Abstract: An improved open pin field connector is provided for enhanced performance when carrying high speed signals by selective application of one or more techniques for controlling electrical performance parameters. Lossy material may be positioned adjacent to conductive elements of the connector so as to reduce resonance in pairs of conductive elements and/or to provide a desired characteristic impedance for pairs of differential signal conductors. The lossy material may be shaped and positioned to avoid capacitive coupling that might otherwise increase cross talk. In a right angle connector, the lossy material may have a step-wise increase in thickness to provide comparable loss along longer and shorter conductive elements. Conductive elements may be shaped to balance performance characteristics of pairs selected to carry differential signals regardless of orientation along a row or column.

Abstract: An improved open pin field connector is provided for enhanced performance when carrying high speed signals by selective application of one or more techniques for controlling electrical performance parameters. Lossy material may be positioned adjacent to conductive elements of the connector so as to reduce resonance in pairs of conductive elements and/or to provide a desired characteristic impedance for pairs of differential signal conductors. The lossy material may be shaped and positioned to avoid capacitive coupling that might otherwise increase cross talk. In a right angle connector, the lossy material may have a step-wise increase in thickness to provide comparable loss along longer and shorter conductive elements. Conductive elements may be shaped to balance performance characteristics of pairs selected to carry differential signals regardless of orientation along a row or column.

Abstract: An electrically conductive elastomer for grafting to thermoplastic and thermoset substrates is disclosed. If the substrate is a thermoset substrate, the electrically conductive elastomer comprises a mixture of an elastic material, a quantity of electrically conductive flakes, a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a thermoset material. If the substrate is a thermoplastic substrate, the electrically conductive elastomer comprises a mixture of an elastic material, a quantity of electrically conductive flakes, a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a thermoplastic material. The electrically conductive elastomer may further comprise a quantity of electrically conductive particles interspersed within the mixture. Alternatively, a quantity of electrically conductive particles may be imbedded in an outer surface of the electrically conductive elastomer. The electrically conductive elastomer is typically grafted to the substrate by a thermal process.

Abstract: An electrically conductive elastomer for grafting to a metal substrate is disclosed. The electrically conductive elastomer includes a mixture of an elastic material, a quantity of electrically conductive flakes, a thermoplastic elastomer material, a conductive thermoplastic polymer material, and a noble metal or noble metal composite material. The electrically conductive elastomer may further include a quantity of electrically conductive particles interspersed within the mixture. Alternatively, a quantity of electrically conductive particles may be imbedded in an outer surface of the electrically conductive elastomer. The electrically conductive elastomer is typically grafted to the substrate by a thermal process.

Abstract: An electrical device is provided having a conductive coating or layer chemically grafted to a support substrate to produce a durable, conductive surface permanently attached to the underlying substrate material. The grafted layer can be embodied in an electrical contact, and can also be embodied as electrical traces and contact areas of circuit boards and electrical and electronic devices and components. In another embodiment, the grafted layer can be provided in an RFI/EMI shield or ground plane.