Flexible low impedance power bus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9818506-B2
Application number	US-201414260571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2014
Priority date	Apr 24, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for implementing power buses. Apparatus may include a first plurality of connectors, a second plurality of connectors, and a first plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors. The first plurality of conductive sheets may include a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet. The first conductive sheet may conduct a first current in a first direction. The second conductive sheet may provide a return path for the first current in a second direction. The apparatus may also include a second plurality of conductive sheets. The second plurality of conductive sheets may include a third conductive sheet and a fourth conductive sheet. The third conductive sheet may conduct a second current in the first direction. The fourth conductive sheet may provide a return path for the second current in the second direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for transferring power, the apparatus comprising:
a first plurality of connectors;
a second plurality of connectors;
a first plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors,
the first plurality of conductive sheets including a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet,
wherein the first conductive sheet is configured to conduct a first current in a first direction, and
wherein the second conductive sheet is configured to provide a return path for the first current in a second direction; and

a second plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors, wherein the first plurality of conductive sheets and the second plurality of conductive sheets are independently flexible and independently encapsulated such that they are configured to provide independently flexible and encapsulated parallel conductive paths between the first and second plurality of connectors,
the second plurality of conductive sheets including a third conductive sheet and a fourth conductive sheet,
wherein the third conductive sheet is configured to conduct a second current in the first direction, and
wherein the fourth conductive sheet is configured to provide a return path for the second current in the second direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a third plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors,
the third plurality of conductive sheets including a fifth conductive sheet and a sixth conductive sheet,
wherein the fifth conductive sheet is configured to conduct a third current in the first direction, and
wherein the sixth conductive sheet is configured to provide a return path for the third current in the second direction; and

a fourth plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors,
the fourth plurality of conductive sheets including a seventh conductive sheet and an eighth conductive sheet,
wherein the seventh conductive sheet is configured to conduct a fourth current in the first direction, and
wherein the eighth conductive sheet is configured to provide a return path for the fourth current in the second direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first conductive sheet, the second conductive sheet, the third conductive sheet, and the fourth conductive sheet has a length and a width, wherein the width is about half of the length for each of the first conductive sheet, the second conductive sheet, the third conductive sheet, and the fourth conductive sheet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of conductive sheets is disposed between a first cover layer and a second cover layer, wherein the second plurality of conductive sheets is disposed between a third cover layer and a fourth cover layer, and wherein each of the first cover layer, the second cover layer, the third cover layer, and the fourth cover layer is flexible.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first distance between the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet is less than about 0.007 inches, and wherein a second distance between the third conductive sheet and the fourth conductive sheet is less than about 0.007 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive sheet, the second conductive sheet, the third conductive sheet, and the fourth conductive sheet each has a thickness that is less than about 0.005 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of conductive sheets includes a first insulating layer disposed between the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet, and wherein the second plurality of conductive sheets includes a second insulating layer disposed between the third conductive sheet and the fourth conductive sheet.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first insulating layer comprises a first polyimide film, and wherein the second insulating layer comprises a second polyimide film.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of connectors is coupled to a first circuit board, and wherein the second plurality of connectors is coupled to a second circuit board.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a first end of the first plurality of conductive sheets is coupled to the first circuit board, wherein a second end of the first plurality of conductive sheets is coupled to the second circuit board, wherein a first end of the second plurality of conductive sheets is coupled to the first circuit board, and wherein a second end of the second plurality of conductive sheets is coupled to the second circuit board such that the first plurality of conductive sheets and the second plurality of conductive sheets are coupled to the first circuit board and the second circuit board in parallel.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of connectors is configured to be connected to a power source, and wherein the second plurality of connectors is configured to be connected to an antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of connectors and the second plurality of connectors each comprises a material selected from the group consisting of gold, nickel, and copper.

13. A system for transferring power, the system comprising:
a first plurality of connectors;
a second plurality of connectors;
a first plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors,
the first plurality of conductive sheets including a first conductive sheet and a second conductive sheet,
wherein the first conductive sheet is configured to conduct a first current in a first direction, and
wherein the second conductive sheet is configured to provide a return path for the first current in a second direction;

a second plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plurality of connectors with the second plurality of connectors, wherein the first plurality of conductive sheets and the second plurality of conductive sheets are independently flexible and independently encapsulated such that they are configured to provide independently flexible and encapsulated parallel conductive paths between the first and second plurality of connectors,
the second plurality of conductive sheets including a third conductive sheet and a fourth conductive sheet,
wherein the third conductive sheet is configured to conduct a second current in the first direction, and
wherein the fourth conductive sheet is configured to provide a return path for the second current in the second direction;

a power source coupled to the first plurality of connectors,
wherein the power source is configured to generate a power signal and is further configured to provide the power signal to the first plurality of connectors; and an antenna coupled to the second plurality of connectors,
wherein the antenna is configured to receive the power signal from the second plurality of connectors.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of conductive sheets and the second plurality of conductive sheets are configured to provide parallel conductive paths between the power source and the antenna.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a third plurality of conductive sheets configured to electrically couple the first plur

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Andrews Eric J
• Bristol Timothy R
• Lyons Eddie L
• Criss Loren Owen

Classifications

• H01R12/592 Primary

  connections to contact elements · CPC title

• H01R31/02

  Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92) · CPC title

• H01B7/0018

  Strip or foil conductors (H01B7/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R12/65

  characterised by the terminal · CPC title

• H01B13/06 Primary

  Insulating conductors or cables (H01B13/32 takes precedence) · CPC title