Abstract:
An interface having a receiver and a test adapter. The receiver has a body and a latch post connected to the body. The latch post has a body, a neck, and a tip with the tip being larger than the neck. The test adapter has a frame and an engagement assembly. The engagement assembly has a drive shaft having first and second ends, a drive knob connected to the first end of the drive shaft, a drive nut connected to the drift shaft near the second end of the drive shaft. The drive nut has a threaded interior portion. The drive assembly further has a drive screw and a drive screw housing. The drive screw has a threaded exterior portion such that the threaded exterior portion of the drive screw engages with the threaded interior portions of the drive nut. A spring extends from the drive screw longitudinally away from the threaded portion of the drive screw. The spring has an enlarged portion at its distal end for gripping the neck of the latch post. Rotation of the drive shaft draws the springs and latch post into a position in which the springs are held in closed position firmly gripping the latch post.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/308,875 filed by the present inventors on Feb. 26, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/259,627 filed on Nov. 9, 2009. 
     The aforementioned provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing and locking interfaces of two items releasably together and more particularly to an apparatus for securing and locking together an array of electrical connectors in a common frame. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     A variety of mass interconnect devices have been used in the past. One example of prior art interface systems was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,005, entitled “Slide Cam Mechanism for Positioning Test Adapter in Operative Relationship with a Receiver,” which was assigned to Virginia Panel Corporation. In the &#39;005 Patent, the receiver included an inner frame and outer walls. Between the outer walls and adjacent sides of the receiver frame were placed fixed hanger plates provided with straight slots and interior slides having coacting cam slots. The slides were driven by a hand lever and attached round torsion shaft with connected linkage having an over-dead-center locked position. Movement of the hand lever would cause the slides to move parallel to the outer walls and interior sides. Modules for holding various electrical contacts were mounted in the receiver parallel to the direction of movement of the slides. 
     The individual test adapter, or ITA, disclosed in the &#39;005 patent had four split roller dual bearings or rollers on common dry lube sleeves that would rotate oppositely during the camming action to minimize friction. The individual test adapter rollers rested on dwell shoulders of the cam slots and then descended through the straight slots during movement of the slides of the receiver to produce positive straight-on engagement of the test adapter and receiver multiple contacts. The slides had elongated linear guide bearings with dry lube pads for precision free movement. The slides were connected to a cylindrical torsion shaft via linkage. Like the receiver modules, the ITA modules were mounted in the system in a direction parallel to the ITA sides on which the rollers were located. When modules, pins, patchcords, and perhaps a cover are mounted to or on the interface test adapter, the assembly is sometimes referred to as a “fixture.” 
     Another prior art system has been known as the MAC Panel Series 06, or rotating latch, interface device. In the rotating latch type device, the camming is performed by plates that rotate rather than moving in a linear fashion. In the rotating latch devices, the connector modules have been mounted to the receiver and test adapter frame parallel to the plane of rotation of the rotating latches. 
     Another prior art system sold by Virginia Panel Corporation included a receiver that included slides similar to those disclosed in the &#39;005 patent but used pins at two corners, diagonal from one other, on the receiver. These pins inhibited vertical movement of the ITA in the receiver to produce straight-on engagement. This prior art system included machined side rails and a cylindrical torsion shaft. 
     Another prior interface device is known as the TTI Testron VG Series interface device. This device may be in a tabletop or a rack-mounted form. This VG Series device included a fixture support plate mounted to the receiver in a direction perpendicular to the face of the receiver. The receiver would be mounted directly to the test equipment. The TTI Testron fixture, or test adapter, would be engaged to the receiver by lifting the fixture onto a pair of hooks protruding from the face of the receiver and then resting the fixture on the support plate. A handle and gears were used to pull the hooks, and hence, the fixture, into the receiver to cause the electrical contacts in the receiver and the fixture to mate. 
     Yet another prior art test system was used prior to 1980 in connection with the federal government&#39;s F-16 program. That system had a slide plate on each side of the receiver, with each slide plate connecting to the engagement pins on the sides of a corresponding ITA frame and each slide plate being pulled into the receiver via a connection near the center of the slide plate. This system suffered from significant problems of the ITA tilting to some degree and thereby causing contacts to be crushed. 
     Still other prior art engagement systems include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,023. In still other prior art engagement systems, others have incorporated the use of a screw together engager that utilizes a range of thread styles including standard, Acme and high pitch helical grooves. The amount of rotation to engage these ranges from 180° to several full turns. One example of such a screw type engager is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,458 entitled “Interface Engagement and Locking System.” 
     The systems that utilize standard threads or single start Acme threads typically require several turns to fully engage. Although they do not need lubrication, they have a tendency to cross-thread easily. The systems that employ helical grooves typically only require 180° of rotation to achieve full engagement but require a high amount of torque and the use of lubrication to maintain an only somewhat smooth feel during the process of engaging and disengaging. Even with the use of lubrication, these systems show a consistent pattern of extremely high wear on some of the components involved in the engagement procedure. The torque and the wear issues worsen over the cycle life of the system. Also, considering the geometry of these systems, the lubrication is required to be applied in an area that threatens sensitive electronic components. 
     Another more recent system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,297,014, which is hereby incorporated by reference. That system incorporated a spring lock design to initially attach the two halves of the system, i.e., a receiver and a test adapter, together after which the use of a multi start Acme lead screw provided a, consistent, low torque means of engagement. The test adapter had a single spring lock pin extending roughly down the center of the test adapter toward the receiver. The single spring lock pin had a plurality of tab near its tip. When engaging the test adapter with the receiver, the tabs on the spring lock pin were initially engaged with a groove or ridge in an opening in the receiver adjacent the spring lock pin when the test adapter is aligned with the receiver for engagement. Thereafter, the handle on the test adapter was turned to cause the Acme lead screw to provide a constant low torque means to draw the test adapter into the receiver via the groove or ridge, which may be referred to as a spring lock bushing in the opening in the receiver. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is an interface having a receiver and a test adapter. The receiver comprises a receiver body, a latch post connected to the receiver body and a receiver guide member. The latch post comprises a latch post body and a latch post tip. The test adapter comprises a test adapter frame, an engagement assembly mounted to the test adapter frame and a test adapter guide member for providing alignment of the test adapter with the receiver. The engagement assembly comprises a drive shaft having first and second ends, the second end of the drive shaft having a threaded interior portion, a drive knob connected to the first end of the drive shaft and a drive screw. The drive screw comprises a threaded exterior portion, the threaded exterior portion of the drive screw engaging with the threaded interior portion of the drive shaft and an engagement member extending longitudinally away from the threaded portion of the drive screw for engaging the latch post in the receiver during engagement of the test adapter with the receiver. The drive shaft may comprise an opening at the second end and a drive nut within the opening in the second end, the drive nut having a threaded interior portion. The interface may further comprise a drive screw housing surrounding the springs, the drive screw housing having a recessed portion adjacent the enlarged portion of the spring when, the engagement assembly is in a disengaged position. The latch post may further comprise a latch post neck between the latch post body and the latch post tip and wherein the latch post neck has a smaller circumference than the latch post tip. The engagement member may comprise a plurality of springs extending from the drive screw, wherein the plurality of springs engage with the latch post tip when the test adapter is mated with the receiver. The test adapter guide member may comprise a rectangular-shaped guide mounted to the test adapter frame and protruding from a face of the test adapter and the receiver guide member may comprise a bushing mounted to the receiver frame and having an opening matching the rectangular shape of the test adapter guide member to permit the test adapter guide member to be inserted into the opening in the bushing and thereby align the test adapter with the receiver. In another embodiment, the test adapter guide member comprises a guide post mounted to the test adapter frame and protruding from a face of the test adapter and the receiver guide member comprises a hole in the receiver frame having an opening matching the guide post to permit the guide post to be inserted into the opening in the receiver frame and thereby align the test adapter with the receiver. The engagement member in the test adapter may comprise a spring or a plurality of springs and a locking tab on one end of each the spring. 
