Instrument panel assembly with conductive elastomeric connectors
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorWaldo C. Fahling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrical gauges requiring a calibration resistor connected between at least two of its terminals is mounted in an instrument panel assembly with the terminals connected to printed circuit conductors. The instrument panel has a housing carrying a printed circuit on its inner surface. An elastomeric electrical connector comprising an insulating body with selected resilient conductive regions is arranged with respect to the calibration resistor, the instrument terminals and the printed circuit to complete the proper circuit connections when the gauge is mounted in the instrument panel with its terminals urged toward the housing.
Claims4
A compact instrument assembly having simple assembly techniques therefor comprising
- an instrument having rearwardly projecting terminals electrically connected to the instrument,
- a substantially rigid housing member positioned rearwardly of the instrument,
- an electrical component between the housing member and the instrument having terminals for electrical connection to the instrument terminals,
- a printed circuit between the housing member and the instrument having exposed conductors for selective electrical connection to the several terminals,
- elastomeric material sandwiched between the exposed conductors and selected ones of the said terminals, the elastomeric material having conductive portions positioned to selectively connect the conductors and the terminals, and
- means urging the instrument and the housing member together for compressing the elastomeric material between the said conductors and terminals to establish electrical connections therebetween.
A compact instrument assembly having simple assembly techniques therefor comprising
- an instrument having rearwardly projecting terminals electrically connected to the instrument,
- a substantially rigid housing member positioned rearwardly of the instrument, a recess in the housing member,
- a calibration resistor in the recess of the housing member and having terminals facing toward the instrument for electrical connection to the instrument terminals,
- a printed circuit between the housing member and the instrument having first contact pads on one side in contact with the instrument terminals, and second contact pads on the other side respectively electrically connected with the first contact pads,
- elastomeric material sandwiched between the printed circuit and the resistor, the elastomeric material having conductive portions positioned to selectively connect the second contact pads and the resistor terminals, and
- means urging the instrument and the housing member together for compressing the elastomeric material to establish electrical connections between the instrument terminals, the resistor terminals and the printed circuit contact pads.
The compact instrument assembly having simple assembly techniques therefor comprising
- an instrument having rearwardly projecting terminals electrically connected to the instrument,
- a substantially rigid housing member positioned rearwardly of the instrument,
- a calibration resistor between the housing member and the instrument having terminals for electrical connection to the instrument terminals and aligned therewith,
- a printed circuit between the housing member and the calibration resistor having exposed conductors for selective electrical connection to the several terminals,
- elastomeric material at least partially surrounding the resistor, the elastomeric material and the resistor being sandwiched between the exposed conductors and the instrument terminals, the elastomeric material having conductive portions selectively positioned between the instrument terminals and resistor terminals and selectively connected to the conductors, and
- means urging the instrument and the housing member together for compressing the elastomeric material between the said terminals and between the resistor and printed circuit to establish electrical connections therebetween.
A compact instrument assembly having simple assembly techniques therefor comprising
- an instrument having a housing and rearwardly projecting projecting terminals extending to a plane spaced a fixed distance from the rear of the housing and electrically connected to the instrument,
- a substantially rigid housing member positioned rearwardly of the instrument,
- a calibration resistor in the space between the instrument housing and the said plane and having terminals substantially in the said plane for electrical connection to the instrument terminals,
- a printed circuit supported on the housing member between the housing member and the instrument having exposed conductors for selective electrical connection to the several terminals,
- elastomeric material sandwiched between the printed circuit and the said terminals, the elastomeric material having conductive portions positioned to selectively connect the conductors and the terminals, and
- means urging the instrument and the housing member together for compressing the elastomeric material between the said conductors and terminals to establish electrical connections therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.