US4636019A — Connector mechanisms

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

A zero insertion force connector mechanism releasably electrically interconnecting two structures, each said structures carrying conducting lines, said connector mechanism comprising: a common actuator means mounted on a second of said two structures so as to have one degree of freedom of movement only relative thereto between a first position and a second position, said common actuator locking said two structures in fixed relationship to each other, when in an engaged juxtaposition; first contact means electrically connected to said conducting lines on a first of said two structures and fixed relative to said first structure; a flexible conductive film forming part of said second structure and incorporating at least extensions of said conducting lines thereon; second contact means electrically connected to said conducting line extensions in said flexible conductive film and being carried by said common actuator means and being capable of independent orthogonal motion with two degrees of freedom relative to said first contact means by movement of said common actuator means, from its first to its second position while said first and second structures are maintained in an engaged juxtaposition.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 182 words

A zero insertion force connector mechanism releasably electrically interconnecting two structures, each said structures carrying conducting lines, said connector mechanism comprising: a common actuator means mounted on a second of said two structures so as to have one degree of freedom of movement only relative thereto between a first position and a second position, said common actuator locking said two structures in fixed relationship to each other, when in an engaged juxtaposition; first contact means electrically connected to said conducting lines on a first of said two structures and fixed relative to said first structure; a flexible conductive film forming part of said second structure and incorporating at least extensions of said conducting lines thereon; second contact means electrically connected to said conducting line extensions in said flexible conductive film and being carried by said common actuator means and being capable of independent orthogonal motion with two degrees of freedom relative to said first contact means by movement of said common actuator means, from its first to its second position while said first and second structures are maintained in an engaged juxtaposition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The connector mechanism of claim 1, wherein said common actuator means comprises a compound camming mechanism able to produce time separated motion in different directions in a single actuation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 98 words

The connector mechanism of claim 2, wherein said common actuator means comprises a carriage; at least one cam follower mounted on said carriage; a linear cam movable from said first position to said second position and arranged when away from said first position to engage said at least one cam follower; and a resilient interposer, said resilient interposer being fixed to said carriage and supporting said second contact means array, said carriage engaging said second structure so as to be fixed in the direction of movement of the linear cam and free to move in directions perpendicular thereto.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 76 words

The connector mechanism of claim 2, wherein, with the connector mechanism assembly by the prior bringing together of said two structures, a single pass of said common actuator means produces the following time separated sequence of relative movements: motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array until said second contact means touch said first contact means; followed by motion of said second contact means array across said fixed contact means array.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 138 words

The connector mechanism of claim 3, wherein, with the connector mechanism assembled by the prior bringing together of said two structures, a single pass of said common actuator means produces the following time separated sequence of relative movements: motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array until said second contact means just touch said fixed contact means; followed by attempted motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array such that distortion of said resilient interposer applies a pressure between said first and second contact means; followed by motion of said second contact means array across said first contact means array; followed by further attempted motion of said second contact means array towards said first contact means array further increasing the pressure between said first and second contact means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 159 words

The connector mechanism of claim 3, wherein, with the connector mechanism assembled by the prior bringing together of said two structures, a single pass of said linear cam produces the following time separated sequence of relative movements: motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array until said second contact means just touch said first contact means; followed by attempted motion of said second contact means array toward the first contact means array such that distortion of said resilient interposer applies a pressure between said first and second contact means; followed by motion of said second contact means array across said first contact means array; followed by motion of said second contact means array substantially retracing part of its previous path across said first contact means arrays; followed by further attempted motion of said second contact means array towards said first contact means array further increasing the pressure between said first and second contact means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

The connector mechanism of claim 1, further including a rigid shroud, mounted on said first structure and engaging said common actuator means when said structures are in an engaged juxtaposition to act as a coarse locator for said structures when said common actuator means is in its first position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 75 words

The connector mechanism of claim 3, further including a rigid shroud, mounted on said first structure and engaging said common actuator means when said structures are in an engaged juxtaposition to act as an accurate locator for said linear cam in directions perpendicular thereto, and for said carriage in the direction of bringing together of said two structures when said linear cam is away from its first position, relative to said first contact means array.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The connector mechanism of claim 7, wherein the shroud embodies positioning elements registered with said first contact means, and engageable with said actuator means on movement thereof away from its said first position to accurately relatively locate said two structures.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The connector mechanism of claim 8, wherein the shroud embodies positioning elements registered with said first contact means, and engageable by said linear cam and said carriage.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 98 words

The connector mechanism of claim 6, further including a rigid shroud, said shroud being mounted on said first structure; and positioning elements, said positioning elements being incorporated in said shroud, in registration with said first contact means and engageable by said linear cam and said carriage when said structures are in an engaged juxtaposition, to act as an accurate locator for said linear cam in directions perpendicular thereto, and for said carriage in the direction of bringing together of said two structures when said linear cam is away from its first position, relative to said first contact means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 160 words

