The previous installment explained that Alps Alpine's spring contacts are electrical contacts with spring characteristics that enable board-to-board connection without using connectors and a cable, which is the conventional method. Here we look at features of Alps Alpine spring contacts that other companies' products do not have, such as a floating structure.

Floating Structure with Double-Spiral Contact

Alps Alpine's spring contacts are formed out of two spirals giving them spring characteristics that allow them to "float" and stay connected to the opposing contact pad even when vibrations or impacts are applied, thereby preventing momentary disconnection.
The point of contact does not shift either, meaning the contact part of the spring contact does not run up onto any film or corrosion that may have formed, enabling a stable connection.

Examination of Contact Reliability

These are the results of an H2S gas test (3ppm, 48 hours) and a drop test (170cm) with the spring contacts mated to a contact board.

Compact, Easy-to-Use Square Shape

Alps Alpine's spring contacts are compact with around half the projected area of other companies' contacts, and the easy-to-use square shape improves layout flexibility, for example allowing use of a single contact or multiple contacts and arrays.