Reversible attachment micro connector

A method for reversible attachment connection comprising:

• inserting a pin into a socket a first time to establish an electrical connection that mates a first assembly with a second assembly, wherein:
• the pin is mounted on the first assembly;
• the socket is mounted on the second assembly;
• the socket includes a surround structure that defines a cavity with a floor;
• a plurality of tabs is disposed in the cavity and coupled to the surround structure;
• and
• the plurality of tabs have a negative longitudinal curvature that protrudes into the cavity;
• bending the plurality of tabs in three dimensions during the inserting of the pin the first time;
• generating a stress distribution with the negative longitudinal curvature that is uniform between the pin and the plurality of tabs while the pin is seated in the socket;
• retaining the pin in the socket based on the stress distribution;
• removing the pin from the socket to separate the first assembly from the second assembly;
• bending the plurality of tabs in the three dimensions during the removing of the pin;
• and
• inserting the pin into the socket a second time to reestablish the electrical connection.

A reversible attachment micro connector array comprising:

• a first array of pins mounted on a first assembly;
• and
• a second array of sockets mounted on a second assembly, wherein
• the second array of sockets is operational to mate with the first array of pins at least two times to establish an electrical connection;
• the second array of sockets is operational to separate from the first array of pins at least once;
• individual sockets in the second array of sockets include a surround structure that defines a cavity with a floor;
• the cavity is sized to receive an individual pin of the first array of pins;
• a plurality of tabs are disposed in the cavity and coupled to the surround structure;
• the plurality of tabs have a negative longitudinal curvature that protrudes into the cavity;
• the plurality of tabs bend in three dimensions during insertion of the individual pin and removal of the individual pin;
• the negative longitudinal curvature generates a stress distribution that is uniform between the individual pin and the plurality of tabs while the individual pin is seated in the socket;
• and
• the individual pin is retained in the individual socket based on the stress distribution.