Abstract: A system and method of producing carbon nanotubes from flare gas and other gaseous carbon-containing sources.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a printed circuit board having a surface providing a mating interface to which is electrically connected an electrical connector having signal conductors and ground conductors. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, with a conductor disposed on at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers. The mating interface includes a plurality of conductive vias aligned in a plurality of rows, with the plurality of conductive vias extending through at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers, at least one of the plurality of conductive vias intersecting the conductor. The plurality of conductive vias includes signal conductor connecting conductive vias and ground conductor connecting conductive vias.

Abstract: What is provided is a multi-layer PCB having a plurality of stacked dielectric layers, a conductor disposed on at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers, and a non-conductive via extending through at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers to intersect the conductor. A conductive body in an activated state is introduced into the non-conductive via, and upon contacting the conductor, the activated state conductive body adheres to the conductor. The activated state conductive body is then effected to a deactivated state, wherein the conductive body is affixed to the conductor to provide an electrical connection thereto.

Abstract: A contact tail for an electronic component useful for attachment of components using conductive adhesive, which may be lead (Pb)-free. The contact tail is stamped, providing a relatively low manufacturing cost and high precision. The contact tail has a distal portion with a large surface area per unit length. The distal portion shapes conductive adhesive into a joint, holding the adhesive adjacent the lead for a more secure joint. Additionally, the distal portion holds adhesive to the contact tail before a joint is formed, facilitating the use of an adhesive transfer process to dispense adhesive. To further aid in the transfer of adhesive, the contact tail may be formed with concave portions, which increase the volume of adhesive adhering to the contact tail. By adhering an increased but controlled amount of adhesive to the contact tail, arrays of contact tails may be simply and reliably attached to printed circuit boards and other substrates.

Abstract: A contact tail for an electronic component compatible with surface mount manufacturing techniques. The contact tail is stamped, providing a relatively low manufacturing cost and high precision. High precision in the contact tails in turn provides more reliable solder joints across an array of contact tails in an electronic component. Further, the contact tail may be shaped to reduce the propensity for solder to wick from the attachment area during a reflow operation. Reducing the propensity of solder to wick reduces the chance that solder will interfere with the operation of the electronic component. Additionally, reducing the propensity for solder to wick allows pads to which the contact tail is attached to be positioned over vias, thereby increasing the density with which contacts may be attached to a substrate. The reliability with which electronic assemblies incorporating components using the contact tail is also increased when the contact tail is used in self-centering arrays.

Abstract: A midplane has a first side to which contact ends of a first differential connector are connected and a second side opposite the first side to which contact ends of a second differential connector are connected. The midplane includes a plurality of vias extending from the first side to the second side, with the vias providing first signal launches on the first side and second signal launches on the second side. The first signal launches are provided in a plurality of rows, with each row having first signal launches along a first line and first signal launches along a second line substantially parallel to the first line. The second signal launches are provided in a plurality of columns, with each column having second signal launches along a third line and second signal launches along a fourth line substantially parallel to the third line.

Abstract: A differential connector has a plurality of rows. Each row includes a plurality of signal conductors provided as differential pairs. Each signal conductor has a first contact end connectable to a printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion having a first width. For each differential pair, one first contact end lies along a first line parallel to the plurality of rows and the other first contact end lies along a second line parallel to and spaced from the first line. The differential connector further includes a plurality of ground conductors, with each ground conductor corresponding to a differential pair. Each ground conductor has a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion having a second width that is at least twice the first width.

Abstract: A socket for removably mounting a bare die to a substrate, such as a printed circuit board. This socket is formed by insert molding signal conductors in an insulative housing. A ground structure is separately provided to control the impedance of the signal conductors and to reduce cross talk. The ground structure may be formed as a separate subassembly and attached to the subassembly formed by insert molding a housing around signal conductors. The ground structure also provides ground connections between the printed circuit board and the chip.

Abstract: An electrical connector with electrically lossy materials bridging ground members. The lossy conductive members may be formed by filling a settable binder with conductive particles, allowing the partially conductive members to be formed through an insert molding process. Connectors assembled from wafers that contain signal conductors held within an insulative housing may incorporate lossy conductive members by having filled thermal plastic molded onto the insulatative housing. The lossy conductive members may be used in conjunction with magnetically lossy materials. The lossy conductive members reduce ground system do resonance within the connector, thereby increasing the high frequency performance of the connector.

Abstract: A differential connector has a plurality of rows. Each row includes a plurality of signal conductors provided as differential pairs. Each signal conductor has a first contact end connectable to a printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion having a first width. For each differential pair, one first contact end lies along a first line parallel to the plurality of rows and the other first contact end lies along a second line parallel to and spaced from the first line. The differential connector further includes a plurality of ground conductors, with each ground conductor corresponding to a differential pair. Each ground conductor has a first contact end connectable to the printed circuit board, a second contact end, and an intermediate portion having a second width that is at least twice the first width.

Abstract: A circuit board includes (i) a section of circuit board material having a signal conductor, a ground conductor, and dielectric material that separates the signal conductor and the ground conductor, and (ii) a signal launch. The signal launch includes a signal via that contacts the signal conductor and the dielectric material of the section of circuit board material, a first set of ground vias and a second set of ground vias. The ground vias contact the ground conductor and the dielectric material of the section of circuit board material. The first set of ground vias is disposed a first radial distance from the signal via. The second set of ground vias is disposed a second radial distance from the signal via. A coaxial connector mounts to the signal launch of the circuit board in order to provide electrical access to the signal and ground conductors.