Small form factor sockets and connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9692147-B1
Application number	US-201514979037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2015
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An electronic device connection system includes a first electrical device and a second electrical device. The first electrical device includes a plurality of electrical connectors disposed in, on, or about at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first electrical device. The second electrical device includes a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in, on, or about at least a portion of an exterior surface of the second electrical device. A mechanical compressor exerts a force on at least one of the first electrical device or the second electrical device such that the electrical connections on the first electrical device physically and conductively couple to the electrical contacts on the second electrical device. The device casing may function as the mechanical compressor. The electrical connectors and/or electrical contacts may include injection molded connectors that include a conductive material dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical device connection system, comprising:
a first electrical device having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first tensioned electrical connector attached to said first surface, and first electrical contacts disposed on said second surface;
wherein:
said first electrical device is formed to include a first aperture extending therethrough;
a first end of said first tensioned electrical connector is attached to said first surface adjacent said first aperture;
a second electrical device having a third surface and an opposing fourth surface, a second tensioned electrical connector attached to said third surface, and second electrical contacts disposed on said fourth surface;
wherein:
said second electrical device is formed to include a second aperture extending therethrough;
a first end of said second tensioned electrical connector is attached to said third surface adjacent said second aperture;
wherein:
said first device and said second device have a facing relationship such that said first surface faces said third surface;
a second end of said second tensioned electrical connector extends into, through, and outwardly from, said first aperture;
said second end of said second tensioned electrical connector is in electrical contact with said first electrical contacts disposed on said first surface, thereby establishing electrical connection between said first device and said second device;
said second end of said second tensioned electrical connector exerts a compressive force in a first direction on said first device, thereby mechanically attaching said first device to said second device;
a second end of said first tensioned electrical connector extends into, through, and outwardly from, said second aperture;
said second end of said first tensioned electrical connector is in electrical contact with said second electrical contacts disposed on said fourth surface, thereby establishing electrical connection between said first device and said second device;
said second end of said first tensioned electrical connector exerts a compressive force in a second and opposing direction on said second device, thereby mechanically attaching said first device to said second device.

2. The electrical device connection system of claim 1 :
wherein each of the plurality of first electrical connectors comprise a hollow member;
wherein each of the plurality of second electrical contacts comprise an inverted hollow member of conductive material physically and conductively coupled to the second electrical device; and
wherein a hollow member of the electrical contact on the first electrical device fits within a respective inverted hollow member on the second electrical device.

3. The electrical device connection system of claim 2 :
wherein each of the first plurality of electrical connectors comprise a conductive, hollow, conic frustum physically and conductively coupled to the first electrical device, the conic frustum having a first diameter proximate the first electrical device and a second diameter distal from the second first device, the first diameter greater than the second diameter; and
wherein each of the second plurality of electrical contacts comprise a conductive, hollow, inverted, conic frustum physically and conductively coupled to the second electrical device, the inverted conic frustum having a third diameter proximate the second electrical device and a fourth diameter distal from the second electrical device, the fourth diameter greater than the third diameter.

4. The electrical device connection system of claim 1 :
wherein each of the plurality of first electrical connectors comprise a member that includes one or more conductive materials embedded in a thermoplastic matrix;
wherein each of the plurality of second electrical contacts comprise a member that includes a conductive material physically and conductively coupled to the second electrical device; and
wherein each of the electrical connector members on the first electrical device physically and electrically conductively couples to a respective one of the electrical contact members on the second electrical device.

5. The electrical device connection system of claim 4 :
wherein each of the plurality of first electrical connectors comprise a conductive, conic frustum physically and conductively coupled to the first electrical device, the conic frustum having a first diameter proximate the first electrical device and a second diameter distal from the second first device, the first diameter greater than the second diameter; and
wherein each of the plurality of second electrical contacts comprise a conductive pad physically and conductively coupled to the second electrical device.

6. The electrical device connection system of claim 4 :
wherein each of the members that includes one or more conductive materials embedded in a thermoplastic matrix comprises an injection molded member physically and electrically coupled to the first electrical device.

7. A method of conductively coupling a first electronic device to a second electronic device, the method comprising:
providing a first electrical device having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first tensioned electrical connector attached to said first surface, a first plurality of first electrical connectors on said first surface of the first electronic device and first electrical contacts disposed on said second surface, wherein said first electrical device is formed to include a first aperture extending therethrough, and wherein a first end of said first tensioned electrical connector is attached to said first surface adjacent said first aperture;
providing a second electrical device having a third surface and an opposing fourth surface, a second tensioned electrical connector attached to said third surface, a second plurality of second electrical connectors on said third surface, and second electrical contacts disposed on said fourth surface, wherein said second electrical device is formed to include a second aperture extending therethrough, and wherein a first end of said second tensioned electrical connector is attached to said third surface adjacent said second aperture;
inserting a second end of said second tensioned electrical connector into, through, and outwardly from, said first aperture;
placing said second end of said second tensioned electrical connector in electrical contact with said first electrical contacts disposed on said first surface, thereby establishing electrical connection between said first device and said second device;
wherein said second end of said second tensioned electrical connector exerts a compressive force in a first direction on said first device, thereby mechanically attaching said first device to said second device;
inserting a second end of said first tensioned electrical connector into, through, and outwardly from, said second aperture;
placing said second end of said first tensioned electrical connector is electrical contact with said second electrical contacts disposed on said fourth surface, thereby establishing electrical connection between said first device and said second device;
wherein said second end of said first tensioned electrical connector exerts a compressive force in a second and opposing direction on said second device, thereby mechanically attaching said first device to said second device.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
physically and conductively coupling a plurality of first electrical connectors to first pads disposed on at least a portion of said first surface of the first electronic device, each of the first plurality of electrical connectors comprising:
a conic frustum of one or more

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Nekkanty Srikant
• Tran Donald T
• Murtagian Gregorio R

Classifications

• H05K5/0086 Primary

  portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus (casings for switching devices H01H9/02) · CPC title

• H01R4/48 Primary

  utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member (H01R4/52 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/73

  Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall · CPC title

• H01R43/16

  for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending · CPC title

• H01R4/58 Primary

  characterised by the form or material of the contacting members (H01R4/01 takes precedence) · CPC title