PASSIVE ALTERABLE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT

• US 20080291651A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectra Logic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectra Logic Corporation
• Inventors: Bacom, Scott Edward, Figaro, Michael Edward, Sherritt, Jay Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 9,545,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/392 Floor-planning or layout, e.g. partitioning or placement
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09963 Programming circuit by using small elements, e.g. small PCBs
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0005 for designing circuits by computer

Abstract

A passive electrical component is described including a substrate, at least a first, second and third electrically conductive pad, each disposed on the substrate and at least a first electrical device fixedly attached to the first pad and the second pad. The first electrical device is electrically connected to the first and second pads. The third pad is devoid of electrical connection to either the first or the second pads. The component is recognizable by both a Computer Aided Design program and an automated component assembly machine.

Claims

1. A passive electrical component comprising:

a substrate;

at least a first, second and third electrically conductive pad, each disposed on said substrate;

at least a first electrical device fixedly attached to said first pad and said second pad and making an electrical connection therebetween,

said third pad devoid of electrical connection to either said first or said second pads, and

wherein said component is recognizable by both a Computer Aided Design program and an automated component assembly machine.

2. The component of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third pads are arranged in a substantially triangular array.

3. The component of claim 2 wherein said pads are arranged in a substantially equilateral triangular array.

4. The component of claim 1 wherein said component is positioned such that at least a first externally located device is electrically connected to said first pad and a second externally located device is electrically connected to said second pad.

5. The component of claim 4 wherein at least a third externally located device is electrically connected to said third pad.

6. The component of claim 5 wherein said component is repositionable such that after such repositioning said first externally located device is electrically connected to said third pad, said second externally located device is electrically connected to said first pad and said third externally located device is electrically connected to said second pad.

7. The component of claim 6 wherein said first, second and third pads are arranged in a substantially equilateral triangular planar array and wherein said component is repositionable by rotating said component about an origin location substantially coplanar with said pads, said origin location associated with said component.

8. The component of claim 5 wherein said first and third externally located devices produce a high speed signal with a rise time of less than 1 nano-second.

9. The component of claim 1 where said component is sealed.

10. The component of claim 1 wherein said component comprises a fourth electrically conductive pad and a fifth electrically conductive pad, wherein each of said fourth and fifth pads is disposed on said substrate, and wherein each of said fourth and fifth pads are devoid of electrical contact with any other of said first, second and third pads.

11. The component of claim 1 wherein said first electrical device consists essentially of a resistor.

12. The component of claim 1 wherein said first electrical device is fixedly attached via solder joints.

13. The component of claim 1 wherein said component comprises at least a fourth electrically conductive pad and a fifth electrically conductive pad, wherein each of said fourth and fifth pads is disposed on said substrate and at least a second electrical device fixedly attached to said fourth pad and said fifth pad, said second electrical device electrically connecting said fourth pad with said fifth pad.

14. A method of using a switchable passive electrical component, the method comprising the acts of:

providing said component having a substrate, a first, second and third electrically conductive pad each disposed on said substrate, a first electrical device electrically connecting and fixedly attached to said first and said second pads, and wherein said third pad is devoid of electrical connection to either said first or said second pads;

positioning a virtual representation of said component in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) layout such that said first pad is electrically connected to a first externally located device and said second pad is electrically connected to a second externally located device;

downloading said CAD layout to an automated component assembly machine; and

constructing an electrical board based on said CAD layout via said automated component assembly machine.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said virtual representation is positioned such that said third pad is electrically connected to a third externally located device in said CAD layout.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising repositioning said virtual representation of said component in said CAD layout such that said third pad is electrically connected to said first externally located device, said first pad is electrically connected to said second externally located device, and said second pad is electrically connected to said third externally located device.

17. The component of claim 16 wherein said first, said second and said third pads are arranged substantially in an equilateral triangular array having a point of origin substantially in the center of said array and wherein said repositioning step is accomplished by rotating said component 120 degrees about said point of origin.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising detaching said first electrical device from said first and said second pads and either fixedly attaching said first electrical device or a second electrical device to said second and said third pads such that said second and said third pads are electrically connected and said first pad is devoid of electrical connection to either said second or said third pads.

19. A component with a passive alterable electrical pathway, said component comprising:

at least a first, second and third electrically conductive pad;

at least a first electrical device fixedly attached to said first pad and said second pad and making an electrical connection therebetween, said third pad devoid of electrical connection to either said first or said second pads; and

a substrate supporting said first, second and third pads, said substrate moveable between a first orientation and a second orientation,

said first orientation having a first external device electrically connected to said first pad, a second external device electrically connected to said second pad and a third external device electrically connected to said third pad, wherein said first external device is electrically linked to said second external device and said third external device is devoid of any electrical link via said component to either said second external device or said first external device,

said second orientation having said second external device electrically connected to said first pad, said third external device electrically connected to said second pad and said first external device electrically connected to said third pad wherein said third external device is electrically linked to said second external device and said first external device is devoid of any electrical link via said component to either said second external device or said third external device.

20. The passive electrical component of claim 19 wherein said component is moveable between said first orientation and said second orientation by rotating about a point of origin.

21. The passive electrical component of claim 19 wherein said component is adapted for implementation with a Computer Aided Design program.