Surface connector with silicone spring member
First Claim
1. A contact structure comprising:
- a frame having a plurality of passages from a top of the frame to a bottom of the frame, each passage having an inside edge, wherein the frame is nonconductive;
a plurality of contacts, each contact having a dome-shaped top surface and located in one of the plurality of passages; and
a plurality of pliable membranes, each between an outside edge of one of the plurality of contacts and the inside edge of a passage such that at least a portion of a top surface and a portion of a bottom surface of the contact are exposed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Contact structures for devices, where contacts in the contact structures may provide a sufficient normal force to provide a good electrical connection with corresponding contacts while consuming a minimal amount of surface area, depth, and volume in a device, and where the contact structures may prevent or limit the ingress of fluid or debris into the device. On example may provide a contact structure having a frame. The frame may be arranged to be placed in an opening in a device enclosure for an electronic device or the frame may be part of the electronic device. The frame may include a number of passages, each passage for a contact of the contact structure. Each contact may be held to the frame by a pliable membrane. Each contact may connect to a board in the electronic device via a compliant conductive path.
32 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A contact structure comprising:
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a frame having a plurality of passages from a top of the frame to a bottom of the frame, each passage having an inside edge, wherein the frame is nonconductive; a plurality of contacts, each contact having a dome-shaped top surface and located in one of the plurality of passages; and a plurality of pliable membranes, each between an outside edge of one of the plurality of contacts and the inside edge of a passage such that at least a portion of a top surface and a portion of a bottom surface of the contact are exposed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A contact structure comprising:
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a frame having an outside edge and further having a plurality of passages from a top of the frame to a bottom of the frame, each passage having an inside edge; a plurality of contacts, each contact located in a passage and having a dome-shaped contacting surface; and a plurality of pliable membranes, each between an outside edge of one of the plurality of contacts and an inside edge of a passage such that at least a portion of a top surface and an extension of the contact are exposed, wherein the outside edge of each of the plurality of contacts and adjacent inside edges of the plurality of pliable membranes each comprise interlocking features that interlock to secure the plurality of contacts in the plurality of pliable membranes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing, the housing having an opening, the opening having an inside edge; and a contact structure located in the opening in the housing, the contact structure comprising; a frame having a plurality of passages from a top of the frame to a bottom of the frame, each passage having an inside edge; a plurality of contacts, each contact having a dome-shaped top surface and located in one of the plurality of passages; and a plurality of first pliable membranes, each between an outside edge of one of the plurality of contacts and the inside edge of a passage such that at least a portion of a top surface and a portion of a bottom surface of the contact are exposed, wherein an outside edge of each of the plurality of contacts and adjacent inside edges of the plurality of first pliable membranes each comprise interlocking features that interlock to prevent the plurality of contacts from being pushed out of the plurality of first pliable membranes. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification