FLEX TO FLEX CONNECTION DEVICE

• US 20130323945A1
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hi Rel Connectors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hi Rel Connectors, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Willis, Esquivel, Derick
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/77
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/77 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/78 connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5208 having at least two cable receiving openings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement

Abstract

A mechanical device for electrically connecting a first flexible assembly to a second flexible assembly comprises a wafer and a housing. The wafer has an insulator core and a plurality of wafer electrical connectors. The core has a first base side and an opposed second base side. The wafer electrical connectors include a first set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the first base side and a second set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the second base side. The wafer electrical connector contacts are adapted to electrically connect with each of the flexible assembly electrical contacts. The housing retains the wafer, the first flexible assembly terminal, and the second flexible assembly terminal in such a way that each of the first flexible assembly electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to one of the wafer electrical connector contacts.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for flex to flex connection comprising:

a housing configured for electrically coupling a plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies, each one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies comprising a plurality of terminal end electrical contacts; and

a wafer with a first base side and an opposed second base side, said wafer comprising an insulator core with a plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts configured to electrically couple a first one of said plurality of terminal ends of said flexible assemblies at said first base side to a second one of said plurality of terminal ends of said flexible assemblies at said second base side, wherein each of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts comprises a first plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on said first base side and a second plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on said second base side, wherein each one of said first plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of said second plurality wafer electrical connector contacts, wherein said wafer further comprises an interfacial seal and a circumferential double ended grounding pad on each of said first base side and said second base side.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more gaskets configured to be placed between an inside wall of said housing and a terminal end of a flexible assembly.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts comprises pins.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts is a socket and a corresponding one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is a pin configured to tightly couple with said socket.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is replaceable.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a top cover and a bottom cover, said top cover configured to be secured to said bottom cover using reversible fasteners.

7. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said insulator core comprises hermetic glass.

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies comprises a terminal end of a first flexible assembly and a terminal end of a second flexible assembly.

9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein a first one of said wafer is configured to be placed between a first one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies and a second one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies, and a second one of said wafer is configured to be placed between said second one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies and a third one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies.

10. A connector assembly for connecting flexible assemblies comprising:

a housing configured for coupling a plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies in a stackable configuration, wherein each one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies comprising a plurality of terminal end electrical contacts; and

at least one wafer, each of said wafer configured to be located between each pair of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies, said wafer comprising;

a first base side and an opposed second base side;

an insulator core with a plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts configured to electrically couple a first one of said plurality of terminal ends of said flexible assemblies at said first base side to a second one of said plurality of terminal ends of said flexible assemblies at said second base side, wherein each of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts comprises a first plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on said first base side and a second plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on said second base side, wherein each one of said first plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of said second plurality wafer electrical connector contacts;

an interfacial seal on each of said first base side and said second base side; and

a circumferential double ended grounding pad on each of said first base side and said second base side.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, further comprising one or more gaskets configured to be placed between an inside wall of said housing and a terminal end of a flexible assembly.

12. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein a terminal end electrical contact of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts is a socket when a corresponding one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is a pin, and said terminal end of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts is a pin when said corresponding one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is a socket.

13. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein each one of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts is a socket and a corresponding one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is a pin configured to tightly couple with said socket.

14. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein each one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is replaceable.

15. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said housing comprises a top cover and a bottom cover, said top cover configured to be secured to said bottom cover using reversible fasteners.

16. A connector assembly for connecting flexible assemblies comprising:

a housing configured for coupling a plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies in a stackable configuration, wherein each one of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies comprising a plurality of terminal end electrical contacts; and

at least one wafer, each of said wafer configured to be located between each pair of said plurality of terminal ends of flexible assemblies, said wafer comprising;

a first base side and an opposed second base side; and

an insulator core with a plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts configured to electrically couple a first one of said plurality of terminal ends of said flexible assemblies at said first base side to a second one of said plurality of terminal ends of said flexible assemblies at said second base side, wherein one or more of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts comprises a pin with a first exposed end at said first base side and a second exposed end at said second base side, wherein said first exposed end of said pin is configured to mechanically and electrically couple to a corresponding one of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts at said first base side and said second exposed end of said pin is configured to mechanically and electrically couple to a corresponding one of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts at said second base side, wherein said insulator core comprises hermetic glass.

17. The connector assembly of claim 16, further comprising one or more gaskets configured to be placed between an inside wall of said housing and a terminal end of a flexible assembly.

18. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein a terminal end electrical contact of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts is a socket when a corresponding one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is a pin, and said terminal end of said plurality of terminal end electrical contacts is a pin when said corresponding one of said plurality of wafer electrical connector contacts is a socket.

19. The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein said housing comprises a top cover and a bottom cover, said top cover configured to be secured to said bottom cover using reversible fasteners.

20. (canceled)