US5380210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High density area array modular connector
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1994-03-28
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Granted: 1995-01-10
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Expires: 2014-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A connector for electrically connecting circuit members having a high density of contact pads located in an area array, the connector having an area array specific holder that is simple to produce for retainably positioning mass-produced standardized contact modules containing a deformable contact within a module body for interconnecting the contact pads, where the contact is constructed to be supportingly engaged by the module body to provide sufficient opposing spring force to effect a wiping interconnection between the contact and the contact pads.
Inventors
- 👤 Dimitry Grabbe
- 👤 Iosif Korsunsky
- 👤 Michael F. Laub
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2435; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
A connector for electrically connecting contact pads of a first circuit member to respective contact pads of a second circuit member, where the circuit members are compressed against the connector, the connector comprising: a plurality of contact modules each having, a module body with a first end, a second end and a tubular passageway extending therethrough; and a contact having opposing sides, received within the passageway of the module body, having a first contact section extending outward from the first end of the body, a second contact section extending outward from the second end of the body, and a resilient portion having a bow-shape defined by primary radius sections that are convex on the first side and open on the second side, the primary radius sections are separated by a central radius section that is convex on the second side and open on the first side, the resilient portion interconnecting the contact sections and being formed to oppose movement of the contact sections toward each other whereby upon displacement of the contact sections towards each other, the primary radius sections come into supporting engagement with the body along a portion of the passageway, the contact and the module body being interconnected along the central radius section to maintain the contact within the passageway; and a holder having first and second major surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therebetween for individually receiving the contact modules such that the first and second contact sections extend outwardly of the major surfaces and the contact modules are spaced to correspond to the contact pads of the first and second circuit members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
A connector for electrically connecting contact pads of a first circuit member to respective contact pads of a second circuit member, where the circuit members are compressed against the connector, the connector comprising: a plurality of contact modules each having, a module body with a first end, a second end and a tubular passageway extending therethrough; and a contact having opposing sides, received within the passageway of the module body, having a first contact section extending outward from the first end of the body, a second contact section extending outward from the second end of the body, and a resilient portion having a bow-shape defined by primary radius sections that are convex on the first side and open on the second side, the primary radius sections are separated by a central radius section that is convex on the second side and open on the first side, the resilient portion interconnecting the contact sections and being formed to oppose movement of the contact sections toward each other whereby upon displacement of the contact sections towards each other, the primary radius sections come into supporting engagement with the body along a portion of the passageway, the contact and the module body being interconnected along the central radius section to maintain the contact within the passageway; and a holder having first and second major surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therebetween for individually receiving the contact modules such that the first and second contact sections extend outwardly of the major surfaces and the contact modules are spaced to correspond to the contact pads of the first and second circuit members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient portion includes a first deformed member that includes the first contact section and a second deformed member that includes the second contact section, the deformed members being interconnected and deformed to provide a spring force in response to motion of the contact surfaces towards each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The connector of claim 2, wherein the resilient portion includes a midpoint where the first deformed member and the second deformed member merge and the second deformed member is a mirror image of the first deformed member about the midpoint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein a protrusion extends from the resilient portion of the contact and the body has a lateral cavity in communication with the passageway, the cavity formed to receive the protrusion of the contact, the protrusion captivated within the cavity and being laterally displaceable therealong, whereby the contact is retained within the module body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the module body is formed from a dielectric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the module body is made of an molded plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the module body is formed from a conductive material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the module body is die-cast metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the module body is made of metalized plastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the holder is formed from a dielectric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the passageways of the holder are conductively interconnected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the module body includes a cylindrical outer surface extending from the second end and a flange extending from the first end to the cylindrical portion, where the cylindrical outer surface is received within the openings of the holder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The connector of claim 12, wherein the contact modules are arranged within the holder so that the flanges of adjacent contact modules correspond to opposite major surfaces of the holder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector of claim 4, wherein the further deformation of the first deformed member is independent of further deformation of the second deformed member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the contact sections engage the contact pads in a wiping engagement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The contact of claim 15, wherein the resilient portion has a first deformed portion and a second deformed portion that merge into each other and are mirror images of each other about a midpoint and protrusions extend outward from the contact at the midpoint for engaging the module body and localizing deformation of the deformed sections independent of each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
192 words
A deformable, curvilinear contact having opposing sides for insertion into a module body that is retainably positioned by a holder to correspond to respective contact pads of a first circuit member and a second circuit member in order to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the contact pads are compressed against the contact, the contact comprising: a first contact section for engaging one of the respective contact pads in a wiping interface; a second contact section for engaging the other respective contact pad in a wiping interface; and a curvilinear resilient portion of varying width interconnecting the sections and having a bow-shape defined by two primary radius sections that are convex on the first side and open on the second side, the primary radius sections are separated by a central radius that is convex on the second side and open on the first side, the primary radius sections engage with the body to prevent the contact from disengaging therefrom and to resiliently oppose movement of the contact sections by becoming supportingly engaged with the module body to provide resistance to assure a wiping interface between the contact pads and the contact sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
192 words
A deformable, curvilinear contact having opposing sides for insertion into a module body that is retainably positioned by a holder to correspond to respective contact pads of a first circuit member and a second circuit member in order to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the contact pads are compressed against the contact, the contact comprising: a first contact section for engaging one of the respective contact pads in a wiping interface; a second contact section for engaging the other respective contact pad in a wiping interface; and a curvilinear resilient portion of varying width interconnecting the sections and having a bow-shape defined by two primary radius sections that are convex on the first side and open on the second side, the primary radius sections are separated by a central radius that is convex on the second side and open on the first side, the primary radius sections engage with the body to prevent the contact from disengaging therefrom and to resiliently oppose movement of the contact sections by becoming supportingly engaged with the module body to provide resistance to assure a wiping interface between the contact pads and the contact sections.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The deformable, curvilinear contact of claim 17, wherein the varying width profile of the resilient portion is greater at the primary radius sections and the central radius than therebetween, forming two opposing arrow-head shaped sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The deformable, curvilinear contact of claim 18, where the two primary radius sections are identically configured.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The deformable, curvilinear contact of claim 17, wherein the central radius includes a protrusion extending therefrom for interconnecting the contact to the module body.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The contact module of claim 17, wherein the resilient portion has a varying width profile that is greater at the primary radius sections and the central radius than therebetween, whereby opposing arrow-head shaped sections are formed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The deformable, curvilinear contact of claim 21, where the opposing arrow-head shaped sections are symmetrical.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
234 words
A contact module for insertion into an opening of a holder that orientates the contact module to a contact pad of a first circuit member and a corresponding contact pad of a second circuit member for establishing an electrical connection between the respective contact pads when the circuit members are compressed about the contact module and holder, the contact module comprising: a contact module body having opposing ends and a single tubular passageway therethrough; and a bow-shaped contact having opposing sides, retainably positioned within the passageway of the module body, having a first contact section extending outward from one end of the body and a second contact section extending outward from the other end of the body, and a resilient portion interconnecting the sections and defining the bow-shape by two primary radius sections that are convex on the first side and open on the second side, the primary radius sections having a central radius section therebetween that is convex on the second side and open on the first side, wherein the resilient portion is interconnected with the module body along the passageway to maintain the contact therein, the resilient portion being formed to oppose movement of the contact sections towards each other and, upon displacement of the contact sections towards each other, the primary radius sections deform within the passageway and comes into supporting engagement with the body along a portion of the passageway.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
234 words
A contact module for insertion into an opening of a holder that orientates the contact module to a contact pad of a first circuit member and a corresponding contact pad of a second circuit member for establishing an electrical connection between the respective contact pads when the circuit members are compressed about the contact module and holder, the contact module comprising: a contact module body having opposing ends and a single tubular passageway therethrough; and a bow-shaped contact having opposing sides, retainably positioned within the passageway of the module body, having a first contact section extending outward from one end of the body and a second contact section extending outward from the other end of the body, and a resilient portion interconnecting the sections and defining the bow-shape by two primary radius sections that are convex on the first side and open on the second side, the primary radius sections having a central radius section therebetween that is convex on the second side and open on the first side, wherein the resilient portion is interconnected with the module body along the passageway to maintain the contact therein, the resilient portion being formed to oppose movement of the contact sections towards each other and, upon displacement of the contact sections towards each other, the primary radius sections deform within the passageway and comes into supporting engagement with the body along a portion of the passageway.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
216 words
A connector for electrically connecting contact pads of a first circuit member to respective contact pads of a second circuit member, where the circuit members are compressed against the connector, the connector comprising: a plurality of contact modules each having a module body with a first end and a second end and a tubular passageway therethrough that includes a lateral cavity; and a contact, received within the passageway of the module body, having a first contact section extending outward from the first end of the body, a second contact end extending outward from the second end of the body, and a resilient portion having a protrusion extending therefrom and captivated in a laterally displaceable manner within the lateral cavity of the module body being formed to oppose movement of the contact sections towards each other and, upon displacement of the contact sections towards each other, the resilient portion comes into supporting engagement with the body along a portion of the passageway; and a holder having first and second major surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therebetween for individually receiving the contact modules such that the first and second contact sections extend outwardly of the major surfaces and the contact modules are spaced to correspond to the contact pads of the first and second circuit members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
216 words
A connector for electrically connecting contact pads of a first circuit member to respective contact pads of a second circuit member, where the circuit members are compressed against the connector, the connector comprising: a plurality of contact modules each having a module body with a first end and a second end and a tubular passageway therethrough that includes a lateral cavity; and a contact, received within the passageway of the module body, having a first contact section extending outward from the first end of the body, a second contact end extending outward from the second end of the body, and a resilient portion having a protrusion extending therefrom and captivated in a laterally displaceable manner within the lateral cavity of the module body being formed to oppose movement of the contact sections towards each other and, upon displacement of the contact sections towards each other, the resilient portion comes into supporting engagement with the body along a portion of the passageway; and a holder having first and second major surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therebetween for individually receiving the contact modules such that the first and second contact sections extend outwardly of the major surfaces and the contact modules are spaced to correspond to the contact pads of the first and second circuit members.
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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) | 1998-01-09 | 1998-07-11 | 1999-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-09 | 2002-07-11 | 2003-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-09 | 2006-07-11 | 2007-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |