Multipin connector and method of reducing EMI by use thereof

Claim 2

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves above about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first ends pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles surrounded by an electrical non-conductive material, said blend of particles including at least a first material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity and a second, electrically conductive material, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern, a first end portion, and a second end portion surrounding said pins a selected distance therefrom; and means for fixedly mounting said pin encircling member of said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pins and said first end portion spaced away from said header wall a distance greater than said first ends of said pins.

Claim 3

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said second end portion of said pin encircling member includes a barrier wall with apertures for each of said pins and having an outer dimension larger than said access opening over which said connector is to be fixedly mounted.

Claim 4

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said apertures are slightly larger than said pins whereby spaces are defined between said pins and said barrier wall of said pin encircling member.

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 3 including an electrical insulating material in said spaces.

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein said header is formed from a plastic, electrically non-conductive material.

Claim 7

The improvement as defined in claim 5 wherein said header includes a cavity for fixedly receiving-said pin encircling member.

Claim 8

The improvement as defined in claim 6 including detent means for fixedly securing said pin encircling member into said cavity of said header.

Claim 9

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said header is formed from a plastic, electrically non-conductive material.

Claim 10

The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein said second end portion of said pin encircling member includes a barrier wall with apertures for each of said pins and having an outer dimension larger than said access opening over which said connector is to be fixedly mounted.

Claim 11

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said header includes a cavity for fixedly receiving said pin encircling member.

Claim 12

The improvement as defined in claim 10 wherein said second end of said pin encircling member includes a barrier wall with apertures for each of said pins and having an outer dimension larger than said access opening over which said connector is to be fixedly mounted.

Claim 13

The improvement as defined in claim 10 wherein said header is formed from a plastic, electrically non-conductive material.

Claim 14

The improvement as defined in claim 10 including detent means for fixedly securing said pin encircling member into said cavity of said header.

Claim 15

The improvement as defined in claim 11 including detent means for fixedly securing said pin encircling member into said cavity of said header.

Claim 16

The improvement as defined in claim 12 including detent means for fixedly securing said pin encircling member into said cavity of said header.

Claim 17

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said central bore of said pin encircling member includes a connector receptacle means for receiving a multiconductor connector having contacts matching said pins fixed on said header.

Claim 18

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said second end of said pin encircling member includes a barrier wall with apertures for each of said pins and having an outer dimension larger than said access opening over which said connector is to be fixedly mounted.

Claim 19

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said header includes a cavity for fixedly receiving said pin encircling member.

Claim 20

The improvement as defined in claim 16 wherein said header is formed from a plastic, electrically non-conductive material.

Claim 21

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrically non-conductive material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, ceramics and vitreous materials.

Claim 22

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said first material is ferrite.

Claim 23

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from the group consisting of graphite, carbon black, zinc, copper, nickel, and coated glass fibers.

Claim 24

The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said blend of finely divided particles is formed into a core and said electrically non-conductive material is a barrier formed around said core.

Claim 25

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves above about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first ends pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely devided particles bonded together in an electrically non-conductive material, said blend of particles including at least one material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern, a first end portion and a second end portion surrounding said pins a selected distance therefrom; and means for fixedly mounting said encircling member on said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pins and said first end portion spaced from said header wall a distance greater than said first ends of said pins, said second end portion of said pin encircling member including a barrier wall with apertures for each of said pins and having an outer dimension larger than said access opening over which said connector is to be mounted.

Claim 26

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves above about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first ends pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely devided particles bonded together in an electrically non-conductive material, said blend of particles including at least one material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern, a first end portion and a second end portion surrounding said pins a selected distance therefrom; and means for fixedly mounting said encircling member on said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pins and said first end portion spaced from said header wall a distance greater than said first ends of said pins, said second end portion of said pin encircling member including a barrier wall with apertures for each of said pins and having an outer dimension larger than said access opening over which said connector is to be mounted.

Claim 27

The improvement as defined in claim 24 wherein said apertures are slightly larger than said pins whereby spaces are defined between said pins and said barrier wall of said pin encircling member.

Claim 28

The improvment as defined in claim 24 wherein said header is formed from a plastic, electrically non-conductive material.

Claim 29

The improvement as defined in claim 24 wherein said header includes a cavity for fixedly receiving said pin encircling member.

Claim 30

The improvement as defined in claim 27 including detent means for fixedly securing said pin encircling member into said cavity of said header.

Claim 31

The improvement as defined in claim 24 wherein said central bore of said pin encircling member includes a connector receptacle means for receiving a multiconductor connector having contacts matching said pins fixed on said header.

Claim 32

The improvement as defined in claim 24 wherein said blend of finely divided particles is formed into a core and said electrically non-conductive material is a barrier formed around said core.

Claim 33

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves above about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first ends pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles bonded together in a matrix material, said blend of particles including at least one material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern, a first end portion, and a second end portion surrounding said pins a selected distance thereform; and means for fixedly mounting said encircling member on said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pins and said first end portion spaced from said header wall in a direction away from said supporting wall a distance greater than said first ends of said pins, and said header being formed from a non-conductive plastic material.

Claim 34

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves above about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first ends pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles bonded together in a matrix material, said blend of particles including at least one material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern, a first end portion, and a second end portion surrounding said pins a selected distance thereform; and means for fixedly mounting said encircling member on said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pins and said first end portion spaced from said header wall in a direction away from said supporting wall a distance greater than said first ends of said pins, and said header being formed from a non-conductive plastic material.

Claim 35

The improvement as defined in claim 31 wherein said header includes a cavity for fixedly receiving said pin encircling member.

Claim 36

The improvement as defined in claim 32 including detent means for fixedly securing said pin encircling member into said cavity of said header.

Claim 37

The improvement as defined in claim 31 wherein said central bore of said pin encircling member includes a connector receptacle means for receiving a multiconductor connector having contacts matching said pins fixed on said header.

Claim 40

A method of reducing EMI radiation, as defined in claim 35, further including using said mass as a shielding member over said access opening.

Claim 41

A method of reducing EMI radiation, as defined in claim 36, further including positioning said mass closely adjacent to said pins of said multipin connector thereby intercepting radiated and conductive electromagnetic fields as they are expanding and collapsing.

Claim 44

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating EMI, said connector comprising a header with means for securing said header over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles bonded together in a generally low electrically conductive material, said blend of particles including at least a first material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity; and, means for fixedly mounting said pin encircling member on said header and in a position surrounding said pins whereby said member is operatively associated with each of said pins.

Claim 45

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating EMI, said connector comprising a header with means for securing said header over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles bonded together in a generally low electrically conductive material, said blend of particles including at least a first material having a high magnetic permeability, low magnetic retentivity; and, means for fixedly mounting said pin encircling member on said header and in a position surrounding said pins whereby said member is operatively associated with each of said pins.

Claim 48

In a connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a conductor interconnecting pin passing through said access opening with said pin having a first end pointing away from said wall and a second end pointing in the direction opposite to said first end, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pin from said wall, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles bonded together in an electrically non-conductive material, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin, a first end portion, and a second end portion surrounding said pin a selected distance; and means for fixedly mounting said pin encircling member of said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pin and said first end portion spaced from said header wall in a direction away from said supporting wall a distance greater than said first end of said pin.

Claim 49

In a connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header having a header wall with means for securing said header wall over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a conductor interconnecting pin passing through said access opening with said pin having a first end pointing away from said wall and a second end pointing in the direction opposite to said first end, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pin from said wall, the improvement comprising: a pin encircling member formed of a blend of finely divided particles bonded together in an electrically non-conductive material, said encircling member having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin, a first end portion, and a second end portion surrounding said pin a selected distance; and means for fixedly mounting said pin encircling member of said header with said inwardly facing profile of said bore surrounding said pin and said first end portion spaced from said header wall in a direction away from said supporting wall a distance greater than said first end of said pin.

Claim 50

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header with means for securing said header over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first end pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the connector further comprising: means on said header for selectively receiving and securing a pin encircling member and a matching pin encircling member formed of an EMI energy dissipating material and having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern.

Claim 51

In a multipin connector to be fixedly mounted over a conductor access opening in a supporting wall of a digital device of the type operated by signals having frequency components capable of radiating electromagnetic waves about 5-30 Megahertz, said connector comprising a header with means for securing said header over said opening and on said supporting wall, means for fixedly supporting a plurality of conductor interconnecting pins on parallel axes passing through said access opening in a preselected pin layout pattern with said pins having first end pointing away from said wall and second ends pointing in the direction opposite to said first ends, and means on said header for electrically isolating said pins one from the other, the connector further comprising: means on said header for selectively receiving and securing a pin encircling member and a matching pin encircling member formed of an EMI energy dissipating material and having a central bore with an inwardly facing profile generally matching said pin pattern.

Claim 52

The improvement as defined in claim 42 wherein said header is formed from a plastic, electrically non-conductive material.