-row terminal assemblies with contact sections extending forwardly into a forward housing member to be mated with mating terminals. It is also possible to provide a plug connector where the forward housing number is a shroud and the contact sections are plug sections or are pin contact sections. Further, it is possible to stack together a plurality of connectors of the present invention to mate with more than two rows of a pin array, because of the low profile of the present connector, by not providing a keying feature 32 thereon.
  • Figure 12 illustrates the components comprising the terminal subassembly 210 of another embodiment of the present invention, including a premolded dielectric forward housing 212, receptacle signal terminals 214, receptacle ground terminals 216, and transmission cables 218 with a signal 214 and an opposing ground 216 terminal associated with each cable 218.
  • Figure 13 shows the completed connector assembly 300 of the present invention after dielectric moldable material is overmolded into an insulative, sealing cover means 220 over the terminal subassembly 210 of Figure 12 after the terminals 214, 216 have been secured in passageways 222 of housing 212 and respective conductors of cables 218 terminated to terminals 214, 216.
  • Housing 212 may have a keying feature 268 for proper mating with a pin shroud (not shown) on the printed circuit board surrounding the pin array to which connector assembly 300 is to be mated.
  • receptacle terminals 214, 216 are stamped and formed preferably of Copper Alloy 725 and have identical box-type contact sections 224, identical planar body sections 226 and similar conductor-connecting sections 228, 230 respectively.
  • Contact sections 224 are received in terminal-receiving passageways 222 of housing 212 which communicate with and extend rearwardly from mating face 232 thereof.
  • Planar body sections 226 are disposed along bottom surfaces 234 of channels 236 in contact-carrying portion 238, which is integral with housing 212 and extends rearwardly from contact-receiving portion 240 thereof. Bottom channel surfaces 234 each extend continuously rearwardly from inside wall 242 of a respective passageway 222, best seen in Figure 14.
  • Receptacle terminals 214, 216 are secured in respective passageways 222 by means of locking lances 244 on contact sections 224 which extend rearwardly and outwardly therefrom at a selected angular location.
  • locking lances 244 engages a forwardly facing stop surface 246 along a respective selected passageway sidewall 248, as shown best in Figures 18 and 19, to prevent axially rearward movement of terminal 214, 216.
  • Forward end 250 of terminal 214, 216 engages rearwardly facing stop surfaces 252 of passageway 222 proximate its forward end 254 to prevent further axially forward movement of terminal 214, 216.
  • Forward passageway end 254 is beveled to provide a lead-in for insertion of a respective square pin (not shown) of a pin array such as on a printed circuit board, which pin is electrically matable with a respective receptacle signal terminal 214 or ground terminal 216.
  • a recess 256 is molded along selected passageway sidewall 248 forward of stop surface 246 both to facilitate molding of stop surface 246 and to receive a tool to unlatch locking lance 244 of a terminal 214, 216 should it be desirable to remove the terminal during assembly.
  • At the rearward end of each passageway 222 is a rear recess 258 for receiving a mold core pin, discussed later.
  • Signal terminals 214 and ground terminals 216 are alternated along each row during insertion of the terminals in passageways 222 of housing 212, with a signal terminal 214 of one row opposing a ground terminal 216 of the other row.
  • Each pair of signal terminals 214 and ground terminals 216 is associated with each transmission cable 218.
  • Each cable 218 has a signal conductor 260 and two ground conductors 262, one on each side of the signal conductor and spaced therefrom, with an insulative outer jacket 264 therearound having a rectangular cross-section.
  • Each cable 218 is prepared for termination by its outer jacket 264 being stripped from an end portion to expose the signal 260 and ground 262 conductors.
  • the terminal subassembly 210 is formed as shown in Figures 15 to 17.
  • a signal terminal 214 has been secured in the upper passageway 222A to receive a signal conductor 260 of a cable 218 in conductor-connecting section 228 thereof, and a ground terminal 216 in the lower passageway 222B to receive both the ground conductors 262 of cable 218 in conductor-connecting section 230 thereof.
  • the signal conductor 260 is diverted relatively upward from a medial plane extending through contact-carrying portion 238 of housing 212 and cable 218, along a tapered surface 266 at the rearward end of a respective upper channel 236A and forwardly into a narrow slot 270 in conductor-connecting section 228 of signal terminal 214, as shown in Figures 16 and 20.
  • Slot 270 preferably is narrower than the diameter of signal conductor 260 such that signal conductor 260 may be press fit thereinto and held in interference fit thereby prior to laser welding of the conductor to the terminal.
  • Slot 270 is preferably formed by opposing spaced end surfaces 272 of stamped tabs extending laterally from sides of the terminal blank, whose free ends are bent around toward each other proximate the top surface of the blank during forming of the terminal. A length of the signal conductor is then held in interference fit proximate the top of slot 270 by slight spring action by and between opposing end surfaces 272, after being disposed along slot 270, and then is welded to conductor connecting section 228 by weld 274, as seen in Figures 20 and 21 regarding cable 218A.
  • the top edges of slot 270 preferably are smoothed to facilitate receipt of the conductor thereinto, and a tapered lead-in 276 to slot 270 is also preferred.
  • the pair of ground conductors 262 are diverted relatively downward from the medial plane and along a tapered surface 278 at a rearward end of lower channel 236B opposed from upper channel 236A.
  • the pair of ground conductors 262 are brought together (best seen in Figures 19 to 21 regarding cable 218B) to extend forwardly and together are disposed along slot 280 of conductor-connecting section 230 of ground terminal 216.
  • Slot 280 is dimensioned to be narrower than twice the diameter of a ground conductor, such that the pair of ground conductors 262 may be held in interference fit proximate the top of slot 280 by slight spring action by and between opposing spaced end surfaces 282 forming slot 280, as shown in Figures 16 and 20 and preferably laser welded to conductor-connecting section 230 by weld 284.
  • Terminal subassembly 210 as shown in Figure 16 is then placed in a mold 400, shown in phantom in Figure 17, for the overmolding of cover means 220 therearound to form the electrical connector assembly 300.
  • Mold 400 has core pins 402 at the relatively forward end of the mold cavity, and core pins 404 located near the rearward end of the main cavity portion 406.
  • Forward core pins 402 enter rear recesses 258 in the upper and lower walls of housing 212 and engage planar body sections 226 of terminals 214, 216, holding them against bottom channel surfaces 234 during the overmolding process.
  • Forward core pins 402 extend fully between the sides of recesses 258 and act to prevent insulative material from entering the receptacle contact sections 224 of terminals 214, 216.
  • Rearward core pins 404 engage cables 218 from above and below, holding them in position during the overmolding process.
  • contact-carrying portion 238 of housing 212 is disposed in main cavity portion 406, and also conductor-connecting sections 228, 230 of terminals 214, 216 and the terminations of conductors 260, 262 thereto, and insulated end portions of cables 218.
  • Insulative material such as preferably polypropylene is injected into the mold cavity and molded around the termination section of terminal subassembly 210, forming dielectric cover means 220 thereover rearwardly from contact-receiving portion 240 of housing 212.
  • Cover means 220 seals the terminations of the conductors to the terminals, especially welds 274 and 284. Cover means 220 also firmly embeds the terminals and thereby prevents movement of the terminals in connector assembly 300.
  • Cover means 220 also extends rearwardly along insulated portions of cables 218 providing strain relief therefor without deforming the cables such as occurs in conventional strain relief methods when the cables are clamped tightly or are bent around axially normal projections of housing members.
  • a second strain relief preferably is provided by a transverse bar 286 spaced rearwardly along the cables 218 from cover means 220 and joined integrally thereto by by axially extending webs 288, seen best in Figures 13 and 21.
  • Webs 288 are located at ends of the row of cables 218 and preferably between at least several of the cables near the row ends and are formed by axial cavity portions (not shown), and transverse bar 286 is formed by rear cavity portion 408. Cables 218 interior of the end ones adjacent webs 288 are disposed in mold channels 410 which serve to maintain alignment thereof.
  • Second strain relief bar 286 serves as a gripping feature during mating and unmating of connector assembly 300 to and from a pin array, thus relieving strain on the individual cables 218.
  • Figures 18 through 21 illustrate a top section view showing the assembly of connector assembly 300.
  • a signal 214 and ground 216 terminal are inserted into respective adjacent passageways 222 and channels 236 of housing 212.
  • signal terminal 214 is secured in passageway 222 by locking lance 244 against stop surface 246 and is about to receive a signal conductor 260 of end cable 218A; portions of ground conductors 262 are visible behind signal conductor 260.
  • Ground terminal 216 is similarly secured in passageway 222 to receive a pair of ground conductors 262 of second cable 218B.
  • signal conductor 260 of cable 218A is disposed in slot 270 and is welded at weld 274 to conductor-connecting section 228 of signal terminal 214; and ground conductors 262 of cable 218B are disposed in slot 280 and are welded at weld 284 to conductor-connecting section 230 of ground terminal 216 to form terminal subassembly 210.
  • terminal subassembly 210 has been overmolded with cover means 220 rearwardly from contact-receiving portion 240 of housing 212 to form connector assembly 300.
  • Cover means 220 seals the terminations and end portions of cables 218A, 218B.
  • Cover means 220 is also joined to transverse bar 286 by webs 288 extending along cables 218A, 218B.
  • a portion of planar body section 226 of another signal terminal 214 is visible in the aperture formed by a core pin 402 of mold 400 rearwardly from rear recess 258 of housing 212; and a portion of a third cable 218 is visible in the aperture formed by a core pin 404 near the rearward end of cover means 220.
  • a connector assembly of the present invention may also be terminated to the other ends of the cables to form a wire harness.
  • the connector assembly can be terminated to a variety of transmission cables including round individual cables, flat ribbon cable having a plurality of signal conductors and associated ground conductors, coaxial cables, and cables having only one ground conductor for each signal in which case the ground terminals usable therewith should have slots formed to receive a single ground conductor.
  • the present invention is also useful with tri-lead cables having an inner jacket around the signal conductor and a foil shield within the outer jacket and around the ground and insulated signal conductors.
  • Receptacle contact sections may have a different structure from that shown.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Connecteur électrique (200 ; 300) pour des moyens conducteurs de signaux (152 ; 260) et des moyens conducteurs de masse (154 ; 262) d'un moyen à câble électrique (150 ; 218), le connecteur comportant des bornes électriques (22 ; 214, 216) ayant des parties de contact (20 ; 224) qui en font saillie vers l'avant, lesdites bornes étant fixées en une rangée sur un côté d'un moyen (42 ; 238) de support de contacts, puis terminées respectivement sur lesdits moyens conducteurs de signaux (152 ; 260) ou lesdits moyens conducteurs de masse (154 ; 262) et un moyen de capot diélectrique (30 ; 220) recouvrant et protégeant les terminaisons, recouvrant ledit moyen (42 ; 238) de support de contacts et des longueurs extrêmes dudit moyen à câble (150 ; 218), scellant de façon étanche lesdites terminaisons et assurant un soulagement de contraintes sur ledit moyen à câble (150 ; 218), le connecteur (200, 300) comportant en outre une douille (10 ; 212), dans lequel, pour la transmission de signaux électriques de façon très fiable et uniforme, ledit moyen de capot (30 ; 220) comprend une matière diélectrique moulée autour dudit moyen (42 ; 238) de support de contacts desdites bornes (22 ; 214, 216), afin de constituer un moyen de soulagement de contraintes non déformant pour ledit moyen à câble, ledit moyen (40 ; 238) de support de contacts avec lesdites bornes (22 ; 214, 216) qui lui sont fixées et qui est recouvert de façon étanche par ledit moyen de capot (30 ; 220) formant un ensemble qui peut être fixé à ladite douille (10 ; 212) ; caractérisé en ce que ladite douille se présente sous la forme d'un boîtier (10 ; 212) renfermant des rangées de passages (24 ; 222), ledit ensemble étant reçu dans ledit boîtier (10 ; 212) de façon que lesdites parties de contact (20 ; 224), en saillie vers l'avant, desdites bornes (22 ; 214, 216) pénètrent dans des passages respectives (24 ; 222) dudit boîtier et y soient fixées individuellement.
