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  Electrical coupling apparatus and methodUSPTO Application #: 20080026635Title: Electrical coupling apparatus and method Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of electrical coupling apparatuses and methods. In one embodiment, an electrical coupling apparatus is provided having a first contact array on a card, where the first contact array is located at a first predefined position relative to an insertion edge of the card. The apparatus also includes a flexible printed circuit having a second contact array corresponding to the first contact array, where the second contact array is positioned in alignment with the first contact array. A compliant interposer material is positioned between the first and second contact arrays, the compliant interposer material electrically coupling respective pairs of contacts in the first and second contact arrays. Also, the insertion edge is configured to be inserted into a receptacle, the second contact array being positioned relative to the insertion edge so as to mate with a corresponding contact array in the receptacle when the insertion edge is inserted into the receptacle. (end of abstract) Agent: Verigy Ltd. Intellectual Property Administration - Fort Collins, CO, US Inventors: Stephen Bellato, Kenneth D. Karklin USPTO Applicaton #: 20080026635 - Class: 439496 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080026635. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001]Electronic circuitry currently makes use of contact arrays that conduct multiple signals from integrated circuits and other devices to test equipment and the like. As the contact arrays get more dense, it becomes more difficult to electrically couple the respective contacts of two corresponding contact arrays to each other for proper operation without a fault or discontinuity. Significant cost may be incurred when such anomalies occur in attempting to correct for inadequate electrical contact between respective pairs of contacts in corresponding arrays. SUMMARY [0002]Embodiments of the present invention provide for various apparatuses and methods for electrical coupling contact arrays in a card edge with corresponding contact arrays in receptacles. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a first contact array on a card, the first contact array being located at a first predefined position relative to an insertion edge of the card. The apparatus also includes a flexible printed circuit having a second contact array that corresponds to the first contact array, the second contact array being positioned in alignment with the first contact array. A compliant interposer material is positioned between the first and second contact arrays, the compliant interposer material electrically coupling respective pairs of contacts in the first and second contact arrays, wherein the insertion edge is configured to be inserted into a receptacle, the second contact array being positioned relative to the insertion edge so as to mate with a corresponding contact array in the receptacle when the insertion edge is inserted into the receptacle. [0003]In another embodiment, a method is provided for electrical coupling a first contact array on a card with a corresponding contact array in a receptacle, wherein a flexible printed circuit includes a second contact array corresponding to the first contact array, the second contact array being in alignment with the first contact array, and wherein a compliant interposer material is positioned between the first and second contact arrays, the compliant interposer material electrically coupling respective pairs of contacts in the first and second contact arrays, the method comprising the steps of inserting an insertion edge of the card into the receptacle so as to mate the second contact array with the corresponding contact array in the receptacle, and conforming the second pad array to a topology of the corresponding contact array in the receptacle by virtue of a degree of compliance of the compliant interposer material. [0004]In still another embodiment, an apparatus for electrical coupling is provide that comprises a first contact array on a card, the first contact array being located at a first predefined position relative to an insertion edge of the card, and a first means for positioning a second contact array adjacent to the first contact array, the second contact array corresponding to the first contact array, and the second contact array being positioned in alignment with the first contact array. The apparatus further comprises second means for adding a degree of compliance to the second contact array relative to the first contact array, wherein respective contacts in the first array are electrically coupled to corresponding contacts in the second contact array, and, wherein the insertion edge is configured to be inserted into a receptacle, the second contact array being positioned relative to the insertion edge so as to mate with a corresponding contact array in the receptacle when the insertion edge is inserted into the receptacle. [0005]Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006]Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. [0007]FIG. 1 is a drawing of a card having a circuit with a contact array that is compatible with a receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0008]FIGS. 2A and 2B are drawings of various views of the card of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0009]FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exploded