US 12,132,273 B2
Flexible circuit to terminal connector with wiping electrical contacts
Jeffrey S. Campbell, West Bloomfield, MI (US); Wesley W. Weber, Lapeer, MI (US); Duane L. Brantingham, Cortland, OH (US); Kurt P. Seifert, Cortland, OH (US); David R. Peterson, Aurora, OH (US); and Joon Lee, Carmel, IN (US)
Assigned to APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed by APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, St. Michael (BB)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/695,812.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/161,755, filed on Mar. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0302619 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. H01R 12/77 (2011.01); H01R 13/52 (2006.01); H01R 43/26 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 12/771 (2013.01) [H01R 13/5219 (2013.01); H01R 43/26 (2013.01); H01R 2201/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector system, comprising:
a first electrical connector comprising a connector housing and a set of exposed terminals disposed at least partially within the connector housing and having a tin-coating applied at respective terminal ends; and
a second electrical connector comprising:
a flexible circuit (FC) comprising a set of conductive traces disposed in an insulation material and defining a set of exposed portions each where (i) the insulation material has been removed thereby exposing portions of the set of conductive traces and (ii) a tin-coating has been applied,
a rigid stiffener device configured to receive and secure a portion of the FC corresponding to the set of tin-coated exposed portions, and
a spring-loaded cover assembly configured to cover the portion of the FC and selectively engage with or connect to the rigid stiffener device, the spring cover assembly comprising a spring device and a spring retainer cover arranged on an opposing side of the FC that, when engaged with/connected to the rigid stiffener device, provides securing and downward force on the FC,
wherein the connector housing and the spring-loaded cover assembly define a set of connection features that cause a lateral wiping action between the tin-coated terminal ends of the set of exposed terminals and the tin-coated exposed portions of the FC to improve an electrical connection therebetween during connection of the first and second electrical connectors.