International Business Machines Corporation

Jrs Technology Inc.

Technical Consumer Products, Inc.

James R Petrozello

David W Dranchak

Robert H Katyl

Robert M Murcko

John G Baumberger

Fletcher W Chapin

Charles A Joseph

Scott W Knauss

Karl B Van Brunt, Jr

Chi Shih Chang

Thomas G Macek

Robert Babuka

Alan D Knight

George J Saxenmeyer, Jr

John R Susko

Raymond A Busacco

Reinhold E Tomek

Fraser P Donlan, Jr

Peter A Engel

Rod A Smith

Joseph S Macek

James J Kershaw

John S Beaudry, Jr

James L McNaughton

Steven R Shinners

The present invention features an electronic ballast for use with gas discharge lamps incorporating a microprocessor-based network controller which facilitates the direct attachment of the ballast to a local or building-wide energy management systems. The use of the inventive ballast allows the production of a lighting luminaire whose light output, power consumption, and other operational or environmental parameters can be monitored and controlled as part of the distributed building control network. A building control computer network can control lighting functions, such as power on/off and dimming. The ballast of the present invention includes provision allowing connection to a local utility so that lighting in large buildings can be cut back in times of high power demand to help balance system loading.

Electronic ballast with embedded network micro-controller

The invention features an electronic dimming ballast for use with a gas-discharge lamp. The ballast is adapted to receive a wide variety of control signals, both from sensors near the ballast or from sensors and/or controllers located away from the ballast. The ballast is constructed on a main circuit board which contains an interface into which a wide variety of daughter circuit boards may be attached so that the ballast may be customized for a particular application or system. Typical dimming input 'commands' may be from light level sensors, proximity sensors, portable, hand-held remote controllers, building energy management systems, etc. Unique interface and/or control circuitry to adapt the basic dimming ballast to these inputs is generally contained on the pluggable daughter cards.

Modular, configurable dimming ballast for a gas-discharge lamp

The present invention features an integrated, electronic fluorescent ballast fixture which includes an electronic ballast packaged with a set of fluorescent lamp connectors into an integral fixture. The fixture has a circuit board that selectably supports up to four fluorescent lamps. The housing of the fixture id configured to receive a number of lamp connectors. The connectors are electrically, connected to the circuit board use wire and poke-in type connectors. When used with conventional, straight fluorescent lamps, a second set of sockets at the far end of the lamps are also connected to the circuit board using wires received in poke-in connector on the circuit board. The integrated ballast package also works with U-shaped lamps. The housing of the fixture is shaped to accommodate projecting electronic ballast components attached to the circuit board. The transformers and transistors of the circuit board may be thermally sinked, so that their heat is carried to the housing by thermally conductive means. The housing consists of two halves that are assembled together with snap-in action latches, making the fixture quickly and easily fabricated. The ballast fixture can be used with a wide variety of light fixtures because of its modularity, affording a high degree of universality.

Ballast fixture for fluorescent lighting

An electrical interconnector for interconnecting two circuit members wherein the interconnector comprises a dielectric member and at least one conductive element. The conductive element includes a base portion retained within the dielectric and at least one projecting helical portion for engaging a conductor of one of the circuit members. Preferably, dendritic elements (e.g., palladium) are formed on the terminal ends of the helical portions for providing debris removal. The form of connection between the helical portion and the conductor is of the non-wiping type. An electrical assembly including this interconnector is also described.

Electrical interconnector with helical contacting portion and assembly

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., a circuit board and module), which, in one embodiment, includes a housing, at least one flexible circuit within the housing and a spring means attached to the flexible circuit at two spaced locations for exerting force against the flexible circuit to cause the circuit to engage respective conductive pads on the circuit members when the circuit members are moved toward each other (e.g., compressed). The shape of the spring means conforms substantially to the portion of the flexible circuit between the locations of attachment. In another embodiment, a connector for interconnecting such circuit members includes a housing adapted for being located between both members and at least one elongated, compressible contact member in the housing and including conductive end portions for engaging the circuit members. The contact occupies a first, prestressed position before engagement and is adapted for moving to a second, compressed position during the engagement. The conductive end portions of the flexible circuit in the first embodiment and the contact member in the second embodiment preferably comprise a plurality of dendrites for providing enhanced connections.

High density connector

An electrical contact and connector assembly utilizing same wherein the contact includes a first, highly conductive element (e.g., oxygen-free copper) having a first modulus of elasticity and including a pair of contacting portions each of which is designed for engaging respective conductors on first and second circuit members, and a second, spring element (e.g., stainless steel) operatively coupled to the first conductive element and having a second modulus of elasticity greater than that of the first, conductive element. A connector assembly is also defined which includes a common housing for having the contact (preferably several) located therein. The housing is metallic (e.g., stainless steel) and includes a coating of suitable dielectric material on appropriate surfaces thereof so as to prevent electrical shorting with the internally contained contacts. A preferred coating for this purpose is polyimide.

Dual element electrical contact and connector assembly utilizing same

An electrical connector for interconnecting opposed circuit members (e.g., modules, printed circuit boards) using an interim housing on which are positioned a pair of flexible circuit members which are capable of being expanded to provide desired connections. Expansion is accomplished through the application of pressurized fluid to the housing to cause expansion. Such a fluid (liquid or gas) may also cool the structure during operation. The respective conductors of the expandable flexible circuit members are electrically coupled using a common circuitized element (e.g., a thin dielectric having opposed arrays of conductive members thereon). Means for aligning the connector of the invention with the respective electrical circuit members being connected is also provided.

Fluid pressure actuated connector

An electrical connector wherein fluid pressure (pneumatics or hydraulics) is used to actuate an expandable bladder located within the housing of the connector to exert force against two flexible circuit members also located substantially within the connector's housing to cause these members to move toward each other and for highly dense arrays of electrical contacts thereon to engage each other in a predetermined manner. A first alignment means (e.g., pin and corresponding aperture) is used to provide initial alignment of the two flexible circuit members perior to contact being made. Once such contact occurs, and the expandable bladder is expanded further, the bladder is able to provide additional alignment for the engaged contacts so as to prevent movement thereof relative to each other. Such precise alignment is critical in highly dense arrays of large numbers of small contacts as required in many of today's information handling systems (computers). In another embodiment of the invention, the two flexible circuit members are actuated to contact arrays of contacts located on the surfaces of a circuit board located within the connector housing between the two flexible circuits. Once connection is initially made, and expansion of the expandable bladders continues, movement of the engaged flexible circuit electrical contacts is substantially prevented, thus assuring precisioned alignment between these contacts in the overall connector assembly. To prevent abrasion of the expandable bladder during actuation thereof, an interface member (e.g., a thin layer of polyimide) is used between the bladder and flexible circuit members, the interface having a smooth, abrasion resistant surface for this purpose.

Fluid pressure actuated electrical connector

An electrical connector which utilizes fluid pressure to interconnect two electrical circuit members (e.g., a circuit module and a printed circuit board) in a sound and effective manner. In one embodiment, two flexible circuits are brought together using two expandable bladders which are located within a housing located between the circuit members. When expanded, the bladders engage the flexible circuits and cause these to move toward each other such that arrays of contacts become engaged. In another embodiment, a singular flexible circuit and operatively connected bladder are used such that expansion of the bladder causes separate arrays of contacts on the flexible circuit to move toward and engage respective circuitry on the circuit members.

An electrical connector wherein fluid pressure (pneumatics or hydraulics) is used to actuate an expandable bladder located within the housing of the connector to exert force against two flexible circuit members also located substantially within the connector's housing to cause these members to move toward each other and for highly dense arrays of electrical contacts thereon to engage each other in a predetermined manner. A first alignment means (e.g., pin and corresponding aperture) is used to provide initial alignment of the two flexible circuit members prior to contact being made. Once such contact occurs, and the expandable bladder is expanded further, the bladder is able to provide additional alignment for the engaged contacts so as to prevent movement thereof relative to each other. Such precise alignment is critical in highly dense arrays of large numbers of small contacts as required in many of today's information handling systems (computers). In another embodiment of the invention, the two flexible circuit members are actuated to contact arrays of contacts located on the surfaces of a circuit board located within the connector housing between the two flexible circuits. Once connection is initially made, and expansion of the expandable bladders continues, movement of the engaged flexible circuit electrical contacts is substantially prevented, thus assuring precisioned alignment between these contacts in the overall connector assembly. To prevent abrasion of the expandable bladder during actuation thereof, an interface member (e.g., a thin layer of polyimide) is used between the bladder and flexible circuit members, the interface having a smooth, abrasion resistant surface for this purpose.

A compliant portion of the tubular body of a compliant pin is configured with an elliptical cross section. Preferably, the tubular body is seamless but alternatively may have a seam with the edges of the seam connected together. The configuration is particularly useful for micro-miniature pins. In the preferred method embodiment, on one side of a member to which the pin is to be affixed, the leading end of a blank tubular pin is inserted into the mating receptacle of the member and such that the blank pin provides a protrusion or extension on the opposite side of the member. A compliant section with an elliptical cross section if formed in a predetermined part of the protrusion and thereafter the pin is partially retracted into the receptacle so that the compliant section coacts with the receptacle to affix the pin to the member.

Pin with tubular elliptical compliant portion and method for affixing to

In a circuit package having a connector for connecting a pin array circuit module and a printed circuit board, the connector is a molded plastic planar member with a plurality of openings extending through the member. In each opening, the member has two integral and spaced first and second parts having respectively oppositely aligned faces for receiving therebetween one of the pins. At least one of the parts resiliently extends across the opening, and at least one of the faces is a contact surface which mates with a pin of the module. A conductive layer with a predetermined circuit pattern is disposed on the member and includes conductors which extend from the contact surface to terminals disposed on the bottom surface of the member. The terminals are mateable with the input/output pads of the board. The member is disposed between the board and the module to provide the connection between the module and the board with the terminals of the member and the pads of the board being in contacting relationship. The pins of the module are disposed in the openings from the opposite surface of the member and each pin is extended and engaged by and between the respective faces of the paired parts in the particular opening in which the pin is inserted.

Connector and circuit package apparatus for pin array circuit module and

An electrical connector for providing electrical connection to a substrate having contact elements thereon (e.g., a printed circuit board) wherein torsional contacts are utilized. The contacts, actuated by a vertically moving, slidable member (e.g., a cam plate) and horizontally moving actuator (e.g., a linear cam), resume a normal, twisted configuration to effect such connection with the respective contact elements. Each contact, preferably metallic (e.g., beryllium copper), includes a curvilinear edge segment while each contact element (e.g., plated copper wire) in turn includes a curvilinear contacting surface, these two members thus providing a single point form of contact while assuring effective wiping motion to remove undesirable contaminants, debris, etc. which may be located thereon. Relatively high contact forces (e.g., 200,000 PSI) are possible using the invention.

Electrical connector with torsional contacts

An electrically conductive composition containing a photosensitive epoxy polymer, a reactive plasticizer, and electrically conductive spherical particles wherein the outer surfaces are of a material selected from the group of platinum, palladium and gold. The compositions are used to provide a flexible electrically conductive bond between a supporting substrate and a semiconductor.

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Endicott, NY, United States of America

James R Petrozello