US5037308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable integrated input/output connector module and spring clip connector mechanism
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1990-07-31
•
Granted: 1991-08-06
•
Expires: 2010-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A programmable integrated input/output connector module has a molded plastic base through which five bus wires extend. The molded base is equipped with channeled grooves into which five spring clips are housed and which make contact with a corresponding bus wire at the bottom of the molded base. One of the bus wires is a grounded bus wire to which a programmable packet is connected. A chip carrier having conductive traces is placed atop the spring clips so as to place the clips in compression while placing each conductive trace of the chip carrier in electrical contact with a corresponding one of the bus wires. An IC chip is fitted atop and electrically connected to the chip carrier. The programmable packet has six fingers which can be bent away from or left in contact with the chip carrier to selectively program the IC chip to a desired address and configuration. The programmable packet permits each chip carrier to be identical. Further, the spring clips are placed in compression by the chip carrier so that the spring clips urge the chip carrier out of the base upon disassembly of the module.
Inventors
- 👤 James R. Bryce
- 👤 Timothy M. Minerd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:50
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W78/00; H01; H01R; H01R29/00; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A programmable input/output connector module for connecting at least one of an input device and an output device to a multi-wire bus, said bus carrying signals for controlling input and output devices, the module comprising: a first stage having means for electrically connecting said first stage directly to the multi-wire bus: a second stage supported on the first stage and having an IC chip mounted thereon, said second stage including first electrical connections for connecting the input and output devices to the IC chip and second electrical connections for connecting said multi-wire bus to the IC chip for conveying said signals between said multi-wire bus and said input and output devices; and programming means for programming the IC chip so that the first electrical connections and the second electrical connections are selectively connected to each other through the IC chip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A programmable input/output connector module for connecting at least one of an input device and an output device to a multi-wire bus, said bus carrying signals for controlling input and output devices, the module comprising: a first stage having means for electrically connecting said first stage directly to the multi-wire bus: a second stage supported on the first stage and having an IC chip mounted thereon, said second stage including first electrical connections for connecting the input and output devices to the IC chip and second electrical connections for connecting said multi-wire bus to the IC chip for conveying said signals between said multi-wire bus and said input and output devices; and programming means for programming the IC chip so that the first electrical connections and the second electrical connections are selectively connected to each other through the IC chip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said second stage comprises a chip carrier on which the IC chip is mounted and to which said IC chip is electrically connected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A module according to claim 2 wherein: said first stage is a base formed to accommodate said chip carrier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A module according to claim 3, wherein the means for electrically connecting the first stage to the multi-wire bus includes: a plurality of spring clips for electrically connecting the second electrical connections with the multi-wire bus, each spring clip of said plurality of spring clips being located in a corresponding channeled groove located in said base to electrically connect a corresponding second electrical connection of the chip carrier to a corresponding wire of the multi-wire bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A module according to claim 4, wherein the base comprises means for securely snap fitting said chip carrier to said base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A module according to claim 5, wherein: said means for securely snap fitting urges said chip carrier against said spring clips to place said spring clips in compression.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A module according to claim 6, wherein the second electrical connections of the chip carrier include a plurality of conductive traces on said chip carrier for making electrical contact with said plurality of spring clips.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein said programming means comprises a programmable packet having a plurality of fingers with each finger of said plurality of fingers corresponding to and being connectable to a programmable input of said IC chip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A module according to claim 8, wherein each finger of the programmable packet is selectively electrically connectable to the programmable input of said IC chip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A module according to claim 9, wherein: each finger of said programmable packet is deformable to one of a non-contacting state and a contacting state, said finger being deformed into the noncontact state to avoid contact with said programmable input of said IC chip to program a first logic into the programmable input of said IC chip, and said finger remaining in contact with said programmable input of the IC chip in the contact state to program the programmable input of said IC chip to a second logic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A module according to claim 1, wherein the programming means programs said IC chip for a specific address and a specific input/output configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A module according to claim 3, further comprising means for securing said multi-wire bus to said base, said means for securing comprising means for piercing insulation of the wires of said multi-wire bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
A programmable input/output connector module comprising: a chip carrier having programmable inputs connectable to an IC chip and first and second electrical connections for placing external devices in electrical communication with the IC chip; a base for supporting the chip carrier, said base having a plurality of hollow grooves; electrical contact means, located within said plurality of hollow grooves in the base, for making electrical contact with the second electrical connections of said chip carrier; and means, located between the programmable inputs of said chip carrier and the electrical contact means in the base, for programming said programmable inputs of said chip carrier to designate an address and an input/output configuration between said first and second electrical connections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
A programmable input/output connector module comprising: a chip carrier having programmable inputs connectable to an IC chip and first and second electrical connections for placing external devices in electrical communication with the IC chip; a base for supporting the chip carrier, said base having a plurality of hollow grooves; electrical contact means, located within said plurality of hollow grooves in the base, for making electrical contact with the second electrical connections of said chip carrier; and means, located between the programmable inputs of said chip carrier and the electrical contact means in the base, for programming said programmable inputs of said chip carrier to designate an address and an input/output configuration between said first and second electrical connections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A module according to claim 13, further comprising: a multi-wire bus connected to and extending through said base with one wire of said bus being ground.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A module according to claim 14, wherein: said electrical contact means comprises a plurality of spring clips which are compressible between the chip carrier and the base, one of said spring clips being grounded by connection to the grounded line of said bus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A module according to claim 15, wherein: said means for programming comprises a programmable packet having a plurality of fingers corresponding in number to the programmable inputs of the chip carrier, said means for programming being connected to said grounded spring clip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A module according to claim 14, wherein said base comprises means for securing the lines of said multi-wire bus, said means for securing comprising means for stripping the lines of said multi-wire bus of insulation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3393396A
Cited
US3573617A
Cited
US3771109A
Cited
US4089041A
Cited
US4084869A
Cited
US4155612A
Cited
US4330163A
Cited
US4358175A
Cited
US4376560A
Cited
US4471158A
Cited
US4616895A
Cited
US4508399A
Cited
US4557540A
Cited
US4609241A
Cited
US4701134A
Cited
US4761140A
Cited
US4870224A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |