US6062872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed backplane connector
Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
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Filing: 1999-03-19
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2019-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A high-speed connector for interconnecting circuit boards to a backplane or interconnecting a mother board to daughter board. The connector includes a housing, biasing elements, a flex film, conductive elastomeric contact modules and biasing modules. The conductive elastomeric contact modules comprise a substrate which includes a plurality of individual conductive elastomeric contacts such as Metallized Particle Interconnect (MPI), or a polymer containing a plurality of conductive particles disposed therein. The first side of the conductive elastomeric contact modules interface to the flex film, and the second side of the conductive elastomeric contact module interface to a printed circuit board (PCB) set of contacts. Alternately, the conductive elastomeric contacts could be molded directly onto the flex film to eliminate the conductive elastomeric contact modules. The flex film includes conductive traces for providing electrical communication from a first conductive elastomeric contact module to a second conductive elastomeric contact module. The flex film could be realized as a multilayer film and include ground planes and/or strip line traces. Further, the conductive elastomeric contact modules could also include power and ground contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew H. Strange
- 👤 Wayne S. Alden, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2414; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R12/70; H01R12/7082; H01R12/77; H01R12/79; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1438; H05K7/1452; H01R12/7005; H01R12/7011; H01R12/7047; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714; H01R12/771; H01R12/772; H01R13/62; H01R13/629; H01R13/631; H01R13/6315
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A high-speed backplane connector comprising: a housing; a flex film including a plurality of conductive traces, said flex film disposed within said housing; a first conductive elastomeric contact module having a first side and a second side, said first side in electrical communication with said flex film, said second side capable of interconnection with a printed circuit; a second conductive elastomeric module having a first side and a second side, said first side in electrical communication with said flex film, said second side capable of interconnection with a printed circuit board, said second elastomeric module in electrical communication with said first elastomeric contact module through said flex film; a first biasing module attached to a first portion of said flex film; a second biasing module attached to a second portion of said flex film; and a first biasing element disposed between said housing and said first biasing module and supporting said first biasing module within said housing, and a second biasing element disposed between said housing and said second biasing module and supporting said second biasing module within said housing such that said first and second biasing modules, said first and second conductive elastomeric modules and said flex film float within said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A high-speed backplane connector comprising: a housing; a flex film including a plurality of conductive traces, said flex film disposed within said housing; a first conductive elastomeric contact module having a first side and a second side, said first side in electrical communication with said flex film, said second side capable of interconnection with a printed circuit; a second conductive elastomeric module having a first side and a second side, said first side in electrical communication with said flex film, said second side capable of interconnection with a printed circuit board, said second elastomeric module in electrical communication with said first elastomeric contact module through said flex film; a first biasing module attached to a first portion of said flex film; a second biasing module attached to a second portion of said flex film; and a first biasing element disposed between said housing and said first biasing module and supporting said first biasing module within said housing, and a second biasing element disposed between said housing and said second biasing module and supporting said second biasing module within said housing such that said first and second biasing modules, said first and second conductive elastomeric modules and said flex film float within said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said first conductive elastomeric contact module comprises a substrate including a plurality of conductive elastomeric contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said second conductive elastomeric contact module comprises a substrate including a plurality of conductive elastomeric contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said first conductive elastomeric contact module comprises a polymer including a plurality of conductive elastomeric contacts disposed therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said second conductive elastomeric contact module comprises a polymer including a plurality of conductive elastomeric contacts disposed therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said first conductive contact module is integral with said flex film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said second conductive contact module is integral with said flex film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said second side of said first conductive elastomeric module is disposed generally orthogonal to said second side of said second conductive elastomeric module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said first biasing element comprises at least one spring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said second biasing element comprises at least one spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein power and ground connections are made through said flex film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein power and ground connections are made through said first conductive elastomeric module and said second conductive elastomeric module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The connector of claim 1 further comprising at least one external contact having a first end and a second end, said first end disposed adjacent said second side of said first conductive elastomeric module, said second end disposed adjacent said second side of said second conductive elastomeric module and wherein a power or ground connection is made through said at least one external contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said flex film comprises a multilayer flex film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 14 wherein said multilayer flex film includes a ground plane.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 14 wherein said multilayer flex film includes a power plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said flex film includes at least one strip line trace.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 1 further comprising at least one alignment pin disposed on the first end of said flex film.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 1 further comprising at least one alignment pin disposed on the second end of said flex film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The connector of claim 1 wherein said connector is capable of being mounted to a first side of a printed circuit board, and further comprising: a backing plate capable of being disposed on a second side of a printed circuit board; and a fastener for mechanically coupling said connector to said backing plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector of claim 20 wherein said fastener comprises a bolt.
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) | 2003-05-16 | 2003-11-15 | 2004-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-16 | 2007-11-15 | 2008-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-16 | 2011-11-15 | 2012-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |