GB2155251A - Anisotropic electrical connectors - Google Patents
Anisotropic electrical connectors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2155251A GB2155251A GB8503465A GB8503465A GB2155251A GB 2155251 A GB2155251 A GB 2155251A GB 8503465 A GB8503465 A GB 8503465A GB 8503465 A GB8503465 A GB 8503465A GB 2155251 A GB2155251 A GB 2155251A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fibres
- connector
- tows
- electrical connector
- laminate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
- H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
- H01R13/2407—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means
- H01R13/2414—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means conductive elastomers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/50—Fixed connections
- H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
- H01R12/52—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
- H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
- H01R12/714—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/50—Fixed connections
- H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
- H01R12/70—Coupling devices
- H01R12/7082—Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
- H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
- H05K3/30—Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor
- H05K3/32—Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits
- H05K3/325—Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor electrically connecting electric components or wires to printed circuits by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor
Landscapes
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
Abstract
An electrical connector consists of a body of silicon elastomer (14,32) with a number of carbon fibres (12) extending through the body. The fibres are substantially parallel, very finely pitched and insulated from each other so that the connector conducts in the direction of the fibres with virtually no conduction in other directions. A very thin connector can be positioned between a chip and a substrate (Figure 2, not shown) to connect the contact pads on the chip to conductors on the substrate or between butting ends of multi-terminal connectors (Figure 3, not shown). The fibres may extend along the length of a thin tape (32, Figure 4) Accurate location of the connector is not required and it is virtually independent of thermal expansion and can be made gas tight due to the resilience of the silicon elastomer. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in electrical connectors
This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly relates to electrical connectors for connecting a first plurality of finely pitched conductors to a second plurality of finely pitched conductors.
One such example is the mounting of the chip in an integrated circuit. As more complex and smaller chips are developed they have more connections which must be smaller and have finer pitches. joining these to contact pads on the substrate of the integrated circuit therefore is becoming more difficult and time consuming and hence more expensive.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which will more easily permit the connection of very small finely pitched conductors.
According to the present invention an electrical connector comprises an insulating member with a plurality of conductive fibres therein, the fibres being arranged substantially parallel to each other singly or in tows, each fibre or tow extending completely through the member and being insulated from the other fibres or tows by the insulating material of the member.
Preferably, the insulating member comprises a thin laminate.
The fibres or tows may be arranged substantially in the plane of the laminate or they may be substantially perpendicular to the laminate. The laminate may have a square, rectangular, or circular shape.
The fibres or tows may be metal plated to improve their conductivity.
The fibres are preferably carbon fibres.
The insulating material is preferably a silicon elastomer.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a cutaway perspective view of an electrical connector according to the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates the connector of Figure 1 used for mounting a chip on a substrate;
Figure 3 illustrates a circular connector for connecting two multi-conductor circular electrical connectors; and,
Figure 4 shows a thin elongate connector suitable for connecting more distant components.
Figure 1 is a cutaway respective view of an electrical connector 10 constructed from a silicon elastomer such as a silicon polymer. A plurality of carbon fibres 12 extends completely through the connector and the ends of the carbon fibres are exposed where they meet the surface 14 and 16 of the connector. The fibres are arranged substantially parallel to each other on a very fine pitch but are insulated from each other by the silicon polymer. The connector 10 may consist of a thin member having a plurality of fibres arranged only in one plane or the connector may be square, rectangular, circular or any other suitable shape with the fibres regularly arranged through the connector.
Tows of carbon fibres can be used in addition to or instead of the individual fibres shown, and the fibres can be metal coated with, for example, copper or aluminium to improve their conductivity.
It will be seen that the connector 10 will conduct between the surfaces 14 and 16 with virtually no conduction across the connector.
Figure 2 illustrates a chip 18 with contact pads (not shown) mounted on a substrate 20 with surface tracking and contacts 21. Instead of the more usual wires connecting the contact pads on the chip to the larger contacts on the substrate a very thin connector 22 of the type shown in Figure 1 is located between the chip 18 and the substrate 20.
The connector 22 conducts from top to bottom and thus connects the contact pads of the chip 18 with the appropriate surface tracking on the subtrate 20.
Accurate location of the chip relative to the substrate is still required, but the connector 22 need not be accurately positioned and is virtually independent of thermal expansion and can be made gas-tight.
A similar disc-shaped connector 24 adapted to conduct horizontally as seen in Figure 3 can be used with circular connectors 26 and 28, each having a plurality of "butt end" contacts 30 to provide a gas-tight joint. For square and other shaped connectors, a correspondingly square or other shaped silicon elastomer/carbon fibre connector can be provided.
With insulated carbon fibres laid lengthwise within a silicon polymer strip 32 as shown in Figure 4, a form of ribbon cable can be produced.
Bunched fibres or tows may be used to provide a similar product. In both cases the cable can be cut at any point and by applying pressure, a gas tight joint can be made to a printed circuit board 34 having contacts 36 without the need for an intermediate connector. Thus remotely located printed circuit boards or other devices can be connected.
1. An electrical connector comprising an insulating member with a plurality of electrically conductive fibres therein, the fibres being arranged substantially parallel to each other singly or in tows, each fibre or tow being insulated from the other fibres or tows by the insulating material of the member and extending completely through the member.
2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 in which the insulating member comprises a thin laminate.
3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 in which the fibres or tows are arranged substantially in the plane of the laminate.
4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 in which the fibres or tows are arranged substantially perpendicular to the laminate.
5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the laminate has a square, rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (8)
1. An electrical connector comprising an insulating member with a plurality of electrically conductive fibres therein, the fibres being arranged substantially parallel to each other singly or in tows, each fibre or tow being insulated from the other fibres or tows by the insulating material of the member and extending completely through the member.
2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 in which the insulating member comprises a thin laminate.
3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2 in which the fibres or tows are arranged substantially in the plane of the laminate.
4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 in which the fibres or tows are arranged substantially perpendicular to the laminate.
5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the laminate has a square, rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape.
6. An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fibres are carbon fibres.
7. An electrical connector as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fibres are metal plated to increase their electrical conductivity.
8. An electrical connector constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8405598A GB8405598D0 (en) | 1984-03-02 | 1984-03-02 | Electrical connectors |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8503465D0 GB8503465D0 (en) | 1985-03-13 |
GB2155251A true GB2155251A (en) | 1985-09-18 |
Family
ID=10557526
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8405598A Pending GB8405598D0 (en) | 1984-03-02 | 1984-03-02 | Electrical connectors |
GB8503465A Withdrawn GB2155251A (en) | 1984-03-02 | 1985-02-11 | Anisotropic electrical connectors |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8405598A Pending GB8405598D0 (en) | 1984-03-02 | 1984-03-02 | Electrical connectors |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
JP (1) | JPS6110885A (en) |
GB (2) | GB8405598D0 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4808112A (en) * | 1986-09-25 | 1989-02-28 | Tektronix, Inc. | High density connector design using anisotropically pressure-sensitive electroconductive composite sheets |
US5049090A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1991-09-17 | Applied Microsystems Corporation | Electrical connector |
EP0508635A2 (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1992-10-14 | Tektronix Inc. | Attenuator apparatus and method of assembly |
EP0521672A1 (en) * | 1991-07-01 | 1993-01-07 | AT&T Corp. | Integrated circuit interconnection technique |
EP0547852A2 (en) * | 1991-12-18 | 1993-06-23 | Xerox Corporation | Multilayer wiring board, interlevel connector, and method for making same |
EP0558855A2 (en) * | 1992-03-02 | 1993-09-08 | AT&T Corp. | Circuit board stack with novel cross-over cells |
WO2000033427A1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2000-06-08 | Intel Corporation | Controlling the heat expansion of electrical couplings |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1488226A (en) * | 1975-01-24 | 1977-10-12 | Seiko Instr & Electronics | Liquid crystal display device |
GB1493544A (en) * | 1975-09-08 | 1977-11-30 | Duff Norton Co | Mechanical actuator |
US4149026A (en) * | 1975-09-12 | 1979-04-10 | Amp Incorporated | Multi-pair cable having low crosstalk |
GB2048582A (en) * | 1979-04-02 | 1980-12-10 | Germar Ind Group | Multiple-lead electrical connector |
GB2069251A (en) * | 1980-02-09 | 1981-08-19 | Shinetsu Polymer Co | Electric connectors for pin terminals |
GB2094567A (en) * | 1981-01-26 | 1982-09-15 | Nat Res Dev | Apparatus including electric current transfer |
US4443277A (en) * | 1982-09-23 | 1984-04-17 | Northern Telecom Limited | Method of making a telecommunications cable from a shaped planar array of conductors |
EP0110383A2 (en) * | 1982-12-01 | 1984-06-13 | Toray Industries, Inc. | Low resistance elastic connector and preparation of the same |
GB2133227A (en) * | 1982-12-07 | 1984-07-18 | Shinetsu Polymer Co | An electrical connector for flat cables |
-
1984
- 1984-03-02 GB GB8405598A patent/GB8405598D0/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-02-11 GB GB8503465A patent/GB2155251A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-03-01 JP JP4097885A patent/JPS6110885A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1488226A (en) * | 1975-01-24 | 1977-10-12 | Seiko Instr & Electronics | Liquid crystal display device |
GB1493544A (en) * | 1975-09-08 | 1977-11-30 | Duff Norton Co | Mechanical actuator |
US4149026A (en) * | 1975-09-12 | 1979-04-10 | Amp Incorporated | Multi-pair cable having low crosstalk |
GB2048582A (en) * | 1979-04-02 | 1980-12-10 | Germar Ind Group | Multiple-lead electrical connector |
GB2069251A (en) * | 1980-02-09 | 1981-08-19 | Shinetsu Polymer Co | Electric connectors for pin terminals |
GB2094567A (en) * | 1981-01-26 | 1982-09-15 | Nat Res Dev | Apparatus including electric current transfer |
US4443277A (en) * | 1982-09-23 | 1984-04-17 | Northern Telecom Limited | Method of making a telecommunications cable from a shaped planar array of conductors |
EP0110383A2 (en) * | 1982-12-01 | 1984-06-13 | Toray Industries, Inc. | Low resistance elastic connector and preparation of the same |
GB2133227A (en) * | 1982-12-07 | 1984-07-18 | Shinetsu Polymer Co | An electrical connector for flat cables |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4808112A (en) * | 1986-09-25 | 1989-02-28 | Tektronix, Inc. | High density connector design using anisotropically pressure-sensitive electroconductive composite sheets |
US5049090A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1991-09-17 | Applied Microsystems Corporation | Electrical connector |
EP0508635A2 (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1992-10-14 | Tektronix Inc. | Attenuator apparatus and method of assembly |
EP0508635A3 (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1993-01-13 | Tektronix Inc. | Attenuator apparatus and method of assembly |
US5200717A (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1993-04-06 | Tektronix, Inc. | Active electrical circuitry interconnected and shielded by elastomer means |
EP0521672A1 (en) * | 1991-07-01 | 1993-01-07 | AT&T Corp. | Integrated circuit interconnection technique |
EP0547852A2 (en) * | 1991-12-18 | 1993-06-23 | Xerox Corporation | Multilayer wiring board, interlevel connector, and method for making same |
EP0547852A3 (en) * | 1991-12-18 | 1994-02-16 | Xerox Corp | |
EP0558855A2 (en) * | 1992-03-02 | 1993-09-08 | AT&T Corp. | Circuit board stack with novel cross-over cells |
EP0558855A3 (en) * | 1992-03-02 | 1996-05-01 | American Telephone & Telegraph | Circuit board stack with novel cross-over cells |
WO2000033427A1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2000-06-08 | Intel Corporation | Controlling the heat expansion of electrical couplings |
US6221459B1 (en) | 1998-11-30 | 2001-04-24 | Intel Corporation | Controlling the heat expansion of electrical couplings |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8503465D0 (en) | 1985-03-13 |
GB8405598D0 (en) | 1984-04-04 |
JPS6110885A (en) | 1986-01-18 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0699354B1 (en) | Planar cable array | |
USRE37368E1 (en) | High density, high bandwidth, coaxial cable, flexible circuit and circuit board connection assembly | |
US6364713B1 (en) | Electrical connector adapter assembly | |
KR950026056A (en) | Flat cables and their connection tools and electrical circuit devices | |
US4191440A (en) | Electrical connector for coupling power leads to circuit boards | |
US20020157865A1 (en) | Flexible flat circuitry with improved shielding | |
US4894022A (en) | Solderless surface mount card edge connector | |
TW374959B (en) | High density connector having a ball type of contact surface | |
US5281150A (en) | Method and apparatus for connecting cable to the surface of printed circuit boards or the like | |
GB1380281A (en) | High density electrical connector | |
KR950012747B1 (en) | Transmission cable connector having a shell | |
US20100210120A1 (en) | Connector | |
GB2159007A (en) | Anisotropic connectors for connecting printed circuit boards | |
US5049090A (en) | Electrical connector | |
GB2155251A (en) | Anisotropic electrical connectors | |
US6843660B2 (en) | Cable systems and related methods | |
GB2069251A (en) | Electric connectors for pin terminals | |
GB2035716A (en) | Improvements relating to electrical signal connectors | |
US5496970A (en) | Planar cable array | |
US4706381A (en) | Multi contact connector having ground terminal block connected with tape wires and method of connecting tape wires to multi contact connector | |
JPS62188181A (en) | Surface mount connector | |
US7384270B2 (en) | Electrical connector | |
JPH11121060A (en) | Multi-pin connector between printed circuit boards | |
KR920006047Y1 (en) | Flat cable connector | |
JPS6255879A (en) | Connection construction of contact |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |