Interconnecting assembly with conductive lever portions on a support film

• US 7,914,296 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exatron, Inc,
• Original Assignee: Exatron, Inc,
• Inventors: Howell, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/652,685
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 439/67, 439/66, 439/65, 439/74
• US Class Current: 439/67
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06716 Elastic
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06727 Cantilever beams
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06738 related to tip portion
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/07378 using an intermediate adapter, e.g. space transformers G01R1/07371 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/72 Detachable connecting means consisting of mechanical auxiliary parts connecting the device, e.g. pressure contacts using springs or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0221 Insulating particles having an electrically conductive coating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0373 Conductors having a fine structure, e.g. providing a plurality of contact points with a structured tool providing micro- or nanometer scale roughness on a metal surface H05K2203/0307
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10378 Interposers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/068 Features of the lamination press or of the lamination process, e.g. using special separator sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4092 Integral conductive tabs, i.e. conductive parts partly detached from the substrate

Abstract

The invention provides an interconnecting assembly including a main structure having first and second portions, an inner terminal on the main structure, a support film having first and second portions, an inner contact and outer terminal formed on opposing sides of the support film, a conductive lever portion on the support film and connecting the inner contact and outer terminal, wherein the inner contact contacts the inner terminal and the first portions are moved relatively towards one another so that the second portion of the film is pivoted together with the conductive lever portion and the outer terminal away from the second portion of the main structure, the outer terminal being depressible towards the main structure from a first position to a second position and returning to the first position when a force depressing the outer terminal is removed.

Claims

1. An interconnecting assembly comprising:

a main structure having first and second portions;

an inner terminal on the main structure;

a compliant support film having first and second portions;

an inner contact and outer terminal formed on opposing sides of the support film;

a conductive lever portion on the support film and connecting the inner contact and outer terminal; and

at least one step with the first portions on a first side of the step and the second portions on a second side of the step opposing the first side of the step, wherein the inner contact contacts, the inner terminal and the first portions are moved relatively towards one another so that the second portion of the film is pivoted together with the conductive lever portion and the outer terminal about the step away from the second portion of the main structure, the outer terminal being depressible towards the main structure from a first position to a second position and returning to the first position when a force depressing the outer terminal is removed.

2. The interconnecting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive between the first portions to attach the first portion to one another.

3. The interconnecting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a metal support on the support film, the adhesive attaching both the metal support and the first portion of the support film to the main structure, the first portion of the support film being depressed in an area between the metal support and the inner terminal.

4. The interconnecting assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner contact and the inner terminal form an interference fit.

5. The interconnecting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an outer via connecting the conductive lever portion to the outer terminal.

6. The interconnecting assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of inner contacts and outer terminals formed on the opposing sides of the support film, and

a plurality of lever portions on the support film and connecting a respective one of the inner contacts on a respective one of the outer contacts.

7. The interconnecting assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of inner terminals, wherein each inner contact contacts a respective inner terminal and the first and second portions are moved relatively towards one another so that the second portion of the film is pivoted together with the conductive portions and the outer terminals away from the second portions of the main structure.

8. A method of making an interconnect assembly, comprising:

positioning an inner contact on an inner terminal;

moving a first portion of a compliant support film on which the inner contact is formed relatively towards a first portion of a main structure on which the inner terminal is formed so that a second portion of the film pivots together with an outer terminal and a conductive lever portion connecting the outer terminal to the inner contact away from a second portion of the main structure; and

attaching the first portions to one another.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first portions are attached by an adhesive.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

simultaneously applying heat and pressure to the adhesive to soften the adhesive; and

allowing the adhesive to cool.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure is applied with a shaping tool, further comprising:

securing the shaping tool t the main structure before allowing the adhesive to cool; and

removing the shaping tool from the main structure after the adhesive is allowed to cool.