Method and system for attaching flexible circuits to a mounting surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9713851-B2
Application number	US-201314078412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2013
Priority date	Sep 4, 2013
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A method and system for securing a flexible circuit to a mounting structure is disclosed. The system can include a surface-mount device, flexible circuit, stiffener, and bracket. The stiffener is used as an intermediate coupling device between the flexible circuit and bracket. The flexible circuit is coupled to the stiffener with a heat-activated adhesive. Next, the surface-mount device is mounted to the flexible circuit with surface-mounting techniques. A peripheral area of the stiffener is then welded to the bracket. The bracket in turn can be fastened to the enclosure of an electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A securing assembly suitable for securing a component to a mounting surface of an enclosure of an electronic device, the securing assembly comprising:
a flexible circuit having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface opposite the second surface;
a surface-mount device electrically coupled with the flexible circuit at the first surface;
a securing element coupled with the flexible circuit at the second surface, the securing element comprising a securing element hole and a first welding point, the securing element further comprising a first end having a first curved perimeter and a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a second curved perimeter different than the first curved perimeter;
a bracket comprising an indentation into the bracket, the indentation having a first section having a first shape corresponding to the first curved perimeter, the indentation further having a second section having a second shape corresponding to the second curved perimeter such that the bracket receives the securing element at the indentation, the bracket further comprising a bracket hole aligned with the securing element hole such that the bracket hole and the securing element hole; and
a fastener that passes through the bracket hole and the securing element hole and secures the surface-mount device with the mounting surface, wherein the indentation comprises a second welding point aligned with the first welding to join the securing element with the bracket by a weld.

2. The securing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the indentation comprises a rounded feature that aligns a corresponding rounded feature of the securing element with respect to the bracket.

3. The securing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bracket is separate from the enclosure.

4. The securing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible circuit defines an outer perimeter on the securing element when the flexible circuit is coupled to the securing element, and wherein the first welding point is external with respect to the outer perimeter.

5. The securing assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a third welding point located on the securing element that aligns with a fourth welding point on the bracket, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a contoured region to expose the third welding point.

6. The securing assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the third welding point is secured with the fourth welding point by a weld.

7. The securing assembly as recited in claim 6 , wherein the flexible circuit defines an outer perimeter when positioned on the securing element, wherein the securing element hole, the first welding point, the second welding point, the third welding point, and the fourth welding point are disposed in a location external with respect to the outer perimeter.

8. The securing assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein the outer perimeter defines the contoured region, and wherein the third welding point and the fourth welding point are in a location corresponding to the contoured region.

9. The securing assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bracket hole comprises a through hole disposed in the recessed portion.

10. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure having an inside surface;
a securing assembly carried by the enclosure and coupled with the inside surface, the securing assembly comprising:
a flexible circuit having a first surface and a second surface opposite the second surface,
a surface-mount device electrically coupled with the flexible circuit at the first surface,
a securing element coupled with the flexible circuit at the second surface, and the securing element comprises a first end having a rounded perimeter and a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a linear perimeter, and
a bracket separate from the enclosure and aligned with the second surface, the bracket comprising an indentation in the bracket, the indentation having a size and a shape in accordance with that of the securing element such that the securing element is positioned in the bracket at the indentation and enclosed between the bracket and the flexible circuit, the indentation includes a first section having a first shape corresponding to the having a rounded perimeter, the indentation further having a second section having a second shape corresponding to the linear perimeter such that the bracket receives the securing element at the indentation, wherein the indentation comprises bracket welding points that surround a bracket opening, and wherein the securing element comprises securing element welding points aligned with the bracket welding points and surrounding a securing element opening.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the bracket is removably coupled with the enclosure by a hook.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein:
the bracket comprises a bracket hole,
the securing element comprises a securing element hole, and
the inside surface comprises a surface hole aligned with the bracket hole and the securing element hole to allow a fastener to pass through the bracket hole, the securing element hole, and the surface hole.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the securing element is secured with the bracket by a first weld at a first welding location and by a second well at a second welding location opposite the first welding location, and wherein the first welding location and the second welding location are external with respect to a location on the securing element occupied by the second surface of the flexible circuit.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 , wherein:
the securing element comprises a securing element opening,
the bracket comprises a first bracket opening aligned with the securing element opening and between the first welding location and the second welding location, and
the bracket comprises a second bracket opening external with respect to the first welding location and the second welding location.

15. The electronic device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the bracket comprises a hook that combines with the second bracket opening to the bracket with the inside surface.

16. The electronic device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the bracket welding points are welded with the securing element welding points to secure the bracket with the securing element.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Merz Nicholas G
• Malek Shayan
• Cohen Sawyer I
• Lui Timothy

Classifications

• B23K2103/20

  Ferrous alloys and aluminium or alloys thereof · CPC title

• B23K2101/42

  Printed circuits · CPC title

• B23K2101/18

  Sheet panels · CPC title

• B23K2103/50

  Inorganic materials other than metals or composite materials · CPC title

• B23K2103/05

  Stainless steel · CPC title