Mounting System for Mechanical-Shock Resistant Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

• US 20170027077A1
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Nicoloff, William John
• Granted Patent: US 10,194,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/00 Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/06 Frames; Stringers; Longerons ; Fuselage sections
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/83 Electronic components structurally integrated with aircraft elements, e.g. circuit boards carrying loads
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0271 Arrangements for reducing stress or warp in rigid printed circuit boards, e.g. caused by loads, vibrations or differences in thermal expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10522 Adjacent components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10628 Leaded surface mounted device soldering surface mounted leaded components H05K3/3421
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2027 Guiding means, e.g. for guiding flexible circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2045 Protection against vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/167 Using mechanical means for positioning, alignment or registration, e.g. using rod-in-hole alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0034 having an overmolded housing covering the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1422 Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/183 support rails therefor

Abstract

A shock resistant fuselage system includes first and second fuselage side walls, each of the first and second fuselage side walls having a plurality of guide posts, and a printed circuit board (PCB) rigidly attached to at least one of the first and second fuselage side walls, the PCB having a plurality of guide slots, each of the plurality of guide posts slideably seated in a respective one of the plurality of guide slots so that elastic deformation of the PCB is guided by the guide slots between the first and second fuselage side walls.

Claims

1. A shock resistant fuselage system, comprising:

first and second fuselage side walls, each of the first and second fuselage side walls having a plurality of guide posts; and

a printed circuit board (PCB) rigidly attached to at least one of the first and second fuselage side walls, the PCB having a plurality of guide slots, each of the plurality of guide posts slideably seated in a respective one of the plurality of guide slots;

wherein elastic deformation of the PCB is guided by the guide slots between the first and second fuselage side walls.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second fuselage side walls are first and second fuselage side walls of a unitary fuselage clam shell.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a major longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of guide slots extends parallel to a major longitudinal axis of the first and second fuselage side walls.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the PCB is rigidly attached to the at least one of the first and second fuselage side walls at a front of the PCB board.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the PCB is rigidly attached to the at least one of the first and second fuselage side walls at a rear of the PCB board.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrical components mounted to the PCB, each of the plurality of electrical components mounted with their major longitudinal axis oriented perpendicularly to the major longitudinal axis of each of the first and second fuselage side walls.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrical components mounted to the PCB such that a larger proportion of larger electrical components of the plurality of electrical components are mounted at a PCB front end than a PCB rear end.

9. A shock resistant printed circuit board (PCB) mounting system, comprising:

a PCB board having a plurality of guide slots; and

a frame rigidly coupled to the PCB board and having a plurality of guide posts, each one of the plurality of guide posts seated in a respective one of the plurality of guide slots;

wherein elastic deformation of the PCB is guided by the guide slots.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a major longitudinal axis of each one of the plurality of guide slots extends parallel to a major longitudinal axis of the PCB.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the frame is rigidly coupled to the PCB board in a center region of the PCB, and wherein a major longitudinal axis of each one of the plurality of guide slots extends radially toward the center region of the PCB.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises first and second fuselage side walls of a unitary fuselage clam shell.

13. A method of printed circuit board (PCB) shock resistance, comprising:

inducing an acceleration in a PCB in a first direction;

rigidly restraining a PCB at one end of the PCB during the acceleration; and

guiding elastic deformation of the PCB along a the first direction;

wherein the PCB experiences reduced peak acceleration at PCB points removed from the one end.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the rigidly restraining a PCB at one end includes coupling the PCB to an unmanned aerial vehicle fuselage.

15. A shock resistant printed circuit board (PCB) comprising:

a plurality of guide slots for receiving a plurality of guide posts; and

at least one mounting hole for receiving at least one fixed post;

wherein elastic deformation of the PCB is guided by the plurality of guide slots.

16. The PCB of claim 15 further comprising:

a plurality of electrical components mounted to the PCB.

17. The PCB of claim 16 wherein the plurality of electrical components mounted to the PCB are arranged such that electrical components having relatively larger widths are mounted distal from the at least one mounting hole.

18. The PCB of claim 17 wherein the plurality of electrical components mounted to the PCB are arranged such that electrical components having relatively smaller widths are mounted closer to the at least one mounting hole than the electrical components having relatively larger widths.

19. The PCB of claim 16 wherein the plurality of electrical components mounted to the PCB are arranged based on component density relative to a distance from the at least one mounting hole.

20. The PCB of claim 19 wherein a leaded integrated circuit (IC) component of the plurality of electrical components is disposed closer to the at least one mounting hole than a ceramic component of the plurality of electrical components.

21. The PCB of claim 15 wherein the plurality of guide slots are arranged such that the received plurality of guide posts can only slide axially and are restrained from sliding orthogonally.

22. The PCB of claim 15 wherein the plurality of guide slots are aligned towards the at least one mounting hole.

23. The PCB of claim 15 wherein the at least one mounting hole is disposed at a central mounting point of the PCB.

24. The PCB of claim 15 wherein the at least one mounting hole is disposed at a center of mass of the PCB.

25. The PCB of claim 15 wherein the PCB is circular, wherein each of the plurality of guide slots have a respective major axis that is directed circumferentially about the PCB, and wherein torsional deformation of the PCB is about the at least one mounting hole.