Abstract: Electrical interconnections between two assemblies, whose connectors are located in hard-to-access areas of an apparatus, are easily connected or disconnected by mounting one of the connectors on a holder which is movable on a support. A first connector is electrically connected to components of a first assembly by flexible leads, and is mounted mechanically on a holder which is detachably aligned on a support fixed on that first assembly. In an initial position, the first assembly's connector is fixed in a position which allows easy access by a test device for electrical connection to the connector. To interconnect the two assemblies in the apparatus, the first assembly is mechanically mounted in its final position, with its connector arranged approximately in line with the mating connector of the second assembly. The holder, which has a long handle or grip providing easy access from the exterior of the apparatus, is then moved along the support toward the second connector.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly is disclosed which includes a number of rigid printed circuit boards connected by a number of flexible printed circuit panels. Integrated circuits and similar components are mounted on the rigid printed circuit boards. The components are interconnected by printed circuit conductors of the rigid printed circuit boards and the flexible printed circuit panels. The resulting board assembly can provide a manifold increase in the usable component area over a single flat, rigid printed circuit board when it is folded and installed into a standard cylindrical, coolant filled container.

Abstract: An improved spindle motor flex cable and related mounting arrangement are provided for use in a computer disk drive unit to couple a disk drive spindle motor to associated drive electronics. The flex cable comprises a flexible ribbon base with multiple conductors at one side thereof, wherein the flex cable is supported on a substantially sealed disk drive housing with the conductor side presented generally toward the housing. An inboard end segment of the flex cable is folded back upon itself for outward exposure of inboard conductor ends to permit facilitated connection as by soldering to spindle motor leads protruding from the housing. An outboard end segment of the flex cable extends beyond a side margin of the disk drive housing to expose outboard ends of the conductors for connection as by soldering to a connector fitting oriented to face away from the housing for easy plug-in connection or the like to drive electronics located, for example, an adjacent circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector is presented for effecting a non-wiping pressure mated connection between at least a pair of flexible circuits and another circuit device in a compact package with allowance for very tight tolerances on pad width and spacing.

Abstract: A connection device for connecting the strip conductors of a flat tape-like cable to corresponding conductor tracks on a printed circuit board, includes one member backed by a member for engaging the cable across its width and formed with projections for engaging the individual conductors, and a second, corresponding member for engaging the reverse side of the board. Pressure is applied between the members to establish a pressure connection between the conductors of the cable and the respective conductor tracks by means of latches forming part of the backing member and engaging surfaces at the ends of a member fixed to the second member.

Abstract: An assembly for interconnecting two relatively rigid circuit cards using a flexible circuit for forming this connection is provided. The assembly includes a housing which has a first pressure exerting member which has the flexible circuit reeved therearound. Second and third pressure exerting members are provided in spaced juxtaposed relationship against which the opposite legs of the flexible circuit are maintained to define therebetween a slot for the reception of a circuit card. The assembly is inserted into a card substrate with the first pressure exerting means causing the flexible circuit to be biased into contact with the contacts on a substrate. A second circuit card is inserted into the slot between the legs of the flexible circuit, and the second and third pressure exerting members urge each of the legs as the flexible circuit into contact with the second circuit board.

Abstract: A flexible supporting cable for an electronic device which includes a steel foil substrate, a layer of polymer on portions of the substrate, circuit pads on the polymer layer having both the bottom and top surfaces of the pads exposed; circuit lines extending from the top surface of the pads, a window free from steel beneath a portion of the circuit lines, and a second, smaller window free from both steel and the polymer beneath a portion of the circuit lines. Methods are provided for fabricating these flexible supporting cables.

Abstract: A flex circuit and cable assembly for interconnecting printed circuit boards includes a flexible insulating substrate having a conductive ground plane formed on one side and first and second sets of longitudinally extending and interdigitated conductive traces on the other side. The traces of the first and second sets alternate with and are laterally spaced from one another and are provided with an array of connection pads formed on the conductive traces for connection to the tails of an electrical connector or header. Each connection array is defined by a first set of laterally enlarged connection pads associated with each conductive trace of the first set of conductive traces and formed along a first lateral axis and by a second set of laterally enlarged connection pads associated with each conductive trace of the second set of conductive traces and formed along a second lateral axis that is longitudinally spaced from the first lateral axis.

Abstract: A zero insertion force electrical connector for electrically connecting two electrical members. A plurality of first electrical contacts on a first member engage a plurality of second electrical on a second member. An isostratic medium is retained against the second member and a pressure generator acts on the isostatic medium for providing a uniform force forcing the first and second contact into engagement. One of the first and second contacts may be positioned in recesses and the other of the first and second contacts are outwardly extending for providing self-alignment between the first and second members. The second member may be a three-layer tape having a first metal signal layer, a middle dielectric layer and a second ground layer for interconnection to a third electrical member.

Abstract: A paddle board for a connector for one or two ribbon cables having closely spaced signal and ground wires, includes on one or both major surfaces a plurality of wire-terminating pads comprising conductive material along bottoms of wire-receiving grooves proximate the cable-proximate edge of the board, the grooves defined by serrate ridges. Circuit paths extend from the signal ones of the wire-terminating pads to terminal-connecting pads along one or both major surfaces at a connector-proximate edge of the board to be connected to signal terminals of the connector. Other circuit paths extend from ground ones of the wire-terminating pads to a ground bus which includes at least one ground circuit path extending to a ground terminal-connecting pad along the connector-proximate edge. The wires of each ribbon cable are soldered to the wire-terminating pads after being wiped into the grooves, and the ridges serve as integral wire alignment means.

Abstract: An electrical connector terminates ribbon cable intended for electrical connection to a PCB. The connector presents multiple contacts from the ribbon cable for engagement with mating terminals on the PCB as the connector is first moved into position for mounting on the PCB. Guide pins on the connector are slidably received in associated guide holes in the PCB to assure that each contact is properly positioned to engage its mating terminal. Thereupon, fasteners are tightened for firmly securing the connector to the PCB and, in the process, the contacts are moved relative to their mating terminals in a wiping action while still in engagement with them. Relative movement between the contacts and the terminals ceases when the fasteners are fully tightened. Individual groups of contacts are independently biased into engagement with the terminals with a predetermined minimum of force.

Abstract: Wire harnesses for connecting a number of electric devices mounted on an automotive vehicle are arranged on flat resin frame covers fixed to vehicle frames or directly on resin vehicle frames or most preferably on a resin vehicle body, in order to facilitate wiring of electric devices, reduce harness spaces without use of harness fixtures, and automatize wire harness manufacturing processes. The wire harness thus arranged is connected to electric devices by engaging each set of harness end terminals with each electric device connector attached to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A connector interface for electrically mating a multi-row connector with a printed circuit board is defined by a flex circuit in the form of laminated polyimide layers having conductive traces for each interconnect pair with connection fields at the opposite ends of the traces for electrical connection to the terminal pins on the connector and the conductive pads or pins on the circuit board. The conductive traces are all of equal length to provide equal resistance and impedance paths for each of the circuit interconnects.

Abstract: In a flexible circuit connector assembly, a first circuit has exposed contacts which are positioned in register with the termination pads of another circuit by means of a connector which mechanically clamps the two circuits together. The connector includes a frame having an undersurface to which the first circuit is affixed. Locating posts project from that surface and are received in locating apertures in the second circuit to properly position the connector and the attached circuit relative to the second circuit. A generally C-shaped spring member engages around the frame with its arms extending beyond the locating posts and with its bridging segment extending more or less perallel to the frame reference surface.

Abstract: A connector is provided for joining two flat flexible cables. The connector comprises a carrier having an elongated base, a pair of guides extending orthogonally from opposed ends of the base and a generally planar support extending from the base and disposed between the guides. The connector further comprises a resilient clip having opposed arms extending from a connecting member and converging toward one another. Slits may be formed in the clip to define a plurality of independent clamping fingers aligned respectively with conductive traces on the flat flexible circuit members. The circuit members are disposed in face to face contact on the support of the carrier, and the clip is slidably advanced over the circuit members and the support. Thus, the arms of the clip hold the flat flexible circuit members in face to face contact with one another and against the support of the carrier.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board terminal structure includes a flexible printed circuit board composed of electrically conductive patterns formed on a flexible insulative film of a thermoplastic synthetic resin by the screen-printing of an electrically conductive coating, and an insulative coating of synthetic resin disposed on the insulative film on a portion thereof except for a terminal section defined at one edge. Metallic terminal members are placed on the electrically conductive patterns at the printed circuit board terminal section directly or through the intermediary of an electrically conductive adhesive, a terminal fixing film made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin having the same properties as the thermoplastic insulative film is placed on the terminal section from above the metallic terminal members, and predetermined portions of the thermoplastic insulative film and terminal fixing film, with the exception of portions at which the metallic terminal members are situated, are thermally fused.

Abstract: A composite chassis for electronic apparatus incorporates a sheet metal substrate with injection-molded plastic structural members and other details added. Certain mounting details permit good mechanical and electrical connection of external frame members, circuit boards, and other parts to the chassis.

Abstract: The assembly includes a heat-conductive plate onto which a pair of circuit modules are mounted, one module on each side of the plate. A continuous piece of flexible material, such as polyimide, forms the substrate for one circuit module, passes around an edge of the plate, and connects to the other circuit module for which it also forms the substrate. Conductors carried by the flexible material interconnect the modules and also connect the modules to external devices via a connector.

Abstract: A miniaturized surface mountable connector arrangement for connecting printed circuits on a printed circuit board to another circuit member, such as flat flex cable is provided. Each circuit on the circuit board is provided with at least two spaced apart solder-bearing contact pads. A connector housing having a board engaging surface includes a plurality of stamped metal terminals each having a pair of depending solder contact projections at least one of which depends from board engaging surface. The connector is positioned on the circuit board so that the contact projections engage the contact pads. Upon reflow of the solder material a balanced shock resistant mechanical attachment and electrical connection of the connector to the circuit board is provided. No additional mounting structures are required so the arrangement occupies less board surface area. The arrangement is well suited for robotic assembly operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for interconnecting a flexible (flex) circuit, printed circuit or the like to an ink jet printhead or other similar electronic device. This approach includes providing a flexible lead frame member between the flex circuit and printhead, with the lead frame member having a plurality of conductive leads or fingers extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the final plane of interconnection. During the interconnection process, these leads or fingers are spring biased through this predetermined angle to provide good compressive electrical contact between the two members interconnected by the lead frame in a single plane of interconnection.

Abstract: A right angle connector which can be added to connector pads pre-existing on a mother board easily and inexpensively to accept a daughter board at any time for system enhancement. The right angle connection is also inexpensively manufactured and installed. The connector includes a slotted housing, a slotted elastomeric member, and a flexible circuit with numerous conductors. The flexible circuit is wrapped around the elastomeric member with its two free ends ending in the slot of the elastomeric member and these components are then inserted into the housing. The elastomeric member is a little bit larger than the enclosed volume of the housing when it is mounted by fasteners to the mother board. Thus, as the housing is fastened to the mother board, the elastomeric member is compressed causing it to make a better electrical contact between the electrical contacts of the mother board and the electrical contacts of the daughter board.

Abstract: An electrical connector which provides a positive interconnection between the exposed conductor runs of a flexible printed circuit film and corresponding conductors on a printed circuit board by utilizing an insulated block mounted on the printed circuit board for holding a plurality of spring contacts and providing a holding mechanism adjacent the flexible printed circuit film so that compression between the electrical contacts and the exposed runs is maintained.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes flexible cable interconnected to receptacle connectors which can be interconnected to mother boards or daughter boards. To assist in the distribution of power, an adapter member is disclosed which can be interconnected to a post header or directly to a pin field. The adapter member includes two rows or pins which are commoned to each other and to a receptacle portion which is interconnectable to the posts in the post header or to the pins in the pin field.

Abstract: The invention provides a connector for flat connections adapted for connecting electrically together printed circuit tracks or printed circuit tracks to a flat cable or two flat cables together. The connector includes a sleeve made from a shape memory material in which the conducting elements intended to be in electric contact are superimposed. The sleeve is adapted for applying transverse forces under the effect of a predetermined temperature so that electric continuity may be provided between these elements.

Abstract: A header for an electronic circuit includes two complementary portions. The electronic circuit is a flexible circuit with leads on opposite side edges. The opposite side leads are received by the header portions and fixed in place as by epoxy. The two header portions are then snapped together to form the header. One of the header portions includes tongues which are received in slots of the other header portions for maintaining alignment of the two portions. Clips are provided on each of the header portions for interconnecting with complementary clips of the other header portion.

Abstract: A connector is formed as a molded body having a sub-assembly that includes a terminal board aligned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cable and an attached receptacle strip that includes an array of pin-receiving receptacles. The receptacles are secured at one end to the terminal board which also includes printed circuit wiring traces to facilitate electrical connection between the receptacles and the wire conductors of a ribbon cable. A frame is provided within the molded body and includes a base having an elongated slot formed therein and upstanding tabs at the opposite ends. The sub-assembly is positioned relative the slot so that the receptacle strip and its pin receptacles are in substantial registration with the slot. The frame and the terminal strip, as well as the end portion of the ribbon cable, are maintained in their assembled relationship by the molded body. The tabs each includes apertures for engaging a connector removing tool.

Abstract: The unitary flexible and disposable electrode belt and method is for receiving and transmitting electric current or voltage for use on the body of a patient. The belt has a unitary layered body structure that is releasably secured to the patient. The belt device body structure has a terminal end that is connectable for communication with medical therapeutic and diagnostic apparatus. The layered body structure further includes a plurality of flexible non-conductive and conductive layers, a conductive network having electrode contact areas at predetermined positions and conductive adhesive members to removably hold the device to a patient and to, thereby, transfer electrical signals between predetermined patient body locations and the medical therapeutic and diagnostic apparatus.

Abstract: A flexible head connector with a ground plane for connecting a daughter board to a mother board.

Abstract: Cables having interspersed co-planar signal and ground wires are terminated at a planar circuit board by stapling the cable to the circuit board with a bus member, mechanically and electrically connecting the signal wires to signal wire termination sites which are downstream from the bus member, folding the ground wires back over the bus member, and mechanically and electrically connecting the ground wires to the bus member.

Abstract: A connector system for electrically connecting contacts of a flexible printed circuit carried by a daughter board with fixed contacts carried by a mother board, the flexible circuit serving as a connector to circuits on the daughter board, and the contacts of the flexible printed circuit arranged on an edge of the daughter board. Guides on the mother board enable the daughter board to slide in guided, edge-wise direction toward the face of the mother board, with the contacts on the flexible circuit in registry with contacts on the mother board. Driven cam/locking means carried by the mother board engages mating structure on the daughter board to press the edge of the daughter board tightly toward the face of the mother board in locking motion while camming the daughter board bodily laterally over the surface of the mother board whereby the contacts wipe upon one another as they move into locked position.

Abstract: A lamp socket assembly for retaining a wedge base bulb and being configured to be insert mounted into the aperture of a rigid support panel so as to capture and make contact with exposed conductors on an intermediate flexible printed circuit layer. The socket assembly is further configured to be removable from the opposite side of the support panel from its original insertion.

Abstract: A controller module includes a cast module base having a central recess with a peripheral ledge. A cover plate is positioned in the recess and supported by the ledge. A flexible circuit is attached to the inside surface of the cover plate and includes two integral flexible circuit connectors. One connector protrudes through an opening in the side of the module base while the second connector wraps around an edge of the cover plate and is adhesively bonded to the outside surface of the cover plate. The flexible circuit includes a polyimide substrate with electrical circuit patterns disposed on opposite sides of the substrate. A polyimide cover layer is adhesively bonded over one electrical circuit pattern and the cover layer is then adhesively bonded to the inside surface of the cover plate. A solder resist layer is applied over portions of the other electrical circuit pattern leaving exposed areas for soldering and electrical contact.

Abstract: A modified BNC connector for connecting an active probe to an active probe to an electronic instrument includes a female BNC input on the instrument for cooperatively mating with the male BNC output of the probe. The female BNC input includes a flex circuit mounted on a planar surface and disposed about the periphery of its outer coaxial shield. A plastic bezel fits over the flex circuit to permit access to contact points located thereon and to mask the remaining area. The male BNC connector is located in a housing which includes a set of spring loaded telescoping pins which make contact with the flex circuit contact points. The housing includes a rotatable knob that locks the male and female portions together.

Abstract: After the process of manufacturing a cell of a display device, a thick film conductor is bonded onto the terminal portion of a transparent electrode of the display panel by a dry or wet transfer mounting method and a flexible printed circuit board for a driver is soldered on the thick film conductor, such a display device; a process for producing the display device; and a decal for dry or wet transfer mounting method to form a display panel terminal are disclosed.

Abstract: A connector for flexible substrates which can prevent the flexible substrate exactly from being pulled against ordinary pull-out force and allows the flexible substrate to be pulled out without being broken even when abnormally strong pull-out force beyond the assumed range is applied, and comprising a flexible substrate having an expanded section on its ends, a connector body having a cavity opened upward and the movable contact points of a number of terminals arranged side by side in a row in the cavity, and a housing mounted onto the connector body so as to close opening of the cavity and to hold the end of the flexible substrate inserted through the window of the top wall between a tongue and the movable contact point of the terminals, in which the window of the housing is formed of a wide opening to insert the expanded section of the flexible substrate, and a narrow opening communicated with the wide opening into which non-expanded section following the expanded section of the flexible substrate is fitte

Abstract: A solderless connector for effecting the connection between a multi-layer flexible circuit and other electronic circuit devices is presented. A first embodiment of the present invention is characterized by wrapping separated layers of a two or more layer flexible circuit about an elastomeric resilient member such that the terminal ends of each layer are provided on one side of the resilient member. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a multi-layer flexible circuit is provided with successive steps formed in each layer wherein the terminating portions of each circuit layer have a progressively longer length. This stepped multi-layer flexible circuit is then used in conjunction with a correspondingly stepped rigid retainer plate wherein a resilient elastomeric member is positioned between the stepped flexible circuit and the steps of the rigid retainer plate such that uniform pressure is maintained on all layers during interconnection with another electronic circuit device.

Abstract: A frame member is bonded on a base plate having a plurality of electrical contacts thereon. The frame member includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to the electrical contacts. Bonding means bonding the frame member on the base plate is formed by a waterproof double faced bonding member including a waterproof sheet and waterproof bonding agent applied to both sides of the sheet, the double faced bonding member separates the electrical contacts from each other to prevent accidential conduction between the adjacent electrical contacts due to a water drop.

Abstract: A pair of elements for providing slidable electrical contact therebetween wherein the contact surface of at least one of the elements comprises a plurality of contact portions and a plurality of depressed portions in between the contact portions so that wear particles which are generated between their contact surfaces as the elements are moved relative to each other are effectively swept from between the contact surfaces into the depressed portions where they are entrapped. Such operation tends to maintain a low electrical resistance between the elements over many cycles of use.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes elastic female contacts arranged in an insulating housing having opening, and a spring member obtained by V-bending an elastic sheet. A flexible printed circuit (FPC), which is attached to the V-bent outside surface of the spring member and having an exposed-conductor section to be electrically connected to a contact section of the female contact, is inserted with the spring member into the housing through the opening. The respective conductors of the FPC contact the corresponding female contacts under the spring elasticity of the spring member.

Abstract: A transitional printed circuit board (10) is disclosed for terminating four multiconductor flat electrial transmission cables (44, 46, 48, 50) wherein only a single substrate (12) is utilized. A first electrical plane (A) is formed on one side of the substrate and a second electrical plane (B) is formed on an opposing side of the substrate with the substrate material in between serving as an insulator. Each electrical plane includes a ground plane (26, 41) and spaced electrical lands (14, 16, 32 ,34). Plated through holes (24) allow the lands from opposing sides to be connected to the opposite side for programmed termination. A series of electrical pads (22, 42) provide for termination to the prongs (52a, 52b) of terminal connector (52). Two cables may be terminated on each electrical plane of the printed circuit board by terminating ground wires of the first cable to the ground plane (26, 41), and the signal wires to the electrical lands (14, 32).

Abstract: Compressible metal spring washers are mounted around the shank portions of terminal rivets and are clamped against thin conductor laminae of a flexible printed circuit having a resilient resinous plastic base lamina, clamped by the rivets against a relatively rigid plastic terminal supporting member. Each washer has a central dished portion, a reversely dished peripheral portion, and a smoothly rounded annular bulging portion therebetween for engaging one of the thin conductor laminae, without cutting into the laminae. The spring washers obviate any looseness of the terminal rivets due to dimensional variations, shrinkage with age, and temperature variations.

Abstract: A flexible thin film plastic access unit for placement under a pin grid array installed on a printed circuit board. The access unit provides extending exterior flaps having probe-accessible contact pads which connect electrically to each one of the underside pins of the pin grid array and permit identification of each pin that is probed.

Abstract: A microconnector is used for connecting electrodes placed on a support and which are insulated from one another to the same number of conductors as there are electrodes and comprises a means for the elastic gripping of the support and flexible, elastic conductor wires, whose number is the same as that of the electrodes for connecting to the latter, which are insulated from one another and from the gripping means and which are fixed to the latter in such a way that each of them can come into contact with a single electrode when the support is gripped by the gripping means. Application is to low temperature electrical connections and to high density connections in a reduced space.