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US6072699A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for matching trace lengths of signal lines making 90°/180° turns

Assignee: Intel Corp
•
Filing: 1998-07-21
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Granted: 2000-06-06
•
Expires: 2018-07-21
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Abstract

Abstract A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a first 90° signal line. The first 90° signal line connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB. The PCB includes a second 90° signal line. The second 90° signal line is adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line. The second 90° signal line connects a third location on the first layer of the PCB to a fourth location on the second layer of the PCB.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bryce D. Horine

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:54
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0213; H05K1/0237; H05K1/0248; G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/02; G11C5/04; G11C5/06; G11C5/063; H05K1/0286; H05K1/0287; H05K1/0289; H05K1/11; H05K1/117; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09209; H05K2201/09218; H05K2201/09236; H05K2201/09654; H05K2201/09672; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10613; H05K2201/10621; H05K2201/10689

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for routing signals on a printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: routing a first signal line 90°'s from a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; routing a second signal line, adjacent to the first signal line, 90°'s from a third location on the first layer of the PCB to a fourth location on the second layer of the PCB while matching the length of the second signal line with the first signal line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for routing signals on a printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: routing a first signal line 90°'s from a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; routing a second signal line, adjacent to the first signal line, 90°'s from a third location on the first layer of the PCB to a fourth location on the second layer of the PCB while matching the length of the second signal line with the first signal line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein routing the first signal line, comprises: routing the first signal line from the first location to a first via on the first layer of the PCB; and routing the first signal line from the first via to the second location on the second layer of the PCB.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 53 words
The method of claim 1, wherein routing the second signal line, comprises: routing the second signal line from the third location to a second via on the first layer of the PCB; and routing the second signal line from the second via to the fourth location on the second layer of the PCB.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 104 words
The method of claim 3, wherein matching the length of the second signal line with the first signal line comprises: determining a signal line length; and selecting a placement of the first and second vias such that a sum of a length of a first trace connecting the first location and the first via and a length of a second trace connecting the first via and the second location match that of a sum of a length of a third trace connecting the third location and the second via and a length of a fourth trace connecting the second via and the fourth location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the placement of the second via causes a section of the fourth trace to double back in a direction traveled by a section of the third trace.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 82 words
A method for routing signals on a printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: routing a first signal line 90°'s from a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; and routing a second signal line 90°'s from the third location on a third layer of the PCB to fourth location on a fourth layer of the PCB while matching the length of the second signal line with the first signal line.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 82 words
A method for routing signals on a printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: routing a first signal line 90°'s from a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; and routing a second signal line 90°'s from the third location on a third layer of the PCB to fourth location on a fourth layer of the PCB while matching the length of the second signal line with the first signal line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 56 words
The method of claim 6, wherein routing the first signal line comprises: routing the first signal line from the first location on the PCB to a first via on a first layer of the PCB; and routing the first signal line from the first via to a second location on a second layer of the PCB.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 54 words
The method of claim 6, wherein routing the second signal line comprises: routing the second signal line from a third location on the PCB to a second via on a third layer of the PCB; and routing the second signal from the via to the fourth location on the fourth layer of the PCB.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 104 words
The method of claim 8, wherein matching the length of the first signal line with the second signal line comprises: determining a signal line length; and selecting a placement of the first and second vias such that a sum of a length of a first trace connecting the first location and the first via and a length of a second trace connecting the first via and the second location match that of a sum of a length of a third trace connecting the third location and the second via and a length of a fourth trace connecting the second via and the fourth location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the placement of the second via causes a section of the fourth trace to double back in a direction traveled by a section of the third trace.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 74 words
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: a first 90° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; and a second 90° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line, that connects a third location on the first layer of the PCB to a fourth location on the second layer of the PCB.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 74 words
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: a first 90° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; and a second 90° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line, that connects a third location on the first layer of the PCB to a fourth location on the second layer of the PCB.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 52 words
The PCB board of claim 11, wherein the first 90° signal line, comprises: a first trace that connects the first location to a first via on the first layer of the PCB; and a second trace that connects the first via to the second location on the second layer of the PCB.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 53 words
The PCB board of claim 11, wherein the second 90° signal line comprises: a third signal trace that connects the third location to a second via on the first layer of the PCB; and a fourth trace that connects the second via to the fourth location on the second layer of the PC.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 73 words
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: a first 90° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; a second 90° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line, that connects a third location on a third layer of the PCB to a fourth location on a fourth layer of the PCB.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 73 words
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: a first 90° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on a second layer of the PCB; a second 90° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line, that connects a third location on a third layer of the PCB to a fourth location on a fourth layer of the PCB.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 51 words
The PCB of claim 14, wherein the first 90° signal line, comprises: a first trace that connects the first location to a first via on the first layer of the PCB; and a second trace that connects the first via to the second location on the second layer of the PCB.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 52 words
The PC board of claim 14, wherein the second 90° signal line comprises: a third trace that connects the third location to a second via on the third layer of the PCB; and a fourth trace that connects the second via to a fourth location on the fourth layer of the PCB.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 73 words
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: a first 180° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on the first layer of the PCB; a second 180° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 180° signal line, that connects a third location on a third layer of the PCB to a fourth location on a third layer of the PCB.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 73 words
A printed circuit board (PCB), comprising: a first 180° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the PCB to a second location on the first layer of the PCB; a second 180° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 180° signal line, that connects a third location on a third layer of the PCB to a fourth location on a third layer of the PCB.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 91 words
The PCB of claim 17, wherein the first 180° signal line, comprises: a first trace on the first layer of the PCB that connects the first location to a first via on the first layer of the PCB; a second trace on the second layer of the PCB that connects the first via to a second via on the second layer of the PCB; and a third trace on the first layer of the PCB that connects the second via to the second location on the first layer of the PCB.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 92 words
The PCB of claim 17, wherein the second 180° signal line comprises: a fourth trace on the third layer of the PCB that connects the third location to a third via on the third layer of the PC board; a fifth trace on the fourth layer of the PCB that connects the third via to a fourth via on the fourth layer of the PCB; and a sixth trace on the third layer of the PCB that connects the fourth via to a fourth location on the third layer of the PCB.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 98 words
A computer system, comprising: a bus; a processor coupled to the bus; and a memory system, coupled to the bus, that includes a memory module having a first 90° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the memory module to a second location on a second layer of the memory module, and a second 90° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line, that connects a third location on the first layer of the memory module to a fourth location on the second layer of the memory module.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 98 words
A computer system, comprising: a bus; a processor coupled to the bus; and a memory system, coupled to the bus, that includes a memory module having a first 90° signal line that connects a first location on a first layer of the memory module to a second location on a second layer of the memory module, and a second 90° signal line, adjacent and equal in length to the first 90° signal line, that connects a third location on the first layer of the memory module to a fourth location on the second layer of the memory module.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 54 words
The computer system of claim 20, wherein the first 90° signal line, comprises: a first trace that connects the first location to a first via on the first layer of the memory module; and a second trace that connects the first via to the second location on the second layer of the memory module.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 54 words
The computer system of claim 20, wherein the second 90° signal line comprises: a third trace that connects the third location to a second via on the first layer of the memory module; and a fourth trace that connects the second via to a fourth location on the second layer of the memory module.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3718936A Cited
US4980860A Cited
US5255156A Cited
US5864181A Cited
US5619472A Cited
US5737053A Cited
US6005265A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-06-06 2003-12-06 2004-06-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-06-06 2007-12-06 2008-06-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-06-06 2011-12-06 2012-06-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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