US7104807B1 — Apparatus for an improved peripheral electronic i…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 158 words

A plug for coupling with a receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, comprising: a bottom substrate; a plurality of plug-side metal contacts disposed on said bottom substrate, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being configured for coupling with receptacle-side metal contacts in said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, thereby rendering said plug electrically compatible with said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein surfaces of said plurality of plug-side metal contacts that couple with said receptacle-side metal contacts are exposed when said plug is disconnected from said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein said bottom substrate has a sufficient thickness that allows said bottom substrate to be sandwiched between said receptacle-side metal contacts and a surface of a circuit board on which said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard is mounted when said plug is plugged into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 158 words

A plug for coupling with a receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, comprising: a bottom substrate; a plurality of plug-side metal contacts disposed on said bottom substrate, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being configured for coupling with receptacle-side metal contacts in said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, thereby rendering said plug electrically compatible with said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein surfaces of said plurality of plug-side metal contacts that couple with said receptacle-side metal contacts are exposed when said plug is disconnected from said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein said bottom substrate has a sufficient thickness that allows said bottom substrate to be sandwiched between said receptacle-side metal contacts and a surface of a circuit board on which said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard is mounted when said plug is plugged into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

The plug of claim 1 wherein said bottom substrate comprises a bottom housing layer and a stopper layer integrally formed therewith, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being disposed on said bottom housing layer, said stopper layer having an enlarged dimension relative to a stopper of a plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The plug of claim 2 wherein said stopper layer includes two vertical longitudinal surfaces configured to mate with corresponding surfaces of said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 67 words

The plug of claim 2 wherein said stopper layer includes a horizontal bottom surface disposed parallel to a surface of said bottom substrate on which said plurality of plug-side metal contacts are disposed, said horizontal bottom surface being substantially longer in the longitudinal direction of said plug than a length of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard in said longitudinal direction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The plug of claim 4 wherein said plurality of plug-side metal contacts are bent in a direction toward said horizontal bottom surface to couple with a circuit board implementing a peripheral device.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 81 words

The plug of claim 1 wherein a portion of said plug that is inserted into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard has a plug thickness that is at least 25% less than a thickness of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said plug thickness being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said plug and that is also perpendicular to a plane formed by said plurality of plug-side metal contacts.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 66 words

The plug of claim 6 wherein said stopper layer has stopper layer width that is wider than a width of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said stopper layer width being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said plug and that is parallel to said plane formed by said plurality of plug-side metal contacts.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

The plug of claim 6 wherein said stopper layer has a stopper layer length that is longer than a length of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said stopper layer length being measured along said longitudinal axis of said plug.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 180 words

A peripheral device configured to be plugged into a receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, comprising: a plug having a bottom substrate and a plurality of plug-side metal contacts disposed on said bottom substrate, said bottom substrate comprises a bottom housing layer and a stopper layer integrally formed therewith, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being configured for coupling with receptacle-side metal contacts in said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, thereby rendering said plug electrically compatible with said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein surfaces of said plurality plug-side metal contacts that couple with said receptacle-side metal contacts are exposed when said plug is disconnected from said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein said bottom substrate has a sufficient thickness that allows said bottom substrate to be sandwiched between said receptacle-side metal contacts and a surface of a circuit board on which said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard is mounted when said peripheral device is plugged into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 180 words

A peripheral device configured to be plugged into a receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, comprising: a plug having a bottom substrate and a plurality of plug-side metal contacts disposed on said bottom substrate, said bottom substrate comprises a bottom housing layer and a stopper layer integrally formed therewith, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being configured for coupling with receptacle-side metal contacts in said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, thereby rendering said plug electrically compatible with said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein surfaces of said plurality plug-side metal contacts that couple with said receptacle-side metal contacts are exposed when said plug is disconnected from said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein said bottom substrate has a sufficient thickness that allows said bottom substrate to be sandwiched between said receptacle-side metal contacts and a surface of a circuit board on which said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard is mounted when said peripheral device is plugged into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The peripheral device of claim 9 wherein said plurality of plug-side metal contacts are disposed on said bottom housing layer, said stopper layer has an enlarged dimension relative to a stopper of a plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The peripheral device of claim 10 wherein said stopper layer includes two vertical longitudinal surfaces configured to mate with corresponding surfaces of said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 67 words

