Conductive elastomeric contact system with anti-overstress columns

n/a A connector for board-to-board and board to device interconnect applications includes a plurality of conductive elastomeric columnar contacts surrounded by respective insulative support columns. The elastomeric columnar contacts extend through holes in an insulative subtrate. The insulative support columns have opposing end surfaces disposed on opposite sides of a substrate and end surfaces of the columnar contacts are located at a distance from the substrate slightly greater than the distance between the substrate and the support column end surfaces. Insulative intermediate columns serve a mechanical stops that resist further compression of the elastomeric contacts and the support columns when the connector is subjected to excessive axial compressive forces. The intermediate columns have opposing end surfaces on opposing sides of the substrate that are spaced from the substrate a distance less than the support column end surfaces.