US3663922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat cable connectors having two rows of contacts
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1971-01-18
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1991-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A connector for a flat cable has two opposed rows of contacts. The flat cable has signal conductors and a flat shield member which is terminated further from the end of the cable than the signal conductors. A row of signal contacts are crimped onto the signal conductors. The shield contacts extend beyond the signal contacts. The signal contacts can be crimped onto the signal conductors without making contact with the shield member. The shield contacts carry a shield connection through the connector for each signal conductor. In this way the impedance mismatch at the termination of the cable is reduced and impedance continuity through the conductor is improved.
Inventors
- 👤 Tilman Harrison Foust Jr
- 👤 Dale Richard Zell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/68; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/778
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A flat cable comprising: a plurality of parallel spaced apart signal conductors lying in a single plane, insulating material encasing said signal conductors to form a generally flat cable having two terminating ends, and a common conductor lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said spaced apart signal conductors, said common conductor being terminated at a different distance from the terminating end of said cable than said signal conductors, a row of signal contacts extending transversely across said cable, and a row of shield contacts extending transversely across said cable and generally parallel to said row of signal contacts, said signal contacts extending a different distance inwardly from the end of said cable than said shield contacts so that said signal contacts can be crimped on said signal conductors without contacting said common conductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A flat cable comprising: a plurality of parallel spaced apart signal conductors lying in a single plane, insulating material encasing said signal conductors to form a generally flat cable having two terminating ends, and a common conductor lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said spaced apart signal conductors, said common conductor being terminated at a different distance from the terminating end of said cable than said signal conductors, a row of signal contacts extending transversely across said cable, and a row of shield contacts extending transversely across said cable and generally parallel to said row of signal contacts, said signal contacts extending a different distance inwardly from the end of said cable than said shield contacts so that said signal contacts can be crimped on said signal conductors without contacting said common conductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cable recited in claim 1 wherein said common conductor is a flat shield member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cable recited in claim 1 wherein said shield member is terminated at a point further from the end of each cable than said signal conductors, said shield contacts have two sidewalls extending from a web, said sidewalls being crimped to said shield member, the forward end of said shield contacts terminating in a female receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable recited in claim 1 further comprising a housing having an open side for receiving said flat cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A connector for a flat cable of the type including: a plurality of parallel spaced apart signal conductors lying in a single plane, insulating material encasing said signal conductors to form a generally flat cable having two terminating ends, and a common conductor lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said spaced apart signal conductors, said common conductor being terminated at a different distance from the terminating end of said cable than said signal conductors, said connector comprising: a housing having an open side for receiving said flat cable, a row of signal contacts, said row extending transversely across said housing and parallel to said open sidE, a row of shield contacts, said row extending transversely across said housing and generally parallel to said open side, said shield contacts extending a different distance toward said open side than said signal contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
144 words
A connector for a flat cable of the type including: a plurality of parallel spaced apart signal conductors lying in a single plane, insulating material encasing said signal conductors to form a generally flat cable having two terminating ends, and a common conductor lying in a plane parallel to the single plane of said spaced apart signal conductors, said common conductor being terminated at a different distance from the terminating end of said cable than said signal conductors, said connector comprising: a housing having an open side for receiving said flat cable, a row of signal contacts, said row extending transversely across said housing and parallel to said open sidE, a row of shield contacts, said row extending transversely across said housing and generally parallel to said open side, said shield contacts extending a different distance toward said open side than said signal contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The connector recited in claim 5, wherein said signal contacts each have a pair of sidewalls extending outwardly from an elongated flat web positioned against the flat side of the cable, said sidewalls extending through said insulation and being crimped over one of said signal conductors, each of said shield contacts having a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from an elongated flat web positioned against the flat side of the cable, said sidewalls extending through said insulation and being crimped to said common conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The connector recited in claim 5, wherein said housing has a generally closed side with holes therein opposite said open side, the forward end of each contact being formed into a female receptacle with an opening disposed against said closed side so that male plugs can be inserted through said holes into the openings in said contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector recited in claim 7, wherein the forward end of each contact has a tab which extends into one of the holes in the closed side of said housing for proper positioning of said contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connector recited in claim 5, wherein said signal contacts are opposed to said shield contacts so that said signal contacts can be inserted in one side of said flat cable and said shield contacts can be inserted in the other side of said flat cable.
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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) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |