Apple Inc.

Vince Duperron

Zheng Gao

Chris A Ligtenberg

Bradley Joseph Hamel

Min Chul Kim

John C DiFonzo

Joshua R Funamura

Nathan Nicholas Ng

Greg Springer

Josh Pong

Sridhar Sundaram

Marc Simmel

Erik James Shahohian

Rian Leichter

Peter Mitchell

Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide low-capacitance protection from electrostatic discharges. One example protects a circuit in a cable connector that is connected to cable connector contacts. This example may include a number of spark gaps that may be used for electrostatic discharge protection. These spark gaps may be formed using traces a printed circuit board. Signal traces to be protected may be routed such that they pass in close proximity to a ground pad, line, plane, area, or connection. When excessive electrostatic energy builds up on the signal trace, the energy may spark across a gap from the signal trace to the ground pad. The gap and parts of the signal traces and ground may be uncovered such that the electrostatic discharge may dissipate through the air.

Spark gap for high-speed cable connectors

Spring-loaded contacts having an improved reliability. One example may provide spring-loaded contacts having a reduced likelihood of entanglement between a spring and a plunger. For example, a piston may be placed between a plunger and a spring. The piston may have a head portion that is wider than the diameter of the spring and located between the spring and the plunger to isolate the spring and the plunger. In these and other examples, an additional object, such as a sphere, may be placed between the plunger and spring. In another example, two additional objects, such as two spheres, may be placed between a plunger and piston.

Spring-loaded contacts

Structures, methods, and apparatus that provide sockets or connectors that are capable of operating at high data rates. One example provides a connector that uses a flex board to form a connection between pins of a socket or connector and a printed circuit board. In another example, one or more flex boards are used to provide a signal path between a memory device, such as an SODIMM, and a printed circuit board. Another example provides a stack of wafers, each formed of an insulated material and supporting one or more conductive pins for making an electrical connection between a memory device and a flex board.

High-speed memory connector

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Vince Duperron