Separable electrical interconnect with anisotropic conductive elastomer and adaptor with channel for engaging a frame

• US 7,520,761 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paricon Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Paricon Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Weiss, Roger E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Phuong K
• Application Number:
  US11/758,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 439/91, 439/71, 439/68, 439/591, 439/66, 361700-760, 361/764
• US Class Current: 439/91
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers

Abstract

A separable electrical connector for electrically interconnecting an electrical device to a substrate. In one embodiment, the connector includes an adapter board electrically connected to the substrate, the adapter board having electrical contacts on both sides, and a layer of ACE between the electrical device and the adapter board. A mechanical structure is used to apply a compressive force on the ACE through the adapter board and the electrical device. In another embodiment, the connector includes a translator board having electrical contacts on both sides and electrical circuits within to expand the footprint of the fine pitch electrical device to the coarser pitch of the substrate. The connector further includes a layer of ACE between the translator board and the substrate. In a further embodiment, the separable electrical conductor includes a layer of ACE coupled to a frame and an adaptor board that includes a channel sized and shaped to engage the frame, thereby reducing the profile of the connector. In another embodiment, the layer of ACE is coupled directly to the adaptor board, without the use of the frame, by means of an adhesive contained in the channel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrically coupling an electrical device to a substrate, comprising:

a frame defining an opening;

a first layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) coupled to the frame and spanning the opening; and

an adaptor board comprising a first side electrically coupled to the electrical device and a second side electrically coupled to the substrate, the second side having a channel sized and shaped to engage the frame;

wherein the frame is disposed in the channel, and the first layer of ACE is disposed between the second side of the adaptor board and the substrate to accomplish at least in part an electrical connection between the adaptor board and the substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second layer of ACE disposed between the first side of the adaptor board and the electrical device to accomplish at least in part an electrical connection between the adaptor board and the electrical device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a semiconductor chip.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the first side of the adaptor board and positioned to be aligned with a plurality of corresponding conductors on the electrical device, the electrical device having a first contact pitch; and

a second plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the second side of the adaptor board and positioned to be aligned with a plurality of corresponding conductors on the substrate, the substrate having a second contact pitch;

wherein a plurality of electrical circuits in the adaptor board are disposed between the first plurality of electrical contacts and the second plurality of electrical contacts and accomplish at least in part a translation from the first contact pitch of the electrical device to the second contact pitch of the substrate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first contact pitch differs from the second contact pitch.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second contact pitch is greater than the first contact pitch.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the second side of the adaptor board are aligned with the plurality of corresponding conductors on the substrate by one or more alignment pins.

8. An apparatus for electrically coupling an electrical device having a plurality of electrical conductors to a substrate having a plurality of electrical conductors, comprising:

a frame defining an opening;

a first layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) coupled to the frame and spanning the opening;

an adaptor board comprising a first side having a first plurality of electrical contacts positioned to be aligned with the plurality of electrical conductors on the electrical device, and a second side having a second plurality of electrical contacts positioned to be aligned with the plurality of electrical conductors on the substrate and a channel sized and shaped to engage the frame; and

a second layer of ACE disposed between the first side of the adaptor board and the electrical device, to accomplish at least in part an electrical connection between the electrical conductors of the electrical device and the first plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein the frame is at least partially contained in the channel, and the first layer of ACE is disposed between the second side of the adaptor board and the substrate to accomplish at least in part an electrical connection between the second plurality of electrical contacts and the electrical conductors of the substrate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adaptor board includes a plurality of electrical circuits disposed between the first plurality of electrical contacts and the second plurality of electrical contacts, to accomplish at least in part a translation from a first pitch of the electrical device to the second contact pitch of the substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first contact pitch differs from the second contact pitch.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second contact pitch is greater than the first contact pitch.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second plurality of electrical contacts on the second side of the adaptor board are aligned with the plurality of electrical conductors on the substrate by one or more alignment pins.