Author: claimsbot

1. An electronic cigarette device, comprising an electronic cigarette and an electronic cigarette case for accommodating the electronic cigarette, wherein the electronic cigarette case is set with a first magnetic part at a position thereof coupled to the electronic cigarette, and the electronic cigarette correspondingly has a second magnetic part to absorb the first magnetic part whereby the electronic cigarette and the electronic cigarette case are firmly engaged;
the electronic cigarette case has a first battery and a first connector at a position coupled to the electronic cigarette, the first connector comprises a first socket, a first pole disposed in center of the first socket, and a first insulating bush inserted between the first socket and the first pole so as to isolate the first socket from the first pole;
said electronic cigarette comprises an inhaling shell and a power shell; said power shell is wholly shaped as a cylinder; the power shell is set with a second battery therein, and one end of the power shell is set with a second connector which is connected with the second battery and is coupled to the first connector of the electronic cigarette case;
said second connector comprises a second socket, a second pole disposed in center of the second socket, and a second insulating bush inserted between the second socket and the second pole for insulating the second socket from the second pole; and said second socket and the second pole are respectively connected with either anode or cathode of the second battery inside the power shell; and
said second pole is inserted in the second insulating bush, a stop ring is formed on a section of the second pole within the second socket, a spring is fitted on the section of the second pole within the second socket, and both ends of the spring respectively abut against the stop ring and an inner end wall of the second socket whereby the second pole keeps extending outwards.
2. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 1, wherein the first socket is made from conductive magnet or magnetic materials, and is configured as the first magnetic part; or the first connector is set with an independent structural member made from conductive magnet or magnetic materials as the first magnetic part.
3. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic cigarette case comprises a main body with an open top, a frame inside the main body for accommodating the electronic cigarette, a cover movably engaged on the open top of the main body, and a power assembly set on the frame.
4. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 3, wherein said power assembly comprises the first connector, the first battery disposed in a battery groove at a bottom of the frame, a power port extending to an outer wall of the main body and connected with the first battery, and a printed circuit board (PCB with a power charging control circuit therein and connected with the first battery; the first socket and the first pole of the first connector are electrically connected with the PCB by wires; and the first connector, the first battery and the power port are all integrated on the PCB.
5. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 1, wherein said second socket is made from conductive magnet or magnetic materials and is configured as the second magnetic part; or the second connector is set with an independent structural member made from conductive magnet or magnetic materials as the second magnetic part.
6. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 1, wherein said power shell has a joint sleeve at its end with the second connector, the second connector is disposed in an inner end of the joint sleeve, while the joint sleeve in its outer end defines a taper hole with a bigger front portion and a smaller rear portion, and the first socket of the first connector correspondingly has its front end configured as a cone with a smaller front portion and a bigger rear portion.
7. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 5, wherein said inhaling shell and the power shell is detachably connected; said inhaling shell comprises an inhaling tube, an atomizer and a tobacco-liquid cup disposed in the inhaling tube, a mouthpiece cover disposed at one end of the inhaling tube, and a third connector disposed at the other end of the inhaling tube for being coupled to the second connector of the power shell; said third connector comprises a third socket, a third pole and a third insulating bush which is inserted between the third socket and the third pole for separating the third socket from the third pole; and the third socket and the third pole are respectively connected with either electrode of the atomizer in the inhaling shell.
8. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 7, wherein said third socket of the third connector is made from conductive magnet or magnetic materials and thereby is configured as a third magnetic part, or the third connector is set with an independent structural member as the third magnetic part which is made from conductive magnet or magnetic materials; and the third magnetic part magnetically absorbs the third magnetic part of the power shell.
9. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 3, wherein said inhaling shell and the power shell are detachably connected; and the frame at its top end defines a first slot and second slot for respectively accommodating the inhaling shell and the power shell of the electronic cigarette.
10. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 9, wherein said frame defines a retaining nest aligned to a bottom of the second slot, the first socket of the first connector forms a flange ring round its outer wall, and the first connector is mounted in the retaining nest in the frame by virtue of the flange ring.
11. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 9, wherein said frame defines a tensioning groove at a center of the first slot and crossing the first slots, a tensioner made from elastic material is mounted in the tensioning groove, and the tensioner defines a through-hole which is aligned to the first slot and has a slightly-smaller diameter than an outer diameter of the inhaling shell so as to fasten the inhaling shell therein.
12. An electronic cigarette device, comprising an electronic cigarette and an electronic cigarette case for accommodating the electronic cigarette, wherein the electronic cigarette case is set with a first magnetic part at a position thereof coupled to the electronic cigarette, and the electronic cigarette correspondingly has a second magnetic part to absorb the first magnetic part whereby the electronic cigarette and the electronic cigarette case are firmly engaged;
the electronic cigarette case has a first connector at a position coupled to the electronic cigarette;
said electronic cigarette comprises a battery therein, and a second connector which is connected with the battery and is coupled to the first connector of the electronic cigarette case;
said second connector comprises a socket, a pole disposed in the socket, and an insulating bush inserted between the socket and the pole for insulating the socket from the pole, and said socket and the pole are respectively electrically connected with either anode or cathode of the battery of the electronic cigarette; and
a stop ring is formed on a section of the pole within the socket, a spring is fitted on the section of the pole within the socket, and both ends of the spring respectively abut against the stop ring and an inner wall of the socket whereby the pole keeps extending outwards.
13. An electronic cigarette device, comprising an electronic cigarette and an electronic cigarette case for accommodating the electronic cigarette;
wherein the electronic cigarette case has a first connector at a position electrically coupled to the electronic cigarette;
said electronic cigarette comprises a power shell, the power shell is set with a battery therein, and one end of the power shell is set with a second connector which is electrically connected with the battery and is electrically coupled to the first connector of the electronic cigarette case;
said second connector comprises a socket, a pole disposed in the socket, and an insulating bush inserted therebetween;
said pole is inserted in the insulating bush, a stop ring is formed on a section of the pole within the socket, a spring is fitted on the section of the pole within the socket, and both ends of the spring respectively abut against the stop ring and an inner end wall of the socket whereby the pole keeps extending outwards; and
the pole of the second connector is resiliently and electrically engaged with the first connector of the electronic cigarette case whereby the electronic cigarette case can charge the battery in the electronic cigarette.
14. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 13, wherein the electronic cigarette and the electronic cigarette case are magnetically engaged.
15. The electronic cigarette device according to claim 14, wherein an engagement between the electronic cigarette and the electronic cigarette case is a kind of engagement between magnet and magnet, between magnet and magnetic material, or between magnetic material and magnet.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

That which is claimed is:

1. A tunable optical grating comprising:
a plurality of optical grating structures contained within an optical transmission path; and
a microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuator operatively connected to each grating structure for changing the separation between the grating structures and tuning the optical grating to a desired wavelength selectivity.
2. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating structures form a periodic grating.
3. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating structures form a chirped grating.
4. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating structures form a distributed feedback grating.
5. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said Bragg grating structures form a Fabry-Perot Etalon adddrop grating structure.
6. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein and further comprising a silicon MEMS substrate on which said Bragg grating structures are formed, said MEMS substrate having formed actuators operatively connecting each Bragg grating structure.
7. A tunable optical grating according to claim 6, wherein said MEMS actuators are photolithographically formed on said MEMS substrate.
8. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise a flat, single layer silicon membrane structure.
9. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise at least one anchor support and an arm member operatively connected to a Bragg grating structure and supported by the anchor support and movable therewith for moving said Bragg grating structure relative to another Bragg grating structure.
10. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise a hinged plate actuator operatively connected to each Bragg grating structure.
11. A tunable optical grating according to claim 1, and further comprising an optical waveguide defining an input port through which an optical signal passes through said Bragg grating structures and an optical waveguide defining an output port for receiving the optical signal from the Bragg grating structures.
12. A tunable optical grating structure according to claim 11, and further comprising a collimating lens operatively connected to said input port and a converging lens operatively connected to said output port.
13. A tunable optical adddrop network element comprising:
an input port for receiving a multi-wavelength optical signal and passing the optical signal along an optical transmission path;
an output port for receiving the optical signal from the optical transmission path and passing the multi-wavelength optical signal with added or dropped optical signal channel components;
an optical adddrop element contained within the optical transmission path, said optical adddrop element comprising;
a plurality of Bragg grating structures contained within the optical transmission path and forming a Bragg grating for receiving the optical signal and passing andor reflecting optical signal channel components of desired wavelength; and
a microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuator operatively connected to each Bragg grating structure for changing the separation between Bragg grating structures and tuning the Bragg grating to a desired wavelength selectivity.
14. A network element according to claim 13, and further comprising add and drop ports operatively connected to said optical adddrop element, wherein optical signal channel components of desired wavelength are added and dropped.
15. A network element according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of Bragg grating structures are configurable to be responsive to different optical signal channel components.
16. A network element according to claim 13, and further comprising a silicon MEMS substrate on which said Bragg grating structures are formed, said MEMS substrate having formed actuators operatively connecting each Bragg grating structure.
17. A network element according to claim 16, wherein said MEMS actuators are photolithographically formed on said MEMS substrate.
18. A network element according to claim 13, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise a flat, single layer silicon membrane structure.
19. A network element according to claim 13, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise at least one anchor support and an arm member operatively connected to a Bragg grating structure and supported by the anchor support and movable therewith for moving said Bragg grating structure relative to another Bragg grating structure.
20. A network element according to claim 13, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise a hinged plate actuator operatively connected to each Bragg grating structure.
21. A tunable laser and filter apparatus comprising;
a semiconductor substrate;
a laser structure formed on the semiconductor substrate and further comprising an active layer and plurality of Bragg grating structures formed along the active layer to form a Bragg grating and provide optical reflections at a desired Bragg wavelength; and
a microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuator operatively connected to each Bragg grating structure for changing the separation between Bragg grating structures and tuning the Bragg grating to a desired wavelength selectivity and limiting the laser output to a selected narrow-band mode.
22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said laser structure comprises a distributed feedback laser.
23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said active layer includes a quantum well structure.
24. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein and further comprising a silicon MEMS substrate on which said Bragg grating structures are formed, said MEMS substrate having formed actuators operatively connecting each Bragg grating structure.
25. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said MEMS actuators are photolithographically defined on said MEMS substrate.
26. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise a flat, single layer silicon membrane structure.
27. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise at least one anchor support and an arm member operatively connected to a Bragg grating structure and supported by the anchor support and movable therewith for moving said Bragg grating structure relative to another Bragg grating structure.
28. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said MEMS actuators each comprise a hinged plate actuator operatively connected to each Bragg grating structure.

What is claimed is:

1. An expression cassette comprising
(a) flanking regions which are homologous to a region of a ribosomal RNA gene from an organism selected from the group consisting of Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. or Leptomonas spp.;
(b) intergenic regions which contain information required for RNA transcript processing in the organism; and
(c) a marker gene operably linked to the intergenic regions which allows selection of individuals of the organism which are transfected with the DNA molecule.
2. The expression cassette of claim 1, wherein the region of a ribosomal RNA gene is a conserved region of the small subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene of a Leshmania sp.
3. The expression cassette of claim 1, consisting essentially of the larger fragment resulting from a Swa1 digest of pIR1-SAT.
4. The expression cassette of claim 1, further comprising a second gene encoding a protein, wherein the second gene is operably linked to the intergenic regions.
5. The expression cassette of claim 4, wherein the second gene encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
6. The expression cassette of claim 4, consisting essentially of the larger fragment resulting from a Swa1 digest of pIR1-SAT, and the second gene.
7. The expression cassette of claim 5, wherein the second gene encodes the green fluorescent protein.
8. An expression cassette comprising
(a) flanking regions which are homologous to a conserved region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene from an organism which undergoes trans-splicing;
(b) intergenic regions which contain information required for RNA transcript processing in the organism; and
(c) a marker gene operably linked to the intergenic regions which allows selection of individuals of the organism which are transfected with the DNA molecule.
9. The expression cassette of claim 8, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
10. The expression cassette of claim 8, further comprising a second gene encoding a protein, wherein the second gene is operably linked to the intergenic regions.
11. The expression cassette of claim 10, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. or Leptomonas spp.
12. The expression cassette of claim 10, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
13. The expression cassette of claim 12, wherein the protein is the green fluorescent protein.
14. An expression cassette comprising
(a) a promoter for a ribosomal RNA gene from an organism which undergoes trans-splicing;
(b) flanking sequences which are homologous to a chromosomal region of the organism;
(c) intergenic regions which contain information required for RNA transcript processing in the organism; and
(d) a marker gene operably linked to the intergenic regions which allows selection of individuals of the organism which are transfected with the DNA molecule.
15. The expression cassette of claim 14, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
16. The expression cassette of claim 14, further comprising a second gene encoding a protein, wherein the second gene is operably linked to the intergenic regions.
17. The expression cassette of claim 16, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
18. A recombinant plasmid comprising the expression cassette of claim 1 and DNA sequences which allow selection and replication of the vector in E. coli.
19. The recombinant plasmid of claim 18, consisting essentially of pIR1-SAT.
20. A recombinant plasmid comprising the expression cassette of claim 4 and DNA sequences which allow selection and replication of the vector in E. coli.
21. The recombinant plasmid of claim 20, wherein the second gene encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
22. A recombinant plasmid comprising the expression cassette of claim 8 and DNA sequences which allow selection and replication of the vector in E. coli.
23. A recombinant plasmid comprising the expression cassette of claim 10 and DNA sequences which allow selection and replication of the vector in E. coli.
24. A recombinant plasmid comprising the expression cassette of claim 14 and DNA sequences which allow selection and replication of the vector in E. coli.
25. A recombinant plasmid comprising the expression cassette of claim 16 and DNA sequences which allow selection and replication of the vector in E. coli.
26. A host cell of an organism which undergoes trans-splicing transformed with the expression cassette of claim 4, wherein said host cell comprises a chromosome.
27. The host cell of claim 26, wherein the expression cassette is integrated into the chromosome.
28. The host cell of claim 27, wherein the organism is Leishmania tarentolae.
29. The host cell of claim 27, wherein the second gene encodes a protein selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
30. The host cell of claim 27, wherein the second gene encodes a green fluorescent protein.
31. A host cell of an organism which undergoes trans-splicing transformed with the expression cassette of claim 10, wherein said host cell comprises a chromosome.
32. The host cell of claim 31, wherein the expression cassette is integrated into the chromosome.
33. The host cell of claim 32, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
34. The host cell of claim 32, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
35. A host cell of an organism which undergoes trans-splicing transformed with the expression cassette of claim 16, wherein said host cell comprises a chromosome.
36. The host cell of claim 35, wherein the expression cassette is integrated into the chromosome.
37. The host cell of claim 36, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
38. A method of producing a protein, comprising:
(a) obtaining the host cell of claim 27, wherein the host cell further comprises cellular components, and
(b) culturing the host cell under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce the protein.
39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:
separating the protein from the cellular components.
40. The method of claim 38, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
41. A method of producing a protein, comprising:
(a) obtaining the host cell of claim 32, wherein the host cell further comprises cellular components, and
(b) culturing the host cell under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce the protein.
42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:
separating the protein from the cellular components.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
44. The method of claim 41, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
45. A method of producing a protein, comprising:
(a) obtaining the host cell of claim 36, wherein the host cell further comprises cellular components, and
(b) culturing the host cell under conditions and for a time sufficient to produce the protein.
46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
separating the protein from the cellular components.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
48. The method of claim 45, wherein the protein is selected from the group consisting of a green fluorescent protein, insulin, -interferon, tissue plasminogen activator, -interferon, erythropoietin, Factor VIII, and a protein which is deficient or inactive in a lysosomal storage disease.
49. A method for studying virulence or pathogenicity in a trans-splicing organism, comprising infecting an experimental animal with the recombinant host cell of claim 27, wherein the protein is a green fluorescent protein.
50. A method for studying virulence or pathogenicity in a trans-splicing organism, comprising infecting an experimental animal with the recombinant host cell of claim 32, wherein the protein is a green fluorescent protein.
51. A method for studying virulence or pathogenicity in a trans-splicing organism, comprising infecting an experimental animal with the recombinant host cell of claim 36, wherein the protein is a green fluorescent protein.
52. A method of treating a disease or undesirable condition in a mammal, comprising infecting the mammal with an infectious strain of the host cell of claim 27, wherein the protein is useful for treating the disease or undesirable condition.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein the mammal is a human and the disease or undesirable condition is selected from the group consisting of osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, severe anemia, short stature, hemophilia, and lysosomal storage diseases.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the disease or undesirable condition is Goucher Disease or Fabry Disease.
55. A method of treating a disease or undesirable condition in a mammal, comprising infecting the mammal with an infectious strain of the host cell of claim 32, wherein the protein is useful for treating the disease or undesirable condition.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the mammal is a human and the disease or undesirable condition is selected from the group consisting of osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, severe anemia, short stature, hemophilia, and lysosomal storage diseases.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the disease or undesirable condition is Goucher Disease or Fabry Disease.
58. A method of treating a disease or undesirable condition in a mammal, comprising infecting the mammal with an infectious strain of the host cell of claim 36, wherein the protein is useful for treating the disease or undesirable condition.
59. The method of claim 58, wherein the mammal is a human and the disease or undesirable condition is selected from the group consisting of osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, severe anemia, short stature, hemophilia, and lysosomal storage diseases.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein the disease Goucher Disease or Fabry Disease.
61. A method of delivering a therapeutic protein to a desired site in a mammal, comprising
(a) selecting a trans-splicing organism which is capable of infecting the mammal and residing at the desired site;
(b) transfecting the trans-splicing organism with the expression cassette of claim 4, wherein the second gene encodes the therapeutic protein; and
(c) infecting the mammal with the transfected trans-splicing organism.
62. The method of claim 61, wherein the mammal is a human and the trans-splicing organism is selected from the group consisting of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the site is a lysosome and the trans-splicing organism is a Leishmania.
64. A method of delivering a therapeutic protein to a desired site in a mammal, comprising
(a) selecting a trans-splicing organism which is capable of infecting the mammal and residing at the desired site;
(b) transfecting the trans-splicing organism with the expression cassette of claim 10, wherein the second gene encodes the therapeutic protein; and
(c) infecting the mammal with the transfected trans-splicing organism.
65. The method of claim 64, wherein the mammal is a human and the trans-splicing organism is selected from the group consisting of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp.
66. The method of claim 65, wherein the site is a lysosome and the trans-splicing organism is a Leishmania.
67. A method of delivering a therapeutic protein to a desired site in a mammal, comprising
(a) selecting a trans-splicing organism which is capable of infecting the mammal and residing at the desired site;
(b) transfecting the trans-splicing organism with the expression cassette of claim 16, wherein the second gene encodes the therapeutic protein; and
(c) infecting the mammal with the transfected trans-splicing organism.
68. The method of claim 67, wherein the mammal is a human and the trans-splicing organism is selected from the group consisting of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein the site is a lysosome and the trans-splicing organism is a Leishmania.
70. A kit for producing a recombinant protein, comprising the recombinant plasmid of claim 18, a living cell of the organism, and instructions.
71. The kit of claim 70, wherein the organism is Leishmania tarentolae.
72. A kit for producing a recombinant protein, comprising the recombinant plasmid of claim 22, a living cell of the organism, and instructions.
73. The kit of claim 72, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
74. The kit of claim 73, wherein the recombinant plasmid is pIR1SAT.
75. The kit of claim 72, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Crithidia spp., Leptomonas spp., and Leishmania tarentolae.
76. A kit for producing a recombinant protein, comprising the recombinant plasmid of claim 24, a living cell of the organism, and instructions.
77. The kit of claim 76, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Trypanosoma spp., Leishmania spp., Crithidia spp. and Leptomonas spp.
78. The kit of claim 76, wherein the organism is selected from the group consisting of Crithidia spp., Leptomonas spp., and Leishmania tarentolae.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for reducing the number of layers in a multilayer signal routing device, the multilayer signal routing device having a plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers for routing electrical signals to and from at least one electronic component mounted on a surface of the multilayer signal routing device, the method comprising:
receiving electronic component information including an electrically conductive contact count characteristic, an electrically conductive contact pitch characteristic, an electrically conductive contact signal type characteristic, and an electrically conductive contact signal direction characteristic for at least one electronic component;
identifying an electronic component having a high density electrically conductive contact array package based at least in part upon at least one of the electrically conductive contact count characteristic and the electrically conductive contact pitch characteristic; and
routing electrical signals on the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers in the multilayer signal routing device for connection to and from the high density electrically conductive contact array package based at least in part upon at least one of the electrically conductive contact signal type characteristic and the electrically conductive contact signal direction characteristic.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a plurality of electrically conductive vias in the multilayer signal routing device extending from the surface of the multilayer signal routing device to one of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers, the plurality of electrically conductive vias being arranged so as to form a channel in another of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath the plurality of electrically conductive vias.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the channel is configured to have one or more of a linear, circular, diamond, curved, stepped, staggered, and random shape, or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the channel is configured to be in one or more of a vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and random direction, or a combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive vias form at least a portion of an electrically conductive contact array for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias are positioned inside the electrically conductive contact array such that the channel is correspondingly formed inside the electrically conductive contact array.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the multilayer signal routing device has an array of electrically conductive contacts formed on the surface thereof for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias are formed outside the array of electrically conductive contacts, wherein each of the portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias is electrically connected to peripheral ones of the electrically conductive contacts on the surface the multilayer signal routing device.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive vias further extend from the surface of the multilayer signal routing device to different ones of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive vias form at least a portion of an electrically conductive contact array for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias are positioned within the electrically conductive contact array such that the channel extends across the electrically conductive contact array.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive vias form at least a portion of an electrically conductive contact array for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component, wherein the electrically conductive contact array has one or more of a square, triangular, circular, and random electrically conductive contact pattern, or a combination thereof.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least two of the electrical signals are differential electrical signals, wherein the differential electrical signals are at least partially routed together in the channel formed in another of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath the plurality of electrically conductive vias.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the multilayer signal routing device has at least one electrically conductive power layer for providing power to the electronic component mounted on the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, the method further comprising:
forming a plurality of electrically conductive vias in the multilayer signal routing device extending from the surface of the multilayer signal routing device to at least one of the at least one electrically conductive power layer, each of the plurality of electrically conductive vias being electrically connected to at least one respective electrically conductive power contact on the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, each of the at least one electrically conductive power contact forming a portion of an electrically conductive contact array for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component;
wherein a channel is formed in each of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath the electrically conductive power contacts.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the channel is configured to have one or more of a linear, circular, diamond, curved, stepped, staggered, and random shape, or a combination thereof.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the channel is configured to be in one or more of a vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and random direction, or a combination thereof.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive power contacts are positioned inside the electrically conductive contact array such that the channel is correspondingly formed inside the electrically conductive contact array.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias are formed outside the array of electrically conductive contacts, wherein each of the portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias is electrically connected to at least one respective electrically conductive power contact that is located on the periphery of the array of electrically conductive contacts.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive power contacts are positioned within the electrically conductive contact array such that the channel extends across the electrically conductive contact array.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive contact array has one or more of a square, triangular, circular, and random electrically conductive contact pattern, or a combination thereof.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein at least two of the electrical signals are differential electrical signals, wherein the differential electrical signals are at least partially routed together in the channel formed in one of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath the electrically conductive power contacts.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the multilayer signal routing device has at least one electrically conductive ground layer for providing a ground reference to the electronic component mounted on the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, the method further comprising:
forming a plurality of electrically conductive vias in the multilayer signal routing device extending from the surface of the multilayer signal routing device to at least one of the at least one electrically conductive ground layer, each of the plurality of electrically conductive vias being electrically connected to at least one respective electrically conductive ground contact on the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, each of the at least one electrically conductive ground contact forming a portion of an electrically conductive contact array for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component;
wherein a channel is formed in each of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath the electrically conductive ground contacts.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the channel is configured to have one or more of a linear, circular, diamond, curved, stepped, staggered, and random shape, or a combination thereof.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the channel is configured to be in one or more of a vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and random direction, or a combination thereof.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive ground contacts are positioned inside the electrically conductive contact array such that the channel is correspondingly formed inside the electrically conductive contact array.
23. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias are formed outside the array of electrically conductive contacts, wherein each of the portion of the plurality of electrically conductive vias is electrically connected to at least one respective electrically conductive ground contact that is located on the periphery of the array of electrically conductive contacts.
24. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the electrically conductive ground contacts are positioned within the electrically conductive contact array such that the channel extends across the electrically conductive contact array.
25. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive contact array has one or more of a square, triangular, circular, and random electrically conductive contact pattern, or a combination thereof.
26. The method of claim 19, wherein at least two of the electrical signals are differential electrical signals, wherein the differential electrical signals are at least partially routed together in the channel formed in one of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath the electrically conductive ground contacts.
27. The method of claim 1, wherein the multilayer signal routing device has at least one electrically conductive shared powerground layer for providing powerground to the electronic component mounted on the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, the method further comprising:
forming a plurality of electrically conductive vias in the multilayer signal routing device extending from the surface of the multilayer signal routing device to at least one of the at least one electrically conductive shared powerground layer, each of the plurality of electrically conductive vias being electrically connected to at least one respective electrically conductive powerground contact on the surface of the multilayer signal routing device, each of the at least one electrically conductive powerground contact forming at least a portion of an electrically conductive contact array for mating with the high density electrically conductive contact array package of the electronic component;
wherein a channel is formed in each of the plurality of electrically conductive signal path layers beneath each of the at least one electrically conductive powerground contact.
28. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the multilayer signal routing device is an inner surface of the multilayer signal routing device, and the at least one electronic component is mounted on the inner surface of the multilayer signal routing device.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one electronic component has at least one first electrically conductive contact formed on a first side thereof, wherein the at least one first electrically conductive contact is electrically connected to at least one first corresponding electrically conductive contact formed on the inner surface of the multilayer signal routing device.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one electronic component has at least one second electrically conductive contact formed on a second side thereof, wherein the at least one second electrically conductive contact is electrically connected to at least one second corresponding electrically conductive contact formed on another inner surface of the multilayer signal routing device.