Method for attaching an antenna to a circuit board and article produced thereby

• US 6,140,977 A
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Morales, Jorge, Avitia, Cesar Estrada, Mendoza, Rodolfo Sotelo
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/366,221
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/906, 343/767, 343/700 MS, 343/795, 339/17 M, 339/126 J, 339/217 J, 339/14, 339/18, 29/600, 439/916, 340/825.22, 340/825.5
• US Class Current: 343/906
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/02 for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/50 mounted on a PCB [Printed Circuit Board]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0243 Printed circuits associated with mounted high frequency components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/182 associated with components mounted in the printed circuit board, e.g. insert mounted components [IMC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10446 Mounted on an edge
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3405 Edge mounted components, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3447 Lead-in-hole components H05K3/3415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/916 Antenna

Abstract

An electronic circuit assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board 10 having opposed top and bottom surfaces 12/14 and a circuit board edge 16 thereabout, a slot 18 formed in the circuit board edge (wherein the slot has two opposed longitudinal edges 20 and a transverse edge 22), and a plated through-hole 32 formed through the board adjacent the transverse edge 22; and a generally elongate antenna socket 46 having an outer surface 48 thereof, a female electrical connector 54 formed in an outboard end 52 thereof, and a finger 56 formed in and extending from an inboard end 50 thereof. The antenna socket 46 is disposed so as to rest within the slot 18 on the top circuit board surface 12 with the finger 56 extending through the plated through-hole 32. In a preferred embodiment, at least one first solder joint 58 on the bottom circuit board surface 14 connects a respective one of the longitudinal edges 20 of the slot with the adjacent outer surface 48 of the antenna socket 46, while a second solder joint 60 connects the finger 56 with the plated through-hole 32.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit assembly, comprising:

(a) a printed circuit board having

(1) opposed top and bottom surfaces and a circuit board edge thereabout;

(2) a slot of width W1 formed in said circuit board edge, wherein said slot has two opposed longitudinal edges generally orthogonal to said circuit board edge and a transverse edge bridging said longitudinal edges; and

(3) a plated through-hole formed therethrough adjacent said transverse edge;

(b) a generally elongate antenna socket having an outer surface thereof, a female electrical connector formed in an outboard end thereof, and a finger formed in and extending from an inboard end thereof, wherein said inboard end has a width W2 less than W1;

(c) said antenna socket resting on said top surface within said slot with said finger extending through said plated through-hole;

(d) at least one first solder joint connecting a respective one of said longitudinal edges of said slot with said outer surface of said antenna socket; and

(e) a second solder joint connecting said finger with said plated through-hole.

2. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said slot is generally rectangular, generally bullet-shaped, or generally T-shaped.

3. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said slot has a length L as measured from said circuit board edge to said transverse edge, wherein L>

W1.

4. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein said finger is bent such that a distal end thereof extends generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said antenna socket.

5. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one first solder joint is disposed on said bottom surface of said circuit board.

6. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least one first solder joint is disposed on said top surface of said circuit board.

7. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 1, further including a longitudinal solder land disposed on at least one of said top and bottom surfaces immediately proximate and along at least one of said longitudinal edges of said slot.

8. An electronic circuit assembly, comprising:

(a) a printed circuit board having

(1) opposed top and bottom surfaces and a circuit board edge thereabout;

(2) a generally rectangular slot of length L and width W1 formed in said circuit board edge, wherein said slot has two opposed longitudinal edges generally orthogonal to said circuit board edge and a transverse edge bridging said longitudinal edges, wherein L>

W1; and

(3) a plated through-hole formed therethrough adjacent said transverse edge;

(b) a generally elongate antenna socket having an outer surface thereof, a female electrical connector formed in an outboard end thereof, and a finger formed in and extending from an inboard end thereof, said finger having a distal end thereof bent generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said antenna socket, wherein said inboard end has a width W2 less than W1;

(c) said antenna socket resting on said top surface within said slot with said distal end of said finger extending through said plated through-hole;

(d) two first solder joints on said bottom surface each connecting a respective one of said longitudinal edges of said slot with said outer surface of said antenna socket; and

(e) a second solder joint connecting said finger with said plated through-hole.

9. An electronic circuit assembly according to claim 8, further including a longitudinal solder land disposed on at least said bottom surface immediately proximate and along each of said longitudinal edges of said slot.

10. A method for assembling an electronic circuit assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a printed circuit board and an antenna socket, wherein the printed circuit board has opposed top and bottom surfaces, a circuit board edge thereabout, a slot of width W1 and having longitudinal edges formed in the circuit board edge, and a plated through-hole formed therethrough adjacent the slot, and wherein the antenna socket has an outer surface, a female electrical connector formed in an outboard end thereof, and a finger formed in and extending from an inboard end thereof, wherein the inboard end of the antenna socket has a width W2 less than W1;

positioning the antenna socket on the top surface of the printed circuit board within the slot with the finger extending through the plated through-hole, thereby forming a circuit board assembly; and

processing the circuit board assembly so as to form at least one first solder joint on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces so as to connect a respective one of the longitudinal edges of the slot with the outer surface of the antenna socket, and a second solder joint connecting the finger with the plated through-hole.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said processing step comprises wave soldering.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one first solder joint is disposed on the bottom surface of the printed circuit board.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said processing step comprises reflow soldering.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one first solder joint is disposed on the top surface of the printed circuit board.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of placing a deposit of solder paste on the top surface of the printed circuit board immediately proximate and along at least one of said longitudinal edges of said slot.