Method and apparatus for attaching an electrical component to a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a circuit board, an elastomeric connector, a rotary electrical component having a connector housing for holding the elastomeric connector, and one or more fasteners for securing the electrical component to the circuit board with sufficient force to compress the elastomeric connector and thereby ensure electrical contact between the electrical component and the printed circuit board.

Method and apparatus for attaching an electrical component to a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes a circuit board, an elastomeric connector, a rotary electrical component having a connector housing for holding the elastomeric connector, and one or more fasteners for securing the electrical component to the circuit board with sufficient force to compress the elastomeric connector and thereby ensure electrical contact between the electrical component and the printed circuit board.

A process tunable resistor is fabricated by adjusting elements of the resistor during a fabrication process. The elements include legs, turns, and elements such as a parallel sub-legs, that are adjusted in the fabrication process to provide a specific user defined resistance value. The process tunable resistor provides for fixed contact points in order to support pre-existing or define circuit designs.

A process tunable resistor is fabricated by adjusting elements of the resistor during a fabrication process. The elements include legs, turns, and elements such as a parallel sub-legs, that are adjusted in the fabrication process to provide a specific user defined resistance value. The process tunable resistor provides for fixed contact points in order to support pre-existing or define circuit designs.

A microelectronic device includes a resistive differential alignment monitor (RDAM), including a first variable-width resistor and a second variable-width resistor, which are members of a conductor level. Each of the resistors include a wide portion and a narrow portion. The RDAM further includes a vertical connector to each of the wide portion and the narrow portion of the first variable-width resistor, and to the wide portion and the narrow portion of the second variable-width resistor. The vertical connectors are members of a vertical connector level. Test terminals are coupled to the vertical connectors. The vertical connectors to the first variable-width resistor and the vertical connectors to the second variable-width resistor are separated by equal distances and are oriented anti-parallel to each other. The RDAM may be used to estimate a misalignment distance between the members of the vertical connector level and the members of the conductor level.

A microelectronic device includes a resistive differential alignment monitor (RDAM), including a first variable-width resistor and a second variable-width resistor, which are members of a conductor level. Each of the resistors include a wide portion and a narrow portion. The RDAM further includes a vertical connector to each of the wide portion and the narrow portion of the first variable-width resistor, and to the wide portion and the narrow portion of the second variable-width resistor. The vertical connectors are members of a vertical connector level. Test terminals are coupled to the vertical connectors. The vertical connectors to the first variable-width resistor and the vertical connectors to the second variable-width resistor are separated by equal distances and are oriented anti-parallel to each other. The RDAM may be used to estimate a misalignment distance between the members of the vertical connector level and the members of the conductor level.

A high reliability variable resistor device for extending the lifetime of the potentiometer includes a substrate that is electrically insulative. The substrate is installed within a control circuit having a control switch. A wiper movably coupled to the substrate is electrically conductive. A resistive material and a conductive common trace are coupled to the substrate. An array of taps electrically coupled to the resistive material extends perpendicularly outward toward the common trace. The wiper contacts at least one of the array of taps while being spaced from the resistive material. The wiper moves across the array of taps and the common trace when the wiper moves along the substrate in response to actuation of the control switch. The spacing of the array of taps along the resistive material forms a series of resistive changes that adjusts a setting of the control circuit.

A high reliability variable resistor device for extending the lifetime of the potentiometer includes a substrate that is electrically insulative. The substrate is installed within a control circuit having a control switch. A wiper movably coupled to the substrate is electrically conductive. A resistive material and a conductive common trace are coupled to the substrate. An array of taps electrically coupled to the resistive material extends perpendicularly outward toward the common trace. The wiper contacts at least one of the array of taps while being spaced from the resistive material. The wiper moves across the array of taps and the common trace when the wiper moves along the substrate in response to actuation of the control switch. The spacing of the array of taps along the resistive material forms a series of resistive changes that adjusts a setting of the control circuit.

A microelectronic device includes a resistive differential alignment monitor (RDAM), including a first variable-width resistor and a second variable-width resistor, which are members of a conductor level. Each of the resistors include a wide portion and a narrow portion. The RDAM further includes a vertical connector to each of the wide portion and the narrow portion of the first variable-width resistor, and to the wide portion and the narrow portion of the second variable-width resistor. The vertical connectors are members of a vertical connector level. Test terminals are coupled to the vertical connectors. The vertical connectors to the first variable-width resistor and the vertical connectors to the second variable-width resistor are separated by equal distances and are oriented anti-parallel to each other. The RDAM may be used to estimate a misalignment distance between the members of the vertical connector level and the members of the conductor level.

A microelectronic device includes a resistive differential alignment monitor (RDAM), including a first variable-width resistor and a second variable-width resistor, which are members of a conductor level. Each of the resistors include a wide portion and a narrow portion. The RDAM further includes a vertical connector to each of the wide portion and the narrow portion of the first variable-width resistor, and to the wide portion and the narrow portion of the second variable-width resistor. The vertical connectors are members of a vertical connector level. Test terminals are coupled to the vertical connectors. The vertical connectors to the first variable-width resistor and the vertical connectors to the second variable-width resistor are separated by equal distances and are oriented anti-parallel to each other. The RDAM may be used to estimate a misalignment distance between the members of the vertical connector level and the members of the conductor level.