Electrical connector
AssigneeTektronix, Inc.
InventorWilliam E. Berg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure describes an electrical connector for joining microcircuit or microcircuit modules, such as leadless integrated or hybrid circuit carriers to utilization means, such as printed or etched circuit boards or similar means. The electrical contacts through which the microcircuit and utilization means are connected are formed and etched in place on an elastomeric material, precisely located; the material acting as a restoring force to maintain connection. The connector when used in a system maintains transmission line mediums in a single environment.
Claims14
a circuit board having first electrical conductive path means fixed upon a surface thereof;
- a microcircuit having second electrical conductive path means fixed upon a surface thereof;
- 1ocation means provided by said circuit member of for locating said microcircuit along said circuit board so that said first and second electrical conductive path means are positioned adjacent to each other;
- and
- means for electrically connecting said first and second electrical conductive path means together, including
- (a) frame means,
- (b) elastomeric material removably attached to said frame means and being deformable to exert a resilient force,
- (c) conductive material in the form of electrical contacts bonded to an undulating surface of said elastomeric material to electrically engage respective ones of said first and second electrical conductive path means, and
- (d) securing means for removably securing said frame means to said circuit board with said electrical contacts on said elastomeric material electrically engaging said first and second electrical conductive path means, said elastomeric material being deformed by said securing means so that said resilient force causes said electrical contacts to wipingly engage said first and second electrical conductive path means thereby forming an electrical connection therebetween and maintaining said
- microcircuit in position on said circuit board.]
[2. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said circuit board has a ground plane on another surface thereof and said microcircuit has a conductive coating on another surface thereof, said conductive coating being in electrical engagement with said ground plane.]
[3. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrical conductive path means are in the same plane.]
[4. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrical conductive path means are positioned in stepped relationship to each other.]
[5. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said location means comprises an opening in said circuit board into which said microcircuit is disposed.]
A high-frequency electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting a conductive path of a first circuit element with a conductive path of a second circuit element, said system comprising:
- (a) a resilient member having a surface defined by two protruding portions and an intermediate indented portion;
- (b) a contact of flexible metallic material overlaying a substantial part of each said portion of said surface of said resilient member and extending no further than the boundaries of said surface, said contact member also having a surface defined by two protruding portions and an intermediate indented portion, said surfaces of said resilient member and said conduct member being further configured such that said resilient member provides a restoring support for said contact member and such that a common force applied against both protruding portions of said contact member causes said portions to move away from each other;
- (c) rigid frame means for holding said resilient member and said contact member against said circuit elements such that a first protruding portion of said contact member touches a conductive path of said first circuit element and a second protruding portion of said contact member touches a conductive path of said second circuit element;
- and
- (d) means for urging said frame means, and thereby said resilient member and said contact member, further against said circuit elements so as to cause said protruding portions of said contact member to move away from each other and thereby wipingly engage said conductive paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.