Abstract:
The assembly includes an electrically conductive interconnect and a housing attached to a pair of circuit boards or other type of electrical conductor structures. The interconnect is slidably positioned in a hole in the housing and protrudes from opposite ends of the hole in order to make electrical contact with termini of circuit board traces or other types of electrical conductors. The interconnect includes a pin which is partially inserted in a bore in the main body of the interconnect. The pin is biased against the main body to provide it with a desired degree of linear movement relative thereto and in a longitudinal direction relative thereto to ensure that it makes satisfactory contact with the termini so that the interconnect provides the desired electrical interconnection between the boards.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to structures for providing an electrical interconnection between electrical and electronic elements and systems and, more particularly, to such stuctures which provide a direct electrical interconnection between the electrical traces of printed circuit boards such as computer sound cards, mother boards and the like.  
           [0002]    The increasing complexity of computer systems in commercial and personal use and their ever increasing speed and capabilities has motivated many computer users to add, upgrade or substitute video and sound cards and the like in order to take advantage of such improved computer speed and capabilities. However, removing and especially installing such circuit boards in computers is frequently a daunting task even for experienced computer technicians. The task involves the risk of damage to the boards as well as improper or incomplete electrical connection between the boards. In addition, the microelectronic elements that some boards contain may be delicate so that improper handling of the circuit boards nay damage such elements. Conventional board connectors are typically designed so that there is a tight fit between the boards and connectors when they are interconnected. However, due to imprecise manufacturing tolerances of the boards and their interconnection structures, the fit is often excessively tight causing the installer to exert a high degree of force on the boards when attempting to push one onto another to make the desired electrical interconnection therebetween. In addition, an even higher degree of excessive force may be exerted thereon as a result of the installer&#39;s frustration in failing to make the proper connection. Such excessive force can easily result in cracking of the board resulting in dysfunction of the board rendering it useless. Moreover, such force can produce very fine hairline cracks in the board which can result in intermittent malfunction of the entire system. With such intermittent malfunctions, it can be very hard and time consuming to diagnose and track down the exact source of the difficulty. The user of the system may thus have to endure prolonged annoyance as well as prolonged damage to the business or personal matter in which the computer system is used and/or high repair costs.  
           [0003]    Oftentimes, the tight fit can result in the installer twisting the board or pushing or pulling the sides of the board in an attempt to properly position the board in the recess provided for the edge connection. This can produce bending, rubbing away or dislocation of the surfaces of the circuit termini of the boards resulting in no connection at certain points or crossconnection at certain points.  
           [0004]    Frequently, the board may be inadvertently tilted when the installer is attempting to push it into position. When in such a tilted orientation the high force of pushing it into position may bend, squish or otherwise damage the electrical contacts of the boards. Due to the exceedingly small size of these contacts and their proximity to each other, it may not be possible or practical to straighten out or otherwise repair them.  
           [0005]    Some types of circuit board interconnection methods use pins at an edge of one board which mate with sockets on the other board. The sockets may be flared at their openings to help direct the pins thereinto and compensate for misalignment between the pins and the sockets. However, this flaring can only compensate for a small degree of misalignment. If the pins are bent out of the range of compensable misalignment, attempted installation of the board onto the interconnection structure will commonly result in bending the pins further out of alignment and possibly breakage of the pins or other type of damage to the pins and/or sockets. As with the other conventional types of interconnection methods, the small size of the pins may render it impossible or impractical to straighten out the pins or otherwise repair the damage to the pins or the receptacles. Consequently, such damage done to such conventional interconnection structures may render what may be an expensive board irreparable, useless and worthless.  
           [0006]    Some prior art interconnectors for circuit boards provide an electrical interconnection without requiring a tight fit between the boards and connectors. An example of such a connector assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,927 to Scholz. The Scholz assembly has a connector contact which is fixedly attached to the connector and placed in a cavity thereof. The contact includes spring arms which deflect outwardly from each other and make contact, with circuit termini. However a primary disadvantage of the Scholz assembly is that it uses a fastener to fixedly attach the connector to the ciruit boards and this makes the connection more difficult and time consuming to make and may result in high stresses being placed on the circuit boards. In addition, the Scholz design is only applicable to circuit boards that are mounted edge to edge and oriented so that they are coplanar so that its applicability is consequently limited.  
           [0007]    Other prior art board connectors are designed to allow various types of boards to be interconnected. An example of such a connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,025 to Meng. The Meng connector is designed as an edge connector for electrically interfacing a computer daughterboard with a computer motherboard. The Meng assembly is specifically designed for PCI boards and has a switch key which identifies the type of daughterboard and directs the required operational voltage thereto. The Meng assembly is particularly adapted for boards which are oriented so that they are perpendicular to each other. In addition, the Meng assembly uses pin and socket connectors for the boards which may require very high force in installation and removal of boards from such a connector assembly. Thus, the Meng design does not alleviate the risk of damage to the boards due to installation and removal from such connectors.  
           [0008]    An improved interconnection means is thus needed that can provide a proper electrical interconnection between conductors without necessitating a high degree of force in electrically connecting and disconnecting the conductors to and from each other to minimize the likelihood of improper electrical connection as well as the likelihood of damage to the conductors and structures associated therewith. What is also needed is such an interconnection means that can be used through many cycles of electrical connection and disconnection while still maintaining the desired firm and positive electrical interconnection.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can provide a positive electrical connection between two or more electrical conductors using minimal engagement force.  
           [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can provide a positive electrical connection between two conductors that are oriented relative to each other so as to form an acute angle between the conductors&#39; substrates.  
           [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can provide a positive electrical connection between two conductors that are oriented so that their substrates are perpendicular to each other.  
           [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can provide a positive electrical connection between two conductors that are positioned end to end and oriented so that their substrates are in alignment with each other.  
           [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnection between conductors mounted on substrates that does not require a socket connector.  
           [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can provide a positive electrical connection between two conductors after repeated cycles of engagement and disengagement of the conductors with the assembly.  
           [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can provide a positive electrical connection between two conductors within a range of separation distances between the two.  
           [0016]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that can withstand the stresses and forces of attempted engagement when the conductors are misaligned.  
           [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that does not require a precise fit between the electrical conductors and the assembly.  
           [0018]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that does not require a tight fit between the electrical conductors and the assembly in order to maintain a proper electrical connection therebetween.  
           [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that allows fast and easy connection of electrical conductors thereto.  
           [0020]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an interconnect assembly that allows electrical conductors to be connected thereto without undue risk of damage to thereto.  
           [0021]    Essentially, the interconnect assembly of the present invention facilitates the connection and disconnection of electrical conductors to and from each other. Since circuit boards and other types of structures having electrical conductors commonly are designed for electrical connection to other circuit boards and other electronic subsystems and for interchangeability or replacement within the system, the ability to quickly and easily plug such circuit boards and electronic components into the system and remove them therefrom is very desirable. However, since it is also required that such components make a firm and positive electrical connection to the system, conventional thinking has been that tight connections ensure such firm and positive electrical connections and thereby ensure that the system functions properly as a result. Conventional thinking has also been that if the electrical connections are not tight the connections will quickly loosen up to the point that the connections will no longer make positive electrical contact. Thus, prior art methods have the circuit termini located at the large planar outer surfaces of the boards making the mechanical and electrical direct connection with the circuit board connector, and this includes a tight fit therebetween. But, such tight connections tend to make the connection and disconnection process more time consuming as well as increase the likelihood that damage to the microelectronic elements or other system components at the site of the connections will eventually ensue due to the often excessive degree of force needed to make the connection and disconnection. But, the assembly of the present invention obviates these shortcomings by providing an interconnection without a tight fit between the conductor structures. The assembly of the invention electrically connects the conductors together via the circuit termini located at the relatively narrow edge faces of one or both of the circuit boards, and this does not utilize a tight fit between the boards and the assembly. Indeed, the boards may even be somewhat loosely fitted to the assembly yet still have a firm and positive electrical connection therebetween. Thus, there is low insertion force involved in installing the board in the assembly. Providing the desired interconnection without a tight fit also eliminates the high force otherwise required for connection and disconnection thereby minimizing the likelihood that damage to the electrical conductors or structures associated therewith will result from connection and disconnection of the conductors. The unique structures of the present invention instead enable both quick and easy connection and disconnection and additionally provide a firm and positive electrical connection. The unique structures of the invention also enable the connection and disconnection to be made without undue force being exerted thereon resulting in minimal stress being placed on the electrical conductors and their associated structures thereby minimizing the likelihood that they will be bent, cracked or otherwise damaged from the process of connection and/or disconnection. Moreover, since the conductors and associated structures are not subjected to undue stress, there is very little wear and tear that results from the process of connection and disconnection. Since there is very little pressure exerted on the conductors or their associated structures and also very little wear and tear thereon that would otherwise produce undesirable structural changes thereto, these very desirable attributes persist even after repeated cycles of connection and disconnection.  
           [0022]    The assembly of the invention also includes a housing to which the electrical conductors are attached. The electrical conductors may, for example, be in the form of traces on a computer card which are to be connected to a computer motherboard. The computer card may have an edge connector structure which is insertable in the housing yet manually withdrawn therefrom. The housing is permanently and securely attached to the motherboard but, in one embodiment, is permanently and securely attached to the daughterboard. Since there is minimal force required for the attachment and detachment of the board to and from the housing, the housing may be positioned at any desired location on the motherboard since there is no need to ensure that the motherboard location can withstand the stresses and strains of attachment and detachment as would be required with prior art designs. Moreover, the housing may be structured so that the computer card can be oriented at any desired angle relative to the motherboard instead of just the conventional orientation of perpendicular to the motherboard. This is particularly advantageous in computer system designs where space is limited or access to the computer components is limited.  
           [0023]    The assembly accomplishes these by using an interconnect structure which is linearly movable in a housing to provide a positive electrical interconnection between electrical conductors. The housing has an aperture which is open at opposite ends and in which the interconnect is positioned and dimensioned so that it protrudes therefrom. The interconnect includes a pin which is mounted within a bore in the main body of the interconnect yet protrudes from an end thereof. Thus, this enables the pin to extend outwardly from one end of the aperture and the other end of the interconnect main body to extend from the other end of the aperture. This results in the interconnect making a firm and positive electrical contact at both of its opposite ends with electrical conductors which are mounted in or on the housing and positioned so that they are in physical contact with both opposite ends of the interconnect.  
           [0024]    The pin is electrically connected to the interconnect main body and the interconnect is composed of an electrically conducting material. The interconnect is thus an electrically conducting structure and therefore able to conduct an electrical current therethrough. When the electrical conductors are positioned against and in contact with the interconnect it provides an electrical interconnection therebetween.  
           [0025]    Since circuit board edge portions as well as many other types of electrical conductor structures may not be made with a high degree of precision resulting in the components perfectly fitting together via their interconnectors, the assembly of the present invention has unique structures which allow it to compensate for such imprecision when the conductors are connected together. Thus, board to board variations in the thickness thereof do not compromise the invention&#39;s ability to provide a firm and positive electrical interconnection between the boards. The interconnect accomplishes this by slidably mounting the pin within the bore in the main body of the interconnect and biasing the pin against the main body. The slidable feature in combination with the biasing of the pin enable the interconnect to make the desired electrical contact within an entire range of separation distances between the conductors when the conductors are mounted in or on the housing. Thus, even components which would otherwise poorly fit together may be electrically interconnected with the unique assembly of the present invention. In addition, biasing of the pin and slidably mounting of the interconnect main body in the housing provides a combination of structures that can perform their desired interconnection function without undue stresses and strains thereon so that there is no appreciable wear and distortion of the structures resulting from connection and disconnection. This enables the interconnect assembly to be used for many cycles of connection and disconnection without any adverse affect on the electrical connection provided. This feature is particularly advantageous in computer systems which may require substitution or upgrade of video cards, peripherals, etc. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the electrical interconnection assembly of the present invention shown interconnecting a motherboard and a daughterboard showing the boards oriented so that they are perpendicular to each other and showing the assembly detachably connected to the daughterboard.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the interconnection assembly of the first embodiment also showing the two circuit boards thereof and taken along lines  2 - 2  of FIG. 1.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the assembly of the first embodiment also showing the two boards thereof.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a top view of the assembly of the first embodiment.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 a  is a side view of the interconnect of the assembly of the first embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 b  is a side longitudinal sectional view of the interconnect of the assembly of the first embodiment.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the electrical interconnection assembly of the present invention shown interconnecting a motherboard and a daughterboard showing the boards oriented so that they are perpendicular to each other and showing the assembly detachably connected to the motherboard.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the interconnection assembly of the second embodiment also showing the two circuit boards thereof and taken along lines  7 - 7  of FIG. 6.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the assembly of the second embodiment also showing the two boards thereof.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 is a top view of the assembly of the second embodiment.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 a  is a side view of the interconnect of the assembly of the second embodiment.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10 b  is a side longitudinal sectional view of the interconnect of the assembly of the second embodiment.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the interconnection assembly of the present invention shown interconnecting two circuit boards at end portions thereof so that the boards are in mutual alignment.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the interconnection assembly of the third embodiment also showing the two circuit boards thereof and taken along lines  12 - 12  of FIG. 11.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the assembly of the third embodiment also showing the two boards thereof.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 14 is a top view of the assembly of the third embodiment.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 15 a  is a side view of the interconnect of the assembly of the third embodiment.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 15 b  is a side longitudinal sectional view of the interconnect of the third embodiment.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the interconnection assembly of the present invention shown interconnecting two circuit boards showing the boards oriented so that they form an acute angle with each other.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the interconnection assembly of the fourth embodiment also showing the two circuit boards thereof.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 18 is an exploded view of the assembly of the fourth embodiment also showing the boards thereof.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 19 is a top view of the assembly of the fourth embodiment.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 20 a  is a side view of the interconnect of the assembly of the fourth embodiment.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 20 b  is a side longitudinal sectional view of the interconnect of the assembly of the fourth embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0050]    Referring now to the drawings, the first embodiment of the invention is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The assembly  10  includes an interconnect  12  mounted in a housing  14 . In an exemplary application, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the assembly  10  with a daughterboard or computer card  16  and a computer motherboard  18  attached thereto. The boards  16  and  18  are conventional circuit boards having electrical conductors in the form of traces  20  and  22  and having microelectronic devices mounted on a substrate  24 . However, the assembly  10  of the invention may also be utilized to interconnect other types of circuit boards as well as other types of electronic or electrical components. The computer card  16  is inserted into a recess  26  for physical connection to the housing  14  which is preferably elongate to accomodate the typical shape of such circuit boards. A guide  28  is preferably also included for insertion into a corresponding hole  30  in a guide block  32  which is attached to the housing  14  at sides thereof for guiding the card  16  into the housing  14  to ensure that the card  16  is properly positioned in the housing  14 . The card  16  may be manually withdrawn from the housing  14 . Optionally, a latch structure or retainer structure (not shown) may be provided to retain the card  16  in the desired position in the assembly housing  14 .  
         [0051]    The housing  14  is preferably securely attached to the motherboard  18 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing is attached to the motherboard  18  and the recess  20  is structured so that the card  16  is normal to the motherboard  18 . The card  16  and motherboard  18  are preferably both conventional planar circuit boards. The card  16  thus may be manually connected and disconnected to and from the housing  14  whereas the motherboard is fixed to the housing  14 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 2 shows an aperture  34  which is vertically oriented so that it extemds in the direction of the motherboard  18  when the housing  14  is attached thereto. The aperture  34  receives the interconnect  12  therein. The aperture  34  is preferably circular in cross-section, and the interconnect  12  is also preferably circular in cross-section. The aperture  34  and the interconnect  12  are preferably laterally dimensioned so that there is a snug fit between the interconnect  12  and the aperture  34 . This snug fit allow the interconnect  12  to be freely slidably movable in a vertical direction when positioned in the aperture  34  while preventing cocking therein. The aperture  34  preferably is open at opposite ends  36  thereof. The interconnect  12  is dimensioned so that its length is slightly longer than the vertical length of the aperture  34 . This dimensioning in combination with the openings  38  allows the interconnect  12  to protrude from the aperture  34 . This allows the interconnect  12  to be in electrical contact with the traces  20  and  22  of the card  16  and motherboard  18  when they are attached to the housing  14  thereby performing its desired function of electrically interconnecting the electrical conductors  20  and  22  of the card  16  and motherboard  18 .  
         [0053]    As shown in detail in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , the interconnect  12  includes an interconnect main body or shaft  44  and a pin  46 . Both the shaft  44  and the pin  46  are preferably cylindrically shaped. The interconnect main body has inner end wall  50  and inner lateral walls  52  which define a bore  48  which receives the pin  46 . The bore  48  is preferably circular in cross-section. The pin  46  is preferably slidably mounted in the bore  48  so that it can move in the bore  48  and along the lateral walls  52  in the longitudinal direction of the main body  44  i.e., the pin  46  is able to move axially from and into the bore  48 . The bore  48  and the pin  46  are preferably laterally dimensioned so that there is a snug fit between the bore  48  and the pin  46 . This snug fit allows the pin  46  to be freely slidably movable in a vertical direction when positioned in the bore  48  while preventing cocking of the pin  46  in the bore  48 . The pin  46  is also preferably biased relative to the main body  44  by means of a spring  54  mounted within the bore  48  and positioned between the end wall  50  and an inner face  56  of the pin  46 . The spring  54  exerts a force on the pin  46  and main body  44  which tends to separate the end wall  50  and face  56  thereby acting to extend the pin  46  from the open end  58  of the bore  48  so that it protrudes therefrom. Thus, the biasing of the pin  46  makes it move outwardly from the aperture  32  until it is fully extended or until it comes into physical contact with the desired trace  20  or  22  so that it essentially functions as a plunger. Thus, it is specifically the pin  46 , as a component part of the interconnect  12 , which comes into direct and physical contact with the desired trace  20  or  22 .  
         [0054]    The interconnect  12  is preferably oriented so that the pin  46  comes into contact with the trace  20  of the card  16  while the base  48  comes into contact with the trace  22  of the motherboard  18 , as shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, however, the interconnect pin  46  comes directly into contact with the circuit termini  40  of the card  16 , and the base  60  comes directly into contact with the circuit termini  42  of the motherboard  18 .  
         [0055]    The interconnect  12  is composed of an electrically conducting material so that it can allow the transmission of an electrical current therethrough and thereby also enable transmission of an electrical current between the card  16  and motherboard  18 . Preferably, the spring  54  is also composed of an electrically conducting material and is electrically connected, preferably at ends thereof, to the pin  46  and the interconnect main body  44  to allow transmission of an electrical current between the pin  46  and main body  44 . Specifically, at least the base  60  of the main body  44  and at least the outer face  62  of the pin  46  are composed of an electrically conducting material since these are the component portions that come into direct physical contact with the traces  20  and  22  and thereby form the desired electrical interconnection. The outer surface  64  of the base  60  and the outer face  62  are flat. Preferably, for simplicity of construction, the entire main body  44  and pin  46  are composed of an electrically conducting material. But rather than rely on the sliding physical contact therebetween for electrical interconnection which would be likely to produce arcing, the spring connection between the pin  46  and the main body  44  preferably provides the desired electrical connection.  
         [0056]    The housing  14  is preferably composed of an insulating material. This dielectric construction of the housing  14  prevents any undesired electrical current transmission between the interconnect  12  and housing  14  which might otherwise result in undesired electrical transmission to other traces of the components or other parts of the components.  
         [0057]    As shown in FIG. 4, the aperture  34  is preferably a plurality of apertures  34 . The apertures  34  are preferably configured so that they form a single row  66 . However, configurations other than a single row  66  may also be utilized, if desired.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIGS. 6 through 10 depict a second embodiment of the invention generally designated by the numeral  110 . Embodiment  110  is basically the same as embodiment  10  in that the assembly  110  includes an interconnect  112  and a housing  114  having a circular aperture  134  (preferably a row  166  of apertures  132 ) for receiving the interconnect  112  therein. As with embodiment  10 , assembly  110  is also used for interconnecting a pair of circuit boards which are of conventional design in that they have conductive paths  120  and  122  cladded to the substrate  124  and may have various electronic components (not shwon) connected with the conductive paths  120  and  122 . As with embodiment  10 , the aperture has open ends  136  and the interconnect  112  is longer than the aperture  134  so that the interconnect protrudes from the aperture  134 .  
         [0059]    The interconnect  112  also has a main body  144  with a bore  148  which receives a pin  146  therein. The pin  146  slides in the bore  148  along the inner lateral walls  152  of the interconnect  112 . A biasing means preferably in the form of a spring  154  is physically connected to the inner end wall  150  of the interconnect  112  and the inner face  56  of the pin  146  for electrically connecting the pin  146  and main body  144  together. The interconnect  112  is preferably composed of an electrically conducting material whereas the housing  114  is preferably composed of a dielectric material to prevent undesired electrical interconnection therebetween. The pin  146  is preferably rod shaped i.e., circular in cross-section, and the main body  144  is preferably cylindrical i.e., circular in cross-section.  
         [0060]    The interconnect  112  also has at its pin  146  portion an outer face  162  which is flat. The interconnect  112  also has at its base  160  portion an outer surface  164  which is flat.  
         [0061]    The housing  114  is preferably attached to a motherboard  118 . The housing  114  preferably has a recess  126  for receiving a computer card  116  therein and enabling the card  116  to be attached to the housing  114 .  
         [0062]    The embodiment  110  is different from embodiment  10  in that whereas assembly  10  uses a guide  28  for insertion in the guide hole  30  of guide block  32  attached to the housing  14  assembly  110  uses a guide bracket  168  mounted on the motherboard  118  for positioning the assembly  110  on the motherboard. Thus, in embodiment  110 , assembly is detachably mounted on the motherboard  118  and fixedly attached to the daughterboard  116 . In addition, the interconnect  112  is in an inverted position such that the pin  146  thereof contacts the traces  120  and, more specifically, the circuit termini  140  of the daughterboard  116  and the base  160  contacts the traces  122  and, more specifically, the circuit termini  142  of the motherboard. In contrast, the interconnect pin  46  of embodiment  10  contacts traces  22  (termini  42 ) of the motherboard and the base  60  contacts traces  20  (termini  40 ) when the assembly  10  is attached to the boards  16  and  18 .  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 11 through 15 depict a third embodiment of the invention generally designated by the numeral  210 . Embodiment  210  is basically the same as embodiments  10  and  110  in that the assembly  210  includes an interconnect  212  and a housing  214  having a circular aperture  234  (preferably a row  266  of apertures  234 ) for receiving the interconnect  212  therein. In addition, the aperture has open ends  236  and the interconnect  212  is longer than the aperture  234  so that the interconnect protrudes from the aperture  234 , as with embodiments  10  and  110 .  
         [0064]    The interconnect  212  also has a main body  244  with a bore  248  which receives a pin  246  therein. The pin  246  slides in the bore  248  along the inner lateral walls  252  of the interconnect  212 . A biasing means preferably in the form of a spring  254  is physically connected to the inner end wall  250  of the interconnect  212  and the inner face  256  of the pin  246  for electrically connecting the pin  246  and main body  244  together. The interconnect  212  is preferably composed of an electrically conducting material whereas the housing  214  is preferably composed of a dielectric material to prevent undesired electrical interconnection therebetween (specifically between lateral outer walls of the interconnect  212  and the housing  214 ). The pin  246  is preferably rod shaped i.e., circular in cross-section, and the main body  244  is preferably cylindrical i.e., circular in cross-section.  
         [0065]    The housing  214  is preferably fixedly attached to a motherboard  218 . But, the housing  214  preferably has a recess  226  for receiving a computer card  216  therein and enabling the card  216  to be detachably attached to the housing  214 .  
         [0066]    The embodiment  210  is different from embodiments  10  and  110  in that whereas assembly  10  is structured so that the card  16  is oriented so that it is perpendicular to the motherboard  18  when they are mounted on or against the housing  14  assembly  210  is structured so that the card  216  is oriented so that it forms an acute angle with the motherboard  218  when they are mounted on or against the housing  214 . The embodiment  210  is also different from embodiments  10  and  110  in the shapes of the outer face  262  of the pin  246  and the outer surface  264  of the base  260 . The shape of the outer face  262  and the shape of the outer surface  264  are outwardly curved and more specifically convex. In contrast, the shapes of the outer face  62  (and  162 ) of the pin  46  (and  146 ) and outer surface  64  (and  164 ) of the base  60  (and  160 ) are flat. The convex shape enables a firm and positive electrical connection to be made even when the card  216  and motherboard  218  are not in exact alignment. In addition, the convex shape enables a firm and positive electrical connection to be made even when the traces  220  and  222  or, more specifically, the circuit termini  240  and  242  which are to be interconnected are not parallel to each other or in another manner not matched up for optimal interconnection.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIGS. 16 through 20 depict a fourth embodiment of the invention generally designated by the numeral  310 . Embodiment  310  is basically the same as embodiments  10 ,  110  and  210  in that the assembly  310  includes an interconnect  312  and a housing  314  having an aperture  332  (preferably a row  366  of apertures  334 ) for receiving the interconnect  312  therein. In addition, the aperture  334  has open ends  336  and the interconnect  312  is longer than the aperture  334  so that the interconnect protrudes from the aperture  334 , as in embodiments  10 ,  110  amd  210 .  
         [0068]    The interconnect  312  also has a main body  344  with a bore  348  which receives a pin  346  therein. The pin  346  slides in the bore  348  along the inner lateral walls  352  of the interconnect  312 . A biasing means preferably in the form of a spring  354  is physically connected to the inner end wall  350  of the interconnect  312  and the inner face  356  of the pin  346  for electrically connecting the pin  346  and main body  344  together. The interconnect  312  is preferably composed of an electrically conducting material whereas the housing  314  is preferably composed of a dielectric material to prevent undesired electrical interconnection therebetween. The pin  346  is preferably block or box shaped i.e., square in cross-section, and the main body  344  is preferably square in cross-section.  
         [0069]    The housing  314  is preferably fixedly attached to a motherboard  318 . But, the housing  314  preferably has a recess  326  for receiving a computer card  316  therein and enabling the card  316  to be detachably attached to the housing  314 .  
         [0070]    The embodiment  310  is different from embodiments  10 ,  110  and  210  in that whereas assembly  10  (and  110 ) is structured so that the card  16  (and  116 ) is oriented so that it is perpendicular to the motherboard  18  (and  118 ) when they are mounted on or against the housing  14  (and  114 ) and assembly  210  is structured so that the card is oriented so that it is at an acute angle relate to the motherboard assembly  310  is oriented so that it in alignment with the motherboard  318  and positioned end to end with the motherboard  318  when they are mounted on or against the housing  314 . The embodiment  310  is also different from embodiments  10 ,  110  and  210  in the shapes of the outer face  362  of the pin  346  and the outer surface  364  of the base  360 . The shape of the outer face  362  and the shape of the outer surface  364  are outwardly curved and more specifically form an arc in cross-section i.e., form a longitudinal section of a cylinder. In contrast, the shapes of the outer face  62  (and  162 ) of the pin  46  (and  146 ) and outer surface  64  (and  164 ) of the base  60  (and  160 ) are flat and the shape of the outer face  162  (and  162 ) and the shape of the outer surface  264  are convex. The curved shape enables a firm and positive electrical connection to be made when the traces  320  and  322  or the circuit termini  340  and  342  which are to be interconnected are at an angle relative to each other. Indeed, the firm and positive electrical connection may be made when these components to be interconnected are at any acute angle relative to each other. Thus, the curved shape allows the desired electrical connection to be made within a wide range of angular orientations of the boards  316  and  318  relative to each other.  
         [0071]    The length of the apertures  34 ,  134 ,  234  and  334  is preferably in the range of two to four and one-half millimeters and is a little longer than the length of the interconnect main body  44 ,  144 ,  244  and  344 . The length of the pin  46 ,  146 ,  246  and  346  is preferably in the range of one-half to one millimeter. The travel of the pin  46 ,  146 ,  246  and  346  relative to the bore  48 ,  148 ,  248  and  348  is preferably one-eighth to one millimeter. The travel is preferably three-quarters of the length of the pin  46 ,  146 ,  246  and  346 . The length of the interconnect  12 ,  112 ,  212  and  312  when it is fully compressed i.e., when at it minimal total length is in the range of two and one-eighth to four and five-eighths millimeters or slightly more than the length of the apertures  34 ,  134 ,  234  and  334 .  
         [0072]    Accordingly, there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, an assembly which provides a firm and positive electrical interconnection between electrical conductors within a wide range of relative orientations of the conductors which are interconnected and thus fully satisfies the objectives set forth above. It is to be understood that all terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting. Although the invention has been specifically described with regard to the specific embodiments set forth herein, many alternative embodiments, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure set forth herein. Accordingly, it is intended to include all such alternatives, embodiments, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims hereinbelow.