Spring-loaded lead frame connectors
AssigneeNVIDIA Corporation
InventorsKarl Joseph Bois, Michael David Herring, Joseph Michael Gallo, Kevin Darrel Conn, Cong Gao, Arturo Pachon Munoz, Gabriele Gorla, Ryan Albright, Trevor Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods disclosed herein are for a connector having a lead section and a barrel section. The barrel section may be formed from a portion of the lead section and may include a pin and a spring. The pin may extend from or retract into the barrel section based in part on an interface with the spring. The pin may contact a surface contact pad on a circuit board to pass signals from the circuit board through the connector.
Claims20
A connector comprising a lead section and a barrel section, wherein the barrel section is formed from a portion of the lead section and comprises a pin and a spring, wherein the pin is to extend from or retract into the barrel section based in part on an interface with the spring, and wherein the pin is to contact a surface contact pad on a circuit board to pass signals from the circuit board through the connector.
A system for a lead frame connector, comprising:
- a plurality of lead sections;
- a plurality of barrel sections at individual ends of the plurality of lead sections, wherein individual ones of the plurality of barrel sections are formed from portions of respective ones of the plurality of lead sections, and wherein the plurality of lead sections and the plurality of barrel sections form an array of connectors of the lead frame connector;
- and
- at least two pins and at least two springs within the individual ones of the plurality of barrel sections, wherein the at least two pins are to extend from or retract into the individual ones of the plurality of barrel sections based in part on an interface with respective ones of the at least two springs, and wherein the at least two pins are to support or allow a differential signal through the lead frame connector.
A datacenter, comprising:
- a midplane or a backplane comprising a plurality of surface contact pads for differential signals;
- and
- one or more daughter boards coupled to the midplane or backplane through a lead frame connector, the lead frame connector comprising:
- a plurality of connectors arranged in an array;
- and
- lead sections and barrel sections in individual ones of the plurality of connectors, wherein individual ones of the barrel sections are formed from portions of respective ones of the lead sections, wherein the individual ones of the barrel sections comprise at least two pins and at least two springs, wherein the at least two pins are to extend from or retract into the individual ones of the barrel sections based in part on an interface with respective ones of the at least two springs, and wherein the at least two pins are to support or allow the differential signals through the lead frame connector to or from at least some of the plurality of surface contact pads.
A method for connector for signaling, the method comprising;
- forming a lead section according to a layout for the connector;
- forming a barrel section from a portion of the lead section;
- associating a pin and a spring within the barrel section;
- allowing the pin to extend from or retract into the barrel section based in part on an interface with the spring;
- and
- allowing the connector to be used for the signaling between at least two circuit boards or components of the circuit boards, wherein the pin is to contact a surface contact pad on at least one of the circuit boards to pass signals from the circuit board and through the connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.