Abstract:
Described herein are devices, systems and methods for accessing devices, such as modules or printed circuit boards (PCBs), for electrical communications. Various connectors described herein utilize a side-edge surface of a device, such as a PCB, for connectivity in order to maximize the surface area on the PCB upon which electronic components can be mounted. Such connectors can be used to temporarily connect to devices (e.g., PCBs) for the purposes of debugging, testing and/or configuring circuitry, firmware and/or software. Each such connector utilizes the side-edge surface of a device along its thickness to provide connectivity, which is useful in many situations, including when the device (e.g., a PCB) is to be soldered as a part onto a larger board at a later point in time, or where multiple PCBs are stacked.
Abstract:
An LED adapter to retrofit non-LED light fixtures to accept LED lights without electrical rewiring. The LED adapter includes a multi-use base plug that is configured to connect to the socket on the non-LED light fixture and a universal LED plug configured to connect to the socket on an LED light. The multi-use base plug may be a four-pin square base, a two-pin (aligned or off-set) square base, a two-pin tombstone base, a two-pin oval base, or a threaded base. The adapter may also include a power regulator disposed between the universal LED plug and the multi-use base plug. The power regulator includes one or more resistor to adjust the current or voltage supplied by the non-LED light fixture so as to be compatible with the LED light fixture.
Abstract:
An electrical connector (102) matable to and unmatable from a separable mating electrical connector includes a housing having a terminal channel and an auxiliary terminal channel with a power terminal (132) received in the terminal channel and an auxiliary power terminal (136) received in the auxiliary terminal channel. A TPA device (162) is movably coupled to the housing between an open position and a blocking position for blocking removal of the power terminal from the terminal channel. A protective thermal coupler (160) is held by and movable with the TPA device. The protective thermal coupler has a variable resistive member (200) electrically coupled between the power terminal and the auxiliary power terminal. The variable resistive member provides a shunt so that arcing does not occur when the power terminal is disconnected from the mating power terminal of the mating electrical connector.
Abstract:
Connector receptacles that may have a desired form factor to fit in a stylized device enclosure. These stylized connector receptacles and corresponding connector inserts may also be capable of high-speed performance. Examples may also provide circuitry for these connector inserts and connector receptacles that support these high speeds.
Abstract:
A communication plug including a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing side surfaces and opposing end surfaces, a grounding plane in the substrate, a grounding strip on a side surface of the substrate in electrical communication with the grounding plane, where the grounding strip is electrically connected to the ground plane in the substrate.
Abstract:
Extendable connector ports are described herein that may be implemented in thin computing devices. An extendable connector port includes a floor, tongue, and roof that expand from a closed position stored within a computing device to an open position that extends away from the computing device. An extension mechanism of the extendable connector port maintains a parallel orientation of the floor, tongue, and roof and gaps in the extendable connector port when the port extends to the open position. The extendable connector port may then be collapsed into the closed position by reducing or eliminating gaps between the floor, tongue, and roof, so that the connector port is thinner in its closed position than it is in its open position. This collapsibility of the extendable connector port allows thin computing devices to include ports that are thicker than a housing of the device.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connector tongue element (1) for an electrical connector plug receptacle (4), the connector tongue element comprising: a flexible printed circuit (10) having an attachment portion (11); connector pins (12) attached and electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit at the attachment portion; and a first body (13) of polymeric material molded around at least a part of the attachment portion to form a connector base portion (14), the first body mechanically secures the attachment of the connector pins to the flexible printed circuit, wherein the connector pins extend from the connector base portion in a withdrawal direction along which an electrical connector plug is adapted to be withdrawn from the electrical connector plug receptacle; wherein the connector pins form a connector tongue portion (16) extending from the connector base portion in the withdrawal direction; and wherein the first body allow the connector pins to present connecting surfaces for connecting the electrical connector plug receptacle to the electrical connector plug.