Flexible Panel Patents (Class 439/67)
  • Patent number: 8018738
    Abstract: A voltage regulator. The voltage regulator includes an interposer having, on a first side, a plurality of electrical connections suitable for coupling to a printed circuit board (PCB). The interposer also includes at least one power plane and at least one ground plane, wherein each of the power and ground planes is coupled to one or more of the electrical connections. The voltage regulator further includes a DC-DC converter that is electro-mechanically attachable to and detachable from the interposer. The interposer includes a socket, on a second side, that is suitable to receive two or more electro-mechanical connecting members of the DC-DC converter. When the DC-DC converter is attached to the interposer, at least one of the electromechanical connecting members is electrically coupled to a power plane of the interposer, while at least one other one of the electromechanical connecting members is electrically coupled to the ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.,
    Inventors: Drew G. Doblar, Prabhansu Chakrabarti, Michael J. Bushue
  • Publication number: 20110216445
    Abstract: An electronic substrate includes: a flexible printed circuit comprising a head connecting portion being provided with a first terminal to be electrically connected to a magnetic head, and a board connecting portion being provided with a second terminal to be electrically connected to a main printed board; a first reinforcing member provided on the head connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit, the first reinforcing member reinforcing the head connecting portion; and a second reinforcing member provided on the board connecting portion of the flexible printed circuit, the second reinforcing member reinforcing the board connecting portion, wherein the second reinforcing member includes a additional enhancement portion formed with a sterically enhanced shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kosuke AWAGA, Kengo Saruta, Takao Ohmi
  • Patent number: 8011934
    Abstract: A camera apparatus attached to a portable electronic device includes a camera module, a holder, and a PCB. The holder includes a socket and a resisting member secured in the socket. The PCB includes a contact portion. The contact portion and the camera module are received in the socket. The resisting member pushes the contact portion toward the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Feng Tu
  • Patent number: 8000096
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of reduced-dimension computers of the ARINC 600 computer type of small and medium dimensions. The advantage of the invention is that it allows optimization of use of the volume of the computers. The surface area for accommodating electronic components on one board is greatly increased and the heat control is made easier and better.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Gérard Nemoz, Philippe Bieth
  • Patent number: 7994425
    Abstract: A flexible wiring cable includes a first wiring assembly connected to a load, a second wiring assembly connected to the first wiring assembly and extending toward an external signal source, and a circuit element mounted on the first wiring assembly to drive the load. The second wiring assembly is connected to the first wiring assembly at a position between the mounted circuit element and a connection point with the load. Thus, the heat of the circuit element is also transferred to the second wiring assembly, so that the effect of the heat on the load is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kubo
  • Patent number: 7988458
    Abstract: A socket connector for a digital camera module includes a base, a plurality of contact terminals, and a flex printed circuit board. The base includes a base body and a plurality of arms extending from the base. The contact terminals are mounted in the base, each contact terminal including an angled portion and a bent portion, the angled portion electronically connected to the digital cameral module. The flex printed circuit board is electronically connected to the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Pao-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 7990164
    Abstract: A probe card apparatus is configured to have a desired overall amount of compliance. The compliance of the probes of the probe card apparatus is determined, and an additional, predetermined amount of compliance is designed into the probe card apparatus so that the sum of the additional compliance and the compliance of the probes total the overall desired compliance of the probe card apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin N. Eldridge
  • Patent number: 7985081
    Abstract: A method for mounting the micro spring structures onto cables or contact structures includes forming a spring island having an “upside-down” stress bias on a first release material layer or directly on a substrate, forming a second release material over at least a portion of the spring island, and then forming a base structure over the second release material layer. The micro spring structure is then transferred in an unreleased state, inverted such that the base structure contacts a surface of a selected apparatus, and then secured (e.g., using solder reflow techniques) such that the micro spring structure becomes attached to the apparatus. The spring structure is then released by etching or otherwise removing the release material layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Koenraad Van Schuylenbergh, Thomas Hantschel
  • Patent number: 7985078
    Abstract: The electrode junction structure includes: a glass substrate; a plurality of flexible substrates, in a planar view, arranged to cross over an edge of the glass substrate and arranged to have a space from each other along the edge; an adhesive for joining the glass substrate and each flexible substrate; and a sealing resin for covering junction portions between the glass substrate and each flexible substrate, wherein an edge of the sealing resin is formed so that the edge of the sealing resin has, in the planar view, a consecutive waveform portion in which a convex portion and a concave portion alternate with an imaginary line as a center axis, the imaginary line being parallel to the edge of the glass substrate and locating outer than the edge of the glass substrate, and wherein the convex portions are formed to be located on the flexible substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Kumazawa, Masahiro Ono, Yoshihiro Tomura
  • Patent number: 7980864
    Abstract: A connector adapted for receiving a longitudinally inserted flexible printed circuit board therein includes an insulating housing having a base board, a plurality of electric terminals disposed in the insulating housing and a pressing cover vertically movably mounted onto the insulating housing. Two opposite ends of the base board protrude upward to form a pair of sidewalls. Each of the electric terminals has an elastic arm. The flexible printed circuit board is inserted between the base board and the elastic arms. A portion of a base portion of the pressing cover extends forward to form a pressing portion transversely spanned over the elastic arms of the electric terminals for pressing the elastic arms downward against the flexible printed circuit board when the pressing cover is pressed downward to be closed so as to make the flexible printed circuit board tightly clipped between the elastic arms and the base board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sheng-Yuan Huang
  • Patent number: 7980863
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a circuit board interconnect may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first circuit board having a plated through hole within a metal pad on the circuit board, the through hole providing a passage for solder to connect the first circuit board to a second circuit board, (b) a second circuit board having a metal pad able to couple to the first circuit board in an overlapping fashion when solder is passed through the plated through hole, and (c) a non-conductive solder repelling material on a surface of one circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Metrospec Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Henry V. Holec, Wm. Todd Crandell
  • Patent number: 7975379
    Abstract: LGA connectors are fabricated with buttons or spring contacts preformed to different heights to accommodate the initial topography of a typical module or PCB of a particular product type. This is accomplished during fabrication by measuring topographies of mating surfaces of a first electronic device and of a second electronic device; fabricating interposer contacts to form opposing non-planar sides having respective inverse topographies for contacting the mating surfaces; and sandwiching the interposer between the first and second electronic devices with the opposing sides in contact with respective mating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gareth G. Hougham, Brian S. Beaman, John S. Corbin, Paul Coteus, Shawn A. Hall, Kathleen C. Hinge, Theron L. Lewis, Frank R. Libsch, Amanda E. E. Mikhail
  • Publication number: 20110159711
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Toshihiro Niitsu, Hideo Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7963775
    Abstract: An electrical connector for electrically coupling an electronic module and an electrical component. The connector includes a connector body that has first and second mating surfaces. The connector body includes interconnects that extend through the connector body between the first and second mating surfaces for electrically coupling the module and the component. The connector body has a hole extending therethrough along a central axis. The hole is configured to receive a guide pin from one of the module and the component. The connector also includes surface mount projections that are coupled to the connector body and extend toward the central axis of the hole. The projections engage and flex against the guide pin when the guide pin is inserted into the hole. The projections form an interference fit with the guide pin to hold the connector body in a mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Justin Shane McClellan, Nathan William Swanger, Jeffrey Byron McClinton, Richard Elof Hamner, Peter Paul Wilson
  • Patent number: 7955089
    Abstract: A three-dimensional connector, which is used by a coordinate input device of a touch pad has a flat conductor cable with an end being connected to the touch pad and another end having multiple conductive lines. Each of the conductive lines is attached with a vertical guiding conductor pin. The guide conductor pin has a head section to press-fit with the flat conductor cable, and extends through a support to transmit electronic signals in a direction perpendicular to said flat conductor cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Super Elite Technology Company Limited
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 7950964
    Abstract: A card connector includes a first housing extending along a front-to-rear direction and defining a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in a vertical direction thereof. Multiple groups of terminals are mounted on the first housing with tails projecting out of the first surface. A second housing extends along a transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and is fixed on the first housing. A group of converting terminals are mounted on the second housing with solder tails projecting out of the second surface and connecting portions projecting out of the first surface. A flexible printed circuit defines an input end and an output end thereof. The flexible printed circuit is attached to the first surface of the first housing with the tails of the multiple groups of terminals connecting with the input end and connecting portions of the converting terminals connecting with the output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Terrance F. Little
  • Patent number: 7927110
    Abstract: A connector clip adapted for holding a flat cable directly against a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a pair of vertical walls mounted on the PCB with a width same to the flat cable, a pair of horizontal walls extending inwards from the vertical walls to commonly define a receiving room to receive the flat cable with a front opening from which the flat cable is inserted and a pressing cover disposed between the pair of horizontal walls in a horizontal plane. The pressing cover slants upwards to the front opening and has a pair of locking tabs bending to the front opening. The pressing cover is moved into the receiving room to press against the flat cable and the locking tabs interlock with the horizontal walls to block the pressing cover from moving away from the receiving room so that the flat cable is fitly retained in the receiving room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu Zhu
  • Patent number: 7918670
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a flex circuit, and a spring-and-pressurized-gas mechanism for selectively pushing electrical contacts of the flex circuit against contacts of an interposer used to make electrical contact with a part to be electrically tested, a device under test (DUT). The mechanism includes a pair of pawls that are rotated to hook onto posts of the board to pull the electrical connector toward and into contact with the contacts of the interposer. The mechanism has a chamber for receiving pressurized gas, to push against a piston, to compress a spring that is mechanically coupled to and rotates the pawls. The mechanism is biased such that the electrical connector engages the interposer when gas pressure is removed, allowing the connector to remain engaged with interposer using only the forces from the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Joy Signal Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Chris A. Shmatovich, Gordon G. Masor
  • Patent number: 7914296
    Abstract: The invention provides an interconnecting assembly including a main structure having first and second portions, an inner terminal on the main structure, a support film having first and second portions, an inner contact and outer terminal formed on opposing sides of the support film, a conductive lever portion on the support film and connecting the inner contact and outer terminal, wherein the inner contact contacts the inner terminal and the first portions are moved relatively towards one another so that the second portion of the film is pivoted together with the conductive lever portion and the outer terminal away from the second portion of the main structure, the outer terminal being depressible towards the main structure from a first position to a second position and returning to the first position when a force depressing the outer terminal is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Exatron, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Howell
  • Patent number: 7905753
    Abstract: A coupler connector and cross talk reducing network for coupling a first cable and a second cable in electrically conducting relation to each other, the first cable and the second cable respectively terminated by a first modular plug and a second modular plug each comprising respectively a first plurality of contact terminals and a second plurality of contact terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Belden CDT (Canada) Inc.
    Inventors: Virak Siev, Francois Beauregard
  • Publication number: 20110053390
    Abstract: A connector adapted for receiving a longitudinally inserted flexible printed circuit board therein includes an insulating housing having a base board, a plurality of electric terminals disposed in the insulating housing and a pressing cover vertically movably mounted onto the insulating housing. Two opposite ends of the base board protrude upward to form a pair of sidewalls. Each of the electric terminals has an elastic arm. The flexible printed circuit board is inserted between the base board and the elastic arms. A portion of a base portion of the pressing cover extends forward to form a pressing portion transversely spanned over the elastic arms of the electric terminals for pressing the elastic arms downward against the flexible printed circuit board when the pressing cover is pressed downward to be closed so as to make the flexible printed circuit board tightly clipped between the elastic arms and the base board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Sheng-Yuan Huang
  • Patent number: 7892001
    Abstract: A floating connector that utilizes multiple cables or ribbon cable is described, the connector has two termination ends, each with a housing and conductive terminals. The housings have a stepped configuration having at least two different levels on which free ends of the cables are terminated to the terminals of the housing. The terminals extend from the steps to terminating faces that are mate with opposing receptacle connectors. The two housing are flexibly interconnected so that they may deflect relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Takuji Hanyu
  • Patent number: 7891985
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel, a flexible printed wiring board, a printed circuit board, a support member to support the display panel and the printed circuit board, and a frame member to cover the printed circuit board and to assist support of the display panel. The printed circuit board is supported at a side surface of the support member by bending the flexible printed wiring board, and the support member includes, at the side surface for supporting the printed circuit board, a first support part to support one end side of the printed circuit board which is opposite to another end side to which the flexible printed wiring board is connected, and a second support part to support the another end side of the printed circuit board. The frame member has a contact portion for contacting the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Azuma, Masaki Tsubokura
  • Patent number: 7881578
    Abstract: Techniques for ultra-high density connection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultra-high density connector includes a bundle of substantially parallel elongate cylindrical elements, where each cylindrical element is substantially in contact with at least one adjacent cylindrical element. Ends of the elongate cylindrical elements are disposed differentially with respect to each other to define a three-dimensional interdigitating mating surface. At least one of the elongate cylindrical elements has an electrically conductive contact positioned to tangentially engage a corresponding electrical contact of a mating connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Sarcos, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, David P. Marceau, Shayne M. Zurn, David T. Markus
  • Patent number: 7878820
    Abstract: A connector device for interconnecting circuit substrates is obtained, in which a pitch for electrically conducting paths can easily be aligned with a pitch for electrodes on the side of circuit substrates. The connector includes a rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) and a connector housing (11). The rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) has a plurality of electrically conducting paths disposed on a rectangular parallelepiped insulating base thereof at an insulating interval and the connector housing (11) is mounted on a first circuit substrate (1) with the rectangular parallelepiped connecting element (9) received therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hokuriku Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Morio Tada, Satoshi Ueno, Satoru Takasaki
  • Patent number: 7874848
    Abstract: A wiring board insertion connector having only a small restriction on the structure of a wiring board to be inserted to the connector and high connection reliability includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a spacer layer that is located between the first substrate and the second substrate; and openings for accommodating a wiring board at predetermined positions in the spacer layer. The first substrate has a wiring layer, a deformable layer, a rigid layer, and a resin layer formed in this order from the side of the spacer layer. The rigid layer has window portions formed at the regions corresponding to the openings, when seen from a thickness direction of the connector. The wiring layer extends at least to the regions corresponding to the window portions when seen from the thickness direction of the connector, the wiring layer protruding toward opening regions at the window portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidehiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7871289
    Abstract: A printed circuit cable assembly for top down installation in a disc drive or the like in which a printed circuit cable supporting electrical conductor paths has a body portion, a flex portion and an insertion tab connecting the body portion and flex portion. A PCC support member having a support ramp extending into a slotted gap supports the printed circuit cable with the insertion tab extending into the slotted gap so that the flex portion is extended for attachment to a moveable article, such as the head stack assembly of a disc drive. Preferably, the PCC support member has an indexing bore, and the PCC support member with the supported printed circuit cable is mounted to a support member having an indexing post, the PCC support member positioned so that indexing bore is positioned over the indexing post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Cheng Siong Chin, Wai Onn Chee
  • Patent number: 7862344
    Abstract: A contact module is provided for an electrical connector. The contact module includes a body having a mating edge portion and a mounting edge portion. A lead frame is held by the body. The lead frame includes a differential pair of terminals extending between the mating edge portion and the mounting edge portion. The differential pair includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal having positive and negative mating contacts, respectively, and positive and negative mounting contacts, respectively. The positive and negative mating contacts extend from the mating edge portion in a first orientation. The positive and negative mounting contacts extend from the mounting edge portion in a second orientation. The first orientation at the mating edge portion is inverted relative to the second orientation at the mounting edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Chad William Morgan, David Wayne Helster
  • Patent number: 7850461
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical device that can be used to help maintain a connection between an electrical tail and an electronic device such as a touch sensor screen. The mechanical device deflects upon installation over the tail and the electronic device so that pressure caused by spring action helps maintain the connection. The mechanical device also includes a cutout region designed so that the tail can freely pass through the mechanical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bülent Bulat
  • Patent number: 7841870
    Abstract: An electronic device and an assembling method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a first electronic module, a second electronic module, and a through connection element. The first electronic module includes a plurality of electronic units, a plurality of lead wires, a daughterboard, and a first connector. The first connector is disposed on the daughterboard. The lead wires are separately connected between the electronic units and the daughterboard. The daughterboard is electrically connected between the lead wires and the first connector. The second electronic module includes a motherboard and a second connector, wherein the second connector disposed on the motherboard is electrically connected with the motherboard. The through connection element being assembled between the first and the second connectors is electrically connected to the first and the second connectors to connect the first electronic module with the second electronic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventor: Shun-Bin Chen
  • Patent number: 7841867
    Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) apparatus includes a connector combined with a side of a printed circuit board (PCB) and with a connection terminal of a flexible printed cable (FPC), a flip pivotably combined with the connector to lock the connection terminal into and unlock the connection terminal from the connector, and an area increasing and strength reinforcing portion formed at the flip to increase a handling area of the flip and reinforce strength of the flip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Taek Lim, Ki Tag Jeong
  • Patent number: 7841078
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program storage product for optimizing land grid array site geometry on an electronic assembly mounting. A first member including at least one convex region is aligned with a first portion of an electronic assembly mounting. A second member is aligned with a second portion of the electronic assembly mounting. The second portion includes at least one concave region corresponding to the convex region of the first portion. The second member includes a dome-shaped region having a predefined geometry. Heat is applied to at least one of the electronic assembly mounting, the first member, and the second member. Pressure is applied to at least one of the first member and the second member to reshape the convex region into a substantially flat surface. Applying pressure also reshapes the concave region into a geometry corresponding to the predefined geometry of the dome-shaped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Lam, Wai Mon Ma, Arch F. Nuttall
  • Patent number: 7835160
    Abstract: First sheet-like substrate is arranged at a region surrounded by first terminals of male connector and first circuit substrate, and second sheet-like substrate is arranged at a region surrounded by second terminals of female connector and second circuit substrate, and male connector and female connector are fitted together so that a first passive element of first sheet-like substrate and a second passive element of second sheet-like substrate configure a filter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Yamamoto, Daisuke Suetsugu, Daido Komyoji, Takashi Imanaka, Hirotaka Hisamura
  • Patent number: 7828588
    Abstract: This invention discloses a connector structure including a base, a plurality of metal pins, and a cover. The metal pins are disposed at the base. The cover has a first side and a second side being separately and pivotally connected to the base, respectively. The first side is capable of being operated to be separated from the base and to rotate around the second side for exposing one part of the metal pins. The second side is capable of being operated to be separated from the base and to rotate around the first side for exposing one part of the metal pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Pegatron Corporation
    Inventors: Po-Chih Lin, Shu-Fang Chueh
  • Patent number: 7830114
    Abstract: A flex circuit interface for inductively charging a power source includes a flex circuit having a primary-portion and at least one folding portion. A device contact and a battery contact are disposed on a folding-portion. A secondary coil is disposed on the flex circuit for receiving inductively transferred power. A secondary receiving circuit is also disposed on the flex circuit. The secondary receiving circuit is in communication with the secondary coil to receive power from the coil. The flex circuit includes a battery contact and at least one pass-through contact. The battery contact is in communication with the secondary circuit for delivering power to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Reed
  • Patent number: 7815441
    Abstract: A rigid-flexible board and a method for manufacturing the same can be provided, whereby the material yield ratio can be enhanced and the productive yield can be also enhanced. A rigid board with a step for connection and a flexible board with a connector at the edge thereof are formed independently. Then, the connecting area is spot facing processed so that the depth of the thus obtained depressed portion is equal to or lower than the thickness of the flexible board. The connector of the flexible board is electrically connected to the vertical wiring area of the depressed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Kazuo Umeda, Wataru Gotou, Susumu Nakazawa, Kiyoshi Takeuchi, Takayuki Terauchi
  • Patent number: 7811135
    Abstract: Various embodiments are provided herein for a connector that can provide electrical and mechanical coupling between first and second objects. In one broad aspect, the connector generally comprises at least one connecting element that has at least one first and at least one second contact portions; at least one guidance portion located towards an end of a given connecting element and adjacent to the at least one first contact portion; a straight end portion comprising the at least one second contact portion, and connected to one of the first and second objects by a solder connection; and a biasing portion that is adjacent to the at least one first contact portion and the straight end portion. The biasing portion is configured to provide an electrical connection between the at least one first and the at least one second contact portions and to resiliently move the given connecting element from a first position to a second position to provide a mechanical coupling force to the first and second objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Jack S. Idzik, Ryan Mitchell Bayne, Ben Boomhour
  • Patent number: 7811094
    Abstract: A contact member which is resistant to contact failure even if the environment of use is bad. A film is affixed to the surface of a long plate-shaped elastic body which is disposed between two to-be-connected objects. A electrically-conducting path which electrically connects between terminal portions of two to-be-connected objects is provided on the surface of the film. A first conductor contact portion which is capable of being brought into contact with the terminal portion of one of two to-be-connected objects is disposed at one end of the electrically-conducting path, and a second conductor contact portion which is capable of being brought into contact with the terminal portion of the other of two to-be-connected objects is disposed at the other end of the electrically-conducting path. A plurality of holes are formed in the first and second conductor contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Kuwahara, Seiya Takahashi, Hiroshi Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7802995
    Abstract: A rotatable connector includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member rotatable relative to the first rotating member, at least one conductive connecting member sandwiched between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, and a shaft. The first rotating member includes a first rotating body and a first flexible printed circuit board fixed to the first rotating body. The first rotating body includes at least one conductive portion electrically connected to the first flexible printed circuit board. The second rotating member includes a second rotating body and a second flexible printed circuit board fixed to the second rotating body. The second rotating body includes at least one conductive protrusion. The at least one conductive connecting member electrically connects the least one conductive protrusion to the at least one conductive portion. The shaft extends through the first rotating body, the second rotating body and the second flexible printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Shi Lai
  • Patent number: 7794233
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly couples a circuit board with at least one of a motherboard and a backplane board. The connector assembly includes a connector and a flexible circuit member. The connector has a mating interface and a mounting interface. The mating interface electrically couples the connector with the circuit board. The mounting interface secures the connector to the motherboard. The flexible circuit member electrically interconnects the mating and mounting interfaces with one another and with at least one of the motherboard and the backplane board. The flexible circuit member electrically interconnects the circuit board with the backplane board via a conductive pathway that bypasses the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Millard, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Richard Elof Hamner
  • Patent number: 7794235
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of manufacturing woven electrical connectors is disclosed. In one embodiment, the connector is formed with a continuous wire having adjacent sections with passageways formed from the wire through which loading elements may be inserted. In some embodiments, the loading elements include spring band clips and/or helical spring coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Wallace
  • Patent number: 7789669
    Abstract: A removable card connector assembly configured to be inserted into and engage an electrical system. The card connector assembly includes a circuit board that has a surface extending along a board plane in a longitudinal direction. The card connector assembly also includes an electrical connector assembly that is coupled to the surface of the circuit board. The electrical connector assembly includes a flexible circuit and a moveable contact array of mating contacts that are coupled to the flexible circuit. The moveable contact array is configured to engage a system contact array of mating contacts in the electrical system. The card connector assembly also includes a coupling mechanism that is configured to move the moveable contact array between retracted and engaged positions. The mating contacts of the moveable contact array are arranged along a contact plane that extends in the longitudinal direction when in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Stephen Duesterhoeft, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Robert Neil Mulfinger
  • Patent number: 7789670
    Abstract: The present invention provides a very thin planar connector having 2 mm or smaller pitch interval at the lattice area and 0.5 mm or smaller thickness of the lattice area, giving excellent performance in the whole performances such as moldability, flatness, warp-deformation, and heat resistance. A planar connector having a lattice structure within an outer frame is molded by using (C) a resin composition prepared by compounding (A) a liquid-crystalline polymer with (B) a fibrous filler, while the relation between the compounding quantity and the weight-average length of (B) the fibrous filler is controlled to a specified range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Polyplastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Fukatsu, Kazufumi Watanabe, Toshio Shiwaku, Hirokazu Ohshiba
  • Patent number: 7789668
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for electrically coupling primary and secondary circuit boards together. The secondary circuit board is held proximate to the primary circuit board and has a first contact array of board contacts thereon. The electrical connector assembly includes a circuit assembly having a second contact array of mating contacts configured to mate with the first contact array and a flexible circuit that electrically couples the second contact array to the primary circuit board. The electrical connector assembly also includes an alignment feature that is configured to engage the secondary circuit board. Also, the electrical connector assembly includes a coupling mechanism that is configured to move the alignment feature and the second contact array between a retracted position, in which the second contact array is located remotely from the first contact array, and an engaged position, in which the first and second contact arrays engage one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Elof Hamner, Scott Stephen Duesterhoeft, Attalee S. Taylor, Jason M'Cheyne Reisinger, Brian Patrick Costello
  • Patent number: 7785113
    Abstract: An electrical connection structure allowing reduction in height and easy disassembly, wherein a first connecting member comprises a flexible substrate comprising a flexible insulating film, at least one conductive pad formed on at least one side thereof, a conductive circuit pattern extending from the rim of the pad, a through-hole formed through the thickness thereof at a planar position within the pad, and a small aperture formed at a planar position within the pad and communicating with the through-hole, and a second connecting member comprises a conductive projection formed at least one side thereof and electrically connected with a conductive circuit pattern formed inside or on the second connecting member, where the electrical connection is formed in the manner such that the conductive projection of the second connecting member is inserted in the through-hole of the first connecting member, through the small aperture in the pad, bending the pad and the portion of the insulating film under the pad, along
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Asahi Denka Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 7766669
    Abstract: Compression connectors and methods are provided that are suitable for mating a flat flexible circuit and a printed circuit board. A mounting assembly secures a locking compression assembly to the printed circuit board. Pliable compression springs mounted on rotatable levers engage the top surface of the flexible circuit and force the flexible circuit down onto an interposer, which in turn forces the interposer down onto the printed circuit board. Stop plates are biased towards the rotatable levers to hold the levers in the closed position. Latch members engage the stop plates to keep the connector closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David Schmidgall, Javier Resendez
  • Patent number: 7758353
    Abstract: A circuit board connector assembly mounted in a housing and method of mounting are described. The assembly has orthogonal first and second circuit boards (CB). The CB has a CB connector containing a CB housing with CB electrical contacts. A flexible electrical link has a link connector mounted in a link connector housing with link electrical contacts. A resilient pad is mounted on a link connector housing and a flexible sheet is mounted to both the pad and the link. The sheet spans a length of the link. When the length of the link is substantially planar, the sheet provides a ramp tapering away from the pad. During mounting of the assembly in the housing, the CB connector is operatively coupled to the link connector thereby forming a first connector assembly, and an abutment edge of the second circuit board slidably engages the sheet thereby compressing the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Chee Hian Lee, David H. McClintock, Chong Yeow Oo
  • Patent number: 7740486
    Abstract: An electronic device, comprising an improved printed circuit board connection for connecting a first printed circuit board to a second printed circuit board in a manner that permits physical engagement at a different position than the electrical engagement, and a method for making the improved printed circuit board connection with precision in alignment. In one embodiment, the first printed circuit board includes an end portion configured to engage with a member of a connector on the second printed circuit board. The end portion and the member engage along concave portions of the end portion and convex portions of the member. When engaged, the end portion and the member align wires of the first printed circuit board with terminals of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nagahisa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100151705
    Abstract: A cable connector assembly includes an insulative housing (1) having a plurality of contacts (2) received therein, a shielding (3) enclosing the insulative housing (1), a printed circuit board (4) connected with tail portions (21) of the contacts and a cable (5) connected with the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board (4) has a first printed circuit board (41) and a second printed circuit board (42) located below the first printed circuit board, the first and the second printed circuit boards are electrically connecting with each other by a flexible circuit (43).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: PING-SHENG SU, FENG-JUN QI, JUN CHEN
  • Patent number: 7731506
    Abstract: A pin layout of a golden finger for FPC is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; a first conductive layer, having a plurality of first routings; a second conductive layer, having a plurality of second routings; and a plurality of conductive members; wherein the first and the second conductive layers are formed respectively on the two opposite sides of the substrate in a manner that each first routing is electrically connected to its corresponding first pin, while disposing a plurality of second pins, without contacting to the first pins and the first routings, on the side of the substrate where the first conductive layer is disposed for corresponding each of the second pins to the extensions of the plural second routings; and the plural conductive members are disposed forming electric connections between the second routings and the second pins in respective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Lo, Yueh-Fang Wang