Z-Directed Delay Line Components for Printed Circuit Boards

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.

What is claimed: 
     
         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 a side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into the mounting hole in the PCB and a length L defining a lengthwise direction;   a signal conductor contained within the body between the top and bottom surfaces for passing a signal therethrough and having a length that is equal to or greater than the length L; and   a pair of conductive traces, each conductive trace of the pair of conductive traces being provided on one of the surfaces of the body and electrically connected to a respective 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 each conductive trace of the pair of conductive traces is 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 a 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 orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the body and spaced apart from one another; and   a plurality of leg segments disposed along the lengthwise direction of the body, the plurality of C-shaped conductors serially connected by the plurality of 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 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A programmable signal delay line circuit, comprising:
 a printed circuit board having a plurality of mounting holes, each mounting hole having a depth D therein, and the printed circuit board having 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 inserted into one of the mounting holes and electrically interconnected in a serial fashion by the conductive traces of the printed circuit board, each signal delay line comprising:
 an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into one of the mounting holes in the printed circuit board and a length L; 
 a signal conductor contained within the body between the top and bottom surfaces for passing a signal therethrough and having a length that is greater than length L; and 
 a pair of conductive traces, each conductive trace of the pair of conductive traces being provided on one of the surfaces of the body and electrically connected to a respective end of the signal conductor, each conductive trace 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 , further comprising a signal pass through device inserted in one of the mounting holes and electrically interconnected to at least one of the plurality of Z-directed signal delay line components by the conductive traces of the printed circuit board, said signal pass through device comprising:
 an insulative body having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, a cross-sectional shape that is insertable into one of the mounting holes in the printed circuit board and a length L;   a conductor extending through the length of the body between the top and bottom surfaces of the signal pass through device for passing a signal therethrough; and   a pair of conductive traces, one of the pair of conductive traces of the signal pass through device being positioned on each of the top and bottom surfaces of the signal pass through device and electrically connected to an end of the conductor of the signal pass through device adjacent thereto and extending therefrom to an edge of the body of the signal pass through device.