The peripheral device of claim 10 wherein said stopper layer includes a horizontal bottom surface disposed parallel to a surface of said bottom substrate on which said plurality of plug-side metal contacts are disposed, said horizontal bottom surface being substantially longer in the longitudinal direction of said plug than a length of said stopper of plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard in said longitudinal direction.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 82 words

The peripheral device of claim 9 wherein a portion of said plug that is inserted into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard has a plug thickness that is at least 25% less than a thickness of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said plug thickness being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said plug and that is also perpendicular to a plane formed by said plurality of plug-side metal contacts.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 67 words

The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein said stopper layer has stopper layer width that is wider than a width of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said stopper layer width being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said plug and that is parallel to said plane formed by said plurality of plug-side metal contacts.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

The peripheral device of claim 13 wherein said stopper layer has a stopper layer length that is longer than a length of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said stopper layer length being measured along said longitudinal axis of said plug.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

The peripheral device of claim 12 wherein said plurality of plug-side metal contacts are bent in a direction toward said horizontal bottom surface to couple with a circuit board of said peripheral device.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The peripheral device of claim 16 wherein integrated circuits are populated only on one side of said circuit board of said peripheral device.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The peripheral device of claim 16 wherein integrated circuits are populated on both sides of said circuit board of said peripheral device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 191 words

A peripheral device configured to be plugged into a receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, comprising: a circuit board having thereon a plurality of integrated circuit chips; a plug portion integrally formed at one end of said circuit board, said plug portion having a bottom substrate and a plurality of plug-side metal contacts disposed on said bottom substrate, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being configured for coupling with receptacle-side metal contacts in said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, thereby rendering said plug portion electrically compatible with said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein surfaces of said plurality plug-side metal contacts that couple with said receptacle-side metal contacts are exposed when said plug portion is disconnected from said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein said bottom substrate has a sufficient thickness that allows said bottom substrate to be sandwiched between said receptacle-side metal contacts and a surface of a circuit board on which said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard is mounted when said peripheral device is plugged into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 191 words

A peripheral device configured to be plugged into a receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, comprising: a circuit board having thereon a plurality of integrated circuit chips; a plug portion integrally formed at one end of said circuit board, said plug portion having a bottom substrate and a plurality of plug-side metal contacts disposed on said bottom substrate, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being configured for coupling with receptacle-side metal contacts in said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, thereby rendering said plug portion electrically compatible with said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein surfaces of said plurality plug-side metal contacts that couple with said receptacle-side metal contacts are exposed when said plug portion is disconnected from said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, wherein said bottom substrate has a sufficient thickness that allows said bottom substrate to be sandwiched between said receptacle-side metal contacts and a surface of a circuit board on which said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard is mounted when said peripheral device is plugged into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 56 words

The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein said bottom substrate comprises a bottom housing layer and a stopper layer integrally formed therewith, said plurality of plug-side metal contacts being disposed on said bottom housing layer, said stopper layer having an enlarged dimension relative to a stopper of a plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The peripheral device of claim 20 wherein said stopper layer includes two vertical longitudinal surfaces configured to mate with corresponding surfaces of said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 69 words

The peripheral device of claim 20 wherein said stopper layer includes a horizontal bottom surface disposed parallel to a surface of said bottom substrate on which said plurality of plug-side metal contacts are disposed, said horizontal bottom surface being substantially longer in the longitudinal direction of said plug portion than a length of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard in said longitudinal direction.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 84 words

The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein a portion of said plug portion that is inserted into said receptacle that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard has a plug thickness that is at least 25% less than a thickness of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said plug thickness being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said plug portion and that is also perpendicular to a plane formed by said plurality of plug-side metal contacts.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 68 words

The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said stopper layer has stopper layer width that is wider than a width of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said stopper layer width being measured in a direction that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said plug portion and that is parallel to said plane formed by said plurality of plug-side metal contacts.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 48 words

The peripheral device of claim 23 wherein said stopper layer has a stopper layer length that is longer than a length of said stopper of said plug that conforms to the ExpressCard industry standard, said stopper layer length being measured along said longitudinal axis of said plug portion.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein said plurality of integrated circuits are populated only on one side of said circuit board of said peripheral device.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 25 words

The peripheral device of claim 19 wherein said plurality of integrated circuits are populated on both sides of said circuit board of said peripheral device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-09-11	2010-03-13	2010-09-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-09-11	2014-03-13	2014-09-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-09-11	2018-03-13	2018-09-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for an improved peripheral electronic interconnect device

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