US 11,876,312 B2
Methods and systems for terminal-free circuit connectors and flexible multilayered interconnect circuits
Kevin Michael Coakley, Belmont, CA (US); Emily Hernandez, Belmont, CA (US); and Mark Terlaak, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to CelLink Corporation, San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed by CelLink Corporation, San Carlos, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/487,652.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/086,876, filed on Oct. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0109256 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. H01R 12/77 (2011.01); H01R 12/61 (2011.01); H05K 1/11 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 12/613 (2013.01) [H01R 12/777 (2013.01); H05K 1/118 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly comprising:
a flexible interconnect circuit; and
a connector connected to the flexible interconnect circuit and comprising:
a base comprising:
a housing chamber defined by at least a bottom wall, and
an insertion cavity within the housing chamber and partially defined by an insertion ramp, wherein a first part of the flexible interconnect circuit comprising a front end protrudes into the insertion cavity; and
a terminal position assurance (TPA) device interfacing with the base, wherein:
the TPA device comprises a first set of pins and a second set of pins positioned on an interface surface of the TPA device,
the first set of pins has a smaller offset relative to the front end of the flexible interconnect circuit than the second set of pins,
the first set of pins pushes the first part of the flexible interconnect circuit against the insertion ramp and clamps the first part between the first set of pins and the insertion ramp, and
the second set of pins extends into the housing chamber pressing on a second part of the flexible interconnect circuit without protruding through the flexible interconnect circuit thereby urging a portion of the flexible interconnect circuit, extending between the first part and the second part into an arched configuration.