Electrical connector

Abstract

This disclosure describes an electrical connector for joining microcircuit or microcircuit modules, such as leadless integrated or hybrid circuit carriers to utilization means, such as printed or etched circuit boards or similar means. The electrical contacts through which the microcircuit and utilization means are connected are formed and etched in place on an elastomeric material, precisely located; the material acting as a restoring force to maintain connection. The connector when used in a system maintains transmission line mediums in a single environment.

The invention is claimed in accordance with the following: .[.1. A high frequency electrical connector system for making electrical connections between a microcircuit and a circuit board comprising: 
     
        microcircuit in position on said circuit board..]. .[.2.  A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said circuit board has a ground plane on another surface thereof and said microcircuit has a conductive coating on another surface thereof, said conductive coating being in electrical engagement with said ground plane..]. .[.3. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrical conductive path means are in the same plane..]. .[.4. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said first and second electrical conductive path means are positioned in stepped relationship to each other..]. .[.5. A high frequency electrical connector system of claim 1 wherein said location means comprises an opening in said circuit board into which said microcircuit is disposed..]. .Iadd. 6. A high-frequency electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting a conductive path of a first circuit element with a conductive path of a second circuit element, said system comprising: (a) a resilient member having a surface defined by two protruding portions and an intermediate indented portion;   (b) a contact of flexible metallic material overlaying a substantial part of each said portion of said surface of said resilient member and extending no further than the boundaries of said surface, said contact member also having a surface defined by two protruding portions and an intermediate indented portion, said surfaces of said resilient member and said conduct member being further configured such that said resilient member provides a restoring support for said contact member and such that a common force applied against both protruding portions of said contact member causes said portions to move away from each other;   (c) rigid frame means for holding said resilient member and said contact member against said circuit elements such that a first protruding portion of said contact member touches a conductive path of said first circuit element and a second protruding portion of said contact member touches a conductive path of said second circuit element; and   (d) means for urging said frame means, and thereby said resilient member and said contact member, further against said circuit elements so as to cause said protruding portions of said contact member to move away from each other and thereby wipingly engage said conductive paths. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd. 7.  The connector system of claim 6 wherein said frame means includes means defining a chamber, and wherein said resilient member includes a third portion configured for mating insertion into said chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The connector system of claim 6 wherein said resilient member is elongate in form, and wherein said surface thereof defines a pair of protruding ridges separated by an elongate indentation, further comprising a plurality of said contact members spaced along said resilient member in a longitudinal direction. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The connector system of claim 8 wherein each said contact member extends across said resilient member in a lateral direction. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The connector system of claim 6 wherein a first protruding portion of said contact member is separated from a second protruding portion by a first distance in a first direction and offset from said second portion by a second distance in a second direction so as to define with said second portion a contact member of stepped configuration for interconnecting conductive paths in non-coplanar alignment. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. The connector system of claim 6 wherein said frame means comprises a rigid frame member of rectangular configuration, and wherein said resilient member is of mating rectangular configuration, further comprising a plurality of said contact members spaced around the periphery of said resilient member so as to permit the interconnection of a like plurality of conductive paths of a first circuit element located within the enclosure of said frame member with a like plurality of conductive paths of a second circuit element located without said enclosure. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. The connector system of claim 6 wherein a surface of said resilient member proximate at least one edge thereof defines a pair of elongate protruding ridges separated by an elongate indentation and wherein each said contact member spaced therealong extends across both said ridges. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The connector system of claim 6 wherein said indented and protruding portions of said surface of said contact member define an undulating surface including a concave portion interposed between two convex portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The connector system of claim 6 wherein said contact member is of longitudinal configuration having a width dimension substantially greater than its thickness dimension..Iaddend.