Programmable electrical connector

Claim 2

A programmable connector to electrically connect the magnet wires of an electric motor to external leads, which motor may have at least two different winding configurations, comprising: (a) a substrate configured as a centrally-apertured disk adapted to be mounted to one end of the motor; (b) a first plurality of interconnected conductive paths in substantially planar spaced relationship on a surface of, or within, the substrate; (c) means for attaching to the conductive paths a second plurality of the magnet wires, each magnet wire being attached to a specific point on a conductive path; (d) means for attaching to the conductive paths a third plurality of the external leads, each external lead being connected to a specific point on a conductive path; and (e) means to provide for causing electrical discontinuities in some of the conductive paths, such that the magnet wires become electrically connected to the external leads in a predetermined pattern; whereby, a single connector design may be used to connect different second and different third pluralities, depending upon the discontinuities caused, regardless of the motor winding configuration.

Claim 3

A connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of conductive paths is embedded in a high-dielectric plastic material substrate.

Claim 4

A connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of conductive paths is formed on a printed circuit board substrate.

Claim 5

A connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein the first plurality of conductive paths comprises a single metal stamping.

Claim 6

A connector, as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the means for attaching the magnet wires comprises soldering pads formed on the conductive paths.

Claim 7

A connector, as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the means for attaching the external leads comprises soldering pads formed on the conductive paths.

Claim 8

A connector, as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the means for attaching the external leads comprises having pins formed on the ends of the conductive paths to which pins a connector contining the leads may be attached.

Claim 9

A connector, as defined in claim 2, wherein the means to provide for causing discontinuities in the conductive paths comprises a plurality of holes in the plastic material, each such hole being positioned to expose a portion of a single conductive path such that that portion of the conductive path may be removed, thus causing an electrical discontinuity in that conductive path.

Claim 10

A programmable connector to electrically connect the magnet wires of an electric motor to external leads, which motor may have at least two different winding configurations, comprising: (a) a substrate configured as a centrally-apertured disk adapted to be mounted to one end of the motor; (b) a first plurality of interconnected conductive paths, annularly spaced apart, in substantially planar spaced relationship on a surface of, or within, the substrate; (c) soldering pads formed on the conductive paths for attaching a second plurality of magnet wires to the conductive paths, each magnet wire being attached to a specific point on a conductive path; (d) means for attaching to the conductive paths a third plurality of external leads, each external lead being connected to a specific point on a conductive path; and (e) means to provide for causing electrical discontinuities in some of the conductive paths, such that the magnet wires become electrically connected to the external leads in a predetermined pattern; whereby, a single connector design may be used to connect different second and different third pluralities, depending upon the discontinuities caused, regardless of the motor winding configuration.

Claim 11

A programmable connector to electrically connect the magnet wires of an electric motor to external leads, which motor may have at least two different winding configurations, comprising: (a) a substrate configured as a centrally-apertured disk adapted to be mounted to one end of the motor; (b) a first plurality of interconnected conductive paths, annularly spaced apart, in substantially planar spaced relationship on a surface of, or within, the substrate; (c) soldering pads formed on the conductive paths for attaching a second plurality of magnet wires to the conductive paths, each magnet wire being attached to a specific point on a conductive path; (d) means for attaching to the conductive paths a third plurality of external leads, each external lead being connected to a specific point on a conductive path; and (e) means to provide for causing electrical discontinuities in some of the conductive paths, such that the magnet wires become electrically connected to the external leads in a predetermined pattern; whereby, a single connector design may be used to connect different second and different third pluralities, depending upon the discontinuities caused, regardless of the motor winding configuration.

Claim 12

A connector, as defined in claim 9, wherein the substrate comprises a high-dielectric plastic material in which the first plurality of conductive paths is embedded, adapted to be mounted adjacent an end form of the motor.

Claim 13

A connector, as defined in claim 9, wherein the means to provide for causing discontinuities in the conductive paths comprises a plurality of holes in the substrate, each hole being positioned to expose a portion of a single conductive path such that that portion of the conductive path may be removed, thus causing an electrical discontinuity in that conductive path.

Claim 14

A connector, as defined in claims 9 or 11, wherein the first plurality of conductive paths is formed on a printed circuit board substrate adapted to be mounted adjacent an end form of the motor.

Claim 15

A connector, as defined in claims 9, 10, or 11, wherein the first plurality of conductive paths comprises a single metal stamping.

Claim 16

A connector, as defined in claims 9, 10, or 11, wherein the means for attaching the leads comprises soldering pads formed on the conductive paths.

Claim 17

A connector, as defined in claim 9, 10, or 11, wherein the means for attaching the leads comprises having pins formed on the ends of the conductive paths to which pins a connector containing the leads may be attached.