US5080595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hybrid connector having contact elements in the form of flexible conductor film
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1991-01-11
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Granted: 1992-01-14
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Expires: 2011-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A hybrid connector, comprising a housing having a contact side for making contact to a further connector, a connection side for connecting an electrical wiring and a flat substrate which is situated on the connection side of the connector. This substrate is provided with a plurality of hybrid circuit components, having connecting electrode patches. The contact elements of the connector are formed by parallel, electrically conducting contact tracks on a flexible film, which film extends over a supporting body from the contact side to the connection side of the connector. Assemblies of spring strips being provided, supported by the supporting body, for exerting a force on the film, such that its contact tracks make electrical contact to the corresponding contact electrodes or wiring electrodes of the further connector, the electrical wiring and the flat hybrid substrate. By using a special support frame for the substrate, a solder-free connector is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Bob Mouissie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/719; H01R13/7195; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/79; H01R2107/00; H01R24/00; H01R24/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A hybrid connector, comprising a housing having a contact side for making contact to a further connector and a connection side for connecting an electrical wiring, a plurality of contact elements of electrically conducting material extend between said contact and wiring side supported by an elongated supporting body situated in the housing, at the connection side of the connector a hybrid substrate is provided, having a plurality of hybrid circuits, each comprising a first and a second connection electrode, of which the first connection electrode is connected to a contact element of the connector, wherein the first connection electrodes of the hybrid circuits are constructed as connection patches of electrically conducting material for surface contacting, accessible from a surface of the hybrid substrate, the contact elements comprising parallel, electrically conducting contact tracks provided on a surface of a flexible film of electrically insulating material, which film extends over the supporting body, with its other surface facing the latter, from the contact side to the connection side, and there being provided at the contact side and connection side, between the film and the supporting body, assemblies of spring strips supported by the supporting body for exerting a force on the film for the contact tracks to make contact to respective contact elements of the first connection electrode of the further connector, the electrical wiring and the hybrid substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
A hybrid connector, comprising a housing having a contact side for making contact to a further connector and a connection side for connecting an electrical wiring, a plurality of contact elements of electrically conducting material extend between said contact and wiring side supported by an elongated supporting body situated in the housing, at the connection side of the connector a hybrid substrate is provided, having a plurality of hybrid circuits, each comprising a first and a second connection electrode, of which the first connection electrode is connected to a contact element of the connector, wherein the first connection electrodes of the hybrid circuits are constructed as connection patches of electrically conducting material for surface contacting, accessible from a surface of the hybrid substrate, the contact elements comprising parallel, electrically conducting contact tracks provided on a surface of a flexible film of electrically insulating material, which film extends over the supporting body, with its other surface facing the latter, from the contact side to the connection side, and there being provided at the contact side and connection side, between the film and the supporting body, assemblies of spring strips supported by the supporting body for exerting a force on the film for the contact tracks to make contact to respective contact elements of the first connection electrode of the further connector, the electrical wiring and the hybrid substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein the assemblies of spring strips at the connection side of the connector are arranged in a manner such that spring strips extend in two or more planes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connector according to claim 2, wherein the assemblies of spring strips at the connection side are formed as a single entity comprising an elongated U-shaped support, at two or more sides of which adjacently situated spring strips formed as self-supporting fingers extend in the direction away from the support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein the assemblies of spring strips at the contact side comprise an elongated support rail from which adjacently situated, parallel spring strips extend, each provided with a semicircular bulge near the middle and pointing in the direction of the film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A connector according to claim 4, wherein the supporting body is provided, at the contact side, with recesses, situated transversely to the longitudinal direction thereof, for receiving the spring strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein the supporting body is provided with projecting positioning pins for positioning the assemblies of spring strips which are provided, for this purpose, with positioning holes situated so as to mate with the positioning pins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A connector according to claim 6, wherein the flexible film and the hybrid substrate are provided with positioning holes situated so as to mate with the respective positioning pins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein the film is provided at its ends where the contact tracks terminate, with holes whose position mate with pins provided on the supporting body at the contact side of the connector, for the overlapping locking of the said ends of the film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid substrate is elongated in shape, the second connection electrode of one or more hybrid circuit components being of shared construction and it being possible to make electrical contact at at least one long edge of the substrate, an elongated supporting frame of electrically conducting material being provided for mounting the hybrid substrate at the connection side of the connector, which supporting frame is provided with locking means for locking the hybrid substrate to the supporting body in a manner such that the contact tracks of the flexible film make electrical contact with the corresponding first connection electrodes of the hybrid substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A connector according to claim 9, wherein the supporting frame is provided at its long edges with receiving grooves for receiving the long edges of the hybrid substrate, spring lips projecting into the receiving grooves being provided for making electrical contact with the second connection electrode of the hybrid circuits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A connector according to claim 10, wherein the supporting frame is provided with further spring lips projecting in the direction away from the frame for making electrical contact to the external body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
172 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid substrate is provided with two composite rows of hybrid circuits having first connection electrodes situated adjacently in a row, the supporting body being of U-shaped construction at the contact side for making, from the open side thereof, contact with the further connector, spring strips being situated on each side of a leg of the supporting body, the flexible film being provided with two composite rows of contact tracks in a manner such that the contact tracks of one row extend from one row of hybrid circuit components from the connection side over a leg of the supporting body to the contact side and the contact tracks of the other row extending from the other row of hybrid circuit components from the connection side over the other leg of the supporting body to the contact side, the adjacently situated contact strips of one row terminating in an alternating manner at the one or the other side of a leg of the U-shaped supporting body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
A connector according to claim 12, wherein the housing is provided at the connection side with lips situated in the longitudinal direction parallel to, and at a distance from, the supporting body for receiving, between such a lip and a plane of spring strips parallel thereto, a printed circuit board such that the contact tracks of the flexible film make contact, under the influence of the spring strips, with the respective wiring electrodes on the printed circuit board.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-13 | 1995-07-15 | 1996-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-13 | 1999-07-15 | 2000-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-13 | 2003-07-15 | 2004-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |