Edge-connecting printed circuit board

• US 5,345,364 A
• Filed: 08/18/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Biernath, Rolf W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US08/109,213
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 439/65, 439/66, 439/67, 439/47, 439/48, 439/59, 439/60, 439/77, 174/254, 361/749, 361/750, 361/751, 361/789
• US Class Current: 361/749
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/117 Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0133 Elastomeric or compliant polymer
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09163 Slotted edge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09172 Notches between edge pads
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/326 the printed circuit having integral resilient or deformable parts, e.g. tabs or parts of flexible circuits H05K3/365 takes precedence

Abstract

A printed circuit board capable of resilient deformation having two major surfaces and a contact edge. Electrically conductive traces are provided on each major surface of the board which lead to electrically conductive contact pads at the contact edge of the board. A gap is provided between the two major surfaces of the board along the contact edge. The gap permits resilient deformation of the board so that a force is created upon deformation which will bias the major surfaces toward their undeformed position. An elastomeric biasing member may be provided in the gap.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board comprising:

a printed circuit board capable of resilient deformation and having first and second outer major surfaces and a contact edge; and

a plurality of electrically conductive traces provided on at least one of the major surfaces leading to a plurality of electrically conductive contact pads at the contact edge of the board;

wherein the first and second major surfaces define a gap therebetween at the contact edge, wherein the gap permits resilient deformation of the board so that a force is created upon deformation which will bias the major surfaces toward their undeformed position.

2. The board of claim 1, further including a second plurality of contact pads on the other major surface leading to a second plurality of electrically conductive contact pads at the contact edge, and wherein the force created upon deformation biases the two pluralities of contact pads away from each other.

3. The board of claim 1, further including a pin guide assembly, wherein the contact edge is disposed within the assembly, and wherein the assembly is configured to guide a plurality of conductive pins into electrical contact with the plurality of contact pads.

4. The board of claim 1, further including a biasing member provided within the gap.

5. The board of claim 4, wherein the biasing member is an elastomer.

6. The board of claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact pads on one of the major surfaces is separated from an adjacent contact pad in the same surface by a slot in the board perpendicular to the contact edge.

7. The board of claim 6, wherein each slot ends prior to the contact edge of the board.

8. The board of claim 2, further including a pin guide assembly, wherein the two pluralities of contact pads on the two major surfaces of the board are disposed within the assembly, and wherein the assembly is configured to guide the two pluralities of electrically conductive pins into electrical contact with the two pluralities of contact pads.

9. The board of claim 2, further including an elastomeric biasing member provided within the gap.

10. The board of claim 3, further including an elastomeric biasing member provided within the gap.

11. The board of claim 3, wherein the assembly is detachably secured to the board.

12. The board of claim 5, wherein the elastomer is an adhesive.