Flexible Panel Patents (Class 439/67)
  • Patent number: 8525037
    Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a gimbal portion. The gimbal portion includes a tongue portion formed at the inner side of the opening for being mounted with a slider mounted with a magnetic head for being electrically connected to the conductive layer, an outrigger portion formed at the outer side of the opening to support the tongue portion, and a passing portion passing through the opening of the gimbal portion and/or an outer side region of the outrigger portion. The passing portion includes the conductive layer and the insulating layer covering the conductive layer. The thickness of a lower half portion of the insulating layer in the passing portion is the same as that of an upper half portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8514559
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a screen storage device comprising at least an integrated circuit module and a carrier plate folded to be at least two folding sections in which the height of the integrated circuit module plus the heights of folding sections is not more than the height unit of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) male connector to embody the height of the integrated circuit module in the present invention effectively reduced and the present invention extensively employed, conveniently used, and properly accommodated with the folding section and the integrated circuit module oppositely stacked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Walton Advanced Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Chi Yu, Mao-Ting Chang
  • Patent number: 8508946
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly includes a circuit board, a fixing device, and a color-changing layer. The fixing device is capable of holding and securing the circuit board and includes a main body and a cover. The cover is rotatably hinged to the main body. The color-changing layer is located on either or both of the circuit board and cover. When the circuit board is assembled at a predetermined position of the fixing device and is secured on the main body by the cover, the cover exerts a pressure to form protruding points on the color-changing layer at the positions corresponding to the elastic contacts, the color-changing generates an electric field and changes color, which is easily and quickly verifiable by a worker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Min-An Ching
  • Publication number: 20130203273
    Abstract: A backplane connector including a substrate and a backplane connector set attached to the substrate. The backplane connector set includes a plurality of interconnect elements each having a conductive trace, a first contact member, and a second contact members matched to the first contact member. The first and second contact members extend beyond perimeter edges of the substrate. A plurality of conductive tie bars retain the interconnect elements in a fixed relationship prior to attachment to the substrate. Additive printing processes can be used to form the conductive traces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: HSIO Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Rathburn
  • Patent number: 8475181
    Abstract: A FPC connector has an insulative housing with a general U-shape that defines an opening that receives a free end of a length of FPC. The housing has a base and two leg portions and the leg portions have engagement arms that hold engage the FPC free end when inserted into the connector housing opening. A cover of the connector housing has press members that press the FPC and dielectric barriers thereon into contact with contacts on a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Toshihiro Niitsu, Hideo Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8441275
    Abstract: An electronic device test fixture deploys a plurality of contact elements in a dielectric housing. The plumb arrangement of contact elements each include an armature or transversal configured to first depress and then slide laterally when urged downward by the external contacts of a device under test. The rotary movement of the transversal is optimized via the configuration of a surrounding forked regulator such that surface oxide deposition on the external device under test terminal is disrupted to reliably minimize contact resistance without damaging or unduly stressing the electrical junction of the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Tapt Interconnect, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick J Alladio
  • Publication number: 20130115788
    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: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
  • Patent number: 8414308
    Abstract: Provided are novel building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules having flexible connectors and methods of interconnecting thereof. According to various embodiments, a BIP module includes one or more photovoltaic cells positioned on a support sheet and two or more electrical connectors attached to the support sheet. At least two conductive elements of these connectors are electrically coupled to the photovoltaic cells. One connector includes a connector body and an arm, which allows the connector body to move with respect to the support sheet at least in a direction perpendicular to the support sheet. This flexibility may be used to electrically interconnect modules as well as other purposes. Another connector also has a connector body, which may be flexibly or rigidly attached to the same support sheet. Positioning two connectors on opposite edges of the module allows forming a row of electrically interconnected modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Miasole
    Inventor: Michael C. Meyers
  • Patent number: 8408921
    Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly includes a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), a connector, a rigid PCB, and a fastening device. The rigid PCB includes a loading surface, a bottom surface opposite to the loading surface, and two pins protruding from the bottom surface. The loading surface contacts the FPCB. The FPCB is electrically connected to the rigid PCB through the connector. The fastening device includes a pressing plate, two fastening bars and two connecting arms. The pressing plate includes a pressing surface contacting the FPCB. The fastening bars are parallel to the pressing surface. Each fastening bar includes a hook grappling with a corresponding pin. Each hook includes a resisting surface resisting on the bottom surface. Each connecting arm connects the pressing plate and a corresponding fastening bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zheng-Heng Sun
  • Patent number: 8353708
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a plurality of cable connectors soldered on the CPU and a CPU socket for electrical connecting the CPU to a printed circuit board (PCB). Each cable connector includes a base having a plurality of first terminals received therein, for contacting with conductive points of the cable. The CPU socket includes an insulating housing having a plurality of second terminals received therein and a loading mechanism attached to the insulating housing. The loading mechanism can simultaneously pressing the cables against the cable connectors and the CPU toward the CPU socket for electrically connecting the CPU with the cables and the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Inc. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuo-Hsiu Hsu
  • Patent number: 8345437
    Abstract: A connection structure for connecting a wiring board to a to-be-connected body having electric contacts, the wiring board including: a base having board-side contacts provided on its facing surface that is to face the to-be-connected body; and a cover film which covers the facing surface except the board-side contacts and a non-covered partial region of the facing surface, the connection structure including: conduction portions formed of electrically conductive resin, for bonding the electric contacts and the board-side contacts to permit electrical conduction therebetween; and a reinforcement portion formed of the same resin as the conduction portions and disposed at a position which is different from positions of the conductive portions and at which the reinforcement portion extends across both of a surface of the cover film and a surface of the non-covered partial region of the base, the reinforcement portion bonding the to-be-connected body and the wiring board for reinforcing connection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kubo, Yuji Shinkai
  • Patent number: 8337216
    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: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thayne M. Miller
  • Patent number: 8333598
    Abstract: A connector assembly that includes a communication connector comprising a base frame and a moveable side that is supported by the base frame. The moveable side has a mating array of terminals thereon and is configured to move with respect to the base frame between retracted and engaged positions to engage a communication component. The connector assembly also includes a flexible circuit including a flex interconnect that has opposite exterior surfaces. The flexible circuit is coupled to the moveable side. The connector assembly also includes a plurality of heat-dissipation elements that are attached to the flex interconnect and project away from one of the exterior surfaces. The heat-dissipation elements are configured to conduct thermal energy from the flex interconnect and transfer the thermal energy to an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Neil Mulfinger, Richard Elof Hamner, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger
  • Publication number: 20120315773
    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: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Derick Esquivel, Willis Williams
  • Patent number: 8330734
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a touch panel and a front window which can enhance reliability thereof and facilitates repair thereof is provided. The touch panel and the front window are mounted on a liquid crystal display device using a thermoplastic adhesive material. Electronic parts are arranged on a lower side of a touch-panel-use flexible printed circuit board, and electronic parts are arranged on a lower side of a main flexible printed circuit board. The respective electronic parts are covered with the front window in a plan view. A light emitting diode is mounted on the main flexible printed circuit board, and faces a light guide plate in a resin mold. Due to such a constitution, an external shape of the liquid crystal display device can be made small as a whole, and relatively expensive light emitting diodes can be reproduced and reused by repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Oohira
  • Patent number: 8317524
    Abstract: A connector and electrical tracks assembly comprises a connector with a plurality of electrical contacts; said connector being connectable to a further connector at a first extremity; said connector being connectable at a second extremity to a circuit board portion with a plurality of electrical tracks; wherein a circuit board portion is located between a first layer of plastic thermosetting composite material of fiber and filler and a second layer of plastic thermosetting composite material of fiber and filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: John Michael Bailey
  • Publication number: 20120295453
    Abstract: A tall mezzanine connector which connects the substantial middle half of each of a pair of circuit cards positioned normal thereto. The mezzanine connector comprises a and a receptacle that includes wafers having electrical contact means at each end thereof for contacting contacts in the respective circuit cards, the wafers being held in place by an upper base member and a lower base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas M. Cipolla, Paul W. Coteus, Todd Takken
  • Publication number: 20120286904
    Abstract: A lead terminal includes signal lead pins and GND lead pins. The signal lead pin connects one signal pattern on a flexible substrate and another signal pattern on a rigid substrate. The GND lead pin connects one GND pattern on the flexible substrate and another GND pattern in the rigid substrate. A holding member has an insulating property and holds pairs of the signal lead pins and the GND lead pins at a distance. One main part of the signal lead pin and another main part of the GND lead pin form a microstrip line structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tadashi Ikeuchi, Takatoshi Yagisawa
  • Patent number: 8308491
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a connector housing configured to be coupled to a primary circuit board. A connector is held within the connector housing. The connector has a connector circuit board having a mating surface and a cable surface. The mating surface has mating contacts configured to be mated to corresponding mating contacts of a secondary circuit board. The cable surface has cable contacts. Cables extend between a first end and a second end. The first end of each cable is coupled to corresponding cable contacts of the connector circuit board. The second end of each cable is configured to be coupled to a cable contact on the primary circuit board or a second connector assembly on the primary circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Paul Nichols, Brian Patrick Costello, Keith McQuilkin Murr, Arash Behziz, Scott D. Spicer, Richard Elof Hamner, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger
  • Patent number: 8287287
    Abstract: A film-shaped electrically-connecting body 1 is used for electrically connecting a plurality of electronic devices and includes: two insulation sheets having a plurality of opening portions formed therein at a regular interval, and a plurality of plate-shaped connection elements; a part of each of the connection elements being held between the two insulation sheets, the other part where the connection element is not held being extended from the portion held to the opening portion and bent to form a contact point with a terminal of the electric device, and the two insulation sheets being unified at a portion where the connection element is not present therebetween. The two insulation sheets are formed by screen printing using a material having electrical insulation and elasticity and being dissolved in a solvent as an ink for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuiku Miwa
  • Patent number: 8272879
    Abstract: The present invention provides a planar connector having excellent performances including flatness, warp-deformation resistance, and heat resistance, being capable of responding to shape changes in recent planar connectors. Specifically, the planar connector is composed of a composite resin composition comprises (A) a liquid crystalline polymer containing 55% by mole or less of p-hydroxy benzoic acid residue and having a melting point of 330° C. or higher, (B) a plate-like inorganic filler, and (C) a fibrous filler having a weight average fiber length within a range of 250 to 600 ?m, the amount of (B) component being 25 to 35% by weight to the total composition, the amount of (C) component being 10 to 25% by weight to the total composition, the sum in total of (B) component and (C) component being 40 to 50% by weight to the total composition, wherein the connector has a lattice structure inside an outer frame, and has an opening inside the lattice area, and wherein the pitch interval of the lattice area is 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Polyplastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fukatsu, Raita Nishikawa, Hirokazu Ohshiba, Seiji Kayukawa, Kazufumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8272889
    Abstract: A connector has a base having an opening formed at a front surface of the base, to which a distal end of a flexible printed circuit is inserted, a plurality of insertion holes passing from the front surface to a rear surface arranged in a line at a predetermined pitch, and a fit-in recess at an upper surface of the base, a connection terminal press-fit into the insertion hole of the base from a side, a support fitting assembled to the fit-in recess of the base from an upper side, and including an elastic temporary holding portion capable of engaging a temporary holding cutout portion arranged on both side edges of the distal end of the flexible printed circuit, and an operation lever for supporting a turning shaft portion arranged at both side ends at a bearing of the support fitting in a turnable manner, and driving the connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Matoba, Atsushi Yokoigawa
  • Patent number: 8267700
    Abstract: A connector structure which can realize height reduction of connecting portions and space saving and which prevents separation of a female connector and a male connector from each other due to an impact or vibrations, wherein a conduction structure is formed by bringing connecting pins (9) of a male connector (B2), which are inserted in female terminal portions installed in a flexible circuit board (B3) of a female connector (B1), into pressure contact with pad portions of the female terminal portions (3), and the female connector (B1) and the male connector (B2) are coupled with each other by inserting column-shaped projections (15) of the male connector (B2) into notch ring bodies (14) fixed on the flexible circuit board (B3) of the female connector (B1) and holding the column-shaped projections (15) by restoring force based on elastic deformation of the notch ring bodies (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Denka Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8251712
    Abstract: A PCB module includes a first rigid PCB having a first edge connector, a second rigid PCB having a second edge connector, and a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a flexible connecting board, an elastic member, and a fixing member. The flexible connecting has a number of connecting circuit traces isolated from each other. The flexible connecting board is bent in such a manner that a first end portion is in contact with the first edge connector, and a second end portion is in contact with the second edge connector. Thus, the first edge connector is electrically connected with the second edge connector by the traces. The elastic member is compressed between the end portions of the flexible connecting board. The fixing member is configured to fix the first rigid PCB to the second rigid PCB and compress the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Zhen Ding Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Pang Cheng
  • Patent number: 8242374
    Abstract: Provided is a flexible-circuit-board cable having a positioning structure. A connection zone is defined in a free end of the flexible-circuit-board cable and is provided with a plurality of conductive contacts. The connection zone has a first surface on which at least one projection section is formed and a second surface. A shielding layer overlaps the projection section and a portion of the first surface. The second surface of the connection zone is also bonded to a shielding layer. When the connection zone of the flexible-circuit-board cable is inserted into an insertion space defined in a connector, the first and second local zones of the connection zone formed by the shielding layers and the projection section are put into engagement with and thus positioned and retained by walls on opposite sides of the insertion space of the connector to thereby fix within the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Flexible Circuits Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Heng Chuo, Kuo-Fu Su
  • Patent number: 8238109
    Abstract: A flex-rigid wiring board including a flexible printed wiring board, a rigid printed wiring board, a first connection terminal formed over the rigid printed wiring board and positioned to be mounted onto a motherboard, and a second connection terminal formed over the rigid printed wiring board and positioned to mount an electronic component. The flexible printed wiring board has a first conductive layer, the rigid printed wiring board has a rigid base material, an insulation layer over the rigid base material and a second conductive layer formed over the insulation layer. The insulation layer covers at least a portion of the flexible printed wiring board and at least a portion of the rigid base material while exposing at least a portion of the flexible printed wiring board, and the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are connected through a plated metallic layer penetrating through the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: IBIDEN Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Sagisaka
  • Patent number: 8231390
    Abstract: A flexible circuit is provided. The flexible circuit includes a circuit board mating end and a flexible body extending from the circuit board mating end. A conductive pathway extends through the flexible body to electrically couple circuit boards. A connector pad is positioned on the circuit board mating end. The conductive pathway electrically engages the connector pad. The connector pad is configured to electrically couple the flexible circuit to one of the circuit boards. A layer of uncured material extends between the connector pad and the conductive pathway. The layer of uncured material increases an impedance of the connector pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Millard, Dustin G. Rowe, Bruce A. Champion, Justin A. Pickel
  • Publication number: 20120190220
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel, and at least one flexible printed circuit board connected to the display panel. The display panel includes signal lines, pixels connected to the signal lines, and contact pads provided at one end of the signal lines. The flexible printed circuit board includes a fan-out part including a plurality of connection lines corresponding to the contact pads in a one-to-one correspondence, overlapping with the contact pads and connected to the contact pads, and a driving driver connected to the connection lines, the driving driver applying a driving signal to the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Myoung LEE, Namseok ROH, Kyungtae CHAE, Hyung-Il JEON, Joo-Han BAE, Jihoon YANG
  • Patent number: 8226442
    Abstract: An electronic module adapted to be removably, operably connected to an electronic device. The electronic module includes a housing; at least one electronic component in the housing; and a plurality of electrical contact areas. The housing has a general electronic card shape with relatively large top and bottom sides and relatively thin side edges between the top and bottom sides. The plurality of electrical contact areas are located on a first one of the side edges. The electrical contact areas are connected to the at least one electronic component such that, when the electronic module is operably connected to the electronic device, the electrical contact areas on the first side edge are adapted to electrically couple the at least one electronic component to the electronic device along the first side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Matti Uusimaki, Timo T. Laitinen
  • Patent number: 8221134
    Abstract: A connector assembly is provided for communicating electrical signals between a pin connector having a plurality of connector pins and a remote location. The assembly comprises a connector defining a connector top surface and a plurality of pins extending therethrough, the pins each defining a pin contact surface extending above the connector top surface less than 0.1 inches. A collar is engaged about the connector body, the collar having an upper surface substantially coplanar with the connector top surface. A flexible cable has a plurality of electrical connectors extending therethrough, the cable defining a plurality of cable contact pads being in electrical communication with the flexible cable conductors. A retaining member is engageable to the collar for urging the flexible cable contact pads into electrical communication with the pin contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Basic Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Daniel Dove
  • Patent number: 8221146
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a housing, a connector interface, and an actuator. The housing extends from a front end to a back end and includes an elongated channel extending through the housing along an actuation axis disposed between the front and back ends. The connector interface is joined with the front end of the housing and is configured to be electrically joined with a circuit board when the connector interface is moved away from the front end and mates with the circuit board. The actuator is disposed within the channel of the housing and includes a ramp angled toward the front end of the housing. The connector interface mates with the circuit board by moving the actuator along the actuation axis to engage the ramp with the connector interface and move the connector interface toward the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Stephen Duesterhoeft, Richard Elof Hamner, Robert Neil Mulfinger, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Attalee Snarr Taylor
  • Patent number: 8215967
    Abstract: A connecting member includes a cable used to transmit signal, a first connector and a second connector connected to the cable, and an elastic member mounted on the cable. The first connector and the second connector are configured for being electronically connected to two electronic components. The elastic member is elastically deformable between a first state, where the elastic member and the cable are constricted, and a second state, where the elastic member and the cable are extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Hsieh, Li-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 8217381
    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: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    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, Keon Jae Lee, Zhengtao Zhu, Etienne Menard, Dahl-Young Khang, Seong Jun Kang, Jong Hyun Ahn, Hoon-sik Kim
  • Publication number: 20120171878
    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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Chi Mei Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Min-An CHING
  • Patent number: 8213173
    Abstract: This disclosure includes a portable data storage device comprising a mass data storage device, a cartridge housing enclosing a mass data storage device, and a flexible interconnect. The flexible interconnect includes an external electrical connector mechanically coupled to the cartridge, an internal electrical connector mechanically and electrically coupled to a data port of the mass data storage device, and a set of flexible electrical conductors electrically coupling the external electrical connector to the internal electrical connector. The flexible electrical conductors are routed within the cartridge such that no portion of the set of flexible electrical conductors lies in a volume defined by the space between the external electrical connector and the internal electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David Scott Allsup, Matthew James Dozier, Brent R. Brown, Peter R. Janik
  • Patent number: 8198621
    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: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: John A. Rogers, Dahl-Young Khang, Yugang Sun, Etienne Menard
  • Patent number: 8197261
    Abstract: A telecommunication connector includes a front holder having a plug port at the front and a press plate at the rear, a rear holder coupled to the rear of the front holder, a support member disposed at the front of the rear holder and extended to the top of the plug port, two rows of terminals installed at the rear holder, a flexible circuit board bent into the electric connecting plate and the extension plate, a curved portion wound across the front of the support member of the rear holder, such that the electric connecting plate is passed through the bottom of the support member and entered into the top of the plug port, and a fixing plate separately bent at rear ends of the electric connecting plate and the extension plate and pushed to the front of the rear holder by the press plate and coupled to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hsing Chau Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 8192207
    Abstract: A female circuit board for use with a male circuit board has electrically conductive projections. The female circuit board includes a flexible insulating film. The flexible insulating film includes insertion portions into which the conductive projections of the male circuit board are allowed to be inserted. Each of the insertion portions includes a plurality of slits communicating with each other at the center of each of the insertion portions. The flexible insulating film further includes electrically conduction portions for making contact with the conductive projections to come into conduction with the male circuit board. The conduction portions are disposed around the insertion portions on the surface of the female circuit board facing the male circuit board when the female circuit board is in contact with the male circuit board. The conduction portions conform in shape to the insertion portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Mituru Iida
  • Patent number: 8147274
    Abstract: A connector to be connected to a counterpart connector includes a circuit board having a ground layer, an insulating layer, and a first conductive layer successively stacked, the first conductive layer including a signal circuit and a ground circuit; and a second conductive layer electrically connecting the ground circuit and the ground layer, the second conductive layer being provided on a side of the counterpart connector in the ground circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Mizukami
  • Patent number: 8134839
    Abstract: A junction structure and a joining method of substrates are provided that stably can join the substrates and achieve high workability during joining. A second substrate 2 to be joined with solder to a first substrate 1 is bent with elasticity generated by a bending portion 9, and first joints 5 on the first substrate 1 and second joints 6 on the second substrate 2 are joined with solder in a state in which the first substrate 1 is brought into contact with, in a direction that increases the bending angle of the bending portion 9, a part where the joints 6 are formed on the second substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamazaki, Yasumasa Shibata, Yasuo Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120040541
    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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventor: Uwe LISKOW
  • Patent number: 8113851
    Abstract: A connector assembly that includes a base frame extending along a longitudinal axis between a pair of frame ends. The connector assembly also includes a moveable side that is supported by the base frame and extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis. The moveable side includes a mating array of terminals. The connector assembly also includes a flex connection that is communicatively coupled to the mating array. The flex connection and the mating array are configured to transmit data signals. The connector assembly also includes a coupling mechanism that is supported by the base frame and is operatively coupled to the moveable side. The coupling mechanism is configured to be actuated to move the moveable side between retracted and engaged positions along a mating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Elof Hamner, Robert Neil Mulfinger, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger
  • Patent number: 8109768
    Abstract: A connector is provided that includes: a molded base part having a substrate and elastomers arranged on both sides of the substrate; a plurality of through holes in the molded base part, which pass through the molded base part in a stacked direction of the substrate and the elastomers, and are arranged in parallel at predetermined spacing; and L-shaped contacts arranged via the through holes from one surface side of the molded base part to another surface side, wherein: the elastomers incorporate a plurality of first protruding parts whose top faces are inclined, and second protruding parts that protrude from top faces of the first protruding parts in a dome shape; said contact has dome shaped convex parts whose insides are hollow, and said convex parts are formed at two ends of the contact, and the convex parts are arranged such that they cover the respective second protruding parts. Also provided is an electronic component provided with this connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nikaido, Haruo Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20110312196
    Abstract: A flexible circuit is provided. The flexible circuit includes a circuit board mating end and a flexible body extending from the circuit board mating end. A conductive pathway extends through the flexible body to electrically couple circuit boards. A connector pad is positioned on the circuit board mating end. The conductive pathway electrically engages the connector pad. The connector pad is configured to electrically couple the flexible circuit to one of the circuit boards. A layer of uncured material extends between the connector pad and the conductive pathway. The layer of uncured material increases an impedance of the connector pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: STEVEN J. MILLARD, DUSTIN G. ROWE, BRUCE A. CHAMPION, JUSTIN D. PICKEL
  • Patent number: 8075319
    Abstract: A method for making a supporting body (1) for the lock of a motor vehicle, comprises the steps of: forming an intermediate element (8) made of electrically insulating material provided with conductive paths (3); setting the intermediate element (8) inside a mold (23) for forming the supporting body (1); and injecting electrically insulating material in the mold (23) for carrying out co-molding of the supporting body (1). The intermediate element (8) and the conductive paths (3) are made independently, and the conductive paths (3) are fixed on opposite faces (9, 10) of the intermediate element (8) by constraint means (15, 16) of a mechanical type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Intier Automotive Closures S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tommaso Rosi, Claudio Michetti
  • Patent number: 8075320
    Abstract: The invention concerns a matrix connector comprising a first pair of plug-in connectors and a second pair of plug-in connectors, in which the first pair of plug-in connectors has a housing, in which at least one flexible printed circuit board with at least one array of contacts is designed, which is contacted with at least one second array of contacts, which is designed in the second pair of plug-in connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schmückle, Matthias Kassner, Uwe Ellsässer, Eckhard Schewe
  • Patent number: 8075477
    Abstract: An electric connector for an endoscope, an endoscope, and a method for assembling an electric connector which make it possible to simplify work operations such as operation checks and repairs of the endoscope, as well as to reduce the time for the work operations. An endoscope having an insertion portion, an operation portion provided at a proximal end portion of the insertion portion, and a connection cable connected to the operation portion and having an electric connector at a proximal end thereof. The endoscope has a cable wire which is inserted through the endoscope and extends from the electric connector toward a distal end and a connector to which an end portion of the cable wire is releasably connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Naohiro Nakamura, Shiori Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8058560
    Abstract: A bendable area design for flexible printed circuitboard is disclosed. The flexible printed circuitboard (FPC) is comprised of: a flexible substrate; at least a circuit pattern; and a bendable area, being formed intersecting with the at least one circuit pattern and having at least a groove formed therein at a position corresponding to the intersection with the at least one circuit pattern; wherein the depth of the at least one groove is no larger than the thickness of the corresponding circuit pattern for preventing the circuit pattern from being cut off by the groove. By configuring the aforesaid bendable area in the FPC, stress generated by the bending of the FPC is restricted inside the bendable area effectively so that accurate control of the bending angle for bending FPC can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Lo, Chia-Ning Kao
  • Publication number: 20110269319
    Abstract: A PCB module includes a first rigid PCB having a first edge connector, a second rigid PCB having a second edge connector, and a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a flexible connecting board, an elastic member, and a fixing member. The flexible connecting has a number of connecting circuit traces isolated from each other. The flexible connecting board is bent in such a manner that a first end portion is in contact with the first edge connector, and a second end portion is in contact with the second edge connector. Thus, the first edge connector is electrically connected with the second edge connector by the traces. The elastic member is compressed between the end portions of the flexible connecting board. The fixing member is configured to fix the first rigid PCB to the second rigid PCB and compress the elastic member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: FOXCONN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: CHIEN-PANG CHENG
  • Patent number: 8045331
    Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a core layer, an insulation layer formed on the core layer and having a cavity formed on a part of the insulation layer, and a circuit pattern formed on the insulation layer, wherein the circuit pattern comprises one or more external terminals positioned above the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho-Seong Seo, Young-Min Lee, Kyu-Sub Kwak