Abstract: An expanding standoff connector is disclosed including a collar having a slit through a wall of the collar, a tapered interior surface and an exterior surface configured to engage an interior of a mounting opening of the circuit board. A fastener including a threaded portion and a substantially cone shaped portion configured to mate with the tapered interior surface of the collar is placed within the collar and advanced to expand the collar to mount the circuit board. A related method for mounting a circuit board is also disclosed. Since the expansion is horizontal only (purely radial), a more uniform radial expansion from top-to-bottom of the collar is applied to the circuit board and a best-fit alignment between a circuit board and heatsink can be maintained.

Abstract: An integrated circuit screen printing nozzle that has a nozzle body, a first inner layer on the nozzle body, a second outer layer on the first layer, and an opening through the nozzle body, the first layer, and the second layer. The first and second layers can be an insert held within the body. The opening allows paste material to flow through the screen printing nozzle to the stencil mask. Also, the second outer layer includes a contact surface adapted to contact the stencil mask. One feature of the invention is that the first layer is softer (has a lower durometer) than the second layer. This allows the second layer to be more durable than the first layer and for the first layer to provide additional flexibility to the second layer. Therefore, the invention provides a nozzle that has the high durability characteristics of a hard outer surface with the compliance of a soft nozzle.