Electrical interconnect system utilizing nonconductive elastomeric elements and continuous conductive elements

An electrical interconnect system comprising:

• a substrate;
• and
• an array of electrical contacts held in the substrate, each electrical contact comprising:
• a columnar elastomeric nonconductive element having opposite ends that are disposed beyond respective opposite sides of the substrate;
• and
• an associated conductive element comprising:
• a unitary body having opposite ends, said ends having respective exterior surfaces;
• and
• an electrical path defined from the exterior surface of one end of the opposite ends of the body to the exterior surface of the other end of the opposite ends of the body;
• wherein the opposite ends of the nonconductive elastomeric element resiliently press against the respective opposite ends of the conductive element when a force is applied to the electrical contact.

A method for forming an electrical interconnect system comprising the steps of:

• providing a substrate;
• and
• providing an array of electrical contacts held in the substrate,
• providing for each of the electrical contacts:
• a nonconductive elastomeric element having opposite ends that are disposed beyond respective opposite sides of the substrate, and
• an associated unitary conductive element having first and second opposite ends that are respectively disposed exteriorly of the opposite ends of the nonconductive elastomeric element;
• and
• applying a force to the electrical contact, wherein when the force is applied the opposite ends of the nonconductive elastomeric element resiliently press against the respective opposite ends of the unitary conductive element.