US6607401B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector mateable in a plurality of orientations
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 2000-01-28
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Granted: 2003-08-19
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Expires: 2020-01-28
Abstract
Abstract An interconnection system, comprising: a first connector having an arrangement of contacts therein; and a second connector, mateable with said first connector, and having an arrangement of contacts therein. The second connector can mate with the first connector in a plurality of orientations. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing; and a plurality of contacts in said insulative housing. The connector has four quadrants, with each quadrant housing some of the contacts in an orientation. Each quadrant has an orientation that is different than the other quadrants.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Weaver, Jr.
- 👤 Timothy B. Billman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R13/6586; H01R13/6587; H01R13/46; H01R13/514
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing; and a plurality of signal and ground contacts in said insulative housing; wherein said connector has four quadrants, each quadrant housing a portion of said plurality of signal and ground contacts, all signal contacts in one quadrant being oriented different relative to an orientation of signal contacts in all other ones of said quadrants, wherein the signal contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shape, and wherein the signal contacts in each quadrant are orientated as a general mirror image to orientation of the signal contacts in the two adjacent quadrants.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electrical connector, comprising: an insulative housing; and a plurality of signal and ground contacts in said insulative housing; wherein said connector has four quadrants, each quadrant housing a portion of said plurality of signal and ground contacts, all signal contacts in one quadrant being oriented different relative to an orientation of signal contacts in all other ones of said quadrants, wherein the signal contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shape, and wherein the signal contacts in each quadrant are orientated as a general mirror image to orientation of the signal contacts in the two adjacent quadrants.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector as recited in claim 1 , wherein said orientation is rotated 90° relative to adjacent quadrants.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
An interconnection system, comprising: a first connector having an arrangement of signal and ground contacts therein; and a second connector, mateable with said first connector, and having a second arrangement of pairs of signal and ground contacts therein, the pairs of contacts being arranged in different parts of the second connector, each part having multiple ground contacts and the ground contacts in each respective part being orientated in a same orientation in that part; wherein said ground contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shaped cross section, wherein all of said ground contacts in a first one of the parts of the second arrangement are oriented different relative to said ground contacts in all other ones of the parts of the second arrangement, and wherein said second corrector is mateable with said first connector in a plurality of orientations without shorting any of said signal contacts of said first connector to any of said ground contacts of said second connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
An interconnection system, comprising: a first connector having an arrangement of signal and ground contacts therein; and a second connector, mateable with said first connector, and having a second arrangement of pairs of signal and ground contacts therein, the pairs of contacts being arranged in different parts of the second connector, each part having multiple ground contacts and the ground contacts in each respective part being orientated in a same orientation in that part; wherein said ground contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shaped cross section, wherein all of said ground contacts in a first one of the parts of the second arrangement are oriented different relative to said ground contacts in all other ones of the parts of the second arrangement, and wherein said second corrector is mateable with said first connector in a plurality of orientations without shorting any of said signal contacts of said first connector to any of said ground contacts of said second connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 3 , wherein said arrangement of contacts in said first and second connectors are symmetrical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 4 , wherein said arrangement of contacts in said first and second connectors are symmetrical about a line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 5 , wherein said line passes through the center of each said first and second connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 4 , wherein said arrangement of contacts in said first and second connectors are symmetrical about a point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 7 , wherein said point resides at the center of each said first and second connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 3 , wherein each of said contacts in at least one of said first and second connectors resides in the parts comprising one of four quadrants, all of said contacts in one quadrant being oriented different than said contacts in other ones of said quadrants.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 9 , wherein each of said contacts in one quadrant is oriented with a cross-section rotated approximately 90° from each of said contacts in an adjacent quadrant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 3 , wherein said contacts in said first and second connectors comprise signal contacts and ground contacts, each said ground contact being located proximate a respective one of said signal contacts to form a contact pair.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 11 , wherein said signal and ground contacts of each said contact pair are generally orientated in a same direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 3 , wherein said signal and ground contacts of each said contact pair are orientated in substantially opposite directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 11 , wherein said second connector is mateable with said first connector in at least two orientations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 3 , wherein said second connector is mateable with said first connector in at least four orientations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interconnection system as recited in claim 3 , wherein said contacts in said first and second connectors form an equal number of rows and columns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
136 words
An interconnection system, comprising: a first connector having a first housing and a first arrangement of first contacts, therein; and a second connector, mateable with the first connector, and having a second housing and a second arrangement of second contacts therein; wherein the second connector is mateable with the first connector in a plurality of orientations without shorting any of said contacts, and wherein at least one of the first and second connectors has its contacts arranged in four quadrants, each quadrant having at least two ground contacts and two signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shaped cross section, and wherein a majority of contacts in a first one of the quadrants being oriented respectively differently relative to contacts in second, third and fourth ones of the quadrants.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
136 words
An interconnection system, comprising: a first connector having a first housing and a first arrangement of first contacts, therein; and a second connector, mateable with the first connector, and having a second housing and a second arrangement of second contacts therein; wherein the second connector is mateable with the first connector in a plurality of orientations without shorting any of said contacts, and wherein at least one of the first and second connectors has its contacts arranged in four quadrants, each quadrant having at least two ground contacts and two signal contacts, wherein the ground contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shaped cross section, and wherein a majority of contacts in a first one of the quadrants being oriented respectively differently relative to contacts in second, third and fourth ones of the quadrants.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
A connector assembly, comprising: a plug connector having an arrangement of contacts therein comprising signal and ground contacts; and a receptacle connector conjugally mateable with said plug connector, and having a second arrangement of contacts therein comprising signal and ground contacts; wherein the signal contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shape, wherein a majority of signal contacts in the second arrangement is oriented differently relative to each other, and wherein said receptacle connector and said plug connector are conjugally mateable in a plurality of orientations without shorting any of said signal and ground contacts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
97 words
A connector assembly, comprising: a plug connector having an arrangement of contacts therein comprising signal and ground contacts; and a receptacle connector conjugally mateable with said plug connector, and having a second arrangement of contacts therein comprising signal and ground contacts; wherein the signal contacts comprise a mating end with a general L shape, wherein a majority of signal contacts in the second arrangement is oriented differently relative to each other, and wherein said receptacle connector and said plug connector are conjugally mateable in a plurality of orientations without shorting any of said signal and ground contacts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connector assembly as recited in claim 18 , wherein said arrangement of contacts in said plug and receptacle connectors comprises an array having symmetrical rows and columns, and wherein the array is symmetrically distributed about a center point of said plug and receptacle connectors.
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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) | 2006-08-18 | 2007-02-17 | 2007-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-18 | 2011-02-17 | 2011-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-18 | 2015-02-17 | 2015-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |