Abstract: A connector for coupling an electronic component having an external connector pad to another structure, comprising an anisotropic conductive elastomer or adhesive composite comprising a plurality of separate columns of conductive particles held in an insulating matrix, with a top particle exposed to a surface of the matrix, wherein at least the top particle is coated with a metal that can permanently bond to the connector pad of the electronic component. Also disclosed are a related method, and a related electronic assembly.

Abstract: A cable to board interconnect device that is used to interconnect wires to a printed circuit board (PCB) that has conductive traces on its essentially flat surface, where the wires are essentially parallel to the face of the PCB. The device includes an alignment member that overlies the wires, and an elastomeric conductor between the wires and the PCB traces.

Abstract: A cable to board interconnect device that is used to interconnect wires to a printed circuit board (PCB) that has conductive traces on its essentially flat surface, where the wires are essentially parallel to the face of the PCB. The device includes an alignment member that overlies the wires, and an elastomeric conductor between the wires and the PCB traces.

Abstract: An elastomeric material includes an elastomeric matrix having one or more outer surfaces and a set of electrically conductive pathways disposed through the elastomeric matrix. The elastomeric material also includes a thermally-conductive and electrically-insulative material, disposed through the elastomeric matrix, which improves the formation of the electrically conductive pathways.

Abstract: A laptop computer has a reflective transparent plate between the keyboard and the screen. Users viewing the keyboard through the plate sees a virtual image of the screen, reflected by the plate. This virtual image may include labels apparently superimposed on the keyboard; the keys themselves may be blank. Hands resting on the keyboard block the user's view of some keys, but do not block the view of the virtual image. This allows any key to be identified without moving the hands out of the way. The application (task) also exists within the virtual image, apparently in a pane just beyond the keyboard. This pane may extend over the keyboard, in lieu of the default virtual image labels for the keys. The task scrolls to maintain the active region of the task pane beyond the keyboard. Pressing control keys causes virtual image labels to indicate the newly enabled key functionality.

Abstract: A user views a keyboard through a transparent plate. Partial reflection of an image source by the plate creates a virtual image, including labels, that appears to be superimposed on the keyboard. The keys themselves may be blank. Hands resting on the keyboard block the user's view of many of the keys, but do not block the view of the virtual image. The visual perception is that users can see the key labels through their own hands. This allows any key to be identified without moving the hands out of the way. The image source can be a computer-controlled monitor, which allows the virtual image labels to respond to user input. For example, pressing a control key can display virtual image labels for the shortcuts enabled by that control key. These virtual image labels can emphasize frequently used shortcuts, and also point out rarely used shortcuts to frequently used functions.

Abstract: A display screen above a signature tablet faces downwards, towards the signature tablet. A transparent plate is located at a height half way between the tablet and the screen. A user observing the tablet through the transparent plate also sees a reflection of the screen. The reflection of the screen, called a virtual image, appears to be in the same plane as the top surface of the tablet. As the user signs the tablet with a stylus, the virtual image of the resulting signature follows behind the stylus. The signature appears to be on the top surface of the tablet, coplanar with the stylus path, rather than within the tablet. This allows the system to better simulate a traditional pen-on-paper signature. Separating the components responsible for sensing the stylus tip location and displaying the signature also allows for the independent optimization of the sensing and display functions.

