Abstract: Connector and methods of connector design and manufacture are disclosed for achieving a desired phase relationship between signals carried along conductors of different lengths, while maintaining a desired impedance of the conductors. In one embodiment, a PCB connector includes a first plurality of electronic terminals and a second plurality of electronic terminals disposed on a connector body. A substrate has a dielectric constant that varies with location within the substrate. A first electronic conductor follows a first pathway within the substrate to experience a first effective dielectric constant. A second electronic conductor follows a second pathway within the substrate to experience a second effective dielectric constant. The first electronic conductor is longer than the second electronic conductor and the first effective dielectric constant is less than the second effective dielectric constant, to at least reduce phase error between signals.

Abstract: A bi-directional voltage translator is disclosed. The bi-directional voltage translator includes a step-up voltage translator for converting signals of a first voltage level to signals of a second voltage level, and a step-down voltage translator for converting signals of the second voltage level to signals of the first voltage level. The step-up voltage translator includes a first source sense circuit, a first block feedback circuit and a first output driver circuit. The step-down voltage translator includes a second source sense circuit, a second block feedback circuit and a second output driver circuit.

Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention is a method controlling an orientation-dependent component in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of interpreting a signal, the signal being based on an orientation of the computer system and automatically reconfiguring the orientation-dependent component based on the interpretation of the signal. A second aspect of the present invention is a system for controlling an orientation-dependent component in a computer system. The system comprises means for interpreting a signal, the signal being based on an orientation of the computer system and means for automatically reconfiguring the orientation-dependent component based on the interpretation of the signal. Through the use of the method and system in accordance with the present invention, orientation-dependent components are automatically reconfigured when a computer is changed from a rack orientation to a tower orientation (or vice versa) without having to manually adjust the settings of the components.