Lattice-shaped circuit board

• US 6,512,187 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Masanobu, Aoki, Kazuhiro, Sumida, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, ISHWARBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US09/902,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 174/261, 174/267, 174/68.2, 174/70.B, 174/72.B, 174/99.B, 174/251, 174/117.M, 174/117.F, 361/775, 361/777, 361/780
• US Class Current: 174/261
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2458 Electrical interconnections between terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/28 Terminal boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0287 having an universal lay-out, e.g. pad or land grid patterns or mesh patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/026 Multiple connections subassemblies

Abstract

A circuit board assembly containing two pluralities of busbars or wires arranged in a lattice configuration, there being electrical continuity at each of the intersecting points. Slits are provided on each of the busbars which engage each other to complete the lattice. In the case of wires, they are bonded to each other. The conductive member thus formed may be sandwiched between two insulative films and is placed on an insulative plate which, in turn, is enclosed by an electrical connection box. The configuration provides substantial advantages in economy of production, simplified equipment required, and ease of altering the circuitry.

Claims

1. A circuit board assembly for enclosure in an electrical connection box in a vehicle, comprising:

a first plurality of lateral wires substantially parallel to each other,

a second plurality of longitudinal wires substantially parallel to each other, said first plurality of lateral wires layered on and substantially perpendicular to said second plurality of longitudinal wires whereby said lateral wires and said longitudinal wires intersect and are welded to each other to make electrical connections therebetween at intersection points, to form a conductive material,

said conductive material attached to an upper surface of a planar insulative plate by holding ribs,

sections of said conductive material not needed for a circuit being cut away, and

solderless terminals fixed to said lateral wires and said longitudinal wires at predetermined positions, wherein said solderless terminals comprise terminal plates and jumper terminals, said terminal plates having a tab at one end, and connection blades at another end, said jumper terminals having solderless connection blades at both ends, said solderless terminals forming solderless electrical connections at said predetermined points, said solderless terminals being inserted from one or both sides of said insulative plate, and said tab arranged to project into a terminal opening of an adjacent connection box for connection to electrical elements of external circuits.

2. The circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein each side of said conductive member is covered by an insulative film.

3. The circuit board assembly of claim 1 wherein said lateral wires are spaced apart from each other at prescribed pitches and said longitudinal wires are spaced apart from each other at predetermined pitches, said prescribed pitches and said predetermined pitches corresponding to terminal opening pitches for electrical elements to which said lateral wires and said longitudinal wires are to be connected.