Passive alterable electrical component

• US 9,545,009 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectra Logic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectra Logic Corporation
• Inventors: Figaro, Michael Edward, Bacom, Scott Edward, Sherritt, Jay Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawyer, Steven T
• Application Number:
  US11/752,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,520 Days
• Field of Search: 361/782, 361/828, 361/768, 361/803, 361/777
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

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 first electrical device is not physically attached to said third pad, said passive electrical component oriented in a first position where said first conductive pad to be electrically connected to a first electrical component, said second conductive pad to be electrically connected to a second electrical component, said third conductive pad to be electrically connected to a third electrical component, said passive electrical component adapted to be reoriented in a second position where said first electrical component is electrically connected to said third conductive pad, said second electrical component is electrically connected to said first conductive pad and said third electrical component is electrically connected to said second conductive pad, said electrical components in a location external from said substrate,

and

said passive electrical component is recognizable as an independent component by both a computer aided design program and an automated component assembly machine.

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

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

4. The passive electrical component of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third pads are arranged in a substantially equilateral triangular planar array and wherein said passive electrical component is repositionable by rotating said passive electrical component about an origin location substantially coplanar with said pads, said origin location associated with said passive electrical component.

5. The passive electrical component of claim 1 wherein said first and said third electrical components produce a high speed signal with a rise time of less than 1 nano-second.

6. The passive electrical component of claim 1 where said passive electrical component is sealed.

7. 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.

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

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

10. 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.

11. 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 said third pad not physically connected to said first electrical device; 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.

12. The passive electrical component of claim 11 wherein said component is moveable between said first orientation and said second orientation by rotating about a point of origin.

13. The passive electrical component of claim 11 wherein said component is adapted for implementation with a Computer Aided Design program.

14. A component comprising:

a substrate possessing a first pad, a second pad and a third pad;

an electrical device fixedly attached to said first pad and said second pad and making an electrical connection therebetween, said electrical device not attached or electrically connected to said third pad;

said component adapted to be electrically connected to a first external device via said first pad, a second external device via said second pad and a third external device via said third pad whereby an electrical pathway exists between said first external device and said second external device, no electrical pathway exists for said third external device via said third pad, and

a datum point that said component rotates about to facilitate said third external device to be connected to said second pad and said second external device to be connected to said first pad thus creating said electrical pathway between said third external device and said second external device.

15. The component of claim 14 wherein said component possesses a datum point that said component rotates about to facilitate physical connection for said first external device via said first pad, said second external device via said second pad and said third external device via said third pad whereby said electrical pathway exists between said first external device and said second external device, and wherein no electrical pathway exists for said third external device via said third pad.

16. The component of claim 14 wherein said third pad never facilitates electrical connectivity with said first and said second pads.

17. The component of claim 14 wherein said substrate is for accommodating said an electrical device only capable of attaching to two of said pads.

18. The component of claim 14 wherein a circuit board assembly accommodates said component.

19. A primary electrical component comprising:

a substrate possessing a first pad, a second pad and a third pad, wherein said pads are all electrically conductive;

an 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 first electrical device is not physically attached to said third pad,

said primary electrical component in a first position is arranged to be electrically connected to a first external electrical component via said first pad, a second external electrical component via said second pad and a third external electrical component via said third pad wherein said first, second, and third electrical components are located essentially beyond the perimeter of said substrate,

said primary electrical component in a second position is arranged to be electrically connected to said first external electrical component via said third pad, said second external electrical component via said first pad and said third external electrical component via said second pad.