Abstract: This invention is a means for interconnecting a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) or Flat Flexible Cable (FFC) with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) using a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) style interconnection system. It features a high reliability contact structure providing a Normally Closed (NC) contact configuration which is always engaged unless deactivated by means of a movable actuator.

Abstract: A system of keying and interlocking interconnection systems including rolling contact elements for use with disposable medical sensors including conductive ink circuits, flexible printed circuits, and printed circuit boards. The system includes stiffening elements of sufficient thickness and rigidity to protect the conductors and provide strain relief. The system also provides for keying, aligning, and interlocking of the interconnection system by providing indentations and/or protrusions in the stiffening elements on the male portion that correspond with features on the female portion of the interconnection system.

Abstract: The method and system of high-resistance, multiple-conductor flat cables which contain integral tunable resistance sections suitable for fine tuning the resistance of a conductor to match the resistance of the conductors to one another within a specified target value. The method involves the design and creation of the high-resistance, multiple-conductor flat cables and the tuning of the resistance of the conductor.

Abstract: This invention is an electrical connection method for connecting multiple conductor cable, ideally flat flexible cable. The method involves using an actuator for pressing the cable against multiple contacts in a base, each of which contacts has a sharp edge for removing insulation from the cable.

Abstract: A connector for connecting conductors of a flexible circuit to conductive elements comprising a one-piece, plastic housing defining at least one opening for access to the connector for contact with conductors of a flexible circuit located in the connector and biased for conductive contact with electrical contacts by a contact biasing spring, the flexible circuit and spring being mounted to a sled located in the housing and the sled having detents to engage respective openings in the housing to support the sled, and an associated method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical connection system that releasably connects the circuit paths of a flexible conductive circuit to a printed circuit board having a corresponding row of contacts, without the need for soldering, crimping or welding operations, or extensive preparation of the flexible circuit before connection. One embodiment has a least one spring contact formed in a cover; at least one rotatable cam; and a base. The cover and base snap together to house the rotatable cam(s). The connection is made by feeding the circuit into a slot in the cam, then rotating the cam to bring the circuit into contact with the spring contact which has a tapered insulation plane that pierces and peels back the dielectric covering of the conductive circuit to make a direct metal to metal, gas tight contact between the deflectable contact and the conductors of the conductive circuit.

Abstract: A zero insertion force (ZIF) connector for connecting a flat flexible cable (FFC) to contacts of a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising first and second housings which are relatively moveable between an unlocked state in which an FFC may be freely inserted into the housings for engagement with the contacts and a locked state in which the conductors of the FFC are captively engaged in electrical contact with the contacts; a latch system interconnecting the housing to latch the housings in their unlocked and locked state; and contact and FFC conductor guidance ribs sized and spaced to align the FFC conductors and the contacts for electrical connection of each conductor with an associated contact.

Abstract: A component alignment casing system for connecting circuits, and a method for making or assembling the component alignment casing system is disclosed. The system has at least one surface mountable component which has a plurality of exposed leads, a prepared component which has a plurality of exposed traces, an alignment base onto which the prepared component and the surface mountable component are laid, and a compressive cover that attaches to said alignment base. The alignment base has a plurality of alignment ribs to isolate and align the exposed traces of the prepared component. The prepared component and surface mountable components are electrically connected and attached together, preferably by soldering.

Abstract: A circuit to printed circuit board stored energy connector. The connector precisely aligns and interconnects conductors of “flexible circuits” (including conductive ink circuits (CIC), flexible printed circuits (FPC), and/or flat flexible cables (FFC)) directly to mating contacts on printed circuit boards. The connector is a zero insertion force (ZIF) type, and is a high density surface mount. The connector comprises mainly an actuator with an activation ridge, a deflectable flat spring contact in a spring support module, and circuit alignment features that use the flexible circuit's existing features—the outline and conductors—to accurately align the conductors of the flexible circuit to their corresponding mating spring contacts. The connector also includes circuit locators, a circuit compression flap and conductor alignment notches which work cooperatively to align and interconnect a flexible circuit to its spring contact.

Abstract: This invention results from the realization that a multiple conductor cable connector can be made more compact than previously available connectors by using a more narrow contact for each conductor in the cable, can be made more convenient by enabling all conductors contained in the cable to be connected with a single user motion, and can connect to cable without damaging the mechanical or electrical integrity of the cable conductors. This invention is an electrical connector for connecting multiple conductor cable, ideally flat flexible cable. The inventive electrical connector has a base for holding multiple contacts. The contacts should be positioned substantially in parallel with each other and are located at least partially within the base of the electrical connector. Each contact has at least one cutting edge. The cutting edge is preferably a part of the contact with a sharp edge capable of removing insulation from flat flexible cable.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical connector that provides a connection system that releasably connects the circuit paths of a flexible conductive circuit to a printed circuit board having a corresponding row of contacts, without the need for soldering, crimping or welding operations, or extensive preparation of the flexible circuit before connection. One embodiment has at least one spring contact formed in a cover; at least one rotatable cam; and a base with a circuit alignment window for initial alignment of a flexible conductive circuit introduced into the connector. The cover and base snap together to house the rotatable cam(s).

Abstract: A low cost, high energy direct circuit to circuit stored energy connector is disclosed. The connector precisely aligns and interconnects conductors of "flexible circuits" directly to mating contacts on printed circuit boards. The connector uses the flexible circuit conductors themselves to aid in alignment and eliminates the need for precise control of the outside dimensions of a flexible circuit's dielectric backplane or a precisely located alignment hole. The connector is a zero insertion force (ZIF) type, and is a high density surface mount. The connector comprises two major components: a connector housing and a circuit interconnection spring assembly. The housing is configured with a device for forming a direct flexible circuit conductor to printed circuit board mating contact interconnection. The circuit is retained in position by a multi-function spring assembly rotatably positionable with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A connector for connecting conductor areas of a flexible circuit to contact pads of a PC board edge connector in which the connector pivotably supports a pair of springs which pivot to a first position, upon insertion of a PC board through the board opening of the connector, in which frictional engagement between the PC board edge connector and the conductor areas is minimized, and, a second position during final insertion of the PC board edge connector into the connector, in which the springs provide a sufficient contact pressure for adequate electrical contact between the conductors areas of the flexible circuit and the contact pads of the PC board edge connector. The pivotable arrangement of the springs minimizes the wear and tear of the internal components and the contact pads while ensuring adequate electrical connection between the interconnected components.

Abstract: A connector for connecting flexible circuit conductors to contact pads of a PC board edge connector having a snap together housing of modular design having leaf springs used to resiliently bias the flexible circuits for contacting the pads, a slot for receiving the PC board edge connector, coil springs adjacent the slot for retaining the inserted PC board edge connector in the slot an alignment arrangement for alignment of the conductors and pads, protection for the free end regions of the flexible circuits and strain relief features, the connector being usable with conductors spaced 0.3 mm or less apart, and being easily assembled and disassembled.

Abstract: A self terminating supported printed circuit strain gauge structure has a printed circuit including at least one strain gauge, interconnecting circuitry interconnecting the strain gauge to a connector circuit arrangement of a connector for connecting the circuit to a PC board. The entire circuit including the strain gauge, the interconnecting circuitry and the connector arrangement is formed on a single contiguous flexible dielectric substrate. The interconnecting circuitry and the connector elements are formed of a highly conductive material at least partially overplated onto the strain gauge printed circuit. A resilient support layer is laminated to the surface of the base substrate opposite the circuit to form a spring support structure for reinforcing and supporting the strain gauge circuit.

Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit, including: first and second layers, each comprising dielectric material, at least one of these layers having an opening therethrough for which the other layer does not have a corresponding opening therethrough, at least one of the layers bearing a conductive path; there being disposed between and bonded to these layers a third layer comprising substantially chemically nonpermeable material to chemically isolate the conductive path against subsequent treatment of the printed circuit; all three layers having corresponding datums formed thereon located for relative mutual alignment of the corresponding features on the layers.

Abstract: This is a printed circuit comprising multiple layers and rigid and flexible portions and including a sheet of flexible substrate material extending over the entirety of the rigid and flexible portions and paths of conductive material carried by at least one side of the sheet of flexible substrate material with a sheet of flexible over-layer material extending over at least the entirety of the conductors in all the flexible portions. A flexible adhesive material may adhesively attach the sheet of flexible over-layer material to the entirety of all the flexible portions and a rigid substrate material extends over the entirety of all the rigid portions. A rigid adhesive material may adhesively attach the sheets of a rigid substrate material to the entirety of all the rigid portions. The rigid adhesive attaching the rigid substrate material to the rigid portions may extend out over the edge of the rigid portions onto the flexible portions to form a protective edge.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a flexible printed circuit or flat conductor tape cable with exposed terminal pads to the thru-hole terminals of a PC board or second flexible printed circuit includes a socket and conductive posts. Corresponding first ends of the posts project into the socket and corresponding second ends of the posts project from the bottom of the header for insertion into the PC board or second flexible printed circuit terminals. A connector is mounted to the end of the flexible circuit or flat conductor tape cable and it has post-receiving passages for receiving the post first ends so that those ends are electrically connected to the terminals pads of the flexible circuit or flat conductor tape cable when the connector is inserted into the header socket. Provision is also made for locking the connector in the header socket.

Abstract: A feldspar containing protective composition for paving, coating, sealing and the like includes a dry component mixed with a liquid component in an amount necessary to produce a desired consistency of the composition. The dry component includes about 40-50% by weight of feldspar aggregate, about 35-40% by weight of a mineral powder, such as a pottery grade feldspar, up to about 15% by weight of masonry mortar and up to about 7% by weight of cement. The total amount of masonry mortar and cement is at least about 10% by weight of the dry component. The liquid component is formed of an adhesive copolymer in an aqueous emulsion, such as ethylene vinyl acetate.