US6083047A — Modular electrical PCB assembly connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

An electrical connector comprising: a housing; and a circuit module mountable in the housing, comprising: a pair of substantially parallel signal conductors disposed within the module, each extending from a first region of the module to a second region of the module along respective outer surfaces of the module, and having a contact pad at said second region for receiving a conductive element extending along said respective outer surfaces of said module; and at least two electrical contact terminals, each terminal being electrically connected to one of the signal conductors in the first region and extending along said respective outer surfaces of said module, said signal conductors being arranged substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of the module, whereby the signal conductors constitute substantial mirror-images of each other about said longitudinal plane.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

An electrical connector comprising: a housing; and a circuit module mountable in the housing, comprising: a pair of substantially parallel signal conductors disposed within the module, each extending from a first region of the module to a second region of the module along respective outer surfaces of the module, and having a contact pad at said second region for receiving a conductive element extending along said respective outer surfaces of said module; and at least two electrical contact terminals, each terminal being electrically connected to one of the signal conductors in the first region and extending along said respective outer surfaces of said module, said signal conductors being arranged substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of the module, whereby the signal conductors constitute substantial mirror-images of each other about said longitudinal plane.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

A connector as in claim 1, comprising at least one additional circuit module mounted on the housing, said additional circuit module being substantially similar to the first mentioned circuit module.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said first region and said second region are on opposite edges of said circuit module.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is a right angle connector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The electrical connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector is part of a cable assembly.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the module further comprises a pair of support members arranged in side by side relationship, each of the support members carrying one of the circuit substrates.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the module comprises a pair of spaced apart circuit substrates, each substrate having an outer surface facing said outer surface of the other said substrate, with each said signal conductor comprising a circuit trace disposed on one of the outer surfaces.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

An electrical connector as in claim 7, wherein the module further comprises a common support member for supporting both of said circuit substrates.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 50 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the module comprises a pair of circuit substrates arranged in a side by side relationship, each having an outwardly facing surface and the signal conductors comprise circuit traces, each of the circuit traces being disposed on one of said outwardly facing surfaces.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrical connector as in claim 9, wherein the module further comprises a pair of support members, each support member being disposed adjacent one of the outwardly facing surfaces.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the circuit module includes at least one circuit substrate and each of the conductors comprise a circuit trace disposed on the at least one circuit substrate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

An electrical connector as in claim 11, wherein the traces are printed traces.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrical connector as in claim 11, wherein the module includes at least two circuit substrates and each of the traces is disposed on one of the circuit substrates.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

An electrical connector as in claim 13, wherein each of the circuit substrates is substantially planar and parallel to the other.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

An electrical connector as in claim 11, wherein the circuit traces are disposed on opposite sides of a single circuit substrate.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein each signal conductor is flanked substantially over its length by a pair of shielding conductors.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

An electrical connector as in claim 16, wherein the signal conductors and the shielding conductors comprise circuit traces on a circuit substrate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

An electrical conductor as in claim 17, wherein the module further comprises at least one metallic shielding layer disposed between the signal conductor traces.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the module further comprises a pair of opposed shield layers, each shield layer being disposed on one of two opposed exterior surfaces of the module.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 104 words

A module for an electrical connector comprising; (a) a first circuit substrate having a circuit trace disposed thereon, the circuit trace extending from a first region of the circuit substrate to a second region of the circuit substrate spaced from the first region; (b) a second circuit substrate having a second circuit trace disposed therein and extending from a first region of the second substrate to a second region thereof spaced from the first region, the second circuit trace being substantially in spaced mirror-image relationship with respect to the first circuit trace, said first and second circuit traces forming a twinax pair of conductors.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 104 words

A module for an electrical connector comprising; (a) a first circuit substrate having a circuit trace disposed thereon, the circuit trace extending from a first region of the circuit substrate to a second region of the circuit substrate spaced from the first region; (b) a second circuit substrate having a second circuit trace disposed therein and extending from a first region of the second substrate to a second region thereof spaced from the first region, the second circuit trace being substantially in spaced mirror-image relationship with respect to the first circuit trace, said first and second circuit traces forming a twinax pair of conductors.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

