Abstract:
A novel and improved keyboard-operated electronic apparatus is shown to incorporate at least two printed circuit boards and to utilize novel and advantageous means for electrically interconnecting selected circuit paths on the two boards. A novel and improved method for assembling the keyboard-operated electronic apparatus is also shown. In the disclosed method and apparatus, a strip of normally shape-retaining but bendable electrically-conductive metal material is blanked to form a plurality of normally shape-retaining but bendable leads which are held in spaced, side-by-side, parallel relation to each other by integral web portions of the strip material. Preferably the leads are blanked in a selected configuration providing the leads with a common, preferential bending direction. Corresponding first ends of the leads are then inserted into apertures in a first printed circuit board such as a printed circuit keyboard and are simultaneously soldered to selected circuit paths on the first board, preferably at the same time that all keyboard components are soldered to said circuit paths. The web portions of the strip material are then cut from the leads for separating the leads and, while the leads are retained in spaced, side-byside parallel relation to each other in the first board, the opposite ends of the leads are inserted into apertures in a second printed circuit board such as a board mounting selected electronic components and are simultaneously soldered to selected circuit paths on the second board, preferably at the same time that all of the noted electronic components are soldered to the circuit paths on the second board. The leads are then bent in their common, preferential bending direction to adjustably dispose the two printed circuit boards in closely spaced parallel relation to each other to form a light, compact, easily repairable, and inexpensive apparatus.
Abstract:
Electrical harness for electrically commoning the corresponding positions of a first plurality of multi-row electrical connectors comprises flat cables, each of which contains a number of conductors equal to the number of positions in each connector row. The cables have at least one side edge which extends sinuously so that each cable has alternate wide and narrow portions. Terminals are crimped onto the conductors in the wide portions of the cables and, in one embodiment, the terminals are inserted into the rows of complementary connectors which can be mated with the first connectors whereby the corresponding positions of the first connectors are commonly connected. One alternative embodiment is disclosed which does not require the complementary connectors while another alternative embodiment does not require the first connectors.
Abstract:
A flexible, semirigid substrate, composed of a nonconducting material, supports a plurality of spaced, longitudinal conductors on one side thereof and a plurality of parallel, spaced, transverse conductors on the other side thereof. Through-hole connections are made through the substrate between selected longitudinal conductors and selected transverse conductors. The transverse conductors extend to a common edge of the substrate, which is formed with a longitudinal fold. The portion of each of the transverse conductors which extends over the longitudinal fold in the substrate is formed with an elongated opening which is disposed symmetrically about the axis of the transverse conductor. The longitudinal opening provides a saddle for receiving a portion of a terminal which rests in the saddle and can be subsequently soldered with the transverse conductor associated with the saddle.
Abstract:
A sensor unit for vehicles for detecting at least the moisture and/or the temperature on the inside of a vehicle window by a sensor is disclosed. The sensor unit is mounted adjacent to the inside of the vehicle window, the sensor unit comprises a housing within which it is partially enclosed, the housing has at least one opening in the direction of the vehicle window through which the sensor unit is pressed against the vehicle window. The sensor unit has a printed circuit board (PCB) that is pressed against the inside of the vehicle window when the sensor unit is in the mounted state, and is arranged between the sensor and the vehicle window. The PCB is a rigid-flexible PCB comprising a bend at least in a partial region, the bend of the rigid-flexible PCB being set up in such a way as to generate an elastic restoring force, which presses the rigid-flexible PCB against the vehicle window. The rigid-flexible PCB has at least one recess for receiving a fixing means and these together are designed to hold the rigid-flexible PCB in a specific shape.