ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS TO CONDUCTORS HAVING THIN FILM INSULATION

• US 3,818,415 A
• Filed: 02/16/1973
• Issued: 06/18/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Henry Zimmerman, William Robert Evans
• Original Assignee: Richard Henry Zimmerman, William Robert Evans
• Inventors: Evans, William Robert, Zimmerman, Richard Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tremblay, Richard P.
• Application Number:
  US05/333,242
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 339/97R,97P,98,99R,95R,95P,278C,278R,17F
• US Class Current: 439/393
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2412 actuated by insulated cams or wedges
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2491 the contact members penetrating the insulation being actuated by conductive cams or wedges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/182 associated with components mounted in the printed circuit board, e.g. insert mounted components [IMC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0209 Inorganic, non-metallic particles
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/091 Locally and permanently deformed areas including dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1059 Connections made by press-fit insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10727 Leadless chip carrier [LCC], e.g. chip-modules for cards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0058 Laminating printed circuit boards onto other substrates, e.g. metallic substrates H05K1/0281 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/241 characterised by the electroplating method; means therefor, e.g. baths or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/326 the printed circuit having integral resilient or deformable parts, e.g. tabs or parts of flexible circuits H05K3/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4007 Surface contacts, e.g. bumps H05K3/4092 takes precedence; deposition of finish layers on pads H05K3/24; forming solder bumps H05K3/3457

Abstract

An electrical connection with a conductor having an extremely thin film type insulating covering thereon is formed by providing a terminal having a contact surface to which there is adhered fine particles of grit which are covered by a thin coating of a soft metal. The connection is made by sliding the conductor relatively over the terminal so that the film is scored and the metallic conductor is exposed. Contact between the terminal and the conductor is established through the soft metal which occupies the space between the conductor and the terminal surface.

Claims

2. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 1, said coating of said soft conductive metal being of tin.

3. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 1, said conductor member comprising a flat ribbon-like metallic conductor.

4. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 1, said conductor member comprising a round wire, said terminal member comprising a hollow cylinder, said contact surface being on the interior of said cylinder, said wire extending into the interior of said cylinder, said clamping means comprising a member inserted into said cylinder.

5. An electrical connection between a conductor member and a terminal member, said conductor member comprising a metallic conductor having a thin polymeric coating thereon, said terminal member having a contact zone, said contact zone comprising a conductive metal substrate, an electrodeposited first coating of a hard conductive metal in said substrate, discrete particles of an abrasive material embedded in and extending beyond said first coating, and an electrodeposited second coating of a soft conductive metal extending continuously over said first coating and blanketing said particles, said conductor member being against said contact zone, said polymeric coating being scored as a result of having been slid relatively over said contact surface, said coating being broken in discrete areas and said metallic conductor in said areas being in electrical contact with said first coating, and clamping means holding member against said contact zone.

6. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 5, said firsT coating being of nickel.

7. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 5, said second coating being of tin.

8. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 5, said first coating being of nickel, said second coating being of tin.

9. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 5, said conductor member comprising a flat ribbon-like conductor.

10. An electrical connection as set forth in claim 5, said conductor member comprising a round wire, said terminal member comprising a hollow cylinder, said contact zone comprising the interior surface of said cylinder said wire extending into said cylinder, said clamping means comprising a member inserted into said cylinder.

11. An electrical terminal means intended for connection to a conductor member, said conductor member comprising a metallic conductor having a thin polymeric coating thereon, said terminal member comprising:

a contact surface having thereon discrete fine particles of abrasive material, said particles covering a minor portion of said contact surface, and an electro-deposited coating of a soft conductive metal extending continuously over said surface and blanketing said particles whereby, upon positioning said conductor member against said surface and sliding said conductor member relatively over said contact surface, said particles penetrate said polymeric coating and said coating is broken, and electrical contact is established between said metallic conductor and said contact surface.