Printed circuit board with side access termination pads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374201-A1
Application number	US-201414901751-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 23, 2014
Priority date	Jul 8, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A printed circuit board provides lateral notches for receiving wire conductors in a lateral direction to be joined with printed circuit board traces by solder or an insulation displacement connector eliminating the need for laborious sequential insertion of conductors through printed circuit board holes.

First claim

What we claim is:

1 . A printed circuit board assembly comprising:
a printed circuit board having an insulating, substantially planar and rigid substrate defining opposed laterally extending faces bounded at a periphery by edges, at least one face including adhered, laterally-extending conductive traces; and electrical components attached to the conductive traces to provide at least a portion of an electrical circuit; wherein at least one edge of the printed circuit board substrate provides a set of notches extending laterally from the edge to a termination point within the periphery; wherein each termination point is partially surrounded by electrically conductive material covering a surface of the face outside the notch about the termination point, the conductive material electrically connected with at least one trace electrically communicating with at least one of the electrical components; whereby electrical wire conductors may be attached to at least one trace of each notch by orienting the electrical wire conductor to extend perpendicularly to the faces and sliding the electrical conductors laterally into the notches to electrically connect with the electrically conductive material.

2 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive material is trace material physically continuous with at least one trace and positioned to be attached to the electrical wire conductor by soldering thereto.

3 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 2 wherein the notches are tapered to have an opening width measured perpendicularly to the extent of the notch between the edge and the termination point greater than a dimension at the termination point measured perpendicularly to an extent of the notch.

4 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 3 wherein the notches include a constricting portion narrower than the opening width and the width at the termination point positioned between the opening width and the width at termination point removed from a furthest lateral extent of the notch from the edge by substantially the width at the termination point.

5 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 4 wherein the trace material surrounds a region of the notch past the constricting portion at the termination point by a least 270 degrees measured from a center of the region.

6 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 5 further including multiple insulated flexible wire conductors having center strands surrounded coaxially by electrical insulation, the center strands pressed into the notches and soldered to the trace material wherein the region is sized to compress the center strands together.

7 . The printed circuit board of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive material is a first metal plate fitting over a notch and having a cutting edge displaced inward from the edges of the notch and tapering inward toward the termination point to cut through insulation of an electrical wire conductor extending perpendicular to the faces when the electrical wire conductor is pressed into the notch laterally to the termination point to provide a gas-tight electrical connection between the metal plate and a center conductor of the wire.

8 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 7 wherein a portion of the metal plate extends over at least one trace and is soldered thereto.

9 . The printed circuit board of claim 7 further including a second metal plate forming a clip with the first metal plate, the second metal plate in opposition to the first metal plate fitting under the notch and having a tapered cutting edge displaced inward from the lateral edges of the notch also to cut through insulation of a wire extending perpendicularly to the faces when the electrical conductor is pressed into the notch laterally.

10 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 9 wherein the clip provides a front joining member holding the first and second metal plates in opposition with inward spring biasing of the first and second metal plates together to a dimension less than a thickness of the substrate between the opposed laterally extending faces.

11 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 7 further including multiple insulated flexible wire conductors having center strands surrounded coaxially by electrical insulation, wherein the cutting edge has a separation greater than a diameter of the electrical insulation at the edge tapering inward to a separation no greater than a diameter of the center strands at the termination point.

12 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the notches are spaced apart in substantially equal separation along the edge.

13 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein the traces are copper cladding adhered to the substrate and selectively etched to define the trace dimensions.

14 . The printed circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein electrical components are selected from the group consisting of electrical switches, solid-state electrical devices, resisters, and capacitors.

15 . A method of fabricating a printed circuit board assembly of a type having:
a printed circuit board having an insulating substantially planar and rigid substrate defining opposed laterally extending faces bounded by edges, at least one face including adhered conductive cladding providing laterally extending metallic traces, at least one edge of the printed circuit board substrate providing a set of notches extending into the edge to a termination point and Wherein each termination point is surrounded by electrically conductive material covering an uninterrupted surface of the face about the termination point, the conductive material electrically continuous with at least one trace electrically communicating with at least one of the electrical components, the method comprising the steps of; (a) orienting a set of electrical wire conductors to extend perpendicularly to the faces in alignment with each notch; and (b) sliding the electrical conductors laterally into the notches to be surrounded by the conductive material and in electrical communication therewith.

16 . The method of claim 15 further including the step of positioning the electrical wire conductors in a jig to hold them parallel at a spacing corresponding to a spacing of the notches and wherein step (b) moves the jig to simultaneously engage the electrical conductors within the notches.

17 . The method of claim 16 further including the step of soldering electrical conductors to the electrically conductive material of each slot.

18 . The method of claim 15 further including the step of forming a set of metal clips joined to a carrier strip, each clip providing a first metal plate fitting over one notch and having a cutting edge displaced inward from laterally opposed edges of the notch and tapering inward toward the termination point to cut through insulation of a wire extending perpendicular to the faces when the electrical conductor is pressed into the notch laterally to the termination point, and a second metal plate in opposition to the first metal plate fitting under the notch and having a tapered cutting edge displaced inward from the lateral edges of the notch also to cut through insulation of a wire extending perpendicularly to the faces when the electrical conductor is pressed into the notch laterally;
installing the metal clips on the notches simultaneously by movement of the carrier strip; and
removal of the carrier strip.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the metal cli

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Wang Xianbo
• Heckenkamp Mark R
• Smith Jerald J
• Kirby Maxwell J
• Bargholtz William E
• Osvatic Michael S

Classifications

• H05K3/3405

  Edge mounted components, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• H05K1/117

  Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors · CPC title

• H05K2201/10022

  Non-printed resistor · CPC title

• H05K2201/1034

  Edge terminals, i.e. separate pieces of metal attached to the edge of the printed circuit board [PCB] · CPC title

• H05K1/119 Primary

  Details of rigid insulating substrates therefor, e.g. three-dimensional details (H05K1/117 takes precedence) · CPC title