Apparatus for providing controlled impedance in an electrical contact

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a controlled impedance directly to predetermined contact elements within a socket, thereby reducing the “distorting” nature of the electrical interconnection system. In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, predetermined contacts of a socket may have a resistance, inductance, capacitance, or a combination thereof incorporated therein. In another illustrative embodiment, at least one active element(s) may also be incorporated into predefined contacts. In this manner, predefined contacts may “process” the corresponding signal in a predetermined manner, defined by the circuitry incorporated on the contact itself. Illustrative functions that may be performed include, but are not limited to, amplifying, analog-to-digital converting, digital-to-analog converting, predefined logic functions, or any other function that may be performed via a combination of active and/or passive elements including a microprocessor function.

1 . In an electrical connector apparatus for transmitting a signal between a first terminal and a second terminal, the improvement comprising: 
 (a) a rigid contact for electro-mechanically interconnecting the first terminal to the second terminal, said contact providing means for electrically affecting the signal as the signal is transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal, said electrically affecting means being integrated with said contact.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said electrically affecting means comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a transistor, a surface acoustical wave filter, or a gate.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said electrically affecting means comprises a circuit.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein said circuit performs an electrical function.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein said contact is electro-mechanically coupled to a plurality of terminals.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said function comprises a switch means.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said function comprises an amplification means.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said function comprises a conversion means.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said function comprises a microprocessor means.  
   
   
       10 . In an electrical connector apparatus for transmitting a signal between a first terminal and a second terminal, the improvement comprising: 
 (a) a rigid contact for electro-mechanically coupling the first terminal to the second terminal;    (b) electrical affecting means coupled to said contact for electrically affecting the signal as the signal is transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal; and    (c) biasing means for engaging said contact such that as said contact is engaged by the first terminal, said biasing means permits movement of said contact in response thereto.    
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said biasing means comprises an elastomeric element.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said electrical affecting means comprises a controlled impedance.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said controlled impedance comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a transistor, a surface acoustical wave filter, or a gate.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said controlled impedance comprises a circuit.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said circuit performs an electrical function.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein said contact is electro-mechanically coupled to a plurality of terminals.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said function comprises a switch means.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said function comprises an amplification means.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said function comprises a conversion means.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said function comprises a microprocessor means.  
   
   
       21 . Connector apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals between a plurality of first terminals and a corresponding plurality of second terminals, comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of rigid contacts for electro-mechanically coupling the plurality of first terminals to the corresponding plurality of second terminals, predetermined ones of said plurality of contacts comprising: 
 i. electrical affecting means for electrically affecting a corresponding one of the plurality of signals as the corresponding one of the plurality of signals is transmitted between the corresponding first terminal and the corresponding second terminal; and  
   (b) biasing means for engaging said plurality of contacts such that as each of said plurality of contacts is engaged by a corresponding one of the plurality of first terminals, said biasing means permitting movement of said corresponding contact in response thereto.    
   
   
       22 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein said electrically affecting means comprises a controlled impedance.  
   
   
       23 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein each of said plurality of contacts electro-mechanically couples a plurality of second terminals.  
   
   
       24 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein said controlled impedance comprises: 
 (a) a ceramic substrate having an outer surface;    (b) a first conductive surface deposited on a first portion of said outer surface, said first conductive surface being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of first terminals;    (c) a second conductive surface deposited on a second portion of said outer surface, said second conductive portion not in electrical communication with said first conductive surface, said second conductive surface being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of second terminals; and    (d) a component having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminal being coupled to said first conductive surface and said second terminal being coupled to said second conductive surface, whereby the signal passes between said first conductive surface, said first terminal of the component, said second terminal of said component, and said second conductive surface.    
   
   
       25 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein said component comprises a discrete component.  
   
   
       26 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said component comprises a monolithically fabricated component.  
   
   
       27 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 26  wherein said ceramic substrate has a recess therein to accommodate the physical placement of said component.  
   
   
       28 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein said controlled impedance is provided by a first contact of the plurality of contacts and a second contact of the plurality of contacts, said first contact and said second contact being electrically separated by an insulating material.  
   
   
       29 . Connector apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals between a plurality of first terminals and a corresponding plurality of second terminals, said connector apparatus being assembled, comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of rigid contacts for electro-mechanically coupling the plurality of first terminals to the corresponding plurality of second terminals, predetermined ones of said plurality of contacts comprising: 
 i. electrical affecting means for electrically affecting a corresponding one of the plurality of signals as the corresponding one of the plurality of signals is transmitted between the corresponding first terminal and the corresponding second terminal; and  
   (b) interchangeable means coupled to said plurality of rigid contacts for allowing a first set of predetermined ones of the plurality of contacts to be interchanged with a second set of predetermined ones of the plurality of contacts after the connector apparatus has been assembled, thereby allowing the connector apparatus to be configurable.    
   
   
       30 . Connector apparatus for transmitting a signal between a first terminal and a second terminal, comprising: 
 (a) a contact for electro-mechanically interconnecting the first terminal to the second terminal, said contact having at least three ports, a first port of the at least three ports being electrically connected to the first terminal, a second port of the at least three ports being electrically connected to the second terminal, said contact providing an electrically affecting means for electrically affecting the signal as the signal is transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal, said electrically affecting means being electrically connected to predetermined ones of said at least three ports.    
   
   
       31 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein said electrical affecting means comprises a transmission line structure.  
   
   
       32 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein said transmission line structure comprises: 
 (a) at least two metal plates wherein said at least two metal plates are electrically separated by an insulating material, each of the at least two metal plates being electrically connected to a predetermined one of the at least three ports of the contact.    
   
   
       33 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said insulating material comprises a thermal-setting dielectric coating.  
   
   
       34 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said insulating material comprises a thermoplastic dielectric coating.  
   
   
       35 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said insulating material comprises a native grown inorganic oxide dielectric coating.  
   
   
       36 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein said electrical affecting means comprises a three-terminal capacitor device.  
   
   
       37 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 36  wherein said three terminal capacitor device comprises: 
 (a) at least two isolated circuits wherein said at least two isolated circuits are electrically separated by an insulating material, each of the at least two isolated circuits being electrically connected to a predetermined one of the at least three ports of the contact.    
   
   
       38 . Connector apparatus according to  claim 37  wherein said at least two isolated circuits are formed on a ceramic substrate using a multi-layer thin film process.  
   
   
       39 . Connector apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals between a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of second terminals, comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of contacts for electro-mechanically interconnecting the plurality of first terminals to the plurality of second terminals, predetermined ones of said plurality of contacts having at least three ports, a first port of the at least three ports of a corresponding contact being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of first terminals, a second port of the at least three ports of the corresponding contact being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of second terminals; and    (b) electrically affecting means coupled to each of said predetermined ones of said contacts for electrically affecting a corresponding signal as the signal is transmitted between the corresponding first terminal and the corresponding second terminal, said electrically affecting means being electrically connected to predetermined ones of said at least three ports of said corresponding contact.    
   
   
       40 . Apparatus for electrically interconnecting a lead of a device to a terminal spaced at a distance from the lead, comprising: 
 (a) a housing, said housing having at least one contact receiving slot formed therein, said housing having a surface intersected by said at least one contact receiving slot, said at least one contact receiving slot extending substantially parallel to an axis extending between a corresponding lead and spaced terminal; and    (b) a contact received within said at least one contact receiving slot, said contact engagable by the lead and further engagable by the spaced terminal, said contact providing means for electrically affecting the signal as the signal is transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal, said electrically affecting means being integrated with said contact.    
   
   
       41 . Apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said electrically affecting means comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a transistor, a surface acoustical wave filter, or a gate.  
   
   
       42 . Apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said electrically affecting means comprises a circuit.  
   
   
       43 . Apparatus according to  claim 42  wherein said circuit performs an electrical function.  
   
   
       44 . Apparatus according to  claim 43  wherein said contact is electro-mechanically coupled to a plurality of terminals.  
   
   
       45 . Apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said function comprises a switch means.  
   
   
       46 . Apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said function comprises an amplification means.  
   
   
       47 . Apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said function comprises a conversion means.  
   
   
       48 . Apparatus according to  claim 44  wherein said function comprises a microprocessor means.  
   
   
       49 . Apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein each of said at least one contact receiving slot receives a plurality of leads.  
   
   
       50 . Apparatus for electrically interconnecting a lead of a device to a terminal spaced at a distance from the lead, comprising: 
 (a) a housing, said housing having at least one contact receiving slot formed therein, said housing having a surface intersected by said at least one contact receiving slot, said at least one contact receiving slot extending substantially parallel to an axis extending between a corresponding lead and spaced terminal;    (b) a contact received within said at least one contact receiving slot, said contact engagable by the lead and further engagable by the spaced terminal;    (c) biasing means for engaging said contact such that as said contact is engaged by the first terminal, said biasing means permits movement of said contact in response thereto; and    (d) electrical affecting means coupled to said contact for electrically affecting the signal as the signal is transmitted between the first terminal and the second terminal.