A module as in claim 20, and further comprising a substantially planar shield structure for electrically shielding the conductive traces.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The module as recited in claim 20, wherein said first region of said first and second circuit substrates is perpendicular to said second region of said first and second circuit substrates for use in a right angle connector.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

The module as recited in claim 20, wherein said first region and said second region are on opposite edges of each of said first circuit substrate and second circuit substrate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 22 words

A module as in claim 20, wherein the first and second substrates comprise opposite first and second sides of a circuit board.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

A module as in claim 24, wherein the circuit board further comprises a shield layer disposed between the first and second sides.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 57 words

A module as in claim 20, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate comprise a pair of circuit boards, each board having two primary sides, with one of said circuit traces disposed on one of said primary sides of each circuit board and a shield layer disposed on an opposite primary side of each circuit board.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

A module as in claim 26, wherein the circuit boards are arranged with the shield layer of each board in back to back relationship.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

A module as in claim 26, wherein the circuit boards are arranged with the shield layers in opposed relationship.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

A module as in claim 28, and further comprising a common support member for holding the circuit boards in said substantially opposed relationship.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 18 words

The module of claim 29, wherein the support member includes structure for mounting the module in a housing.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 82 words

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of circuit board modules, said modules including shielded pairs of twinax conductive traces, each conductive trace in said pair of conductive traces being located on a different module; ground traces provided on a first surface between each said conductive trace; and a ground trace provided on a second surface wherein said ground traces define a shield around each twinax pair; and a support adapted to receive the plurality of modules in substantially side by side relationship.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 82 words

An electrical connector comprising: a plurality of circuit board modules, said modules including shielded pairs of twinax conductive traces, each conductive trace in said pair of conductive traces being located on a different module; ground traces provided on a first surface between each said conductive trace; and a ground trace provided on a second surface wherein said ground traces define a shield around each twinax pair; and a support adapted to receive the plurality of modules in substantially side by side relationship.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electrical connector as recited in claim 31, wherein the connector is a right angle connector.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 14 words

The electrical connector as recited in claim 31, wherein said support is a housing.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 39 words

An electrical connector as in claim 31, wherein each module includes a circuit board and a cover element for holding the circuit board, said cover includes retaining structure for retaining flexible conductors adjacent a region of the circuit board.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 15 words

The module of claim 34, wherein the retaining structure is integrally formed with the cover.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 99 words

An electrical connector comprising: a housing; and a circuit module mountable in the housing, comprising: a circuit substrate; a pair of substantially parallel signal conductors, each residing on opposite sides of said circuit substrate and extending from a first region of the module to a second region of the module; and at least two electrical contact terminals, each terminal being electrically connected to one of the signal conductors in the first region, said signal conductors being arranged substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of the module, whereby the conductors constitute substantial mirror-images of each other about said longitudinal plane.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 99 words

An electrical connector comprising: a housing; and a circuit module mountable in the housing, comprising: a circuit substrate; a pair of substantially parallel signal conductors, each residing on opposite sides of said circuit substrate and extending from a first region of the module to a second region of the module; and at least two electrical contact terminals, each terminal being electrically connected to one of the signal conductors in the first region, said signal conductors being arranged substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of the module, whereby the conductors constitute substantial mirror-images of each other about said longitudinal plane.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 90 words

An electrical connector for relaying differential pairs of signals, comprising: a plurality of modules, each module having a plurality of signal conductors; said signal conductors being arranged substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of the plurality of modules, whereby the conductors constitute substantial mirror-images of each other about said longitudinal plane, and a connector body made of an insulating material which is adapted to receive said plurality of modules generally in a side-by-side arrangement; wherein each signal conductor on each adjacent module defining one of a pair of differential pairs.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 90 words

An electrical connector for relaying differential pairs of signals, comprising: a plurality of modules, each module having a plurality of signal conductors; said signal conductors being arranged substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of the plurality of modules, whereby the conductors constitute substantial mirror-images of each other about said longitudinal plane, and a connector body made of an insulating material which is adapted to receive said plurality of modules generally in a side-by-side arrangement; wherein each signal conductor on each adjacent module defining one of a pair of differential pairs.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-04	2004-01-03	2004-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-04	2008-01-03	2008-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-04	2012-01-03	2012-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular electrical PCB assembly connector

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