Inter-member connection structure, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus including inter-member connection structure

• US 7,341,476 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soeta, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US11/421,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20060286857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 439492-499, 439/67
• US Class Current: 439/493
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/61 connecting to flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0311 Metallic part with specific elastic properties, e.g. bent piece of metal as electrical contact
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10265 Metallic coils or springs, e.g. as part of a connection element
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4015 using auxiliary conductive elements, e.g. pieces of metal foil, metallic spheres

Abstract

An inter-member connection structure is provided. The inter-member connection structure has a contact-attached sheet having spiral contactors and a flexible printed circuit having electrode portions thereon that face each other. An elastic member and a fixed member are installed on the contact-attached sheet, and both ends of the fixed member are fixed on the mother board by mounting members. As an elastic force is applied to the spiral contactor from the elastic member, the spiral contactor appropriately comes in contact with the electrode portion, and the contact-attached sheet and the flexible printed circuit can be securely supported on the board. A method of manufacturing an inter-member connection structure is provided.

Claims

1. An inter-member connection structure comprising:

a first member that has electrode portions formed thereon;

a contact member that has contacts formed on a surface of the contact member facing the electrode; and

a fixed member that is disposed on a surface opposite to the surface of the contact member facing the electrode portions and has both ends supported on the first member or another member different from the first member and the contact member,

wherein an elastic force is applied to the contacts of the contact member in a first member direction, and the contacts and the electrode portions are connected to each other,

wherein the fixed member comes into contact with at least a portion of the opposite surface of the surface of the contact member facing the electrode portions and the contacts are pressurized on the electrode portions when the elastic force is received from the fixed member in the first member direction,

wherein an elastic arm extending in the first member direction is installed in the contact, and the contact is pressurized on the electrode portion by the elastic force of the elastic arm in the first member direction, and

wherein the elastic arm extends from a base end to a front end in a spiral shape.

2. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 1,

wherein both ends of the fixed member are fitted into the first member or another member different from the first member and the contact member.

3. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 1,

wherein an elastic member is installed between the contact member and the fixed member, and

the contacts are pressurized on the electrode portions when the elastic force is received from the elastic member in the first member direction.

4. An electronic apparatus comprising the inter-member connection structure according to claim 1.

5. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 1,

wherein the first member and the contact member are adhesively fixed to each other.

6. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 1,

wherein the first member and the contact member are sticky fixed to each other.

7. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 1,

wherein the first member and the contact member are fixed together using a semi-permanent adhesion, and

wherein the contact member and first member are easily separated.

8. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second member that has electrode portions formed thereon,

wherein the contact member includes first contacts connected to the electrode portions of the first member and second contacts connected to the electrode portions of the second member, and

the first contacts and the second contacts are opposite to each other and connected to each other by conductive patterns.

9. The inter-member connection structure according to claim 8,

wherein the first member and/or the second member is a flexible printed circuit board.