Antenna connector arrangement
First Claim
1. A connector assembly for electrically connecting to an electroconductive element, said assembly comprising:
- an electroconductive connector having a generally flat pad portion, a terminal portion capable of connecting said assembly to an external device and connecting portion which extends generally perpendicularly between the pad portion and the terminal portion to electrically interconnect said pad and terminal portions, where the pad, terminal and connecting portions are integral with each other; and
a preformed plug member sized to a predetermined configuration and overlaying said pad portion such that a major surface of said pad portion is exposed along a first surface of said plug member and where the plug member associates with the connecting portion of the electroconductive connector for spaced apart relation of the connecting portion from the peripheral edge of the plug that upon installation of the connector assembly is the flush outer edge.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a connector assembly for electrically connecting to an electroconductive element having an electroconductive connector with a generally flat pad portion, a terminal portion capable of connecting the assembly to an external device and connecting portion interconnecting the pad and terminal portions, and a preformed plug member sized to a predetermined configuration and overlaying the pad portion such that a major surface of said pad portion is exposed along a first surface of the plug member. The exposed surface may be covered with an adhesive and in one embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion extends through the plug member. The plug member is preferably an electrically nonconductive and moisture impervious material.
45 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A connector assembly for electrically connecting to an electroconductive element, said assembly comprising:
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an electroconductive connector having a generally flat pad portion, a terminal portion capable of connecting said assembly to an external device and connecting portion which extends generally perpendicularly between the pad portion and the terminal portion to electrically interconnect said pad and terminal portions, where the pad, terminal and connecting portions are integral with each other; and a preformed plug member sized to a predetermined configuration and overlaying said pad portion such that a major surface of said pad portion is exposed along a first surface of said plug member and where the plug member associates with the connecting portion of the electroconductive connector for spaced apart relation of the connecting portion from the peripheral edge of the plug that upon installation of the connector assembly is the flush outer edge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A connector assembly for electrically connecting to an electroconductive element, said assembly comprising:
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an electroconductive connector having a generally flat pad portion, a terminal portion capable of connecting said assembly to an external device and connecting portion interconnecting said pad and terminal portions, where the pad, terminal and connecting portions are integral with each other; a preformed plug member sized to a predetermined configuration and overlaying said pad portion such that a major surface of said pad portion is exposed along a first surface of said plug member where the plug member is associated with the connecting portion of the electroconductive connector for spaced apart relation of the connecting portion from the peripheral edge of the plug that upon installation of the connector assembly is the flush outer edge; and an electroconductive adhesive applied along at least said exposed major surface of said pad portion.
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14. A transparent antenna comprising:
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a first rigid, transparent sheet having an opening extending through said first sheet; a second rigid transparent sheet secured in overlaying relation to said first sheet to form a laminate, wherein a portion of a major surface of said second sheet is exposed through said opening; at least one electroconductive antenna element supported on said second sheet and having a portion extending along said exposed portion of said second sheet; and a connector assembly positioned within said opening and having an electroconductive connector having a generally flat pad portion, as a first section of the electroconductive connector overlaying said portion of said electroconductive element, a terminal assembly, and connecting portion which extends generally perpendicularly between the first section and the terminal assembly to electrically interconnect to said first section and terminal assembly to allow connection of said electroconductive element to a transmitting and/or receiving device, where the first section, terminal assembly and connecting portions are integral with each other, and a preformed plug member overlaying said first section of said connector and secured within said opening such that said plug member overlays said exposed portion of said second sheet and fills at least a substantial portion of said opening and where the connecting portion of the electroconductive connector is spaced apart from the peripheral edge of the plug that is flush with an edge of the second rigid transparent sheet. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A transparent antenna comprising:
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a first rigid, transparent sheet having an opening extending through said first sheet; a second rigid transparent sheet secured in overlaying relation to said first sheet to form a laminate, wherein a portion of a major surface of said second sheet is exposed through said opening; at least one electroconductive antenna element supported on said second sheet and having a portion along said exposed portion of said second sheet; and a connector assembly positioned within said opening and having an electroconductive connector with a first section overlaying said portion of said electroconductive element, a terminal assembly electrically interconnected to said first section through a connecting portion which is integral with the first section and the terminal assembly to allow connection of said electroconductive element to a transmitting and/or receiving device, and a preformed plug member overlaying said first section of said connector and secured within said opening such that said plug member overlays said exposed portion of said second sheet and fills at least a substantial portion of said opening and where the connecting portion of the electroconductive connector is spaced apart from the peripheral edge of the plug that is flush with an edge of the second rigid transparent sheet and wherein said first section of said connector is capacitively connected to said antenna element portion.
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27. A method of producing a laminated, transparent glass antenna comprising the steps of:
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cutting a first glass sheet to a desired configuration; cutting a second glass sheet to a configuration generally corresponding to said configuration of said first sheet; providing an opening through said first sheet; applying a transparent electrically conductive coating to a major surface of said second glass sheet; laminating said first sheet to said second sheet such that a portion of said second sheet in the vicinity of said opening is exposed, wherein said coating is positioned between said sheets and a portion of said coating extends along said exposed portion of said second sheet, and securing a connector assembly within said opening in said first sheet, said connector assembly having a preformed plug member which fills at least a substantial portion of said opening and an electroconductive connector with a pad portion overlaying said portion of said coating extending along said exposed portion of said second sheet, a connecting portion which is spaced apart from the peripheral edge of the plug that is flush with an edge of the second glass sheet and where the connecting portion extends generally perpendicularly between the pad portion and a terminal portion extending from said connector assembly to provide connection to an external device, so as to electrically connect said pad portion to said coating portion and seal said opening. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. An electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting to an electroconductive element within a laminate comprising:
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an electroconductive connector having a pad portion with a generally flat major surface, a terminal portion capable of connecting said assembly to an external device, and a connecting portion which extends generally perpendicularly between the pad portion and the terminal portion to electrically interconnect said pad portion and terminal portion, where the pad, terminal, and connecting portions are integral with each other; and a preformed plug member sized to fill an opening in said laminate and overlay said pad portion such that said major surface of said pad portion is exposed and such that the connecting portion of the electroconductive connector is spaced apart from the peripheral edge of the plug that is flush with an outer edge of the electrical connector assembly upon installation.
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Specification