Importance

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Abstract

An electrical connector includes a flexible circuit substrate extending between a pair of mechanical connectors to electrically couple circuits, and a supporting member between the mechanical connectors to reduce twisting of the flexible circuit substrate. The supporting member cambered to permit the mechanical connectors to translate with respect to one another. A clamping member includes a tapered clamping surface in an undeformed, unclamped position. The clamping member bends when in a clamped position, resulting in approximately planar clamping surface. Resilient pressure pads on the clamping members bias the flexible circuit substrate to the circuit board. The pressure pads are mounted in wells in the clamping members to support a side wall of the pressure pads. Frames provide additional support to the side walls of the pressure pads. The pressure pads include a raised edge along a periphery of a contact surface of the pressure pad. Additionally, or alternatively, a support shoulder in the well cooperates with a recess along a periphery of a mounting surface of the pressure pad to support the side wall. Alignment structure on the frame cooperates with alignment structure on the clamping members, the printed circuit boards and the flexible circuit substrates to align contacts on the flexible circuit substrates with contacts on the printed circuit boards, and to further align the pressure pads with the contacts.

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First Claim