Apparatus for providing controlled impedance in an electrical contact

摘要

The invention concerns a connector apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals between a plurality of first terminals, for connection to a first device, and a corresponding plurality of second terminals, for connection to a second device, comprising 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: electrical active 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 terminals, wherein said electrically affecting means comprises a controlled impedance, wherein said controlled impedance comprises: (a) a ceramic substrate (202) having an outer surface; (b) a first conductive surface (204) 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 (158G); (c) a second conductive surface (206) 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 (158H); and (d) a component (208) having a first terminal (210) and a second terminal (212), 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.