Electrical interconnection system for multilayer circuitry

Claim 2

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, an electrical interconnection system, comprising: at least one electrically conductive contact tab located in a first plane; at least one electrically conductive contact tab located in a second plane, both of said contact tabs being located in registry with each other; a flexible outer casing, both of said contact tabs being contained within said casing; and means for spring biasing both of said tabs into electrically contacting engagement, said means being external to said casing.

Claim 3

A system as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising: an insulating member located in a third plane between said first plane and said second plane, a portion of said member being removed to enable electrically contacting engagement between said contact tabs.

Claim 4

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, the combination comprising: a first electrically conductive contact tab supported in a first plane upon a flexible substrate layer; a second electrically conductive contact tab supported in a second plane upon a substrate layer, said second tab being in registry with said first tab; a flexible outer casing, all of said contact tabs and said substrate layers being contained within said casing; and biasing means for continuously urging said first tab and said second tab into electrically contacting engagement, said biasing means being external to said casing.

Claim 5

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, the combination comprising: a first electrically conductive contact tab supported in a first plane upon a flexible substrate layer; a second electrically conductive contact tab supported in a second plane upon a substrate layer, said second tab being in registry with said first tab; a flexible outer casing, all of said contact tabs and said substrate layers being contained within said casing; and biasing means for continuously urging said first tab and said second tab into electrically contacting engagement, said biasing means being external to said casing.

Claim 6

A combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein said biasing means is a spring clip.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 3, and further comprising: an insulating member located in a third plane between said first plane and said second plane, a portion of said member being removed to enable electrically contacting engagement between said first tab and said second tab.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate layer supporting said first tab is removed to enable electrically contacting engagement between said fourth tab and said sixth tab.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first contact tab and said third contact tab are supported on opposite sides of the same substrate layer.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said biasing means is a multifinger spring clip.

Claim 11

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein all of said contact tabs and said substrate layers are contained within a flexible outer casing, and said biasing means is external to said casing.

Claim 12

A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said biasing means includes: an integral spring clip strip having a plurality of spring biasing fingers.

Claim 13

A combination as set forth in claim 10, wherein said spring clip strip includes at least one finger for each set of contact tabs in registry.

Claim 14

A combination as set forth in claim 10, wherein said spring clip strip has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

Claim 15

Electrical apparatus, comprising: a first set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a first plane upon a first flexIble substrate layer, said first set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a second set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a second plane upon a second substrate layer, said second set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said second substrate layer, said second set of tabs including tabs in registry with all of the tabs of said first set; a flexible outer casing, all of said contact tabs and said substrate layers being contained within said casing; and spring biasing means for continuously urging said tabs in registry into electrically contacting engagement, said biasing means being external to said casing.

Claim 16

Electrical apparatus, comprising: a first set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a first plane upon a first flexIble substrate layer, said first set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a second set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a second plane upon a second substrate layer, said second set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said second substrate layer, said second set of tabs including tabs in registry with all of the tabs of said first set; a flexible outer casing, all of said contact tabs and said substrate layers being contained within said casing; and spring biasing means for continuously urging said tabs in registry into electrically contacting engagement, said biasing means being external to said casing.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said biasing means includes: an integral spring clip strip having a plurality of spring biasing fingers, the number of fingers being at least one for each group of electrically contacting tabs in registry.

Claim 18

Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein all of said sets of contact tabs and said substrate layers are contained within a flexible outer casing, and said biasing means is an integral spring clip strip external to said casing and substantially coextensive with said common peripheral edges, said spring clip strip having a plurality of spring biasing fingers, the number of fingers being at least one for each group of electrically contacting tabs in registry.

Claim 19

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said spring clip strip has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

Claim 20

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, the combination comprising: a first electrically conductive contact tab supported in a first plane upon a flexible substrate layer; a second electrically conductive contact tab supported in a second plane upon a substrate layer, said second tab being in registry with said first tab; biasing means for continuously urging said first tab and second tab into electrically contacting engagement; a third electrically conductive contact tab supported in a third plane upon a flexible substrate; a fourth electrically conductive contact tab supported in said second plane; fifth and sixth electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a fourth plane upon a flexible substrate, said fifth tab being in registry with said third tab and said sixth tab being in registry with said fourth tab; an electrically conductive jumper in said fourth plane connecting said fifth and said sixth tabs together; and said biasing means urges said third tab into electrically contacting engagement with said fifth tab and urges said sixth tab into electrically contacting engagement with said fourth tab, thereby electrically connecting said third contact tab to said fourth contact tab.

