Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-08-07
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270354
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to printed circuit boards, and more particularly to printed circuit board connectors.
2. Disclosure Information
A typical layout for a PCB (printed circuit board) and a mating electrical connector
00
is illustrated in FIG.
1
. Here, the connector
00
is shown as a flex circuit having circuit traces which terminate into rectangular mounting or soldering pads along a distal edge. (Although not shown in the drawings, the mating connector
00
may be part of an electrical device, an electronic circuit or module, an instrument, a sensor, etc.) The pads of the mating connector
00
are aligned upon corresponding mounting pads
66
disposed along an edge
22
on the PCB substrate
11
, and are then attached thereto by soldering or the like. Although the contacts on the mating connector
00
are illustrated here as being mounting pads, they may alternatively by plated through holes, plated blind vias, male connector pins, sliding contacts that are mechanically clamped or crimped onto the PCB pads
66
, etc.
If the device or circuit associated with the mating connector
00
becomes damaged or has a failed component, it may become necessary to disconnect the connector
00
from the PCB. However, the disconnecting process (e.g., de-soldering) may present the risk of damage to the PCB, and may also be quite inconvenient (e.g., if no de-soldering equipment is readily available). It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a way of facilitating disconnection of the mating connector from the PCB, and to provide for subsequent connection of a replacement mating connector, while minimizing the aforementioned inconvenience and risk of damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art approaches by providing a multi-connectable printed circuit assembly, comprising: (a) a printed circuit substrate having a first edge and first and second edge regions, wherein at least the first edge region is defined along the first edge; (b) a first array of electrical connection features disposed on or within the substrate proximate the first edge region; (c) a second array of electrical connection features disposed on or within the substrate proximate the second edge region, wherein the second array is substantially a duplication or a mirror image of the first array; and (d) a plurality of circuit traces disposed on or within the substrate such that each electrical connection feature of the first array is connected by one of the circuit traces to a corresponding electrical connection feature of the second array.
It is an object and advantage that the present invention facilitates easy disconnection of a mating connector from a PCB, as well as easy reconnection of a replacement mating connector to the PCB.
Another advantage is that the present invention may be used with a wide variety of PCB types.
These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention will become apparent from the drawings, detailed description and claims which follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3033914 (1962-05-01), Acosta-Lleras
patent: 3605061 (1971-09-01), Martin
patent: 5010446 (1991-04-01), Scannell
patent: 5255155 (1993-10-01), Sugimoto et al.
patent: 5712764 (1998-01-01), Baker et al.
patent: 1665071 (1971-01-01), None
patent: 3628981 A1 (1988-03-01), None
Achari Achyuta
Baker Jay DeAvis
Li Delin
Nation Brenda Joyce
Trublowski John
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Patel Tulsidas
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
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