Connector assembly for electrically connecting flexible and rigid printed circuits

摘要

The connector assembly is for connecting the conductive network of a flexible printed circuit to the conductive network of a rigid printed circuit board. The connector assembly comprises an alignment body structure mountable on the printed circuit and for positioning the flexible printed circuit for electrical communication with the rigid printed circuit. The alignment structure has a central aperture in alignment with the printed circuit contacts and a horizontal insertion aperture for ingress and egress of the flexible printed circuit in the plane of the rigid printed circuit. The connector assembly further comprises an elastomeric conductor disposed within the alignment structure so that the elastomeric conductor is between the communicative portions of the flexible printed circuit and the rigid printed circuit. A clamping structure is disposed within the alignment structure and which is operable in the central aperture to releasably urge the contact portions of the flexible circuit into communicative contact with the elastomeric conductor and the aligned contacts of the circuit board.