US5144586A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for connecting electronic modules containing integrated circuits and backup batteries
Assignee: Dallas Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1990-08-16
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Granted: 1992-09-01
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Expires: 2010-08-16
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for connecting a data storage module to an external circuit. The method includes connecting a power supply terminal between the module and the external circuit before signal terminals are connected. Apparatus includes a printed circuit board male card edge connector having selected card edge pins that extend farther than other card edge pins.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony B. Faraci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:34
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; G11C5/143; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H05K1/117; H05K1/18; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09372; H05K2201/094; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10037; H05K2201/10159
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An electronic module which can store data and which can be disconnected from and reconnected to an external circuit without loss of stored data, comprising: a battery; a memory, connected to be powered from said battery during at least some time periods; a housing which encloses said battery and said memory; a male connector which extends outward from said housing, and which has a plurality of conductive traces thereon, first ones of said traces being connected to provide power and ground voltages to the module, and second ones of said traces being connected to provide signal interfaces to and/or from the module, and which is mechanically shaped to mate with female connectors of a substantially predetermined configuration, in such relation that, when said male connector is inserted, at least some ones of said first traces make contact to corresponding conductive elements of the female connector before any of said second traces make contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
An electronic module which can store data and which can be disconnected from and reconnected to an external circuit without loss of stored data, comprising: a battery; a memory, connected to be powered from said battery during at least some time periods; a housing which encloses said battery and said memory; a male connector which extends outward from said housing, and which has a plurality of conductive traces thereon, first ones of said traces being connected to provide power and ground voltages to the module, and second ones of said traces being connected to provide signal interfaces to and/or from the module, and which is mechanically shaped to mate with female connectors of a substantially predetermined configuration, in such relation that, when said male connector is inserted, at least some ones of said first traces make contact to corresponding conductive elements of the female connector before any of said second traces make contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The module of claim 1, wherein said traces extend, toward an edge of said connector, to unequal distances from said edge; and said first traces extend closer to said edge than do said second traces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The module of claim 1, wherein said memory comprises an SRAM integrated circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The module of claim 1, wherein exactly two of said traces are longer than all others of said traces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The module of claim 1, wherein exactly one of said traces is longer than all others of said traces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
An electronic module which can store data and which can be disconnected from and reconnected to an external circuit without loss of stores data, comprising: a battery; a memory; a memory controller; a housing which encloses said backup battery, said memory, and said memory controller; a male connector which extends outward from said housing, and which has a plurality of conductive traces thereon, first ones of said traces being connected to provide power and ground voltages to the module, and second ones of said traces being connected to provide signal interfaces to and/or from the module, and which is mechanically shaped to mate with female connectors of a substantially predetermined configuration, in such relation that, when said male connector is inserted, at least some ones of said first traces make contact to corresponding conductive elements of the female connector before any of said second traces make contact; wherein said memory controller is connected to receive power from said battery and also from said first ones of said traces, and also connected to provide power to said memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
An electronic module which can store data and which can be disconnected from and reconnected to an external circuit without loss of stores data, comprising: a battery; a memory; a memory controller; a housing which encloses said backup battery, said memory, and said memory controller; a male connector which extends outward from said housing, and which has a plurality of conductive traces thereon, first ones of said traces being connected to provide power and ground voltages to the module, and second ones of said traces being connected to provide signal interfaces to and/or from the module, and which is mechanically shaped to mate with female connectors of a substantially predetermined configuration, in such relation that, when said male connector is inserted, at least some ones of said first traces make contact to corresponding conductive elements of the female connector before any of said second traces make contact; wherein said memory controller is connected to receive power from said battery and also from said first ones of said traces, and also connected to provide power to said memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The module of claim 6, wherein said traces extend, toward an edge of said connector, to unequal distances from said edge; and said first traces extend closer to said edge than do said second traces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The module of claim 6, wherein said memory comprises an SRAM integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The module of claim 6, wherein exactly two of said traces are longer than all others of said traces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The module of claim 6, wherein exactly one of said traces is longer than all others of said traces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module of claim 6, wherein said memory controller consists essentially of a CMOS integrated circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
183 words
An electronic module which can store data and which can be disconnected from and reconnected to an external circuit without loss of stored data, comprising: a battery; a CMOS integrated circuit memory; a CMOS integrated circuit memory controller; a housing which encloses said backup battery, said memory, and said memory controller; a male connector which extends outward from said housing, and which has a plurality of conductive traces thereon, first ones of said traces being connected to provide power and ground voltages to the module, and second ones of said traces being connected to provide signal interfaces to and/or from the module, and which is mechanically shaped to mate with female connectors of a substantially predetermined configuration, in such relation that, when said male connector is inserted, at least some ones of said first traces make contact to corresponding conductive elements of the female connector before any of said second traces make contact; wherein said memory controller is connected to receive power from said battery and also from said first ones of said traces, and also connected to provide power to said memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
183 words
An electronic module which can store data and which can be disconnected from and reconnected to an external circuit without loss of stored data, comprising: a battery; a CMOS integrated circuit memory; a CMOS integrated circuit memory controller; a housing which encloses said backup battery, said memory, and said memory controller; a male connector which extends outward from said housing, and which has a plurality of conductive traces thereon, first ones of said traces being connected to provide power and ground voltages to the module, and second ones of said traces being connected to provide signal interfaces to and/or from the module, and which is mechanically shaped to mate with female connectors of a substantially predetermined configuration, in such relation that, when said male connector is inserted, at least some ones of said first traces make contact to corresponding conductive elements of the female connector before any of said second traces make contact; wherein said memory controller is connected to receive power from said battery and also from said first ones of said traces, and also connected to provide power to said memory.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-01 | 1996-03-02 | 1996-09-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-01 | 2000-03-02 | 2000-09-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-01 | 2004-03-02 | 2004-09-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |