The Whitaker Corporation

Amp LLC

Warren A Bates

Keith L Volz

David C Johnson

Frederick R Deak

Robert M Renn

Robert D Irlbeck

Douglas M Walburn

Donnie B Collins

Charles P Brooks

Robert Dumas

Daniel C Lineberry

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

An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing having a slot and an elastomeric connector of uniform width disposed in the slot. The slot has a primary section with a width dimensioned such that the elastomeric connector is held relatively loosely in the primary section, and a reduced width section wherein the elastomeric connector is held relatively securely by an interference fit,

Retention of elastomeric connector in a housing

A connector (10) including a PC board (12) which is fastened to a block (30) and presses against an elastomeric electrical component (40). Electrical device (20) includes a circuit trace (23) and printed circuit board (12) includes a circuit trace (13) which both engage a flexible film circuit (42) on the elastomeric electrical connector (40). Wedge member (50) engages a bottom edge (40b) of elastomeric electrical component (40) for biasingly engaging the component (40) and urging the component (40) and flexible circuit (42) towards and against circuit traces (13,23). Additionally, good electrical contact and compliance to planar irregularities are maintained between circuit traces (13,23) and flexible film circuit (42) thereby ensuring good electrical contact therebetween.

Right angle electrical connector

This invention is directed to an improved elastomeric connector. The connector typically includes an elongated elastomeric core, having a substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, and a flexible film having electrical circuitry thereon for electrically interconnecting a pair of members having complementary electrical circuitry on its surface. The flexible film is wrapped about and supported by the elastomeric core to form the connector. In use the connector may be subjected to a compressive force to effect the electrical interconnection. The improved feature hereof is the provision of the wrapped and supported film defining a predetermined planar area, and that the area of the elastomeric core within the planar area is no more than about 90% of the planar area. The elastomeric core may assume a variety of regular or irregular cross sections under the guidelines of this invention, provided, however, there is sufficient peripheral support to the overlying flexible film at the location(s) for electrically interconnecting to the planar electronic devices.

Elastomeric connector having increased compression range

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

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

A compressible connector assembly which employs a plurality of discrete compressible connectors (10-1 . . .n) bonded together in an array and arranged within a simplified frame housing (12). The bonded structure securely adheres discrete compressible connectors (10-1 . . .n) together using intermediate spacers (14-1 . . .n) which minimize the risk of shorts. In addition, the connector assembly eliminates the expensive conventional molded framework (FIG. 1 ) which is required in existing compressible connector assemblies, and it facilitates close-pitch connections having tighter centerlines than possible in the prior art.

Laminated surface mount interconnection system

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 zero insertion force ('ZIF') electrical connector for mating the card edge of a daughter-board (7) orthogonally with respect to the surface of a mother-board (5). The connector includes a stacked plurality of compressible electrical contacts (30-1 . . . n, 32-1 . . . n) separated by a plurality of insulating plates (40-1 . . . n, 42-1 . . . n). End caps (26) are anchored to the mother-board (5) and mount the compressible electrical contacts (30-1 . . . n, 32-1 . . . n) and insulating plates (40-1 . . . n, 42-1 . . . n) in a stacked array with each compressible electrical contact (30-1 . . . n, 32-1 . . . n) bridging the junction of the mother-board (5) and daughter-board (7). This way, the array of compressible electrical contacts (30-1 . . . n, 32-1 . . . n) cumulatively complete multiple rows of high-density electrical connections between the mother-board (5) and daughter-board (7).

Multi-row right angle connectors

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 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.

Compressible electrical connectors for large board spacings

A connector body (10 10', 10') is mounted on a mother board (11) and has a compressible electrical connector (15). A daughter board (22) is slidably inserted into the connector body (10, 10', 10') perpendicularly of the mother board (11). A deflection means (34, 56) engages a side of the daughter board (22) and deflects the daughter board (22) away from the compressible electrical connector (15) to prevent damage thereto after the daughter board (22) is slidably inserted. When the daughter board (22) is fully inserted, a retaining means 28, 43, 69) exerts a lateral clamping force on the daughter board (22).

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Warren A Bates