Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

Morgan J Bradley

George R Schmedding

Douglas M Walburn

Robert M Renn

Robert D Irlbeck

David M Boyd

Richard A Stuckey

John W Jones

An interface for connecting co-planar printed circuit ('PC') boards (10,20) using a compressible circuit (50) for bridging the PC boards (10,20), a base (80) underlying the second PC board and integrally attached thereto, and a support housing (30) which sandwiches the compressible circuit (50) against the two PC boards (10,20). The compressible circuit (50) is insertable into the underside of the support housing (30) and may be electro-optically aligned therewith. The compressible circuit (50) is then staked to the support housing (30), and the support housing is mounted on the two PC boards (10,20). In order to mount the support housing (30) on the PC boards (10,20) with the requisite precision, the support housing (30) is provided with alignment means including resilient finger (39) on the underside, and the second PC board (20) is provided with cooperating guide tabs (25). The electro-optic alignment and attachment of the compressible circuit (50) with the support housing (30) together with the precise alignment of the support housing (30)over the two PC boards (10,20) insures a precision high-density interface.

Flex circuit interface for co-planar PCBs

An apparatus (25) and method for loading elliptically cross-sectioned canted contact springs (11) on to respective rows of U-shaped tabs (18) lanced out of a continuous strip (17) of relatively-thin flexible material.

Canted coil spring array and method for producing the same

A land grid array connector (10) includes a housing (20) and clamping lid (38) for interconnecting arrays of contact pads of a component (50) and the contact pads (14) of a circuit board (12) through a planar connector insert (50) having a plastic comb (51) with coil springs (72) threaded on teeth (54) of the comb and with plastic cross bars (60) threaded over the comb teeth to position the contact springs in rows compatible with the rows of contact pads. The cross bars and springs are alternated to define a planar structure with the springs on the centers to engage the pads of contacts when the insert is positioned within the connector and clamped to press the springs between the pads. A method of manufacture including the steps of assembly of comb, contact springs and cross bars and affixing the cross bars to the comb.

Land grid array connector and method of manufacture

An electrical connector for interconnecting the contact pads (52, 56) of components (49, 53) features a planar lamination of insulating sheets forming a body (39) having recesses (46, 48) and apertures (44) containing contacts (10) formed of flat metal stock having spring characteristics including spring elements (22, 26, 30, 36) which provide a redundancy of contact interface through extending upwardly and downwardly relatively to said lamination to engage and interconnect the contact pads. Each of the spring elements is attached to a contact base with a free end providing a cantilever spring action, including wipe of contact points.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Morgan J Bradley