Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2003-10-20
2004-09-14
Gushi, Ross (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C333S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06790049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic enclosures in general and more particularly to an electronic enclosure for high frequency microwave circuits that use coaxial connectors.
2. Description of Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1-3
, an electronic enclosure
20
of the prior art is shown. Enclosure
20
has a housing
22
, top cover
24
, bottom cover
26
and connectors
40
. Housing
22
has four side walls
32
that surround a cavity
31
. Housing
22
has four screw holes
33
. The side walls
32
have a female threaded aperture
34
that extends entirely through the thickness of wall
32
. The connectors
40
have a pair of male threaded ends
42
,
43
, a central nut portion
44
, a pin
46
and an insulator
48
. The connectors can be a conventional coaxial connector such as an SMA connector. The connector ends
43
mate with the threads of aperture
34
and are tightened in place using a wrench on nut portion
44
. An electronic circuit assembly
52
such as a printed circuit board is located in cavity
31
. Covers
24
and
26
have holes
25
for accepting a fastener such as a screw
50
.
A typical assembly sequence of the prior art enclosure
20
is as follows:
1. A locking compound is placed on threads
43
.
2. Connector
40
is screwed into apertures
34
of housing
22
and tightened.
3. The housing is placed into an oven to cure the locking compound at an elevated temperature.
4. Components are installed on electronic circuit assembly
52
.
5. Circuit assembly
52
is placed into housing
22
.
6. Pins
46
are soldered to pads on the circuit assembly
52
.
7. Connector
40
is soldered to ground on circuit assembly
52
.
8. Top cover
24
is then placed over housing
22
and fastened in place with screws
50
.
9. Bottom cover
26
is then placed over housing
22
and fastened in place with screws
50
.
The torque required to mount the connectors is an important parameter. The torque has to be high enough to prevent the SMA connector from detaching during the normal mating and un-mating process of the female end of the SMA connector (not shown). Normally, an organic locking compound such as Loctite is used on the threads
43
to obtain a high unscrewing torque and to keep connector
40
in place. Unfortunately, in high frequency applications, the locking compound may create continuity problems and degrade the electrical performance of the housing. Using screws to attach the connector to the housing is time consuming, uses manual labor and is expensive. In addition such a process is difficult to automate. Another problem with the current electronic enclosures such as housing
22
is that the threads in aperture
34
have to be precisely machined which adds to the cost of the housing. A further problem of enclosure
20
is that the individual component count is high which results in a large number of process steps during assembly.
While various electronic enclosures have been previously been used, they have suffered from having a high part count that is expensive to assemble and from continuity problems due to the use of locking compounds.
A current unmet need exists for an improved electronic enclosure that is low in cost, easy to assemble and high in reliability.
SUMMARY
It is a feature of the invention to provide a package for containing an electronic circuit assembly that is low in cost and requires fewer manufacturing steps.
Another feature of the invention is to provide a package for containing an electronic circuit assembly. The package includes a housing having a bottom surface and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the bottom surface. The walls and the bottom surface define a cavity in the housing. The cavity is adapted to hold the electronic circuit assembly. A post extends outwardly from one of the walls. The post is integrally formed with the housing. The post has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the wall. A threaded annular sleeve portion is located at the second end of the post. The threaded annular sleeve portion is adapted to receive a female connector portion. A bore passes through the post and the wall. The bore is adapted to receive a terminal. A cover is located over the cavity and is attached to the housing.
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Kaylie Harvey
Mandalap Guna
Gushi Ross
Redmond Kevin
Scientific Components
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