Circuit to printed circuit board stored energy connector
US6447305B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 13, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R12/88
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit to printed circuit board stored energy connector. The connector precisely aligns and interconnects conductors of “flexible circuits” (including conductive ink circuits (CIC), flexible printed circuits (FPC), and/or flat flexible cables (FFC)) directly to mating contacts on printed circuit boards. The connector is a zero insertion force (ZIF) type, and is a high density surface mount. The connector comprises mainly an actuator with an activation ridge, a deflectable flat spring contact in a spring support module, and circuit alignment features that use the flexible circuit's existing features—the outline and conductors—to accurately align the conductors of the flexible circuit to their corresponding mating spring contacts. The connector also includes circuit locators, a circuit compression flap and conductor alignment notches which work cooperatively to align and interconnect a flexible circuit to its spring contact. The connector provides a micro-wiping action that will not damage the flexible circuit, and also provides secure connection with a two point, redundant contact.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.