Compression connector

Abstract

A connector utilized to electrically connect together conductive pads disposed on different substrates includes a flexible substrate having a plurality of conductive through-holes therein. A conductive line formed in the flexible substrate extends between at least two of the conductive through-holes. A plurality of contacts are mounted in the conductive through-holes of the flexible substrate. Each contact includes a post connected to a base of a crown-shaped head having a plurality of projections around the periphery of the base that extend away from the base in the direction opposite the post. The post of each contact is soldered into one of the plurality of conductive through-holes. A compression mat positioned on a side of the flexible substrate opposite the crown-shaped heads includes a plurality of resilient cylinders that extend away from a resilient base. Each resilient cylinder has a distal end alignable in registration with a distal end of the post of one of the plurality of contacts. A compression fitting is positionable adjacent the resilient base of the compression mat. The compression fitting co-acts with one of the substrates to apply a clamping force therebetween that urges a projection of each contact into electrical contact with one of the conductive pads.