  2. Connecteur électrique (200) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre en ce que ledit moyen (42) de support de contacts comprend deux éléments séparés (42), une rangée de bornes (22) est fixée à un premier côté (46) de chacun desdits éléments (42), un plan de masse (62) est fixé à son autre côté (58) et est connecté électriquement à certaines, choisies, desdites bornes (22) qui deviennent des bornes de masse, lesdits moyens conducteurs de signaux (152) sont terminés sur certaines, pour signaux, desdites bornes (22) qui deviennent des bornes de signaux, lesdits conducteurs de masse (154) sont terminés sur ledit plan de masse (62), et des parties de contact (20) font saillie vers l'avant de chaque élément (42) de support de contact formant des sous-ensembles de bornes séparés (40) ; et ladite matière diélectrique est fixée de façon étanche au-dessus des terminaisons de signaux et de masse et autour desdites bornes (22) et dudit plan de masse (62) de chaque sous-ensemble (40) de borne en arrière desdites parties de contact (20), formant des ensembles (12) de bornes ayant chacun une rangée de bornes (22) desquelles des parties de contacts respectives font saillie vers l'avant.
  3. Connecteur électrique (200) selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en outre en ce que des paires desdits ensembles de bornes (12) peuvent d'abord être fixées ensemble par des moyens de fixation comprenant au moins une saillie (34) dépassant d'une surface latérale dudit moyen de capot (30) d'au moins l'un desdits ensembles de bornes (12) vers l'autre de ces ensembles et reçue dans et à travers une fente respective (36) dans ledit autre ensemble (12) de bornes et s'étendant jusqu'à un côté éloigné de celui-ci, après quoi l'extrémité (38) de ladite, au moins une, saillie (34) est élargie de façon déformable contre la surface dudit côté éloigné dudit autre ensemble de bornes (12).
  4. Connecteur électrique (200) selon l'une des revendications 2 ou 3, caractérisé en outre en ce que lesdits ensembles de bornes (12) peuvent être fixés audit élément de boîtier (10) par des saillies (14) de verrouillage dépassant latéralement desdits ensembles de bornes (12) et engagés en verrouillage par des bras de verrouillage correspondants (18) dudit élément de boîtier (10).
  5. Connecteur électrique (200) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, caractérisé en outre en ce que chaque plan de masse (62) comporte des parties de languettes (78) qui en font saillie vers l'avant et en direction de certaines, pour masse, correspondantes desdites bornes (22) et à des parties intermédiaires (64) desquelles des extrémités (80) des parties de languettes (78) sont soudées respectivement.
  6. Connecteur électrique (300) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre en ce que ledit moyen (238) de support de contacts comporte une partie (238) de support de contacts dudit élément de boîtier (212) qui en fait saillie vers l'arrière à mi-distance entre les rangées adjacentes desdits passages (222), une rangée de bornes (214, 216) est disposée contre l'une des surfaces supérieure et inférieure de ladite partie (238) de support de contacts afin que des parties de contact (224) de ces bornes soient fixées dans lesdits passages respectifs (222) et que des parties de connexion de conducteurs (228, 230) de ces bornes soient disposées à proximité de l'extrémité arrière de ladite partie (238) de support de contact, lesdites bornes (214, 216) sont agencées en paires opposées, lesdits moyens conducteurs de signaux (260) sont terminés sur certaines, respectives, pour signaux (214), desdites bornes et lesdits moyens conducteurs de masse (262) sont terminés sur certaines (216), pour masse, desdites bornes, formant un sous-ensemble (210) de bornes sur lequel est fixé de façon étanche ledit moyen de capot (220).
