Offset stackable pass-through signal connector
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorMichael G. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A stackable pass-through signal connector comprises an array of first connection elements and an array of second connection elements. The second connection elements are physically aligned with the array of first connection elements, and the second connection elements are, operable to electrically couple with first connection elements of another stackable non-shared signal connector. Interconnections between the first connection elements and the second connection elements connect first connection elements that are electrically offset from the second connection elements of the stackable non-shared signal connector.
Claims18
A stackable pass-through signal connector, comprising:
- a connector body;
- an array of first connection elements disposed in said body;
- an array of second connection elements disposed in said body, the second connection elements being physically aligned with the first connection elements and the second connection elements being operable to electrically couple with first connection elements of another stackable non-shared signal connector;
- and
- interconnections disposed within the body of the pass-through signal connector between the first connection elements and the second connection elements of the pass-through connector, the interconnections connecting first connection elements of the pass-through signal connector with second connection elements of the pass-through signal connector that are offset from the first connection elements of the pass-through signal connector perpendicular to a coupling direction of the second connection elements of the pass-through signal connector and the first connection elements of the stackable non-shared signal connector.
A method of routing interconnections within a stackable pass-through signal connectors and stacking the connectors, said method comprising:
- interconnecting an array of first connection elements within a first stackable pass-through signal connector with a array of second connection elements within the first pass-through signal connector and in physical alignment with the array of first connection elements so as to provide electrical interconnections between second connection elements and first connection elements that are laterally offset from the second connection elements, the second connection elements being operable to electrically couple with first connection elements of a second stackable non-shared signal connector, and:
- stacking the first and second stackable pass-through signal connectors one on top of the other so that the second connection elements of the first stackable connector are electrically coupled with the first connection elements of the second stackable connector.
An electric circuit module, the module comprising:
- a circuit board having a plane defined by its two largest dimensions;
- a stackable pass-through signal connector electrically connected to the circuit board:
- an array of first connection elements comprising a part of the stackable pass-through connector;
- an array of second connection elements, the second connection elements comprising a part of the stackable pass-through connector and being physically aligned with the array of first connection elements, the second connection elements being operable to electrically couple with first connection elements of another stackable non-shared signal connector;
- and
- interconnections between the first connection elements and the second connection elements within the stackable pass-through connector, the interconnections connecting first connection elements that are offset from the second connection elements of the stackable non-shared signal connector, the offset being in a plane parallel to the plane of the circuit board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.