Patent ID: 7726984

Claim:
Apparatus to electrically connect a first electrical contact to a second electrical contact, comprising: opposed upper and lower elastomer layers formed on either side of an intermediate layer together forming a laminate interposer structure having a thickness; an electrically conducting elastic column to provide a localized conductive path through the thickness of the laminate interposer structure; the upper and lower elastomer layers to provide compliance between the upper and lower elastomer layers and the elastic column; the intermediate layer to provide inhibited compliance between the intermediate layer and the elastic column relative to the compliance between the upper and lower elastomer layers and the elastic column; the intermediate layer comprises a sheet of material substantially rigid along a plane substantially perpendicular relative to the elastic column; the elastic column has an elongate shape disposed along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular relative to the laminate interposer structure, including the plane; and the sheet is formed with an inwardly-directed continuous edge confronting and encircling an intermediate portion of the elastic column between the opposed upper and lower ends of the elastic column.