Self-aligning flexible circuit connection

Claim 1

An electrical connector assembly connecting at least one end of a flexible circuit having electrical contact pads thereon to a substrate, which substrate has electrical pads for contacting the pads on said flexible circuit, said flexible circuit having a plurality alignment openings, comprising, a floating frame member having a flexible circuit engaging surface, a plurality of alignment pins extending from said flexible circuit engaging surface and engaging said alignment openings in said flexible circuit, a support member, said support member having a support surface slidingly engaging said floating frame member to permit sliding movement thereon by said floating frame member, said support member including a plurality of registration openings said substrate having; a) alignment holes formed therein; and b) registration holes formed therein; a plurality of registration pins engaged with said support member through said registration openings and engaging said substrate in said registration holes to allow relative sliding movement of said support member with respect to said substrate when the registration pins engage said substrate, and said alignment pins engaging said alignment holes in said substrate, whereby said registration pins provide coarse alignment and said alignment pins provide fine alignment of the pads on the flexible circuit with the contacts on the substrate.