Patents by Inventor Jan De Geest

Jan De Geest 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: 9385477
    Abstract: A connector for connection between a circuit board and a further electronic component is disclosed. The connector includes an insulating housing having a board slot open towards a mating direction for accommodating the circuit board, and a plurality of terminals. The terminals have a rear portion, an intermediate portion and a tip portion, the intermediate portion including a contact portion for contacting a surface portion of the circuit board when accommodated in the board slot. The housing includes a window such that for a number of adjacent terminals housing material is absent between the intermediate portions. A shield member may be arranged in between the rear portions of the terminals. Improved circuit boards are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventor: Jan De Geest
  • 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: 9136634
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assembly assemblies, each having a leadframe housing and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the leadframe housing. At least a pair of adjacent leadframe assemblies includes respective first and second conductive member portions of a conductive bar that reduces cross talk. The first and second portions are each seated in their respective leadframe housings and face each other such that the electrical connector is devoid of electrical contacts between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY LLC, FCI
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jonathan E. Buck, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stuart C. Stoner, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150199886
    Abstract: Electric communication unit to be placed on a person's skin, comprising a support element (3), a series of body contacts (7), a pulse generator (6) provided for generating a series of pulses and for transmitting the series of pulses to said series of body contacts (7), said series of body contacts (7) being provided to transmit said series of pulses onto the skin of said person. The electric communication unit is in the form of a patch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Jan DE GEEST, Wim DE GEEST
  • Patent number: 9084353
    Abstract: A circuit board (1) is provided comprising a plurality of insulating layers, at least one ground layer and at least one layer comprising signal traces. The circuit board comprises at least a first conductive via (17) and a second conductive via (17). The first conductive via and the second conductive via penetrate through at least a first insulating layer of the plurality of insulating layers and are connected to a signal trace. The first conductive via and the second conductive via are arranged adjacent each other. At least in the first insulating layer the first conductive via and the second conductive via are separated in a first direction of separation (R) by a first adjustment portion comprising a dielectric material property different from the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu
  • Patent number: 9082268
    Abstract: An electric communication unit to be placed on a person's skin. The electric communication unit includes a support element, a series of body contacts, and a pulse generator. The pulse generator generates a series of pulses and transmits the series of pulses to the series of body contacts, the series of body contacts being provided to transmit the series of pulses onto the skin of the person. The electric communication unit is in the form of a patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: THERASOLVE NV
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Wim De Geest
  • Publication number: 20140182891
    Abstract: In accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, an improved electrical connector footprint, such as on printed circuit boards (PCB), is described. For example, antipads can have a variety of sizes and pairs of differential signal traces can define centerlines that are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Madhumitha Rengarajan, Jan De Geest, Stephen B. Smith, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu
  • Patent number: 8764464
    Abstract: Example electrical connectors are provided including a plurality of electrical contacts configured to communicate between electrical devices. The plurality of electrical contacts includes a plurality of ground contacts. A ground coupling assembly is configured to electrically connect ground contacts of an electrical connector to adjust a performance characteristic of the electrical connector as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignees: FCI Americas Technology LLC, FCI
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jan De Geest, Steven E. Minich, Mark R. Gray, Christopher J. Kolivoski, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stuart C. Stoner, Alan Raistrick
  • Patent number: 8734187
    Abstract: An electrical connector and leadframe assemblies for use therein are provided. Each leadframe assembly can be constructed with at least one electric contact having a ground plate. A first type of leadframe assembly includes an uppermost electrical contact defining a ground plate. A second type of leadframe assembly includes a lowermost electrical contact defining a ground plate. The ground plates can reduce the level of crosstalk exhibited by the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: FCI, FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Stephen B. Smith, Douglas M. Johnescu, Jonathan E. Buck
  • Patent number: 8715003
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided that includes a connector housing supporting a plurality of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are edge-coupled along a column direction, and spaced apart along a row direction so as to define a space that is defined by adjacent electrical contacts along the row direction. The electrical connector includes at least one rib disposed in the space. The rib has a dielectric constant greater than air such that the dielectric constant of the space is increased with respect to a substantially identical space that is filled only with air. The increased dielectric constant reduces the impedance of the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignees: FCI Americas Technology LLC, FCI
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jan De Geest
  • Publication number: 20140057493
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. Each electrical connector can include an electrical ground shield that at least partially surrounds respective differential signal pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Johannes Maria Blasius van Woensel
  • Publication number: 20130309906
    Abstract: A connector for connection between a circuit board and a further electronic component is disclosed. The connector includes an insulating housing having a board slot open towards a mating direction for accommodating the circuit board, and a plurality of terminals. The terminals have a rear portion, an intermediate portion and a tip portion, the intermediate portion including a contact portion for contacting a surface portion of the circuit board when accommodated in the board slot. The housing includes a window such that for a number of adjacent terminals housing material is absent between the intermediate portions. A shield member may be arranged in between the rear portions of the terminals. Improved circuit boards are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: FCI
    Inventor: Jan De Geest
  • Publication number: 20130199834
    Abstract: A circuit board (1) is provided comprising a plurality of insulating layers, at least one ground layer and at least one layer comprising signal traces. The circuit board comprises at least a first conductive via (17) and a second conductive via (17). The first conductive via and the second conductive via penetrate through at least a first insulating layer of the plurality of insulating layers and are connected to a signal trace. The first conductive via and the second conductive via are arranged adjacent each other. At least in the first insulating layer the first conductive via and the second conductive via are separated in a first direction of separation (R) by a first adjustment portion comprising a dielectric material property different from the first insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: FCI
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu
  • Patent number: 8361896
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a substrate and a connector. The substrate includes a ground layer and a trace layer. The substrate defines a substrate edge, and the ground layer defines a ground edge. The connector is mounted on the substrate such that a portion of the connector overhangs the substrate edge of the substrate. The connector includes a first signal contact that defines a mating portion, a mounting portion, a first transition portion connected to the mating portion, and a second transition portion connected to the first transition portion and the mounting portion. The first transition portion of the signal contact at least partially crosses the ground edge such that a gap is defined between the ground edge and the first transition portion and a substantial portion of the second transition portion extends over the gap when the electrical connector is mounted on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventor: Jan De Geest
  • Publication number: 20120058684
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assembly, each having a leadframe housing and a plurality of contacts carried by the leadframe housing. At least a pair of adjacent leadframe assemblies includes respective first and second conductive member portions that are seated in the leadframe housing at a desired location with respect to the corresponding electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jonathan E. Buck, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stuart C. Stoner, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110318945
    Abstract: An electrical connector and leadframe assemblies for use therein are provided. Each leadframe assembly can be constructed with at least one electric contact having a ground plate. A first type of leadframe assembly includes an uppermost electrical contact defining a ground plate. A second type of leadframe assembly includes a lowermost electrical contact defining a ground plate. The ground plates can reduce the level of crosstalk exhibited by the electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Stephen B. Smith, Douglas M. Johnescu, Jonathan E. Buck
  • Publication number: 20110318962
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a substrate and a connector. The substrate includes a ground layer and a trace layer. The substrate defines a substrate edge, and the ground layer defines a ground edge. The connector is mounted on the substrate such that a portion of the connector overhangs the substrate edge of the substrate. The connector includes a first signal contact that defines a mating portion, a mounting portion, a first transition portion connected to the mating portion, and a second transition portion connected to the first transition portion and the mounting portion. The first transition portion of the signal contact at least partially crosses the ground edge such that a gap is defined between the ground edge and the first transition portion and a substantial portion of the second transition portion extends over the gap when the electrical connector is mounted on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Jan De Geest
  • Publication number: 20110256763
    Abstract: In an electrical connector, a non-grounded, electrically conductive material (such as copper foil or other sheet of metal) may be located adjacent to at least one differential signal pair. An example includes a ring of material that circumscribes a leadframe assembly. Ring-shaped structures placed around, but not in contact with, the signal and ground contacts effectively mitigate cross-talk resonances in the interconnection structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Jan De Geest, Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jonathan E. Buck, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stuart C. Stoner, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 7713088
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact adjacent to the first electrical contact. The first electrical contact may define a first broadside and a second broadside opposite the first broadside. The second electrical contact may define a third broadside and a fourth broadside opposite the third broadside. The electrical connector may further include a non-air dielectric and a commoned ground plate. The non-air dielectric may be disposed between the second broadside of the first electrical contact and the fourth broadside of the second electrical contact. The commoned ground plate and the first electrical contact may be adjacent to one another and may be separated by an air dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: FCI
    Inventors: Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jan De Geest
  • Patent number: 7708569
    Abstract: An electrical connector having at least four electrical contacts that form two pairs of differential signal contacts. The first and second electrical contacts may be arranged edge-to-edge along a first direction. The third electrical contact may be adjacent to, and arranged broadside-to-broadside with, the first electrical contact along a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction. The first and third electrical contacts may define one of the pairs of differential signal contacts. The fourth electrical contact may be adjacent to, and arranged broadside-to-broadside with, the second electrical contact along the second direction. The second and fourth electrical contacts may define the other pair of differential signal contacts. The two pairs of differential signal contacts may be offset from one another along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignees: FCI Americas Technology, Inc., FCI
    Inventors: Stefaan Hendrik Jozef Sercu, Jan De Geest, Jonathan E. Buck, Stephen B. Smith