US5674077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interleaved connector circuit having increased backplane impedance
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-30
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2014-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Connectors on a microcomputer printed circuit board backplane receive slotted insertion of a plurality of device cards containing application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Interconnection of the device card connectors is accomplished on the surface of the circuit board or internally with an electric line which interleaves the device card connectors providing increased conductor length between physically adjacent connectors, establishing an increased impedance level. The increased physical lengths of the intervening electric lines between the connectors provide increased impedance as seen by inserted device cards, which enhances the matching capabilities of the connectors.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles M. Flaig
- 👤 William Todd Krein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 04:59
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0237; H05K1/025; H05K1/0216; H05K1/0228; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1438; H05K7/1458; H05K9/00; H05K9/0064; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/04; H05K2201/044; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09218; H05K2201/09263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An electric circuit on a printed circuit board including bus connectors for receiving electric circuit cards, said circuit arrangement comprising: a printed circuit board substrate including a selected surface and an opposite surface; a plurality of bus connectors mounted upon the selected surface of said printed circuit board substrate, said plurality of bus connectors including selected first, second, and third bus connectors; and an electric line connecting said selected first, second, and third bus connectors of said plurality of said bus connectors, said selected first, second, and third bus connectors being substantially aligned along a common axis and said second selected bus connector being substantially equidistant from said selected first and third bus connectors, the distance between said selected first and said selected third bus connectors being greater than the distance between said selected first bus connector and said selected second bus connector; and said electric line directly connecting said selected first and said selected third bus connectors, and directly connecting said selected second and third bus connectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electric circuit on a printed circuit board including bus connectors for receiving electric circuit cards, said circuit arrangement comprising: a printed circuit board substrate including a selected surface and an opposite surface; a plurality of bus connectors mounted upon the selected surface of said printed circuit board substrate, said plurality of bus connectors including selected first, second, and third bus connectors; and an electric line connecting said selected first, second, and third bus connectors of said plurality of said bus connectors, said selected first, second, and third bus connectors being substantially aligned along a common axis and said second selected bus connector being substantially equidistant from said selected first and third bus connectors, the distance between said selected first and said selected third bus connectors being greater than the distance between said selected first bus connector and said selected second bus connector; and said electric line directly connecting said selected first and said selected third bus connectors, and directly connecting said selected second and third bus connectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electric circuit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of bus connectors are interconnected along an interleaved pattern of said electric line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electric circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electric line includes at least a single stripline fabricated on said selected surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electric line includes microstrip fabricated below said selected surface and connected to said surface by electric vias.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric circuit according to claim 1, wherein said electric line connects said connectors in a path comprising an outward bound path and a return path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electric circuit according to claim 5, wherein said outward bound path connects an odd sequence of said connectors and said return path connects and even sequence of said connectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electric circuit according to claim 5, wherein said outward bound path connects an even sequence of said connectors and said return path connects an odd sequence of said connectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A circuit for interconnecting a plurality of connectors on a selected surface of a printed circuit board for receiving and connecting to electric circuit cards, comprising: a circuit board including a selected surface; a plurality of connectors mounted equidistantly in series at a selected common separation distance on the selected surface of the circuit board substrate; and an electric line fabricated in said printed circuit board, including a first line portion connecting alternate ones of the plurality of connectors along a path oriented in a first direction, a second line portion connecting intermediate ones of the connectors on said printed circuit board along a path oriented in a second direction, and a third line portion connecting said first and second line portions along a path substantially equal in length to the electrical separation distance between electrically connected connectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
A circuit for interconnecting a plurality of connectors on a selected surface of a printed circuit board for receiving and connecting to electric circuit cards, comprising: a circuit board including a selected surface; a plurality of connectors mounted equidistantly in series at a selected common separation distance on the selected surface of the circuit board substrate; and an electric line fabricated in said printed circuit board, including a first line portion connecting alternate ones of the plurality of connectors along a path oriented in a first direction, a second line portion connecting intermediate ones of the connectors on said printed circuit board along a path oriented in a second direction, and a third line portion connecting said first and second line portions along a path substantially equal in length to the electrical separation distance between electrically connected connectors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The circuit according to claim 8, wherein alternate ones of said plurality of connectors are interleaved with intermediate ones of said plurality of connectors along a common axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The circuit according to claim 8, wherein the connections between said plurality of connectors are made with electric stripline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The circuit according to claim 8, wherein said third line portion is non-monotonic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit according to claim 8, wherein said first line portion includes an odd sequence of said plurality of connectors and wherein said second line portion includes an even sequence of said plurality of connectors on a return path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit according to claim 8, wherein said first line portion includes an even sequence of said plurality of connectors and wherein said second line portion includes an odd sequence of said plurality of connectors.
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) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |