Edge card connector adaptor for flexible circuitry
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPierre Thorsten Boldt, Thomas Dudley Belanger, Jr.
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Abstract
An adapter for interconnecting flexible circuitry, such as a length of flat flexible cable, to another electrical circuit component using an edge card connector includes a thin, substantially-flat, rigid projection that defines an edge, an upper surface and a lower surface. The flat flexible cable is secured to the upper surface of the adapter's projection and wrapped around the edge of the projection to thereby significantly improve the retention force achieved upon insertion of the adapter's projection into the edge card connector's main slot.
Claims20
An adapter for interconnecting flexible circuitry with an edge card connector, wherein the flexible circuitry includes a thin, flexible substrate having an edge, a first face, and a second face, and a plurality of electrical conductors on the first face of the substrate which extend towards the edge of the substrate, the adapter including:
- a thin, substantially-flat, rigid projection having an edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the projection is formed of a thermally-conductive material for conducting heat away from the edge of the projection;
- means for securing the second face of the substrate to the upper surface of the projection when the substrate is arranged to wrap around the edge with the second face of the substrate adjacent to the lower surface of the projection;
- and
- a mounting surface in thermal communication with the projection, whereby heat is conducted from the edge of the projection to the mounting surface, wherein the mounting surface formed with a part to be brought into pressing engagement with an adjacent structure for conduction of heat to the adjacent structure.
Flexible circuitry for interconnection with an edge card connector, wherein the flexible circuitry comprises:
- a thin, flexible substrate having an edge, a first face, a second face, and a plurality of electrical conductors defined on the first face which extend towards the edge of the substrate;
- and
- an adapter including a mounting surface and a thin, substantially-flat, rigid projection having an edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the projection is formed of a thermally-conductive material to define a portion of a thermally-conductive path for conducting heat from the edge of the projection to the mounting surface, wherein the mounting surface formed with a part to be brought into pressing engagement with an adjacent structure for conduction of heat to the adjacent structure,
- wherein a first portion of the substrate proximate to the edge of the substrate is wrapped around the edge of the projection such that the second face of the flexible substrate is positioned adjacent to both the upper surface of the projection and the lower surface of the projection.
A method for adapting thin flexible circuitry for interconnection with an edge card connector, wherein the flexible circuitry includes a flexible substrate and a plurality of electrical conductors exposed on a first face of the substrate proximate to a first edge of the substrate, the method comprising:
- wrapping a first portion of the flexible circuitry proximate to the first edge around a second edge defined on a thin, substantially-flat, rigid projection of an adapter, such that a second face of the flexible circuitry is positioned adjacent to both an upper surface of the projection and a lower surface of the projection, and
- conducting heat away from the substrate through the projection to a mounting surface of the adapter, wherein said mounting surface formed with a part to be brought into pressing engagement with an adjacent structure for conduction of heat to said adjacent structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.