Abstract: An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of composite contacts are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The composite contacts include a conductive member having a central portion and at least first and second interface portions. One or more polymeric layers extend along at least the central portion conductive member. One or more coupling features on the composite contacts engage with the housing. At least one engagement feature formed in the polymeric layers proximate the first interface portion mechanically couples with the terminals on the first circuit member.

Abstract: An electrical assembly including a socket assembly, a first circuit member electrically coupled to contact members along a first side of a socket assembly, and a second circuit member electrically coupled to the contact members along a second side of the socket assembly. A flexible circuit member is interposed between the socket assembly and the second circuit member. The flexible circuit member comprises a plurality of electrical traces electrically coupled with the contact members on the socket assembly. In one embodiment the flexible circuit member comprises a distal portion extending the electrical traces beyond the socket assembly.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect assembly includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of contact members are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The contact members include a base portion and one or more beams. A layer is molded to the housing and the contact members to retain the contact members in the openings. A solder member is preferably coupled with an engagement feature on the base portion of the contact member.

Abstract: An electrical assembly including a socket assembly, a first circuit member electrically coupled to contact members along a first side of a socket assembly, and a second circuit member electrically coupled to the contact members along a second side of the socket assembly. A flexible circuit member is interposed between the socket assembly and the second circuit member. The flexible circuit member comprises a plurality of electrical traces electrically coupled with the contact members on the socket assembly. In one embodiment the flexible circuit member comprises a distal portion extending the electrical traces beyond the socket assembly.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect assembly includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of contact members are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The contact members include a base portion and one or more beams. A layer is molded to the housing and the contact members to retain the contact members in the openings. A solder member is preferably coupled with an engagement feature on the base portion of the contact member.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect assembly includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of electrical contact member are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The contact members have at least one engagement feature forming a snap-fit relationship with the housing. A stabilizing structure on the housing limits deflection of the contact members in at least one direction.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect assembly includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of contact members are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The contact members include a base portion, a first beam having a proximal end attached to the base portion and a distal end extending away from the base portion in a first direction, and a second beam having a proximal end attached to the base portion and a distal end extending away from the base portion generally in the first direction. The first and second beams are configured to form at least one loop. At least one tab is attached to the base portion. The tab includes at least one engagement feature mechanically coupled to a solder member.

Abstract: A normally closed connector apparatus for electrically connecting first and second circuit members. An electrically insulative connector housing having a first portion translatable relative to a second portion is provided. The connector housing is adapted to be positioned substantially between the first and second circuit members. A plurality of resilient contact members are retained in the first portion of the housing. The contact members have first distal ends that do not extend substantially above an upper surface of the second portion. Displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion in a translated configuration positions the first distal ends of the contact members above the upper surface of the second portion to electrically couple with the first circuit member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a very fine pitch interconnect between a flexible circuit member and another circuit member with extremely co-planar electrical contacts that have a large range of compliance. An electrical interconnect assembly that can be used as a die-level test probe, a wafer probe, and a printed circuit probe is also disclosed. The second circuit member can be a printed circuit board, another flexible circuit, a bare-die device, an integrated circuit device, an organic or inorganic substrate, a rigid circuit and virtually any other type of electrical component. A plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a housing. The electrical contacts may be arranged randomly or in a one or two-dimensional array. The housing acts as a receptacle to individually locate and generally align the electrical contacts, while preventing adjacent contacts from touching. The first ends of the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a compliant interconnect assembly adapted to electrically couple a first circuit member to a second circuit member. The first dielectric layer has a first major surface and a plurality of through openings. A plurality of electrical traces are positioned against the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The electric traces include a plurality of conductive compliant members having first distal ends aligned with a plurality of the openings in the first dielectric layer. The first distal ends are adapted to electrically couple with the first circuit member. The second dielectric layer has a first major surface positioned against the electric traces and the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has a plurality of through openings through which the electric traces electrically couple with the second circuit member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a compliant interconnect assembly adapted to electrically couple a first circuit member to a second circuit member. The first dielectric layer has a first major surface and a plurality of through openings. A plurality of electrical traces are positioned against the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The electric traces include a plurality of conductive compliant members having first distal ends aligned with a plurality of the openings in the first dielectric layer. The first distal ends are adapted to electrically couple with the first circuit member. The second dielectric layer has a first major surface positioned against the electric traces and the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has a plurality of through openings through which the electric traces electrically couple with the second circuit member.

Abstract: A normally closed connector apparatus for electrically connecting first and second circuit members. An electrically insulative connector housing having a first portion translatable relative to a second portion is provided. The connector housing is adapted to be positioned substantially between the first and second circuit members. A plurality of resilient contact members are retained in the first portion of the housing. The contact members have first distal ends that do not extend substantially above an upper surface of the second portion. Displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion in a translated configuration positions the first distal ends of the contact members above the upper surface of the second portion to electrically couple with the first circuit member.

Abstract: An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member. The electrical interconnect assembly includes a housing having a plurality of through openings extending between a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of contact members are positioned in a plurality of the through openings. The contact members include a base portion, a first beam having a proximal end attached to the base portion and a distal end extending away from the base portion in a first direction, and a second beam having a proximal end attached to the base portion and a distal end extending away from the base portion generally in the first direction. The first and second beams are configured to form at least one loop. At least one tab is attached to the base portion. The tab includes at least one engagement feature mechanically coupled to a solder member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a compliant interconnect assembly. The compliant interconnect assembly includes a first carrier having a first major surface and a plurality of through openings. A first major surface of a first flexible circuit member having a plurality of electrical traces is attached to the first major surface of the first carrier. The electrical traces include a plurality of compliant members having at least one distal end projecting in one of the openings of the first carrier. A first major surface of a second carrier is positioned opposite a second major surface of the first flexible circuit member. The second carrier has a plurality of through openings aligned with the plurality of the compliant members.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a compliant interconnect assembly adapted to electrically couple a first circuit member to a second circuit member. The first dielectric layer has a first major surface and a plurality of through openings. A plurality of electrical traces are positioned against the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The electric traces include a plurality of conductive compliant members having first distal ends aligned with a plurality of the openings in the first dielectric layer. The first distal ends are adapted to electrically couple with the first circuit member. The second dielectric layer has a first major surface positioned against the electric traces and the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has a plurality of through openings through which the electric traces electrically couple with the second circuit member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a fine pitch interconnect between a flexible circuit member and another circuit member with co-planar electrical contacts that have a large range of compliance. The interconnect assembly includes a substrate with one or more compliant raised portions. At least one flexible circuit member having a first surface with a plurality of contact pads and a second surface is provided. The substrate is located along the second surface of the flexible circuit member with the compliant raised portions aligned with the contact pads so that the compliant raised portions bias the contact pads with corresponding contact pads on the first circuit member when in a compressive relationship.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a compliant interconnect assembly adapted to electrically couple a first circuit member to a second circuit member. The first dielectric layer has a first major surface and a plurality of through openings. A plurality of electrical traces are positioned against the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The electric traces include a plurality of conductive compliant members having first distal ends aligned with a plurality of the openings in the first dielectric layer. The first distal ends are adapted to electrically couple with the first circuit member. The second dielectric layer has a first major surface positioned against the electric traces and the first major surface of the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer has a plurality of through openings through which the electric traces electrically couple with the second circuit member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a very fine pitch interconnect between a flexible circuit member and another circuit member with extremely co-planar electrical contacts that have a large range of compliance. An electrical interconnect assembly that can be used as a die-level test probe, a wafer probe, and a printed circuit probe is also disclosed. The second circuit member can be a printed circuit board, another flexible circuit, a bare-die device, an integrated circuit device, an organic or inorganic substrate, a rigid circuit and virtually any other type of electrical component. A plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a housing. The electrical contacts may be arranged randomly or in a one or two-dimensional array. The housing acts as a receptacle to individually locate and generally align the electrical contacts, while preventing adjacent contacts from touching. The first ends of the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving a very fine pitch interconnect between a flexible circuit member and another circuit member with extremely co-planar electrical contacts that have a large range of compliance. An electrical interconnect assembly that can be used as a die-level test probe, a wafer probe, and a printed circuit probe is also disclosed. The second circuit member can be a printed circuit board, another flexible circuit, a bare-die device, an integrated circuit device, an organic or inorganic substrate, a rigid circuit and virtually any other type of electrical component. A plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a housing. The electrical contacts may be arranged randomly or in a one or two-dimensional array. The housing acts as a receptacle to individually locate and generally align the electrical contacts, while preventing adjacent contacts from touching. The first ends of the electrical contacts are electrically coupled to a flexible circuit member.

Abstract: A connector apparatus including a connector housing having one or more apertures. One or more contact members are positioned within each of the apertures. Each contact member has a first interface portion adjacent to a receiving opening and a second interface portion. The contact members are moveable between an engaged and a disengaged position within the receiving opening. A first compliant material retains the contact members to the connector housing. A second compliant material is positioned to bias the contact members toward the engaged position. An actuator is releasably engaged with the housing. The contact members are biased toward the engaged position when the actuator is engaged with the housing.