In an illustrative embodiment, a connector for interfacing a flexible circuitry device with an apparatus includes a housing having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion with a button region for a button, circuit board(s) including contact(s) for interfacing with corresponding contact(s) of an I/O section of flexible circuitry, retention feature(s) for frictionally retaining the I/O section against the contact(s) of the circuit board(s), and a cable interface. When the button is in a retain position, the button creates a downward force on the retention feature(s) toward the lower housing portion, thereby frictionally retaining the I/O section of the flexible circuitry, and, when the button is in a release position, the retention feature(s) is displaced in a direction of the upper housing portion, thereby creating or widening an aperture for insertion of the I/O section.

In an illustrative embodiment, a connector for interfacing a flexible circuitry device with an apparatus includes a housing having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion with a button region for a button, circuit board(s) including contact(s) for interfacing with corresponding contact(s) of an I/O section of flexible circuitry, retention feature(s) for frictionally retaining the I/O section against the contact(s) of the circuit board(s), and a cable interface. When the button is in a retain position, the button creates a downward force on the retention feature(s) toward the lower housing portion, thereby frictionally retaining the I/O section of the flexible circuitry, and, when the button is in a release position, the retention feature(s) is displaced in a direction of the upper housing portion, thereby creating or widening an aperture for insertion of the I/O section.

A watertight electrical connection system to flat-wire conductors of a flexible circuit is described including a watertight electrical connector that houses connector terminals within a cavity. A contact surface of the watertight electrical connector is configured to mate with a connection area on a surface of the flexible circuit. The connection area is of variable thickness. A seal surrounds an opening to the cavity to form a watertight connection between the connector terminals and one or more of the flat-wire conductors within the connection area on the surface of the flexible circuit. A retainer fits over the flexible circuit and onto the watertight electrical connector to compress the seal and form the watertight connection between the surface of the flexible circuit and the contact surface, which is of variable thickness.

A double wiping blade contact assembly has a blade contact and a double wiping contact. The double wiping contact has first and second stage contact wiping areas. The second stage being at a distance from the first stage and wherein the first stage contact wiping area has an upper lead-in flange that guides the blade contact under the first stage contact wiping area and the second stage contact wiping area has a lower lead-in flange that guides the blade contact over the second stage contact wiping area.

A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) terminal structure of board-to-board electrical connector and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The terminal of the terminal structure includes a side arm, a bent portion, and a flexible arm integrally formed as one component. The flexible arm includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the side arm form an insertion space. The second portion and the side arm form a locking space. The second portion of the flexible arm has a contact portion. The insertion space is greater than the locking space. The terminal has curved and locking features to extend the moment arm of the terminal for improving the terminal flexibility. The terminal contacts a mating terminal through multiple points, thereby improving the contact stability and providing the locking function. Furthermore, by using the MEMS techniques for semiconductor industries, the terminal of micro board-to-board electrical connector can be manufactured.

A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) terminal structure of board-to-board electrical connector and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The terminal of the terminal structure includes a side arm, a bent portion, and a flexible arm integrally formed as one component. The flexible arm includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the side arm form an insertion space. The second portion and the side arm form a locking space. The second portion of the flexible arm has a contact portion. The insertion space is greater than the locking space. The terminal has curved and locking features to extend the moment arm of the terminal for improving the terminal flexibility. The terminal contacts a mating terminal through multiple points, thereby improving the contact stability and providing the locking function. Furthermore, by using the MEMS techniques for semiconductor industries, the terminal of micro board-to-board electrical connector can be manufactured.

An interface module comprises a base defining a planar sliding surface for a male contact element, a connector housing formed of an electrically insulating material and movably received in a receptacle of the base, a contact received in the connector housing and arranged above the planar sliding surface, and a spring disposed opposite the contact in a direction perpendicular to the sliding surface. The connector housing has an insertion opening adapted to receive the male contact element. The contact has a contact leg projecting below a planar supporting surface for the male contact element. The spring is adapted to elastically abut against an underside of the male contact element in an assembled state. The male contact element is received within the insertion opening of the connector housing and the contact leg abuts a contact surface on an upper side of the male contact element in the assembled state.

An interface module comprises a base defining a planar sliding surface for a male contact element, a connector housing formed of an electrically insulating material and movably received in a receptacle of the base, a contact received in the connector housing and arranged above the planar sliding surface, and a spring disposed opposite the contact in a direction perpendicular to the sliding surface. The connector housing has an insertion opening adapted to receive the male contact element. The contact has a contact leg projecting below a planar supporting surface for the male contact element. The spring is adapted to elastically abut against an underside of the male contact element in an assembled state. The male contact element is received within the insertion opening of the connector housing and the contact leg abuts a contact surface on an upper side of the male contact element in the assembled state.

An electrical connector includes electrical contacts that are configured to be mounted to an electrical cable, and mating ends that are configured to be surface mounted to a contact pad of an underlying substrate, such that the mating ends flex and apply a pressure against the contact pad.

An electrical connector includes electrical contacts that are configured to be mounted to an electrical cable, and mating ends that are configured to be surface mounted to a contact pad of an underlying substrate, such that the mating ends flex and apply a pressure against the contact pad.