Method for forming traces on side edges of printed circuit boards and devices formed thereby
First Claim
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1. A method of forming traces on a peripheral side edge of a printed circuit board comprising:
- providing a printed circuit board having at least one connector pattern defined thereon;
forming a plurality of trace bores about a periphery of said connector pattern;
plating through all holes on said printed circuit board;
after said step of plating, masking all holes on said printed board except said trace bores;
after said step of masking, filling said trace bores with solder; and
cutting said printed circuit board along a line defined by said trace bores so as to expose at least a portion of the solder in said trace bores, thereby defining a printed circuit board having a plurality of distinct traces along peripheral side edge thereof.
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Abstract
During the manufacture of a printed circuit board, holes are drilled not only in accordance with a particular circuit board pattern, but also along the lines which will define edges of the board at the positions where traces are to appear. All of the holes are then plated through. The holes along the edges of the board are completely filled with solder. The board is then cut along the previously defined edge lines to cut the solder filled holes in half. This creates a trace and a solder reservoir along the edge of the board.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of forming traces on a peripheral side edge of a printed circuit board comprising:
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providing a printed circuit board having at least one connector pattern defined thereon; forming a plurality of trace bores about a periphery of said connector pattern; plating through all holes on said printed circuit board; after said step of plating, masking all holes on said printed board except said trace bores; after said step of masking, filling said trace bores with solder; and cutting said printed circuit board along a line defined by said trace bores so as to expose at least a portion of the solder in said trace bores, thereby defining a printed circuit board having a plurality of distinct traces along peripheral side edge thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A printed circuit board having at least one connector pattern defined thereon and having a window defined therethrough so that said printed circuit board has an inner peripheral side edge and an outer peripheral side edge;
- and a plurality of part cylindrical cut-outs defined along at least one of said inner and said outer peripheral side edges, each said part cylindrical cut-out having solder disposed therewithin.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A printed circuit board having at least one connector pattern defined thereon and having a side edge;
- and at least one part cylindrical cut-out defined on said peripheral side edge, said at least one part cylindrical cut-out having solder disposed therewithin, said solder projecting beyond the respective side edge of the board.
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13. A printed circuit board having at least one connector pattern defined thereon and having a side edge;
- and at least two part cylindrical cut-outs defined on said peripheral side edge, each said part cylindrical cut-out having solder disposed therewithin, and a further part cylindrical cut-out defined between each adjacent pair of said at least two part cylindrical cut-outs.
Specification