The connector mechanism of claim 9, wherein, with the connector mechanism assembled by the prior bringing together of said two structures, a single pass of said common actuator means produces the following time separated sequence of relative movements: motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array until said second contact means just touch said first contact means; followed by attempted motion of said second contact means array toward the first contact means array such that distortion of said resilient interposer applies a pressure between said first and second contact means; followed by motion of said second contact means array across said first contact means array; followed by motion of said second contact means array substantially retracing part of its previous path across said first contact means array; followed by further attempted motion of said second contact means array towards said first contact means array further increasing the pressure between said first and second contact means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The connector mechanism of claim 12, as one of a pair of such connector mechanisms connecting said two structures.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

The connector mechanism of claim 12, as one of a plurality of such connector mechanisms connecting said two structures, wherein said connector mechanism incorporates plural flexible films and an equal plurality of carriages.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The connector mechanism of claim 14, further including a coupling yoke coupling said linear cam means of said connector mechanism to the linear cam means of the other said mechanism.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 177 words

A zero insertion force connector mechanism, for electrically connecting a first and a second structure each carrying conducting lines, comprising: a first contact means fixedly mounted as an array on said first structure and electrically connected to said conducting lines carried by said first structure; flexible film means provided with conducting lines, said conducting lines on said film being electrically connected at one end of said film means to the conducting lines carried by said second structure; second contact means provided on said flexible film means as an array of a same spacing and configuration as said first contact means array; said conducting lines on said flexible film means being electrically connected at another end of said flexible film means to said second contact means; and actuator means associated with said film means for moving said second contact means with independent orthogonal motion with two degrees of freedom relative to said first contact means array while said structures are maintained positionally locked relative to one another in accurate registration in an engaged juxtaposition by said connector mechanism.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 177 words

A zero insertion force connector mechanism, for electrically connecting a first and a second structure each carrying conducting lines, comprising: a first contact means fixedly mounted as an array on said first structure and electrically connected to said conducting lines carried by said first structure; flexible film means provided with conducting lines, said conducting lines on said film being electrically connected at one end of said film means to the conducting lines carried by said second structure; second contact means provided on said flexible film means as an array of a same spacing and configuration as said first contact means array; said conducting lines on said flexible film means being electrically connected at another end of said flexible film means to said second contact means; and actuator means associated with said film means for moving said second contact means with independent orthogonal motion with two degrees of freedom relative to said first contact means array while said structures are maintained positionally locked relative to one another in accurate registration in an engaged juxtaposition by said connector mechanism.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 200 words

The connector mechanism of claim 16, wherein said actuator means comprises a carriage; a resilient interposer, said resilient interposer being fixed to said carriage and mounting said second contact means array; and a compound camming mechanism able to produce time separated motion in different directions in a single actuation, and incorporating plural cam followers mounted on said carriage; and linear cam means engaging said cam followers, and arranged to produce, with the connector mechanism assembled by the prior bringing together of said two structures, by a single pass of said actuator means, the following time separated sequence of relative movements: motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array until said second contact means just touch said fixed contact means; followed by attempted motion of said second contact means array toward said first contact means array such that distortion of said resilient interposer applies a pressure between said first and second contact means; followed by motion of said second contact means array across said first contact means array; followed by further attempted motion of said second contact means array towards said first contact means array further increasing the pressure between said first and second contact means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 95 words

The connector mechanism of claim 17, further including a rigid shroud, mounted on said first structure and engaging said common actuator means when said structures are in an engaged juxtaposition to act as an accurate locator for said linear cam in directions perpendicular thereto, and for said carriage in the direction of bringing together of said two structures when said linear cam is away from its first position, relative to said first contact means array, said shroud incorporating locating elements registered with said first contact means, and engageable by said linear cam and said carriage.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 148 words

A zero insertion force connector mechanism for electrically connecting a first and a second structure, each carrying conducting lines, comprising: first contact means fixedly mounted on said first structure and electrically connected to said conducting lines carried by said first structure; flexible film means provided with conducting lines, said conducting lines on said film being electrically connected at a first end thereof to conducting lines carried by said second structure; second contact means provided on said flexible film means, said conducting lines on said film means being electrically connected at a second end thereof to said second contact means; and actuator means associated with said film means for moving said second contact means with independent orthogonal motion with two degrees of freedom relative to said first contact means when said structures are locked relative to each other in accurate registration in an engaged juxtaposition by said connector mechanism.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 148 words

A zero insertion force connector mechanism for electrically connecting a first and a second structure, each carrying conducting lines, comprising: first contact means fixedly mounted on said first structure and electrically connected to said conducting lines carried by said first structure; flexible film means provided with conducting lines, said conducting lines on said film being electrically connected at a first end thereof to conducting lines carried by said second structure; second contact means provided on said flexible film means, said conducting lines on said film means being electrically connected at a second end thereof to said second contact means; and actuator means associated with said film means for moving said second contact means with independent orthogonal motion with two degrees of freedom relative to said first contact means when said structures are locked relative to each other in accurate registration in an engaged juxtaposition by said connector mechanism.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-01-12	1990-07-14	1991-01-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-01-12	1994-07-14	1995-01-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-01-12	1998-07-14	1999-01-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Connector mechanisms

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