Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-11-27
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S763000, C361S765000, C361S308100, C361S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324066
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is concerned with surface mountable electronic devices and particularly, although not exclusively, to the design and configuration of such devices to assist in robotic assembly procedures utilizing such devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, in robotic assembly of electronic devices to a substrate, such devices, including capacitors, resistors and the like, are loaded into a magazine for sequential delivery to a substrate for attachment via solderable terminals.
Many electronic devices typically have terminals on opposed sides of the device and thus robotic assembly arms must include sensors to ensure correct orientation of the device terminals if incorrect orientation is to be avoided between the device and solder pads on the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,361 describes a rectangular capacitor configuration having terminals on opposed sides relation to the longitudinal axis of the capacitor body.
In transfer of an electronic device from a magazine to a substrate, a delay of some milliseconds can occur while the sensors associated with the robotic arm determine the precise configuration and location of terminals on the device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided:
a surface mountable electronic device including:
a mount;
an electrical component supported by said mount; and
two external terminals electrically coupled to said component, said external terminals being mounted to said mount,
wherein said external terminals are of a shape and configuration to allow for mounting in a first position each of said external terminals to a respective one of two conductive pads on a substrate surface,
and wherein when said device is rotated ninety degrees in one direction about a central axis thereof that is normal to said substrate surface, said shape and configuration of said external terminals also allows for mounting each of said external terminals to a respective one of said pads.
Suitably, when said device is rotated ninety degrees from said first position in an opposite direction about said central axis, said shape and configuration of said external terminals allows for mounting of said external terminals to opposite respective pads and for interchanging said mounting of said external terminals to respective pads.
Preferably, said mount is rectangular and said external terminals are located in diagonally opposite corners thereof.
Suitably, said external terminals are shaped to form caps on said corners.
Suitably, said external terminals have a substantially triangular surface area.
Preferably, said component is electrically orientation independent.
Suitably, said component is a capacitor. In one alternative form, said component may preferably be an inductor. In another alternative form, said component may suitably be a resistor.
Preferably, said mount is a housing enclosing said component. Alternatively, said component may be mounted on an outer surface of said mount.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3668478 (1972-06-01), Fabricius
patent: 4648087 (1987-03-01), Scranton et al.
patent: 4994782 (1991-02-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5119063 (1992-06-01), Nonnenmacher et al.
patent: 5220194 (1993-06-01), Golio et al.
patent: 5257004 (1993-10-01), Sakaguchi et al.
patent: 5345361 (1994-09-01), Billotte et al.
patent: 5425647 (1995-06-01), Mencik et al.
patent: 5468919 (1995-11-01), Shiozaki et al.
patent: 5683788 (1997-11-01), Dugan et al.
patent: 5706177 (1998-01-01), Nather et al.
patent: 5877672 (1999-03-01), Tsuda et al.
Ch'ng Lay Choo
Hooi Kean Seong
Poh Ban Choong
Foster David
Motorola Inc.
Picard Leo P.
Scutch, III Frank M.
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