US6074219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electromechanical subassembly including a carrier with springy contacts that exert large and small contact forces
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1998-07-13
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Granted: 2000-06-13
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Expires: 2018-07-13
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical subassembly is comprised of a carrier having a body with a planar surface and multiple holes that extend from the planar surface into the body. A plurality of springy contacts are held in the holes; and they extend, in an uncompressed state, past the planar surface. The plurality of springy contacts include contacts of a first type which each exert a relatively small opposing force when compressed to the planar surface, and contacts of a second type which each exert a substantially larger opposing force when compressed to the planar surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry Ihor Tustaniwskyj
- 👤 Leonard Harry Alton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/714; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/325; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/10; H05K7/1053; H05K7/1061; H05K7/1069; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2421; H10; H10W; H10W70/00; H10W70/60; H10W70/62; H10W70/65; H10W70/654; H10W70/655; H10W90/00; H10W90/701; H10W90/721; H10W90/724
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An electromechanical subassembly which is comprised of: a carrier having a body with a planar surface and multiple holes that extend from said planar surface into said body; a plurality of springy electrical contacts which are held in said holes and extend past said planar surface for making respective electrical connections to an external component; and, said plurality of springy electrical contacts including electrical contacts of a first type which each exert a small opposing force when compressed by said external component to said planar surface, and electrical contacts of a second type which each exert a larger opposing force when compressed by said external component to said planar surface; and, said first and second type springy electrical contacts being arranged in a pattern which reduces deflections in a predetermined critical region of said external component in comparison to the deflections which occur when all of said springy electrical contacts are said first type.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electromechanical subassembly which is comprised of: a carrier having a body with a planar surface and multiple holes that extend from said planar surface into said body; a plurality of springy electrical contacts which are held in said holes and extend past said planar surface for making respective electrical connections to an external component; and, said plurality of springy electrical contacts including electrical contacts of a first type which each exert a small opposing force when compressed by said external component to said planar surface, and electrical contacts of a second type which each exert a larger opposing force when compressed by said external component to said planar surface; and, said first and second type springy electrical contacts being arranged in a pattern which reduces deflections in a predetermined critical region of said external component in comparison to the deflections which occur when all of said springy electrical contacts are said first type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a wad of wire having a small wire thickness, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a wad of wire having a larger wire thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a wad of wire having a short height, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a wad of wire having a taller height.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a pliable conductive elastomer, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a stiffer conductive elastomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a pliable metal, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a stiffer metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a piston which compresses a spring that exerts said small opposing force, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a piston which compresses a spring that exerts said large opposing force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a coil of wire having a small wire thickness, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a coil of wire having a larger wire thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each springy contact of said first type is comprised of a coil of wire having a short height, and each springy contact of said second type is comprised of a coil of wire having a taller height.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of springy contacts are limited to only said two different types.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein said small force and said large force differ from each other by a minimum of 50%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein said springy contacts include contacts of less than ten different types, each of which exert an opposing force of a different magnitude when compressed to said planar surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein said holes extend through said body to another surface of said carrier, and said springy contacts extend past both surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein said holes extend into but not through said body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each one of said holes in said carrier holds only a single springy contact.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A subassembly according to claim 1 wherein each one of said holes in said carrier holds more than one springy contact.
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) | 2003-06-13 | 2003-12-13 | 2004-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-13 | 2007-12-13 | 2008-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-13 | 2011-12-13 | 2012-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |