Continuous sliding electrical contact tape

An electrical connector system, comprising:

• a first electrical connector configured to send an electrical signal;
• a second electrical connector configured to receive an electrical signal;
• and
• an electrical connector tape having:
• a flexible conductor strip defining a conductor strip contact surface configured to interact with the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, the flexible conductor strip being arranged to provide electrical connectivity between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, and
• a flexible insulator portion substantially surrounding the flexible conductor strip, the flexible insulator portion being arranged to expose the conductor strip contact surface along the length of the tape,
• wherein the flexible conductor strip is configured to maintain electrical connectivity between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector while at least one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector glide against the flexible conductor strip along the length of the tape;
• wherein the flexible insulator portion defines a connector slot along which the first electrical connector passes;
• and wherein the electrical connector tape further includes:
• a conductive coating disposed on an outer surface of the flexible insulator portion, the conductive coating being electrically grounded;
• and
• a set of EMI shielding strips connected to the conductive coating, the set of EMI shielding strips being configured to, in conjunction with the conductive coating, provide EMI isolation to the connector slot defined by the flexible insulator portion regardless of whether the first electrical connector resides within the connector slot defined by the flexible insulator portion.

A method of sending an electrical signal across a joint comprising:

• attaching an electrical connector tape to a joint, the electrical connector tape having,
• a flexible conductor strip defining a conductor strip contact surface configured to interact with a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, the flexible conductor strip being arranged to provide electrical connectivity between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, and
• a flexible insulator portion substantially surrounding the flexible conductor strip, the flexible insulator portion being arranged to expose the conductor strip contact surface along the length of the tape;
• connecting the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector to the electrical connector tape;
• sending an electrical signal from the first electrical connector across the electrical connector tape to the second electrical connector;
• and
• maintaining electrical connectivity between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector while at least one of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector glide against the flexible conductor strip along the length of the tape;
• wherein the flexible insulator portion defines a connector slot along which the first electrical connector passes;
• wherein the electrical connector tape further includes:
• a conductive coating disposed on an outer surface of the flexible insulator portion, the conductive coating being electrically grounded, and
• a set of EMI shielding strips connected to the conductive coating, the set of EMI shielding strips being configured to, in conjunction with the conductive coating, provide EMI isolation to the connector slot defined by the flexible insulator portion regardless of whether the first electrical connector resides the connector slot defined by the flexible insulator portion.