Patent US6371813B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6371813B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector apparatus
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 2001-04-18
•
Granted: 2002-04-16
•
Expires: 2021-04-18
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector includes a housing and a plurality of horizontal shields and connector modules configured for insertion into the housing. Each connector module includes an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each coupled to a forwardly-extending receptacle contact. The receptacle contacts are formed to have a plurality of horizontally-extending slots to receive the horizontal shields when the connector modules are inserted into the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel C. Ramey
- 👤 Alexander W. Barr
- 👤 Kevin R. Meredith
- 👤 Johannes Petrus Maria Kusters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58; H01R12/585; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/722; H01R12/724; H01R13/00; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/46; H01R13/514; H01R13/646; H01R13/6461; H01R13/6471; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R13/6586; H01R43/00; H01R43/20; H01R43/205; H01R13/516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of connector modules, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each connector module being further formed to include a plurality of laterally-extending openings which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of shields including first shield portions extending into the laterally-extending openings in the plurality of connector modules to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths, and a housing configured to receive the plurality of connector modules and shields.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of connector modules, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each connector module being further formed to include a plurality of laterally-extending openings which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of shields including first shield portions extending into the laterally-extending openings in the plurality of connector modules to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths, and a housing configured to receive the plurality of connector modules and shields.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 1 , wherein the coaxial shields are formed around pairs of conductive paths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of connector modules configured for insertion into the housing, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each connector module being further formed to include a plurality of passageways which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, and which extend laterally between opposite sides of the connector modules, a plurality of first shields configured for insertion into the housing, each first shield extending along a first side of an associated connector module, the first shields being formed to include a plurality of passageways extending laterally between opposite sides thereof in substantial alignment with the passageways in the connector modules to form a plurality of laterally-extending channels, and a plurality of second shields configured for insertion into the plurality of laterally-extending channels in the plurality of connector modules and first shields, the second shields being electrically coupled to the first shields to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of connector modules configured for insertion into the housing, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each connector module being further formed to include a plurality of passageways which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, and which extend laterally between opposite sides of the connector modules, a plurality of first shields configured for insertion into the housing, each first shield extending along a first side of an associated connector module, the first shields being formed to include a plurality of passageways extending laterally between opposite sides thereof in substantial alignment with the passageways in the connector modules to form a plurality of laterally-extending channels, and a plurality of second shields configured for insertion into the plurality of laterally-extending channels in the plurality of connector modules and first shields, the second shields being electrically coupled to the first shields to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector claim 3 , wherein the coaxial shields are formed around pairs of conductive paths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrical connector comprising: housing, a plurality of connector modules, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, the plurality of connector modules being coupled to the housing, each connector module being formed to include a plurality of passageways which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of first shields extending along a first side of an associated connector module, and a plurality of second shields, each second shield being configured for insertion into one of the passageways formed by the plurality of connector modules, the plurality of first shields being electrically coupled to the plurality of second shields to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrical connector comprising: housing, a plurality of connector modules, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, the plurality of connector modules being coupled to the housing, each connector module being formed to include a plurality of passageways which are interleaved with the plurality of conductive paths, a plurality of first shields extending along a first side of an associated connector module, and a plurality of second shields, each second shield being configured for insertion into one of the passageways formed by the plurality of connector modules, the plurality of first shields being electrically coupled to the plurality of second shields to form coaxial shields around the conductive paths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 5 , wherein the coaxial shields are formed around pairs of conductive paths.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrical connector comprising: a body formed to include a front wall, a back wall, and a plurality of first and second openings extending through the body to provide a passageway through the front and back walls, a plurality of signal pins configured for insertion into the plurality of first openings, each signal pin including a first end extending from the front wall of the body to form an array of pin contacts, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and extending from the back wall of the body, and a plurality of shield blades configured for insertion into the plurality of second openings, each of the plurality of shield blades having a first end extending from the front wall of the body adjacent to the first end of a signal pin, a second end extending from the back wall of the body adjacent to the second end of said signal pin and a generally right angle shielding portion configured to be disposed adjacent to an intermediate portion of said signal pin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrical connector comprising: a body formed to include a front wall, a back wall, and a plurality of first and second openings extending through the body to provide a passageway through the front and back walls, a plurality of signal pins configured for insertion into the plurality of first openings, each signal pin including a first end extending from the front wall of the body to form an array of pin contacts, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and extending from the back wall of the body, and a plurality of shield blades configured for insertion into the plurality of second openings, each of the plurality of shield blades having a first end extending from the front wall of the body adjacent to the first end of a signal pin, a second end extending from the back wall of the body adjacent to the second end of said signal pin and a generally right angle shielding portion configured to be disposed adjacent to an intermediate portion of said signal pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
The electrical connector of claim 7 , including means for guiding insertion of a plurality of connector modules and first shields into the electrical connector, wherein the connector modules include a plurality of receptacle contacts, wherein the first shields include a plurality of shield fingers, wherein the first ends of the signal pins are configured to be received in the receptacle contacts and the first ends of the shield blades are configured to engage the shield fingers when the connector modules and the first shields are inserted into the electrical connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
202 words
An electrical connector comprising: a body formed to include a front wall, a back wall, and a plurality of first and second openings extending through the body to provide a passageway through the front and back walls, a plurality of signal pins configured for insertion into the plurality of first openings, each signal pin including a first end extending from the front wall of the body to form an array of pin contacts, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and extending from the back wall of the body, and a plurality of shield blades configured for insertion into the plurality of second openings, each of the plurality of shield blades having a first end extending from the front wall of the body adjacent to the first end of a signal pin, a second end extending from the back wall of the body adjacent to the second end of said signal pin and a generally right angle shielding portion configured to be disposed adjacent to an intermediate portion of said signal pin, wherein the first and second openings are arranged in the body such that the generally right angle shielding portions of shield blades substantially surround the signal pins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
202 words
An electrical connector comprising: a body formed to include a front wall, a back wall, and a plurality of first and second openings extending through the body to provide a passageway through the front and back walls, a plurality of signal pins configured for insertion into the plurality of first openings, each signal pin including a first end extending from the front wall of the body to form an array of pin contacts, and a second end spaced apart from the first end and extending from the back wall of the body, and a plurality of shield blades configured for insertion into the plurality of second openings, each of the plurality of shield blades having a first end extending from the front wall of the body adjacent to the first end of a signal pin, a second end extending from the back wall of the body adjacent to the second end of said signal pin and a generally right angle shielding portion configured to be disposed adjacent to an intermediate portion of said signal pin, wherein the first and second openings are arranged in the body such that the generally right angle shielding portions of shield blades substantially surround the signal pins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
The electrical connector of claim 9 , including means for guiding insertion of a plurality of connector modules and first shields into the electrical connector, wherein the connector modules include a plurality of receptacle contacts, wherein the first shields include a plurality of shield fingers, wherein the first ends of the signal pins are configured to be received in the receptacle contacts and the first ends of the shield blades are configured to engage the shield fingers when the connector modules and the first shields are inserted into the electrical connector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of horizontal shields configured for insertion into the housing, and a plurality of connector modules configured for insertion into the housing, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each coupled to a forwardly-extending receptacle contact, the receptacle contacts are formed to include a plurality of horizontally-extending slots configured to receive the horizontal shields when the connector modules are inserted into the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electrical connector comprising: a housing, a plurality of horizontal shields configured for insertion into the housing, and a plurality of connector modules configured for insertion into the housing, each connector module including an insulated material encasing a plurality of conductive paths, each coupled to a forwardly-extending receptacle contact, the receptacle contacts are formed to include a plurality of horizontally-extending slots configured to receive the horizontal shields when the connector modules are inserted into the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein the horizontally-extending slots formed by the receptacle contacts are formed between successive pairs of receptacle contacts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The connector of claim 11 , wherein each connector module includes a vertical shield extending along a first side thereof, wherein each vertical shield includes a plurality of shield fingers extending forwardly in substantial alignment with the forwardly-extending receptacle contacts, and wherein the forwardly-extending shield fingers engage the horizontal shields to form coaxial shields around the receptacle contacts when the connector modules are inserted into the housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The connector of claim 13 , wherein the shield fingers are formed to include a plurality of horizontally-extending slots configured to receive the horizontal shields when the connector modules are inserted into the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 13 , wherein the coaxial shields are formed around pairs of receptacle contacts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 15 , wherein the pairs of receptacle contacts enclosed in coaxial shields form differential pairs in adjacent columns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 15 , wherein the pairs of receptacle contacts enclosed in coaxial shields form differential pairs in adjacent rows.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-04-15 | 2005-10-15 | 2006-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-15 | 2009-10-15 | 2010-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-15 | 2013-10-15 | 2014-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |