Z-Directed Delay Line Components for Printed Circuit Boards

• US 20110019374A1
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: Oglesbee, Robert Aaron, Hall, Paul Kevin, Fessler, John Thomas, Hardin, Keith Bryan, Nally, Brian Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,735,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/761
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0009 Details relating to the conductive cores
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0248 Skew reduction or using delay lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0286 Programmable, customizable or modifiable circuits by programmable non-printed jumper connections H05K3/222
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0298 Multilayer circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/115 Via connections; Lands around holes or via connections H05K1/112 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/184 Components including terminals inserted in holes through the printed circuit board and connected to printed contacts on the walls of the holes or at the edges thereof or protruding over or into the holes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10984 Component carrying a connection agent, e.g. solder, adhesive soldering leadless components having an array of bottom contacts H05K3/3436; BGA components H05K2201/10734

Abstract

A Z-directed signal delay line component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed delay line component is housed within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The delay line embodiments include a W-like line and a plurality of spaced apart, semi-circular line segment connected such that current flow direction alternates in direction between adjacent semi-circular line segments, each of which in other embodiments can be varied by use of shorting bars. Several Z-directed delay line components may be mounted into a PCB and serially connected to provide for longer delays. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.

Claims

1. A Z-directed component signal delay line for mounting in a PCB having a mounting hole having a depth D therein, comprising:

an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB and a length L;

a signal conductor contained within the body between the top and bottom surface for passing a signal therethrough and having a length that is equal to or greater than length L; and

a pair of conductive traces provided on one of the surfaces of the body, a conductive trace electrically connected each end of the signal conductor.

2. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 1 wherein the signal conductor is made from one of a dielectric material and a magnetic material.

3. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 1 wherein the signal conductor has a length that is longer than the length L.

4. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 1 wherein the pair of conductive traces are provided on one of the top surface of the body and the bottom surface of the body.

5. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 1 wherein one of the pair of conductive traces is provided on the top surface of the body and the other of the pair of conductive traces is provided on the bottom surface of the body.

6. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pair of conductive traces comprises a channel in the side surface of the body.

7. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 1 wherein the signal conductor has a plurality of legs connected in zigzag pattern.

8. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 7 further comprising a shorting bar positioned across at least two adjacent legs of the signal conductor.

9. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 5 wherein the signal conductor comprises:

a plurality of C-shaped conductors disposed approximately parallel to one of the top and bottom surfaces of the body and spaced apart from one another; and

a plurality of leg segments disposed approximately parallel to the side surface of the body, the plurality of C-shaped conductors serially connected by the plurality of vertical leg segments with the ends of the leg segments adjacent the top and bottom surfaces of the body connected to the respective traces on the top and bottom surfaces of the body.

10. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 9 further comprising shielding material disposed within the body between adjacent C-shaped conductors.

11. A Z-directed component signal delay line for mounting in a PCB having a mounting hole having a depth D therein, comprising:

an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB and a length L;

a signal conductor contained within the body between the top and bottom surface for passing a signal therethrough and having a length that is greater than length L comprising;

a plurality of C-shaped conductors disposed approximately parallel to one of the top and bottom surfaces of the body and spaced apart from one another; and

a plurality of leg segments disposed approximately parallel to the side surface of the body, the plurality of C-shaped conductors serially connected by the plurality of vertical leg segments with the ends of the leg segments adjacent the top and bottom surfaces of the body connected to the respective traces on the top and bottom surfaces of the body;

a pair of conductive traces provided on one of the surfaces of the body, a conductive trace electrically connected to each end of the signal conductor; and

a shorting mechanism for electrically shorting together at least two adjacent C-shaped conductors.

12. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 11 wherein the shorting mechanism comprises one of:

at least one shorting bar extending along the length of the body tangentially contacting each of the plurality of C-shaped conductors; and

at least one plated channel extending along the length of the side surface of the body contacting each of the plurality of C-shaped conductors.

13. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 12 wherein the at least one shorting bars comprises two shorting bars diametrically opposed to one another.

14. The Z-directed component delay line of claim 12 wherein the at least one plated channel comprises two plated channels diametrically opposed to one another.

15. A programmable signal delay line circuit, comprising:

a PCB having a plurality of mounting holes, each having a depth D therein and a plurality of conductive traces interconnecting the mounting holes in a serial fashion; and

a plurality of Z-directed signal delay line components, each signal delay line component insertable into one of the mounting holes and electrically interconnected in a serial fashion, each signal delay line comprising;

an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB and a length L;

a signal conductor contained within the body between the top and bottom surface for passing a signal therethrough and having a length that is greater than length L; and

a pair of conductive traces provided on one of the surfaces of the body, a conductive trace electrically connected each end of the signal conductor, each of the pair of conductive traces electrically interconnected to a respective one of the plurality of conductive traces of the printed circuit board.

16. The programmable signal delay line circuit of claim 15, wherein the signal delay is adjusted by replacing at least one of the plurality of Z-directed signal delay line components with a signal pass through device, said signal pass through device comprising:

an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB and a length L;

a conductor extending through the length of the body between the top and bottom surface for passing a signal therethrough; and

a pair of conductive traces, one on each of the top and bottom surfaces electrically connected to an end of the conductor adjacent thereto and extending therefrom to an edge of the body.