Method and device for connecting an EL lamp to a printed circuit board
First Claim
1. A method of attaching an electroluminescent lamp, having at least one contact, to a printed circuit board, said method comprising:
- providing a clip, said clip having a bottom and a top;
attaching said clip to said printed circuit board with a soldering step; and
sliding said electroluminescent lamp into said clip, said sliding step comprising;
providing an apparatus for releasably holding said electroluminescent lamp;
moving said holding apparatus, while holding said electroluminescent lamp so that said electroluminescent lamp slides into said clip; and
releasing said holding apparatus from said electroluminescent lamp.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and connector for connecting an electroluminescent (EL) lamp to a printed circuit board utilizing a pair of unique connector clips. Each connector clip is formed of bent sheet metal and has a bottom, a top, a closed bent end and an open end. Each connector clip is attached to a printed circuit board and the periphery of an EL lamp is positioned in the clips by sliding the EL lamp into the mouth of the connector clips. In particular, the EL lamp has a pair of contact pads on a bottom surface thereof, such that each pad contacts the bottom of a corresponding one of the connector clips. In a method of attaching the EL lamp to the printed circuit board, the EL lamp is releasably positioned in the clips by sliding the lamp into the clips. In one embodiment, positioning the EL lamp into the clips is done manually. In another embodiment, positioning the EL lamp into the clips is accomplished by a surface mount device and, particularly, by a vacuum-holding device.
22 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of attaching an electroluminescent lamp, having at least one contact, to a printed circuit board, said method comprising:
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providing a clip, said clip having a bottom and a top;
attaching said clip to said printed circuit board with a soldering step; and
sliding said electroluminescent lamp into said clip, said sliding step comprising;
providing an apparatus for releasably holding said electroluminescent lamp;
moving said holding apparatus, while holding said electroluminescent lamp so that said electroluminescent lamp slides into said clip; and
releasing said holding apparatus from said electroluminescent lamp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of attaching an electroluminescent lamp to a printed circuit board, said method comprising:
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soldering a clip to said printed circuit board by applying solder compound to said circuit board and vacuum-holding said clip and moving said clip into a position on said solder compound; and
connecting said electroluminescent lamp to said clip by vacuum holding said lamp and moving said lamp into said clip. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification