Patent ID: 6854982

Claim:
A cartridge and electrical connector of a transfer station, comprising: 1) an electrical connector compression element comprising: a plurality of individual protruding compression members; and a circuitized flexible substrate having a plurality of electrical contacts on a facing surface thereof, at least one of said with electrical contacts comprising at least one elongated contact, said substrate positioned on said elastomeric compression element such that a rear surface thereof is in contact with said protruding compression members, and with said at least one elongated contact registered with two adjacent said individual protruding compression members; and 2) a cartridge comprising: a data handling agent; a substrate having a plurality of electrical contacts on a substantially flat facing surface thereof, said plurality of electrical contacts arranged to match said electrical connector compression element electrical contacts when in a face-to-face relationship, at least one of said cartridge substrate plurality of electrical contacts comprising an elongated contact which is elongated in a pattern at least matching two adjacent said individual protruding compression members of said electrical connector compression element, said substantially flat substrate coupled to said data handling agent, said substantially flat substrate comprising: a substantially flat and stiff backing plate; and a flex cable mounted on said backing plate, and forming said substantially flat facing surface, said electrical contacts coupled to said data handling agent; and a cartridge shell supporting said data handling agent and said substantially flat substrate, said cartridge shell having at least one engagement surface engaged by a cartridge loader in said transfer station to register said cartridge electrical contacts in face-to-face relation with said electrical connector compression element electrical contacts, and exert a force on said cartridge normal to said facing surface of said electrical connector compression element causing said portable cartridge substrate to compress said compression element to create non-wiping contact between said electrical contacts of said portable cartridge substrate and said electrical connector compression element facing surface, and forming a releasable, repeatable electrical connection therebetween.