Stacked printed circuit boards connected in series
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for connecting printed circuit boards to each other, the system comprising:
- a first electrical connector connecting two of the printed circuit boards to each other, the electrical connector having a housing with a driver circuit therein, the driver circuit including a transceiver for synchronous two way communication between the two boards;
positioners located, at least partially, between the two printed circuit boards, the positioners fixedly positioning the two boards relative to each other in spaced parallel configuration; and
means for delaying transmission of signals through the transceiver.
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Abstract
A system for connecting printed circuit boards to each other includes electrical connectors and positioners. The positioners fixedly position the boards relative to each other in a general spaced parallel configuration. The electrical connectors can connect the boards to each other in series. The connectors include power contacts, ground contacts, and driver circuits located inside the connector housing. The driver circuit has a transceiver for synchronous two way communications and buffers for repeating and strengthening digital signals.
133 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for connecting printed circuit boards to each other, the system comprising:
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a first electrical connector connecting two of the printed circuit boards to each other, the electrical connector having a housing with a driver circuit therein, the driver circuit including a transceiver for synchronous two way communication between the two boards; positioners located, at least partially, between the two printed circuit boards, the positioners fixedly positioning the two boards relative to each other in spaced parallel configuration; and means for delaying transmission of signals through the transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A printed circuit board assembly comprising:
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a plurality of spaced parallel printed circuit boards; a plurality of electrical connectors connecting at least some of the printed circuit boards to each other in series, the electrical connectors being sandwiched between adjacent boards and aligned in at least one row, at least one of the electrical connectors having a driver circuit with a buffer adapted to repeat and strengthen digital signals transmitted therethrough; positioners fixed to the printed circuit boards to hold the boards in their spaced parallel configuration; and means for controlling timing of transmission of signals through the electrical connector to provide synchronous communication between the boards. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrical connection system for connecting first and second printed circuit boards to each other, the system comprising:
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a contact header fixedly connected to the first printed circuit board, the header comprising a frame and a plurality of first electrical contacts having first and second male contact areas extending from opposite sides of the first board; an electrical connector comprising a housing and a plurality of second electrical contacts, the second electrical contacts including power contacts and ground contacts with first ends having female contact areas removably connected to the first male contact areas of the first electrical contacts and second ends electrically connected to the second printed circuit board adjacent a first side of the second board; and a cover removably connected to the first printed circuit board and to the electrical connector, the cover covering the second male contact areas extending from the first printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A printed circuit board assembly comprising:
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a plurality of printed circuit boards; electrical connectors connecting at least three of the printed circuit boards to each other in series; and means for transmitting signals among the at least three printed circuit boards wherein signals sent from one of the three boards at an end of the series can be delivered at two other of the at least three boards at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. In a printed circuit board assembly with printed circuit boards connected by an electrical connector, the connector having a housing and a driver circuit, the improvement comprising:
means for controlling the driver circuit for synchronously delaying transmission of signals through the driver circuit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. In a printed circuit board assembly with printed circuit boards connected by an electrical connector, the connector having a housing and a driver circuit, the improvement comprising:
means for controlling clock skew between the boards comprising controlling the driver circuit to delay transmission of at least some signals between the boards.
Specification