TE Connectivity has filed a patent for a connector designed for flat flexible cables. The connector includes a housing with a receptacle for the cable and a movable actuator. A conductive terminal is positioned within the receptacle and is biased between an open and clamping position by the actuator. The terminal also has a surface mounting tab that extends through the housing. GlobalData’s report on TE Connectivity gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on TE Connectivity, Battery management systems was a key innovation area identified from patents. TE Connectivity's grant share as of September 2023 was 64%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Connector for a flat flexible cable with biased conductive terminal
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230318214A1) describes a connector and connector assembly for flat flexible cables. The connector includes a housing with a receptacle to receive the cable, an actuator that can move within the housing, and a conductive terminal within the receptacle. The terminal has a first portion with a first arm and a second arm that create an opening to receive the exposed conductor of the cable. The actuator can bias the terminal between an open position and a clamping position. The terminal also has a mounting portion that extends through the housing, with an end exposed on the exterior surface of the housing.
The actuator in the connector can be mounted within an opening in the housing and is selectively fixable to maintain the terminal in the clamping position. The terminal itself can have a self-locking spring clip design, with one of the arms acting as a latch to retain the terminal in the clamping position. The actuator can be hingedly connected to the housing, and the first arm of the terminal can have arcuate segments that engage with the actuator.
The connector assembly includes multiple terminals within the receptacle, each biased into the clamping position by the actuator. Partitioning walls are defined in the receptacle to separate the terminals, and corresponding openings in the walls receive the mounting portions of the terminals. The mounting portion can be a surface mounting tab that extends from the second arm of the terminal and has a hook-shaped end to capture a portion of the housing. The housing itself has an opening in the rear wall to receive the surface mounting tab.
In summary, the patent describes a connector and connector assembly for flat flexible cables. The connector has a housing, an actuator, and a conductive terminal, with the actuator biasing the terminal between open and clamping positions. The connector assembly includes multiple terminals within a receptacle, with partitioning walls and mounting portions for each terminal. The design allows for secure and efficient connections between the cable and electrical devices.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