Abstract: Partial reflection of an image source creates a virtual image that appears superimposed on a keyboard. This virtual image contains labels for the keys. When users place their hands on the keyboard, this blocks the view of some of the keys but does not block the user's view of the virtual image. This creates a visual perception that users can see the key labels through their own hands. The physical keys themselves may be blank, with the labels existing solely as part of the virtual image. Modifying the image source allows the keyboard to be remapped in a variety of different ways, e.g., switching between Latin and Cyrillic characters, displaying application-specific functions, or remapping keys in a password entry system to prevent an observer from identifying the values of the keys being pressed by the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that improve the effectiveness of a compression-based refrigeration cycle dehumidifier by allocating thermally distinct sections of the condenser to different air flows are disclosed. A bypass opening and divider plate direct ambient air to the refrigerant inlet section of the condenser. Air that has been cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator is directed to the rest of the condenser, with the air from the refrigerant outlet section of the evaporator being preferentially directed downstream, in the refrigerant flow path sense, from that section of the condenser already allocated to the ambient air coming from the bypass opening. The flows of ambient air and dehumidified air can be adjusted to improve moisture removal rates and avoid blockage of the evaporator by freezing of the condensate onto the evaporator. The system may also be used to remove condensates other than water.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that improve the effectiveness of a compression-based refrigeration cycle dehumidifier by allocating thermally distinct sections of the condenser to different air flows are disclosed. A bypass opening and divider plate direct ambient air to the refrigerant inlet section of the condenser. Air that has been cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator is directed to the rest of the condenser, with the air from the refrigerant outlet section of the evaporator being preferentially directed downstream, in the refrigerant flow path sense, from that section of the condenser already allocated to the ambient air coming from the bypass opening. The flows of ambient air and dehumidified air can be adjusted to improve moisture removal rates and avoid blockage of the evaporator by freezing of the condensate onto the evaporator. The system may also be used to remove condensates other than water.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a mechanically-releasable balanced compressive load to a compliant anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) electrical connector that electrically connects an electrical device to a first side of a two-sided substrate. The apparatus includes a backup plate against the second side of the substrate, a rocker plate against the backup plate, the rocker plate touching the backup plate only at the center of the backup plate, and a rigid member on the electrical device. A plurality of pins are mechanically coupled to the rocker plate and the rigid member, and there is at least one spring member mechanically coupled to at least one pin. The spring applies a variable force coupled through the at least one pin to the rocker plate, to urge the backup plate and rigid member together and thereby compress the ACE between the electrical device and the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a mechanically-releasable balanced compressive load to a compliant anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) electrical connector that electrically connects an electrical device to a first side of a two-sided substrate. The apparatus includes a backup plate against the second side of the substrate, a rocker plate against the backup plate, the rocker plate touching the backup plate only at the center of the backup plate, and a rigid member on the electrical device. A plurality of pins are mechanically coupled to the rocker plate and the rigid member, and there is at least one spring member mechanically coupled to at least one pin. The spring applies a variable force coupled through the at least one pin to the rocker plate, to urge the backup plate and rigid member together and thereby compress the ACE between the electrical device and the substrate.

Abstract: A method for making cured Anisotropic Conductive Elastomer (ACE) material, the ACE comprising a mixture of magnetic conductive particles and an elastomer, wherein uncured ACE material is spread on a carrier and then cured with heat under a magnetic field, the method comprising coating the carrier with a layer of material that is solid when the uncured ACE is applied, but melts at the ACE curing temperature, spreading uncured ACE material on the carrier over the coating, and heating the ACE material to a temperature at least sufficient to melt the coating layer, to allow the conductive particles to protrude into the melted carrier layer.

Abstract: An elastomeric device for interconnecting two or more electrical components. The device includes an elastomeric matrix having one or more outer surfaces, one or more electrically conductive pathways through the matrix, and a frame for stretching the elastomer perpendicular to the electrical pathways.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a microelectronic assembly to have aligned conductive regions and dielectric regions with desirable processing and dimensional characteristics. The invention is particularly useful for producing integral capacitors, with the desired processing and dimensional characteristics achieved with the invention yielding predictable electrical characteristics for the capacitors. The method generally entails providing a substrate with a first conductive layer, forming a dielectric layer on the first conductive layer, and then forming a second conductive layer on the dielectric layer. A first region of the second conductive layer is then removed to expose a first region of the dielectric layer, which in turn is removed to expose a first region of the first conductive layer that is also removed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating circuit board conductors with desirable processing and reduced self and mutual capacitance. The method generally entails forming a metal layer on a positive-acting photodielectric layer formed on a substrate, and then etching the metal layer to form at least two conductor traces that cover two separate regions of the photodielectric layer while exposing a third region of the photodielectric layer between the two regions. The third region of the photodielectric layer is then irradiated and developed using the two traces as a photomask, so that the third region of the photodielectric layer is removed. The two remaining regions of the photodielectric layer masked by the traces remain on the substrate and are separated by an opening formed by the removal of the third dielectric region.

Abstract: A metrology system to analyze panel misregistration in a panel manufacturing process includes a software controlled system which checks defined panel parameters on the four corners of a panel and related artwork for processing with a master pattern etched on a glass reference with a machine vision measuring system. The panel or artwork being checked is positioned by panel center registration means to align the center of the panel with the center of the master pattern. Displacement and rotational differences are entered under software control into a data base and analyzed by a stored program intelligent analyses system into a plurality of parameters based on a parameter model which permits an analysis of the cause of the misregistration.