Flex circuit connector
First Claim
1. A flex circuit connector for interconnecting a pair of flex circuits each having a proximal end with exposed conductive contact pads thereon, the contact pads of each flex circuit exposed through openings in a layer of the flex circuit, said flex circuit connector comprising:
- a zebra terminal block having a body formed from a resilient insulative elastomer to define opposite side faces, and a plurality of conductive strips embedded within said body and having opposite edges exposed at said opposite side faces, said body defining insulative material circumscribing said conductive strips along an uninterrupted line at both of said opposite side faces; and
clamp means for clamping the proximal ends of the flex circuits in face-to-face relation in engagement with said opposite side faces of said body and with said contact pads in conductive engagement with said conductive strips, said body engaging each of said flex circuits in hermetically sealed relation along a line of contact circumscribing the contact pads.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector is provided for electrical connection to a flex circuit in a hermetically sealed manner. The flex circuit comprises thin film conductors encased between layers of insulative material, and including a proximal end with conductive contact pads exposed through one of the insulative layers. In a preferred form, the proximal ends of the two flex circuits are assembled in face-to-face relation and compressed by a clamp fixture against opposite side faces of a compressible terminal block. The terminal block is formed from a resilient insulative elastomer such as silicone rubber with embedded conductive strips having opposite edges exposed at the opposite side faces of the terminal block for electrically connecting aligned pairs of the contact pads on the two flex circuits. The exposed edges of the conductive strips are circumscribed by the insulative elastomer which engages the flex circuits with a footprint circumscribing the exposed contact pads, whereby the terminal block hermetically seals the interface between the conductive strips and the contact pads.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A flex circuit connector for interconnecting a pair of flex circuits each having a proximal end with exposed conductive contact pads thereon, the contact pads of each flex circuit exposed through openings in a layer of the flex circuit, said flex circuit connector comprising:
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a zebra terminal block having a body formed from a resilient insulative elastomer to define opposite side faces, and a plurality of conductive strips embedded within said body and having opposite edges exposed at said opposite side faces, said body defining insulative material circumscribing said conductive strips along an uninterrupted line at both of said opposite side faces; and clamp means for clamping the proximal ends of the flex circuits in face-to-face relation in engagement with said opposite side faces of said body and with said contact pads in conductive engagement with said conductive strips, said body engaging each of said flex circuits in hermetically sealed relation along a line of contact circumscribing the contact pads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A flex circuit connector for electrical and hermetically sealed connection to a flex circuit having a proximal end with a plurality of exposed contact pads thereon, the contact pads of each exposed through openings in a layer of the flex circuit, said flex circuit connector comprising:
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a terminal block having a body formed from a resilient insulative elastomer and a plurality of conductive strips embedded within said body, said conductive strips having edges exposed at one side face of said body, and said body defining insulative material circumscribing the exposed edges of said conductive strips at said one side face; and clamp means for clamping the proximal end of the flex circuit against said one side face of said body, with said contact pads respectively and conductively engaging said conductive strips, and with said body engaging the flex circuit in hermetically sealed relation along a line of contact circumscribing the contact pads. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A flex circuit connector for interconnecting a pair of flex circuits each having a proximal end with at least one exposed conductive contact pad thereon, the contact pads of each flex circuit exposed through openings in a layer of the flex circuit, said flex circuit connector comprising:
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a terminal block having a body formed from a resilient insulative elastomer to define opposite side faces, and at least one conductive strip embedded within said body and having opposite edges exposed at said opposite side faces, said body defining insulative material circumscribing said conductive strip along an uninterrupted line at both of said opposite side faces; and clamp means for clamping the proximal ends of the flex circuits in face-to-face relation in engagement with said opposite side faces of said body and with said contact pads in conductive engagement with said at least one conductive strip, said body engaging each of said flex circuits in hermetically sealed relation along a line of contact circumscribing the contact pads.
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Specification