view of an insertion edge assembly of the card of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0010]FIGS. 4A and 4B are drawings of a portion of the insertion edge assembly and a sectional view of a portion of the insertion edge assembly of the card of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0011]FIG. 5 is a drawing of another embodiment of a card that mates with the receptacle of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [0012]FIGS. 6A and 6B are drawings that illustrate various examples the receptacle of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0013]With reference to FIG. 1, shown is a card 100 having an insertion edge 103 that is inserted into a receptacle 106. The card 100 may be, for example, a printed circuit board or other device as can be appreciated. In this respect, a circuit comprising various electrical components may reside on the card 100. A contact array 109 that is electrically coupled to circuitry on the card 100 is located on the card 100 at a pre-defined position relative to an insertion edge 103 of the card 100. The insertion edge 103 of the card 100 comprises a portion of the card 100 that is inserted into the receptacle 106. [0014]The receptacle 106 includes a contact array 113 that corresponds with the contact array 109. In this respect, the contact arrays 109 and 113 mate with each other such that respective pairs of contacts in the contact arrays 109 and 113 are electrically coupled to each other when the card 100 is inserted into the receptacle 106. According to one embodiment, the card 100 includes a second contact array on the side of the card opposite that upon which the contact array 109 appears. Thus, in one embodiment, the insertion edge 103 represents a male portion of a plug arrangement and the receptacle 106 represents a female portion the plug arrangement. [0015]The contact array 109 is disposed on a flexible circuit 116. In one embodiment, the flexible circuit 116 wraps around the insertion edge 103. The contact array 109 is aligned with a contact array on the card 100 beneath the flexible printed circuit 116. In this respect, the contact array 109 corresponds to and is in alignment with the contact array beneath the flexible printed circuit 116. Thus, as contemplated herein, a first contact array "corresponds to" a second contact array in the sense that the arrangement of contacts of the first contact array substantially matches the arrangement of contacts in the second array such that respective pairs of contacts from both arrays line up with each other when the contact arrays are in alignment. Thus, in one embodiment, a pair of contact arrays correspond to each other when individual contacts of each array are spaced such that they can come into contact with each other if the two contact arrays were mated together. [0016]In order to effect an electrical coupling between the contacts of the contact array 109 and the contacts of the contact array (not shown) disposed on the card 100 beneath the flexible printed circuit 116, a compliant interposer material 123 is positioned between the flexible printed circuit 116 and the card 100 so as to lie between the respective contact arrays. As a consequence, the client interposer material electrically couples respective pairs of contacts in the contact array 109 and a contact array (not shown) disposed on the card 100. [0017]By virtue of the use of the client interposer material 123 between the contact array on the card 100 and contact array 109 on the flexible printed circuit 1116, a degree of compliance is imparted to the contact array 109 such that the contact array 109 will mate up with the corresponding contact array 113 in the receptacle 106 in a more efficient and effective manner. In particular, the degree of compliance imparted to the contact array 109 on the flexible printed circuit 116 facilitates compliance of the contact array 109 relative to the contact array on the card 100 and/or the surface of the card 100 itself. This allows the second contact array 109 to conform to the topology of the contact array 113 with the receptacle 106 when the insertion edge 103 is inserted into the receptacle 106. [0018]In addition, when the insertion edge 103 is inserted into the receptacle 106, the receptacle 106 may be configured to exert a force that compresses the insertion edge 103, thereby compressing the flexible printed circuit 116, the compliant interposer material 123, and the card 100 itself. In this respect, the compliant interposer material 123 acts like a spring that generates a counter force against the receptacle, thereby causing the second contact array 109 to conform to the topology of the contact array 113. [0019]As contemplated herein, a "contact array" may comprise, for example, a pad array, pin array, or any other type of contact array that is capable of coupling to a second contact array through the complaint interposer material 123 as described herein. [0020]The insertion edge 103 of the card 100 is configured for insertion into the receptacle 106. In this respect, the mechanical structure of the insertion edge 103 is constructed so as to be compatible with the receptacle 106 as can be appreciated. Continue reading... Full patent description for Electrical coupling apparatus and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electrical coupling apparatus and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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