Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation

3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Robert Travis Smith

Chang-Hwa Chung

Terry Lee Smith

Michael Alan Meis

Gordon D Henson

Dewain Robert Goff

David A Gibson

Ching-Long Tsai

Colin A MacKay

Duane T Smith

Paul H Binek

Billy M Hargis

Kirk A Halliburton

Bill Weigler

Yu C Chang

A preformed fiber optic applique having a backing layer is provided. The backing layer or film has an adhesive coating applied thereon. At least one optical fiber is routed and bonded to the adhesive layer providing a continuous optical signal path from one end to another. A releasable liner is releasably attached to the adhesive layer and positioned to cover the backing layer including the at least one optical fiber. Microstructures are provided on the backing layer in one embodiment. The microstructures are crushable structures that prevent the adhesive from immediately adhering to a substrate.

Flexible optical circuit appliques

A furcation apparatus for a multi-conductor cable of the type having reinforcing fibers for longitudinal strength. The furcation apparatus includes a furcation spacer having a plurality of passages extending through an interior of the furcation spacer from a first end to a second end. Each passage is of a size sufficient to receive a furcation tube having reinforcing fibers, and each furcation tube is of a size sufficient to receive one of the plurality of conductors of the cable. The furcation tube reinforcing fibers approach the furcation spacer from the second end and are anchored adjacent the first end, and the cable reinforcing fibers approach the furcation spacer from the first end and are anchored adjacent the second end, such that tensioning the furcation tube reinforcing fibers and cable reinforcing fibers places the furcation spacer under compressive stress.

Furcation apparatus for optical fibers

A preformed fiber optic applique having a backing layer is provided. The backing layer or film, has an adhesive coating applied thereon. At least one optical fiber is routed and bonded to the adhesive layer providing a continuous optical signal path from one end to another. A releasable liner is releasably attached to the adhesive layer and positioned to cover the backing layer including the at least one optical fiber. Microstructures are provided on the backing layer in one embodiment. The microstructures are crushable structures that prevent the adhesive from immediately adhering to a substrate.

An electrical connector having first and second coacting engagable parts for mating a plurality of spaced electrical contacts in which the system includes predictable alignment, contact force and wiping features. The connector may use flexible circuit tape as the contact elements in which a plurality of modules may be utilized to be aligned separately to avoid cumulative alignment errors. The flexible circuit tape may be a TAB type tape which is configured to allow the end user with the capability to program the signal/ground ratio of the interconnect.

Electrical connector system

A flexible beam lead tape having three layers having trace conductors, a dielectric and a ground plane. Vias extend through the dielectric layer at the first and second ends of the electrical conductors for providing versatile connections to either ends of the conductors. The ends of the conductors may be provided with electrical connections on either or both sides of the tape and may be connected by pressure contact or by bonding. The tape also includes means for aligning the tape with a substrate to which the tape will be interconnected.

Electrical interconnect tape

A flexible liquid ribbon cooler for use with electronic components which includes a plurality of elongate thermo-conductive members, which are circular in cross-section, and which are positioned side by side. A bottom and a top layer of thermo-conductive material enclose the bottom and tops of the elongate members and form a plurality of liquid coolant passageways between the elongate members within the layers. The elongate members may be solid cylinders or tubes. A plurality of microcapillaries may be formed in the bottom layer to provide additional thermocoupling, adhesion, and detachability.

Liquid ribbon cooler

A zero insertion force electrical connector for electrically connecting two electrical members. A plurality of first electrical contacts on a first member engage a plurality of second electrical on a second member. An isostratic medium is retained against the second member and a pressure generator acts on the isostatic medium for providing a uniform force forcing the first and second contact into engagement. One of the first and second contacts may be positioned in recesses and the other of the first and second contacts are outwardly extending for providing self-alignment between the first and second members. The second member may be a three-layer tape having a first metal signal layer, a middle dielectric layer and a second ground layer for interconnection to a third electrical member.

Zero insertion force electrical connector

A discretionary interconnect which includes orthogonal arrays of conductors sandwiched between conductive planes and accessible through a number of selectively arranged vias for interconnection and interruption. Also disclosed is a process of personalizing an interconnect of this type by selectively connecting and disconnecting the conductors.

Discretionary interconnect

A flexible beam lead tape having three layers having trace conductors, a dielectric and a ground plane. Vias extend through the dielectric layer at the first and second ends of the electrical conductors for providing versatile connections to either ends of the conductors. The ends of the conductors may be provided with electrical connections on either or both sides of the tape and may be connected by pressure contact or by bonding.

A system for optically linking processing equipment including a flat ribbon cable containing a plurality of optical fibers supported in a flexible matrix, a connector for optically terminating fibers of the cable including a member having means for receiving and for anchoring the cable to enable the fibers to be coupled to fibers within a mated connector, and a terminal connector adapted for mating with the first connector and for providing an electrical interface with electronic data processing equipment. Both connectors include means for retaining fibers within their respective housings to enable coupling the fibers when the connectors are mated together. The terminal connector further includes an electronic circuit having a transmitter section and a receiver section, wherein the transmitter section includes at least one light source for converting an electrical input logic signal to a corresponding optical signal and wherein the receiver section includes at least one photodetector for converting an optical logic signal received through the mated connector into a corresponding electrical output signal.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Robert Travis Smith