Patents by Inventor Stefaan Sercu

Stefaan Sercu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11258205
    Abstract: A connector (103) is provided having a plurality of leads generally arranged in columns extending substantially parallel each other in a column direction (C) and being adjacent each other in a row direction (R). At least one first column comprises at least one first pair of single leads (S) substantially parallel each other in a first pair direction (P) to form a first differential pair. In at least a portion of the connector the first pair direction extends at an acute angle (a) to the column direction. Further, an assembly, and a circuit board are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Sercu
  • Patent number: 10418753
    Abstract: A connector is provided having a plurality of leads generally arranged in columns extending substantially parallel each other in a column direction and being adjacent each other in a row direction. At least one first column includes at least one first pair of signal leads substantially parallel each other in a first pair direction to form a first differential pair. In at least a portion of the connector the first pair direction extends at an acute angle to the column direction. Further, an assembly, and a circuit board are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Amphenol FCI Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Sercu
  • Publication number: 20150372427
    Abstract: A connector is provided having a plurality of leads generally arranged in columns extending substantially parallel each other in a column direction and being adjacent each other in a row direction. At least one first column includes at least one first pair of signal leads substantially parallel each other in a first pair direction to form a first differential pair. In at least a portion of the connector the first pair direction extends at an acute angle to the column direction. Further, an assembly, and a circuit board are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Jan DE GEEST, Stefaan SERCU
  • Patent number: 8383951
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Danny L. C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan DeGeest
  • Patent number: 8183466
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Danny L. C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan DeGeest
  • Patent number: 7935896
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Danny L. C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan DeGeest
  • Patent number: 7709747
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance surface-mount technology footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Danny L. C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan De Geest
  • Publication number: 20100048043
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Danny L.C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan DeGeest
  • Publication number: 20100041256
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny L.C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan DeGeest
  • Publication number: 20100041275
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance. Thus, the via arrangement may be altered to achieve an impedance that matches the impedance of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny L.C. Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan DeGeest
  • Publication number: 20070099464
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a leadframe housing, a first electrical contact fixed in the leadframe housing, a second electrical contact fixed adjacent to the first electrical contact in the leadframe housing, and a third electrical contact fixed adjacent to the second electrical contact in the leadframe housing is disclosed. Each of the first and second electrical contacts may be selectively designated, while fixed in the lead frame housing, as either a ground contact or a signal contact such that, in a first designation, the first and second contacts form a differential signal pair, and, in a second designation, the second contact is a single-ended signal conductor. The third electrical contact may be a ground contact having a terminal end that extends beyond terminal ends of the first and second contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu
  • Publication number: 20060246756
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array is arranged in a first pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts. The second linear array is arranged in a second pattern of signal contacts and ground contacts that is different from the first pattern. The signal contacts define differential signal pairs. The signal contacts in the first linear array are elongated along a direction along which the first linear array extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz, Steven Minich
  • Publication number: 20060234532
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a linear array of electrical blade contacts is disclosed. Each contact may have a free-ended mating portion that extends from a mate surface of a dielectric base. The first linear array may include a first signal contact, a second signal contact positioned adjacent to the first signal contact and forming a differential signal pair therewith, and a ground contact positioned adjacent to the second signal contact. The first signal contact, the second signal contact, and the ground contact may each be elongated in a direction along the linear array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz, Steven Minich
  • Publication number: 20060232301
    Abstract: Disclosed are methodologies for defining matched-impedance surface-mount technology footprints on a substrate such as a printed circuit board, for example, that is adapted to receive an electrical component having an arrangement of terminal leads. Such a footprint may include an arrangement of electrically-conductive pads and an arrangement of electrically-conductive vias. The via arrangement may differ from the pad arrangement. The vias may be arranged to increase routing density, while limiting cross-talk and providing for matched impedance between the component and the substrate. The via arrangement may be altered to achieve a desired routing density on a layer of the board. Increasing the routing density may decrease the number of board layers, which tends to decrease capacitance and thereby increase impedance. Ground vias and signal vias may be arranged with respect to one another in such a manner as to affect impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny Morlion, Stefaan Sercu, Winnie Heyvaert, Jan De Geest
  • Publication number: 20060234531
    Abstract: An electrical connector that includes first and second linear arrays of electrical contacts is disclosed. The first linear array includes a first differential signal pair, a first ground contact lead adjacent to the first differential signal pair, and a second ground contact lead adjacent to the first ground contact lead. The second linear array is positioned adjacent to the first linear array, and includes a second differential signal pair, a third ground contact lead adjacent to the second differential signal pair, and a fourth ground contact lead adjacent to the third ground contact lead. The electrical connector is devoid of electrical shields between the first linear array and the second linear array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz, Steven Minich
  • Publication number: 20060089053
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for connecting a first part and a second part, wherein the first part comprises a power supply line, a plurality of signal contacts and a plurality of ground contacts and the second part comprises a plurality of corresponding signal contacts and a plurality of corresponding ground contacts. The power supply line is connected via at least one ground contact of said first part to a corresponding ground contact of said second part. The first part may be a device board and said second part may be a connector assembly. The invention further relates to a cable connector for use in such a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: FCI
    Inventors: Danny Morlion, Stefaan Sercu
  • Publication number: 20050287849
    Abstract: Lightweight, low-cost, high-density electrical connectors are disclosed that provide impedance-controlled, high-speed, low-interference communications, even in the absence of shields between the contacts, and that provide for a variety of other benefits not found in prior art connectors. An example of such an electrical connector may include a first signal contact positioned within a first linear array of electrical contacts and a second signal contact positioned within a second linear array of electrical contacts that is adjacent to the first linear array. Either of the signal contacts may be a single-ended signal conductor, or one of a differential signal pair. The connector may be devoid of shields between the signal contacts, and of ground contacts adjacent to the signal contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Applicant: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Winings, Joseph Shuey, Timothy Lemke, Gregory Hull, Stephen Smith, Stefaan Sercu, Timothy Houtz
  • Patent number: 6893270
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a cable harness assembly includes a shielded cable comprising a first and a second conductor for conducting a pair of differential signals, and a generally planar board having a first and a second electrically-conductive trace formed thereon and having a first and a second major surface. The first trace is electrically coupled to the first conductor at a first location on the first major surface and extends along the first major surface to a second location on the first major surface. The second trace is electrically coupled to the second conductor at a third location on the first major surface and extends along the first and the second major surfaces to a fourth location on the second major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefaan Sercu
  • Publication number: 20040023557
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a cable harness assembly includes a shielded cable comprising a first and a second conductor for conducting a pair of differential signals, and a generally planar board having a first and a second electrically-conductive trace formed thereon and having a first and a second major surface. The first trace is electrically coupled to the first conductor at a first location on the first major surface and extends along the first major surface to a second location on the first major surface. The second trace is electrically coupled to the second conductor at a third location on the first major surface and extends along the first and the second major surfaces to a fourth location on the second major surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Stefaan Sercu