Patent US4976629A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4976629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Zero insertion force dual in-line LCD connector
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
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Filing: 1989-10-04
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2009-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A zero insertion force dual in-line LCD connector has a connector body which holds the base ends of a plurality of resilient contacts in electrical engagement with a printed circuit board and holds the end points of these contacts in two substantially parallel rows. An actuator is mountable on the connector body to support a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and is movable thereon between a first position wherein the LCD panel is distanced from the end points of the contacts and a second position wherein electrical pads on the LCD panel are moved into electrical engagement with the end points. The contacts are resilient to permit a wiping movement of the end points against the pads on the LCD panel when the LCD panel is moved into the second position.
Inventors
- 👤 Oskar O. Werner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/82; H01R12/85; H01R12/89; H01R12/7076; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/301
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board which comprises: a plurality of electrical contacts, each of said contacts having a base and an end point; a connector body for holding said contacts on said circuit board with said bases in electrical engagement therewith and with said end points distanced from said circuit board in a pair of substantially parallel aligned rows, said connector body being formed with a series of aligned ramps; an actuator formed with a series of aligned inclines for holding said display panel in a first position between said circuit board and said rows of aligned end points wherein said display panel is distanced from said end points, said actuator being reciprocally moveable on said connector body with said ramps interacting with said inclines for moving said display panel between said first position and a second position wherein said display panel is urged into electrical engagement with said end points of said contacts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board which comprises: a plurality of electrical contacts, each of said contacts having a base and an end point; a connector body for holding said contacts on said circuit board with said bases in electrical engagement therewith and with said end points distanced from said circuit board in a pair of substantially parallel aligned rows, said connector body being formed with a series of aligned ramps; an actuator formed with a series of aligned inclines for holding said display panel in a first position between said circuit board and said rows of aligned end points wherein said display panel is distanced from said end points, said actuator being reciprocally moveable on said connector body with said ramps interacting with said inclines for moving said display panel between said first position and a second position wherein said display panel is urged into electrical engagement with said end points of said contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 1 wherein said display panel is in said first position when said inclines are mated with said ramps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 1 wherein said series of ramps on said connector body are aligned substantially parallel to said rows of said end points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 1 wherein said connector body further comprises first end flanges and second end flanges respectively positioned at opposite ends of said rows of end points to prevent a sliding movement of said display panel in a direction substantially parallel to said rows of end points when said connector is configured in its engaged position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuator is made of a rigid plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 1 wherein said display panel is substantially made of glass and includes pads for establishing electrical engagement with said end points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device for electrically engaging a dual in-line liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 6 wherein said contacts are resilient to provide a wiping motion between said end points on said contacts and said pads on said display panel during movement of said display panel into said second position.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
138 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board which comprises: a plurality of resilient contacts, each of said contacts having a base and an end point; a connector body for holding said bases of said contacts in electrical engagement with said circuit board, said body formed with a series of ramps; and an actuator formed with a series of inclines and having a substantially flat surface for supporting said display panel, said actuator mountable on said connector body and reciprocally movable thereon between a first position wherein said inclines mate with said ramps to distance said display panel from said end points of said contacts, and a second position wherein said inclines and said ramps interact to move said display panel into electrical engagement with said end points of said contacts.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
138 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board which comprises: a plurality of resilient contacts, each of said contacts having a base and an end point; a connector body for holding said bases of said contacts in electrical engagement with said circuit board, said body formed with a series of ramps; and an actuator formed with a series of inclines and having a substantially flat surface for supporting said display panel, said actuator mountable on said connector body and reciprocally movable thereon between a first position wherein said inclines mate with said ramps to distance said display panel from said end points of said contacts, and a second position wherein said inclines and said ramps interact to move said display panel into electrical engagement with said end points of said contacts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 8 wherein said connector body holds said contacts with said end points aligned in a row.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 9 further comprising a second connector body for holding a plurality of said contacts with said bases of said contacts in electrical engagement with said circuit board and with said end points of said contacts aligned in a row, said second connector body formed with a series of ramps and said second connector body positioned relative to said connector body to establish a substantially parallel relationship between said respective rows of end points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 10 wherein said actuator is mountable on said connector body and said second connector body for movement thereon between said first and second positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 11 wherein said connector body and said second connector body further comprise first end flanges and second end flanges respectively positioned at opposite ends of said rows of end points to prevent a sliding movement of said display panel in a direction substantially parallel to said rows of end points with a printed circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 11 wherein said actuator is made of a rigid plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 11 wherein said display panel is substantially made of glass and includes pads for establishing electrical engagement with said end points.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 14 wherein said contacts are resilient to provide a wiping motion between said end points on said contacts and said pads on said display panel during movement of said display panel into said second position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board which comprises the steps of: holding a plurality of electrical contacts on a connector board having a series of inclined ramps with the bases of said contacts in electrical engagement with said circuit board and the end points of said contacts distanced from said circuit board in a pair of substantially parallel aligned rows; positioning said display panel onto an actuator formed with a series of inclines and having a flat surface for supporting said display panel; inserting said actuator into a first position between the circuit board and said rows of aligned end points wherein said inclines mate with said ramps to distance said panel from said end points of said contacts; and longitudinally moving said actuator from said first position to a second position wherein said inclines and said ramps interact to urge said electrical pads on said display panel into electrical engagement with said end points of said contacts.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board which comprises the steps of: holding a plurality of electrical contacts on a connector board having a series of inclined ramps with the bases of said contacts in electrical engagement with said circuit board and the end points of said contacts distanced from said circuit board in a pair of substantially parallel aligned rows; positioning said display panel onto an actuator formed with a series of inclines and having a flat surface for supporting said display panel; inserting said actuator into a first position between the circuit board and said rows of aligned end points wherein said inclines mate with said ramps to distance said panel from said end points of said contacts; and longitudinally moving said actuator from said first position to a second position wherein said inclines and said ramps interact to urge said electrical pads on said display panel into electrical engagement with said end points of said contacts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for electrically engaging a liquid crystal display panel with a printed circuit board as recited in claim 16 wherein said moving step is accomplished while wiping said end points on said pads.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |