STEVEN ERIC MINICH
Engineers in York, PA

2006022, Oct 12, 2006

Mar 24, 2006

11/388549

Danny Morlion - Ghent, BE
Steven Minich - York PA, US
Stephen Smith - Mechanicsburg PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Reno NV

H05K 1/00

439065000

An orthogonal backplane connector systems having midplane footprints that provide for continuity of impedance and signal integrity through the midplane and allow for the same connector to be coupled to either side of the midplane. This design creates an orthogonal interconnect without taking up unnecessary PCB real estate. The midplane circuit board may include a first differential signal pair of electrically conductive vias disposed in a first direction, and a second differential signal pair of electrically conductive vias disposed in a second direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second differential signal pair of electrically conductive vias are electrically connected through the midplane circuit board. Each pair may be associated with and be located in between ground vias. A ground via that is large relative to the signal vias may be provided. The second signal vias may comprise a shared signal via, receiving a contact from respective connectors connected to each side of the midplane circuit board. The second signal vias may comprise partial signal vias, extending from one or more sides partially into the midplane circuit board. The signal pairs may be offset from a via array centerline formed by the ground vias to correspond with mating ends of signal contacts of an electrical connector that likewise jog away from a centerline of a respective contact column of the connector.

2007017, Aug 2, 2007

Apr 9, 2007

11/697958

Steven Minich - York PA, US
Donald Harper - Camp Hill PA, US

FCI Americas Technology Inc. - Reno NV

H01R 3/08

439179000

An electrical connector having an electrical contact with a terminal portion and a contact receiving wafer is disclosed. The connector may also include a contact receiving wafer having a face that at least partially defines an aperture that extends therethrough. A terminal portion of the contact may extend at least partially into the aperture. The faces that define the aperture allow the terminal portion of the contact to move in each of a plurality of directions, while also containing the terminal portion of the contact in each direction. The terminal portion of the contact may have connected a solder ball. The solder ball may define a diameter that is larger than the width of the aperture restricting movement of the wafer along a length of the contact.

8267721, Sep 18, 2012

Oct 20, 2010

12/908344

Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology LLC - Carson City NV

H01R 13/648

43960705, 439 79

An electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assemblies having discrete signal contacts extending through a leadframe housing and defining opposed mating ends and mounting ends. The leadframes lack discrete ground contacts, and instead includes a ground plate having a plurality of mating ends, such that the mating end of at least one signal contact is disposed between a pair of the mating ends of the ground plate. The ground plate further includes a ground coupling bar connected between the pair of mating ends of the ground plate.

2012025, Oct 11, 2012

Mar 15, 2012

13/420681

Lewis R. Johnson - Dover PA, US
Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

H01R 24/28

439660

An electrical connector housing including a contact locating area for locating electrical contacts; and a mating connector area configured to receive portions of a housing of a mating electrical connector. The mating connector area comprises a first wall forming a first area adjacent the contact locating area, and a second wall adjacent the contact locating area forming a second area separated from the contact locating area by the second wall. The first area and the second wall have a substantially same size and shape.

7226298, Jun 5, 2007

Mar 29, 2006

11/393051

Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Reno NV

H01R 12/00

439 83

Preferred embodiments of electrical connectors include a plurality of electrically-conductive contacts each having a lead portion, a plurality of solder balls each attached to the lead portion of a respective one of the contacts, and a housing having plurality of pedestals that each receive the lead portion of a respective one of the contacts.

7331800, Feb 19, 2008

Jan 5, 2006

11/326061

Clifford L. Winings - Marco Island FL, US
Joseph B. Shuey - Camp Hill PA, US
Timothy A. Lemke - Dillsburg PA, US
Gregory A. Hull - York PA, US
Stephen B. Smith - Mechanicsburg PA, US
Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu - Brasschaat, BE
Timothy W. Houtz - Etters PA, US
Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Reno NV

H01R 12/00

439 79, 439941, 439701

An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.

7621751, Nov 24, 2009

Sep 29, 2006

11/540881

Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Carson City NV

H01R 13/60

439 41, 439940

A pickup cap for an electrical connector is disclosed. The pickup cap may include a planar body portion and a plurality of opposing legs extending from a side of the body portion. A respective friction pad may extend from each leg. The friction pads may be received into complementary slots in the housing of an electrical connector. Friction between the friction pads and walls that define the slots may be sufficient to secure the pickup cap to the connector. The planar body portion may include a pickup portion. When the pickup cap is received into the connector housing, the legs may bow slightly. The pickup portion, however, may remain generally planar, and generally parallel to the mating plane defined by the vertical connector, even when the pickup cap is fully inserted into the connector housing.

7431616, Oct 7, 2008

Mar 3, 2006

11/367745

Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Carson City NV

H01R 13/648

439608

A connector may include lead frame assemblies that each includes contacts arranged in a column. Differential signal pairs may be formed from contacts of adjacent lead frame assemblies. A contact of such differential signal pairs may be staggered along the lead frame assembly with respect to the other contact of the pair. Additionally, adjacent lead frame assemblies may be structurally identical but one of the lead frame assemblies may be rotated 180° with respect to the adjacent lead frame assembly. A connector may include contacts that may be front loaded so that, after the connector is connected to a substrate, individual contacts may be removed without removing the connector from the substrate. The connectors may be capable of being rotated 90° relative to one another such that they may be connected to opposite sides of a substrate such as a midplane.

7331830, Feb 19, 2008

Mar 3, 2006

11/368211

Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Reno NV

H01R 11/22

439857

A high-density orthogonal connector is disclosed and may include electrical contacts that are configured to receive contacts from an orthogonal header connector while minimizing signal skew and signal reflection. The electrical contacts in the connector may define contact pairs (e. g. , differential signal pairs). Each contact pair may include a lead portion and a mating interface that extends from the lead portion. The lead portions of the contact pair may define a first plane. One contact of the contact pair defines a first mating interface defining a second plane and the other contact in the contact pair defines a second mating interface defining a third plane. The second plane and the third plane may be both substantially parallel to and offset from the first plane in opposite directions. The contact pair may be configured such that the overall length of each contact within the pair may be substantially the same.

7052288, May 30, 2006

Nov 12, 2004

10/988029

Steven E. Minich - York PA, US

FCI Americas Technology, Inc. - Reno NV

H01R 12/00

439 78, 361790, 174266

A mid-plane is disclosed. The mid-plane includes a first printed circuit board having a plurality of plated vias adapted to receive tails attached to a first connector and having a plurality of unplated clearance holes adapted to receive tails attached to a second connector. The second printed circuit board has a plurality of plated vias adapted to receive tails attached to the second connector and has a plurality of unplated clearance adapted to receive tails attached to the first connector.