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US 5,299,939 AGranted
Spring array connector
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsGeorge F. Walker, Arthur Zingher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring array connector includes a unitary resilient layer of multiple springs having a layer of multiple electrically conducting lines, electrical contacts and electrical terminals. Each spring of the array is independently bendable and each of the conducting lines is electrically isolated from the other conducting lines. All of the springs in the spring array are fabricated simultaneously. Spring embodiments include sine, helix, cantilever and buckling beam shapes in sheet and wire forms.
Claims18
A two-dimensional array spring connector comprising:
- unitary resilient member means comprising a unitary two-dimensional array of independently bendable springs, at least some of said springs having means for horizontally moving in at least one direction upon being vertically deflected;
- a plurality of first electrical contacts electrically isolated form one another and mechanically coupled to said unitary resilient member means;
- complementary unitary resilient member means having a shape for engaging with said unitary resilient member means;
- and
- a further plurality of electrical contacts electrically isolated from one another and mechanically coupled to said complementary unitary resilient member means disposed for electrical contact with said plurality of first electrical contacts when said unitary resilient member means is engaged with said complementary unitary resilient member means, said further plurality of electrical contacts being located adjacent said springs such that during engagement of said unitary and complementary unitary resilient member means said springs are vertically deflected to horizontally move said first electrical contacts into electrical contact with said further plurality of electrical contacts.
2 more elements
A two-dimensional array spring connector comprising:
- a first baseplate having a first array of electrical terminal means;
- a second baseplate having a second array of electrical terminal means;
- a first unitary resilient member means comprising a first thin sheet layer of resilient material having a first two-dimensional array of independently movable springs coupled to said first array of electrical terminals and having first electrical contact means;
- a second unitary resilient member means comprising a second thin sheet layer of resilient material having a second two-dimensional array of independently movable springs coupled to said second array of electrical terminals and having second electrical contact means, and
- said first electrical contacting means and said second electrical contact means being disposed for contacting each other when said first unitary resilient member means is engaged with said second unitary resilient member means.
2 more elements
An electrical connector comprising;
- a spring suitably shaped to outwardly expand along a first plane in at least two different directions upon being compressed in a third direction substantially orthogonal to the first plane;
- and
- electrical conductors connected to an exterior of the spring, each conductor having a first end proximate a first end of the spring and a second end on an exterior side of the spring, wherein upon compressing the spring in the third direction, the spring expands in the first plane in the at least two different directions to outwardly deflect the conductors' second end to contact a second electrical connector.
An electrical connector comprising:
- an array of springs, each of the springs having means for outwardly horizontally expanding in at least two directions upon being vertically compressed;
- and
- electrical conductors connected to the springs with first contact areas proximate a first end of the springs and second contact areas at sides of the springs wherein, upon vertically compressing the springs, the springs horizontally expand, outwardly deflecting the sides of the springs, to thereby move the second contact areas into contact with portions of a second connector located adjacent the springs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.