Other

3m Innovative Properties Company

Frank E Bumb, Jr

Geoffrey W Gates

Alexander R Mathews

John W Sloan

Kwang-Ho Chu

John S Burg

Ronald K Revell

Nicholas Langston, Sr

Steven R Brindle

David C Good

Apparatus to electrically connect a first electrical contact to a second electrical contact includes opposed upper and lower elastomer layers formed on either side of an electrically insulating intermediate layer together forming a laminate interposer structure having a thickness. An electrically conducting elastic column to provide a localized conductive path is formed through the thickness of the laminate interposer structure. The upper and lower elastomer layers provide compliance between the upper and lower elastomer layers and the elastic column, and the intermediate layer provides reduced compliance between the intermediate layer and the elastic column relative to the compliance between the upper and lower elastomer layers and the elastic column.

Compliant interconnect apparatus with laminate interposer structure

A compliant interconnect assembly to electrically connect a first electronic device to a second electronic device comprises a contact set including an electrically insulating flexible film having at least one conductive contact suspended therein. The interconnect assembly also includes a compressible interposer as an electrically insulating elastomer sheet matrix for at least one electrically conducting elastic column to provide a localized conductive path through the thickness of the elastomer sheet. The electrically conducting elastic column comprises a central pillar of conductive spheroidal particles having a first average particle size. The central pillar has a first end opposite a second end. At least the first end has a particulate cap bonded to it including particles having a second average particle size that is less than the first average particle size. The compliant interconnect assembly is formed when the contact set lies adjacent to the compressible interposer to provide engagement between the at least one conductive contact and the at least one conducting elastic column for electrically connecting the first electronic device and the second electronic device abutting opposite sides of the compliant interconnect assembly.

Low contact force, dual fraction particulate interconnect

A contact set and compressible interposer, methods for producing them and a compliant interconnect assembly for providing electrical connection of a first electronic device to a second electronic device. The compliant interconnect assembly comprises a contact set and a compressible interposer. The contact set includes an electrically insulating, flexible film with at least one conductive contact suspended therein to provide an electrically conductive path through the film. Formation of at least one de-coupling hole in the flexible film, close to a conductive contact, further contributes to independent movement of the conductive contact. A compressible interposer in the form of an electrically insulating elastomer matrix, surrounding electrically isolated conducting elastic columns, provides a localized conductive path through the thickness of the elastomer sheet. The compliant interconnect assembly forms when a contact set lies adjacent to a compressible interposer with engagement between at least one conductive contact and at least one conducting elastic column.

Compliant interconnect assembly

An apparatus for testing a device including a plurality of elements each having contact surface and a non-contact surface, the apparatus comprising a base for holding the device, the base having a contact surface engageable with the contact surface of each element, an actuator, a plurality of compliant members carried by the actuator to engage the non-contact surface of each element, each compliant member further including an aspect ratio of at least 1:1, and means for exerting a force against the actuator, the aspect ratio for allowing the compliant members to compensate for physical variations of the elements, provide compliance between the apparatus and the elements and substantial coplanarity between the contact surface of each element and the contact surface of the base while allowing a sufficient focusing of force by the compliant members against the non-contact surface of each element to provide contact between the contact surface of each element and the contact surface of the base without damaging the elements.

Apparatus and method for testing a device

System and method for monitoring occupancy and status of restaurant tables to minimize the time each table is unoccupied. The system includes a processor unit coupled by means of serial data buses to a host unit and a plurality of service units. The host unit includes separate push buttons, or 'table buttons', which correspond, respectively, to tables within a particular service area of the restaurant. The processor unit computes and stores the status of each table in the restaurant. The processor periodically computes and transmits display information representative of the updated status of the tables to the host unit and the service units. Such display information for a particular table is utilized at both the host station and the appropriate service station to illuminate or flash the table buttons in such a manner as to indicate the present status of the corresponding tables to restaurant personnel. The table status for a particular table is updated by depressing the corresponding table button of either the host station or a service station. The table button thereby closes a switch, which causes switch closure information to be transmitted to the processor unit. The processor unit computes updated status information in response to the switch closure information received from the host unit or service unit and stores the updated table status in a memory of the processor unit. The updated status information is subsequently transmitted to the appropriate service unit and the host unit to illuminate or flash the appropriate table buttons in such a manner as to indicate the updated table status to restaurant personnel.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Frank E Bumb, Jr