Flex to flex connection device

• US 8,529,277 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HIREL Connectors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hi Rel Connectors, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Willis, Esquivel, Derick
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US13/398,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 439/67, 439/74, 439/75, 439/492, 439/493, 439/494, 439/495, 439/498, 439/329, 439/499, 439/369, 439/638, 439650-655
• US Class Current: 439/75
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/77 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/78 connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5208 having at least two cable receiving openings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62 Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement

Abstract

A mechanical device for electrically connecting a first flexible assembly to a second flexible assembly comprises a wafer and a housing. The wafer has an insulator core and a plurality of wafer electrical connectors. The core has a first base side and an opposed second base side. The wafer electrical connectors include a first set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the first base side and a second set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the second base side. The wafer electrical connector contacts are adapted to electrically connect with each of the flexible assembly electrical contacts. The housing retains the wafer, the first flexible assembly terminal, and the second flexible assembly terminal in such a way that each of the first flexible assembly electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to one of the wafer electrical connector contacts.

Claims

1. A mechanical device for electrically connecting a first flexible assembly to a second flexible assembly, wherein the first flexible assembly comprises a first flexible assembly terminal end having a plurality of first flexible assembly electrical contacts and the second flexible assembly comprises a second flexible assembly terminal end having a plurality of second flexible assembly electrical contacts, the invention comprising:

(a) a wafer comprising an insulator core and a plurality of wafer electrical connectors, the core having a first base side and an opposed second base side, the wafer electrical connectors comprising a first set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the first base side and a second set of wafer electrical connector contacts exposed on the second base side, each electrical contact in the first set of wafer electrical connector contacts being electrically connected to a corresponding electrical contact in the second set of wafer electrical connector contacts, each wafer electrical connector contact being sized and dimensioned to electrically connect with a first flexible assembly electrical contact or a second flexible assembly electrical contact;

(b) a housing for accepting and retaining (i) the wafer, (ii) the first flexible assembly terminal end disposed adjacent to the first base side of the wafer, and (iii) the second flexible assembly terminal end disposed adjacent to the second base side of the wafer, such that each of the first flexible assembly electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to the first set of wafer electrical connector contacts and each of the second flexible assembly electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to the second set of wafer electrical connector contacts; and

a hermetic glass insulator or other insulator disposed within the wafer between the first and second flexible assemblies, a circumferential double ended grounding pad for surrounding the terminal ends of both flexible assemblies and an interfacial seal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a first spacer and a second spacer, the first spacer being located between the housing and the first flexible assembly, and the second spacer being located between the housing and the second flexible assembly.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises grommets.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the wafer electrical connectors are pins.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the pins are spaced equally apart across the wafer.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of first flexible assembly electrical contacts and the plurality of second flexible assembly electrical contacts are sized and dimensioned to electrically connect with the pins.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a top cover and a bottom cover, the top cover being secured to the bottom cover by reversible fasteners.