Laminated electrical contact strip

• US 7,568,917 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Chou, George Jyh-Shann, Laub, Michael Fredrick, Hilty, Robert Daniel, Malstrom, Charles Randall, Wapenski, Peter David
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US12/013,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 439/66, 439/862, 439/885
• US Class Current: 439/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2435 with opposite contact points, e.g. C beam
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/085 Short circuiting bus-strips

Abstract

A laminated electrical contact strip includes a plurality of electrical contacts. Each electrical contact includes a pair of opposite first and second surfaces extending between a pair of opposite end portions. A pair of first and second dielectric layers are laminated over the plurality of electrical contacts such that the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts therebetween. The first dielectric layer is bonded to and covers a portion of the first surface of each of the electrical contacts. The second dielectric layer is bonded to and covers a portion of the second surface of each of the electrical contacts.

Claims

1. A laminated electrical contact strip comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact comprising a pair of opposite first and second surfaces extending between a pair of opposite end portions, the second surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts being configured to engage an elastomeric element at both of the end portions of the electrical contact; and

first and second dielectric layers laminated over the plurality of electrical contacts such that the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts therebetween, the first dielectric layer bonded to and covering a portion of the first surface of each of the electrical contacts, the second dielectric layer bonded to and covering a portion of the second surface of each of the electrical contacts.

2. The laminated electrical contact strip according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive joining the first and second dielectric layers to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the plurality of electrical contacts.

3. The laminated electrical contact strip according to claim 1, wherein the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts in a row such that the plurality of electrical contacts are spaced apart from each other within the row.

4. The laminated electrical contact strip according to claim 1, wherein the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts in a row such that the plurality of electrical contacts are spaced apart from each other within the row, the first and second dielectric layers comprising a mounting opening between two adjacent electrical contacts, the mounting opening being configured to receive an extension of a base to hold the laminated electrical contact strip on the base.

5. The laminated electrical contact strip according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts comprises an approximate C-shape.

6. An electrical contact strip assembly comprising:

a base having opposite first and second base surfaces;

a plurality of first elastomeric elements extending outwardly from the first base surface;

a plurality of second elastomeric elements extending outwardly from the second base surface; and

a laminated electrical contact strip held by the base, the laminated electrical contact strip comprising;

a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact comprising a pair of opposite first and second surfaces extending between a pair of opposite first and second end portions; and

first and second dielectric layers laminated over the plurality of electrical contacts such that the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts therebetween, the first dielectric layer bonded to and covering a portion of the first surface of each of the electrical contacts, the second dielectric layer bonded to and covering a portion of the second surface of each of the electrical contacts.

7. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6 wherein the second surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts engages a corresponding one of the first elastomeric elements at the first end portion, and the second surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts engages a corresponding one of the second elastomeric elements at the second end portion.

8. The electrical contact strip assembly according claim 6, wherein the base comprises a metallic material.

9. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6, wherein the laminated electrical contact strip further comprises an adhesive joining the first and second dielectric layers to the first and second surfaces, respectively, of the plurality of electrical contacts.

10. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts in a row such that the plurality of electrical contacts are spaced apart from each other within the row.

11. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts in a row such that the plurality of electrical contacts are spaced apart from each other within the row, the first and second dielectric layers comprising an opening between two adjacent electrical contacts, the base comprising an extension received within the opening.

12. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts comprises an approximate C-shape.

13. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of the first elastomeric elements is connected to a corresponding one of the second elastomeric elements.

14. The electrical contact strip assembly according to claim 6, wherein each of the first elastomeric elements is unitarily formed with a corresponding one of the second elastomeric elements.

15. The electrical contact strip according to claim 6, wherein the first elastomeric elements are spaced apart from each other along the base, a plurality of the first elastomeric elements being connected together by an elastomeric member.

16. An interposer for electrically connecting a pair of electrical components, said interposer comprising:

a substrate; and

an electrical contact strip assembly held by the substrate, the electrical contact strip assembly comprising;

a base having opposite first and second base surfaces;

a plurality of first elastomeric elements extending outwardly from the first base surface;

a plurality of second elastomeric elements extending outwardly from the second base surface; and

a laminated electrical contact strip held by the base, the laminated electrical contact strip comprising;

a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact comprising a pair of opposite first and second surfaces extending between a pair of opposite first and second end portions; and

first and second dielectric layers laminated over the plurality of electrical contacts such that the first and second dielectric layers hold the plurality of electrical contacts therebetween, the first dielectric layer bonded to and covering a portion of the first surface of each of the electrical contacts, the second dielectric layer bonded to and covering a portion of the second surface of each of the electrical contacts.

17. The interposer according to claim 16 wherein the second surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts engages a corresponding one of the first elastomeric elements at the first end portion, and the second surface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts engages a corresponding one of the second elastomeric elements at the second end portion.

18. The interposer according to claim 16, wherein the base comprises a metallic material.

19. The interposer according to claim 16, wherein the substrate comprises a metallic material.

20. The interposer according to claim 16, wherein the first elastomeric elements are spaced apart from each other along the base, two adjacent first elastomeric elements being connected together by a dielectric member.