EP0425316A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric connector
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-10-26
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides an interposer (10) for electrically connecting two substrates (20,90) with high density interconnections The interposer (10) comprises an elastomeric material surrounding fine metal wires which extend through the elastomeric material (60). The elastomeric material (60) provides mechanical support and electrical isolation for the wires (40) which connect the two opposing surfaces (12,14) of the interposer with (10) mating substrates (20,90). One surface of the interposer (10) has grooves (70) cut into it which mechanically isolate the individual wires (40). This mechanical isolation between wires (40) reduces the stress placed on the substrates (20,90) from being connected when the interposer (10) is compressed between the substrates (20,90). The support given individual wires (40) by the elastomeric material (60) is controlled, by adjusting the spacing depth and widths of the grooves, to provide uniform compression across the substrates (20,90). Reducing the differentials in compression across the substrates reduces the stress on the substrates (20,90) and their connections, and therefore, maintains substrate reliability when the substrates (20,90) are exposed to extended time periods under compression.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Samuel Beaman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2414; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/611; H10W90/00; H10W90/401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A connector for providing individual electrical connections between terminal contacts on a first substrate and corresponding terminal contacts on a second substrate, said connector comprising a layer of elastomeric material formed on the first substrate with a plurality of electrical conductors preconnected to the terminal contacts on the first substrate and extending through to the surface of the elastomeric layer, the ends of the conductors at the surface of the layer being so disposed as to make contact with said corresponding terminal contacts on said second substrate when said second substrate is brought into intimate and aligned contact with said surface of the layer, a plurality of grooves being provided in said surface of the elastomeric layer between individual conductors to enable some unrestricted lateral deformation of elastomeric material surrounding individual conductors to occur during compression of the connector between the first and second substrate to enhance electrical connections therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A connector for providing individual electrical connections between terminal contacts on a first substrate and corresponding terminal contacts on a second substrate, said connector comprising a layer of elastomeric material formed on the first substrate with a plurality of electrical conductors preconnected to the terminal contacts on the first substrate and extending through to the surface of the elastomeric layer, the ends of the conductors at the surface of the layer being so disposed as to make contact with said corresponding terminal contacts on said second substrate when said second substrate is brought into intimate and aligned contact with said surface of the layer, a plurality of grooves being provided in said surface of the elastomeric layer between individual conductors to enable some unrestricted lateral deformation of elastomeric material surrounding individual conductors to occur during compression of the connector between the first and second substrate to enhance electrical connections therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection to the corresponding terminal contacts on the second substrate is made by means of ball shaped contacts attached to the ends of the electrical conductors which extend through to the surface of the elastomeric layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A connector as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2 wherein said plurality of electrical conductors extend substantially perpendicularly through said elastomeric layer with respect to said surface of the elastomeric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A connector as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said grooves have sidewalls substantially perpendicular to said surface of the elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A connector as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said grooves have tapered sidewalls and are widest at the surface of the elastomeric layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connector as claimed in any of claims 1, 2 or 5 wherein said grooves have at least one sidewall at a non-normal angle with respect to said surface of the elastomeric layer and said electrical conductors extend through said elastomeric layer at substantially said angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A connector as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the support given to said electrical conductors by said elastomeric layer is adjusted by selection of the widths and depths of the grooves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the relative disposition of the conductors, grooves and the terminal contacts on the second substrate is such that wiping action occurs between the ball shaped contacts and the terminal contacts upon compression of said elastomeric material between said first and second substrates.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for forming a connector on a first substrate for providing individual electrical connection between terminal contacts on the first substrate and corresponding terminal contacts on a second substrate when the second substrate and the connector are brought into intimate and aligned contact with each other, said method comprising the steps of: bonding the ends of U-shaped loops of metal wire to pairs of terminal contacts on the first substrate, said U-shaped loops extending outwardly from the terminal contacts on the first substrate; depositing a layer electomeric material on said first substrate, said elastomeric layer enclosing the linear section of said U-shaped loops of metal wires but not enclosing the curved sections of the loops; severing the curved section of the loops extending outwardly from the elastomeric layer; and providing grooves in the surface of the elastomeric layers said grooves being positioned between or around the metal wires to enable some unrestricted lateral deformation of elastomeric material surrounding individual conductors to occur during subsequent compression of the connector between the first and second substrate in order to enhance electric connection therebetween.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for forming a connector on a first substrate for providing individual electrical connection between terminal contacts on the first substrate and corresponding terminal contacts on a second substrate when the second substrate and the connector are brought into intimate and aligned contact with each other, said method comprising the steps of: bonding the ends of U-shaped loops of metal wire to pairs of terminal contacts on the first substrate, said U-shaped loops extending outwardly from the terminal contacts on the first substrate; depositing a layer electomeric material on said first substrate, said elastomeric layer enclosing the linear section of said U-shaped loops of metal wires but not enclosing the curved sections of the loops; severing the curved section of the loops extending outwardly from the elastomeric layer; and providing grooves in the surface of the elastomeric layers said grooves being positioned between or around the metal wires to enable some unrestricted lateral deformation of elastomeric material surrounding individual conductors to occur during subsequent compression of the connector between the first and second substrate in order to enhance electric connection therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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