Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Insulating body with spaced – electrically interconnected,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-09-18
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Insulating body with spaced, electrically interconnected,...
C439S724000, C439S885000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290550
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computers and other signal processing devices utilize connectors to communicate signals to locations exterior to the computer. The signals are typically transmitted through a plurality of wires or cables which are connected to the computer through a connector. Shielded wires or shielded cables (hereinafter referred to collectively as “shielded wires”) have a conductive shield braid surrounding signal wire(s) on which the signals are transmitted. The shield braid prevents noise from appearing on the signal wire, controlling interference between adjacent signal wires.
The shield braid of each shielded wire is grounded. Shielded wires have their signal wire connected directly into the connector, but may connect the shield braid to an exterior portion of the connector to ground the shield braid. Typically, the shielded wire has a length of insulation removed to expose the shield braid. A shield ground wire is attached at one end to the shield braid and attached at the other end directly to the connector (for example, connecting to a ring terminal which is attached to the connector through a screw) or connected indirectly to the connector through a grounding block (also called a ground block).
The grounding block includes multiple terminals, each of which is adapted to have a pin which is affixed to the shield ground wire accommodated therein. Grounding blocks allow connections of the shielded cable to be made easily.
However, prior art grounding blocks have been relatively complicated to manufacture, thus increasing their cost to manufacture. The prior art grounding blocks may utilize relative expensive metal castings, machined metal components and polymers. As many as sixty-four different components were used to produce one prior art multi-pin grounding block.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a grounding block or other same-potential block having simple construction and a method for manufacturing such a grounding block or other same-potential block.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3548367 (1970-12-01), Bruetsch
patent: 3652977 (1972-03-01), Feldberg
patent: 4568138 (1986-02-01), McKenzie
patent: 5192233 (1993-03-01), Suffredini et al.
Extracts (15 pages) from a proposal prepared for and presented to the Boeing Company on Jul. 23, 1998 in Seattle, Washington.
Dutton Peter J.
Gracey Robert D.
Llano Santiago
Lomastro Joseph A.
Ratzlaff Thomas D.
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Array Connector Corporation
Ta Tho D.
LandOfFree
Same potential block such as a grounding block and method... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Same potential block such as a grounding block and method..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Same potential block such as a grounding block and method... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2480657