Embodiments herein describe a capillary containing a eutectic conductive liquid (e.g., EGaIn) and an electrolyte (e.g., NaOH) that is integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, the PCB includes a capillary, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a plurality of insulation layers, and a conductive layer. The capillary extends through the PCB. The capillary includes a side surface forming an annular cylinder. A eutectic conductive liquid and an electrolyte are disposed within an aperture formed by the side surface. An electrode extends through the side surface and contacts at least the eutectic conductive liquid or the electrolyte. The negative electrode is disposed at a first end of the capillary. The positive electrode is disposed at a second end of the capillary. The conductive layer is disposed between two of the plurality of insulation layers. The electrode forms an electrical connection with the conductive layer.

A resistor assembly is disclosed and comprises a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a plurality of trimming bridges that electrically couple the first conductive trace to the second conductive trace. The resistor assembly also comprises a thin film resistor electrically coupled to the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace, the second conductive trace, the plurality of trimming bridges, and the thin film resistor are all part of a surface mounted layer of the resistor assembly. The plurality of trimming bridges are each removable to increase a resistance of the thin film resistor.

A resistor assembly is disclosed and comprises a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a plurality of trimming bridges that electrically couple the first conductive trace to the second conductive trace. The resistor assembly also comprises a thin film resistor electrically coupled to the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace, the second conductive trace, the plurality of trimming bridges, and the thin film resistor are all part of a surface mounted layer of the resistor assembly. The plurality of trimming bridges are each removable to increase a resistance of the thin film resistor.

A circuit board pad resonance control system includes a board. A signal transmission line is included on the board. A plurality of connector pads are positioned on the board. A first connector pad receives the signal transmission line adjacent a first end of that connector pad. The first connector pad includes a mounting surface that mounts directly to a coupling element that is configured to couple a subsystem to the board, and reduces a resonance that is produced by an open portion of a signal transmission path that is created when the coupling element is directly mounted to the mounting surface of the first connector pad in a first orientation. In a specific example, the mounting surface may include a plurality of protrusions, a plated surface, and/or a mask that reduces the conductivity of the connector pad which reduces signal integrity issues due to resonance.

Method for providing an electrical connection, comprising connecting a first cable to a first conducting structure on a printed circuit board, connecting a second cable to a second conducting structure on the printed circuit board, comparing a propagation delay of a first signal path comprising the first cable and the first conducting structure on the printed circuit board, and a propagation delay of a second signal path comprising the second cable and the second conducting structure on the printed circuit board; and removing conductive material of the first conducting structure and/or of the second conducting structure, in order to modify an electrical length of the first conducting structure and/or of the second conducting structure, to obtain a first conducting path and a second conducting path, in dependence on a result of the comparison, in order to reduce a difference of the propagation delays between the first signal path and the second signal path.

An ear-worn electronic device is configured to be worn by a wearer and comprises a housing configured to be supported at, by, in or on the wearer's ear. A processor is disposed in the housing. A speaker or a receiver is operably coupled to the processor. A radio frequency transceiver is disposed in the housing and operably coupled to the processor. An antenna is disposed on or in the housing and operably coupled to the transceiver. The antenna comprises a radiating element, a ground plane, and a substrate disposed between the radiating element and the ground plane. The substrate comprises one or both of a dielectric gel and a dielectric liquid.

A high pass filter includes: an input-impedance-matching taper transition metal layer having an IMT input end and an IMT output end, the IMT input end having an IMT input end width, the IMT output end having an IMT output end width that is wider than the IMT input end width; a substrate integrated waveguide having a SIW input end and a SIW output end; and an output-impedance-matching taper transition metal layer having an OMT input end and an OMT output end, the OMT input end having an OMT input end width, the OMT output end having an OMT output end width that is wider than the OMT input end width. The substrate integrated waveguide is arranged such that the IMT output end is electrically connected to the SIW input end and such that the OMT input end is electrically connected to the SIW output end.

Embodiments herein describe a capillary containing a eutectic conductive liquid (e.g., EGaIn) and an electrolyte (e.g., NaOH) that is integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB). In one embodiment, the capillary is formed in a through-hole in the PCB and has negative and positive electrodes at its respective ends to seal the eutectic conductive liquid and the electrolyte. The capillary further includes one or more electrodes that extend through a side of the portion of the capillary containing the liquids. The wiper electrodes also make electrical contact with respective conductive layers in the PCB. Using a DC voltage between the negative and positive electrodes, the eutectic conductive liquid forms electrical connections between the wiper electrodes, which in turn, forms electrical connections between the conductive layers in the PCB.

A resistor assembly is disclosed and comprises a surface mounted layer comprising a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a plurality of trimming bridges that electrically couple the first conductive trace to the second conductive trace. The resistor assembly also comprises a second layer disposed underneath the surface mounted layer. The second layer comprises an embedded thin film resistor electrically coupled to the surface mounted layer. The plurality of trimming bridges are each removable to increase a resistance of the embedded thin film resistor. The resistor assembly also comprises a plurality of vias that electrically couple the first conductive trace of the surface mounted layer to the embedded thin film resistor.

A circuit board pad resonance control system includes a board. A signal transmission line is included on the board. A plurality of connector pads are positioned on the board. A first connector pad receives the signal transmission line adjacent a first end of that connector pad. The first connector pad includes a mounting surface that mounts directly to a coupling element that is configured to couple a subsystem to the board, and reduces a resonance that is produced by an open portion of a signal transmission path that is created when the coupling element is directly mounted to the mounting surface of the first connector pad in a first orientation. In a specific example, the mounting surface may include a plurality of protrusions, a plated surface, and/or a mask that reduces the conductivity of the connector pad which reduces signal integrity issues due to resonance.