Integrated connector module with conductive elastomeric contacts

• US 5,163,836 A
• Filed: 01/15/1992
• Issued: 11/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Char, Vigay, Young, Steven, Gilley, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US07/821,166
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 439/66, 439/67, 439/77, 439/493, 439/329, 439/79, 439/86, 439/91, 29/842, 29/846, 29/848, 29/849, 29/884
• US Class Current: 439/67
• 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 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process

Abstract

An electrical conductor that electrically couples a circuit board to another electrical device. The connector has a flexible circuit board with at least one electrical conductor that is attached to a flexible dielectric sheet. Attached to the electrical conductor is an electrically conductive elastomer adapted to engage conductive pads on the surface of the circuit board. The connector has a plate or other member that presses the conductive elastomer onto the conductive surface pads, creating an electrical path between the conductor and the circuit board. The conductor is attached to the electrical device, wherein the electrical device is electrically coupled to the circuit board.

Claims

1. An electronic card, comprising;

a printed circuit board having a plurality of conductive pads;

an electrical connector mounted onto said printed circuit board;

a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductors attached to a flexible dielectric sheet, said conductors having a first end and a second end attached to said electrical connector;

a plurality of conductive elastomeric strips attached to and carried by said first ends of said conductors and being constructed to provide an electrical path between said conductors and said conductive pads when pressure is applied to said conductive elastomeric strips, each elastomeric strip being separated by a space; and

,

pressure means for applying an operative pressure to said conductive elastomeric strips.

2. The electronic card as recited in claim 1, further comprising a seal that is attached to said conductive elastomeric strips and encloses said conductive elastomeric strips.

3. A method of removing a connector from a printed circuit board, comprising the steps of;

providing;

a printed circuit board having ak plurality of conductive pads;

an electrical connector mounted onto said printed circuit board;

a flexible circuit board having a plurality of conductors attached to a flexible dielectric sheet, said conductors having a first end and a second end attached to said electrical connector;

a plurality of conductive elastomeric strips attached to and carried by said first ends of said conductors and being constructed to provide an electrical path between said conductors and said conductive pads when pressure is applied to said conductive elastomeric strips, each elastomeric strip being separated by a space;

pressure means for applying an operative pressure to said conductive elastomeric strips;

disengaging said pressure means;

removing said conductive elastomeric strips from said conductive pads;

removing said electrical connector from said printed circuit board.