Patent US631315A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4896795A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5380212A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5380212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conductive elastomeric interface for a pin grid array
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1993-05-28
•
Granted: 1995-01-10
•
Expires: 2013-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An electrical interface connects a conductive pins to a printed circuit board. The electrical interface includes an elastomer holder having a plurality of holes. Elastomer conductors are placed in the plurality of holes within the elastomer holder. The elastomer holder is then attached to the printed circuit board so that each elastomer conductor comes into contact with a conductive pad on the printed circuit board. The conductive pins are placed in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors, for example, through a conductive socket. In the preferred embodiment the elastomer holder is composed of printed circuit board material. Before the elastomer holder is connected to the printed circuit board, the elastomer conductors are held in the holes in the elastomer holder using a throw-away retainer.
Inventors
- 👤 James G. Smeenge, Jr.
- 👤 Paul L. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2414; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/10; H05K7/1053; H05K7/1061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An electrical interface for connection of conductive pins to a printed circuit board, the electrical interface comprising: an elastomer holder having a plurality of holes, each hole having a first opening at a first side of the elastomer holder and having a second opening at a second side of the elastomer holder, the first opening being larger than the second opening; elastomer conductors placed in the plurality of holes within the elastomer holder, the elastomer conductors being placed in the first openings of holes on the first side of the elastomer holder and the elastomer conductors being sufficient in size so that the elastomer conductors do not extend through the second openings and do extend out of the first openings; and, fastening means for fastening the elastomer holder to the printed circuit board so that the elastomer conductors extending out of the first holes on the first side of the elastomer holder come into contact with conductive pads on the printed circuit board; wherein the conductive pins are placed through the second openings of the holes to bring them into electrical contact with the elastomer conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electrical interface for connection of conductive pins to a printed circuit board, the electrical interface comprising: an elastomer holder having a plurality of holes, each hole having a first opening at a first side of the elastomer holder and having a second opening at a second side of the elastomer holder, the first opening being larger than the second opening; elastomer conductors placed in the plurality of holes within the elastomer holder, the elastomer conductors being placed in the first openings of holes on the first side of the elastomer holder and the elastomer conductors being sufficient in size so that the elastomer conductors do not extend through the second openings and do extend out of the first openings; and, fastening means for fastening the elastomer holder to the printed circuit board so that the elastomer conductors extending out of the first holes on the first side of the elastomer holder come into contact with conductive pads on the printed circuit board; wherein the conductive pins are placed through the second openings of the holes to bring them into electrical contact with the elastomer conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electrical interface as in claim 1 wherein the conductive pins are placed in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors through conductive sockets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electrical interface as in claim 1 wherein the elastomer holder is composed of printed circuit board material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical interface as in claim 1 wherein the elastomer conductors are cylinder shaped.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for providing an electrical interface between conductive pads on a printed circuit board and conductive pins, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing a plurality of elastomer conductors within holes in an elastomer holder, each hole having a first opening at a first side of the elastomer holder and having a second opening at a second side of the elastomer holder, the first opening being larger than the second opening, the elastomer conductors being placed in the first openings of holes on the first side of the elastomer holder and the elastomer conductors being sufficient in size do that the elastomer conductors do not extend through the second openings and do extend out of the first openings; (b) connecting the elastomer holder to the printed circuit board so that the elastomer conductors extending out of the first holes on the first side of the elastomer holder are compressed against the conductive pads; and, (c) placing the conductive pins through the second openings of the holes to bring them into electrical contact with the elastomer conductors.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for providing an electrical interface between conductive pads on a printed circuit board and conductive pins, the method comprising the steps of: (a) placing a plurality of elastomer conductors within holes in an elastomer holder, each hole having a first opening at a first side of the elastomer holder and having a second opening at a second side of the elastomer holder, the first opening being larger than the second opening, the elastomer conductors being placed in the first openings of holes on the first side of the elastomer holder and the elastomer conductors being sufficient in size do that the elastomer conductors do not extend through the second openings and do extend out of the first openings; (b) connecting the elastomer holder to the printed circuit board so that the elastomer conductors extending out of the first holes on the first side of the elastomer holder are compressed against the conductive pads; and, (c) placing the conductive pins through the second openings of the holes to bring them into electrical contact with the elastomer conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein in step (c) the conductive pins are placed in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors through conductive sockets.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for providing an electrical interface between conductive pads on a printed circuit board and conductive pins, the method comprising the steps off: (a) placing a plurality of elastomer conductors within holes in an elastomer holder; (b) holding the elastomer conductors in the holes in the elastomer holder using a throw-away retainer; (c) connecting the elastomer holder to the printed circuit board so that the elastomer conductors are compressed against the conductive pads; and, (d) placing the conductive pins in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for providing an electrical interface between conductive pads on a printed circuit board and conductive pins, the method comprising the steps off: (a) placing a plurality of elastomer conductors within holes in an elastomer holder; (b) holding the elastomer conductors in the holes in the elastomer holder using a throw-away retainer; (c) connecting the elastomer holder to the printed circuit board so that the elastomer conductors are compressed against the conductive pads; and, (d) placing the conductive pins in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein in step (d) the conductive pins are placed in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors through a conductive socket.
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) | 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 |