Abstract: A tool is disclosed, for measuring the important thermal characteristics of a unit of electronic equipment, which obtains air flow and temperature readings at both air inlet and air outlet openings of the unit without disturbing cable or wiring connections or otherwise interrupting device operation. The tool pressure sensing element is rotatable between detented positions to permit the tool to be used at both air inlet and air outlet openings. The tool air duct portion may be formed of separate duct portions to enable a single duct portion including the sensing instrumentation to be used with multiple duct portions that conform to electronic device air inlet and outlet openings to impart added flexibility to the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a metallic thermal interface is shown for connecting an electronic module to a heat sink. Using an interface metal such as indium or malleable indium alloys, which have superior heat transfer capability, but are subject to oxidization and degraded thermal transfer capability; a layer of interface material is confined in a recess in the heat sink base into which the module cap is received. The thermal interface region is then evacuated to bring the module top surface and recess major surface into intimate contact and sealed along the interface of the module and recess side walls to exclude air from the metallic interface region.

Abstract: A conductive filled polymer contact which is molded at an aperture through a carrier sheet includes an elongated conductive frame introduced prior to the molding process as an insert which is held captive in the molded contact and which extends from at or near the upper contact surface, through the aperture and terminates at the opposite end at or near the lower contact surface to provide a continuous conductive path through the length of the contact, whereby the sequence of particle to particle interfaces within the molded polymer contact is reduced in number to increase reliability.

Abstract: An acoustic door for an equipment enclosure, such as a rack mount cabinet, also provides a low impedance air flow uniformly delivered across the cabinet opening. A pair of metal panels, with acoustic foam along the rear surfaces, extend angularly outward and toward one another to form an air inlet opening between the outer edges. A central column is positioned between the panels which, in a horizontal section, forms an aerodynamic dome which has a continuously curved sheet metal surface at the front and sides that also captures a core of acoustic foam that is exposed at the rear. A rigid vane is disposed at each lateral side and parallel to the central column to cause air to follow the column surface, deflecting air behind the column and effecting uniform delivery of air flow across the cabinet front opening at the rear opening of the door.

Abstract: A pneumatic switch includes a housing which presents external contacts spaced apart to engage a component site on a device such as a circuit board. A pair of components are supported on the switch housing. A flexure mounted armature or vane is biased in one direction to electrically connect one of the pair of mounted components serially between the housing external contacts, while an air flow to the switch displaces the vane to electrically connect the other of the pair of components in series between the external contacts. The electrical leads between each of the pair of components and the external contacts are of equal length. The switch external contacts may also engage the terminals of a component at a circuit site to insert the mounted components alternatively in parallel with the existing component.

Abstract: The transferrable EMI gasket assembly utilizes a carrier with a pair of arms, each attached to a back panel by a hinged connection and extending in the same direction to overlie one another. The conductive, deformable gasket material is attached to the carrier and positioned adjacent the back panel. The assembly is collapsed for installation with the back panel overlying one of the arms hinged thereto to present a reduced height. The assembly is placed in the operative position by moving one arm relative to the other to pivot the carrier back panel to a near right angle position with respect to the carrier arms. In the operative position, the gasket material is compressed and deformed against the confronting surfaces to effect the EMI seal while the biasing force of the compressed gasket material, in the preferred embodiment, secures the carrier arms together.

Abstract: In a flat flex cable, signal lines are surrounded by logic ground planes above and below which are viaed together left and right. The ground planes coupled with the flex cable dielectric determine characteristic the impedance and attenuation of the cable and provide differential signal EMI shielding. All signal layers and logic ground planes are enclosed within the two outermost shield layers which are viaed together left and right and around the connectors to enclose both signal layers and logic ground planes to provide common mode EMI shielding.

Abstract: A shoulder strap for carrying a notebook computer is formed as an elongated member with a locking mechanism at a first end which attaches to the lock slot of the computer and a loop at the opposite end. By passing the strap through the loop, the opposite end portion of the strap is positioned around the computer adjacent the side opposite the side which includes the lock slot. With the first end of the strap secured to the computer by securing the locking mechanism at the computer lock slot, the intermediate portion of the strap extends over the users shoulder to enable transport of the computer. By forming the strap using a plastic coated steel cable, the shoulder strap may be used for both carrying the computer and as a security cable for securing the computer when unattended. The shoulder strap surfaces that engage the user's shoulder and surround and engage the notebook computer are formed of non-adhesive, non-slip material.

Abstract: A multi function component mounting assembly is shown that, in the environment illustrated, supports a blower in an electronic device chassis in tandem with another component requiring frequent user access such as a media component. The assembly is supported on a sheet metal tray or frame with the blower mounted beneath the distal end of the tray along with its electrical connector which is supported with two degrees of limited motion to accommodate remote auto docking. The tray is secured in the opening by a unitary molded latch element that is permitted limited longitudinal movement with respect to the tray and includes biasing means which engage the tray to bias the assembly into a fully inserted position in the chassis. A drop down handle assists manual insertion and withdrawal of the assembly and disengagement of the latch securing the assembly and is moved to a stored position by insertion of the media component.

Abstract: A tamper sensing circuit is provided for an electrical device wherein an enclosure may be opened to access data by a user that does not possess the ability to achieve normal access by satisfying data security measures such as use of a password. A screw used to secure enclosure halves together is connected by a conductive coating at the enclosure member surface into which the screw is threaded to connect a tamper sensing circuit to the device ground potential. A tamper sensing circuit output node is maintained at the circuit ground potential as long as the screw is in electrical contact with the enclosure conductive coating. When the screw is disengaged from the enclosure member threaded opening, the output node is no longer grounded and rises to a supplied electrical potential indicating tampering and enabling appropriate corrective action.

Abstract: A high frequency connector utilizes flex strip signal/reference conductor pairs extending in channels formed in a dielectric connector body between terminations at connector ends. The flex strips are formed as signal and reference conductor traces separated by a flexible dielectric wherein the impedance can be influenced by the width of the signal and reference traces and the thickness and selected material of the dielectric separating the adjoining conductor traces. Design of the flex strip assemblies is used to vary the capacitance which enables the connector impedance to match the impedance of the circuits and/or cables connected to the connector and mitigate any discontinuities among the sequence of circuit paths. The close proximity of signal and reference traces within the pair and the separation of signal lines in the connector body reduces cross talk by minimizing mutual inductance between signal lines.

Abstract: A connector for attaching a printed circuit board to other apparatus is formed as a separate connector body with a plurality of pins projecting from one end surface that are attached to the printed circuit board by being secured in vias through the board and a threaded opening at the end surface opposite the one end surface from which the pins project. When a bolt is received in the connector threaded opening and drawn tight to secure the printed circuit board to other apparatus, the stresses and material deformation induced by the securing bolt are isolated from the printed circuit board. Further, the attachment of the pins to the printed circuit board rather than the use of screws extending through holes in the circuit board reduces the size of ‘keep out’ zones that must be avoided by the wiring paths on each wiring surface of the printed circuit board through which mounting holes extend.

Abstract: A tool is described for the backside removal of single pins from a high pin density connector, either from the connector itself or a connector with pins such as compliant pins mounted in plated through vias on a host such as a printed circuit board. A pin is driven from a connector by advancing a sleeve portion to surround the pin and subsequently pushing the pin from the connector using a shaft with a spherical, concave end surface, whereby the pin is radially confined by the sleeve and aligned and driven by the shaft as it is advanced through the sleeve. Where the connector is mounted on a printed circuit board with the pin resident in a plated through via, the sleeve is aligned with and abutting the printed circuit board at the via opening and the shaft is thereafter advanced through and beyond the sleeve to engage, align and drive the pin with the via wall providing radial confinement.

Abstract: A connector for effecting a permanent, solderless connection between two printed circuit boards or other devices using plated through via openings is disclosed. The connector body captures pins that project from two surfaces thereof. Each of a plurality of pins presents dual compliant connecting portions, one adjacent each body surface from which the pin projects. The connector body portion may also include bosses adjacent the projecting pins to cause the pin compliant connecting portion to have a predetermined distance of penetration into the cooperating via opening of a connected board or panel and the edge surface of the body can be notched between pin locations to enable an extended length to be partitioned into smaller units. The connector may also be formed with two spaced body portions to effect greater separation between attached boards.

Abstract: A front side extractor is shown which removes single connector pins from connectors utilizing high pin densities. The tool includes a sleeve that is aligned with a pin to be extracted and advanced to surround the pin. A shaft with a terminal wedge surface is then advanced through the sleeve to wedge the pin against the inner surface of the sleeve and capture the pin, thereby allowing the pin to be extracted as it is retracted, in unison with the tool, away from the connector. To enhance the ability of the tool to capture the pin, the sleeve inner surface is roughened to increase the frictional force retaining the pin against the sleeve wall surface.

Abstract: A cable management bar and bracket assembly is mounted within an equipment enclosure. The brackets are supported on and movable along the bar to present cable support positions at various transverse locations. The brackets are of generally U-shaped configuration with cable supporting hooks formed in one depending flange and with inwardly projecting tabs formed in the other depending flange which extend beneath the bar to make the bracket captive on the bar. Slots formed in the bar at one axial location permit the bracket to be assembled to and removed from the bar when the tabs are aligned with and passed through the slots. The assembly also includes mounting brackets at each end of the bar which are formed integral with the bar of a single piece of material while the bar portion is formed as a downwardly opening U-shaped channel element.

Abstract: A shock mount structure is shown that has one position wherein shock mount members positioned at the corners of the device are contained within the length, width, and height of the form factor with which the device complies and a second position wherein the elastomeric corner members violate the form factor, but are positioned to impact a planar surface, toward which the device is dropped, before any portion of the device, irrespective of the attitude of the device as it approaches the planar surface. To assure protection, the elastomeric corner shock mount elements are urged toward the second position by integral springs and are manually movable to the first position by overcoming the biasing force of the springs.

Abstract: A retainer clip is shown for retaining a device through an opening in a panel such as a printed circuit board, enclosure wall or similar structure. The clip surrounds the portion of the device projecting through the aperture and by a single longitudinal motion engages cooperating portions of the device to secure the device at the panel opening. The clip includes means for detenting in the assembled, locking position to prevent accidental release of the device from the secured, mounted condition.

Abstract: Land grid array (LGA) connectors are used to attach circuit modules to printed circuit boards that present an array of noble metal or semi-noble metal plated contacts to not only effect a reliable connection, but also enable circuit module release and replacement. During replacement, the connector is discarded and a replacement circuit module is used. Only the contact array on the printed circuit board is reused. An in situ gasket carried by the connector is compressed against the circuit board in the assembled condition to form a sealed enclosure about the contact array at the printed circuit board surface which excludes particulate and gaseous contaminants. Thus when the module is replaced, the contact array site on the printed circuit board does not require cleaning or processing to overcome degradation of the contact materials or surfaces.

Abstract: A light weight, portable platform for supporting a notebook or laptop type computer elevates the computer monitor to a user friendly height above a supporting table or desk top surface. The platform back, sides and top may be interconnected using hook and loop tape and can be readily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools or separate connecting parts that may be misplaced or lost. The platform stores flat for transport with the principal elements occupying less volume than the compact computer it supports in the assembled mode. The platform comprises a pair of side members, a back member and a top member, with the alternative that the bottom surface of the supported computer may serve as the top member of the platform.