Cable connector incorporating anisotropically conductive elastomer

• US 20050101167A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paricon Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Paricon Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Weiss, Roger E., Barnum, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,223,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/91
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/007 for elastomeric connecting elements

Abstract

A separable electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting the conductors of one multi-conductor cable to the conductors of a second electrical device that may be an electrical device such as a chip, or a second multi-conductor cable, or a flexible or rigid printed circuit board. The connector includes a layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) in electrical contact with the conductors of the cable and the conductors of the second electrical device. A clamp or another type of mechanical device compresses the ACE, to provide electrical signal paths between the conductors of the cable and the second electrical device, through the ACE.

Claims

1. A separable electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting the conductors of one multi-conductor cable to the conductors of a second multi-conductor cable, comprising:

a layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) in electrical contact with the conductors of both of the cables; and

means for compressing the ACE, to provide electrical signal paths between the conductors of the cables through the ACE.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 in which at least one cable is a ribbon cable.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2, further comprising a paddle board directly connected to the conductors of the ribbon cable, with the ACE layer against the paddle board.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3 in which both cables are ribbon cables.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4, further comprising a paddle board directly connected to the conductors of each of the ribbon cables, with the ACE layer against both paddle boards.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1 in which at least one cable is a flex cable.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 in which both cables are multi-axial cables each comprising at least two spaced coaxial conductors.

10. The electrical connector of claim 9 in which the ACE lies directly against the conductors of both cables.

11. The electrical connector of claim 9 further comprising printed circuit boards directly connected to the conductors of each of the cables, with the ACE layer against both boards.

12. The electrical connector of claim 10 in which the means for compressing the ACE comprises mounting sleeves coupled to both cables.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12 in which the means for compressing further comprises a clamp assembly coupled to the mounting sleeves.

14. The electrical connector of claim 12 in which the mounting sleeves are made by potting the ends of the cables in a settable medium.

7. The electrical connector of claim 7 in which both cables are flex cables.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7 in which the conductors of both flex cables are on the surfaces of the cables, and terminate in pads that face one another in the connector, the ACE lying directly against the pads of both cables.

15. A separable electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting the conductors of a ribbon cable to the conductors of a second electrical device, comprising:

a layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) in electrical contact with the conductors of both the cable and the second electrical device; and

means for compressing the ACE, to provide electrical signal paths between the conductors of the cable and the conductors of the second electrical device through the ACE.

16. The electrical connector of claim 15 in which the second electrical device is a printed circuit board (PCB).

17. The electrical connector of claim 16 in which the second electrical device is a second ribbon cable.

18. A separable electrical connector for separably, electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flex cable to the conductors of a second electrical device, comprising:

a layer of anisotropic conductive elastomer (ACE) in electrical contact with the conductors of both the cable and the second electrical device; and

means for compressing the ACE, to provide electrical signal paths between the conductors of the cable and the conductors of the second electrical device through the ACE.

19. The electrical connector of claim 18 in which the second electrical device is a printed circuit board (PCB).

20. The electrical connector of claim 18 in which the second electrical device is a ribbon cable.