Thomas J Tighe

US Patent:

59706082, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Oct 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/174953

Inventors:

Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA
Gershon Akerling - Culver City CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H01R 4302

US Classification:

29843

Abstract:

A new electrical connector system employs two printed circuit board type connector components (1 & 3), each containing a plurality of plated-on metal lines (11 & 13) running along the board in parallel, and a replaceable contact element (9), termed an interposer, that is sandwiched between those printed circuit boards. The interposer contains malleable electrical contacts (15 & 17) on each side that extend electrically from one surface to the other and serves as a contact bridge for those connector contacts. The interposer is formed as a thin insulator strip and metal bumps on the top and bottom sides of the strip serve as the electrical contacts. Bridging connection for metal bumps on the top side with associated bumps on the bottom side is served with plated-through holes (16). The metal bumps are of Indium and Tin that is covered by a flash of Gold. Ancillary to the described connector, a new method for constructing an electrical connector is also presented.

US Patent:

60453966, Apr 4, 2000

Filed:

Sep 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/928198

Inventors:

Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H01R 907

US Classification:

439493

Abstract:

A new electrical cryogenic connector system employs two printed circuit board type mating connectors (1 & 3), each containing a plurality of plated-on metal lines (5 & 6) running along the respective circuit boards in parallel, with the plated-on metal lines on at least one of the connectors being of Beryllium Copper material. The ends of the series of Beryllium Copper lines on one of the complementary circuit boards is formed into a pointed spring finger that is pointed toward the opposed circuit board. With the two boards sandwiched and pressed together with their plated on metal lines directly in line with and facing one another, the spring fingers compress and, under the spring force created by that compression, the spring fingers engage and maintain positive electrical contact with the corresponding conductor traces on the opposed circuit board. Ancillary to the described connector, a new method for constructing an electrical connector is also presented.

US Patent:

59248750, Jul 20, 1999

Filed:

Jul 1, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/886312

Inventors:

Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA
Gershon Akerling - Culver City CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H01R 909

US Classification:

439 74

Abstract:

A new electrical connector system employs two printed circuit board type connector components (1 & 3), each containing a plurality of plated-on metal lines (11 & 13) running along the board in parallel, and a replaceable contact element (9), termed an interposer, that is sandwiched between those printed circuit boards. The interposer contains malleable electrical contacts (15 & 17) on each side that extend electrically from one surface to the other and serves as a contact bridge for those connector contacts. The interposer is formed as a thin insulator strip and metal bumps on the top and bottom sides of the strip serve as the electrical contacts. Bridging connection for metal bumps on the top side with associated bumps on the bottom side is served with plated-through holes (16). The metal bumps are of Indium and Tin that is covered by a flash of Gold. Ancillary to the described connector, a new method for constructing an electrical connector is also presented.

US Patent:

6230397, May 15, 2001

Filed:

Mar 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/281423

Inventors:

Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H05K 336

US Classification:

29830

Abstract:

A new electrical cryogenic connector system employs two printed circuit board type mating connectors (1 & 3), each containing a plurality of plated-on metal lines (5 & 6) running along the respective circuit boards in parallel, with the plated-on onmetal lines on at least one of the connectors being of Beryllium Copper material. The ends of the series of Beryllium Copper lines on one of the complementary circuit boards is formed into a pointed spring finger that is pointed toward the opposed circuit board. With the two boards sandwiched and pressed together with their plated on metal lines directly in line with and facing one another, the spring fingers compress and, under the spring force created by that compression, the spring fingers engage and maintain positive electrical contact with the corresponding conductor traces on the opposed circuit board. Ancillary to the described connector, a new method for constructing an electrical connector is also presented.

US Patent:

60557222, May 2, 2000

Filed:

May 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/081925

Inventors:

Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA
Gershon Akerling - Culver City CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H05K 906

US Classification:

29843

Abstract:

Shielded stripline multi-lead flex cable is successfully attached to solder pads on a circuit board by applying a hot bar to the backside of the cable placed in abuttment with the associated solder pads. The hot bar generates sufficient heat to reflow pretinned cable elements and the corresponding solder pads of the circuit board. An attachment is attained in which the outer ground plane metal layer of the cable covers the signal lines and the other ground plane metal layer is attached adjacent those signal lines, producing effective RF shielding of the signal leads and minimizing introduction of inductance into the ground current circuit. A novel cable end configuration and cable termination is disclosed to implement the attaching procedure.

US Patent:

61469122, Nov 14, 2000

Filed:

May 11, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/309945

Inventors:

Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA
Gershon Akerling - Culver City CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Redondo Beach CA

International Classification:

H01L 2166
G01R 3126

US Classification:

438 15

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for bonding a chip to a substrate is described, wherein the apparatus includes a chip holder assembly comprising an outer holder having a cavity formed therein and an inner holder for holding the chip, and by releaseably securing the inner holder within the outer holder cavity and contacting the chip to the substrate the inner holder has selective angular rotation within the cavity to make parallel the chip and the substrate.

US Patent:

20150225071, Aug 13, 2015

Filed:

Feb 10, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/176960

Inventors:

- Falls Church VA, US
Thomas S. Tighe - Pasadena CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation - Falls Church VA

International Classification:

B64C 3/32
B64C 3/38
B64C 29/00

Abstract:

A multi-engine aircraft is disclosed which is convertible from horizontal flight mode to a vertical flight mode. The aircraft comprises an aircraft fuselage defining a fuselage longitudinal axis, and the first and second wing attached to the fuselage. Each wing defines first and second wing segments. The first segments are translatable about the fuselage longitudinal axis, from a horizontal mode position adjacent the second wing segments to vertical fight mode wherein the first wing segment are substantially offset from the second wing segments. An aircraft propulsion unit is attached to each of the first and second wing segments. The propulsion units attached to a common wing being disposed in substantial axial alignment when the aircraft operates in a horizontal flight mode, and being substantially offset when the aircraft operates in a vertical flight mode. A senor unit is connected to a forward portion of the fuselage.