DE2119567A1 - Electrical connection device - Google Patents

Description

INTERNATIONAL COMPUTERS LIMITED, ICL House, Putney, London, S.W.15.

England

Electrical connection device

The invention relates to electrical connection devices, as used in particular for microswitching technology will.

The most recent port steps in microswitching technology have made it possible to significantly reduce the size of individual microswitching elements. While after this technique a large number , -yoii. Circuits can be accommodated in a very small volume, a corresponding number of electrical connections must be made to such microcircuit assemblies. A problem with the formation of such electrical connections is that the dimensions and the spatial tolerances of the connections to the micro-circuit assemblies are extremely small and such

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April 21, 1971 W / He - 2 - i / p

Difficult to make connections according to the conventional technique are. It is also desirable that microcircuit assemblies should be easily replaceable, and if such a microcircuit has a large number of permanent connections to external circuit arrangements, the time and effort required to solve and restore such electrical connections extremely complex. Thus, when exchanging microcircuit assemblies,. with external circuit assemblies are soldered, presents significant difficulties as the solder is carefully removed from each wire or Connection conductor must be removed.

™ With conventional electrical components it is possible often to ensure electrical contact between the components in that a spring from an electrical electrically conductive material is provided and encapsulated in a corresponding insulating material. Each end of such a feather is in contact with an electrically conductive part of a component, and when pressure is exerted on one of the components the spring is compressed and creates an electrical connection therebetween. With the development of the micro scarf ttechnik and the requirement to connect a large number of very small conductors on a microswitch device it was found that such spring contacts for miniature

A ization are not suitable. In many cases it is necessary has become to mount microswitch assemblies on submounts of larger dimensions, so that the devices are suitable for conventional electrical connection. This increases however, the cost of packaging, etc., and also diminishes many advantages that miniaturization offers.

The present invention provides an electrical connection device proposed having a plurality of elongated, flexible, electrically conductive parts, which in one

09848 /

211 SS67

April 21, 1971 W / He - 3 - i / P 7110

Block of elastomeric insulation material are embedded and each extending between surface areas of the block, the outer ends of the electrically conductive parts are exposed at the surface areas.

In operation, such a connection device can be different Stramleitenden paths between two conductors result, whose each in contact with a corresponding part of a different one Surface area. Appropriately, these surface areas are approximately parallel, opposite one another Faces of a plate that represents the block. Then it is most expedient that the corresponding parts are in line with one another stand through the block. A small clamping pressure is sufficient for a good Kentaktgabe.

Preferably, the outer ends of the electrically conductive parts are from the bloek surface. The protruding parts can be made from different material, e.g. an intermediate layer, which allows a good bond with an end layer made of precious metal is required.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a method for production on an electrical connection device is provided suggested that metal parts are used with side rails by uniformly spaced parallel strips are connected, the metal parts being formed in congruence with one another to form a stack and with spacer parts different shape compared to the metal parts, but without strip elements werds.n, and the Space between the side rails of the stack of liquid, hardenable «! elastomeric insulating material is filled, the Material is cured and the side panels are removed will.

ORtOtNAL

April 21, 1971 W / He -X- ■ l / p

The device according to the invention is described below in connection explained with the drawing based on exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a resilient component according to the invention with a rectangular Shape,

2 with a resilient component according to the present invention a curved shape,

Fig. 3 resilient components according to the invention, which are in elastomer Material are embedded,

4 shows the electrical connection devices according to the invention in a practical arrangement,

5 shows the resilient components as part of a frame,

Figure 6 shows a metal frame used as a temporary spacer serves,

7 shows a stack of elements according to FIGS. 5 and 6, Fig. 8 shows another connecting device and

P Fig. 9 shows the connecting device according to Fig. 8 in practice Mission.

In Fig. 1, a compliant connecting device 10 is according to Present invention shown, which has a surface 11 and . has a surface 12 at the top and bottom of the component. The component 10 can be made of an electrically conductive, resilient material, for example phosphor bronze be. In Fig. 2 is another similar, resilient component

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April 21, 1971 W / He. - 5 - i / p 7110

with opposite contact surfaces 4l and 42 shown. the Resilient members 10 and 40 have cross-sectional dimensions on the order of 25 microns and can be of free length of 2 mm.

A device 1 in which a plurality of resilient components 10 or 40 can be used is shown in FIG. Each resilient component 10 is embedded in an elastomeric material 21 which both spatially and electrically separates each component 10 from the other and forms the device 1. The elastomeric material 21 can be subjected to a grinding process so that the flatness of the surface is improved, and during this process the height of the resilient component 10 can be reduced somewhat compared to the surface of the material 21, as shown in FIG. In such cases · can it be useful to galvanically apply a conductive material to the opposite contact surfaces 11 and 12? this material is shown in the form of contacts 13 * 18, 19, 20, 22 and 23. A conductive web portion 14 of a microcircuit 15 is arranged so that it provides an electrical connection with the contacts 13, 18 and 19. Similarly, a raised conductor element 16 is arranged to electrically connect contacts 20, 22 and 23 to external electrical circuits (not shown). For example, the conductor 16 can be an electrically conductive part of a printed circuit board. Thus, the fact that the conductor 16 is held on a rigid component and that a force of, for example, 50 g is applied to the microcircuit 15, a flexible and reliable electrical connection between the current-conducting web 14 ^- and the conductor 16 through the device 1 educated.

