Patents by Inventor Donald Amaral

Donald Amaral 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).

  • Publication number: 20050259399
    Abstract: A heat sink retention module for an electronic device includes a base comprising mounting lugs configured to be mounted to a circuit board, and frame elements extending between the mounting lugs to define at least one keep out area interior to the frame elements and at least one keep out area exterior to the frame elements. The frame elements include at least one frame element extending at an oblique angle to another of the frame elements, and heat sink retention posts extend vertically upward from the frame elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Stephen DelPrete, Donald Amaral
  • Patent number: 6790048
    Abstract: A flex connector assembly for connecting circuit boards has been provided that includes a housing having at least one cavity holding a preloaded spring exerting an outwardly-directed force toward top and bottom ends of the housing; at least one pressure support member located at one of the top and bottom ends, the pressure support member exerting an inwardly-directed force on the preloaded spring; and at least one flex circuit having a flex array arranged on one of the top and bottom ends; and at least one compressible socket having a socket array overlapping the flex circuit. The preloaded spring acts to compress the flex array and the socket array onto one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Goodwin, Donald Amaral, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030199178
    Abstract: A flex connector assembly for connecting circuit boards has been provided that includes a housing having at least one cavity holding a preloaded spring exerting an outwardly-directed force toward top and bottom ends of the housing; at least one pressure support member located at one of the top and bottom ends, the pressure support member exerting an inwardly-directed force on the preloaded spring; and at least one flex circuit having a flex array arranged on one of the top and bottom ends; and at least one compressible socket having a socket array overlapping the flex circuit. The preloaded spring acts to compress the flex array and the socket array onto one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan Goodwin, Donald Amaral
  • Patent number: 6612851
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided including first and second circuit boards proximate each other and each having a first side and a second side. The electrical connector assembly includes flex circuits electrically connected to the first and second sides of the first and second circuit boards and carrying electrical signals therebetween. The electrical connector assembly includes load cells having at least one bowed spring, a base plate, and a cover plate. The spring has a peak portion and end portions and is compressed between the base and cover plates. The peak portion engages one of the base and cover plates with the end portions engaging another of the base and cover plates to exert a load force on the base and cover plates. The load cells are aligned opposite each other on the first and second circuit boards and retain the flex circuits thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Goodwin, Donald Amaral, Wayne S. Alden, III, William Petrocelli