US5433632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible circuit connector
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1994-08-12
•
Granted: 1995-07-18
•
Expires: 2014-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A flexible circuit connector for electrically connecting two electronic devices. The connector includes a flexible circuit sheet having electrically conductive traces which lead from a first electronic device, such as a memory chip, to two arrays of electrically conductive pads. The connector includes a connector housing having two spaced, substantially parallel side walls connected by a front wall having a row of holes adjacent each of the side walls to receive two rows of conductive pins which are connected to a second electronic device, such as a printed circuit board. A unitary, locally deformable, biasing member is positioned within the connector housing and between the two array of conductive pads. The biasing member forces the two arrays of pads into electrical contact with the two rows of pins when the pins are inserted into the holes in the front wall of the connector housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Cherney
- 👤 Rolf Biernath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:54
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/777
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A non-zero insertion force flexible circuit connector for connecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device, the connector comprising: a flexible circuit sheet having a plurality of electrically conductive traces which are electrically connected to a first electronic device and lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the front wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to a second electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the front wall of the connector housing, and wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing, the biasing member is deformed by the pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A non-zero insertion force flexible circuit connector for connecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device, the connector comprising: a flexible circuit sheet having a plurality of electrically conductive traces which are electrically connected to a first electronic device and lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the front wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to a second electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the front wall of the connector housing, and wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing, the biasing member is deformed by the pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device has a second row of pins parallel to the first row, wherein the flexible circuit sheet further includes a second array of electrically conductive pads, wherein the front wall further includes a second row of holes adjacent to the other side wall for receiving the second row of pins, and wherein each of the first and second arrays of conductive pads is disposed between the biasing member and one of the side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The connector of claim 2, wherein the flexible circuit sheet is wrapped around the biasing member into a U-shape so that the first array of conductive pads is disposed on one side of the biasing member and faces one of the side walls, and the second array of conductive pads is disposed adjacent the opposite side of the biasing member and faces the other side wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The connector of claim 2, further including a planar stiffener within the biasing member, wherein the stiffener within the biasing member is substantially parallel to the side walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The connector of claim 4, wherein the flexible circuit sheet is wrapped around the biasing member into a U-shape so that the first array of conductive pads is disposed on one side of the biasing member and faces one of the side walls, and the second array of conductive pads is disposed adjacent the opposite side of the biasing member and faces the other side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 4, wherein the stiffener extends to the bottom of the U-shape, but the biasing member does not.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 4, wherein the biasing member extends to the bottom of the U-shape, but the stiffener does not.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The connector of claim 4, further including a cylindrical member at the bottom of the U-shape, wherein the bottom of the U-shape is formed by a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is resilient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector of claim 9, wherein the biasing member is elastomeric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 10, wherein the biasing member is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 11, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is an acrylate adhesive foam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 11, wherein the adhesive has a thickness perpendicular to the side walls of less than about 1 min.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 11, wherein the adhesive has a thickness perpendicular to the side walls of less than about 0.5 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 1, further comprising the first electronic device, and wherein the first device is an integrated circuit chip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 15, wherein the integrated circuit chip is a memory chip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 1, further comprising the first electronic device, and wherein the first device is a printed circuit board.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the side walls includes a plurality of channels and wherein the channels are aligned with the holes in the front wall, whereby the pins travel down the channels as they are inserted into the holes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is tapered toward the end adjacent the front wall of the connector housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The connector of claim 1, wherein each conductive pad has a length parallel to the length of the flexible circuit sheet, and wherein the biasing member provides a pressure between the conductive pads and the pins that is relatively constant over the length of the portions of the conductive pads that contact the pins.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
216 words
An integrated circuit card, comprising: a card frame; a flexible circuit sheet secured to the frame, wherein the sheet has a plurality of electrically conductive traces that lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet; an integrated circuit chip, wherein the chip is mounted on the flexible circuit sheet and is electrically connected to the conductive traces on the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the front wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to an electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing, wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the front wall of the connector housing, and wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing, the biasing member is deformed by the pins.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
216 words
