Abstract: A Z-directed signal pass-through component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection from external surface conductors to internal conductive planes or between internal conductive planes. The Z-directed pass-through component is mounted within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body.

Abstract: A Z-directed signal pass-through component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection from external surface conductors to internal conductive planes or between internal conductive planes. The Z-directed pass-through component is mounted within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body.

Abstract: A spread spectrum clock generator (SSCG) control and inspection circuit provides a system and method for inspecting and controlling an external SSCG, and for verifying the modulation profile waveform of an external SSCG. An electronic circuit is included that can check for the presence of an optimal SSCG modulation profile in product subsystems, and in attached modular systems, including electronic plug-in features such as internal network adapters and cartridges. In one mode of the invention, an electronic circuit ensures continued radiated emissions compliance for field replaceable units or consumable parts within a product, such as a printer, a scanner, or a combination (or all-in-one) printer/scanner. In another mode of the invention, an electronic circuit may also act as a secondary security device for consumable products, such as toner cartridges or ink jet cartridges. In yet another mode of the invention, an electronic circuit may also adjust the attached SSCG clock.

Abstract: A Z-directed signal delay line component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed delay line component is housed within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The delay line embodiments include a W-like line and a plurality of spaced apart, semi-circular line segment connected such that current flow direction alternates in direction between adjacent semi-circular line segments, each of which in other embodiments can be varied by use of shorting bars. Several Z-directed delay line components may be mounted into a PCB and serially connected to provide for longer delays. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Abstract: A Z-directed connector component for insertion into a printed circuit board and providing electrical connections to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB and/or to external conductive traces on the surface of the PCB.. In one embodiment the Z-directed component is housed within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The body of the Z-directed connector component may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Abstract: A Z-directed signal pass-through component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection from external surface conductors to internal conductive planes or between internal conductive planes. The Z-directed pass-through component is mounted within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body.

Abstract: A Z-directed filter component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed filter component is mounted within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The filter may be T-filter or a Pi-filter within the body of the Z-directed component. The body may also contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Abstract: A design for a Z-directed component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed component is mounted within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Z-directed components include high frequency signal pass throughs, capacitors, diodes, transistors, transmission lines, delay lines. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Abstract: A Z-directed ferrite bead component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed component is housed within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. Signal and dual conductor Z-directed ferrite bead component embodiments are provided. The body may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Abstract: A Z-directed capacitor component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained within the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed capacitor component utilizes semi-cylindrical metallic sheets. In another embodiment, stack annular metallic disks are used. The Z-directed capacitor component mounts within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Abstract: A Z-directed switch component is mountable within the thickness of the PCB having a conductive trace on at least one of a top surface and bottom surface thereof, at least one internal layer having an internal conductive trace between the top and bottom surfaces and a mounting hole passing through the conductive traces on at least two of the top surface, the bottom surface and the at least one internal layer of the PCB. The Z-directed switch component comprises an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and side surface, a length L, and a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB. The side surface has a channel disposed therein extending toward the top and bottom surfaces. A compressive conductive member is disposed in and along the channel and having a portion thereof extending out beyond the side surface of the body.

Abstract: A Z-directed variable value component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB.

Abstract: A spread spectrum clock generator (SSCG) control and inspection circuit provides a system and method for inspecting and controlling an external SSCG, and for verifying the modulation profile waveform of an external SSCG. An electronic circuit is included that can check for the presence of an optimal SSCG modulation profile in product subsystems, and in attached modular systems, including electronic plug-in features such as internal network adapters and cartridges. In one mode of the invention, an electronic circuit ensures continued radiated emissions compliance for field replaceable units or consumable parts within a product, such as a printer, a scanner, or a combination (or all-in-one) printer/scanner. In another mode of the invention, an electronic circuit may also act as a secondary security device for consumable products, such as toner cartridges or ink jet cartridges. In yet another mode of the invention, an electronic circuit may also adjust the attached SSCG clock.

Abstract: For EMI reduction the current modulation profile is preferably used for frequencies over 1 GHz while the frequency deviation is increased at least to ±2.5 MHz and the modulation frequency is increased to at least 150 kHz, preferably about 260 kHz. In an alternative embodiment, the modification frequency is 1 MHz or greater so that a segmented spectrum is achieved. For clocks having basic frequency below 1 GHz, but having strong harmonics higher than 1 GHz, modulation of the foregoing is combined with the slower modulation currently used. EMI reduction is realized both at the lower and the higher harmonics.

Abstract: A digital apparatus having a cable comprising a plurality of high-speed and low-speed signal carrying conductors, the conductors carrying the low-speed signals are bypassed to a signal ground with selected values of capacitance so as to become virtual signal ground return conductors for the high-speed signal conductors. The selected values of capacitance have a lower impedance then the characteristic impedance of the conductors in the cable. The cable may be a multi conductor cable, a ribbon cable, a flex cable, a twisted pair cable, etc. In a similar fashion, signal conductors on a printed circuit board, not having a separate ground plane layer, may create virtual signal ground returns from the low-speed signal carrying conductors that are proximate to the high-speed signal carrying conductors for reduction of radiated electromagnetic radio frequency interference.

Abstract: The presence of a radio frequency signature (88) on a cut sheet of print media (28) is detected by a radio frequency interrogating device (94) to determine it's relative left/right position on the print media (28). Either the leading edge (124) or trailing edge (126) of the print media (28) is detected by one or more print media sensors (86, 90). A print controller (24) can note the time (t1) when print media is detected and cause the radio frequency interrogating device (94) to detect the radio frequency signature (88) at a time (t2) when the print media has reached a predetermined point along the print media pathway (110). The position of the radio frequency signature (88) on the print media (28) can be calculated using the time differential (t2-t1) and the known angular displacement of the radio frequency interrogating device (94).

Abstract: A printing system (250) includes a printing subsystem (255) in the form of a printer assembly (14). The printing subsystem (255) includes a printer housing (257) in which a print engine (259) resides and a memory (261) for storing data indicating the position of labels on media. The contents of memory (261) can be obtained from an end user application (270) which may supply the position data to the printing subsystem (255) in a print data stream. Pre-programmed position data is read from a tag (88) on print media (28) having multiple tags embedded thereon. The pre-programmed position data is compared to position data received in a print request data stream to determine the position of at least one tag on the print media.

Abstract: A radio frequency signature (88) on a cut sheet of print media (28) is detected by a radio frequency interrogating device (94) to determine whether the print media (28) is properly oriented. The leading edge (124) or trailing edge (126) of the print media (28) is detected by one or more print media sensors (86, 90). A print controller (24) can note the time (t1) and cause the radio frequency interrogating device (94) to detect the radio frequency signature (88) at a time (t2) when the print media has reached a predetermined point along the print media pathway (110). The position of the radio frequency signature (88) on the print media (28) can be calculated using the time differential (t2?t1), the velocity profile of the print media and the known separation between the print media (28) and the radio frequency signature (88). By comparing the computer position with the expected position, the orientation of the print media (28) can be determined.

Abstract: A multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) routes signal traces on internal signal layer(s) and includes power planes on the two outermost layers. The outer layers are maintained at the same non-ground voltage level, and are electrically connected by a series of vias that circumscribe signal traces on the internal layer(s). With a preferred maximum spacing of one-tenth the wavelength of electromagnetic energy generated by the signal traces, the vias, together with the outer power planes, contain electromagnetic energy within the PCB. One or more of the outer planes may include a second power plane area maintained at a different voltage. The two power plane areas are connected by decoupling capacitors, located proximate underlying signal traces that traverse the two power plane areas.

Abstract: For EMI reduction the current modulation profile is preferably used for frequencies over 1 GHz while the frequency deviation is increased at least to ±2.5 MHz and the modulation frequency is increased to at least 150 kHz, preferably about 260 kHz. In an alternative embodiment, the modification frequency is 1 MHz or greater so that a segmented spectrum is achieved. For clocks having basic frequency below 1 GHz, but having strong harmonics higher than 1 GHz, modulation of the foregoing is combined with the slower modulation currently used. EMI reduction is realized both at the lower and the higher harmonics.