Abstract:
A circuit board with circuit paths on the upper and/or lower surface, the conductive paths being adapted to provide a connection between the components located on the surfaces. Positioning elements for the components are provided at the circuit board or, alternatively, are formed in the circuit board. These positioning elements may be in the form of detents or ribs. In addition, an indentation may be provided either as the positioning element or in addition thereto to retain the component.
Abstract:
An electrical circuit package comprises a stamped and formed lead frame to which is molded a dielectric housing member which includes openings having exposed electrical contacts, the housing member providing support for the lead frame. Some of the exposed contacts in the openings serve to support electrical components in the openings and to make electrical contact therewith while other of the exposed contacts in the openings electrically engage the electrical components and maintain them in the openings. Further exposed contacts electrically engage another electrical component and the housing member and the further exposed contacts maintain the other electrical component in the housing member. An electrical switch is part of the lead frame. The method involves molding a dielectric housing member on the lead frame with exposed circuit path parts in openings either stamped into pairs before molding or severed into pairs after molding, and further forming ones of the pairs of exposed path parts into cantilever contact members while the others of the pairs define stationary contact members.
Abstract:
A miniature hearing aid (1) includes a microphone (12), a receiver (14) an amplifier (15), and a battery connectable via a contact (18), all of which are contained in a housing (2,3). The amplifier is constructed of a printed circuit board (20) and a plurality of components (21). In order to save space, the components (21) are countersunk in openings (24) in the circuit board (20) to reduce the vertical dimension of the amplifier. The openings (24) are used as temporary supports and for exact positioning for the components (21) by making them rectangular with cut off edges.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an arrangement for attaching discrete electrical components to a generally flat layer of sheet material. Both mechanical and electrical connections are provided by the attachment elements of the present invention. One form of the invention is directed to a membrane switch keyboard wherein one of the layers of the membrane switch has a tail extending therefrom. The tail has a free end which is adhesively secured to some portion of the keyboard. Conductive traces are formed on the tail and extend to the free end where they contact the leads of an electrical component. The component is held between the tail and the keyboard. In another aspect, which may be applied to the membrane switch keyboard just described, the invention includes a sheet material having two or more slits cut therein for each of the component's leads. The slits are cut in a portion of the sheet having conductive traces formed thereon. The leads of the component are then interlaced through the tabs created by the slits to both mechanically and electrically connect the component to the sheet.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an apertured circuit board having self-locking terminals which partially cover at least some of the apertures. The terminals, which are integral extensions of the circuit pathways, each include a pair of inwardly disposed generally L-shaped fingers. The terminals are adhesively anchored to the circuit board at the terminal peripheries and are covered in part by a dielectric overlay. The latter also provides environmental protection and electrical insulation to the circuit conductive pathways. The circuit board and integral sockets may be formed by photoimaging and chemical milling techniques.
Abstract:
A method of forming an electrical backplane comprising providing an initially oversized ground and potential plate, forming discontinuous slots in a staggered relationship near the edges of the top surface of one of the plates and the bottom surface of the other plates, laminating the plates together by filling the slots with insulative material and trimming the edge portions off by cutting through the filled slots and webs connecting the slots whereby exposed backplane edges lie opposite insulation in the slots of the plates.
Abstract:
A solderless electrical connector comprising a printed circuit board and electrical contact terminals mounted therein. A printed circuit board is fabricated to the construction stage wherein conductive circuitry interconnects plated through holes formed therethrough. The exposed circuitry and plated through holes are covered with a conformal coating of insulative material which seals the outer surfaces of the conductive materials from the environment and its effects. The insulative coating obviates the need for solder to protect the conductive materials as well as precludes the use of solder for electrical interconnection therewith. The plated through holes are constructed for press fit insertion of contact terminals in tight frictional engagement therein. The press fit insertion of a contact having an angular edge portion effectively penetrates the insulative coating by deforming it away from that portion of the plated through hole brought to bear against the contact. A mechanical and electrical interconnection is thereby provided between the plated through hole and contact terminal of the press fit assembly while the utilization of solder and the requisite heat thereof is effectively eliminated.
Abstract:
A method of mounting an elongate piezoelectric element on a laminated printed wiring board by forcing said element into the board at an angle normal to the surface of the board and at a point where the element can contact a conductor line on the board. Piezoelectric elements made of ferroelectric ceramic materials are suitable especially when mounted on a printed circuit board composed of copper-clad phenol formaldehyde laminated plastic.
Abstract:
A method of fabricating an electrical circuit - usually employing small electronic components - on a generally rigid electrically conductive panel. The panel has apertures through which insulating collars are inserted, the necessary wiring and components then being built up on the panel by inserting the wires through the collars. The wires through each collar respectively are then united into electrical connection by crimping of the collars.
Abstract:
A printed wiring card assembly in which electronic components can be plugged in to mechanically mount and electrically interconnect into the assembly, including a flexible printed wiring sheet held in resilient contact between a component positioner and ridges on a support base. The positioner includes slots and a guide ramp for guiding the component leads insertable between the positioner and conductive connecting portions on the printed wiring sheet. A layer of resilient material on the ridges urges the conductive connecting portions into resilient contact engagement with the component leads.