International Business Machines Corporation

Alan D Knight

David E King

Carlos Juan Sambucetti

Madhav Datta

David W Dranchak

Thomas G Macek

Francis Charles Burns

David E Engle

John J Kaufman

William Louis Brodsky

Kishor V Desai

James R Petrozello

Wai Mon Ma

Eric P Dibble

Fletcher W Chapin

John J Squires

John G Baumberger

James R Bentlage

Terrance E Bocinski

David E Hessian

Wesley J Buyck

A connector assembly has a plurality of electrical circuit members and interposer frames with resilient contact members pressed together by a centrally located actuation screw. The actuation screw is supported within a threaded hole in an actuation bar on one side of one of the circuit members. Turning the actuation screw in its threaded hole causes various parts of the connector assembly to be pressed together simultaneously under an evenly distributed load. A load distribution plate located between the actuation screw and the nearest circuit member reduces the bending stresses in that circuit member. Alignment bushings and pins extending through openings in the circuit members maintain the various parts of the assembly in proper alignment while the actuation screw is being turned.

Electrical connector alignment and actuation assembly

An electrical interconnection, which includes a method for fabricating the device, is disclosed. The interconnection comprises two contact surfaces, on at least one of which is disposed at least one solid metal conical projection in predetermined dimension and location. Rather than necessarily being permanently cojoined, the contact surfaces are attachable and detachable when desired. The conical projections on one contact surface make ohmic contact, either by wiping with an intermeshing like structure on a second contact surface or by contacting a second contact surface which is a substantially flat contact pad. An interconnection, in this invention, is the combination of at least one contact having individual conical projections and another contact, optionally having individual conical projections. The conical projections are formed in metal by electrochemical machining in neutral salt solution, optionally in a continuous foil. The conical projections are also optionally formed on the head of a contact pin.

High performance metal cone contact

A method of making an electrical contact comprised of at least one, and preferably several, conical projections, is provided. The individual conical projections are comprised of an ablative material, and at least some of the conical projections include a surface which is substantially comprised of material in a thickness capable of making ohmic contact, either by wiping with an intermeshing like structure or by contacting a substantially flat contact pad. An interconnection, in this invention, is the combination of at least one contact having individual conical projections and another contact, optionally having individual conical projections. The conical projections are formed by laser. The conical projections are optionally formed on the head of a contact pin.

Method of making cone electrical contact

An electrical interconnection, which includes a method for fabricating the device, is disclosed. The interconnection comprises two contact surfaces, on at least one of which is disposed at least one conical projection in predetermined dimension and location. Rather than being permanently cojoined, the contact surfaces are attachable and detachable when desired. The individual conical projections are comprised of an ablative material, and at least some of the conical projections include a surface which is substantially comprised of material in a thickness capable of making ohmic contact, either by wiping with an intermeshing like structure or by contacting a substantially flat contact pad. An interconnection, in this invention, is the combination of at least one contact having individual conical projections and another contact, optionally having individual conical projections. The conical projections are formed by laser. The conical projections are optionally formed on the head of a contact pin.

Cone electrical contact

Method for making a detachable electrical contact

An electrical connector which utilizes fluid pressure to interconnect two electrical circuit members (e.g., a circuit module and a printed circuit board) in a sound and effective manner. In one embodiment, two flexible circuits are brought together using two expandable bladders which are located within a housing located between the circuit members. When expanded, the bladders engage the flexible circuits and cause these to move toward each other such that arrays of contacts become engaged. In another embodiment, a singular flexible circuit and operatively connected bladder are used such that expansion of the bladder causes separate arrays of contacts on the flexible circuit to move toward and engage respective circuitry on the circuit members.

Fluid pressure actuated electrical connector

A connector for connecting a circuit carrier to a board or card that includes a contact pin having a stem portion and a head portion. The head portion contains at least one hertz dot thereon. The outer surface of the hertz dot is gold.

Connector for connecting flexible film circuit carrier to board or card

An assembly for interconnecting two relatively rigid circuit cards using a flexible circuit for forming this connection is provided. The assembly includes a housing which has a first pressure exerting member which has the flexible circuit reeved therearound. Second and third pressure exerting members are provided in spaced juxtaposed relationship against which the opposite legs of the flexible circuit are maintained to define therebetween a slot for the reception of a circuit card. The assembly is inserted into a card substrate with the first pressure exerting means causing the flexible circuit to be biased into contact with the contacts on a substrate. A second circuit card is inserted into the slot between the legs of the flexible circuit, and the second and third pressure exerting members urge each of the legs as the flexible circuit into contact with the second circuit board.

Electrical connector utilizing flexible electrical circuitry

An electrical connector assembly for connecting two circuit members (e.g., printed circuit board, flexible cable) each including a plurality of electrical connectors thereon. The assembly includes a pressure exertion member having a substantially rigid (e.g., metallic) base plate, a plurality of compressible, silicone rubber elements attached to one surface of the base plate to provide the desired pressure when compressed, and a resilient member attached to an opposing side of the base plate such that compensation is provided for surface elevation variations in the first and/or second circuit members upon compression of the exertion member. The assembly includes a means (e.g., clamp) for retaining the invention's exertion member against one (e.g., the second) of the circuit members in final assembly. The invention is able to provide sound electrical connection over prolonged periods of time and during exposure to relatively harsh environmental conditions (e.g., high heat and moisture).

Electrical connector assembly including pressure exertion member

An electrical connector assembly including a housing, a flexible circuit located within the housing and including first and second terminals thereon, a carriage movably positioned within the housing and designed for having a circuit board inserted therein, actuation means connected to the carriage to cause it to move and occupy first and second positions within the housing, and biasing means in the form of a pair of leaf springs which continuously exert biasing force against the carriage during its positioning within the invention's housing. As defined herein, contact is possible between a plurality of individual contact elements which form part of the circuit board and respective terminals located at one end portion of the flexible circuit. Second terminals located at the other end of the flexible circuit are designed for mating with and contacting respective conductors located on the second circuit device. Positive interconnection is thus possible between high density arrays of contact members in a compact structure.

Connector assembly with movable carriage

A tool for removing from a housing a tri-lead cable having an end terminal removably retained in the housing and having a portion covered by an encapsulating film which extends partially into the housing. The tool comprises a hollow elongated body member having a spring-biased plunger mounted therein. A spring hook blade is attached to the plunger and extends out an open end of the body member. The spring blade is adapted to be inserted in between the housing and the encapsulating film to hook onto an edge of the film. Grasping means are provided on the body member for compressing the spring-biased plunger to retract the spring hook blade and remove the hooked tri-lead cable from the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Newark Valley, NY, United States of America

Alan D Knight