     The interface may further comprise a header connected to the receiver. The header may comprise a header housing and a plurality of pin cartridges removably mounted in the header housing. Each pin cartridge may comprise a plurality of pins and a casing surrounding a portion of each of the plurality of pins. One or more of the plurality of pins may have a retention structure or means for removably securing the cartridge into the header housing. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is an interface comprised of a receiver and a test adapter. The receiver comprises a receiver body, a latch post connected to the receiver body and a guide plate mounted to the receiver body. The latch post comprises a latch post body and a latch post tip. The guide plate has an alignment opening therein that surrounds the latch post. The test adapter comprises a test adapter frame, an engagement assembly mounted to the test adapter frame and a test adapter guide member for providing alignment of the test adapter with the receiver, wherein the test adapter guide member must be aligned with the alignment opening in the guide plate to engage the test adapter with the receiver. The engagement assembly comprises a drive shaft having first and second ends, the second end of the drive shaft having a threaded interior portion, a drive member connected to the first end of the drive shaft, and a drive screw. The drive screw comprises a threaded exterior portion, the threaded exterior portion of the drive screw engaging with the threaded interior portion of the drive shaft and an engagement member extending longitudinally away from the threaded portion of the drive screw for engaging the latch post in the receiver during engagement of the test adapter with the receiver. The alignment opening in the receiver guide member and the test adapter guide member may be, for example, rectangular, square or hexagonal in shape. Other shapes providing alignment functions also may be used. The engagement member in the test adapter may comprises a spring and a locking tab on an end of the spring. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present invention in an interface having a receiver and test adapter. The receiver comprises a receiver body and a latch post connected to the receiver body. The latch post comprises a latch post body, a latch post neck and a latch post tip, the latch post tip being larger than the latch post neck. The test adapter comprises a test adapter frame and an engagement assembly. The engagement assembly comprises a drive shaft having first and second ends, a drive knob connected to the first end of the drive shaft, a drive nut to the drift shaft near the second end of the drive shaft, the drive nut having a threaded interior portion, a drive screw and a drive screw housing. The drive screw comprises a threaded exterior portion, the threaded exterior portion of the drive screw engaging with the threaded interior portions of the drive nut and a spring extending longitudinally away from the threaded portion of the drive screw and having an enlarged portion at its distal end. The drive screw housing surrounds the springs, the drive screw housing having a recessed portion adjacent the enlarged portion of the spring when the engagement assembly is in a disengaged position. The latch post neck has a smaller circumference than the latch post body. A plurality of springs may extend from the drive screw for locking the test adapter to the receiver. 
     Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a preferable embodiments and implementations. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an interface in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of an interface in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1D  is a perspective view of an interface in accordance with a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a receiver and test adapter of an interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a test adapter of an interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a receiver and test adapter of an interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the test adapter side of an engagement mechanism of an interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a receiver latch post of an engagement mechanism of an interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a receiver of an interface device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side partial cross-sectional view of a receiver and header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is perspective view of a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7B  is side cross-sectional view of a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8A  is a rear elevation view of a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8B  is a top elevation view of a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8C  is a side elevation view of a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8D  is a bottom view of a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a header contact cartridge of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view of contacts of a header contact cartridge in a header of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9C  is a perspective view of contacts within a header contact cartridge of an interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are perspective views of a receiver and test adapter of an interface device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a receiver of an interface device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a test adapter of an interface device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of a receiver in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12B  is a front view of a receiver in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12C  is a perspective view of a receiver latch post and a test adapter drive screw in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13A  is a front view of a test adapter in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13B  is a side view of a test adapter in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14A  is a top view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14B  is a rear view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14C  is a side view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15A  is a side view of a stress relief plate of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15B  is a bottom view of a stress relief plate of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15C  is an end view of a stress relief plate of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16A  is a rear elevation view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16B  is a top elevation view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16C  is a side elevation view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16D  is a bottom view of a header of an interface in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An interface in accordance with the present invention may be used in many different arrangements and environments. Three examples of arrangements in which preferred embodiments of the present invention are used are shown in  FIG. 1A-C . The arrangements are merely exemplary, as many other arrangements and uses of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art. 
     In  FIG. 1A , an interface device  200  comprised of a test adapter  300  and a receiver  500  is connected on the receiver side to a header  700 . The side of the header  700  opposite the receiver  500  is connected to a printed circuit board (“PCB”) adapter card  130 . The PCB adapter card  130  is connected to a header  152  of a PXI card  150  that extends through an opening in an ejector face plate  140 . The ejector face plate  140  has means, such as a screw  142 , near each end to connect the face plate  140  to a chassis. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a second embodiment in which an interface device  200 , again comprised of a receiver  500  and a test adapter  300 , is connected on the receiver side to a header  700 . The header  700  is connected directly to a PXI card  160 . 
       FIG. 1C  illustrates a third embodiment in which an interface device  200  is connected on the receiver side to a flex circuit  132 . The flex circuit  132  is connected to a header  172  of a PXI card  170  that extends through an opening in an ejector face plate  140 . The ejector face plate has means, such as a screw  142 , near each end to connect the face plate  140  to a chassis. 
       FIG. 1D  illustrates a fourth embodiment in which an interface device  200  is connected on the receiver side to discrete wiring  134  via crimp contacts. A receiver strain relief assembly  136  to provide support for the wiring  134 . The wires  134  are connected to a header  172  of a PXI card  170  that extends through an opening in an ejector face plate  140 . The ejector face plate has means, such as a screw  142 , near each end to connect the face plate  140  to a chassis. A stress relief plate  136 , shown in greater detail in  FIG. 15 , may be used to support the discrete wiring  134 . 
     A first preferred embodiment of the interface device  200  comprised of test adapter  300  and receiver  500  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 2-5 . A first preferred embodiment of a test adapter  300  in accordance with the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 3-4 . The test adapter  300  has a frame  310 , a cover  320  and guide pins  330 . In the first preferred embodiment, the test adapter frame  310  is a solid state one-piece molded plastic component, although in other embodiments it may be formed by other means with other materials. The test adapter frame  310  has a flange  312  on each end with holes  314  through which screws are placed to attach to the cover or back shell  320  to the frame  310 . The cover  320  has a cable clamp  350  for securing cables and or wires exiting the cover. The test adapter frame  310  further has a plurality of openings  316  there through for receiving contacts. In a preferred embodiment, there are two arrays (above and below the engagement mechanism  470  in  FIG. 3 ) of 84 openings for receiving pins. Other arrangements and numbers of openings for pins of course are possible and may be used with the present invention. The guide pins  330  extend from the face of the test adapter frame  310  to align with corresponding guide holes or openings in the receiver  500 . While two guide pins  330  are shown in the preferred embodiment, other arrangements such as one, three, four or another number of guide pins may be used with the present invention. Also, in  FIG. 3 , guide plate  470  of the engagement mechanism  400  can be seen extending from the face of the test adapter frame  310 . Drive knob  420  extends from the side of the cover  320  opposite the test adapter frame  310 . While a knob  420  is shown in the embodiments disclosed herein, other means such as a lever or T-shaped handle may be used as alternatives to the knob. 
       FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of interface device  200  showing the placement of the engagement mechanism  400  in the test adapter  300  and the latch post  530  in the receiver  500 . The engagement mechanism will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The test adapter frame  310  has an opening  340  therein through which the drive assembly  400  is inserted. The opening  340  has within it counterbore  342  and a ridge  344  for engaging with various components of the drive assembly  400  to secure the drive assembly to the test adapter frame  310 . The test adapter frame  310  further has a plurality of holes (not shown) extending from the back face of the test adapter frame to the ridge  344 . 
     The drive assembly  400  has a drive shaft  410  that is inserted through the opening  340  in the face of the test adapter frame  310  until the flange  418  on the drive shaft  410  is adjacent the counterbore  342  in the test adapter frame  310 . The drive shaft  410  has an elongated portion  412  that extends out of the back of test adapter frame  310 , through the cover  320 , to an opening in the cover through which drive knob  420  is inserted and connected to the drive shaft  410 . The end of the drive shaft  410  has a opening  414  for receiving a connecting means such as a screw for securing the drive knob  420  to the drive shaft  410  through opening  422  in the drive knob  420 . 
     At an end opposite the end to which the drive knob  420  is attached, the drift shaft  410  has an enlarged portion  416  with a square opening therein for receiving a drive nut  430 . In a preferred embodiment, the drive nut  430  is a molded plastic, but it may be made of other suitable materials, including but not limited to a machined metal. In other embodiments, the drive nut  430  could be formed integrally with the drive shaft rather than being a separate component. Similarly, while the opening in the drive shaft  410  and the drive nut  430  are square in the preferred embodiment, other suitable shapes, such as hexagonal, will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Adjacent the drive nut  430  is a thrust washer  450  and a retaining ring  460  for securing the drive nut  430  in the drive shaft  410 . The drive nut  430  has a threaded hole extending through it to receive a drive screw  440 . The drive screw  440  has a threaded portion  442  that engages with the threads on the interior of the drive nut  430 , a square neck portion  444  extending from the threaded portion  442 , and a plurality of springs  446  extending from the neck portion  444 . A preferred embodiment has four springs  446 , but arrangements using other numbers of springs  446  may be used. Each spring has an enlarged portion, or locking tab  448  at its distal end. 
     A guide plate  470  is placed over the drive screw  440  and is secured to the test adapter frame  310  until flange  472  on the guide plate  470  is adjacent the ridge  344  in the opening  340  in the test adapter frame  310 . The guide plate  470  is secured to the test adapter frame  310  by inserting screws from the back side of the test adapter frame  310  through the holes (not shown) extending to ridge  344  and into threaded holes  474  in the guide plate  470 . In the interior of the guide plate  470 , there is a recessed portion or counterbore  476 . 
     On the receiver side, there is a latch post  530  mounted in the receiver frame. The receiver frame is formed from front frame portion  520  and rear frame portion  510 . The front frame portion  520  has an opening  524  through which the latch post  530  is inserted. The back frame portion  510  has a threaded hole or opening for receiving a threaded portion  538  of the latch post  530 . The latch post has a hex-shaped body  537 , which may be used when screwing the latch post  530  into the back frame portion  510  of the receiver. The latch post further has a shoulder  536 , a neck portion  534  and a tip  532 . The tip  532  is enlarged relative to the neck  534 . The latch post further has a hole  539  in the threaded portion  538  that may receive a screw inserted through a hole  512  in the back frame portion  510  of the receiver  500 . The front frame portion of the receiver further has a plurality of guide holes  550  corresponding to the guide posts  330  extending from the face of the test adapter  300 . 
     The front and rear frame portions of the receiver  500  each have a plurality of holes for receiving pins, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The sides of the front frame portion  510  and rear frame portion  520  that face one another when the receiver is assembled have holes large enough to receive pins  540 . Those holes extend into the two receiver frame portions  510 ,  520  a distance sufficient to capture pins  540 , which preferably are dual female contacts, within the receive frame when the front and back (or rear) frame portions are assembled. Other types of contacts, such as crimp contacts, may be used with the present invention. The front and rear frame portions have flanges  516 ,  526 , which are used to connect the two receiver frame portions together. The front and rear frame portions  510 ,  520  further have slightly smaller openings  522  to permit pins to be inserted from each side of the receiver into the contacts  540 . 
     To engage the test adapter  300  with the receiver  500 , the test adapter  300  is aligned with the receiver  500  using the guide pins  330  in the test adapter, the guide plate  470 , the guide holes  550 , and the hole  524 . As the latch post tip  532  is inserted into the guide plate  470 , the tip  532  pushes the enlarged portions  448  of the springs  446  outward into the counterbore  476  in the guide plate  470 . As the tip  532  passes the enlarged portions  448  and the latch post neck  534  is positioned adjacent the enlarged portions  448  of the springs  446 , the springs flex back into their original positions. When the drive knob  420  is turned, the drive shaft  410  turns the drive nut  430 . The threads on the drive nut  430  and the drive screw  440  cause the drive screw  440  to be pulled into the drive nut  430  when the drive nut is turned in the engagement direction. As the drive screw  440  is pulled into the drive nut  430 , the enlarged portions  448  of the springs  446  are pulled past the counterbore  476  such that they can no longer be biased as much in an outward direction. As the drive screw  440  continues to be pulled further into the drive nut  530 , the springs  446  pull the latch post tip  532  further and further into the guide plate  470  until the pins and the test adapter  300  and receiver  500  are fully mated. When disengaging the test adapter  300  from the receiver  500 , the drive knob  420  is turned in an opposite or disengagement direction. This causes the drive screw  440  to move out of the drive nut  430  and push the latch post out of the guide plate  470 . 
     Numerous other embodiments may be practiced using the present invention. In such other embodiments, various arrangements of the components, such as reversing the positioning of the drive nut and the drive screw such that the drive screw is fixed to the drive shaft and the drive nut has a plurality of springs extending therefrom, are possible. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. 
     In certain embodiments of the invention, the receiver  500  is connected to a header  700 . A preferred embodiment of a header in accordance with the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 7-9 . The header  700  has a housing  710 , which in a preferred embodiment is formed of molded plastic. Other materials may be used for the housing  710 . The housing has a flange  720  on each side with each flange having a post  722  and a hole  724 . The housing has a plurality of openings, slots or grooves  730 ,  740 ,  760  with one or more holes  732  therein for receiving contact pins  926 . The holes  732  are arranged in an array having columns and rows, in this embodiment to accommodate 84 pins. Other arrangements with other numbers of pins, of course, are possible and may be used with the present invention. 
     The housing is designed to hold a plurality of cartridges  900 , shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 9A-C , with each cartridge  900  having one row or one column of pins  920 . In a preferred embodiment, each row has six pins  920 , but other arrangements may be used with the present invention. A preferred embodiment of the cartridges  900  is shown in  FIGS. 9A-C . A plurality of pins  920  are stamped in a stamping die in one piece. In this manner, pins for a plurality of cartridges can be rolled. A portion  922  connects the plurality of pins  920  together during the stamping and assembly processes but is removed before the cartridge  900  is used. The pins  920  are formed such that the portion of the pins connected to portion  922  is at a right angle to the portion  926  of the pins extending from an adjacent side of the cartridge  900 . The ends of the portions  926  may take forms other than as shown in  FIG. 9A . For example, the portions  926  alternatively may include eyelets  928  to provide for solderless contact to a printed circuit board. As shown in  FIGS. 9A-C , in a preferred embodiment the pins  920  have enlarged portions  924  to assist in securing the cartridges  900  into the header housing. While  FIG. 9A  shows each of the six pins having an enlarged portion  924 , other variations such aver other pin having an enlarged portion  924  may be used with the present invention. Shapes for enlarged portions  924  other than the shape shown in  FIGS. 9A-C  of course may be used with the present invention. Further, while in  FIG. 9A  portion  916  is shown covering only four of the six pins, other variations such as having portion  916  cover all six pins are possible. With such a variation, the openings  730 ,  740  and  760  shown in  FIG. 8A  would be combined into a single elongated slot to accommodate the alternate form of portion  916 . 
     A particular set of pins is cut from other sets formed in a roll. The cut set of pins is placed into a mold, and a plastic shroud  910  is molded around the portion  928  of the pins  920 . The plastic shroud  910  has a ridge  912  and a slot  914  formed therein to align the cartridge with other cartridges when inserted into the header housing  710  as shown in FIGS.  8 A and  14 A-C. 
     An alternative embodiment of a header is shown in  FIGS. 14A-C . In this alternate embodiment, the PCB header  700 A has solderless (Eye of Needle) termination tails  928  to connect to the PCB. As in the embodiments discussed previously, the contacts are within cartridges  900 A which in turn are assembled in a header housing  710 A. 
     An interface device of a second preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention is comprised of test adapter  1300  and receiver  1500  is described with reference to  FIGS. 10-13 . The test adapter  1300  has a frame  1310 , a removable cover or backplane  1320 . In a preferred embodiment, the test adapter frame  1310  is a solid state one-piece molded plastic component, although in other embodiments it may be formed by other means with other materials. The test adapter frame  1310  has a flange  1312  on each end with holes through which screws  1315  are placed to attach to the cover or backshell  1320  to the frame  1310 . The cover  1320  has a U-shaped cable clamp  1350  for securing cables and or wires exiting the cover  1320 . The test adapter frame  1310  further has a plurality of openings therethrough for receiving contacts  1317 . In the second preferred embodiment, there are two arrays (above and below the guide plate  1470 ) of 84 openings for receiving pins. Other arrangements and numbers of openings for pins of course are possible and may be used with the present invention. The test adapter  1300  has near each end a keying pin  1380  that mates with a corresponding opening  1580  on the receiver frame. A guide plate  1470  extends from the face of the test adapter frame  1310 . The guide plate  1470  is rectangular in shape and thus provides vertical, horizontal and rotational alignment control when the test adapter  1300  is mated with the receiver  1500 . The guide plate  1470  may have some lead-in to facilitate initial alignment with the receiver. In a preferred embodiment, the guide plate  1470  is injection molded plastic. While the guide plate  1470  is made from plastic in a preferred embodiment, other known materials may be used. Drive knob  1420  extends from the side of the cover  1320  opposite the test adapter frame  1310 . The receiver  1500  has an opening therein and a bushing  1526  that aligns with the guide plate  1470  in the test adapter  1300 . The bushing  1526  has a chamfer for facilitating initial alignment with the guide plate  1470 . In a preferred embodiment, the bushing  1526  is made of metal, but other materials may be used in other embodiments. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show a cross-sectional view of interface device showing the placement of the engagement mechanism  1400  in the test adapter  1300  and the latch post  1530  in the receiver  1500 . The engagement mechanism  1400  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10A-B  and  11 A-B. The test adapter frame  1310  has an opening therein through which the drive assembly  1400  is inserted. The opening has within it counterbore  1344  and a ridge  1342  for engaging with various components of the drive assembly  1400  to secure the drive assembly to the test adapter frame  1310 . 
     The drive assembly  1400  has a drive shaft  1410  that is inserted through the opening in the face of the test adapter frame  1310  until the flange on the drive shaft  1410  is adjacent the counterbore  1344  in the test adapter frame  1310 . The drive shaft  1410  has an elongated portion  1412  that extends out of the back of test adapter frame  1310 , into cover  1320 , near an opening in the cover through which drive knob  1420  is inserted and connected to the drive shaft  1410 . The end of the drive shaft  1410  is connected to the drive knob  1420  which has a portion extending through an opening in the cover  1320 . 
     At an end opposite the end to which the drive knob  1420  is attached, the drive shaft  1410  has an enlarged portion  1416  which has a threaded opening therein for receiving a drive screw  1440 . The drive screw  1440  has a threaded portion  1441  that engages with the threads on the interior of the threaded opening of the drive shaft  1410 , a neck portion  1444  extending from the threaded portion, and a locking portion or member  1448  extending from the neck portion  1444 . 
     The guide plate  1470  is placed over the drive screw  1440  and is secured to the test adapter frame  1310  until a flange on the guide plate  1470  is adjacent a ridge in the opening in the test adapter frame  1310 . On the receiver side, there is a latch post  1530  mounted in the receiver frame. 
     The receiver frame portion has an opening through which the latch post  1530  is inserted. As shown in  FIG. 12C , the latch post  1530  has a mounting portion  1531 , an elongated portion  1536 , a neck  1534  and an engagement portion  1532 . The mounting portion  1531  is used to mount the latch post  1530  to the receiver frame  1510 , for example, via screws  1535  placed through holes in the mounting member and into corresponding threaded holes in the receiver frame  1510 . The engagement portion  1532  or member has means for engaging with the locking portion  1448  of the drive screw  1440  when engaging the ITA with the receiver. The means for engaging with the locking portion, for example, may be an enlarged portion, a spring member or members, or any other known locking means. In  FIGS. 10-11 , the guide plate or member  1470  on the ITA and the opening in the bushing  1526  are shown as rectangular in shape. This shape provides for horizontal, vertical and rotational alignment of the test adapter  1300  with the receiver  1500  when mating. This removes the need for guide pins  330  and holes  550  arrangement included in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . Other shapes, such as square, hexagonal and many other shapes alternatively may be used. 
     An alternative embodiment of a header  1700  is shown in  FIGS. 14A-C  and  16 A-D. In this alternate embodiment, the PCB header  1700  has solderless (Eye of Needle) termination tails  1928  to connect to the PCB. As in the embodiments discussed previously, the contacts are within cartridges  1900  which in turn are assembled in a header housing  1710 . 
     The header  1700  has a housing  1710 , which in a preferred embodiment is formed of molded plastic. Other materials may be used for the housing  1710 . The housing has a flange  1720  on each side with each flange having a post  1722  and a hole  1724 . The housing has a plurality of openings, slots or grooves  1730  with one or more holes  1732  therein for receiving contact pins  1926 . The holes  1732  are arranged in an array having columns and rows, in this embodiment to accommodate 84 pins. Other arrangements with other numbers of pins, of course, are possible and may be used with the present invention. 
     The housing is designed to hold a plurality of cartridges  1900  with each cartridge  1900  having one row or one column of pins  1920 . In a preferred embodiment, each row has six pins  1920 , but other arrangements may be used with the present invention. The ends of the pins take the form of eyelets  1928  such as shown in  FIGS. 14A-C  to provide for solderless contact to a printed circuit board. Further, while in  FIG. 9A  portion  916  covered only four of the six pins, the portion  1916  in the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 16B  covers all six pins. With such a variation, the openings  1730  shown in  FIG. 16A  is a single elongated slot to accommodate the portion  1916 . 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.