Elastomeric connector interconnecting flexible circuits and circuit board and method of manufacturing the same

A connector assembly is provided that includes a rigid circuit board, a connector base, an elastomeric member, a flex circuit and a cover. The connector assembly is compressively sandwiched together. The cover of the assembly provides the compressive force to ensure that a conductive path is established between conductive pads on the rigid circuit board and conductive pads on the flex circuit. The connector assembly may be manufactured entirely through a Z-axis assembly process. That is, each component of the system may be positioned on top of an adjacent component. A method of manufacturing a connector assembly is provided comprising the step of orienting a first circuit having conductive pads at a connector assembly position within a first plane. The method also includes the steps of conveying a connector base along a mounting axis perpendicular to the first plane to a surface mounted position on a first side of the first circuit and conveying an elastomeric member along the mounting axis to a cavity formed in the base in order that a first conductive interface of the elastomeric member electrically engages the first circuit. The method also includes the step of securing a second circuit to the connector base such that the second circuit is in electrical contact with a second conductive interface of the elastomeric member.