Electronic device elastomeric mounting and interconnection technology

• US 5,186,632 A
• Filed: 09/20/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ritter, Mark B., Horton, Raymond R., Palmer, Michael J., Noyan, Ismail C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula A.
• Application Number:
  US07/762,977
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 439/59, 439/62, 439/65-67, 439/73, 439/74, 439/77, 439/91, 439/329, 439/493, 439/591, 439/629-631
• US Class Current: 439/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/023 Stackable modules

Abstract

An interconnecting and mounting technology involving the use of elastomeric properties. A mounting member grips, in a notch, the edge of a device supporting planar member with the device conductors brought to that edge. Conductors are provided at the surface of the mounting member, contacting the device conductors in the notch, and connecting with external wiring conductors on an external wiring planar member. The external wiring to device conductor interconnecting conductors can be on flex tape including elastomeric contact adaptation. Retention force for mounting member compression and mounting member to external wiring planar member retention is provided.

Claims

1. A structure comprising:

a body,

said body having at least one notch,

a flex tape member at least lining said notch,

said flex tape member having at least one conductor,

said flex tape member further having elastomeric properties,

at least one device supporting substrate,

said substrate having an edge with at least one device conductor at said edge,

said edge being inserted into said notch, and

said body being subjected to force operable to compress at least one flextape conductor into contact with at least one device conductor in said notch.

2. A structure comprising:

a plurality of bodies in superimposed relationship

said superimposed bodies positioned in contact with external wiring on a planar external wiring member,

each said body having at least one notch,

each said body having elastomeric properties at least in said notch,

at least one device supporting substrate having an edge with a device conductor at said edge and with said edge inserted into a notch,

at least one interconnecting conductor on flex tape lining each notch around the substrate edge and extending into an interface between said superimposed bodies and said planar external wiring member and into contact with said external wiring, and,

compression force on said superimposed bodies operable to compress said at least one conductor on said flex tape into contact with said at least one device conductor in each notch with a substrate edge and to compress at least one interconnecting conductor into contact with external wiring in said interface.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein each said interconnection conductor is unsupported by the insulating backing of said flex tape in the region of contact with at least one of said device conductors and said external wiring conductors.

4. The structure comprising in combination:

a device supporting planar member having device conductors extending to at least one contact location at an edge of said member,

a mounting member having a notch,

said edge being inserted into said notch,

an external wiring planar member with at least one external wiring conductor,

a flex tape having at least one interconnecting conductor,

said flex tape having at least one interconnecting conductor extending into said notch in contact with said at least one contacting location on said edge in said notch and in contact with said at least one external wiring conductor on said external wiring planar member,

said flex tape having elastomeric properties at least in said notch, and,

force applied to said mounting member and said external wiring planar member and operable for compression of said notch and retention of said mounting member on said external wiring support member.

5. A structure comprising in combination:

a plurality of device supporting planar members each having device conductors extending to at least one contact location at an edge of said member,

a plurality of superimposed mounting members each having a notch,

said edge of each said device supporting planar member being inserted into the notch in one of said superimposed mounting members,

an external wiring planar member with at least one external wiring conductor,

a flex tape having at least one interconnecting conductor,

said flex tape having at least one interconnecting conductor extending into said notch in contact with each said at least one contacting location on each said edge in the notch in each of said superimposed plurality of mounting members and in contact with said at least one external wiring conductor on said external wiring planar member,

force applied to said superimposed mounting members and said external wiring planar member and operable for compression of each said notch and retention of said superimposed mounting members on said external wiring support member.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said elastomeric properties are provided by said flex tape.

7. A structure comprising:

a body of elastomeric material,

said body having an approximately rectangular cross section,

said body further having first and second approximately parallel surfaces,

said body still further having a device substrate accomodating sized notch in the region of said elastomeric body between said surfaces,

said notch being approximately parallel to said surfaces and extending through a portion of said body,

at least one interconnection conductor supported by said body and at least extending into said notch and to an adjacent one of said surfaces, and,

pressure means compressing said body between said surfaces,

said pressure means being operable to deform said body and compress said notch.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein

said at least one interconnection conductor supported by said body and at least extending into said notch is, within said notch, unsupported by the insulating backing of said flex tape in the region of contact with at least one conductor on a device supporting substrate positioned within said notch.

9. The structure of claim 7 wherein said at least one interconnection conductor is on a flex tape.

10. The structure of claim 7 including said body being positioned on an external wiring planar member with said at least one interconnection conductor extending over the surface of said body to, and contacting at least one external wiring conductor on, said external wiring planar member.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein said contacting of said at least one interconnection conductor and said at least one external wiring conductor is in the interface between one of said surfaces of said body and said external wiring planar member and said pressure means to which said body is subjected is also operable to compress said interface between said body and said external wiring planar member.

12. The structure of claim 11 where said at least one interconnection conductor is on flex tape.

13. The structure of claim 7 wherein at least one said body is positioned on an external wiring planar member with said notch at an angle to the plane of said external wiring planar member.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said at least one interconnection conductor is on a flex tape.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein each said interconnection conductor is unsupported by the insulating backing in the region of contact with at least one of said device conductors and conductors on said external wiring planar member.