Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-03-06
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
C439S081000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196852
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a contact arrangement for electrical connection of a large number of first electrical contact points, which are arranged on an essentially planar surface of a first substrate, having a corresponding number of second electrical contact points which are arranged on an essentially planar surface of a second substrate, including a flat insulating body in which holes are formed in the grid size of the first and second contact points, through each of which holes, which is in the form of a plated-through hole, an electrical conductor passes, and contact elements which are electrically connected to the respective plated-through hole are attached to the hole ends on both sides of the insulating body.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Highly complex electrical components such as processors in some cases have hundreds of contact points which have to be electrically connected to corresponding mating contacts, for example on a printed circuit board. It is known for these contact points to be provided in the form of a so-called Land Grid Array (“LGA”). In this case, contact points are arranged in a regular grid size on an essentially planar contact surface. They are connected to the corresponding mating contact elements on a printed circuit board or on another component by means of a contact arrangement as mentioned initially, rather than by soldering. In a contact arrangement of the type mentioned initially which is marketed by the company CINCH and is known of the Company Document “CIN::APSE” of the company LABINAL COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS Inc. CINCH CONNECTOR DIVISION, U.S.A., button contacts are arranged in the holes in the insulating body, which button contacts include a tangle of thin conductive wire and project by a small amount beyond the insulating body at the hole ends. This contact arrangement is inserted between the mutually opposite contact points. The two substrates for the contact points are then mechanically pressed against one another. The elasticity of the wire tangle of the individual button contacts produces a reliable electrical connection between the mutually opposite contact points on the two substrates. A comparable contact arrangement is likewise described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,320.
A contact arrangement of the known type is extraordinarily complex to manufacture. The button contacts have a diameter of about 0.5 to about 1 mm. Their production and the insertion of the button contacts into the holes in the insulating body are thus tedious.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of specifying a contact arrangement of the type mentioned initially which, on the one hand, allows reliable contact between the mutually opposite contact points and, on the other hand, can be produced cheaply and easily.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the contact elements are formed by a sheet of conductive material, and in that the hole ends are surrounded at a distance by depressions on both sides of the insulating body, in which depressions projections of the contact elements engage.
The plated-through holes can be produced electrochemically in one process step. The contact elements can likewise be attached to the two sides of the insulating body in one process step. This avoids the tedious insertion of the millimeter-size button contacts composed of a wire tangle or wire mesh into the holes in the insulating body.
The contact elements preferably include sections of a contact element mat which are separated from one another. The contact elements can thus be produced together in a simple manner, for example from a sheet of spring bronze, and can be aligned on the insulating body and attached to it, as will be explained in more detail further below.
The attachment process is carried out mechanically by the hole ends being surrounded at a distance by depressions on both sides of the insulating body, in which depressions projections of the contact elements engage.
In the region of the holes, the contact elements preferably have contact tongues, which are bent out of the plane in the region of the holes, so that the spring effect of these contact tongues ensures a reliable electrical connection between the mutually opposite contact points.
A contact arrangement of the type mentioned above can be produced in a simple manner, so that holes are first of all produced in a flat insulating body in the grid size of the contact points and each are provided with through-plating, so that a contact element mat is placed on each of the two sides of the insulating body so that the contact elements each cover one hole, and so that the contact elements are separated from one another and are connected to the insulating body in one process step. In this case, the projections on the contact elements mentioned above are pressed into the depressions which surround the holes, such that the projections mechanically grip against the walls of the depressions.
The contact element mats may be produced by stamping or etching.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4906198 (1990-03-01), Cosimano et al.
patent: 5007843 (1991-04-01), Smolley
patent: 5152695 (1992-10-01), Grabbe et al.
patent: 5169320 (1992-12-01), Burkett, Jr. et al.
patent: 5173055 (1992-12-01), Grabbe
patent: 5184962 (1993-02-01), Noschese
patent: 5462440 (1995-10-01), Rothenberger
patent: 5683274 (1997-11-01), Staeb et al.
patent: 5812378 (1998-09-01), Fjelstad et al.
patent: 5934914 (1999-08-01), Fjelstad et al.
patent: 5980270 (1999-11-01), Fjelstad et al.
patent: WO 95/34106 (1995-12-01), None
Firmenschrift “CIN::APSE” Groupe Labinal Division Connecteurs Cinch.
Neumann Gerd
Thoene Hans-Jürgen
Gushi Ross
Paumen Gary F.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme Aktiengesellschaft
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