Abstract: A method of forming a conductive network, having relatively flexible electrical conductor areas integral with relatively rigid electrically conductor areas including (a) providing a relatively rigid laminate having a dielectric lamina supporting, at least in part, a first electrically conductive lamina which is in electrically conductive intimate contact with a second electrically conductive lamina by way of an electrically conductive barrier layer, the first and second conductive laminae being of a material etchable by an etchant which is not an etchant for the barrier layer; (b) selectively etching desired portions of the aid second electrically conductive lamina to the barrier layer in at least the relatively flexible areas using the etchant; and (c) selectively etching desired exposed metallic portions of the laminate down to the dielectric lamina to form the conductive network using an etchant, the etchant chosen to etch both the conductive lamina and the barrier layer.

Abstract: A laminate comprising metal layers separated by an etchant barrier to control depth of etching of the laminate, the barrier being etchable by an etchant which is not an etchant for the layers. A cable incorporating such a laminate and having relatively flexible conductors integral with relatively rigid terminals. A method of making such a cable, using the laminate, by selectively etching the layers down to the barrier to form the conductors and terminals, stripping the barrier and laminating the conductor with an insulating material preferably extending over at least a portion of the terminals to reinforce the conductor terminal transition and a cable when made of such a method.

Abstract: In a flexible circuit connector assembly, a first circuit has exposed contacts which are positioned in register with the termination pads of another circuit by means of a connector which mechanically clamps the two circuits together. The connector includes a frame having an undersurface to which the first circuit is affixed. Locating posts project from that surface and are received in locating apertures in the second circuit to properly position the connector and the attached circuit relative to the second circuit. A generally C-shaped spring member engages around the frame with its arms extending beyond the locating posts and with its bridging segment extending more or less perallel to the frame reference surface.

Abstract: A switch module includes a base and an array of one or more switches spaced adjacent to one another on the base. Each switch includes a fixed contact as well as a moving contact and supporting arm therefor. All of the switches in the array are formed from a single planar conductive blank composed of a closed frame and first and second sets of opposed elongated cantilevered panels extending from opposite sides of the frame, one set of panels forming the stationary contacts and the other set of panels forming the moving contacts and supporting arms therefor. The blank is deformed to move all of the corresponding stationary and moving contacts into overlapping relation and to give bias to all of the contact arms so that they urge the associated moving contacts into or out of engagement with the corresponding fixed contacts.

Abstract: A connection system for connecting a flexible circuit having a row of printed contact areas to a PC board having a corresponding row of terminal posts employs a connector having a housing with a bottm wall and a pair of side walls at least one of which is movable with respect to the other. A row of post-receiving passages are present in the bottom wall which passages are arranged to receive the posts of the PC board. An edge margin of the flexible circuit is clamped between the housing side walls so that the contact areas thereon are aligned with the passages in the housing bottom wall and a set of springs positioned inside the housing flexes the circuit edge margin so that when the movable housing side wall is in its closed position, the row of contact areas overhang the passages in the housing bottom wall.

Abstract: An electrical circuit connection assembly aligns the corresponding contacts of two fine-line printed circuits. The assembly includes an alignment plate affixed to one of the circuits which has flexible legs whose ends engage in converging guide slots on the other circuit when the corresponding contacts of the two circuits are in gross registration. When the two circuits are clamped together, those legs flex outward along the slots so that they are wedged by the slot walls laterally in one direction or the other until they are centered in their slots to achieve fine registration of those circuit contacts.

Abstract: A programmable header constructed from an integral lamina circuit arrangement comprising a plurality of electrically conductive pins in fixed spaced relationship, at least one electrically conductive highway, an electrically conductive lowway, a plurality of electrically conductive cross-links each connecting a separate one of said pins to said lowway and a plurality of electrically conductive side-links each connecting a separate one of said pins to a said highway, wherein said highway or highways lie in a plane or planes spaced from and parallel to a plane in which lies said lowway and are superimposed on but spaced from said cross-links, and wherein said pins project normal to said planes in spaced parallel relationship, said lowway and portions of said links being free from said superimposition thereby to facilitate selective removal of desired portions of said links and lowway to break electrical continuity thereof so as to program interconnection between said pins in a desired manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides low cost electrical switch assemblies. The switch assembly comprises an array of resiliently flexible metallic conductors arranged in predetermined circuit pathways on a dielectric carrier panel. A plurality of apertures or cavities are provided at predetermined locations in the carrier panel. The switch contacts comprise a pair of generally L-shaped fingers which are integral extensions of the flexible conductors. The fingers extend cantilevered from opposite edge surfaces of the carrier panel defining an associated aperture or cavity, to beyond the geometric center of the said associated aperture or cavity, with the free ends of the fingers terminating adjacent one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides low cost electrical switch assemblies and methods for manufacturing same. The switch assembly comprises an array of resiliently flexible metallic conductors arranged in predetermined circuit pathways on a dielectric carrier panel. A plurality of apertures or cavities are provided at predetermined locations in the carrier panel. The switch contacts comprise a pair of generally L-shaped fingers which are integral extensions of the flexible conductors. The fingers extend from opposite edge surfaces of the carrier panel defining an associated aperture or cavity, to pass one another over or within their associated aperture or cavity, with the free ends of the fingers terminating adjacent one another.

Abstract: An electrical jumper cable comprising a plurality of spaced metallic conductors is formed from a rigid metallic sheet by selectively reducing the sheet in cross-section so as to define conductor patterns and integral terminal ends, and to render flexible areas of the conductors. The metallic conductors are laminated to flexible insulating films which support the conductors and maintain the conductors in spaced relation to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apertured circuit board having self-locking terminals which partially cover at least some of the apertures. The terminals, which are integral extensions of the circuit pathways, each include a pair of inwardly disposed generally L-shaped fingers. The terminals are adhesively anchored to the circuit board at the terminal peripheries and are covered in part by a dielectric overlay. The latter also provides environmental protection and electrical insulation to the circuit conductive pathways. The circuit board and integral sockets may be formed by photoimaging and chemical milling techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apertured circuit board having self-locking terminals which partially cover at least some of the apertures. The terminals, which are integral extensions of the circuit pathways, each include a pair of inwardly disposed generally L-shaped fingers. The terminals are adhesively anchored to the circuit board at the terminal peripheries and are covered in part by a dielectric overlay. The latter also provides environmental protection and electrical insulation to the circuit conductive pathways. The circuit board and integral sockets may be formed by photoimaging and chemical milling techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apertured circuit board having self-locking terminals which partially cover at least some of the apertures. The terminals, which are integral extensions of the circuit pathways, are adhesively anchored to the circuit board at the terminal peripheries and are covered in part by a dielectric overlay. The latter also provides environmental protection and electrical insulation to the circuit conductive pathways. A particular feature and advantage of the invention resides in the provision of an integral tie-down shoulder on each terminal for capturing by the dielectric overlay. The circuit board and integral sockets may be formed by photoimaging and chemical resist techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apertured circuit board having self-locking terminals which partially cover at least some of the apertures. The terminals, which are integral extensions of the circuit pathways, are adhesively anchored to the circuit board at the terminal peripheries and are covered in part by a dielectric overlay. The latter also provides environmental protection and electrical insulation to the circuit conductive pathways. A particular feature and advantage of the invention resides in the provision of an integral tie-down shoulder on each terminal for capturing by the dielectric overlay. The circuit board and integral sockets may be formed by photoimaging and chemical resist techniques.

Abstract: An electrical jumper cable comprising a plurality of spaced metallic conductors, each conductor having a flexible area and integrally formed rigid terminal ends, is provided. Starting with a metallic sheet having a thickness approximating that required for the conductor flexible areas, one or more mesas of thickness approximating that required for the terminal ends are formed on the edge regions of the sheet. The mesas may be formed by plating or casting so that the thickened edge regions are integral with the sheet central region. The resulting substrate is then chemically or mechanically milled so as to define the conductor patterns and terminal ends, and the metallic conductors laminated to flexible films so as to support and maintain the metallic conductors in spaced relation to one another.