  7. Connecteur électrique (300) selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en outre en ce que celles (216), pour masse, desdites bornes reçoivent chacune deux desdits conducteurs de masse (262) dudit moyen à câble (218) pour qu'ils s'ajustent à force le long d'une fente (280) de ces bornes pour une terminaison.
  8. Connecteur électrique (300) selon la revendication 6 ou 7, caractérisé en outre en ce que, lorsque ledit moyen à câble (218) comprend plusieurs câbles (218), ledit moyen de capot (220) comporte une barre transversale (286) qui lui est reliée par des parties de voile (288), qui est espacée en arrière de la partie principale dudit moyen de capot (220) et qui est moulée autour du moyen à câbles (218), espaçant, supportant et assurant le soulagement de contraintes pour ledit moyen à câble (218).
  9. Procédé de réalisation du connecteur électrique (200) des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant les étapes qui consistent :
       à sélectionner des positions de signaux et des positions de masse dans chaque rangée de bornes électriques (22) ;
       à fixer un plan de masse (62) à un premier côté (58) de chaque moyen (42) de support de contacts, des parties de languettes (80) en faisant saillie vers l'avant auxdites positions de masse ;
       à fixer plusieurs bornes (22) à l'autre côté (46) dudit moyen (42) de support de contacts ;
       à connecter électriquement lesdites parties de languettes (80) à certaines, pour masse, desdites bornes (22) ;
       à terminer des moyens conducteurs de masse (154) d'un moyen à câble (150) sur ledit plan de masse (62) et des moyens conducteurs de signaux (152) dudit moyen à câbles (150) sur certaines, respectives, pour signaux, desdites bornes (22), formant des sous-ensembles de bornes respectifs (40) ;
       à fixer un moyen à capot diélectrique (30) sur les terminaisons et les parties extrêmes dudit moyen à câbles (150) de chaque sous-ensemble de bornes (40), formant des ensembles de bornes (12) à une seule rangée ;
       à fixer ensemble lesdits ensembles de bornes (12) à une seule rangée, formant un connecteur électrique (200) ayant au moins deux rangées de bornes (22), et
       à insérer ledit connecteur (200) dans ledit boîtier (10) de façon que lesdites parties de contact (20), en saillie vers l'avant, desdites bornes (22) pénètrent dans des passages respectifs (24) dudit boîtier (10) et que lesdites parties de contact (20), en saillie vers l'avant, soient fixées dans lesdits passages (24).
  10. Procédé de réalisation du connecteur électrique (300) des revendications 1 et 6 à 8, comprenant les étapes qui consistent :
       à fixer plusieurs bornes (214, 216) à des côtés respectifs d'une partie (238) de support de contacts, faisant saillie vers l'arrière, d'un élément de boîtier (212), des parties de contact (224) desdites bornes (214, 216) étant disposées dans des passages respectifs (222) dudit élément de boîtier en avant desdits côtés de ladite partie (238) de support de contacts ;
       à terminer des moyens conducteurs de signaux (260) d'un moyen à câbles (218) sur certaines (214), respectives, pour signaux, desdites bornes, et des moyens conducteurs de masse (262) du moyen à câbles sur certaines (216), pour masse, desdites bornes, formant un sous-ensemble (210) de bornes ;
       à placer ledit sous-ensemble (210) de bornes dans un moule (400) ayant des premières broches de noyau (402) associées à chacune desdites bornes (214, 216), et à fermer ledit moule (400) afin que lesdites premières broches de noyaux (402) pénètrent dans lesdites bornes (214, 216) et les maintiennent contre les côtés de ladite partie de support de contacts et à proximité des extrémités arrière desdits passages (222) ; et
       à mouler un moyen de capot (220) sur ledit sousensemble (210) de bornes en arrière desdits passages (222), scellant de façon étanche les terminaisons et s'étendant le long de parties extrêmes dudit moyen à câbles (218), réalisant un soulagement de contraintes non déformant.
EP86304786A 1985-07-12 1986-06-20 Connecteur électrique à double rangée de connexions Expired - Lifetime EP0211496B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75478585A 1985-07-12 1985-07-12
US06/754,784 US4655515A (en) 1985-07-12 1985-07-12 Double row electrical connector
US754785 1985-07-12
US754784 1985-07-12