An integrated circuit card, comprising: a card frame; a flexible circuit sheet secured to the frame, wherein the sheet has a plurality of electrically conductive traces that lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet; an integrated circuit chip, wherein the chip is mounted on the flexible circuit sheet and is electrically connected to the conductive traces on the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the front wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to an electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing, wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the front wall of the connector housing, and wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing, the biasing member is deformed by the pins.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
The card of claim 21, wherein the electronic device has a second row of pins parallel to the first row, wherein the flexible circuit sheet further includes a second array of electrically conductive pads, wherein the front wall further includes a second row of holes adjacent to the other side wall for receiving the second row of pins, and wherein each of the first and second arrays of conductive pads is disposed between the biasing member and one of the side walls.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The card of claim 22, further including a planar stiffener within the biasing member, wherein the stiffener within the biasing member is substantially parallel to the side walls.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
The card of claim 22, wherein the flexible circuit sheet is wrapped around the biasing member into a U-shape so that the first array of conductive pads is disposed on one side of the biasing member and faces one of the side walls, and the second array of conductive pads is disposed adjacent the opposite side of the biasing member and faces the other side wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The card of claim 22, wherein the card is a memory card, and wherein the chip is a memory chip.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The card of claim 21, wherein the biasing member is resilient.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The card of claim 26, wherein the biasing member is elastomeric.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The card of claim 27, wherein the biasing member is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
The card of claim 21, wherein each conductive pad has a length parallel to the length of the flexible circuit sheet, and wherein the biasing member provides a pressure between the conductive pads and the pins that is relatively constant over the length of the portions of the conductive pads that contact the pins.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
250 words
A non-zero insertion force flexible circuit connector for connecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device, the connector comprising: a flexible circuit sheet having a plurality of electrically conductive traces which are electrically connected to a first electronic device and lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet, the length of the pads being parallel to the length of the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the from wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to a second electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the from wall of the connector housing, wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing the biasing member is deformed by the pins, and wherein the biasing member provides a pressure between the conductive pads and pins that is relatively constant over the length of the portions of the pads that contact the pins.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
250 words
A non-zero insertion force flexible circuit connector for connecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device, the connector comprising: a flexible circuit sheet having a plurality of electrically conductive traces which are electrically connected to a first electronic device and lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet, the length of the pads being parallel to the length of the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the from wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to a second electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the from wall of the connector housing, wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing the biasing member is deformed by the pins, and wherein the biasing member provides a pressure between the conductive pads and pins that is relatively constant over the length of the portions of the pads that contact the pins.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
259 words
An integrated circuit card, comprising: a card frame; a flexible circuit sheet secured to the frame, wherein the sheet has a plurality of electrically conductive traces that lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet, the length of the pads being parallel to the length of the sheet; an integrated circuit chip, wherein the chip is mounted on the flexible circuit sheet and is electrically connected to the conductive traces on the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the front wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to an electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing, wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the front wall of the connector housing, wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing, the biasing member is deformed by the pins, and wherein the biasing member provides a pressure between the conductive pads and pins that is relatively constant over the length of the portions of the pads that contact the pins.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
259 words
An integrated circuit card, comprising: a card frame; a flexible circuit sheet secured to the frame, wherein the sheet has a plurality of electrically conductive traces that lead to an array of electrically conductive pads extending across the width of the sheet, the length of the pads being parallel to the length of the sheet; an integrated circuit chip, wherein the chip is mounted on the flexible circuit sheet and is electrically connected to the conductive traces on the sheet; a connector housing including two spaced, substantially parallel side walls and a front wall substantially perpendicular to and connecting the two side walls, wherein the front wall includes a row of holes adjacent to at least one of the two side walls for receiving at least one row of electrically conductive pins electrically connected to an electronic device; and a unitary, locally deformable, biasing member disposed within the connector housing, wherein the conductive pads on the flexible circuit sheet are disposed within the housing between the biasing member and at least one of the side walls so that the pads will be forced into electrical contact with the pins by the biasing member as the pins are inserted in the holes in the front wall of the connector housing, wherein as the pins are further inserted into the connector housing, the biasing member is deformed by the pins, and wherein the biasing member provides a pressure between the conductive pads and pins that is relatively constant over the length of the portions of the pads that contact the pins.
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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) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |