Method and apparatus for assembling a flexible circuit to an LCD module

Apparatus for connecting an LCD module of the type comprising an LCD glass having a first array of terminal pads and a drive circuit attached to a printed circuit board or substrate having a second array of terminal pads to a flex circuit having a further array of terminal pads comprising:

• a third array of terminal pads on the printed circuit or substrate;
• compressible and resilient spacer means for spacing the LCD glass from the printed circuit board integrated with a conductive connector strip for making the electrical interconnection between the first and second arrays of terminal pads of the LCD glass and the printed circuit board, respectively, and for making an electrical and mechanical interconnection between the further array of the terminal pads of the flex circuit and the third array of terminal pads on the printed circuit or substrate;
• and
• means for applying force to hold the LCD glass, the compressible and resilient spacer means, the flex circuit and the printed circuit board or substrate in a stacked arrangement.

An apparatus for attaching an electro-optical assembly with a flex circuit for coupling electrical power and drive signals to the electro-optical assembly, wherein the electro-optical assembly comprises:

• an electro-optical display panel of the type having display elements disposed thereon coupled to a plurality of terminal pads uniformly spaced apart in a first linear array on a surface of the panel through which drive signals are received for driving selected display elements;
• a drive circuit for providing the drive signals for energizing the selected display elements of the electro-optical panel mounted on a generally planar support having a plurality of terminal pads uniformly spaced apart in a second linear array on a surface of the support and a first plurality of circuit pathways extending between the second linear array of terminal pads and the drive circuit means;
• a unitary spacer element having a resilient, elastomeric frame for being positioned between and cushioning the drive circuit and the planar support from the electro-optical display panel and having a resilient, elongated array of conductors formed as a connector strip along one side wall thereof and configured to provide an electrical connection between the respective first and second linear arrays of terminal pads formed on the respective surface of the electro-optical display panel and the surface of circuit means;
• a third array of terminal pads formed in a first pattern on a region of the surface of the planar support for the drive circuit contacted by the unitary spacer element and coupled to a second plurality of circuit pathways formed on the planar support and extending between the drive circuit and the third array of terminal pads;
• and
• retainer means for compressing the unitary spacer element between the drive circuit planar support and the electro-optical display panel to form a secure electrical connection between the first and second linear arrays of terminal pads;
• and wherein said flex circuit further comprises:
• a length of flexible film having a third plurality of conductor pathways formed thereon and coupled to a fourth array of terminal pads formed in a second pattern matching the first pattern,
• whereby, in assembly, the flex circuit is positioned between the region of the planar support and the unitary spacer element so that the first and second patterns of the respective third and fourth arrays of terminal pads are aligned and in contact with one another, and the assembly of the flex circuit so disposed with respect to the electro-optical assembly is maintained by the retainer means.

A method of assembling an electro-optical device to a flex circuit comprising the steps of:

• providing an electro-optical panel having display elements disposed thereon and coupled to a plurality of terminal pads spaced apart in a first linear array on the panel;
• providing a drive circuit for the display elements of the electro-optical panel having a plurality of terminal pads spaced apart in a second linear array to which power and drive signals for the display elements of the electro-optical panel are applied by the drive circuit and having a further plurality of terminal pads spaced apart in a third array for receiving power and control signals for application to the drive circuit;
• providing a flex circuit having a fourth array of terminal pads spaced apart in a pattern to match the spaced apart terminal pads of the third array;
• positioning the fourth array of terminal pads in contact with the third array of terminal pads;
• positioning a unitary spacer element, having a resilient, elastomeric frame, between the drive circuit and the electro-optical panel so that the unitary spacer element overlies the fourth and third arrays of terminal pads, the fourth array of terminal pads being sandwiched between the third array of terminal pads and the unitary spacer element;
• and
• compressing the unitary spacer element between the drive circuit means and the electro-optical display panel to form a secure electrical connection between the third and fourth arrays of terminal pads.