123 results about "Zero insertion force" patented technology

An apparatus and method for installing an electrical support structure, such as a printed circuit board or card in a computerized device, are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the apparatus includes a connector assembly that includes a first structure having a first guiding surface, a second structure having a second guiding surface, a third structure having at least one additional guiding surface that interfaces the other guiding surfaces, and an electrically conductive component supported by at least one of the structures. Movement of the first structure in relation to the second structure in a first direction causes additional movement of the third structure in a second direction due to interaction among the guiding surfaces. Further, at least a portion of the component moves, in response to the additional movement, to or away from a first position at which the component is capable of establishing an electrical connection.

A double electrode connector for connecting to medical electrodes preferably in an impedance cardiography system includes a connector housing comprising a base having two holes therein of predetermined diameters arranged at predetermined location in the housing, with a first of the two holes associated with a first connector and a second of the two holes associated with a second connector of the double-electrode connector; a pair of biasing elements arranged along a surface of the housing so that each one of the pair of biasing elements is adapted for biasing against an electrode stud inserted in a respective hole of the two holes in the housing; a cable assembly including a twin wire cable and a bend relief, wherein each one of the pair of metal lugs is connected to one of the first connector and second connector, and the bend relief is arranged in a hole in the base to flexibly connect the twin wire cable to respective metal lugs of the pair of metal lugs. The biasing means may include handles to assist with attaching the double connector to two electrodes with a near-zero insertion force towards a patient.

A normally closed connector apparatus for electrically connecting first and second circuit members. An electrically insulative connector housing having a first portion translatable relative to a second portion is provided. The connector housing is adapted to be positioned substantially between the first and second circuit members. A plurality of resilient contact members are retained in the first portion of the housing. The contact members have first distal ends that do not extend substantially above an upper surface of the second portion. Displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion in a translated configuration positions the first distal ends of the contact members above the upper surface of the second portion to electrically couple with the first circuit member.

A system and method for mechanically and electrically connecting an electronic component and a circuit substrate using a Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) socket. The ZIF socket having a plurality of press-fit contact assemblies and a housing with middle plate that is selectively movable between a contact and non-contact position. Each contact assembly being secured to the ZIF socket housing by press-fitting the lower portion of the contact assembly such that each contact assembly is anchored to an aperture in the housing bottom by compressive force. The ZIF socket is mounted to the circuit substrate and the electronic component is mounted on to the ZIF socket. The contact assemblies of the ZIF socket are selectively movable between a contact and non-contact position. The press-fit contact assemblies form a seal to prevent solder wick-up.

A pass through test system for testing an electronic module includes an interface board, and test contactors movably mounted to the interface board for electrically engaging terminal contacts on the module with a zero insertion force on the modules. The interface board is configured for mounting to an automated or manual pass through test handler in electrical communication with test circuitry. In a first embodiment the interface board includes test pads in electrical communication with the test circuitry, and rotatable test contactors having spring contacts configured to simultaneously engage the test pads and the terminal contacts on the module. In a second embodiment the interface board includes test pads in electrical communication with the test circuitry, and slidable test contactors having beam leads configured to simultaneously engage the test pads and the terminal contacts on the module. In a third embodiment the test contactors are slidably mounted to the interface board, and include coiled spring contacts in electrical communication with a flex circuit. A test method includes the steps of: providing the test contactors, electrically engaging the terminal contacts on the module with a zero insertion force using the test contactors, and then applying test signals through the test contactors and the terminal contacts to the module.

An electrical connector with upper contacts, for a flexible flat cable. The connector is an electrical connector for gripping a flexible flat cable by upper contacts, and the connector includes two kinds of contact members for gripping the flexible flat cable, a housing for receiving the contact members, and an opening / closing type actuator. The contacts of the two kinds of the contact members are spaced from each other in an insertion direction, and the contact members are alternately arranged in the housing so as to form staggered rows of the contacts. With a first kind of contact members, FPC can be inserted without insertion force, and with a second kind of contact members, the FPC can be inserted with low insertion force. The connector is characterized in that is has a zero insertion force (Z.I.F.) and low insertion force (L.I.F.) mechanism structure for insertion of the FPC, where the structure is constructed from the first contact members and second contact members.

An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2) for receiving a sheet-like connection member, a plurality of electrical contacts (4) received in the housing, and an operation member (3) mounted onto the housing. The housing has a lower wall (24) and an upper wall (22) opposite to the lower wall. The upper wall forms a plurality of second ribs on a bottom thereof. Each second rib forms a curved end (226) exposed outwardly from an edge (222) of the upper wall. The operation member forms an elongate pressing portion (324) at a bottom thereof, and a channel (322) defined in a main face thereof opposite from the pressing portion. The operation member is rotatable from an open position to a closed position, with the channel pivoting about the curved ends of the first ribs of the housing, thereby pressing the connection member upon the contact arms of the contacts.

An inkjet printer that has a printhead cartridge with a pagewidth printhead defining an array of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a media substrate. The printhead cartridge has a fluid coupling in fluid communication with the array of nozzles. The printer also has a cradle for supporting the printhead cartridge such that the array of nozzles is adjacent a media feed path extending through the printer, the cradle having a latch mechanism for retaining the printhead cartridge, an ink reservoir for containing supply of ink and a complementary coupling for fluid communication with the ink reservoir. The fluid coupling and the complementary coupling are configured to establish a sealed fluid connection using mechanical advantage provided by user actuation of the latch mechanism to retain the printhead cartridge in the cradle.

A device for interfacing a test head and a prober is disclosed using wires or cables to provide the connection from a probe card interface boards to the probe card. The use of wires or cables, in place of the traditional pogo pin arrangement allows for more reliable and efficient testing, as well as additional high performance tests to be run. Optionally, a probe interface contains a stiffening member with multiple sidewalks and individual, configuration-specific probe card interface strips are connected to a probe card through zero insertion force clamps. The probe card interface attaches to the test head using standard probe interface board (“PIB”) docking mechanics. The assembly is then connected to a probe to carry out the testing procedures.

An electrical zero insertion force connector includes a first part having two housings, a second part having a plug, and a sleeve contact having contact segments with a gap. A clamp movably connects to the sleeve contact. The second housing movably connects to the first housing. The sleeve contact extends into the first housing such that the clamp engages the first housing and the contact segments engage the second housing. The second part connects to the first housing such that the parts connect together with the plug inserted into the gap. Upon connecting to the first housing, the second part disengages the second housing from the first housing and moves the second housing toward the first housing such that the sleeve contact moves with the second housing away from the clamp until the clamp moves over the contact segments and presses the contact segments onto the plug.

A normally closed connector apparatus for electrically connecting first and second circuit members. An electrically insulative connector housing having a first portion translatable relative to a second portion is provided. The connector housing is adapted to be positioned substantially between the first and second circuit members. A plurality of resilient contact members are retained in the first portion of the housing. The contact members have first distal ends that do not extend substantially above an upper surface of the second portion. Displacement of the second portion relative to the first portion in a translated configuration positions the first distal ends of the contact members above the upper surface of the second portion to electrically couple with the first circuit member.

A connector or connector assembly having a signal array having at least one shielded conductor having opposite ends and including an axial conductive element and an outer conductive element surrounding the axial conductive element and a compressible interface element positioned at least one of the opposite ends of the signal array, the interface element including a layer of insulating material having a plurality of conductive elements extending through the insulating material layer. When compressed between the signal array and a signal bearing component, the compressible interface element maintains the geometric arrangement of the axial conductive element and the outer conductive element to the signal bearing component.A connector assembly may include a circuit board including land areas arranged in a shielded configuration, and corresponding to the shielded land areas on the component and a second compressible interface element. The compressible interface element is coupled between the circuit board and the shielded conductor to pass a signal from the shielded conductor to the land area on the second circuit board.

An electrical zero insertion force connector includes a first part having two housings, a second part having a plug, and a sleeve contact having contact segments with a gap. A clamp movably connects to the sleeve contact. The second housing movably connects to the first housing. The sleeve contact extends into the first housing such that the clamp engages the first housing and the contact segments engage the second housing. The second part connects to the first housing such that the parts connect together with the plug inserted into the gap. Upon connecting to the first housing, the second part disengages the second housing from the first housing and moves the second housing toward the first housing such that the sleeve contact moves with the second housing away from the clamp until the clamp moves over the contact segments and presses the contact segments onto the plug.

An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat electrical circuit. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening at a front end thereof for receiving an end of the flat circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and spaced laterally along the opening. An actuator is movably mounted for pivotal movement between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening with substantially zero insertion forces, a closed position biasing the flat circuit against contact portions of the terminals and an intermediate position whereat the flat circuit is tentatively held in stable condition while allowing readjustment thereof.

A connector assembly includes a female dual row connector, and a male dual row connector configured to be inserted into the female dual row connector. The female connector is configured to be compression mounted onto a circuit card, and has conductive tails for being brought into contact with traces on the card or circuit board. The female connector may have a stiffener to help it maintain its shape. The rows of contacts of the male connector may be selectively brought together (collapsed) or moved apart (expanded). The rows of contacts are collapsed during insertion or removal of the male connector from the female connector, thus allowing zero force insertion of the male connector into the female connector. The collapsing and expanding of the rows for the male connector may be accomplished through any of a variety of mechanisms.

A zero insertion force electrical connector part includes a sleeve contact (socket contact) and an activation element associated with the sleeve contact. The sleeve contact has contact members with a plug contact receptacle situated between the contact members for receiving an electrical plug contact. Each contact member has a contact region. The activation element is enclosed around the contact members. The activation element is displaceable relative to the sleeve contact between non-activated and activated positions. The activation element applies a contact force to the contact members of the sleeve contact which forces the contact regions against a plug contact inserted into the plug contact receptacle of the sleeve contact to make contact with the plug contact while the activation element is in the activated position.

There is provided a content use monitoring package and method of making the same. The package includes a cover layer followed by a blister card layer. The third layer comprises an electronic sensor monitoring tag connected to a rupturable layer imprinted with a conductive grid. The grid is printed on a non-conductive, non paperboard rupturable substrate and is aligned with associated blisters in the blister card. To ensure precise and reliable electrical continuity between the tag and grid they are connected by a low or zero insertion force flat flex connector which connection is also reversible. The tag includes re-usable electronic circuitry and power source. The fourth and bottom layer is a backing which contains a mechanism to tear open the package and remove the tag by unplugging the flex circuit connector. The tag can then be reused and the battery replaced as required.

A connector includes a first connection member and a second connection member that come in electrical contact with terminal units of a board module. The first and second connection members have connection bodies with connection terminal units formed thereon, and press members that at the time of setting the board module, cause the connection terminals of the connection bodies to deform toward the terminal units of the board module and come in contact with the terminal units when the press members comes in contact with the leading edge of the board module.

An electrical contact for a connector includes a contact body that defines a contact plane and a longitudinal contact axis. The contact body includes a contact mounting end for attaching the contact to a circuit board, a mating end to mate with a mating contact, and a backbone section including first and second opposite edges that longitudinally extends between the mating and mounting ends. The mating end includes first and second contact beams laterally extending from the first edge and longitudinally displaced from one another the longitudinal axis.