Patent US5530622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5530622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic assembly for connecting to an electronic system and method of manufacture thereof
Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-23
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Granted: 1996-06-25
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Expires: 2014-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronic assembly for connecting to an electronic system is disclosed which includes, in one embodiment, a connector having a group of contacts, each contact having a mating portion and an interconnect finger. A first circuitry module includes a group of leads providing a signal path to electronic components contained therewithin, wherein each of the leads is coupled directly to an interconnect finger of a corresponding one of the group of connector contacts. A protective body is rigidly coupled to the first connector and is formed to encase the first circuitry module and to provide support and protection to the circuitry module. In another embodiment suitable for a PCMCIA card assembly, each of a group of leads of a leaded chip-carrier module is directly connected to interconnect fingers of the connector. All the electronic circuitry of the electronic assembly is contained within the leaded chip-carrier, which affords a manufacturing cost of the PCMCIA card assembly which is leveraged by semiconductor assembly advances rather than driven largely by traditional surface mount technology (SMT) on printed wiring boards (PWB).
Inventors
- 👤 Hem P. Takiar
- 👤 Michael W. Patterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:11
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; H05K5/0269; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An electronic assembly for connecting to an electronic system, comprising: a first connector having a plurality of contacts, said first connector for connecting said electronic assembly to a mating connector of said electronic system, each of said plurality of contacts having a mating portion for electrically contacting a respective contact of said mating connector, each of said plurality of contacts further having an interconnect finger; and a first circuitry module having a first plurality of leads for providing signal paths to electronic components contained within said first circuitry module; and a protective body rigidly coupled to said first connector, said protective body formed to encase said first circuitry module, for providing support and protection to said first circuitry module; wherein each of said first plurality of leads is coupled directly to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said first connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An electronic assembly for connecting to an electronic system, comprising: a first connector having a plurality of contacts, said first connector for connecting said electronic assembly to a mating connector of said electronic system, each of said plurality of contacts having a mating portion for electrically contacting a respective contact of said mating connector, each of said plurality of contacts further having an interconnect finger; and a first circuitry module having a first plurality of leads for providing signal paths to electronic components contained within said first circuitry module; and a protective body rigidly coupled to said first connector, said protective body formed to encase said first circuitry module, for providing support and protection to said first circuitry module; wherein each of said first plurality of leads is coupled directly to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said first connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first connector comprises a male connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first connector comprises a female connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 3, wherein said first connector comprises a female PCMCIA Personal Computer Memory Card International Association connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1 wherein said first circuitry module comprises a molded plastic chip-carrier module having said first plurality of leads integrated therewithin and emanating therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 5 wherein said molded plastic chip-carrier module includes an integrated circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 5 wherein said molded plastic chip-carrier module includes a plurality of integrated circuits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1 wherein said first circuitry module comprises a ceramic chip-carrier module having said first plurality of leads integrated therewithin and emanating therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 8 wherein said ceramic chip-carrier module includes an integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 8, wherein said ceramic chip-carrier module includes a plurality of integrated circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1, wherein said first circuitry module comprises: a printed wiring board having a plurality of conductive traces disposed upon a first side thereof, and further having a second side thereof; a plurality of integrated circuits mounted upon said first side of said printed wiring board; a molded encapsulant body formed upon said first side to fully encapsulate said plurality of integrated circuits mounted thereupon; and a plurality of electronic components mounted upon said second side of said printed wiring board, each of which being electrically coupled to one of said plurality of conductive traces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1 wherein said protective body includes thin panels attached to a frame member, said frame member defining a perimeter of said electronic assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1 wherein said protective body includes a solid, molded encapsulant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 13 wherein said solid, molded encapsulant includes a thermoset plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a second plurality of leads integrated within and emanating from said first circuitry module, said second plurality of leads providing a signal path to certain of said electronic components contained within said first circuitry module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 15 further comprising: a second connector having a plurality of contacts, said second connector for connecting said assembly to a mating connector of a second electronic system, each of said plurality of contacts of said second connector having a mating portion for electrically contacting a respective contact of said mating connector, each of said plurality of contacts further having an interconnect finger; wherein each of said second plurality of leads is coupled to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said second connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 16 wherein each of said second plurality of leads is directly coupled to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said second connector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 16 further comprising: a second circuitry module; wherein each of said second plurality of leads is coupled to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said second connector by way of a connection path through said second circuitry module.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 16 wherein said second connector of said electronic assembly is disposed generally opposite to said first connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 15 further comprising a passive component coupled to certain of said second plurality of leads.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 20 wherein said passive component comprises a component chosen from the group consisting of crystals, resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a passive component coupled to certain of said first plurality of leads.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
161 words
A PCMCIA card assembly for connecting to a pin header of an industry-standard PCMCIA interface, comprising: a PCMCIA receptacle assembly for connecting to said pin header of said PCMCIA interface, said PCMCIA receptacle assembly having a housing and a plurality of contacts, each contact having a socket portion for mating with a corresponding pin of said pin header, each contact further having an interconnect finger extending outward of said housing; a first circuitry module having a first plurality of leads for providing a signal path to electronic components contained therewithin; and a protective body rigidly coupled to said PCMCIA receptacle assembly, said body formed to encase said first circuitry module, for providing support and protection to said first circuitry module, and for providing a form factor suitable for said PCMCIA card assembly; wherein each of said first plurality of leads is coupled directly to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said PCMCIA receptacle assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
161 words
A PCMCIA card assembly for connecting to a pin header of an industry-standard PCMCIA interface, comprising: a PCMCIA receptacle assembly for connecting to said pin header of said PCMCIA interface, said PCMCIA receptacle assembly having a housing and a plurality of contacts, each contact having a socket portion for mating with a corresponding pin of said pin header, each contact further having an interconnect finger extending outward of said housing; a first circuitry module having a first plurality of leads for providing a signal path to electronic components contained therewithin; and a protective body rigidly coupled to said PCMCIA receptacle assembly, said body formed to encase said first circuitry module, for providing support and protection to said first circuitry module, and for providing a form factor suitable for said PCMCIA card assembly; wherein each of said first plurality of leads is coupled directly to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said PCMCIA receptacle assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23 wherein said first circuitry module comprises a molded plastic chip-carrier module having said first plurality of leads integrated therewithin and emanating therefrom.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 24 wherein said molded plastic chip-carrier module includes an integrated circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 24 wherein said molded plastic chip-carrier module includes a plurality of integrated circuits.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23 wherein said first circuitry module comprises a ceramic chip-carrier module having said first plurality of leads integrated therewithin and emanating therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 27 wherein said ceramic chip-carrier module includes an integrated circuit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 27 wherein said ceramic chip-carrier module includes a plurality of integrated circuits.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
101 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23, wherein said first circuitry module comprises: a printed wiring board having a plurality of conductive traces manufactured upon a first side thereof, and further having a second side thereof; a plurality of integrated circuits mounted upon said first side of said printed wiring board; a molded encapsulant body formed upon said first side to fully encapsulate said plurality of integrated circuits mounted thereupon; and a plurality of electronic components mounted upon said second side of said printed wiring board, each of which being electrically coupled to one of said plurality of conductive traces.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23 wherein said protective body includes thin panels attached to a frame member, said frame member defining a perimeter of said PCMCIA card assembly.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23 wherein said protective body includes a solid, molded encapsulant formed to provide a form factor suitable for said PCMCIA card assembly.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 32 wherein said solid, molded encapsulant includes a thermoset plastic.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23 further comprising a second plurality of leads integrated with and emanating from said first circuitry module, said second plurality of leads providing a signal path to certain of said electronic components contained within said first circuitry module.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
94 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 34 further comprising: a connector having a plurality of contacts, said connector for connecting said PCMCIA card assembly to a mating connector of a second electronic system, each of said plurality of contacts of said connector having a mating portion for electrically contacting a respective contact of said mating connector, each of said plurality of contacts further having an interconnect finger; wherein each of said second plurality of leads is coupled to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said connector.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 35 wherein said second plurality of leads is directly coupled to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said connector.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
51 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 35 further comprising: a second circuitry module; wherein each of said second plurality of leads is coupled to said interconnect finger of a corresponding one of said plurality of contacts of said connector by way of a connection path through said second circuitry module.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 35 wherein said connector of said PCMCIA card assembly is disposed generally opposite to said PCMCIA receptacle assembly.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 34 further comprising a passive component coupled to certain of said second plurality of leads.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 39 wherein said passive component comprises a component chosen from the group consisting of crystals, resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A PCMCIA card assembly as in claim 23 further comprising a passive component coupled to certain of said first plurality of leads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-25 | 1999-12-25 | 2000-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-25 | 2003-12-25 | 2004-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-25 | 2007-12-25 | 2008-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |