The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2002
Christopher S. Bonni, Bridgewater, MA (US);
Jerry Jarvis, South Weymouth, MA (US);
Thomas Savage, Everett, MA (US);
James Harvey Smith, Sagamore Beach, MA (US);
Joanne Sheehan, North Easton, MA (US);
Robert Wiley, Topsfield, MA (US);
David Potter, Acton, MA (US);
Christopher S. Bonni, Bridgewater, MA (US);
Jerry Jarvis, South Weymouth, MA (US);
Thomas Savage, Everett, MA (US);
James Harvey Smith, Sagamore Beach, MA (US);
Joanne Sheehan, North Easton, MA (US);
Robert Wiley, Topsfield, MA (US);
David Potter, Acton, MA (US);
Network Engines, Inc., Canton, MA (US);
Abstract
The invention herein pertains to improved methods and apparatus for electrically coupling components within a digital data system without the use of ribbon cables and other wires. The disclosed coupling device comprises a body member and at least one finger member. The body member physically and electrically couples with components mounted on a circuit board by mating with component pins extending on a solder side of the circuit board. The finger member is conjoined with the body member, and is a flexible, twistable, thin member containing electrically conductive vias coupled which couple the mounted components with an electrical connected located at the distal end of the finger member. The electrical connector at the distal end of the finger member can be a solder pad, a further member body, or other electrically coupling connector device. The finger member is designed to impact cooling air flow less than the disturbances created by conventional component coupling methods and apparatus, e.g., ribbon cable and wires, thereby increasing the effective heat dissipation within the digital data system.