The Whitaker Corporation

Amp LLC

Other

David C Johnson

Keith L Volz

Frederick R Deak

Robert M Renn

Warren A Bates

Robert D Irlbeck

Douglas M Walburn

Niels Junior Hansen

William Hintze

Charles P Brooks

John Ambrose Ward

Water sport device

An anisotropic interposer pad (10) disposed between a first surface (11) and a second surface (12) in an electrical interface wherein the interface surfaces (11, 12) are non-compatible metals. The interposer pad (10) is a plastic layer (20) and a plurality of spaced-apart electrically conducting particles (21) are disposed in a random pattern throughout the plastic layer (20). The particles (21) extend between the first side (22) of the plastic layer (20) and the second side (23) of the plastic layer (20). There is no lateral contact between any of the particles (21). The particles (21) are electrically conductive in a direction oriented between the first side (22) and the second side (23) of the plastic layer (20). The particles (21) act as an electrical connection between the first surface (11) and the second surface (12).

Anisotropic interposer pad

The invention is directed to an electronic docking connector for edge mounting an electronic device, such as a daughter board, to a mother board. The connector comprises a pair of housing members assembled to define an elongated slot planarly aligned with the edge of the mother board. Mounted therein is a pair of opposed force applying, resilient spring members operatively mounted for receiving and applying a compressive force against the electronic device. A flexible film member, containing electrical circuitry thereon, is also mounted within said housing members for electrically interconnecting corresponding circuitry on the mother board, and the electronic device. As an alternative, a dielectric insert is disposed between each spring member and its corresponding flexible film to reduce or eliminate cross talk therein.

Coplanar computer docking apparatus

This invention is directed to a mechanical, robotically operated burn-in socket testing apparatus for integrated circuit 'chips', where such chips, as known in the art, are typically planar electronic devices. The apparatus, operationally mounted to a planar electronic board, such as a mother board, comprises a first frame member for mounting to the mother board, where the first frame member includes electrical means for engaging chip leads and applying electrical current thereto during the burn-in testing. A second frame member is disposed in sliding engagement with the first frame member, where the second frame member is movable from a first position to a second position. Finally, cooperative latching and camming means are provided between the first and second frame members to effect the movement between the first and second positions, and to securely hold the chip during burn-in, where the camming means includes a pivotal member movable from a remote position free of the chip to a position engaging the chip.

Burn-in socket testing apparatus

A docking station (10) slidably receives a device (12) to provide make, break or tap functions, respectively, in a circuit interface. The circuit interface includes a pair of connector housings (17, 18) provided with flexible (or compressible) electrical connectors (19, 20), respectively. A camming member (28, 29; 31, 32; 44) separates the connector housings (17, 18) as the device (12) is slidably inserted into the docking station (10), thereby assuring a substantially zero insertion force on the circuit interface. Preferably, the circuit interface is between the flexible electrical connectors (19, 20), a printed circuit board (13), and a flexible etched circuit (15). The flexible etched circuit (15) is provided with a stiffener (24) resiliently biased by springs (27).

Computer docking stations and devices slidably inserted therein

This invention is directed to an electrical connector for sequentially connecting plural contacts provided along the respective mating surfaces of a pair of planar electronic devices, where the devices are joined to or mounted within a pair of pivotally arranged housing members. The connector comprises a first housing mounted to one of the planar devices, such as a mother board, where first housing includes an open end and a closed end, and a second housing mounting the other planar electronic device, such as a daughter board, second housing includes an open end and a closed end, and that the respective closed ends include cooperative means for hingely engaging each other. By this arrangement, as the planar electronic devices are pivotally moved about the cooperative means from a nonparallel position to a parallel position of electrical engagement, the respective plural contacts between the planar electronic devices enter into engagement in a sequentially predetermined order.

Pivotal connector for planar electronic devices

A unitary heat sink and connector housing (10, 10', 10', 10'') is disposed between a pair of electrical members, such as printed circuit boards (11, 12, 31) and/or flexible etched circuits (32) in an overall assembly used in a variety of high-performance miniaturized electronic products. One or more flexible electrical connectors (21, 25, 26, 29, 30) are mounted within the unitary heat sink and connector housing (10, 10', 10', 10'') and provide a circuit interface between respective circuit elements or pads (13, 14) on the printed circuit boards (11, 12, 31) and/or flexible etched circuits (32), respectively. The unitary heat sink and connector housing (10, 10', 10', 10''), which preferably has heat-radiating fins (20), is made from a material which is thermally conductive but electrically non-conductive. Examples of such a material are anodized aluminum, silicon dioxide and beryllium oxide. Any suitable ceramic material could be used.

Combination heat sink and housing for flexible electrical connector used

A flexible electrical connector (16) provides a circuit interface between the bent leads (12) of an integrated circuit package (10) and the respective circuit pads (14) of a printed circuit board (15). The integrated circuit package (10) is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board (15), and the circuit interface has a substantially zero insertion force therebetween. The flexible electrical connector (16) has closely-spaced circuit traces (17) carried by an elastomeric core (18). The traces (17) accommodate the fine pitch of the leads (12) on the integrated circuit package (10); and the elastomeric core (18) provides a resilient 'cushion' which compensates for irregularities or tolerance accumulations in the bent leads (12) as well as the different lead-bending specifications of the respective integrated circuit manufacturers.

Electrical connections between printed circuit boards and integrated

A computer docking system (10, 10') has a computer (11, 11') provided with a guide housing (12, 12') within which a device (13, 13') is slidably inserted. In one embodiment, the device (13) carries a pair of manually-releasable spring-loaded latches (24, 25) pivotally mounted thereon about respective axes which are substantially perpendicular to the direction which the device (13) is slidably inserted into the guide housing (12) for engagement with respective hooks (36) on the computer (11). In another embodiment, the latches (51, 52) are pivotably mounted on the guide housing (12') about respective axes which are substantially parallel to the direction in which the device (13') is slidably inserted into the guide housing (12'). The guide housing (12') includes a fixed bottom portion (44) on which the latches (51, 52) are pivotably mounted, and further includes a spring-loaded movable top portion (45) receiving the device (13') and ultimately nested telescopically within the fixed bottom portion (44). In each embodiment, a substantially zero insertion force ('ZIF') is achieved between at least one flexible electrical connector (41, 57, 58) and a circuit pad (43, 60, 61) as the device (13, 13') is inserted into the guide housing (12, 12').

Computer docking system

The invention is directed to an electronic assembly, such as a backplane assembly of the type including a mother board, a connector housing mounted on the mother board, and a daughter board slidably insertable into the connector housing for electrical interconnection to the mother board. The assembly comprises an elongated connector housing having a pair of parallelly disposed spaced apart housing members defining at least one slot therebetween for receiving the daughter board. A force generating member is disposed within the slot, where the force generating members comprises a pair of resilient, essentially L-shaped members. One leg of each of the L-shaped members is fixedly disposed between the mother board and the housing members, while the others of the legs upstand within the slot in a spaced apart relationship to receive the daughter board therebetween, the upstanding legs including at least one pair of opposing elastomeric members to apply a compressive pressure to said daughter board. Further, a flexible circuit element is mounted on the force generating member and is operatively disposed to electrically interconnect the daughter board to the mother board. A preferred feature thereof is the provision of a camming means on the upstanding legs to allow insertion of the daughter board without causing damage to the circuitry on the flexible circuit element, preferable in the form of a flat film.

Backplane connector utilizing flexible film circuitry

A pair of printed circuit boards (11, 12) angularly converge towards each other about a pivot axis (13). Each of the boards (11, 12) carries a connector housing (16). The connector housings (16) are identical, but are inverted end-to-end with respect to each other, such that a plurality of hermaphroditic guide fingers (19) on one of the connector housings (16) will mesh with a complementary plurality of guide fingers (19) on the other connector housing (16). The meshing engagement of the guide fingers (19) provides a guide means and a stop means between the connector housings (16) and hence between the printed circuit boards (11, 12). Each of the identical connector housings (16) further has a flexible electrical connector (17), and the flexible electrical connectors (17) engage each other when the printed circuit boards (11, 12) are fully converged. Inclined surfaces (21, 22) on the meshing guide fingers (19) provide a self-alignment feature as the printed circuit boards (11, 12) and the connector housings (16) thereon are angularly converged. Preferably, each connector housing (16) has spaced-apart pairs of bifurcated latching fingers (23) such that the connector housing (16) is 'snapped' on to its respective printed circuit board (11, 12).

Interface system for angularly-converging printed circuit boards

A combination heat sink (18, 41, 43) and circuit interface comprises a metallic wafer (15) disposed between an integrated circuit (11) and a printed circuit board (14) in a land grid array package (10). A frame (13) for the integrated circuit (11) is nested within the heat sink (18, 41, 43) and a latch (30) is pivotably mounted on the frame (13) for retaining the overall package (10). The circuit interface comprises a plurality of flexible electrical connectors (19) mounted on the wafer (15).

Land grid array package

A pluggable connector system (10) has a male housing (11, 11', 11', 11'') snapped together with a female housing (12, 12', 12', 12'') thereby providing a quick-disconnect feature. One of the housings, or both, carries a flexible etched circuit (16). The flexible etched circuit (16) may engage another flexible etched circuit (16) or, via a suitable interface, may engage a printed circuit board (17) having at least one circuit pad (19) thereon. One embodiment of a suitable interface is a flexible electrical connector (21) having a plurality of circuit traces on an elastomeric core. In another embodiment, the flexible etched circuit (16) is backed up by resilient means (33, 35) and engages the circuit pad (19) directly. The means for releasably retaining the housings (11, 11', 11', 11'' and 12, 12', 12', 12'') comprises a pair of spring-loaded manually-releasable latches (24, 24', 25) or a pair of bifurcated latching ears (43, 44).

Pluggable connector systems for flexible etched circuits

The invention hereof relates to electronic apparatus, such as a computer docking connector. More particularly, the invention relates to a docking connector for edge mounting to a 'mother' board, where a 'daughter' board, memory card, or similar device is inserted into said connector to electrically interconnect the mother board to the inserted device. The apparatus comprises a pair of spring biased, hermaphroditic, resilient housing members, which when assembled define an elongated slot planarly aligned with an edge of the mother board. Opposed camming surfaces are provided with the slot to operatively spread the housing members upon insertion of the electronic device int the slot. Finally a flexible film member containing electrical circuitry thereon is mounted within the housing members for electrically interconnecting corresponding circuitry on the mother board and the electronic device.

Coplanar computer docking system

A compressible electrical connector (10) includes a rigid molded body (11) having elastomeric caps (19, 20) at the top (12) and bottom (13) thereof. A thin flexible film (21), provided with respective connector elements (22), is wrapped around the rigid molded body (11) and its caps (19, 20) and is retained by a film retaining plate (23). The film retaining plate (23) has a plurality of latching lances (24) received in corresponding mounting holes (30) formed transversely in the rigid molded body (11). A hot melt layer (36) is placed over the film retaining plate (23), and a plurality of compressible electrical connectors (10) are stacked side-by-side to form an array (35). The array (35) is disposed between a pair of PC boards or other electronic assemblies (39, 40) having respective circuit elements (37, 38). The height of the rigid molded body may be changed conveniently to readily accommodate different product applications.

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

David C Johnson