Abstract: The present invention provides a clamp with spring contact elements to receive and secure a flat flex cable with exposed electrical traces to an electrical circuit such as on a printed circuit board. The clamp of the present invention has features for enhanced registration and alignment of exposed electrical traces on the flat flex cable to the spring contact elements in the clamp. Another aspect of the invention is the ability to connect high density contact arrays within the clamp to a circuit board via an array of contact pads on the opposite side of the substrate on which the spring contact elements are disposed. One exemplary application of the present invention is to connect a camera module in a cell phone to a printed circuit board or like electrical device in the phone.

Abstract: An architecture for increasing the normalized working range of connectors having arrays of small contacts. One configuration includes a plurality of pairs of opposed contacts that are arranged in a staggered fashion. The opposed contacts are configured to engage an external contact array in a staggered fashion. The contact arm length of elastic contacts can be substantially greater than the effective array pitch of the plurality of pairs of opposed contacts. Accordingly, the vertical displacement range of three dimensional contacts formed in the connector can be much greater than for in-line contact arrangements.

Abstract: A method and system that provides a customer with the ability to design an electrical connector (interposer) that is individualized to the customer's particular application requirements. An interface to a design program providing a plurality of design options is provided to the customer to aid in designing an interposer. A menu is provided from which a customer can design an array interposer by selecting specific contact types and designating the position of each contact type within an array. The finished customer order including a design for the array interposer is sent to a fabricator and manufactured based on the unique design provided by the customer.

Abstract: A Flat Flex Connector (FFC) has connector flanges embedded in its insulated electrical traces. The flanges engage electrical circuits in a camera module such as a CMOS or CCD and are clamped into electrical engagement. The opposite end of the FFC makes electrical contact with another electrical device such as a semiconductor circuit. The assembly allows electrical connection of two or more devices in a confined space in which the electrical device are not easily aligned for electrical contact.

Abstract: An electrical interposer including first and second surfaces is provided. A plurality of compliant pins are connected to the first surface of the substrate, each of the compliant pins having a drawn body with at least one side wall extending along a longitudinal axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the substrate. A plurality of contact elements are connected to the substrate for making electrical contact with a device facing the second surface of the substrate. Electrical paths connect the compliant pins to the contact elements.

Abstract: An electrical connector made up of an array of metallic contacts that act as conductive carriers, each attached to a flexible insulating sheet in one of an array of openings provided in the flexible sheet. The metallic contacts have portions disposed on opposite sides of the flexible insulating sheet that form a contact channel region that retains a rim portion surrounding an opening. The electrical connector provides a flexible carrier for the contacts to conform to irregular mating surfaces of components to be joined. For a given contact height, the electrical connector further provides a minimum electrical path length for components connected by the contacts board. In one aspect, the metallic contacts including at least one side containing elastic portions are formed from sheets of conductive material. In one aspect, circular shaped contacts are singulated after opposing conductive sheets are joined in regions within the openings of the flexible insulating sheet.

Abstract: This invention pertains to flat flex cable (FFC) with embedded spring contacts at one or both ends, and in between the ends as needed, to engage electrical devices by inserting the spring contacts on an end of the FFC into a clamp or receptacle that secures the spring contacts into engagement with electrical contacts on the electrical device and with electrical contacts on a camera module as used in cell phones.

Abstract: An interposer is provided which includes a PCB having compliant pins connected to a first surface of the PCB. A plurality of vias located in the PCB are connected to the compliant pins and extend from the first surface toward a second surface of the PCB. A method for making an interposer is also provided.

Abstract: An interposer and method for making same is disclosed. A metallic sheet is formed with a plurality of spring members. A first sheet of insulative material is provided on a top surface of the metallic sheet and a second sheet of insulative material is provided on a bottom surface of the metallic sheet. The insulative material sheets each include a plurality of flaps wherein each flap at least partially corresponds to a particular one of the spring members in the metallic sheet. A conductive material is located in a predefined pattern on the first and second insulative sheets having a conductive contact portion extending onto the flaps. Vias are connected to the conductive material and extend through metallic and insulative sheets to provide electrical connectivity.

Abstract: An electrical interposer including first and second surfaces is provided. A plurality of compliant pins are connected to the first surface of the substrate, each of the compliant pins having a drawn body with at least one side wall extending along a longitudinal axis thereof substantially perpendicular to the substrate. A plurality of contact elements are connected to the substrate for making electrical contact with a device facing the second surface of the substrate. Electrical paths connect the compliant pins to the contact elements.

Abstract: An electrical connector made up of an array of metallic contacts that act as conductive carriers, each attached to a flexible insulating sheet in one of an array of openings provided in the flexible sheet. The metallic contacts have portions disposed on opposite sides of the flexible insulating sheet that form a contact channel region that retains a rim portion surrounding an opening. The electrical connector provides a flexible carrier for the contacts to conform to irregular mating surfaces of components to be joined. For a given contact height, the electrical connector further provides a minimum electrical path length for components connected by the contacts board. In one aspect, the metallic contacts including at least one side containing elastic portions are formed from sheets of conductive material. In one aspect, circular shaped contacts are singulated after opposing conductive sheets are joined in regions within the openings of the flexible insulating sheet.

Abstract: A method for making a contact begins by providing a sheet of material. A portion of the sheet is deep drawn to form a cavity having at least one sidewall, the cavity extending away from a rim formed by a non-drawn portion of the sheet. At least one spring member is defined from the at least one sidewall and is bent such that at least a portion of the at least one spring member extends beyond the rim.