Abstract: A connector body (10 10', 10") is mounted on a mother board (11) and has a compressible electrical connector (15). A daughter board (22) is slidably inserted into the connector body (10, 10', 10") perpendicularly of the mother board (11). A deflection means (34, 56) engages a side of the daughter board (22) and deflects the daughter board (22) away from the compressible electrical connector (15) to prevent damage thereto after the daughter board (22) is slidably inserted. When the daughter board (22) is fully inserted, a retaining means 28, 43, 69) exerts a lateral clamping force on the daughter board (22).

Abstract: An interface for connecting coplanar printed circuit ("PC") boards (10, 20) using a flexible jumper circuit (50) for bridging the PC boards (10, 20), a base (80) underlying the second PC board and integrally attached thereto, and a support housing (30) with compression plugs (60) which may be tightened against base (80) for securing the two PC boards (10, 20) and for compressing the flexible jumper circuit (50) against the two PC boards (10, 20). The interface is precision aligned by a plurality of guide pins (34) which protrude from support housing (30) and conform to guide holes in the two PC boards (10, 20) and the flexible jumper circuit (50). Guide pins (34) fix the relative positions of the boards (10, 20) and circuit (50) within their respective planes.

Abstract: An impedance controlled elastomeric connector (10) includes signal contacts (30) and ground contacts (40) with leads (32, 42) and a ground plane (25) formed of conductive foil (24) laminated to a dielectric and insulating film (18) folded around an elastomeric core (12) with the signal, ground spacing and the dielectric constant and thickness of the film selected to provide controlled impedance signal paths through the connector as compressed between components (2, 6).

Abstract: A molded connector housing (10) has respective pairs of integrally-molded latching fingers (18,20,21) for quick assembly to respective mother and daughter boards (11,12). A locking plunger (25) is received between the pairs of latching fingers (18,20,21) to secure the assembly. The plunger (25) may also be used with an axially-compressible fastener or grommet (43). In lieu of the latching fingers, an integrally-molded fastener (50) cooperates with a conical nut (52) having circumferentially-spaced ears (53) slidably received in slots (51) in the fastener.

Abstract: A high density electrical connector (10) includes a pair of plastic housings (12, 14) spring loaded by springs (50) to be driven apart and including guide surfaces (24, 34) and guide holes (30) that guide pins (52) on a mating component (60) to assure a proper alignment between circuit traces of component and connector and camming surfaces (24, 68) operable upon engagement to drive the housings relatively together to compress a flexible film elastomeric circuit (80) having traces (82) engaging with circuits (76) on a board (74) of a component. The film circuit includes a further elastomeric circuit held normally compressed by the housings under force of the mother board fastening means to interconnect to a further circuit (90) on the mother board (88). A use of the connector (10) includes electrically and mechanically interconnecting a component such as a hard drive disk to a component such as a computer.

Abstract: A docking assembly including a guide housing (2) and camming assembly (38, 54 and 40) for mechanically interfacing a modular component (46) with a circuit board to thereby complete and protect multiple electrical connections therebetween. An interfacing connector (80) is also disclosed for providing an electrical and mechanical interface between a circuit board and a disk drive (82). The interfacing connector (80) allows high-density multiple electrical interconnections to the circuit board by the use of canted coil springs (100) for direct electrical contact with individual traces and/or contact pads on the circuit board. The interfacing connector (80) may also include a docking assembly (130) with guide channels (136) for guiding insertion of a circuit board to thereby insure the integrity of the electrical interconnections therebetween.

Abstract: Component package (10) includes component (24) having conductive pads (26) attached to the lid (20) of a housing (30) containing wires (14) of a cable (12) positioned therewithin to be engaged by an elastomeric connector (42) having a resilient core (44) with a thin, dielectric film (46) carrying conductive traces (48) extending over a tab (50) with the housing and lid driving the pads against the connector to interconnect the pads to the traces to the wires upon closure. In one embodiment, the wires (14) are solder coated (16) with a solder reflow effecting a tab to wire connection and in another embodiment, precious metal coatings are employed to allow pressure connection between wire and traces. Alternatively, coatings of conductive inks or conductive adhesives may be used. The conductive traces may be placed on centers appropriate to the particular centers in the array of conductive pads and in the array of wires, such centers being selectively varied.

Abstract: A high density connector (10) includes a plastic housing (12) with covers (30, 38) hinged to a frame (14) and foldable thereagainst to compress a plurality of circuits (60, 67) fitted between the covers to engage and compress elastomeric members (46, 54) and be interconnected thereby through fasteners (76-82), clamping the assembly of circuits and housing together. Embodiments include having frame and cover hinged at the sides by hinges (36, 44) or at the ends by hinges (108, 116) and including integrally molded cover frame and hinges versions include interconnecting two or more boards from the same or opposite directions relative to the connector housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector (12) employs wedges (72) to drive elastomeric inserts (42) having conductive traces (52) against the conductive traces (64, 66) of a printed circuit board (60) with the connector housing (14) clamping the insert to a further printed circuit (68) and conductive traces (70) thereon to interconnect multiple conductive paths between the boards. The wedges include two latch positions through surfaces (80, 82) engaging spring latches (22) to allow board insertion and removal with low forces from the said connector.