Multi-Level Connector and Use Thereof that Mitigates Data Signaling Reflections

• US 20140075748A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hasse, Michael D., Na, Nanju, Pham, Nam H., Walls, Lloyd A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,209,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/825
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6586 for separating multiple connector modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An improved electrical connector for connecting bus lines to a card such as a memory card or media card, including a multi-level connector comprising a latching device having a plurality of insertable latch positions that advantageously allows for selectively connecting or isolating an electrical path to an adjoining connector. The connectors of unpopulated DIMM slots are disconnected from the network along with the traces that would normally form a stub with associated undesirable signal reflections that would otherwise disturb the signal transmitted to the receiving end if not properly terminated. The contacts of the edge connector itself are used as a means to selectively connect or disconnect adjacent/downstream cards in a serially cascaded architecture. The burden of the stubs due to unpopulated card slots and the need to place one card at the far end of the network are thus eliminated.

Claims

1. A method to mitigate electrical signal reflections on an electrical bus having a first connector and a second connector coupled thereto, comprising:

selectively coupling at least one electrical signal at the first connector to the second connector based upon whether an electronic component is present in the second connector.

2. A method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting another electronic component at a full-depth position of the first connector; and

inserting the electronic component at a partial-depth position of the second connector.

3. A method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting another electronic component at a partial-depth position of the first connector; and

inserting the electronic component at a full-depth position of the second connector.

4. A method to mitigate electrical signal reflections on an electrical bus, comprising:

selectively shunting a first pin on a connector to a second pin on the connector based upon whether an adjoining electronic component is present in an adjoining connector, wherein the connector and the adjoining connector are both electrically coupled to the electrical bus.

5. A method of claim 4, where the shunting is performed by an electronic component in the connector.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the shunting is performed by positioning the electronic component in the connector using a depth control slot.