Pierced flexible circuit and compression joint
An electrical interconnect system comprises: a flexible circuit having thereon a plurality of electrical contact pads; a contact strip comprising a plurality of electrical contacts aligned with respective pads on the flexible circuit; a compression member to engage the contacts with the pads; and, pierced areas on said pads to enhance the mechanical engagement between the contacts and the pads.
1. An electrical interconnect system comprising:
a flexible circuit having thereon a plurality of electrical contact pads;
a contact strip comprising a plurality of electrical contacts aligned with respective pads on said flexible circuit;
a compression member to engage said contacts with said pads, said compression member comprising a plurality of dimples aligned respectively with said contacts; and,
pierced areas on said pads to enhance the mechanical engagement between said contacts and said pads.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said flexible circuit comprises a plurality of electronic components mounted on at least one surface thereof and operably connected to said contact pads.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said contact strip comprises plated through holes on a printed circuit board.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said contact strip comprises a plurality of electrical contacts in a mechanical connector that is operably connected to a motherboard.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said contacts comprise plated through holes on a motherboard and said dimples are convex with a radius that is smaller than the radius of each plated through hole.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said pierced areas comprise features selected from the group consisting of: apertures and slits.
7. A method for making an electrical interconnection comprising:
forming a flexible circuit having thereon a plurality of electrical contact pads;
piercing areas on said pads so that said areas may be more easily deformed;
aligning said flexible circuit with a contact strip having a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to respective pads on said flexible circuit;
applying a compression member to engage said contacts with said pads so that said deformed areas enhance the mechanical engagement between said contacts and said pads, wherein said compression member comprises a plurality of dimples aligned respectively with said contacts.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said flexible circuit comprises a plurality of electronic components mounted on at least one surface thereof and operably connected to said contact pads.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said contact strip comprises plated through holes on a printed circuit board.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein said contact strip comprises a plurality of electrical contacts in a mechanical connector that is operably connected to a motherboard.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein said contacts comprise plated through holes on a motherboard and said dimples are convex with a radius that is smaller than the radius of each plated through hole.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein said piercing forms features selected from the group consisting of: apertures and slits.