Abstract: In some embodiments, an article of manufacture includes a metal layer and a first dielectric layer in contact with a first face of the metal layer. The article of manufacture also includes a second dielectric layer in contact with a second face of the metal layer. The second face of the metal layer is opposite to the first face of the metal layer. The metal layer may be a continuous sheet having slots formed therein to allow the first and second dielectric layers to adhere to each other by way of the slots.

Abstract: An electronic cartridge that includes a pair of spring clips which attach a thermal element to an integrated circuit or an integrated circuit package. The integrated circuit/package is mounted to a substrate. The substrate may be a printed circuit board. The cartridge may have a plurality of pins that extend from the thermal element and through the substrate. Each spring clip may have a pair of bent portions that are attached to the pins of the thermal element. The spring clip exerts a pull force that pulls the thermal element into the integrated circuit/package. The bent ports can be deflected so that at least a minimum pull force is always exerted onto the thermal element even with dimensional variations in the parts of the cartridge. The bent portions can therefore accommodate for tolerances in the cartridge while clamping the thermal element to the integrated circuit/package.

Abstract: An electronic cartridge that includes a pair of spring clips which attach a thermal element to an integrated circuit or an integrated circuit package. The integrated circuit/package is mounted to a substrate. The substrate may be a printed circuit board. The cartridge may have a plurality of pins that extend from the thermal element and through the substrate. Each spring clip may have a pair of bent portions that are attached to the pins of the thermal element. The spring clip exerts a pull force that pulls the thermal element into the integrated circuit/package. The bent ports can be deflected so that at least a minimum pull force is always exerted onto the thermal element even with dimensional variations in the parts of the cartridge. The bent portions can therefore accommodate for tolerances in the cartridge while clamping the thermal element to the integrated circuit/package.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes an input for analog signals, a quantizer for producing a digital signal output, a feedback loop for feeding a signal derived from the digital output to be combined in analog form with the analog input for input to a filter. The output of the filter is fed to the quantizer. The filter comprises at least three filter stages. The filtered signal is derived using the output of at least one stage, other than the first stage, which is representative only of the response of the corresponding filter order and not of other filter orders. The output of the third stage is representative only of the third order response. A limiter is provided in the output of the third stage of the filter.