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Such a device 1 is not subject to the requirement for precise control of the level of electrical current-conducting Parts, as is the case when pillars are used as electrical interconnection parts. This problem becomes avoided in that the device 1 is completely resilient is trained. There 'also no part of the device 1 with the conductor bars. l4 and 16 is glued or rigidly attached, it turns out that the exchange of special allotments, such as the Microcircuit 15, can be achieved simply in that the desired component is brought out of contact with the device 1.

While in Fig. 3 it is shown that the conductor 16 is in contact with three contacts of corresponding resilient components 10, the current conductor 16 can be in contact with a larger one Number of contacts, e.g. five or six, without the existing connection between the conductor 16 and the conductive bar is influenced, since all the others are resilient Components in Kentakt with the conductor ΐβ not in contact with one of the conductive bars 14 or those resilient,

are,

Components that are in contact with the conductive bar 14 /. While dome-shaped contacts 13, 18 and 19 are shown, such contacts can also be made flush with the ¹ 'surface of the elastomeric material 21, and the dome-shaped contacts can thus be omitted.

An electrical arrangement in which the resilient electrical Connecting device 1 is used is shown in FIG. A microcircuit 15 is on a liquid-cooled Heat sink 25 arranged, the resilient connecting device 1 is attached to a circuit 15. A printed circuit board 17 is correspondingly connected to various Microcircuits 15 aligned by means of dowel pins 26 and 27, while screw connections 28 and 29

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plate 17 in contact with the device 1 hold and give up a steady • pressure against the resilient connecting device 1, in particular the conductor 30 ^a uf the printed circuit board 17 can then use the resilient electrical connection device 1 by means of intermediate connecting members Jl on the printed circuit board 17 is connected will. .

A method of manufacturing the resilient electrical connection device 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described below. A scheme in the form of a thin metal piece having a frame 32 with a plurality of resilient members 10 can be made according to a conventional chemical machining technique. A hole or opening 36 is provided in each corner of the frame for alignment purposes. Using a chemical milling process, a large number of frames can be manufactured in one operation, all of which are of exact dimensions. Next, a spacer component 33 according to FIG. 6 is brought into congruence with the frame 32. A stack is then built up, consisting alternately of a frame 32 and a spacer component 33, the thickness of the spacer component precisely determining the distance between two frames. The arrangement is clamped between end plates 3 ^ and 35 by pins 37, as shown in Fig 7, the cavity containing a large number of precisely spaced resilient members 10. The cavity is then filled with a suitable liquid elastomer, which can be silicone rubber, for example. Then the elastomer is polymerized and the end plates. _; 34 and 35 and spacers 33 are removed. Subsequently, the frames 32 are removed by a chemical Ä'tzyorgang, so that a large number of resilient components 10 (FIG. 1) remain, which are precisely spaced in an elastomeric material 21 staggered. As already stated above, the surface of the material 21 can be subjected to a squint process in order to improve the flatness. ^v . . ■

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A resilient electrical connection device 1 is thus obtained in which a large number of electrically conductive and mutually insulated paths are provided between one side of a web of flexible material and another a high value of Stromieitfähigkeit in one direction and a low or negligible value at current conductivity iri direction perpendicular to the _first: ersielt direction. As a result of such characteristic properties, a microcircuit with contacts or s tr introducing webs, each of which comprises a small number of resilient components 10 in the elastomeric material 21, can be electrically connected to an external circuit arrangement, for example in the form of a two-way connection network with a printed circuit which is connected to similar contacts or conductive webs of the same geometry and arrangement as the microcircuit is provided Pressure is applied to create reliable electrical connections.

While the resilient component 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 using two different embodiments., shapes other than those shown only for example can also be used Forms used vjerden. In any case, have the individual resilient components 10 or 40 alone do not have sufficient strength to support a microswitch element 15! however, in that they are incorporated into an elastomeric material 21 '. are embedded, a number of such resilient components 10 are given sufficient strength »

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April 21, 1971 W / He - ■ 9 -. i / p 7Π0

Another method of manufacturing the device according to FIG The present invention consists in providing a resilient, porous component. Suitable metals are selectively used in the Pores are knocked down, so that they have a variety of electrical conductive paths from a surface of the resilient member to the other surface.

Fig. 5 shows the dome or cap-shaped contact parts 13, 18, etc., which protrude slightly above the surface of the block 21 of elastomeric material. Such approaches facilitate the achievement of a corresponding contact pressure on the Contact parts without unduly stressing adjacent circuit elements to move the elastomeric block will. This is especially true where-, the conductive ones Contact areas of the associated microcircuit and / or the switchboard are flush. The elastomeric material is in not easy to move in practice because it is a soft material tends to have a relatively high coefficient of friction, with the result that the face of the block in contact with a circuit element tries to oppose any lateral movement in bejig on the face of the element. This tendency increases when the Pressure is increased so that thereby practically usable pressures applied to the elements just try * a to produce slight bulging at the ends of the block 1.

It is desirable that each end of the embedded, electrically conductive Components slightly from the surface of the blook «it protrudes. The pressure applied to the circuit elements is then more direct only to building up effective pressures between the embedded components and the electrically conductive areas related to the circuit elements.

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April 21, 1971 W / He - 10 - i / p 7110

As Fig. 8 shows, the contact parts receive at least one outer covering 71 made of a noble metal, e.g. gold. It can It will of course be necessary to use an intermediate part 70 of other electrically conductive material in order to achieve a good connection to use, depending on the material that used for the embedded conductive components 72 will. This intermediate part 70 can expediently be the approaches represent that desired for the embedded components 72 are.

The block 21 can support the components 72, for example made of beryllium-copper or phosphor bronze alloy, which are bent into a V-shape so that the desired flexibility is achieved in the direction in which the pressure is applied. The ends of the components 72 are initially arranged so that they run flush with the end faces 79 * 79a. A layer of copper 70 is then formed over the ends of the components 72, for example by electrolytic precipitation. In the precipitation process, the Kupferschieht 70 forms a cap at each end of a component 72. line second, cup-shaped layer 71>', for example of gold, is then niedergeseilfegen over the copper cups 70 by a similar method so that the deri contact-forming layers £ us Gold protrude from the surfaces 79, 79a.

Fig. 9 shows the assembly of a Konta | £ tl> lockes UimliQh üem according to Fig. 8, namely between _t a fötar of Stromkreisel emen th 74 and 75, which receive the current-conducting areas 76 and 77 M ^ d an I ^ uck a presses ^^ of ά ± $ Ilemente aneinander- "in addition to the formation of a bulge 72 at the ends of the biocide 21 k rm the;. elastomer material of the block be freely moved, as indicated at 75, for example, in the narrow spaces between the surfaces 74a , 74a ¹ of elements 74 and 75 and the originally flat surfaces 79, 79a of the block.

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It should also be noted that due to the fact that there is no initial contact between the surfaces 79 * 79a of the block and the surfaces 74a, 74a 'of the elements is when they are initially assembled before any pressure is applied there is little friction, a slight relative movement between the block and the Elements 74 and 75 to prevent. An effective, electric one Contact between the electrically conductive areas 76 and 77 becomes therefore improved in three different ways: On the one hand, there are the individual contacts between those who make the contact Ends of the components 72 and the areas 76 and 77 less of the resistance to compression of the elastomeric material of the block 21, and also ensures that a dandelion metal is deposited on the ends of the components 72 a second improvement; and third, any tendency after lateral displacement of the block 21 results in a sliding effect between the ends of the components 72 forming the contact and the current-conducting areas 76 and 77 »from FIG. 9 results also that some degree of tolerance in the relative lateral Adjustment of circuit elements 74 and 75 permitted when this "shape" of the contact block arrangement is used. For example, it can be seen that the component designated 72a is in contact with a conductive area 77 in the Element 75 stands, but not with an area 76 in the element

74. Conversely, the component 72b is in contact with an area 76 in the element 74, but not with an element 77 in the element

75. Thus, a lateral relative displacement is of the order of magnitude as indicated in the figure between the elements 74 and 75, permissible without either a short circuit adjacent areas 76 or 77 arises or without corresponding Areas 76 and 77 are not connected to each other *

109848/1204

Claims (7)

21.4.1971 W / He - 12 - I / p Q. "■ ' Claims:
Electrical connection device, in particular for microswitching technology, characterized by a plurality of elongated, flexible, current-conducting components (10) which are embedded in a block (1) made of elastomeric insulating material and extend between two surface areas of the block (1) in such a way that they represent separate current-conducting parts between their exposed ends (13, ···). 2. Electrical connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the block (1):; e £ en over parallel, ρ the areas representing the surface areas and the areas that conduct electricity Components (10) each have at least one bend and mutually parallel with their ends. (13 * ···) in cover ·; are arranged. 3. Electrical connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outer ends (13 * 70 ") of the electrically conductive parts protrude from the surface areas. 4. Electrical connection device according to claim;>, characterized .marked that the outer ends are made of different, electrically conductive material (20, 70) exist. P '5. Electrical connection device according to claim 4, characterized in that the different material (at 71) with Precious metal is covered. 6.. Method of making an electrical connection device according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in, that metal parts. (32) can be used with side rails that are parallel to each other by uniformly staggered Strips are connected that the metal pieces in a stack 18984871? Ö4 BADORlGiNAL 2119587 April 21, 1971 W / He - 13 - l / p 7110 alternate spacers (33) in which the strips are omitted, and that the space between the side rails of the stack is then filled with liquid, elastomeric insulating material, which is then cured before the rails removed. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that all side rails of the metal parts by end rails to each other be connected at only one end, and that the stack has plates (3 ^, 35) before the first and after the last metal part, which form a cavity that is filled with liquid material. 9848/1204