Conductor Itself Is Flat Patents (Class 174/117FF)
  • Patent number: 6162993
    Abstract: A signal conductor for high-frequency signals has a first carrier layer and a second carrier layer each having a suitable dielectricity. At least one electrically conducting signal path is provided and is positioned at a lateral spacing between first and second electrically conducting ground paths. The electrically conducting signal path and the first and second electrically conducting ground paths are positioned between the first and second carrier layers. A first shield is connected to the first carrier layer at a side of the first carrier layer facing away from the second carrier layer. A plastic sheeting is connected to the second carrier layer at a side of the second carrier layer facing away from the first carrier layer. A second shield is connected to the plastic sheeting remote of the second carrier layer. The plastic sheeting has connection lugs, and the second shield has a cutout at a location where the connection lugs are arranged on the plastic sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Stemmann-Technik GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Barthelt
  • Patent number: 6107577
    Abstract: A flat, surface mounted, flexible, multi-purpose wire has a plurality of flat elongated conductors spaced apart in a generally parallel relationship. Each of the flat conductors includes a plurality of conductive layers. At least one optical fiber lies lengthwise in a plane between the flat conductors. An adhesive material separates the flat conductors and an insulation layer surrounds the flat conductors and the adhesive material, with the adhesive material bonding to the insulation layer. A cross-sectional height of the flat conductors and insulation layer is such that the multi-purpose wire will blend in with the surface when painted or after wallpaper is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Jay Sexton
  • Patent number: 6096978
    Abstract: A flat cable having a metal conductors enclosed by a flexible insulation sheath. The conductors are flat and in a side by side orientation in the lateral direction and the conductors are provided with bends which enable a substantial increase in the length of the conductors upon extending the insulation sheath without breaking the conductors. The conductors are also provided at certain distances with short straight conductor sections that are oriented closer to the external surface of the flexible insulation sheath. The insulation sheath is constituted by an inner insulation which surrounds the conductors and a harder, outer insulation which serves as an actual protective cable sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Oy IWS International Inc.
    Inventor: Jorma Pohjola
  • Patent number: 6093894
    Abstract: A bonding opening exposing conductors through a cover of a multiconductor flat cable or electrical component to allow direct bonding thereof is described. The multiconductor flat cable or electrical component having a base layer with conductors disposed thereon and a flat cover having an opening provided therein at a bonding site, preferably by die cutting. The flat cover with the opening is laminated to the base layer, overlaying the conductors, so that the conductors are mechanically stabilized by the base layer while being exposed through the bonding opening. The shape of the multiconductor flat cable or electrical component of the present invention may be highly varied. In one embodiment, the flat multiconductor electrical component circumferentially extends around a central area, for example, totally encompassing in IC chip which may be connected to the conductors thereof at a bonding site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Lee Carlson, Bruce Dale King, Rudolph Manuel Lopez, Alex Irwin Panasiuk, George G. Zamora
  • Patent number: 6088235
    Abstract: Magnetic noise cancellation in a single-ended MR preamplifier front end is achieved by forming a balanced ground return path in a flex circuit connecting an MR head to the front end of the preamplifier. The balanced ground return path introduces a noise current in the opposite direction of the original noise current as viewed at the signal input pins of the preamplifier chip. In this manner common mode rejection of the radiated noise component is restored in the single-ended MR preamplifier circuit arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: James Chiao, Gary G. Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 6087585
    Abstract: A micro-dimensional coupling conductor with a shape that is customized for a particular electronic device. A fabrication method is used in which the physical dimensions of the conductor are precisely controlled with photolithographic techniques, resulting in a conductor that is more precisely tuned to the operating frequency of the device. The conductor is fabricated on an SiO.sub.2 substrate using vacuum deposition techniques. After fabrication, the conductor is separated from the SiO.sub.2 substrate by dissolving the SiO.sub.2. Alternatively, the conductor may be fabricated on a Teflon.TM. substrate. The use of a Teflon substrate allows a user to remove the conductor from the substrate by applying a small mechanical force to the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: LeRoy H. Hackett
  • Patent number: 6080935
    Abstract: A method of making various insulated conductor sizes during a transformer coil winding process by slitting and bonding insulating sheet materials and foil sheet conductor into a composite foil conductor/insulation. The method includes folding the composite into a substantially U-shaped length having a central portion between two leg portions with each leg portion having a free end. The method also includes folding the leg portions of the "U" inwardly to a position substantially parallel to the central portion of the "U" to bring the free ends of the leg portions into opposing relation to provide a folded insulated foil conductor having a two-conductor thickness surrounded by insulation. Provision is also made for increasing the cross-sectional area of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Lanoue, Richard P. Marek
  • Patent number: 6049041
    Abstract: The invention provides a flexible metal-clad dielectric including a Be--Cu alloy foil, with an enriched electrical conductivity and a mean grain size of 20 .mu.m or less, which is laminated with a highly flexible resin film. The invention thus has improved bending characteristic and significantly reduces failures in flexible printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Yoshioka, Akihito Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6043435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive portion device (300) having a plurality of independent conductive portions and attached to an attaching base member (360). The device includes a film (310) and a plurality of conductive materials (321, 322 and 323) to be attached to the film (310), which constitute the respective independent conductive portions, and the device further has holes (302a to 302d) corresponding to protrusions (362a to 362d) formed on the attaching base member (360).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Tokai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamaguchi, Katsura Sugiura
  • Patent number: 6020559
    Abstract: A flat flexible cable made from a conductor array including a plurality of longitudinally extending flexible conductors arranged side-by-side in parallel and transversely spaced relationship. A first pair of heat resistant electrically insulating films lie above and below a first preselected longitudinal section of the conductor array. The first pair of films are adhered together with the preselected longitudinal section of the conductor array adhered therebetween. A second pair of electrically insulating flexible films lie above and below a second longitudinal section of the conductor array contiguous to the preselected longitudinal section. The second pair of films are adhered together with the second longitudinal section of the conductor array adhered therebetween. The pairs of films engage with a joint formed therebetween. At least one film of the first pair of films defines a plurality of access openings to conductors of the conductor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Maeda
  • Patent number: 6016253
    Abstract: According to known methods, several circuit board pieces in a three-dimensional arrangement of an electronic module are connected together electrically by the film connectors and arranged around an operator control or actuator element in the three-dimensional form. The assembly of such modules is, however, very costly because the circuit boards must all be fastened mechanically. By using film connectors with greater stiffness, circuit board pieces can be held over these directly without additional mechanical securing devices and the three-dimensional circuit board arrangement can be secured by appropriate securing devices in the three-dimensional form. A preferred application is for electronic modules with operator control and/or actuator elements where the space available is very limited, in particular for modules fitted in motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignees: Temic Telefunken Microeletronics GmbH, Marquardt GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Seitz, Joachim Lach, Ernst-Ludwig Klein, Roland Wolfschlager, Ekkehard Sachs
  • Patent number: 6005193
    Abstract: An electrically conductive cable for transmitting electrical signals is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the cable includes a first braided wire conductor having a cross-sectional height and cross-sectional width which is more that twice the cross-sectional height, a first dielectric sheath surrounding the first oval braided wire conductor. The cable also includes a second braided wire conductor which has a cross-sectional height and a cross-sectional width which are substantially identical to those of the first oval braided wire conductor, and a second dielectric sheath surrounding the second oval braided wire conductor. In the preferred cable design, the second oval braided wire conductor is disposed vertically above the first oval braided wire conductor to enhance performance characteristics of the cable. A metallic shielding tube may be provided surrounding the first and second conductors and their respective sheaths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Mark L. Markel
  • Patent number: 5998027
    Abstract: A flat electrical wire having a substantially rectangular cross-section is prepared from an electrical conductor having a circular cross-section, first by applying a benzimidazol-based polymer coat to the wire, then rolling the coated conductor to yield the flat wire. The flat wire thus prepared has a high heat resistance and dielectric breakdown resistance and can avoid dislocation or slippage when used in a magnet coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Onishi, Shinichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5966293
    Abstract: An electrical interconnection structure. The electrical interconnection structure includes a mother board substrate having a plurality of layers. At least one layer includes a signal path having a characteristic impedance of Z.sub.O and a conductive ground plane. A signal via passes through each layer of the mother board substrate. The signal via electrically is connected to the signal path. A ground via passes through each layer of the mother board substrate. The ground via is electrically connected to the conductive ground plane. The electrical interconnection structure further includes a plurality of flex circuits. Each flex circuit includes a flex signal path having a characteristic impedance of Z.sub.O and a flex ground plane. Each flex signal path is electrically connected to the signal via and each flex ground plane is electrically connected to the ground via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Hannsjorg Obermaier, Keunmyung Lee
  • Patent number: 5936850
    Abstract: A circuit board connection structure is formed by a first substrate having a first electrode pattern, a second substrate having a second electrode pattern, and a film circuit member electrically connecting the first and second electrode patterns. The film circuit member includes lead electrodes having an exposed portion partly connected to the first electrode pattern at a part of the exposed portion closer to an edge of the film circuit member. The film circuit member may further includes lead electrodes having an exposed portion partly connected to the second electrode pattern at a part of the exposed portion closer to an edge of the film circuit member. The circuit board connection structure may be incorporated in various electronic devices, including a liquid crystal display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanori Takahashi, Riichi Saito, Toshimichi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 5930119
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a backplane and a plurality of logic boards connected to the backplane by a plurality of connectors. A set of common points is electrically coupled to the connectors by individual conductive traces between each common point and the corresponding pins of the connectors. The inductance of longer traces is reduced by merging traces near a central portion of the backplane to form a conductive region that extends to at least one connector on either side of the common points, thereby electrically shortening the longer traces. The inductance is further reduced by widening the longer traces. Longer traces are wider than shorter traces to reduce the differences in the LC products associated with each trace and, therefore, the differences in delay among the traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Arizona Digital, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew R. Berding
  • Patent number: 5917158
    Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board, having a single board, on which a circuit arrangement is provided, a main body formed as a part of the single board, a folding portion formed as another part of the single board, a set of copper foil lines, provided on the main body, a set of copper foil lines, provided on the folding portion, and wherein the folding portion is folded toward the main body so that the copper foil lines on both the main body and the folding portion are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Takao, Hidefumi Kaneko, Toshio Kimijima
  • Patent number: 5917154
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flat cable including at least one longitudinal conductor interposed between at least two layers of an insulating material and optionally of a screening material; wherein the layers are constituted by longitudinal folds around the conductor of one or more thicknesses of at least one lining tape made at least in part of a thermostable material and coated on at least its inside face with a hot-melt adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Axon' Cable S.A.
    Inventor: Christian Mortier
  • Patent number: 5912807
    Abstract: Packaging (1) for cable assemblies (2), is constructed with cable assemblies (2) in a case (3), the cable assemblies (2) being routed along an interior of the case (3), a circuit board (4) positioned by the case (3) over the cable assemblies (2), and electrical connectors (5) on ends of selected cable assemblies (2) connect to the circuit board (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignees: The Whitaker Corporation, Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Gallagher, Sr., Scott Alan Landis, Donald Arthur Cawthra, Wesley Charles Slagle, David William Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5900589
    Abstract: An electrical transmission cable for audio range and higher frequency signals uses a signal carrying conductor made of silver, in pure or nearly pure form, with a specific rectangular cross section. A dedicated ground conductor of similar material is used, the overall result being an improvement in impedance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventor: Douglas R Brunt
  • Patent number: 5868197
    Abstract: A device for electrically connecting a motor-fan unit mounted on the body of a heat exchanger. The connecting device includes an elongate bar that may be placed flat along the large side of the exchanger body and consists of an insulating core in which at least two electrical conductors are embedded, a first plug connector arranged at one end of the bar for connection to a plug connector of the electric motor of the motor-fan unit, and a second plug conenctor arranged at the other end of the bar for connection to a plug connector of an electrical control circuit. The device may be used in motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Michel Potier
  • Patent number: 5847324
    Abstract: A composite cable has a reinforcing layer with conductors disposed on opposed planar surfaces. Dielectric film layers electrically separate the conductors on the planar reinforcing layer from respective layers of additional conductors. The flexible cable is manufactured by laminating a layer of dielectric film and a layer of electrically conductive material onto both sides of a double clad core which provides a strain relief reinforcement for the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Seton Farquhar, William Louis Brodsky, Natalie Barbara Feilchenfeld, Lisa Jeanine Jimarez, James Robert Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5847323
    Abstract: An electrical cable for connecting transient voltage surge suppressers to ectrical power panels. A strip of electrically conductive foil defines a longitudinal axis, with a length of an electrical conductor electrically attached to the metallic foil along the longitudinal axis. The strip of electrically conductive foil and the length of an electrical conductor are covered by an insulating material. For impedance matching purposes, triangular sections can be removed from the ends of the electrically conductive foil at the time of installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Matthew M. Murray, Dennis H. Wilfong, Ralph E. Lomax
  • Patent number: 5843567
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical component having an axial direction and two ends for making electrical contact with another component comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers in a matrix, the plurality of the fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel in the axial direction of the component and being continuous from one end of the component to the other end to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the component, wherein the component further includes magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Ronald F. Ziolo, Stanley J. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5834702
    Abstract: An airbag connector and cable assembly comprises a connector having a cable receiving cavity and a cable outlet extending perpendicularly to the cavity. A flat cable terminated to the connector is folded along a fold in the cable outlet region of the connector. The cable is then looped over the fold to provide a flexible loop. The loop enables absorption of tolerance in the positioning of the cable at the outlet with respect to the fold, without causing undue force on the conductors that are bent through the fold. The latter insures a high reliability and is cost effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: John Edward Pryce, Reginald John Simmons, Michael Joseph Gerard Whelan
  • Patent number: 5824959
    Abstract: A flexible electric cable (1) has a conductor (2,3) and a fiber layer (4,5) of electrically conductive fibers which are in contact therewith. A cable of this type (1) is particularly suitable for electrical connection between two components that can move In relation to each other, one of which carries numerous activating elements, which may be controlled by voltage pulses. In this way, cables which are under stress through vibration, bending and tension stress, etc., can retain their function over a longer period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Karl Mayer Textilmachinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Kresimir Mista, Hans Juergen Hoehne
  • Patent number: 5814769
    Abstract: Ribbon cable with cable conductors arranged next to each other with a cable shield and with at least one contact element provided for electrical contacting of cable shield on the outside of ribbon cable and for electrical contacting by a contact spring of a plug-in connector that accepts ribbon cable or a contact surface of an Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) housing that accepts ribbon cable. Electrical connection between the cable shield and a plug-in connector or EMI housing can be produced via the contact spring or the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventors: Anders Karlstrom, Andrea Wagner, Thomas Meschwitz
  • Patent number: 5804768
    Abstract: A flat, surface mounted, flexible, multi-purpose wire is disclosed. The flat wire has a plurality of flat elongated conductors spaced apart in a generally parallel relationship. Each of the flat conductors includes a plurality of copper layers. An adhesive material separates the flat conductors and an insulation layer surrounds the flat conductors and the adhesive material, with the adhesive material bonding to the insulation layer. A cross-sectional height of the flat conductors and insulation layer is such that the multi-purpose wire will blend in with the surface when painted or after wallpaper is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Jay Sexton
  • Patent number: 5780774
    Abstract: Exposed forward ends of conductors of the electric wire and the flat cable are connected to each other. The conductors of the electric wire set to a length adapted for being overlaid on the conductors of the flat cable are held in overlaid relation with the conductors of the flat cable between insulating partitioning walls formed on the upper surface of a holder for isolating each adjacent pair of the conductors of the electric wire. The overlaid portions of the conductors are thus connected in the above-mentioned overlaid relation, and are insert-molded including the connected portions, thereby connecting the electric wire and the flat cable directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiro Ichikawa, Satoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5760516
    Abstract: The stator winding of an electrical machine comprises conductor elements which are spaced apart from one another, are electrically insulated from one another and are surrounded over their entire length by common main insulation. The cavities, which are caused by the arrangement on both bar narrow sides of the conductor elements and the main insulation, are filled with an electrically semiconductive compound which, for its part, is covered by an electrically semiconductive strip. In order to provide a smooth bar surface, the electrically semiconductive strip is composed of a fiber-reinforced plastic, which has incisions on alternate sides of the narrow sides of the conductor bar oriented transversely with respect to the bar's longitudinal direction; these incisions are deeper than half the strip width and have a cut width which is on the order of magnitude of the strip thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Thomas Baumann, Jorg Oesterheld
  • Patent number: 5742484
    Abstract: A surface mountable flexible interconnect (10) for connecting two circuit board (30, 32) consists of a flex circuit (12) with solderable runners (14) on one side, the runners traversing the flex circuit from one end to the other. There is a solderable pad (16) at the end of each runner, and each solderable pad has a solder bump (18) fused to it. A rigid carrier ring (20) is used to hold the flex circuit in position prior to placement on the PCB. The flex circuit is formed into a U-shaped loop (26), and the loop is aligned to the carrier so that the loop is situated in an aperture (24) in the carrier. The solder pads lie directly under the carrier ring and face away from it. An adhesive (22) bonds the flex circuit to the carrier ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Gillette, Scott G. Potter, Pradeep Lall
  • Patent number: 5700979
    Abstract: A flexible strip test cable is disclosed having an elongated flexible strip cable, a series of strip traces disposed lengthwise on the flexible strip cable and having electrical strip contacts near one end of the flexible strip cable, an extension cable integral with the flexible strip cable and having a width at one end greater than the width of the flexible strip cable, and a series of test traces on the extension cable having electrical test contacts near the end of the extension cable remote from the flexible strip cable. Each of the test traces is electrically connected to one of the strip traces, and the minimum distance between two test contacts is greater than the minimum distance between two strip contacts. The flexible strip test cable may have a tooling guide for aligning a cutting tool with the end of the flexible strip cable which is connected to the extension cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Discovision Associates
    Inventors: David E. Lewis, Kent T. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5691509
    Abstract: The invention covers a flexible cable termination and a connector for securing the flexible cable termination to surface contact pads on a rigid substrate. The termination of the flexible cable includes flattened, axially extending conductor pads. Each of the conductor pads includes at least two nodes or pressure point contacts extending normal to the pad axis. The connection system includes threaded registration pins on the substrate and registration holes adjacent the conductor pads of the cable through which the pins extend so as to permit the conductor pads of the cable to be aligned with the contact pads on the substrate when the former is disposed atop the latter. The pins also hold a rubber compression pad and a pressure applying spring member atop the cable conductor pads, and bolts thread down over the pins to hold the components in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Alfiero Balzano
  • Patent number: 5594214
    Abstract: The signal transmission flat cable provided includes a first layer of substrate membrane, a second layer of a plurality of parallel traces for transmitting the signal, a third layer of finger array and a fourth layer of thin polyester membrane. The third layer of finger array covers the second layer. The fourth layer of thin polyester membrane is used to protect the second layer and third layer. The signal transmission flat cable is characterized in that the plurality of finger arrays are provided in the third layer at a plurality of predetermined locations along the flat cable and each of the plurality of finger arrays is spaced from each other by a given distance. A glue material is provided to bond the fourth layer and the second layer along the given distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Acer Peripherals, Inc.
    Inventor: Pin-Chien Liao
  • Patent number: 5554825
    Abstract: A cable (1) on an end of an electrical cable, is constructed with, a flexible and flat conductive shield (7), a flexible ribbon of insulation (3) separating the shield (7) from multiple flexible signal conductors (2) extending along the insulation (3), and at least one flexible ground conductor (6) between the insulation (3) and the shield (7), the signal conductors (2) are spaced apart on pitch spacings, with a signal conductor (2) being absent from at least one of the pitch spacings, and the ground conductor (6) extending above said one of the pitch spacings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Parker, Thomas J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 5552565
    Abstract: A low cost shielded transducer cable provides electrical connection between an ultrasound transducer and a display processor. A wound transducer cable is constructed in a first embodiment using two layers of stripline assemblies helically wound in opposite directions around a flexible core. The layers of stripline assemblies are covered with a single metal braid and then coated with insulation. In a second embodiment a stripline transducer cable is formed from a stack of parallel stripline assemblies that may be coextruded with an insulating jacket. In a third embodiment a ribbon transducer cable is formed from a stacked arrangement of parallel ribbon cables and conducting shields that may be extruded in an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Paul Cartier, Wojtek Sudol, Gregory G. Vogel
  • Patent number: 5541369
    Abstract: A printed circuit board having juxtaposed thereon in parallel plural conductive paths, at least a part of which has a different length, extending from one end side to the other end side, wherein the electric resistances of the conductive paths are made substantially same by changing the width of at least a part of the conductive paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tahara, Seiju Kobayashi, Hitoshi Ohta
  • Patent number: 5539360
    Abstract: A transmission line has a limited cross-section, a transmission line geometry and an improved characteristic impedance tolerance. The transmission line geometry utilizes a unique combination of broadside coupling and coplanar coupling with a reflector plate in order to improve the tolerance of the characteristic impedance. First, a larger coplanar gap is used to reduce the etching error. Second, the inner dielectric thickness sensitivities were also reduced by relying on broadside coupling and coplanar coupling to determine the characteristic impedance of the transmission line. Third, the effect of registration error in the broadside coupling is eliminated by rendering the two signal bearing conductors on the same layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Vannatta, James P. Phillips, Eric L. R. Krenz
  • Patent number: 5527997
    Abstract: A conductor for use in a flat cable includes thereon a tin or tin alloy plating the thickness of which is substantially uniform over the whole periphery of a flat conductor, in order to provide a conductor for use in a flat cable which can minimize variations in the plating thickness thereof, provide a good contact reliability with respect to a connector when it is used in a flat cable, and causes no increase in the contact resistance thereof in a humidity withstand test after it is inserted into and removed from the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Saen, Ryuzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Fujii, Atsushi Iizuka
  • Patent number: 5509204
    Abstract: A flat flexible jumper is made from a preformed strip of conductive material which is cut to the desired jumper configuration and covered by a layer of insulation. The preformed strip is formed of a series of raised zones and flat zones. A stamping process is executed on the preformed strip utilizing a series of cutting dies to form the desired jumper configuration of the preformed conductive strip. A first die cuts away the material in the flat zone of the preformed strip leaving the raised zone remaining. A second die cuts away a portion of the flat zone and a portion of the raised zone providing a first transition region between the raised zone and the flat zone. A third die cuts away the material in the raised zone of the preformed conductor strip leaving the flat zone remaining. A fourth die cuts away a portion of the raised zone and a portion of the flat zone providing the second transition region between the flat zone and the raised zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Amir-Akbar Sadigh-Behzadi
  • Patent number: 5504273
    Abstract: In an electrical wiring system, a typical process for suppressing noise due to electric current consists in preparing a pair of flat circuit units comprising respectively an insulation layer and at least one circuit conductor therein or thereon which undulates to form wave-like patterns and in superposing fixedly said conductor of the first unit with that of the second unit in such that at least one insulation layer is interposed between the superposed conductors and whereby peaks of the second unit conductor face troughs of the first unit conductor; according to the invention, fixing is performed by means enabling to interweave said peaks with said troughs. One such means consists in providing the first flat circuit unit with trough-side slits and the second with peak-side slits and in inserting the tongues formed by the trough-side slits in the peak-side slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuji Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 5502891
