Electrical interface system
Inventors
Wolber, Patrick • Bar-Or, Tal • Wingeier, Brett • Shain, Ian • Davis, Colin • Hammett, Victoria
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11039775-B2
Publication Date
2021-06-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for providing an electrical interface between a transducer and a transducer support device, the system comprising: a body mounted to the transducer support device, the body comprising an interface-to-transducer coupling region; a interface-to-electronics subsystem coupling region coupled to the body and contiguous with the interface-to-transducer coupling region, the system defining a fluid sealing region surrounding at least one of the interface-to-transducer and the interface-to-electronics subsystem coupling region; the system comprising an operation mode defining a sealed electrical pathway between the transducer and the transducer support device, wherein: the fluid sealing region is coupled to a complementary transducer sealing region, and the elastically deformable coupling region is biased against an electrical contact of the transducer with the fluid sealing region preventing fluid from reaching the electrical contact of the transducer.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides an electrical interface system for electrically coupling a transducer and a transducer support device. A body is mounted to the transducer support device and defines an electrical coupling region comprising a set of contacts that each comprise a conductive polymer, and a set of protrusions coupled to the transducer, wherein each protrusion comprises a second conductive polymer.
An operation mode defines a sealed electrical pathway between the body and the transducer support device. The set of protrusions is biased against the set of contacts of the electrical coupling region, and the transducer is coupled with the transducer support device in a press fit configuration that forms the sealed electrical pathway.
Example embodiments describe conductive polymer and sealing structures using an elastically deformable coupling region and a fluid sealing region that mates with complementary sealing features on the transducer/support device. The disclosure includes conductive/insulating elastomer embodiments and sealing geometries such as ridge-based sealing volumes and concave/annular recesses with mating snap-fit or press-fit protrusions, including configurations that place sealing features around an electrical contact path.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. The independent claims cover electrical coupling between a transducer and a transducer support device using conductive polymer contacts and conductive polymer protrusions, with an operation mode defining a sealed electrical pathway by biased contact; one independent claim also requires a press fit configuration that forms the sealed electrical pathway.
Conductive polymer contacts and conductive polymer protrusions for sealed electrical coupling
The system includes an electrical interface with a body defining an electrical coupling region comprising a set of contacts, wherein each contact comprises a conductive polymer, and a set of protrusions coupled to the transducer, wherein each protrusion comprises a second conductive polymer.
Biased protrusions forming a sealed electrical pathway
An operation mode defines a sealed electrical pathway between the body and the transducer support device, wherein the set of protrusions is biased against the set of contacts of the electrical coupling region.
Press fit configuration forming the sealed electrical pathway
The transducer is coupled with the transducer support device in a press fit configuration, wherein the press fit configuration forms the sealed electrical pathway.
Conductive polymer region and conductive polymer protrusion biased to define sealed electrical pathway
A system for providing an electrical interface includes an electrical coupling region mounted to the transducer support device comprising a conductive polymer region, and a conductive polymer protrusion coupled to the transducer, wherein an operation mode defines a sealed electrical pathway between the body and the transducer support device and the protrusion is biased against the conductive polymer region.
Overall, the independent claims define electrical coupling using conductive polymer contacts and conductive polymer protrusions, establish an operation mode with a sealed electrical pathway formed by biased contact, and for one independent claim require a press fit configuration that forms the sealed electrical pathway.
Stated Advantages
Mitigates corrosion of corrosion-prone electrical contacts.
Prevents electrolyte fluid ingress to electrical contacts.
Mitigates undesired electrical bridging between contacts.
Documented Applications
An electrical interface system for bioelectrical transducers/electrodes, where the sealed electrical pathway mitigates corrosion and undesired electrical bridging caused by electrolyte fluid ingress.
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