Abstract: An apparatus including top and bottom portions that when mated form a connector. The top portion includes a top connector portion including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, a first top cap connecting the first and second walls, and wherein the first wall comprises a first concave/convex feature for interlocking. The bottom portion includes a bottom connector portion configured to mate with the top connector portion to form the connector. The bottom connector portion includes a third wall, a fourth wall opposite the third wall, a first bottom connecting the third wall and the fourth wall, and wherein the third wall includes a second concave/convex feature for interlocking with the first concave/convex feature, wherein the second concave/convex feature is oriented opposite the first concave/convex feature.

Abstract: A variable frequency oscillator provides an output frequency that is adjustable by selectively combining different delay signals from separate signal paths. The present invention's oscillator includes first and second differential signal paths, each exhibiting a different time delay or “phase.” Each signal path includes a series coupling of multiple delay elements, where each delay element comprises a single differential amplifier transistor pair. Each signal path's delay is established by setting the biasing and geometry of the signal paths' differential amplifier transistor pairs. A combiner, separately coupled to each signal path, selectively combines signals from the paths to provide a representative output. This output is also fed back as input to both signal paths. As an example, the combiner may be provided by two non-nested differential amplifier transistor pairs.