IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,267,568
Granted Patent B2
US 7,267,568 · App. 10/828,722 · Granted Sep 11, 2007

Floating connectors

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,267,568
App. No.
10/828,722
Granted
Sep 11, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus including a first edge having a cutout adjacently located between a pair of counter bore panels, a connector assembly including a connector having a mounting flange with a pair of inserts and a pair of guide pins. The pair of inserts adapted to receive and secure the pair of guide pins. Mounting flange adapted to abut a rear face of the first edge such that the connector extends through the cutout and the pair of inserts align with the pair of counter bore panels. The cutout and the pair of counter bore panels are slightly oversized for the connector and respective guide pins. Once the pair of guide pins is received by the pair of inserts the connector floats within a space defined by the cutout and pair of counter bore panels and the connector and pair of guide pins.

Claims (49)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first edge having a cutout adjacently located between a pair of counter bore panels; and

a connector assembly, including;

a connector having a mounting flange including a pair of inserts;

a pair of spacer bushings sized to be received by the pair of counter bore panels; and

a pair of guide pins;

wherein the pair of inserts are adapted to receive and secure the pair of guide pins via the pair of counter bore panels;

wherein the mounting flange is adapted to abut a rear face of the first edge such that the connector extends through the cutout and the pair of inserts align with the pair of counter bore panels;

wherein the cutout and the pair of counter bore panels are slightly oversized for the connector and respective guide pins such that once the pair of guide pins is received by the pair of inserts, the connector floats within a space defined by the cutout and pair of counter bore panels and the connector and pair of guide pins, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pair of inserts are threaded inserts.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein one end of each of the pair of guide pins are externally threaded.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is a coaxial connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is adapted to couple with a mating connector having receptacles to receive the pair of guide pins.

6. A backplane, comprising:

a rear panel including one or more cutouts, each cutout adjacently located between a pair of counter bore panels;

a connector having a mounting flange, wherein the mounting flange includes a pair of threaded inserts; and

wherein the mounting flange is adapted to abut the rear panel such that the connector extends through the cutout and the threaded inserts align with the pair of counter bore panels;

a pair of guide pins, each guide pin having one threaded end, wherein the threaded inserts are adapted to receive and secure the pair of guide pins via the pair of counter-bore panels;

wherein the cutout and the pair of counter bore panels are slightly oversized for the connector and respective guide pins such that once the pair of guide pins is received by the pair of threaded inserts, the connector floats within a tolerance defined by the oversize of the cutout and pair of counter bore panels in relation to the connector and pair of guide pins.

7. The backplane of claim 6 , wherein the connector is adapted to couple with a mating connector having receptacles to receive the pair of guide pins.

8. A connector system, comprising:

one or more mating connectors coupled to a printed circuit board;

wherein each mating connector includes a pair of receptacles;

a mounting panel including a first edge having one or more oversized cutouts, wherein each oversized cutout is adjacently located between a pair of counter bore panels; and

one or more floating connector assemblies, each floating connector assembly including:

a first connector having a mounting flange including a pair of inserts;

a pair of spacer bushings sized to be received by the pair of counter bore panels; and

a pair of guide pins;

wherein the pair of inserts are adapted to receive and secure the pair of guide pins via the pair of counter bore panels;

wherein the mounting flange is adapted to abut a rear face of the first edge such that the first connector extends through the cutout and the pair of inserts align with the pair of counter bore panels;

wherein a first oversized cutout of the one or more oversized cutouts and a respective pair of counter bore panels are slightly oversized for the first connector and respective pair of guide pins such that once the pair of guide pins is received by the pair of inserts, the first connector floats within a space defined by the cutout and pair of counter bore panels and the first connector and pair of guide pins, respectively;

wherein each of the one or more mating connectors is adapted to couple with one of the one or more floating connector assemblies.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the pair of receptacles of the one or mating connectors is adapted to receive a corresponding pair of guide pins of the one or more floating connector assemblies.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more floating connector assemblies moves within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the mounting panel is a backplane.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more floating connector assemblies moves horizontally within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more floating connector assemblies moves vertically within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more floating connector assemblies moves vertically and horizontally within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

15. A backplane, comprising:

a rear panel including one or more cutouts, each cutout adjacently located between a pair of counter bore panels;

a connector having a mounting flange, wherein the mounting flange includes a pair of inserts; and

wherein the mounting flange is adapted to abut the rear panel such that the connector extends through the cutout and the inserts align with the pair of counter bore panels;

a pair of guide pins, wherein the pair of inserts are adapted to receive and secure the pair of guide pins via the pair of counter-bore panels;

wherein the cutout and the pair of counter bore panels are slightly oversized for the connector and respective guide pins such that the connector floats within a tolerance defined by the oversize of the cutout and pair of counter bore panels in relation to the connector and pair of guide pins.

16. The backplane of claim 15 , wherein the pair of inserts are threaded inserts.

17. The backplane of claim 16 , wherein one end of each of the pair of guide pins are externally threaded.

18. The backplane of claim 15 , wherein the connector moves horizontally within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

19. The backplane of claim 15 , wherein the connector moves moves vertically within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

20. The backplane of claim 15 , wherein the connector moves vertically and horizontally within the defined space to align with the respective one or more mating connectors.

Assignments (16)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 049586/0470 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS, INC.; BIG BAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
Reel/Frame 048825/0294 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 14, 2017
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES INC
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 041995/0031 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2015
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 036601/0162 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2013
From: ARRIS GROUP, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS KOREA, INC.; ARRIS HOLDINGS CORP. OF ILLINOIS; BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.; TEXSCAN CORPORATION; POWER GUARD, INC.; 4HOME, INC.; ACADIA AIC, INC.; AEROCAST, INC.; BROADBUS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION; GENERAL INSTRUMENT AUTHORIZATION SERVICES, INC.; GENERAL INSTRUMENT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; IMEDIA CORPORATION; JERROLD DC RADIO, INC.; LEAPSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.; MODULUS VIDEO, INC.; MOTOROLA WIRELINE NETWORKS, INC.; NETOPIA, INC.; NEXTLEVEL SYSTEMS (PUERTO RICO), INC.; QUANTUM BRIDGE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; SETJAM, INC.; SUNUP DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.; UCENTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.; GIC INTERNATIONAL HOLDCO LLC; GIC INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL LLC; CCE SOFTWARE LLC; THE GI REALTY TRUST 1996
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030498/0023 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRET THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 027422 FRAME 0633. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 7, 2012
From: BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.
To: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028226/0273 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 20, 2012
From: BIGBAND NETWORKS BAS, INC
To: BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC
Reel/Frame 027567/0473 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 20, 2011
From: BIGBAND NETWORKS, INC.
To: ARRIS GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 027422/0633 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 29, 2006
From: ADC BROADBAND ACCESS SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BIGBAND NETWORKS BAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 018695/0345 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2004
From: BAKER, JOHN W.
To: ADC BROADBAND ACCESS SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015248/0614 →