Abstract:
A unitary flexible substrate has three planar areas with components and conductors carried thereon. The substrate is folded to provide a subassembly with a compact packaging factor such that each planar area is in a different parallel plane. Two conductor-carrying projections of the substrate extend from different end portions of the substrate to free distal ends of the projections which are positioned adjacent to each other. The projection conductors, at the projection distal ends, are soldered to each other to provide a more direct, low resistance electrical connection between conductors on the substrate end portions. Heat sink rigidizer plates are attached to each of the three planar substrate portions. One rigidizer plate is thermally and planarly coupled to a metal heat sink cover of a protective housing for the folded subassembly. The other rigidizer plates are planarly bonded to each other to form a unitary support structure for two of the planar substrate portions.
Abstract:
A circuit carrying substrate (108) accommodates circuit components (102) with different coefficients of expansion and contraction from that of the circuit carrying substrate (108). Beneath the components (102) a plurality of slots (104) are formed so as to minimize the effects of the differing coefficients of expansion and contraction.
Abstract:
A method for mounting electronic components, such as capacitors and the like, to a flat flexible insulating substrate having conductive material thereon. In one form of the invention, an electronic component is attached to a given area of the substrate with one conductive side of the electronic component in electrical connection with the conductive material on the substrate. A slot is formed in the substrate substantially about the electronic component but less than 360.degree. thereabout to define a tongue, including the electronic component, and an integral hinge portion of the substrate. The tongue is bent about the integral hinge portion to move the tongue out of the plane of the substrate and thereby move the electronic component therewith into a desired position for connection of an opposite conductive side of the electronic component to an appropriate terminal. In another form of the invention, a closed or 360.degree. slot is formed in the substrate. One conductive side of the electronic component is in electrical connection with the conductive material on the substrate within the closed slot, and the other conductive side of the electronic component is in electrical connection with the conductive material on the substrate outside the closed slot. A terminal is electrically connected to the conductive material on the substrate inside the closed slot.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an electrical circuit system comprising electrical conductors on a flexible film and an article of manufacture made thereby, which may be used in place of printed circuit boards and which conductors form connector means for readily connecting to the leads of one or more sides of an electronic package. The electrical conductors also form a means for selectably connecting each electrical conductor from each pin to a selected input or output conductor, comprising a first and second plurality of conductors, such as a matrix having a column of conductors and a row of conductors. The electrical circuit system may be manufactured by numerous methods such as applying a conductive ink or paint by screening, photolithography or drawn by a digital plotter on a plastic film, such as Mylar. The film may include electrical edge connection means to provide input or output to or from said conductors. All or most of the system is integral, thus forming the conductors and the in-line connector portion of the conductors in continuum, using the same conductive material, such as ink, or paint and the same dielectric material, such as ink, or paint. A dielectric covers the appropriate portion of the system.
Abstract:
A modular building block for electronic circuitry is provided with areas for mounting circuitry thereon. Posts of a particular geometric shape and receptacles of a complementary geometric shape are provided on the substrate. The posts and receptacles are coated with an electrically conductive material and connected to nodes within the circuit such that when blocks are interconnected, post within receptacle, the interconnection provides both physical and electrical connection. An alternate embodiment is disclosed having fingers and edge cards, configured such that the fingers of one block grasp the edge cards of another block, providing physical and electrical connection between the blocks.
Abstract:
In a circuit package having a connector for connecting a pin array circuit module and a printed circuit board, the connector is a molded plastic planar member with a plurality of openings extending through the member. In each opening, the member has two integral and spaced first and second parts having respectively oppositely aligned faces for receiving therebetween one of the pins. At least one of the parts resiliently extends across the opening, and at least one of the faces is a contact surface which mates with a pin of the module. A conductive layer with a predetermined circuit pattern is disposed on the member and includes conductors which extend from the contact surface to terminals disposed on the bottom surface of the member. The terminals are mateable with the input/output pads of the board. The member is disposed between the board and the module to provide the connection between the module and the board with the terminals of the member and the pads of the board being in contacting relationship. The pins of the module are disposed in the openings from the opposite surface of the member and each pin is extended and engaged by and between the respective faces of the paired parts in the particular opening in which the pin is inserted.
Abstract:
A circuit board is molded of a heat resistant synthetic resin. Component mounting positions are formed at the time of molding, the mounting positions comprising formations, such as recesses or protrusions, on at least one surface. A circuit pattern is formed on at least one surface and the circuit pattern extends to and over a surface of each formation. A circuit board can be planar or non-planar and be of any desired shape, not necessarily rectangular.
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:
In a printed circuit board having land parts provided for connecting electric circuit forming elements and conductors interconnecting the elements. The conductors interconnect the land parts without the use of intercrossed connection wires over the conductors between the land parts.
Abstract:
Provided are interconnects for interconnecting a set of battery cells, assemblies comprising these interconnects, methods of forming such interconnects, and methods of forming such assemblies. An interconnect includes a conductor comprising two portions electrically isolated from each other. At least one portion may include two contacts for connecting to battery cells and a fuse forming an electrical connection between these two contacts. The interconnect may also include an insulator adhered to the conductor and mechanically supporting the two portions of the conductor. The insulator may include an opening such that the fuse overlaps with this opening, and the opening does not interfere with the operation of the fuse. In some embodiments, the fuse may not directly interface with any other structures. Furthermore, the interconnect may include a temporary substrate adhered to the insulator such that the insulator is disposed between the temporary substrate and the conductor.