Including Elastomeric Or Nonmetallic Conductive Portion Patents (Class 439/86)
  • Patent number: 6403226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic assemblies which include an elastomeric member made of a cured, room-temperature curable polysiloxane composition. When the assemblies are used to electrically interconnect a first contacting site on a first electronic device to a second contacting site on a second electronic device, the stress-relaxation resistant properties of the elastomer enhance local contact force to maintain a reliable connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Mark S. Konings, Robert S. Reylek
  • Publication number: 20020058429
    Abstract: A device for connecting electrical conductors such as flat-band lines, printed circuits or the like, in which pressure media are provided to increase contact reliability, and after mounting thereof, said media ensure that the contact areas of at least two electrical conductors are plastically deformed. The best possible contact area is created by the plastic deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: Hirschmann Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Feder, Kurt Ellensohn, Jurgen Engbring, Erik Miersch
  • Publication number: 20020022389
    Abstract: A conductor of the present invention has a conductive DLC film formed on a conductive base. A conductive DLC film is formed on a conductive base and is supported by a conical spring electrode to be in contact with the conductive DLC film. Thus, a conductor is obtained which has good wear resistance and oxidation resistance and which is suitable for bringing conductive parts into contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Takeshi Hikata, Nobuyuki Okuda, Koichi Sogabe, Shosaku Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6325637
    Abstract: A SIM card reader comprising a housing having a recess, having a substantially planar floor portion and wall portions, sized to accommodate and thereby position the SIM card; resilient material within the recess and overlying at least portions of the recess floor; a dielectric substrate within the recess and supported by the resilient material, having an upper surface substantially planar to the floor of the recess and having contact elements extending from the substrate upper surface away from the recess floor wherein each contact element comprises a raised three dimensional metallic structure which extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the substrate upper surface, from a base portion at the substrate upper surface to a free end of reduced area; and means for holding the SIM card within the recess while pressing the SIM card toward the recess floor whereby the resilient material is compressed and physical connection is made between the SIM card and the contact elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phone Limited
    Inventor: Ricky Barnett
  • Patent number: 6317629
    Abstract: An iontophoretic delivery device (10) is provided. Device (10) has an electronic circuit (32) having electronic components such as batteries (30) mounted thereon. Device (10) also includes a pair of electrode assemblies (18, 19). The electronic circuit (32) is electrically connected to the electrode assemblies (18, 19) using an electrically conductive adhesive (34). The adhesive can also be used to electrically connect two or more electronic components within circuit (32) or to connect an electronic component to the electronic circuit (32). In one practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (44) functions as an electrode and electrically connects the circuit (32) to an agent-containing reservoir (24, 25). In a further practice of the invention, the electrically conductive adhesive (93) functions as an agent reservoir and contains the agent to be iontophoretically delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Alza Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald P. Haak, J. Richard Gyory, Robert M. Myers, Felix A. Landrau, Harold F. Sanders, Lothar W. Kleiner, Linda M. Hearney
  • Patent number: 6309563
    Abstract: A conductive silicone rubber composition comprising (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least two aliphatic unsaturated groups, (B) a conductive powder comprising a silver powder premixed with 0.2-5% by weight of fine powder selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers and spherical organic resins, and (C) a curing agent has a stable volume resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignees: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Iino, Tsutomu Nakamura, Kazuhiko Aoki
  • Patent number: 6307946
    Abstract: A miniature microphone component comprises a miniature microphone having a terminal area; a rubber casting for protection against vibration covering the circumference of the miniature microphone; and a rubber connector with anisotropic conductivity comprising an electrically conductive layer and an electrically isolating layer, which is clamped and retained so as to have areal contact with the terminal area of the miniature microphone. The miniature microphone, the rubber casting for protection against vibration covering the miniature microphone and the conductive rubber connector are integrated into one component. The rubber connector with anisotropic conductivity is shaped so that none of its electrically conductive layers has contact with more than one terminal of the miniature microphone at a time. The miniature microphone component can be installed simply by pressing it against a terminal portion on a circuit board in a small-size mobile communication device such as a mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Polymer Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fujimoto, Takako Okayasu
  • Patent number: 6264476
    Abstract: An interposer for a land grid array includes a dielectric grid having an array of holes and a resilient, conductive button disposed in one or more of the holes. The button includes an insulating core, a conducting element wound around the insulating core, and an outer shell surrounding the conducting element. The characteristics of the conducting element and the buttons may be chosen such that the contact force and resistance, and compressibility or relaxability of the conductive buttons can be selected within wide limits. Contact areas between the shell and the conducting element urge a substantially corresponding displacement in both the conducting element and the shell when the button is under compression or relaxation. The interposer alternatively can include an insulating sheet and rather than conductive buttons contain conducting elements disposed therein having contact areas with the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: High Connection Density, Inc.
    Inventors: Che-yu Li, Matti A. Korhonen, Weimin Shi
  • Patent number: 6210173
    Abstract: An electrical connector for interconnecting a first circuit such as an integrated circuit having a plurality of IC terminals with a second circuit having a plurality of contact pads when the terminals and pads are positioned opposite each other. The connector includes an electrically insulating sheet made of a first elastic material formed with a plurality of bores extending therethrough in a direction mutually perpendicular to the first and second circuits, and a plurality of electrical conductors, each made of a second, electrically conductive elastic material and shaped so as to contact the first circuit terminals. The elastic material electrical conductors are each positioned relative to the electrically insulating sheet so as to cover each of the bores and extend into the bore co-axially therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Unitechno Inc.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 6172590
    Abstract: A mass-producible, cost-effective discrete electrical protection device utilizing a precision gap between two electrically conductive members attached to an electrically insulating substrate to provide over-voltage protection to an electrical device. In one aspect, the electrical protection device is a surface mountable device. In another aspect, the device has through-holes for accommodating leads on an electrical connector. Methods are provided also for making the electrical protection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: SurgX Corporation
    Inventors: Karen P. Shrier, Gerald R. Behling, James B. Intrater, Mike Olla, Jimmie D. Felps, Kailash C. Joshi
  • Patent number: 6171117
    Abstract: A night light includes an electro-luminescent element (14) connected to an electrical plug by conductive elements (23) in the form of flexible or elastic conductive rubber elements, or conductive elements of similarly flexible and conductive plastic or metal material, compressed between contact areas (16) or the electrodes of the electro-luminescent element and prongs (19) of the electrical plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 6170958
    Abstract: A night light includes an electro-luminescent element connected to an electrical plug by conductive elements compressed between electrodes of the electro-luminescent element and prongs of the electrical plug. The electro-luminescent element is captured between an inner plate and a front part of the housing so as to cause the electro-luminescent element to conform to a curved surface of the housing without the need for additional plastic housing material, the inner plate also serving to apply a biasing force against the conductive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 6164984
    Abstract: An electrical connecting element for connecting an electrical accessory, such as an antenna or heater provided on a window, to the car circuitry. The connecting element includes at least one flexible sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the sheet is at least partially coated with a conductive adhesive. At least one connector is disposed on the upper surface of the sheet for connection to the electrical accessory. At least one conductive trace is disposed on the upper surface of the sheet. In one embodiment, the at least one conductive trace is coupled to the conductive adhesive and the connector. In another embodiment, the connector is coupled to the conductive adhesive. In still another embodiment, a through-hole is disposed in the sheet. The through-hole is filled with a conductive material, wherein the conductive material protrudes from the lower surface of the sheet and the adhesive coated thereon for establishing an electrical contact with the conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Schreiner Etiketten Und Selbstkelbetechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Helmut Schreiner
  • Patent number: 6144216
    Abstract: An electric contact apparatus has a flexible contact sheet 13. A plurality of conductive elements 14 are provided on a front side of the flexible contact sheet 13 and are arranged in parallel with each other along the direction of arrangement of electrodes 4 arranged on an insulating substrate 2 of a liquid crystal display panel 1 so as to be brought into contact with the electrodes 4, respectively. An internally sealed elastic tube 17 is supported in a groove 18 formed on one side of a pressing plate 11 and extends along the direction of arrangement of the conductive elements 14 so as to press a part of each contact region between the conductive elements 14 and the electrodes 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Kajiwara, Michihiko Tezuka
  • Patent number: 6091475
    Abstract: Proposed is a novel connector for display inspection of a liquid crystal display panel, by which the display panel per se can be inspected before mounting of a driver IC chip thereon to greatly improve the productivity of the display inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ogino, Hiroto Komatsu
  • Patent number: 6064217
    Abstract: A reusable test socket is described for testing fine pitch devices including singulated bare die, semiconductor wafers, chip sized packages, printed circuit boards, and the like to determine that the fine pitch device is not faulty. The socket contains a circuit pad pattern in the mirror image of the pattern of contact points, usually bond pads of the fine pitch device to be tested. Each pad of the socket contains a conductive elastomeric probe which has been "screened" onto the bond pad. The socket also contains an alignment template for orienting the fine pitch device onto the elastomeric probes of the contact point pattern of the test socket. Additionally, the socket can be a singular piece or it can be made of two main pieces; the first being a socket, and the second being a test board designed to mate with the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: EPI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Smith
  • Patent number: 6017225
    Abstract: An integral microphone holder-connector made from a rubbery material is disclosed, which is used in assemblage of a compact electronic instrument such as a portable telephone having a built-in capacitor microphone and which greatly improves the productivity in the mounting work of the microphone and reliability of microphone holding and positioning as well as electrical connection thereof with the mounting circuit board without necessitating soldering. The integral microphone holder-connector consists of a rubber-made microphone holder in the form of a cup for holding a microphone in the cavity thereof and a connector body forming the bottom of the cup-formed microphone holder, the connector body consisting of a rubbery connector base and a plurality of fine metal wires embedded therein in a parallel alignment running in the direction perpendicular to the bottom of the cup-formed microphone holder to extend out of the surfaces of the connector base to serve as the contacting terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Michiya, Kouichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5994774
    Abstract: A modular integrated circuit package is mounted on a surface of a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit package includes a rigid interposer releasably coupling a component module to a substrate member designed to be affixed to the printed circuit board. The substrate member has a first side with plural first electrical connectors for connection to the circuit board and a second side with second electrical connectors coupled to the first electrical connectors. The interposer includes a plurality of electrical connectors that couple electrical connectors of the component module to the second electrical connectors of the substrate member. The component module also includes plural clip members that engage a lower surface of the interposer to releasably couple the component module to the interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Michael Siegel, Michael Joseph Hundt, Robert H. Bond
  • Patent number: 5977489
    Abstract: An electrically conductive elastomer for grafting to a metal substrate is disclosed. The electrically conductive elastomer includes a mixture of an elastic material, a quantity of electrically conductive flakes, a thermoplastic elastomer material, a conductive thermoplastic polymer material, and a noble metal or noble metal composite material. The electrically conductive elastomer may further include a quantity of electrically conductive particles interspersed within the mixture. Alternatively, a quantity of electrically conductive particles may be imbedded in an outer surface of the electrically conductive elastomer. The electrically conductive elastomer is typically grafted to the substrate by a thermal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Crotzer, Mark G. Hanrahan, Neill N. Silva
  • Patent number: 5927997
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for connecting two electrical circuits (2,17;15,16) by a connection which permits that the two circuits easily can be separated and reunited again at the same time as interference and scratching noise in the connection mechanism are avoided. A first carrier (14, 28) is movable around a shaft (1), which is fastened onto a second carrier (7, 29). The first carrier (14, 28) can easily be removed from the shaft (1) and refitted again. The first carrier (14, 28) has a projecting part (8, 23, 30), which presses against an electrically conducting elastomer (4,18a-l, 21, 33) localized on the second carrier (7, 29). On the projecting part (8, 23, 30) there is an electrically conducting part (9, 20a-l, 24a-h), which is connected to a first electrical circuit (2,17) localized on the first carrier (14, 28). The electrically conducting elastomer (4,18a-l, 21, 33) is connected to a second electrical circuit (15,16) localized on the second carrier (7, 29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Anders Ruland, Claes von Scheele, Gert Nilsson, Goran Pehrsson, Johan Uggmark
  • Patent number: 5879172
    Abstract: An adapter for interfacing a tester with the leads of a dual-flatpack or quad-flatpack is disclosed herein. The adapter includes lengths of a conductive elastomer for making electrical contact with the rows of leads extending from the flatpack. The lengths of conductive elastomer are each located within a slot formed in a body of the adapter and are exposed within a depression in the adapter, where the width and length of the depression correspond to the width and length of the flatpack. The adapter is frictionally secured to the flatpack when the adapter is pressed onto the flatpack. The resilient conductive elastomer makes reliable contact to the leads of the flatpack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Emulation Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paula E. McKenna-Olson, Scott G. Barcellos, Daniel W. Altman
  • Patent number: 5857858
    Abstract: Connection elements which, for example, may be used to facilitate interconnection to and stacking of electronic assemblies or may include an elongated conductive core, such as a wire or a hollow tube structure, coated with a layer of elastomeric material containing conductive particle such that the elastomeric material is conductive at least when compressed. The substrates of multi-chip modules (MCMs) have electrical connection sites in the form of metal-lined channels in the substrate edges, and the connection elements are pressed into the channels. Separate compression or clamping elements may be employed to enhance conductivity, as well as to facilitate external connections. The elongated conductive core may take the form of a hollow tube structure which may be expanded under internal pressure to compress the layer of elastomeric material. The compression elements may take the form of printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Gorowitz, Robert John Wojnarowski, Ronald Frank Kolc
  • Patent number: 5843567
    Abstract: There is disclosed an electrical component having an axial direction and two ends for making electrical contact with another component comprising a plurality of electrically conductive fibers in a matrix, the plurality of the fibers being oriented in the matrix in a direction substantially parallel in the axial direction of the component and being continuous from one end of the component to the other end to provide a plurality of electrical point contacts at each end of the component, wherein the component further includes magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Ronald F. Ziolo, Stanley J. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5823802
    Abstract: An electrical connector is plugged onto an electrical device that has a hollow sleeve and an annular bonnet that has an outer electrical contact ring. The electrical connector includes an annular insulator, a lower elastomeric seal ring, a combination seal and contact member, a shielded conductor to carry an electrical signal out of the electrical connector and a flanged metal guard ring. The combination seal and contact member has a non-conductive elastomeric annulus and a conductive elastomeric portion that are co-molded to provide a unitary annular part. The annulus has a flanged upper end that is bonded to the flanged guard ring and a thinner lower end that has a plurality of axially spaced circumferential flexible sealing lips that biasingly engage the bonnet above the outer electrical contact ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Michael Bartley
  • Patent number: 5795165
    Abstract: An electrical connector jack has at least one disk-shaped element made of an elastic, conductive material which has one or more contact surfaces arranged to come into contact with the corresponding contact surfaces on a contact pin. A layer of insulating, elastic material is provided on both sides of the electrically conductive material. The disk-shaped element is elastically deformed by the contact pin when the pin is inserted into the connector jack, so the contact surfaces of the electrically conductive material and the insulating material are pressed against the corresponding contact surfaces on the contact pin, the contact surfaces being protectively sealed by the contact surfaces of the insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Pacesetter AB
    Inventor: Per Jarl
  • Patent number: 5788516
    Abstract: An elastically deformable, elastomeric connector (10) has electrically conductive elements (11a, 11b) extending in parallel between opposite ends of said connector (10). A first conducting path (13) is formed by a first set of electrically conductive elements (11a, 11b) and is substantially surrounded by a second conducting path (14) formed by a second set of electrically conductive elements connected to ground, thereby providing a shielding of said first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventor: Johan Georg Michael Uggmark
  • Patent number: 5746622
    Abstract: A board-mountable electrical connector (100) having a housing (108) with two or more plug portions (104,106) each having two rows of contacts (114,116) therein extending from the mating face (102) to solder tails (136,138) along the connector's board-mounting face (140). An inspection aperture (144) allows visual inspection of the solder terminations of the solder tails of the contacts (116) of the inner rows to pads of a circuit board. Insert (150) is insertable into inspection aperture (144) following soldering and inspection, and is latchable in place to the housing in a manner permitting delatching and removal, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Consoli, Lynn Robert Sipe
  • Patent number: 5745346
    Abstract: Proposed is a connecting socket used for electric connection between electrode terminals of a semiconductor package and electrode terminals of a circuit board by being interposed therebetween. The socket is an assembly consisting of a base body in the form of a frame made from an insulating material, in which a semiconductor package is put and secured in the position, and an anisotropically electroconductive elastic sheet member bonded to the bottom surface of the base body. When the socket holding the semiconductor package is mounted on a circuit board, electric conduction is established between the electrode terminals of the semiconductor package and the electrode terminals of the circuit board through the anisotropically electroconductive elastic sheet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Ogawa, Motoo Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 5741143
    Abstract: A combustion chamber sensor connector comprises a conductive outer housing within which is mounted a certain length of shielded cable connected to receptacle terminals that receive pins of a sensor. A shield element extends across the inside of the outer housing to provide a shield means between the sensor and the cable leads. The shield is an injection molded conductive elastomer. Pads of a similar material are molded over portions of the terminals. Filter elements are positioned between the pads and the shield. The elastomeric shield and pads provide a shock resistant connection that is necessary for such applications. In-molding of the shield also provide a compact and cost-effective design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea, Michael Karl Albin Wenzel
  • Patent number: 5738530
    Abstract: A printed-circuit-type electrical contact pad having a plurality of electrically conductive metal traces and a plurality of protuberant electrical contacts projecting from the traces. The protuberances comprise an electrically conductive elastomer having a wide base portion anchored in the end of the trace by a truncated portion of the trace upstanding from the face of the pad. A denuded tip portion of the elastomer extends from the base portion for resiliently engaging a contact site on an electrical device to which the pad is coupled. A unique process for making the aforesaid pad is disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Packard Hughes Interconnect Company
    Inventors: Chris M. Schreiber, Bao Le
  • Patent number: 5720630
    Abstract: An improved electrical connector for use in electronic assemblies to link electronic components in order to transmit electric signals or current. The connector includes a wafer interface connective construction with at least one resiliently compressible contact to provide a means across which electrical current can flow from one male pin to another male pin without placing the pins in direct contact with each other. The contact retains its form and resiliency through its non-compressive retainment within the aperture of the wafer interface connective construction. Engagement and disengagement of the connector is facilitated, yet reliability and conductivity are enhanced. Further, the size and weight of the connector is reduced, and the assembly of the connector is facilitated. In addition, the pin contacts and the retainment components for the pin contacts are common to both halves of the connector which eliminates the need for socket contacts and their associated components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Labinal Components and Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Richmond, Frank B. Riordan, Charles W. Smaczny
  • Patent number: 5720622
    Abstract: A member for securing conduction for being placed between connecting elements of a connector has a sheet made of an insulating, elastic material and at least one conductive chip embedded in said sheet. The sheet is made electrically conductive between both surfaces by means of said at least one conductive chip. Since the member for securing conduction has a sheet made of an insulating, elastic material and at least one conductive chip embedded in the sheet, the member for securing conduction is applicable to both a flat conductive surface and a curved conductive surface. The member for securing conduction can easily correspond with various sizes of connectors and has a sufficient durability to be repeatedly used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Ishikawa, Naoki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 5711681
    Abstract: A jumper connector (15) for connecting contact pins or posts (14) protruding from pin header (12) mounted on a printed circuit board (11) has an accessible conductive core (16) made of a conductive elastomer. Two apertures (17) extend through the conductive core so as to tightly fit on the pins or posts (14) that are to be electrically connected one to another. An insulating mantle (18) covers the accessible core (16), such that the connector is rendered simple in structure, produced inexpensively, adapted to a high density arrangement of those pins or posts, and the electric resistance of the core can be set at an easily adjustable level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Japan Solderless Terminal Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Miki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 5667394
    Abstract: An electro-luminescent light strip (08) is constructed of two halves (8A,8B) separated by a gap or isolation layer, with one half consisting of, from top to bottom, a transparent conductive layer which forms the light emitting surface, a phosphor layer, an isolation layer, and a conductive layer, and the other half consisting of the same layers with the addition of a reflective layer between the isolation and conductive layers. Rather than providing electrical connection terminals on both the upper and lower conductive layers of the strip, electrical connection is established by contacting the any portion of the lowermost conductive layers (81,82) of the two halves (8A,8B) of the light strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Tseng Lu Chien
  • Patent number: 5664953
    Abstract: An intermeshable electrical connector comprises a flexible electrically conductive member having electrically conductive elements along an outer surface for forming electrical connections with a rigid member having electrically conductive elements along an outer surface, these elements being correspondingly configured to the elements on the flexible member. The rigid member may be intermeshed with the flexible member at a desired location in a releasable engagement, forming the electrical connections, while allowing for subsequent release and reconnection without stripping, damaging or penetrating the electrically conductive elements of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Robert S. Reylek
  • Patent number: 5591039
    Abstract: An electrical socket for mating with a pin contact is provided which has an expansion ring adjacent to the opening into the electrical socket so that when the pin contact is brought into mating relation with the socket, an electrical connection is made between the pin contact and the expansion ring to prevent deleterious arcing to a thin conductive contact element in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Elcon Products International
    Inventor: Russell H. Matthews
  • Patent number: 5495395
    Abstract: A module substrate consists of a substrate mounting electronic parts on one surface thereof, a conductor for electrically conducting the electronic parts mounted on the substrate to the other surface of the substrate, a conductive solder for attaching the conductor to a base substrate movably contacting the other surface of the substrate to electrically connect the electronic parts with the base substrate, and a deformable bushing for holding the conductor to maintain the attachment of the conductor to the base substrate regardless of whether the base substrate is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Yoneda, Masahiro Yoshimoto, Yoshihiko Takayama, Tetsjhi Tsujhi, Hiromitsu Taki
  • Patent number: 5489215
    Abstract: A medical electrode having a resilient terminal press fit onto an eyelet. The eyelet is plastic and has a conductive coating thereon. The terminal is made of a resilient nonmetallic composition, such as a polypropylene blend loaded with carbon fiber. An electrolyte composition is spread upon the bottom of the eyelet for making electrical contact with the skin of a patient. The eyelet, the terminal and the electrolyte composition are preferably all at least translucent to x-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Micron Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Wright
  • Patent number: 5458504
    Abstract: A quick release apparatus for a high voltage line connecting to a CRT sweep transformer has a plug with a split sleeve for grasping and retaining the high voltage lead when inserted into the transformer housing. The transformer housing contains an insulative sleeve as well as a conductive rubber pad for shorting the lead to the sweep transformer. The quick disconnect system is reliable and easily manufactured owing to its few parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Lostumo, Steven J. Pulchinski
  • Patent number: 5454724
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a controlled resistance electrical path from one moving element of an electrical device to second or subsequent element. An electrically conductive media is introduced between the rotating and static element of an electrical device. The media, e.g. conductive grease, may be introduced into the bearings of the device. Alternatively, a housing may be disposed upon one of the elements. Into this housing is introduced a quantity of electrically conductive media and a contact element. The contact element is integral with, or is preloaded against, one end of the shaft of the second element, thereby forming an electrical path from the shaft, through the media to the housing and thence to the first element of the device. The contact element may be seen therefore to be floating in contact with the conductive media, thereby forming a controlled-resistance rotary electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Kloeppel, Robert M. Pelstring, John C. Dunfield
  • Patent number: 5441419
    Abstract: A connector having a housing with a cavity, a terminal fixed in the housing and a resistance board. The resistance board has an elastic insulating board and a number of conductors which are provided in the insulating board such that each conductor shows on an upper surface and a lower surface of the insulating board. The resistance board is inserted in the cavity of the housing so as to lie on an end portion of a flexible cable. A signal-transmitting conductor of the flexible cable is electrically connected with the terminal via the conductors of the resistance board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoo Takazawa, Toshio Hori, Iwao Fukutani
  • Patent number: 5405273
    Abstract: A medical electrode assembly for an electrocardiograph or similar device is provided. The medical electrode assembly comprises an electrolyte pad having an electrolyte layer which may be secured to the skin of a patient and a backing member made from a nonconductive material being coextensively superposed directly onto the electrolyte layer. The electrolyte pad is used in conjunction with a reusable lead wire connector having at least one surface contacting the electrolyte layer of the electrolyte pad. The reusable lead wire connector includes a set of jaws which may be compressed together for contacting the electrolyte pad. The set of jaws may be formed of a nonconductive binder material having a conductive filler dispersed therein. A metallic conductive material, such as a silver/silver chloride system, is superposed over the nonconductive binder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: NDM Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: James V. Cartmell, Joseph F. DeRosa, Jeffrey W. Stone
  • Patent number: 5380212
    Abstract: An electrical interface connects a conductive pins to a printed circuit board. The electrical interface includes an elastomer holder having a plurality of holes. Elastomer conductors are placed in the plurality of holes within the elastomer holder. The elastomer holder is then attached to the printed circuit board so that each elastomer conductor comes into contact with a conductive pad on the printed circuit board. The conductive pins are placed in electrical contact with the elastomer conductors, for example, through a conductive socket. In the preferred embodiment the elastomer holder is composed of printed circuit board material. Before the elastomer holder is connected to the printed circuit board, the elastomer conductors are held in the holes in the elastomer holder using a throw-away retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Company
    Inventors: James G. Smeenge, Jr., Paul L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5363038
    Abstract: Manufacturing of semiconductor devices is facilitated when the device chip carriers of the devices are tested, prior to population of chips thereon, by a module test card. The module test card is formed by a test substrate and a plurality of test chips mounted on the test substrate. Connections are provided on the test substrate for connecting to a tester. Through the module test card, the device chip carriers are tested under simulation of their operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: David G. Love
  • Patent number: 5358409
    Abstract: Rotary connector for use with a flexible elongate member having electrical properties and having a proximal extremity with at least first and second conductive spaced-apart sleeves provided thereon. A housing is provided having a bore therein. First and second spaced-apart conductive disks are disposed in said bore. The disks are adapted to have the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member extend therethrough and to have the conductive sleeves be in contact with the conductive disks while permitting rotation of the flexible elongate member, a push button clamping assembly is carried by the housing for retaining the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate member in the housing. Leads are connected to the conductive disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Cardiometrics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Z. Obara
  • Patent number: 5340318
    Abstract: A conductive elastomeric element electronic connector assembly in which a plurality of conductive elastomeric connector elements are held in openings in a connector element carrier positioned between a pair of spaced substrates having contact pads which are to be connected together electrically. Each connector element has a volume within the confines of the opening in which it is held which is less than the volume of the opening, so that upon axial compression of the connector element, which occurs as the substrates are brought together to establish contact between the contact pads and the ends of the connector elements, the connector elements can deflect and expand into the extra space in the openings in which they are held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Elastomeric Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 5326272
    Abstract: A low profile connector, as for an electrode, is disclosed. The connector of the invention includes an electrically conductive connector body and electrical connector means to separate electronics. The connector body has a channel or groove which communicates with one side of the connector body and its bottom. The channel leads to a "stop" position located substantially the central portion of said body. Viewed from the bottom of the connector body, the channel is interiorly concave so as to cooperatively, preferably rotatively and restrictively receive and hold an upstanding portion of an electrode, such as an electrode eyelet. In a preferred aspect, the present invention is an electrical assembly which includes the connector body and a biomedical electrode, such as a TENS electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Harhen, William J. Marlow, Dawn E. Sissom
  • Patent number: 5297969
    Abstract: An electrically connectable module is manufactured from a substrate of an electrically insulating polymer matrix doped with an electrically insulating fibrous filler capable of heat conversion to an electrically conductive fibrous filler to form a fiber-doped substrate. One end of an electrical connector is embedded in the fiber-doped substrate to locate the one end adjacent the surface of the substrate while exposing an opposite end of the electrical connector. The surface of the fiber-doped substrate is locally heated preferably with a laser to form a conductive trace by the in-situ heat conversion of the electrically insulating fibrous filler, the localized heating including the one end of the electrical connector to electrically connect the electrical connector to the conductive trace. In another embodiment, a conductive material is electrodeposited on the conductive trace by applying a voltage to the opposite end of the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mantell
  • Patent number: 5281148
    Abstract: A connector for interfacing a circuit resident on a printed circuit board having rows of externally accessible contact pads on a face of the board with a circuit resident on a portable card having rows of externally accessible contact pads on a face of the card has independently biased ball bearing contacts which assure positive, self-cleaning, self-sealing, self-adjusting electrical contact between the circuits.A flat base has rows of apertures therethrough spaced for alignment with the pads of the board when the base is laminarly juxtaposed on the face of the board. Sinks connect the apertures in rows and the conductive ball bearings are retained in each of the apertures by annular shoulders on the apertures. Strips of elastomer formed of layers of conductive and dielectric materials are snugly seated in each sink with the layers transverse to the rows. The strips bias the ball bearings against the shoulders when the base is laminarly juxtaposed on the face of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Trakker, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5205751
    Abstract: An electrically-conductive, elastomeric connector for electrically connecting a circuit path of an electrical circuit disposed upon a substrate having an electrically-conductive edge portion which forms a portion of the electrical circuit with an electrically-conductive cover which covers at least a portion of the substrate. The elastomeric connector comprises a tubular-shaped body elongated along a longitudinal axis thereof, and a central aperture extending through the tubular-shaped body. Compressive forces exerted against the tubular-shaped body when positioned against the electrically-conductive cover causes seating of the tubular-shaped body against the electrically-conductive cover. First and second claw arms extend beyond a side surface positioned in opposition to the seating surface of the tubular-shaped body. The claw arms permit affixation of the tubular-shaped body to an edge portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Schwartz, Scott R. Semenik