Composite contact for fine pitch electrical interconnect assembly

1. An electrical interconnect assembly for electrically interconnecting terminals on a first circuit member with terminals on a second circuit member, the electrical interconnect assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of through openings that extend between a first surface and a second surface;

a plurality of composite contacts positioned in a plurality of the through openings, the composite contacts comprising;

a conductive member having a central portion and at least first and second interface portions;

one or more polymeric layers extending along at least the central portion conductive member;

one or more coupling features engaged with the housing; and

at least one engagement feature formed in the polymeric layers proximate the first interface portion to mechanically couple with a terminal on the first circuit member.

2. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of layers forming a plurality of substantially non-moldable through openings that extend between the first surface and the second surface.

3. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a plurality of layers forming a plurality of substantially non-moldable through openings and at least one composite contact comprises an interlocking relationship with at least one of the substantially non-moldable through openings.

4. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the composite contacts are coupled to at least one layer of the housing one or more of a compressive force, solder, a wedge bond, a conductive adhesive, an ultrasonic bond, a wire bond, a mechanical coupling between the composite contacts and the first circuit member, and an overmolded layer coupling the composite contacts to the housing.

5. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of through openings are arranged in a two-dimensional array.

6. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises plurality of layers and at least one of the layers comprises a circuit layer.

7. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises plurality of layers and at least one of the layers comprises a circuit layer electrically coupled to at least one of the composite contacts.

8. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises plurality of layers and at least one of the layers comprises a circuit layer electrically coupled to at least one of the composite contacts proximate the central portion.

9. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the coupling feature on at least one composite contact forms an interlocking relationship with the housing.

10. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises an elastomeric material.

11. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one layer of the housing comprises an elastomeric material molded around a plurality of the composite contacts.

12. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the polymeric layers substantially surround the conductive members.

13. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the conductive members are located between opposing polymeric layers.

14. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of side edges of the conductive members are exposed.

15. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features comprise a pair of opposing tabs.

16. The electrical interconnection assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features comprise one of a hole, a recess, a protrusion, or a barb mechanically coupled to the terminal on the first circuit member.

17. The electrical interconnection assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features comprise an interlocking relationship with the terminals on the first circuit member.

18. The electrical interconnection assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features comprise a compressive relationship with the terminals on the first circuit member.

19. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the mechanical coupling between the terminals on the first circuit member and the first interface portion of the composite contact is the sole means of electrical coupling.

20. The electrical interconnection assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features are plastically deformed into engagement the terminals on the first circuit member.

21. The electrical interconnection assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features are elastically deformed into engagement the terminals on the first circuit member.

22. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement features comprise primarily the polymeric layers.

23. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the terminals on the first circuit member comprise solder members and the engagement features comprise an interlocking engagement with the solder member.

24. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the second interface portion comprises a loop.

25. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the composite contact comprises a ground plane.

26. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 wherein the conductive member comprises a shape that provides predetermined mechanical properties.

27. The electrical interconnect assembly of claim 1 comprising a spring member surrounding at least the central portion of the composite contacts.