Flexible area array connector

• US 5,007,842 A
• Filed: 10/11/1990
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Deak, Frederick R., Wrisley, David B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula A.
• Application Number:
  US07/596,163
• Time in Patent Office: 187 Days
• Field of Search: 439/66, 439/77, 439/245, 439/247, 439/248, 439/493, 439/591, 439/840, 439/65, 439/67
• US Class Current: 439/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2435 with opposite contact points, e.g. C beam
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

An area array connector (10) employs a flexible interconnect member (30) having electrical circuitry including contact pads (32) which are forced into electrical contact with conductive pads (42) and (52) on a pair of stacked substrates (40) and (50) by means of a canted coil spring (24) that is held in a force application plate (20).

Claims

1. A flexible area array connector for electrically connecting circuit pads on a pair of spaced substrates, said connector comprising:

a force application plate having a slot therethrough;

a spring member secured within said slot so as to extend beyond both surfaces of said plate;

a flexible interconnect member having conductive pads on a surface thereof;

said flexible member being folded around said force plate so that said conductive pads overlie said spring member on both surfaces of said plate; and

said flexible member and said force plate being disposed between substrates so that said conductive pads face circuit pads on the substrates.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said force application plate has insulative surfaces, and said flexible member is of insulative material.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein said force application plate is laminated and the portion of said slot in each lamina is dimensioned to capture said spring when the lamination is completed.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein said spring member is a canted coil spring having its long axis lying substantially along the long axis of said slot.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein said conductive pads on said flexible member are interconnected by circuitry carried by said flexible member.