High speed, high density connector for electronic signals

摘要

A connector for printed circuit boards. Electrical connections are made between two printed boards (102,104) through flex circuits (126) which have contact pads pressed against contact pads on each of the printed circuit boards. Sufficient, uniform pressure is maintained on the contacts through the use of compressible tubes (226) behind the contact pads on the flex circuits. The compressible tubes are spring (222) biased towards the flex circuits. When a circuit board is engaged in the connector, it compresses the compressible tube and the spring biasing mechanism (222), thereby generating sufficient contact force. The connector is easy to manufacture in a variety of sizes because its pieces are modular (232). Many of the pieces are of uniform cross section, facilitating use of low cost extrusion operations. An embodiment is disclosed in which one printed circuit board is pivoted into contact with the contact pads.