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0211496A1 EP0211496A1 (fr) 1987-02-25
EP0211496B1 true EP0211496B1 (fr) 1993-01-13

Family

ID=27115984

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86304786A Expired - Lifetime EP0211496B1 (fr) 1985-07-12 1986-06-20 Connecteur électrique à double rangée de connexions

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0211496B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2579149B2 (fr)
DE (1) DE3687491T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6431361A (en) * 1987-07-15 1989-02-01 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Electric connection connector
US4875877A (en) * 1988-09-12 1989-10-24 Amp Incorporated Discrete cable assembly
US4834674A (en) * 1988-06-23 1989-05-30 Amp Incorporated Electrical cable assembly with selected side cable entry
JP2844380B2 (ja) * 1990-04-12 1999-01-06 日本エー・エム・ピー株式会社 モジュール型コネクタ
JPH05290931A (ja) * 1992-04-07 1993-11-05 Amp Japan Ltd シールド型電気コネクタ
US5387125A (en) * 1993-07-29 1995-02-07 The Whitaker Corporation Connector for flexible flat cable
JP3316726B2 (ja) * 1995-07-17 2002-08-19 日本電信電話株式会社 電気接続器
US5775924A (en) * 1996-10-11 1998-07-07 Molex Incorporated Modular terminating connector with frame ground
US6857899B2 (en) 1999-10-08 2005-02-22 Tensolite Company Cable structure with improved grounding termination in the connector
US6217372B1 (en) 1999-10-08 2001-04-17 Tensolite Company Cable structure with improved grounding termination in the connector
US6428344B1 (en) 2000-07-31 2002-08-06 Tensolite Company Cable structure with improved termination connector
DE102017127482A1 (de) * 2017-11-21 2019-05-23 Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Steckverbinder
WO2019244008A1 (fr) * 2018-06-21 2019-12-26 3M Innovative Properties Company Ensemble connecteur à façade interchangeable

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4260209A (en) * 1978-09-05 1981-04-07 Amp Incorporated Transmission cable connector
AU530795B2 (en) * 1979-04-11 1983-07-28 Amp Incorporated Electrical connector
EP0023936A1 (fr) * 1979-08-10 1981-02-18 AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) Connecteur électrique pour raccorder deux câbles plats à conducteurs multiples
JPS604896Y2 (ja) * 1980-09-17 1985-02-14 株式会社 秀栄堂 仕切板
JPS5822694Y2 (ja) * 1980-09-18 1983-05-14 株式会社 奥村組 昇降装置における回転体の駆動装置
JPS5838988U (ja) * 1981-09-09 1983-03-14 昭和電線電纜株式会社 コネクタ
CA1198789A (fr) * 1982-11-17 1985-12-31 Joseph L. Lockard Prise d'electricite
JPS5979986U (ja) * 1982-11-18 1984-05-30 星電器製造株式会社 コネクタプラグ
EP0147080B1 (fr) * 1983-12-27 1990-01-31 Amp Incorporated Connecteur pour un câble coaxial à ruban

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2579149B2 (ja) 1997-02-05
EP0211496A1 (fr) 1987-02-25
JPS6224582A (ja) 1987-02-02
DE3687491T2 (de) 1993-08-05
DE3687491D1 (de) 1993-02-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4655515A (en) Double row electrical connector
US4737117A (en) Double-row electrical connector and method of making same
EP0753213B1 (fr) Agencement de blindage pour connecteur electrique avec une enveloppe arriere de blindage
US5632634A (en) High frequency cable connector
US4681382A (en) Electrical connector for transmission cable
US4826443A (en) Contact subassembly for an electrical connector and method of making same
US5163849A (en) Lead frame and electrical connector
US4602831A (en) Electrical connector and method of making same
US4653825A (en) Shielded electrical connector assembly
US4343528A (en) Modular interconnect system
US4682840A (en) Electrical connection and method of making same
EP0741921B1 (fr) Connecteur electrique, boitier et contact
EP1109253B1 (fr) Connecteur de câble en plaquette avec soulagement de tension
US4255009A (en) Two row electrical connector
EP1003250B1 (fr) Un connecteur blindé, un jeu de connecteurs blindés et procédé pour connecter un connecteur blindé avec un câble blindé
TWI840661B (zh) 電連接器組合
US4556275A (en) Electrical panelboard connector
JP2004503056A (ja) 高速コネクタ
EP0211496B1 (fr) Connecteur électrique à double rangée de connexions
JPH06203893A (ja) コネクタ
US4692121A (en) Dual slot electrical contact and method of making same
US20110250783A1 (en) Cable assembly with improved terminating means and method of making the same
EP0971451A2 (fr) Connecteur modulaire à grande vitesse
US6364702B1 (en) Electrical cable connector
US4927388A (en) Electrical connector shell assembly and module retention clip

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19870811

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19890704

RAP3 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AMP INCORPORATED (A NEW JERSEY CORPORATION)

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AMP INCORPORATED

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL

RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3687491

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930225

ET Fr: translation filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19980505

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19980603

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19980625

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19990322

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990620

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19990630

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19990620

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000503

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010101

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20010101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050620