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrical connection from a drive circuit to an electrical device is provided. An electrical connection structure includes: electrodes formed on a device side, electrodes formed on a flexible film carrier having an electrode pattern connected to a drive circuit; and an anisotropic conductive film having metal particles or metal plated particles dispersed therein, interposed between the electrodes on the device side and the electrodes on the flexible film carrier, for electrically connecting the electrodes facing each other through thermocompression bonding. The electrodes, on the flexible film carrier are exposed by removing the flexible film at an electrical connection area, and the length of each exposed electrode is from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Mori, Hiroshi Takabayashi, Masanori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5500489
    Abstract: A flat cable 1 comprises, a ribbon (5) of dielectric material, electrical conductors (2, 3, 4) on one side only of the ribbon (5), a jacket 6) of flame resistant insulative material enclosing the ribbon (5) and the conductors (2, 3, 4), the ribbon (5) and the conductors (2, 3, 4) projecting from opposite ends of the jacket (6) for connection to electrical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Dinesh T. Shah, Michael J. Rubera
  • Patent number: 5496970
    Abstract: This invention provides a high-density planar contact array capable of interconnecting various electronic devices using a pad to pad approach or pad to pin, which is capable of accommodating non-coplanarity in the Z axis of printed circuit boards but which still maintains good electrical contact.The array comprises an insulative substrate sheet that has a plurality of parallel conductive lines terminating in a pad over a hole in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5483021
    Abstract: A laminated flat cable uses a flat conductor which is treated substantially uniformly with an anticorrosion plating having a given thickness over the whole periphery thereof to provide a laminated flat cable which can provide a stable contact reliability with respect to a connector and a stable voltage withstand between conductors in a long period of use in which the cable is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Saen, Ryuzo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5455383
    Abstract: A shielded flat cable having a shield layer formed of an adhesive resin layer containing metal fillers. The adhesive resin adheres to both an insulation layer and one or more conductors of the flat cable. The shield layer can also include a nonflammable substrate onto which the adhesive resin is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5446239
    Abstract: This invention permits reduction in space between conductors in a shielded flat cable, as well as improvement in shielding ability and cost savings of the shielded flat cable. The shielded flat cable comprises a cable body 8 including a base film 3, circuit conductors 1, and a ground conductor 2. The circuit conductors 1 are disposed in the upper surface of the base film 3 in a parallel relationship with one another. A lower cover layer film 4B is attached to the upper surface of the base film 3. The ground conductor 2 is disposed on the lower cover layer film 4B in a parallel relationship with the circuit conductors 1. An upper cover layer film 4A is placed over the ground conductor 2 and the lower cover layer film 4B. An area 7 having no upper cover layer film 4A is provided in the cable body. The area 7 having a predetermined width extends transversely of the cable body 8. A shield tape 5 is wrapped around the cable body so as to shield the cable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Mizutani, Kazuhito Saka
  • Patent number: 5426399
    Abstract: A film carrier signal transmission line includes a dielectric material having a first, front surface and a second, rear surface opposite the first surface, signal lines buried in the dielectric material for transmitting a super high frequency signal, spaced from the first and second surfaces, and spaced side-by-side at a regular interval; a first grounding film disposed on the second surface of the dielectric material; separating grooves in the dielectric material between adjacent pairs of signal lines, parallel to the signal lines; and second grounding films disposed on the first surface of the dielectric material and in the separating grooves and electrically connected with said first grounding film in the separating grooves. Adjacent signal lines are electrically shielded and crosstalk between signal lines is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventors: Hiroto Matsubayashi, Yasuharu Nakajima, Yoshihiro Notani
  • Patent number: 5422439
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a number of insulated wires removably attached to a tearable backing. This construction allows the simultaneous termination of the wires since they are held in position for mass termination equipment and permits the free flow of air around and between the wires, in addition to ease of routing the wires, once the backing has been removed after termination of the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Massachusetts Manufacturing and Mining Company
    Inventors: Bruce K. Grove, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 5413659
    Abstract: The present invention provides metal/polymer composites including a plastic substrate having longitudinally extending conductive members, adapted to make bonded electrical connections to an array of closely spaced conductive terminal pads. In general terms, the metal/polymer composites include a thin, flexible sheet-like plastic substrate having a plurality of longitudinally extending, regularly spaced, metal pathways or members on one major surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David C. Koskenmaki, Clyde D. Calhoun