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
  • H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• • 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
  • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
  • H01R43/26—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device
• • 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
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
  • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
  • Y10T29/49204—Contact or terminal manufacturing
  • Y10T29/49208—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
  • Y10T29/49117—Conductor or circuit manufacturing
  • Y10T29/49204—Contact or terminal manufacturing
  • Y10T29/49208—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts
  • Y10T29/4921—Contact or terminal manufacturing by assembling plural parts with bonding

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a singulated elastomeric electrical contactor for high performance interconnect systems and a method of the same.
• the present disclosure relates to a method and a system for replaceable elastomeric pins with a mechanism for locating and securing these pins within a housing.
• An electrical interconnect mechanism includes at least two electrically conductive contact pads, an electrically conductive path connecting such contact pads, a housing, a compressing structure, and some form of compliant,
• the second contact technology employs a small metallic rocker for pressing against a non-conductive polymeric elastomer of various durometers.
• the polymeric elastomer provides a required force and a mechanical hysteresis.
• the rocker pushes back as one or more ends presses against the elastomeric spacer.
• This technology however is rather limited by the shape and type of object for which electrical contact is to be made. The main benefit of this technology is the long life of the contactors and the ease with which an individual contactor can be replaced.
• the third type of mechanical contactor involves a polymeric elastomeric material filled with metal particles.
• a key criterion would be addressing the resistive force that presses against the objects in need of connection. While force is needed to maintain the connection, a high amount of force is required in mechanically complex structures in order to press the objects together.
• a mechanical hysteresis is needed so that the aforementioned resistive force will return the contact pad to a nominal position after being compressed.
• Another criterion is that of the physical size of the interconnect system, X-Y direction (often described as "pitch").
• CRES contact resistance
• the present disclosure provides for a method and an electrical interconnect mechanism in which elastomeric pins are formed onto one or more metal retainer tabs each having at least one protrusion or tab extending laterally therefrom to engage a catch or recess of a laminated or formed housing so as to locate each of the elastomeric pins and secure them within the housing.
• champhering may be employed with a catch or recess in the housing to engagingly secure a protrusion or tab extending laterally from a side of said elastomeric pin.
• the elastomeric pin may have a solid metal ring or a side collar around the center of the pin wherein the ring has one or more tabs for engaging the recess in the housing and if preferred also the recess with a champfer.
• the present disclosure can be used for improving systems such as shown in US Patents 7326064 and 7297003.
• FIG 1 illustrates a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure in which a singulated elastomeric pin prior to compression into housing is depicted in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure of FIG. 1 in which a singulated elastomeric pin after insertion into a housing is depicted in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure of FIG. 2 in which a singulated elastomeric pin after insertion into a housing is depicted with plating being provided for better electrical conductivity and an optional metal retainer column and an optional BGA stop in accordance with the present disclosure;
• FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a grid array of the present disclosure in which singulated elastomeric pins are compressed by solder balls in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of another embodiment of the present disclosure in which a singulated elastomeric pin prior to insertion into housing is depicted similar to that of FIG.1 but without a champher in the housing and in accordance with the present disclosure;
• FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of another embodiment of the present disclosure in which a singulated elastomeric pin after insertion into a housing is depicted similar to FIG. 2 but with a slide collar and a metal plating lining the opening in the housing in accordance with the present disclosure;
• FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the present disclosure of a singulated elastomeric pin depicted in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present disclosure in which the elastomer pin is formed with one or more protrusions extending laterally to provide a retaining mechanism for engaging the catches in the housing wherein the housing is used as a catching stop to retain the pin in place;
• FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the present invention in which like the embodiment of Fig.8 the elastomer pin is formed to provide a retaining mechanism however in this embodiment the one or more protrusions are formed as a nail head shape of the elastomer in and engaging laterally protruding tabs for the catches or protrusions of the housing:
• FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of FIG. 9 with a printed circuit board or electrical device for placement underneath the elastomer pin to prevent the nail head shaped elastomer pin from slipping down and out of the housing; and
• FIG.l 1 is another embodiment somewhat similar to the embodiment in FIG 10 in which the elastomer pin is formed as two separate pins each having a nail head shaped protrusion for engaging the tabs of the housing.
• the present disclosure offers a method and a mechanical interconnect system for electrical interconnects that provides for replaceable individual elastomeric contactors that can be located and secured within a housing and still provide enhanced electrical conductive properties.
• FIG. 1 illustrates the basic concept in a first embodiment of the interconnect system of the present disclosure.
• the contactor crowns (1) which are optional, press into the objects for which it is desirous to make electrical connection. As the objects are pressed together, the conductive elastomeric connector material (5) is compressed.
• the conductive elastomeric connector material (5) is compressed.
• elastomeric connector (5) provides both the necessary force and the conductive paths to make the electrical connection thru the contact
• the housing (4) provides structural support, aligns / retains the individual elastomeric contactor (5), and prevents damage to the elastomeric via over-compression.
• a retaining tab (2) and a catch for the tab in the housing (3) both provide the mechanisms for assembling the interconnect system and replacing an individual elastomeric contactor (5).
• the housing preferably manufactured in a laminated or in an ejected molding fashion, permits an individual contactor (5) to be pressed into the housing (4) by bending metal tabs (2) to either side of the contactor (5).
• the metal tabs (2) extend laterally from the contactor (5) as shown in FIG. 1.
• the optional champher (6) helps to guide the tabs (2) into the locked position. Once in place, the tabs (2) return to their previous horizontal state.
• FIG. 2 An alternative embodiment is illustrated in which the housing 4 is depicted without the optional champher. In this embodiment tabs (2) are needed to engage the catches (3) of the housing (4).
• FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present disclosure in which the singulated elastomeric contactor is guided by placing a solid metal ring around the center of the elastomeric contactor to provide a slide collar (7).
• This slide collar (7) has the added benefit of preventing the elastomeric contactor from expanding into the catch opening in the laminated housing (4) when the elastomeric contactor is in a compressed state. This is ensured when the slide collar's (7) length extends the full length of the catch opening while considering the possible travel of the latched probe.
• the inside hole of the housing (4) may be plated with a metal lining (9) (See FIG 3).
• the housing (4) may be extended to prevent over-compression of the elastomeric contactor.
• (8) BGA Stop (see FIG 3).
• the singulated elastomeric contactor will be placed between two objects that desire an electrical connection. The objects will be pressed together using mechanical force. As the objects press together, the elastomeric contactor begins to compress. In compression it supplies the force necessary to drive the optional crown points (1) into the object. This breaks through dirt and oxides on an object.
• the conductive elastomeric (5) also conducts electrical current with very low contact resistance when compressed. Because each elastomeric contactor moves independently of its neighbor, the invention allows adaptation to mechanical co-planar concerns in the connecting objects (see FIG. 4).
• FIG. 6 Another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 6 where the conductive elastomeric column (5) is formed on only one side of the slide collar (7) and a contact (1) is formed on the bottom of the slide collar (7). Additionally the bottom of the slide collar (7) can be flat for direct solder attach to a desired object. Further, while all the aforementioned contactors (1) are illustrated with a crown tip configuration, it should be understood that the contact could be formed in numerous configurations dependent on the application and the present disclosure is not limited to any specific configuration.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the metal retainer tabs (1) with a slide collar (2). It should be noted that the retainer tabs (1) can be any number or else shaped as a solid ring around the slide collar.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 show two additional embodiments of the present disclosure in which the retaining mechanism 5a for the elastomer pin 5 is formed as part of the elastomer pin 5 and preferably made of the same elastomer material.
• the elastomer pin 5 is formed with protrusions 5a extending laterally from each side of and possibly including the entire perimeter of the pin 5 to provide a retaining mechanism 5a for engaging the catches 1 lin the housing 4 and optionally included a chamfered surface of the interior of the housing where the pin 5 is inserted for the purposes of guiding the pin 5 into the catch or catches or protrusions of the housing 4.
• the retaining mechanism 5a can be formed as a one piece unit made solely of elastomer or conductive elastomer material and reduces the cost of utilizing a separate retaining material to retain the pin 5 in place.
• the protrusions can be formed as a continuous ring around the perimeter of the pin 5 or else alternatively as one, two or more tabs or protrusions off the sides of the pin 5.
• the elastomer pin 5 is formed to provide a retaining mechanism 5b.
• the protrusions 5b are formed as a nail head shape 5b as part of the elastomer pin 5 and engages laterally protruding tabs or other protrusions 11a of the housing 4 and if optionally included the chamfered surfaces of the interior of the housing 4 where the pin 5 is inserted ) .
• the retaining mechanism 11a can be formed as a one piece unit made solely of elastomer material and reduces the cost of utilizing a separate retaining material to retain the pin 5 in place, This time the pin 5 is formed with a nail head configuration 5b locked in place with the
• the bottom of the housing is either permanently bonded or compressed via an optional compression mechanism such as but not limited to screws or fastening mechanisms known in the art but also can be fastened by temporary or permanent adhesive or epoxy or any other bonding agents known in the art . It should be noted that the same bonding technique can be utilized on the top and bottom of each compression stop and/or housing and/or BGA stop for each embodiment of the present invention therefore alleviating the need for a mechanical fastening mechanism such as but not limited to screws or other such fastening mechanisms.
• the bottom of the housing provides alignment for the bottom of the nail head at the bottom of the pin to align to an electrical component such as but not limited to a pad of a printed circuit board 12 (pcb) thereby holding the nail head portion of the pin in place as shown in FIG. 10
• the nail head portion of the pin can be formed to encompass the entire perimeter of the pin 5. It is further understood that the housing 4 acts as an over compression stop for each of the embodiments in the present disclosure.
• FIG.11 is another embodiment somewhat similar to the embodiment in FIG 10 in which the elastomer pin 5 is formed one of two separate pins, the other one being a metal pin, each having a nail head shaped protrusion 5b for engaging the catches 5 of the housing 4.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Connecting Device With Holders (AREA)
• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49380498

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (24)

• 2013
  • 2013-03-15 US US13/815,737 patent/US9153890B2/en active Active
  • 2013-03-28 WO PCT/US2013/000096 patent/WO2013158162A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-03-28 KR KR20147012049A patent/KR20140146573A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2013-03-28 SG SG11201405599WA patent/SG11201405599WA/en unknown
  • 2013-03-28 CN CN201380004163.0A patent/CN104081585B/zh active Active
  • 2013-03-28 EP EP13777883.3A patent/EP2798702A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-03-28 JP JP2015506980A patent/JP2015518636A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-04-10 TW TW102112597A patent/TWI593177B/zh active
• 2015
  • 2015-08-19 US US14/830,019 patent/US9680245B2/en active Active
• 2018
  • 2018-02-01 JP JP2018016385A patent/JP2018101631A/ja not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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