Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An interconnect system for mating a module, which contains internal circuitry and has a front and back orientation and an axis, to a host circuit board by moving said module axially in a mating direction relative to said host circuit board, said system comprising: a plurality of first contacts on said host circuit board; and a plurality of second contacts on said module, at least one second contact being partitioned into at least a contact section and a non-contact section, said non-contact section being in front of said contact section relative to said module, said sections being separated from each other by a dielectric portion, said non-contact section being electrically isolated from said internal circuitry, said contact section being electrically connected to said internal circuitry wherein, during mating, one of said first contacts contacts said non-contact section of said at least one second contact before contacting said contact section of said at least one second contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An interconnect system for mating a module, which contains internal circuitry and has a front and back orientation and an axis, to a host circuit board by moving said module axially in a mating direction relative to said host circuit board, said system comprising: a plurality of first contacts on said host circuit board; and a plurality of second contacts on said module, at least one second contact being partitioned into at least a contact section and a non-contact section, said non-contact section being in front of said contact section relative to said module, said sections being separated from each other by a dielectric portion, said non-contact section being electrically isolated from said internal circuitry, said contact section being electrically connected to said internal circuitry wherein, during mating, one of said first contacts contacts said non-contact section of said at least one second contact before contacting said contact section of said at least one second contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said second contacts are arranged in at least one row which is traverse to said axis, a front edge of each non-contact section of said at least one row defining a leading edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said first contacts are arranged in two rows and said second contacts are arranged in two rows, each row having a leading edge defined by a front edge of each non-contact section of each second contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein said leading edge is in front of a point at which a row of said first contacts contacts said module during mating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a second contact corresponding to a signal connection has a non-contact section longer than that of second contacts not corresponding to signal connections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein a second contact corresponding to a power connection has a non-contact section longer than that of second contacts corresponding to ground connections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a second contact corresponding to a ground connection has a non-contact section shorter than that of a second contact corresponding to either a power or signal contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said second contacts comprises at least a contact section and a non-contact section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said dielectric portion between said contact and non-contact section is narrow enough such that said one of said first contacts is able to bridge across said contact and non-contact sections without touching said dielectric portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said second contacts are cantilever contacts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said contact and non-contact sections comprise the same material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 , wherein said contact and non-contact sections comprise gold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said first contacts are plated with gold.