Claim 21

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, the combination comprising: a first electrically conductive contact tab supported in a first plane upon a flexible substrate layer; a second electrically conductive contact tab supported in a second plane upon a substrate layer, said second tab being in registry with said first tab; biasing means for continuously urging said first tab and second tab into electrically contacting engagement; a third electrically conductive contact tab supported in a third plane upon a flexible substrate; a fourth electrically conductive contact tab supported in said second plane; fifth and sixth electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a fourth plane upon a flexible substrate, said fifth tab being in registry with said third tab and said sixth tab being in registry with said fourth tab; an electrically conductive jumper in said fourth plane connecting said fifth and said sixth tabs together; and said biasing means urges said third tab into electrically contacting engagement with said fifth tab and urges said sixth tab into electrically contacting engagement with said fourth tab, thereby electrically connecting said third contact tab to said fourth contact tab.

Claim 22

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, the combination comprising: a first electrical conductive tab supported in a first plane upon a substrate layer; a second electrically conductive tab supported in a second plane upon a flexible substrate layer; third and fourth electrically conductive tabs supported in a third plane upon a flexible substrate layer, said third tab being in registry with said second tab and said fourth tab being in registry with said first tab; and biasing means for continuously urging said third tab into electrically contacting engagement with said second tab and urging said fourth tab into electrically contacting engagement with said first tab.

Claim 23

In a multilayer electrical circuit device, the combination comprising: a first electrical conductive tab supported in a first plane upon a substrate layer; a second electrically conductive tab supported in a second plane upon a flexible substrate layer; third and fourth electrically conductive tabs supported in a third plane upon a flexible substrate layer, said third tab being in registry with said second tab and said fourth tab being in registry with said first tab; and biasing means for continuously urging said third tab into electrically contacting engagement with said second tab and urging said fourth tab into electrically contacting engagement with said first tab.

Claim 24

A combination as set forth in claim 8, and further comprising: an electrically conductive jumper in said third plane connecting said third and said fourth tabs together to thereby electrically connect said first tab to said second tab.

Claim 25

A combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein: a portion of said flexible substrate layer supporting said second tab is removed to enable electrically contacting engagement between said first tab and said fouRth tab.

Claim 26

A combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said biasing means is a multifinger spring clip having one finger for each set of contact tabs in registry.

Claim 27

A combination as set forth in claim 18, and further comprising: a fifth electrically conductive tab supported in a fourth plane upon a substrate; and a sixth electrically conductive tab supported in said first plane, said fifth tab being in registry with said sixth tab, said biasing means continuously urging said fifth tab into electrically contacting engagement with said sixth tab.

Claim 28

A combination as set forth in claim 22, wherein: said fifth tab and said second tab are supported on opposite sides of the same substrate layer.

Claim 29

A combination as set forth in claim 18, and further comprising: a fifth electrically conductive contact tab supported in said third plane; and a sixth electrically conductive contact tab supported in said first plane, said fifth tab being in registry with said sixth tab, said biasing means continuously urging said fifth tab into electrically contacting engagement with said sixth tab.

Claim 30

A combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein all of said contact tabs and said substrate layers are contained within a flexible outer casing, and said biasing means is external to said casing.

Claim 31

A combination as set forth in claim 25, wherein: said biasing means is a multifinger spring clip having one finger for each set of contact tabs in registry.

Claim 32

Electrical apparatus, comprising: a first set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a first plane upon a first flexible substrate layer, said first set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a second set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a second plane upon a second substrate layer, said second set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said second substrate layer, said second set of tabs including tabs in registry with all of the tabs of said first set; spring biasing means for continuously urging said tabs in registry into electrically contacting engagement; a third set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a third plane upon said first substrate layer, said third set of contact tabs also being located adjacent said common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a fourth set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a fourth plane upon a third substrate layer, said third substrate layer being flexible, said fourth set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said third substrate layer, some of said fourth set of contact tabs being in registry with said third set of contact tabs and others of said fourth set of contact tabs being in registry with some of said second set of contact tabs; and electrically conductive jumper means in said fourth plane connecting said some of said fourth set of contact tabs to said others of said fourth set of contact tabs.

Claim 33

Electrical apparatus, comprising: a first set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a first plane upon a first flexible substrate layer, said first set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a second set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a second plane upon a second substrate layer, said second set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said second substrate layer, said second set of tabs including tabs in registry with all of the tabs of said first set; spring biasing means for continuously urging said tabs in registry into electrically contacting engagement; a third set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a third plane upon said first substrate layer, said third set of contact tabs also being located adjacent said common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a fourth set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a fourth plane upon a third substrate layer, said third substrate layer being flexible, said fourth set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said third substrate layer, some of said fourth set of contact tabs being in registry with said third set of contact tabs and others of said fourth set of contact tabs being in registry with some of said second set of contact tabs; and electrically conductive jumper means in said fourth plane connecting said some of said fourth set of contact tabs to said others of said fourth set of contact tabs.

Claim 34

Electrical apparatus, comprising: a first set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a first plane upon a first substrate layer, said first set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a second set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a second plane upon a flexible second substrate layer, said second set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said second substrate layer; a third set of electrically conducting contact tabs supported in a third plane upon a flexible third substrate layer, said third set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said third substrate layer, some of said third set of contact tabs being in registry with said second set of contact tabs and others of said third set of contact tabs being in registry with some of said first set of contact tAbs; and spring biasing means for continuously urging said tabs in registry into electrically contacting engagement.

Claim 35

Electrical apparatus, comprising: a first set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a first plane upon a first substrate layer, said first set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said first substrate layer; a second set of electrically conductive contact tabs supported in a second plane upon a flexible second substrate layer, said second set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said second substrate layer; a third set of electrically conducting contact tabs supported in a third plane upon a flexible third substrate layer, said third set of contact tabs being located adjacent a common peripheral edge of said third substrate layer, some of said third set of contact tabs being in registry with said second set of contact tabs and others of said third set of contact tabs being in registry with some of said first set of contact tAbs; and spring biasing means for continuously urging said tabs in registry into electrically contacting engagement.

Claim 36

Electrical apparatus as in claim 28, and further comprising: electrically conductive jumper means in said third plane connecting said some of said third set of contact tabs to said others of said third set of contact tabs.

Claim 37

Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein: all of said sets of contact tabs and said substrate layers are contained within a flexible outer casing, and said biasing means is an integral spring clip strip external to said casing and substantially coextensive with said common peripheral edges, said spring clip strip having a plurality of spring biasing fingers, the number of fingers being at least one for each group of electrically contacting tabs in registry.

Claim 38

Electrical apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein: all of said sets of contact tabs and said substrate layers are contained within a flexible outer casing, and said biasing means is an integral spring clip strip external to said casing and substantially coextensive with said common peripheral edges, said spring clip strip having a plurality of spring biasing fingers, the number of fingers being at least one for each group of electrically contacting tabs in registry.

Claim 39

Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein: said spring clip strip has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

Claim 40

Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein: said spring clip strip has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

Claim 41

A combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said spring clip has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

Claim 42

An electrical circuit device and interconnection therefor, comprising: a first electrically conductive contact tab supported in a first plane upon one side of a substrate layer, said substrate layer having an opposite side defining a second plane; a second electrically conductive contact tab supported in a third plane upon a flexible substrate layer, said flexible substrate layer having an opposite side defining a fourth plane; a third electrically conductive tab supported in said first plane upon said substrate layer supporting said first contact tab; a fourth electrically conductive contact tab supported in said third plane upon said flexible substrate layer supporting said second contact tab, said fourth contact tab being in registry with said first contact tab and said second contact tab being in registry with said third contact tab; an insulating member defining fifth and sixth planes, said insulating member being positioned between said substrate and said flexible substrate, said fifth plane confronting said first plane; biasing means for continuously urging said fourth contact tab into electrically contacting engagement with said first contact tab and urging said second contact tab in electrically contacting engagement with said third contact tab; and electrically conductive jumper means in said third plane connecting said fourth contact tab and said second contact tab.

Claim 43

An electrical circuit device and interconnection therefor, comprising: a first electrically conductive contact tab supported in a first plane upon one side of a substrate layer, said substrate layer having an opposite side defining a second plane; a second electrically conductive contact tab supported in a third plane upon a flexible substrate layer, said flexible substrate layer having an opposite side defining a fourth plane; a third electrically conductive tab supported in said first plane upon said substrate layer supporting said first contact tab; a fourth electrically conductive contact tab supported in said third plane upon said flexible substrate layer supporting said second contact tab, said fourth contact tab being in registry with said first contact tab and said second contact tab being in registry with said third contact tab; an insulating member defining fifth and sixth planes, said insulating member being positioned between said substrate and said flexible substrate, said fifth plane confronting said first plane; biasing means for continuously urging said fourth contact tab into electrically contacting engagement with said first contact tab and urging said second contact tab in electrically contacting engagement with said third contact tab; and electrically conductive jumper means in said third plane connecting said fourth contact tab and said second contact tab.

Claim 44

An electrical circuit device and interconnection therefor as set forth in claim 35, wherein: all of said contact tabs and substrate layers are contained within a flexible outer casing, said biasing means is a multifinger spring clip having one finger for each set of contact tabs in registry, and said multifinger spring clip is external to said casing.