Interconnect device

• US 10,433,444 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2019
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vorbeck Materials
• Original Assignee: Vorbeck Materials
• Inventors: Lettow, John S, Brooks, Louise, Boehmcke, Paige J, Swope, Bretton, Nariyoshi, Robyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Varghese, Roshn K
• Application Number:
  US16/275,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20190254186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 148 Days
• Field of Search: 361749, 439 44, 439 47, 439 48, 439 49, 439 50, 439 51, 439 52, 439 53, 439 65, 439 67, 439 77
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/59 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/46 Clamping area between two screws placed side by side
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09036 Recesses or grooves in insulating substrate recess in metallic substrate H05K2201/09745
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10242 Metallic cylinders small solder preforms other than balls H05K2203/0415
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10295 Metallic connector elements partly mounted in a hole of the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10409 Screws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0008 assembled by screws
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0013 assembled by resilient members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, interconnect apparatuses are provided herein to couple flexible circuits to control circuits. In some embodiments, the apparatus can comprise a first portion housing a control circuit and a second portion conductively coupled to a flexible circuit. The second portion can comprise a first seat housing and a second seat housing, which together can form a housing around the flexible circuit. The control circuit can conductively couple to the flexible circuit when the first portion couples to the second portion. The flexible circuit can be included in an apparel item and comprise a conductive trace. The conductive trace can comprise a conductive composition. The first seat housing can comprise a lateral wall and a flange extending peripherally from the lateral wall. The flange can comprise a longitudinal co-extensive lateral recess flanking the flexible circuit.

Claims

1. An interconnect apparatus comprising

a first portion housing a control circuit;

a second portion conductively coupled to a flexible circuit, the second portion comprising a first seat housing and a second seat housing, the first seat housing coupled to the second seat housing thereby forming a housing around a portion of the flexible circuit, the control circuit conductively couples to the flexible circuit when the first portion couples to the second portion; and

wherein

the flexible circuit is included in an apparel item and comprises a conductive trace;

the control circuit comprises an electronic component conductively coupled to the conductive trace;

the conductive trace comprises a conductive composition;

the first seat housing comprising a lateral wall and a flange extending peripherally from the lateral wall; and

the flange comprising a longitudinal co-extensive lateral recess flanking the flexible circuit.

2. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive composition comprises a polymer and fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene.

3. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic component comprises at least one of a resistor, a transistor, a capacitor, an inductor, and a diode.

4. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the second portion comprises a guide, the guide comprises a conducting element;

the first seat housing comprises a void exposing a portion of the flexible circuit, the void configured to receive the guide; and

the conducting element conductively couples to the flexible circuit and the control circuit when the first portion couples to the second portion.

5. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first seat housing comprises a component extending vertically from a top surface of the first seat housing;

the component comprising a convexed outer lateral surface and a substantially planar inner lateral surface oriented superficially relative to a periphery of the first seat housing;

the first portion comprises a housing shell and a support plate, the housing shell selectively coupled to the support plate;

the housing shell comprises a shelf spaced laterally inward from a lateral wall of the housing shell thereby forming a front-to-rear gap therebetween;

the shelf receives the control circuit;

the component comprises a flange extending along a top periphery of the outer lateral surface; and

the flange is positioned on the shelf when the first portion engages the second portion.

6. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive trace is conductively coupled to an antenna element.

7. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises an antenna element.

8. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the first portion and the second portion comprise a first interengaging element and a second interengaging element, respectively;

and

the first interengaging element and the second interengaging element are configured to engage each other and thereby orient the first portion relative to the second portion.

9. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a sensor and is configured to:

capture, using the sensor, data associated with a molecule; and

one or more of detect and measure, using the data, a molecule.

10. The interconnect apparatus of claim 9, wherein the molecule comprises one or more of methane, propane, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water, and chlorine.

11. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a sensor and is configured to:

capture, using the sensor, proximity data of the control circuit relative to an object; and

determine, using the proximity data, a proximity of the control circuit relative to the object.

12. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the control circuit comprises a communication module that utilizes a communications protocol;

and

the control circuit is configured to communicate, using the communications module, with a second control circuit.

13. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion couple together via a snap action.

14. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1, where the first portion selectively couples to the second portion.