International Business Machines Corporation

Jrs Technology Inc.

Fletcher W Chapin

David W Dranchak

Thomas G Macek

Richard Ronald Hall

James R Petrozello

George J Saxenmeyer, Jr

David E Engle

Raymond A Busacco

Kishor V Desai

Robert H Katyl

Chi Shih Chang

Jaynal Abedin Molla

Alan D Knight

Robert D Topa

John R Susko

Robert M Murcko

John G Baumberger

Scott W Knauss

James R Bentlage

Rod A Smith

The present invention features an integrated, electronic fluorescent ballast fixture which includes an electronic ballast packaged with a set of fluorescent lamp connectors into an integral fixture. The fixture has a circuit board that selectably supports up to four fluorescent lamps. The housing of the fixture id configured to receive a number of lamp connectors. The connectors are electrically, connected to the circuit board use wire and poke-in type connectors. When used with conventional, straight fluorescent lamps, a second set of sockets at the far end of the lamps are also connected to the circuit board using wires received in poke-in connector on the circuit board. The integrated ballast package also works with U-shaped lamps. The housing of the fixture is shaped to accommodate projecting electronic ballast components attached to the circuit board. The transformers and transistors of the circuit board may be thermally sinked, so that their heat is carried to the housing by thermally conductive means. The housing consists of two halves that are assembled together with snap-in action latches, making the fixture quickly and easily fabricated. The ballast fixture can be used with a wide variety of light fixtures because of its modularity, affording a high degree of universality.

Ballast fixture for fluorescent lighting

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 connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., a circuit board and module), which, in one embodiment, includes a housing, at least one flexible circuit within the housing and a spring means attached to the flexible circuit at two spaced locations for exerting force against the flexible circuit to cause the circuit to engage respective conductive pads on the circuit members when the circuit members are moved toward each other (e.g., compressed). The shape of the spring means conforms substantially to the portion of the flexible circuit between the locations of attachment. In another embodiment, a connector for interconnecting such circuit members includes a housing adapted for being located between both members and at least one elongated, compressible contact member in the housing and including conductive end portions for engaging the circuit members. The contact occupies a first, prestressed position before engagement and is adapted for moving to a second, compressed position during the engagement. The conductive end portions of the flexible circuit in the first embodiment and the contact member in the second embodiment preferably comprise a plurality of dendrites for providing enhanced connections.

High density connector

A method of forming conductive end portions on a flexible circuit member having a dielectric layer (e.g., polyimide) with at least one conductive element (e.g., copper) thereon. The method comprises the steps of forming (e.g., punching) an opening through both dielectric and conductive element, providing (e.g., additive plating) an electrically conducting layer on the opening's internal surface, providing (e.g., electroplating) a plurality of dendritic elements on the conducting layer's surface, and thereafter removing (e.g., punching) a portion of the dielectric and conductive element such that the formed dendritic elements (e.g., palladium) project from the flexible circuit's conductive ends.

Method of forming a conductive end portion on a flexible circuit member

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., circuit module and printed circuit board) which assures highly reliable yet separable connections for these members. The connector includes an electrically insulative (e.g., plastic) frame which defines an internal opening therein. Bridging this opening are a plurality of individual, resilient contact members which are maintained in a suspended and spaced orientation within the opening by a plurality of pairs of elongated insulative members (e.g., polymer rods). Each of the contacts is thus readily removable from the connector's frame to thus facilitate repair and/or replacement. As described, the connector is capable of providing wiping connections, thus assuring removal of debris or other contaminants from the respective conductive pads for each circuit member. In another embodiment, the connector includes a common carrier (e.g., plastic) having therein a plurality of cylindrical shaped resilient contact members (e.g., silicone) which further include a quantity of conductive (e.g., metallic) particles therein. To assure a wiping form of engagement with the respective conductive pads, each of the terminal ends of each contact member preferably includes a plurality of dendritic, interdigitated members thereon.

An electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of circuit members (e.g., circuit module and printed circuit board) which assures highly reliable yet separable connections for these members. The connector includes an electrically insulative (e.g., plastic) frame which defines an internal opening therein. Bridging this opening are a plurality of individual, resilient contact members which are maintained in a suspended and spaced orientation within the opening by a plurality of pairs of elongated insulative members (e.g., polymer rods). Each of the contacts is thus readily removable from the conenctor's frame to thus facilitate repair and/or replacement. As described, the connector is capable of providing wiping connections, thus assuring removal of debris or other contaminants from the respective conductive pads for each circuit member. In another embodiment, the connector includes a common carrier (e.g., plastic) having therein a plurality of cylindrical shaped resilient contact members (e.g., silicone) which further include a quantity of conductive (e.g., metallic) particles therein. To assure a wiping form of engagement with the respective conductive pads, each of the terminal ends of each contact member preferably includes a plurality of dendritic, interdigitated members thereon.

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Vestal, NY, United States of America

Fletcher W Chapin