Patent ID: 7517230

Claim:
An electrical contact assembly, comprising: a first module having a first set of electrical contacts; a second module having a first side with a second set of electrical contacts and a second side opposite the first side, the second set of electrical contacts being aligned with the first set of electrical contacts; a shape generating module arranged to impart a desired shape to the second side of the second module for urging the second set of electrical contacts toward the first set of electrical contacts, the shape generating module being comprised of a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer and a shape producing layer disposed between the first and second insulating layers, the shape producing layer producing the desired shape upon application of a heat treatment; and a clamping arrangement arranged to clamp the first module, the second module and the shape generating modules together, wherein the clamped assembly of the first module, the second module and the shaping module results in a positive contact force between the first and second sets of electrical contacts that is substantially uniform across the sets of electrical contacts, wherein the clamping arrangement includes a stiffening surface arranged such that the shape generating module is disposed between the stiffening surface and the second module, and wherein the stiffening surface urges the shaping module against the second module when the first module, the second module and the shaping module are clamped by the clamping arrangement.