Multi-level assemblies and methods for interconnecting integrated circuits

A multi-level electrical assembly for coupling at least one integrated circuit to a circuit board comprising:

• (a) pin carrier means for electrically and mechanically coupling the assembly to an attachment area of a circuit board, including a plurality of electrically conductive pins held in predetermined relative position by an electrically insulating carrier;
• (b) receiving means located on the top layer of the carrier for electrically and mechanically coupling an integrated circuit to the pins;
• and
• (c) a multi-layer interconnect board positioned with a plurality of the pins passing through it, including means for converting high-voltage power on an input to lower-voltage power for the integrated circuit.

A method of coupling a low-voltage powered integrated circuit to an attachment area of a circuit board designed for a higher-voltage powered integrated circuit comprising:

• (a) forming a pin carrier having a socket on one side and a plurality of pins held perpendicularly to the pin carrier and extending from the other side, wherein the socket is shaped so as to receive the lower-voltage powered integrated circuit and electrically connected so as to conduct leads of the circuit to the pins;
• (b) forming a multi-layer interconnect board having a plurality of holes positioned so as to permit a plurality of the pins to pass through the interconnect board and having at least two mostly metallized areas on different layers, one of which areas defines a low-voltage plane and a second of which areas defines a high-voltage plane;
• (c) forming electrical connections between each of the two planes and selected of the pins extending through the interconnect board;
• (d) mounting on the interconnect board a voltage regulator having an input and an output, and electrically connecting the input of the voltage regulator to the higher-voltage plane and the output of the voltage regulator to the lower-voltage plane;
• (e) placing the interconnect board over the pins and fastening the interconnect board and the pin carrier together;
• and
• (f) soldering the pins passing through the interconnect board to the interconnect board.