Electrical connectors – Energy cell substitution device including plural contacts or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-25
2003-01-21
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Energy cell substitution device including plural contacts or...
C439S627000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06508663
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an arrangement for an electronic device for electrically coupling a component to a circuit board. The invention also relates to an electroacoustic transformer having a unique structure. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wireless communication device comprising an arrangement for electrically coupling a component to a circuit board. In addition the invention relates to a method for the electrical coupling of a component to a circuit board in an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known manner, various electronic devices incorporate printed circuit boards (PCB) which are provided with electronic circuits, such as integrated circuits (IC), to control the operation of the devices and which contain printed conductive patterns to couple the circuits electrically to each other for the transmission of signals. These circuit boards can also be multilayer printed circuit boards, wherein the wirings extend between two board layers and the connection through one or several board layers is implemented with through holes.
Said devices often also incorporate components which must be installed separately and electrically coupled to the circuit board and further to the circuits fixed on the circuit board. For example in wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones, such components are electroacoustic transformers which convert an electrical signal to an acoustic signal, normally to an audible sound, or vice versa. Transformers include earpieces, microphones, buzzers, and various speakers. It is typical that the devices comprise several cover parts which are fitted with the circuit board and equipped with the separate components and which cover parts are fixed to each other during the assembly. In the fixing, an electrical coupling must be produced between the conductive patterns of the circuit board and the components, to make the operation of the device possible.
In patent publication EP 0 490 214 B1, an electrical contact between a circuit board and an electroacoustic transformer is produced by means of a spring-like means, i.e. a contact spring. The contact spring is fixed with jaw to the contact of the transformer, and it also touches the circuit board, normally a conductor, such as a microstrip, arranged in the circuit board. Patent publication EP 0 567850 B1 presents a solution in which a part operating in a spring-like manner is fixed by penetration into the circuit board, and a tag in the transformer is fitted between jaws. In this solution, the transformer and the spring-like part are in a fixed position in relation to each other and the circuit board; furthermore, careful position of the transformer is required in the assembly. Also known is a connector presented in publication WO 97/29528 for coupling a transformer electrically to a circuit board. This solution, however, applies a separate connector component fixed to the circuit board and comprising spring-like means which further constitute the contact with strips arranged in the transformer. The spring-like means are further coupled to the conductors of the circuit board. Also in this solution, the transformer and the connector are in a fixed position in relation to each other and the circuit board.
According to the patent publication EP 0 490 214 B1, the transformer normally comprises two separate connectors, i.e. contacts, implemented for example with contact springs, for the transmission of two different signals. Thus, also the conductors of the signals must be electrically separated from each other on the circuit board. Typically, a circular transformer is allowed to rotate into different positions when it is installed in its position in a nest fitted in the device and its cover. For this reason, the first contact spring is usually located centrally in the transformer and the second contact spring is located closer to the edge of the transformer. For the second contact spring, the circuit board is normally equipped with a circular contact surface arranged in the form of an endless ring, for example a strip conductor with an even width. For the first contact spring, the circuit board is normally equipped with a circular second contact surface, e.g. a strip conductor, formed in the center of the circular contact surface.
To bring the second contact surface into an electrical contact with a third strip conductor fitted on the circuit board past the first contact surface, a fourth strip conductor is formed on the second surface or between the board layers of the circuit board, connected e.g. by through-holes with the second contact surface and the third strip conductor. The second contact surface can be directly connected to something, for example a fifth strip conductor, which is fitted together with the annular and circular contact surfaces on the surface of the circuit board.
The above-presented case involves, however, the problem that the circuit board must be provided with strip conductors on at least two different levels, which makes the manufacture of the circuit board considerably longer and more complicated; moreover, one must use more expensive multilayer printed circuit board, and the alternatives for the material of the circuit board are limited. Also known is a foil-like flexible printed board which is made of e.g. polyamide and which consists of a flexible base material. Moreover, a so-called flexible conductor cable is known, which consists of a flexible base material and conductors on its surface. The material of the conductive patterns is generally a copper film. In a part of the flexible material, it is possible to form several layers, but in this case this part is not resistant to bending, which restricts the placing of the circuit board. It is possible to construct several layers in only part of the flexible circuit board, but this makes the manufacturing process considerably more complicated and longer in time.
In a known manner, attempts have been made to overcome the above-presented problem in such a way that the annular first contact surface is provided with a point of discontinuity, such as an opening, through which the second contact surface is coupled to other strip conductors, e.g. by means of said fourth conductor. It is thus possible to use contact surfaces and strip conductors formed on only one surface of the circuit board. This solution sets, however, special requirements on the installation, because the second contact spring which is intended to make a contact with the first contact surface must not make a contact with said fourth conductor or hit a location with an opening or insulated area in the first contact surface. In many cases, a transformer can be fitted in the cover part of the device, or a like, in only one position, which, however, restricts the placement of the contact surfaces on the circuit board and the use of different transformer models. Furthermore, the final position must also be taken into account at an early stage in the manufacture of the cover parts and/or the transformers. This will result in problems of compatibility and mounting faults, or malfunction of the device will be due to a displacement of the transformers during the use.
The above-mentioned fourth strip conductor can also be conveyed above or underneath the endless first contact surface, but in this case several layers and insulators must be formed on the surface of the circuit board to isolate the strip conductor and the contact surface from each other and/or from the second contact spring, which makes the structure and its manufacture more complex. If the fourth strip conductor is conveyed above the contact surface and isolated, an opening of the above-mentioned kind is formed again in the first contact surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aim of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to produce an arrangement which limits the transformer, the mounting of the transformer, as well as the manufacture and position of the contact surfaces as little as possible, pr
Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
Patel Tulsidas
Perman & Green LLP
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