# US 11,994,723 B2 · Ribbon cable alignment apparatus

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- Number: US 11,994,723 B2
- Document ID: US11994723B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/566,473
- Filed: 2021-12-30
- Published: 2023-07-06
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-30
- Assignees: Pure Storage, Inc.
- Applicants: Pure Storage, Inc.
- Inventors: Eric Lotter; Aditya Prabhakar; Paula Zubiri Rivero
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994723B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/3897: {Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence)}
- H01R 12/79: connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
- G02B 6/4471: {Terminating devices (demountable connectors G02B6/3807); Cable clamps}
- H01R 12/00: Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures (printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11)
- H01R 12/61: connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

An apparatus includes a body with an opening through the body, the opening corresponding to dimensions of a cable to be connected to a circuit board and a flat surface to abut the circuit board. The apparatus further includes one or more attachment mechanisms to attach the body to the circuit board.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a body comprising:
an opening through the body, the opening corresponding to dimensions of a cable to be connected to a circuit board external to the body, wherein the opening comprises a cable insertion point corresponding to dimensions of the cable and an adjacent slot for attachment of the cable to a cable connector of the circuit board; and
a flat surface to abut the circuit board; and
one or more attachment mechanisms to attach the body to the circuit board.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanisms comprise one or more holes to receive a fastener to couple the apparatus to the circuit board.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body is to receive the cable through the opening to couple the cable to a cable connector of the circuit board.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening corresponds to dimensions of a flat ribbon cable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the opening provides for alignment of the ribbon cable with a ribbon cable connector of the circuit board.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises a height and width to provide support to the ribbon cable while attached to a cable connector of the circuit board.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening provides additional room for a tool used to insert the cable into the cable insertion point of the opening.

### Claim 8

An apparatus comprising:
a body comprising:
a channel corresponding to dimensions of a cable; and
one or more attachment mechanisms disposed on each side of the channel to attach the body to a surface; and
one or more alignment arms extending from the body, wherein the one or more alignment arms comprise:
a first alignment arm extending from the body on a first side of the channel; and
a second alignment arm extending from the body on a second side of the channel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more attachment mechanisms comprise holes for attaching the apparatus to the surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the channel provides support and tension on the cable while attached to the surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cable comprises a flat ribbon cable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the channel provides a space for the cable to run through the apparatus to be aligned with and coupled to cable connections on the surface.

### Claim 13

A system comprising:
a printed circuit board; and
a cable collar apparatus coupled to the printed circuit board, the cable collar apparatus comprising:
a body comprising:
an opening through the body, the opening corresponding to dimensions of a cable to be connected to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board external to the body, wherein the opening comprises a cable insertion point corresponding to dimensions of the cable and an adjacent slot for attachment of the cable to a cable connector of the circuit board; and
a flat surface to abut the printed circuit board; and
one or more attachment mechanisms to attach the body to the printed circuit board.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the attachment mechanisms comprise holes to receive screws to couple the cable collar apparatus to the printed circuit board.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the body is to receive the cable through the opening to a cable connector of the printed circuit board.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the opening corresponds to dimensions of a flat ribbon cable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the opening provides for alignment of the ribbon cable with a ribbon cable connector of the printed circuit board.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the cable collar apparatus comprises a height and width to provide support to the ribbon cable while attached to a cable connector of the printed circuit board.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the opening provides additional room for a tool used to insert the cable into the cable insertion point of the opening.