Patent ID: 7850459

Claim:
An apparatus for mechanically and electrically connecting two electronic devices, comprising: a base unit, wherein the base unit is mechanically connected with a structure including a first electronic device, the base unit comprising: a round outer ring, the outer ring including a threaded, electrically conductive inner surface; a connecting piece spanning the outer ring; an opening in the connecting piece for through-passage by a first electrical lead wherein the first electrical lead is electrically connected between the first electronic device at one end and the threaded, electrically conductive inner surface at the other end; and a center post comprising a threaded, electrically conductive outer surface, the center post oriented along an axis of the outer ring and perpendicular to the connecting piece, wherein a second electrical lead through the opening in the connecting piece is electrically connected between the first electronic device at one end and the threaded, electrically conductive outer surface at the other end; and a replaceable unit comprising: an outer ring, the outer ring including a threaded, electrically conductive outer surface; a connecting piece spanning the outer ring, thereby forming a cavity bounded by the outer ring and the connecting piece, wherein the connecting piece has an opening at the center of the connecting piece corresponding to the position of the center post, the opening including an electrically conductive inner surface; a second electronic device within the cavity, wherein the electronic device has a first electrical lead electrically connected to the electrically conductive outer surface of the outer ring and a second electrical lead electrically connected to the electrically conductive inner surface of the opening; wherein a diameter of the inner surface of the outer ring of the base unit corresponds to a diameter of the outer surface of the outer ring of the replaceable unit and further wherein the diameter of the outer surface of the center post of the base unit corresponds to the diameter of the opening at the center of the connecting piece of the replaceable unit, wherein all threads are of the same pitch such that the replaceable unit may be screwed into the base unit, thereby forming one assembled unit.