Flexible Panel Patents (Class 439/67)
  • Patent number: 8944828
    Abstract: An audio connector includes a receiving portion and a connector. The receiving portion includes a base plate, two opposite sidewalls, and an end wall. The connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of elastic metal fingers. The insulating body is positioned snuggly among the base plate, the two opposite sidewalls, and the end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Wei Tsao
  • Patent number: 8934257
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first coupler, and a second coupler. The first substrate is formed from a first material and includes an electrical pad. The second substrate is formed from a second material and includes an electrical pad. The first coupler is configured to mechanically couple the first substrate to the second substrate without a soldered connection. The second coupler includes a first end portion, configured to be soldered to the electrical pad of the first substrate, and a second end portion, configured to be soldered to the electrical pad of the second substrate. The second coupler configured to electrically couple the first substrate to the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Reynov, Jack Kohn, Victor Mei, Shreeram Siddhaye, Ben Nitzan, Venkata Penmetsa
  • Patent number: 8932066
    Abstract: A connector is provided for joining two electrical harnesses. Each harness is formed from a flexible printed circuit board which provides a plurality of conductive tracks, and each harness has a substantially planar terminating region at which the conductive tracks of the harness fan out. One or more receiving holes are formed in each terminating region to extend to respective conductive tracks. Each receiving hole extends in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the respective terminating region. When in use, the connector includes a connection formation between respective terminating regions of the two electrical harnesses. The connector further includes a housing configured to hold the respective terminating regions of the two electrical harnesses in face-to-face relationship with the connection formation. The housing has one or more apertures through which the harnesses can exit the housing as they extend away from their terminating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Paul Broughton
  • Patent number: 8923003
    Abstract: An electronic device may contain components such as flexible printed circuits and rigid printed circuits. Electrical contact pads on a flexible printed circuit may be coupled electrical contact pads on a rigid printed circuit using a coupling member. The coupling member may be configured to electrically couple contact pads on a top surface of the flexible circuit to contact pads on a top surface of the rigid circuit. The coupling member may be configured to bear against a top surface of the flexible circuit so that pads on a bottom surface of the flexible circuit rest against pads on a top surface of the rigid circuit. The coupling member may bear against the top surface of the flexible circuit. The coupling member may include protrusions that extend into openings in the rigid printed circuit. The protrusions may be engaged with engagement members in the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander D. Schlaupitz, Joshua G. Wurzel
  • Patent number: 8913394
    Abstract: The present invention can facilitate the coupling between electrical components and a circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into a housing of an electronic device. An electrical component can be integrated with a flexible circuit of another electrical component. The flexible circuit can be electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board after the circuit board is inserted into the housing. Alternatively, electrical contacts can be disposed on a body of the electrical component and a complementary set of electrical contacts can be disposed on the circuit board. When the circuit board is disposed within a receptacle of the electrical component, the electrical contacts on the electrical component are coupled directly to the electrical contacts on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Joseph Weber, Pinida Jan Moolsintong, Robert Sean Murphy, Stephen Brian Lynch
  • Publication number: 20140363990
    Abstract: The flexible cable mounting structure of the Present Disclosure is a flexible cable connector comprising a housing, whereon a contact terminal is mounted that enables insertion and withdrawal of the flexible cable and contact with the flexible cable. An actuator that opens/closes is installed in such a way as to enable rotation on the housing. A fitting nail is furnished on the housing and fixes the housing to the PCB. The fully-assembled flexible cable connector, wherein the contact terminal, actuator, and fitting nail have each been mounted to the housing, passes through from the bottom to the top of the PCB, and the bottom of the contact terminal and bottom of the fitting nail are soldered to the lower surface of the PCB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Suk Min KIM
  • Patent number: 8899994
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect system comprises: a clamping collar having a slot for receiving a bifurcated flexible circuit; a contact strip comprising a plurality of electrical contacts aligned with respective pads on the bifurcated flexible circuit when the legs of the bifurcated area are spread apart; and, a compression latch member to engage the clamping collar and compress the pads against their respective contacts on the contact strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Microelectronics Assembly Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Clayton, Zakaryae Fathi
  • Patent number: 8882513
    Abstract: A printing material container detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having apparatus-side terminals. The container can comprise an electrical device, a memory device and a plurality of terminals. First and second terminals can be coupled to the electrical device and a plurality of memory terminals can be coupled to the memory device. Terminal contact portions are present where the terminals contact a respective apparatus side contact forming member. A short detection contact portion can be positioned to contact a contact forming member that itself is coupled to a short detection circuit of the printing apparatus. The terminals can be arranged with the memory terminal contact portions located to the left of the second terminal contact portion and to the right of the first terminal contact portion. The contact portion that is second farthest to the right can be the third contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Asauchi
  • Patent number: 8834182
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect system comprises: a flexible circuit having thereon a plurality of electrical contact pads; a contact strip comprising a plurality of electrical contacts aligned with respective pads on the flexible circuit; a compression member to engage the contacts with the pads; and, pierced areas on said pads to enhance the mechanical engagement between the contacts and the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microelectronics Assembly Technologies
    Inventors: James E. Clayton, Zakaryae Fathi
  • Patent number: 8821167
    Abstract: An electrical assembly combination includes (a) a receiver having a receiver housing and a plurality of receiver housing electrical contacts, and (b) a connector device comprising a connector housing capable of accepting and retaining a terminal end of a flexible assembly having a plurality of flexible assembly electrical contacts. The connector device is capable of being reversibly attached to the receiver housing such that each of the receiver housing electrical contacts is electrically connected to a flexible assembly electrical contact in a removable, non-permanent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hi Rel Connectors, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Ritner
  • Patent number: 8821179
    Abstract: A clamp mechanism for clamping a cable on a circuit board is disclosed in the present invention. The clamp mechanism includes a base disposed on the circuit board. The cable can be accommodated inside the base. The clamp mechanism further includes a clamping portion disposed on the base in a resiliently deformable manner. The clamping portion moves away from the circuit board when the cable is accommodated inside the base, and a resilient recovering force generated by the resilient deformation simultaneously drives the clamping portion to press the cable, so as to constrain a movement of the cable relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chun-Fei Yang
  • Patent number: 8824150
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a driving printed circuit board (PCB) for use in a display device. More particularly, a driving printed circuit board improving the bonding by preventing PCB warpage is provided. The rear surface stiffener plate includes polygonal patterns to prevent a PCB warpage of the driving printed circuit board due to different heat shrinkage from that of the board during the surface mounting technology (SMT) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: JungYoul Kang, SeongHun Kim
  • Patent number: 8801163
    Abstract: A printing material container detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having apparatus-side terminals. The container can comprise an electrical device, a memory device and a plurality of terminals. First and second terminals can be coupled to the electrical device and a plurality of memory terminals can be coupled to the memory device. Terminal contact portions are present where the terminals contact a respective apparatus side contact forming member. A short detection contact portion can be positioned to contact a contact forming member that itself is coupled to a short detection circuit of the printing apparatus. The terminals can be arranged with the memory terminal contact portions located to the left of the second terminal contact portion and to the right of the first terminal contact portion. The contact portion that is second farthest to the right can be the third contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Asauchi
  • Patent number: 8794749
    Abstract: A printing material container detachably attachable to a printing apparatus having apparatus-side terminals. The container can comprise an electrical device, a memory device and a plurality of terminals. First and second terminals can be coupled to the electrical device and a plurality of memory terminals can be coupled to the memory device. Terminal contact portions are present where the terminals contact a respective apparatus side contact forming member. A short detection contact portion can be positioned to contact a contact forming member that itself is coupled to a short detection circuit of the printing apparatus. The terminals can be arranged with the memory terminal contact portions located to the left of the second terminal contact portion and to the right of the first terminal contact portion. The contact portion that is second farthest to the right can be the third contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Noboru Asauchi
  • Patent number: 8784119
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with an FFC including a first insulating layer including a plurality of internal flat conductors each being elongated and having an exposed contact portion at one end and an exposed soldering portion at the other end; an electrical cable including a plurality of conductors each having a second insulating layer therearound, the conductors electrically connected to the soldering portions; and a connector housing covering a rear portion of the FFC and a front end of the electrical cable for fastening the FFC and the electrical cable. A front portion of the FFC is provided with a protective plastic plate for fastening and supporting the contact portions of the FFC and the first insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Bing Xu Precision Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting Chang Tseng, Wen Lung Lin
  • Publication number: 20140193986
    Abstract: A device includes an electrical connector coupled to the end of a flex circuit. The connector includes interior ribs that engage slots in the flex circuit, with the ribs and slots separating adjacent contact pads on the flex circuit. The contact pads are exposed portions of conductive traces on the flex circuit. Other portions of the conductive traces may be covered by a dielectric material, such as a non-conductive ink. The ribs provide an increased isolation path between the contact pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CARDIOINSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Venaleck, Larry Crofoot
  • Publication number: 20140187061
    Abstract: A buffering device for fixing a flexible cable includes a fixing part and a moving part. The two connecting ends of the flexible cable move relatively to each other. One of the connecting ends is connected to a circuit board. The fixing part defines two sliding cutouts fixed at two opposite sides of the flexible cable and adjacent to the connecting end of the flexible cable clamping and sandwich the flexible cable between the mount and the circuit board. The moving part includes a movable support and two second cushions. The movable support comprises a top support frame and a bottom support frame. The movable support is inserted into the sliding cutouts and moves back and forth in the sliding cutouts. The two second cushions sandwich the flexible cable between the top support frame and a bottom support frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHENG-YI LAI
  • Patent number: 8758028
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a connector, and a component connected to the connector. The component includes a first and third electrically conductive portion on a first surface, a second electrically conductive portion on a second surface, and a first and second cover portions. The second electrically conductive portion is connected to the first electrically conductive portion. The third electrically conductive portion is kept in contact with a terminal of the connector, and connected to the second electrically conductive portion. The first and second cover portions cover at least a part of the first and second electrically conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kiyomi Muro
  • Publication number: 20140170867
    Abstract: The present application provides a connection device and a connector. The connector comprises a housing mounted on a circuit substrate and a plurality of terminals. The housing has a recessed region and a plurality of channels. The recessed region, together with the circuit substrate, forms a mating groove for mating a flexible circuit board, and the mating groove extends forwardly to a radius. The plurality of terminals correspond to the plurality of channels and each of the terminal includes a resilient contact arm. The resilient contact arm extends toward a surface of the circuit substrate in the corresponding channel of the housing and extends into the recessed region to form a contact portion. The connection device comprises the circuit substrate and the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Ronald C. Hodge
  • Patent number: 8754396
    Abstract: The present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention preferred for some applications are flexible, in addition to being stretchable, and thus are capable of significant elongation, flexing, bending or other deformation along one or more axes. Further, stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention may be adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: John A. Rogers, Dahl-Young Khang, Yugang Sun, Etienne Menard
  • Publication number: 20140154894
    Abstract: A method for producing an electric contact sensor plate and for populating an electric or electronic module with the contact sensor plate in an automated manner is provided. An end piece of a metal foil strip is fed in a feeding step, in which the contact sensor plate is positioned on the electric or electronic module in a positioning step, and in which the contact sensor plate is fastened on the electric or electronic module in a fastening step. The method is characterized in that the contact sensor plate is produced by being severed from the foil strip in a severing step that follows the feeding step and precedes the positioning step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Andreas Heise
  • Patent number: 8740630
    Abstract: An electronic device with a connector system is provided to give a user an improved appearance, functionality, and aesthetics. A connector system may comprise a housing, a circuit board mounted within the housing, and a plurality of externally accessible connectors. The housing may have a front side and a back side. The plurality of externally accessible connectors may be mounted directly on the circuit board within the housing, so that the plurality externally accessible connectors may extend substantially perpendicular from the plane of the circuit board and face the back side of the housing. The plurality of externally accessible connectors may comprise substantially flat metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takane Fujino, Kenshin Yonemochi, Norihiro Andoh, Yasuhiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140148021
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for connecting a CPU with an FPC includes a first electrical connector having a first insulating housing and a plurality of first contacts retained in the first insulating housing, a second electrical connector electrically connecting the first electrical connector in a vertical direction having a second insulating housing and a plurality of second contacts retained in the second insulating housing, and a protecting cover assembled between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector. The protecting cover includes a base and a plurality of through holes running through the base for receiving the second contacts to contact with the first contacts. The protecting cover includes a pair of buckling portions for locking the FPC and an acting portion extending upwardly from the buckling portion, the acting portion release the buckling portion off the FPC when a hand push the acting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHUO-HSIU HSU
  • Patent number: 8738828
    Abstract: A system to operationally connect logic nodes may include an inter-nodal circuit to provide communications between any connected logic nodes. The system may also include a fabric bus that may be physically separate from the inter-nodal circuit, the fabric bus may provide logical connections restricted to any two connected logic nodes. The system may further include a clock circuit carried by the inter-nodal circuit that controls both the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20140141628
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector and an adapter assembled between the first and second electrical connector. The first electrical connector includes a first insulating housing and a plurality of first contacts received in the first insulating housing. The second electrical connector includes a second insulating housing and a plurality of second contacts received in the second insulating housing. The adapter includes a base and a plurality of pin contacts retained in the base, the pin contacts run through the base and contact the first and second contacts simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHUO-HSIU HSU
  • Patent number: 8729524
    Abstract: In an aspect, the present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, components such as semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed, and related methods of making or tuning such stretchable components. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits preferred for some applications are flexible, in addition to being stretchable, and thus are capable of significant elongation, flexing, bending or other deformation along one or more axes. Further, stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention are adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: John A. Rogers, Matthew Meitl, Yugang Sun, Heung Cho Ko, Andrew Carlson, Won Mook Choi, Mark Stoykovich, Hanqing Jiang, Yonggang Huang, Ralph G. Nuzzo, Zhengtao Zhu, Etienne Menard, Dahl-Young Khang
  • Patent number: 8721921
    Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal polyester composition that yields compacts that are resistant to cracking. A plate-like filler with a volume-average particle size of 14 ?m or greater and a fibrous filler are combined with a liquid crystal polyester to form a liquid crystal polyester composition. The total content of the plate-like filler and the fibrous filler is 45-55 wt % with respect to the total of the liquid crystal polyester composition. The weight ratio of the fibrous filler content to the plate-like filler content is greater than 0.5 and not greater than 0.65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fukuhara, Shintaro Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8721349
    Abstract: A connector includes an electrode sheet, a cover, and a resistor sheet. A plurality of electrodes are attached on a side of the electrode sheet. The electrode sheet is an insulator. The cover covers the electrode sheet. The resistor sheet is provided between the cover and the electrode sheet and has electrical resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takatoshi Yagisawa
  • Patent number: 8708712
    Abstract: The connector includes a male connector block and a female connector block. The male connector block includes a base substrate formed of an insulating flat member; a conductive projection arranged on one surface of the base substrate; a first circuit pattern led out from the conductive projection; and a soldering terminal section electrically connected to the conductive projection through the first circuit pattern. The female connector block includes: an insulating film having a fitting insertion section; a conductive section formed on one surface of the insulating film and electrically connected to the conductive projection inserted into the fitting insertion section; a second circuit pattern led out from the conductive section; a soldering terminal section electrically connected to the conductive section through the second circuit pattern; and a second base substrate making close contact with the other surface of the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Mituru Iida
  • Patent number: 8713228
    Abstract: A shared system to operationally connect logic nodes may include an inter-nodal circuit to provide communications between any connected logic nodes. The system may also include a fabric bus carried by the inter-nodal circuit, the fabric bus to provide logical connections to a first logic node and any other logic node. The system may further include a clock circuit carried by the inter-nodal circuit that controls both the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Publication number: 20140113462
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing having an insertion section into which a connection end of a sheet-shaped connection target is inserted, and a plurality of contacts held by the housing so as to extend in an insertion direction of the connection target and be aligned along a direction across the insertion direction of the connection target, wherein each contact to be mounted by soldering on the top surface of the mounting board on a side of insertion of the connection target has at its end on the side of insertion of the connection target a surface of flat shape to be mounted on the top surface of the mounting board, and a sloping surface which is inclined at a predetermined angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the surface to be mounted for guiding the connection end of the connection target to the insertion section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventor: Kenta ASHIBU
  • Publication number: 20140106579
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect system comprises: a clamping collar having a slot for receiving a bifurcated flexible circuit; a contact strip comprising a plurality of electrical contacts aligned with respective pads on the bifurcated flexible circuit when the legs of the bifurcated area are spread apart; and, a compression latch member to engage the clamping collar and compress the pads against their respective contacts on the contact strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Clayton, Zakaryae Fathi
  • Publication number: 20140106578
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect system comprises: a flexible circuit having thereon a plurality of electrical contact pads; a contact strip comprising a plurality of electrical contacts aligned with respective pads on the flexible circuit; a compression member to engage the contacts with the pads; and, pierced areas on said pads to enhance the mechanical engagement between the contacts and the pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Clayton, Zakaryae Fathi
  • Patent number: 8678669
    Abstract: A reconfigurable polarity detachable connector assembly includes a housing defining two accommodation channels and providing a springy protruding member at a top side, two mating simplex connectors respectively detachably mounted in the accommodation channels of the housing, a fiber optic cable fastened to the housing with two optical fiber cores thereof respectively inserted into respective calibration support rods of the mating simplex connectors, and a sliding cap slidably coupled to the housing. The sliding cap is unlocked and can be moved backwardly relative to the housing to expose the optical fiber cores of the fiber optic cable to the outside of the housing for allowing position exchange between the two mating simplex connectors after the user presses the springy protruding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jhih-Ping Lee
  • Patent number: 8668501
    Abstract: An electrical assembly connector for connecting a flexible assembly having a plurality of flexible assembly electrical contacts to a rigid assembly having a connector receptacle with a plurality of attachment element electrical contacts. The connector comprises an intermediary device configured to electrically connect the rigid assembly and the flexible assembly. The intermediary device has a plurality of connector electrical contacts. The intermediary device electrical contacts are exposed on a first base side and on a second base side of the intermediary device. The intermediary device electrical contacts exposed on the second base side are configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the flexible assembly electrical contacts, and the intermediary device electrical contacts exposed on the first base side are configured to electrically and mechanically couple to the attachment element electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventors: Derick Esquivel, Willis Williams
  • Publication number: 20140065851
    Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with electronic components and electrical connectors coupled between the electronic components. A connector may be formed in a small gap between the electronic components. The connector may be a thin sheet of flexible conductive material with a conductive adhesive on one surface. The connector may be installed between the components using an applicator that is attached to the connector. The applicator may be a pull-tab liner having a first surface that is tacky and a second opposing surface that is non-stick. The applicator may have an extended portion that can be held by a technician while installing the connector. The connector may be installed by inserting the connector and applicator between the components, pinching the components against the connector and applicator, and removing the applicator by pulling the extended portion to peel the applicator from the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Taylor H. Gilbert, Sean S. Corbin
  • Patent number: 8641260
    Abstract: A complex circuit board including a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) for providing driving signals for light sources is disclosed. The PCBA includes a supporting portion and a connecting portion. The light sources are disposed above the supporting portion. The connection portion contacts electrically with a contacting portion of the FPC. The contacting portion of the FPC has a fixing hole. The connecting portion of the PCBA has a fixing portion. Moreover, the FPC has two or more than two first bend portions on the contacting portion. The fixing portion of the PCBA is inserted into the fixing hole of the FPC to complete the complex circuit board without extra attachment units. Therefore, the assembly procedure is simplified to increase throughput and the cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Feng Chen, Cheng-Min Tsai, Cheng-Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8636380
    Abstract: A lighting module (1; 7; 11; 31; 41; 61; 71; 81; 91; 97; 109; 115), comprising: a circuit board (2), on which are mounted at least one component (3; 12; 22; 32; 42; L; 92; 99; 108; 116; 119) and at least one attachment element; (5; 98), wherein the at least one attachment element (5; 98) is fastened on the at least one component (3; 12; 22; 32; 42; L; 92; 99; 108; 116; 119) mounted on the circuit board (2) in a locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Burkard, David Dussault, Peter Sachsenweger
  • Patent number: 8622753
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided for communicating electrical signals between a connector having a plurality of pins and a remote location. The assembly comprises a mounting board mountable on the pins and having a plurality of apertures for receiving and retaining the pins. The mounting board further includes a plurality of conductive patterns formed thereon, each conductive pattern extending from one of the pin apertures to an associated connector pad formed on the mounting board. A flexible cable having a plurality of conductors and connector pads is disposed adjacent the mounting board such that the cable connector pads are arrayed proximate the mounting board connector pads, in vertical registry therewith. A retaining member is connected to the mounting board for urging the flexible cable connector pads into electrical communication with the mounting board connector pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Basic Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfiero Balzano
  • Publication number: 20130344712
    Abstract: A low-height connectorless interconnection system includes a first substrate, the first substrate having a first plurality of exposed portions of underlying circuit traces and a second substrate, the second substrate having a second plurality of exposed portions of underlying circuit traces. The system further includes a plurality of conductive formations formed on at least one of the first and second pluralities of exposed portions of underlying circuit traces and a clamping member arranged to join the first and second substrate such that the first and second pluralities of exposed portions of circuit traces are in severable electrical communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Jared M. KOLE, Michael B. WITTENBERG, Shayan MALEK
  • Patent number: 8589608
    Abstract: A system to mate logic nodes may include a connector to secure at least one of an inter-nodal circuit and a fabric bus, where the inter-nodal circuit provides communications between any connected logic nodes, and the fabric bus provides logical connections to a first logic node and any other logic node. The system may also include an element carried by the connector configured to provide an appropriate actuation force to mate the connector and at least one of the inter-nodal circuit and the fabric bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Brodsky, Eric J. McKeever, John G. Torok
  • Patent number: 8579637
    Abstract: An electrical connecting system is described for contacting an electronic module with multiple printed conductors of a flexible printed circuit. The printed conductors are enclosed between a lower and an upper cover film, and the electronic module has at least one circuit board hich is embedded in a plastic housing. According to the invention, the electronic module has at least one contact spring. A first end section of the contact spring is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the circuit board via a connecting point, and a second end section of the contact spring has two legs which extend in a U shape, between which a printed conductor is situated. An electrical contact which is less susceptible to failure results on both sides between the contact spring and the printed conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Liskow
  • Patent number: 8573984
    Abstract: Touch sensor panels can use touch sensors to detect the presence and location of a touch event. In order for the touch sensors to function reliably, the back plane of the touch sensor panel should be grounded. Supplying this ground connection can provide a uniform electrical reference point from which changes in voltage and capacitance due to a touch event can be measured. Without this ground connection, touch sensors may misrepresent the touch event. Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide different means for providing a ground connection for the back plane of a touch sensor panel. These embodiments are designed to provide a reliable ground connection even in the presence of various failure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thayne M. Miller
  • Patent number: 8574002
    Abstract: A connector and a connecting structure of a flexible flat cable are provided. The connector includes a main body, an electrical terminal and a cover plate. The main body has a sidewall and a boss. The sidewall and the boss define a groove therebetween. The electrical terminal is in a bent shape. One end of the electrical terminal is disposed on the boss. The cover plate has a cover portion and an engaging portion. The cover portion covers on the boss. The engaging portion is inserted into the groove of the main body. The electrical terminal is partially located between the boss and the cover plate. The present invention further provides the connecting structure of a flexible flat cable. The advantage of the present invention is that: by disposing the groove on the main body, the cover plate is inserted into the groove for engaging the flexible flat cable connected to the connector, thereby preventing the flexible flat cable from releasing from connector to increasing the mounting reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chengming He, Yanxue Zhang
  • Patent number: 8562149
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device module includes a flexible connection device, a digital micromirror device and a connecting interface. The flexible connection device includes a plurality of conducting wires and an external insulation layer, wherein the conducting wires are discretely arranged and encapsulated by the external insulation layer. The digital micromirror device unit is disposed on the external insulation layer of the flexible connection device and electrically connected with the conducting wires of the flexible connection device. The connecting interface is arranged at a lateral end of the flexible connection device and connected with the conducting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Hu, Yuan-Ming Hsu
  • Patent number: 8562360
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly includes a circuit board, a fixing device, and at least one color-changing piece. The circuit board includes a plurality of first contacts and second contacts opposite sides of the circuit board. The fixing device includes plurality of elastic contacts. The first contacts electrically connects to the second contacts, the at least one color-changing piece is located on and are electrically connected to the corresponding first contacts or the second contacts. When the circuit board is assembled at a predetermined position of the fixing device, the second contacts are electrically connected to the elastic contacts to form and provide an electric field, and the at least one color-changing piece changes color due to the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Min-An Ching
  • Patent number: 8550825
    Abstract: An electrical interconnect device includes a substrate that has opposite first and second outer surfaces. Arrays of conductive elastomeric columns are held by the substrate. Each of the columns has opposite first and second ends. The elastomeric columns are internally conductive between the first and second ends. A shield is mounted exterior of the first outer surface of the substrate with the shield having an insulative carrier that holds an array of conductive pads arranged in a complementary pattern as the array of elastomeric columns. The conductive pads have inner surfaces and outer surfaces. The shield is positioned relative to the substrate such that the inner surfaces of the conductive pads engage the first ends of corresponding elastomeric columns. The outer surfaces are configured to engage corresponding mating contacts of an electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery W. Mason, Wayne S. Alden, III
  • Patent number: 8530747
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a multilayered flexible circuit board. The method of manufacturing a multilayered flexible circuit board may include integrally forming a first flexible printed circuit board and a second flexible printed circuit board divided in a symmetrical shape with respect to a reference line on the same plane to provide an original plate; attaching the first flexible printed circuit board to the second flexible printed circuit board by folding the original plate with respect to the reference line; and electrically connecting the first flexible printed circuit board to the second flexible printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kanghee Kim
  • Patent number: 8529276
    Abstract: An electrical assembly combination comprises (a) a rigid assembly having a plurality of attachment element electrical contacts, (b) a flexible assembly having a plurality of flexible assembly electrical contacts, and (c) an intermediary device disposed between the rigid assembly and the flexible assembly. The intermediary device has connector electrical contacts including a first set exposed on a first base side and a second set exposed on a second base side. Each intermediary device electrical contact connects with an attachment element electrical contact or a flexible assembly electrical contact. Each attachment element electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to the first set of intermediary device electrical contacts, and each of the flexible assembly electrical contacts is removably secured and electrically connected to the second set of intermediary device electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hi Rel Connectors, Inc.
    Inventors: Derick Esquivel, Willis Williams
  • Patent number: 8526196
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for receiving, at least partially, an electric/electronic component in an internal housing area, in particular for commercial vehicles. A first housing component at least partially forms the internal housing area and a cover at least partially surrounds the internal housing area. The cover is designed such that at least one electrically conductive connecting element for electrically coupling the electric/electronic component to at least one additional electric/electronic component provided outside of the internal housing area is fixed by the cover. A method for assembling the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Eichner, Thomas Uhland