The main purpose of this paper was to focus on the cartridge connection aspects of a video game. In doing so, a rotating connector was described which required a flat cable connection as part of the overall system. (See Figure 5). For completeness, and because of its unique technology, a brief description of this interconnection technique is also offered.
THE FLAT CABLE CONNECTION
In "The Successful Utilization of Dry Circuit Base Metal Contacts" by Garte and Diehl, a low cost GTH contact with tin-alloy plating is described. This high pressure contact uses a sharp edge, much like that on a wire wrap post, to penetrate oxide films on a solder plated p.c. board. (See Figure 13). The penetrating topography creates a gas tight joint which is impervious to ingress by corrosive gases in the atmosphere.
In place of a p.c. board, the Burndy cartridge connector uses flat cable to mate with GTH contacts. The cable is inserted through a slotted section in the housing to provide strain relief. It is then plugged into the connector as a p.c. board is inserted in an edge connector. The other end of the cable is installed into FLEXLOK™ connectors having similar GTH contacts in the same manner.
Although most GTH connector designs use a non-wiping mating action to increase the number of permissible mating cycles, the largest number of GTH contacts are found in I.C. socket receptacles. These require only a few mating cycles and use a wiping action like the flat cable connection used in the FLEXLOK™ and cartridge connectors.
A simple test designed for use in determining the gas tightness of tin-alloy plated contacts was used to evaluate the flat cable connections. It consisted of a one hour exposure to nitric acid fumes followed by 15 minutes exposure to ammonium sulfide fumes. The results in Figure 14 show that the contact interface was not attacked by these corrosive agents and that the joints are gas tight.
In addition to extensive product testing in the laboratory, the reliability of GTH contacts has been established by the successful use of over a billion contacts in service during the last four years.
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