LIGHTWEIGHT AUDIO SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An automotive audio system comprising:
- a housing assembly including a box-like case having integrally formed wall portions and front and rear openings disposed generally symmetrically about an assembly axis, said housing assembly further including front and rear closure members cooperating with the case to enclose audio system subassemblies within a cavity defined by said housing assembly;
a radio receiver circuit consisting of components carried on at least one circuit board assembly defining opposed guide surfaces;
a CD player assembly defining opposed guide surfaces; and
an opposed pair of self-positioning, self-engaging inserts disposed within said case, said inserts defining a plurality of vertically spaced guideway pairs operative to engage said opposed guide surfaces to affect self-alignment and self-engagement of said circuit board assembly and CD player assembly in interchangeable, alternating orientations substantially parallel to said assembly axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration. The major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The radio architecture includes improved push buttons employing 4-bar living hinge linkage and front loaded decorative trim buttons.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An automotive audio system comprising:
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a housing assembly including a box-like case having integrally formed wall portions and front and rear openings disposed generally symmetrically about an assembly axis, said housing assembly further including front and rear closure members cooperating with the case to enclose audio system subassemblies within a cavity defined by said housing assembly; a radio receiver circuit consisting of components carried on at least one circuit board assembly defining opposed guide surfaces; a CD player assembly defining opposed guide surfaces; and an opposed pair of self-positioning, self-engaging inserts disposed within said case, said inserts defining a plurality of vertically spaced guideway pairs operative to engage said opposed guide surfaces to affect self-alignment and self-engagement of said circuit board assembly and CD player assembly in interchangeable, alternating orientations substantially parallel to said assembly axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A guillotine heat sink for an automotive audio system comprising:
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a heat sink structure defining opposed generally parallel guide surfaces; an audio system housing assembly defining opposed cooperating guide slots within a cavity formed thereby, said guide slots configured for slidably receiving said heat sink; and an electrical assembly including a heat generating component disposed within said cavity in register with said guide slots wherein a leading contact surface of said heat sink abuts an exposed surface of said component to establish a thermally conductive path therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A housing assembly for an automotive audio system comprising:
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a box-like case having integrally formed wall portions and front and rear openings disposed generally symmetrically about an assembly axis; and a generally H-shaped, laterally elongated partition member dimensioned to nestingly slip-fit within said case, said partition member including spaced vertical portions to affect closure of said front and rear openings to establish a closed cavity in combination with said case, and an interconnecting horizontal portion operative to subdivide said closed cavity into upper and lower chambers, each said chamber adapted for receiving at least one audio system subcomponent therein. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A housing assembly for an automotive audio system comprising:
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an upper case half including integrally formed top and partial side walls; a lower case half including integrally formed bottom and partial side walls; and front and rear closure members, said case halves and closure members including integral self-engaging design features enabling snap-together assembly. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A housing assembly for an automotive audio system comprising:
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an audio system subassembly including opposed vertically extending wall portions; generally U-shaped upper and lower closure members cooperating with said vertically extending wall portions to define a box-like case having front and rear openings disposed generally symmetrically about an assembly axis; front and rear closure members cooperating with the case to enclose said audio system subassembly and to form an upper and/or lower cavity adapted for receiving a second audio system subassembly therein. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification