Thermal interface adapter plate conversion kit and method
First Claim
1. A method of selectively assembling a module as either an open frame module or a baseplate module from a conversion kit including a printed circuit board (PCB) having an electric circuit thereon and a first surface and an opposite surface and having at least one row of pins extending out from said first surface proximate to an edge of said PCB for enabling said circuit to be connected to a circuit external to said PCB;
- at least one non-conductive lead frame having a plurality of holes in a position to enable said lead frame to be positioned on the first surface of said PCB with each said pin extending through a corresponding hole in said lead frame;
open frame mounting hardware;
baseplate mounting hardware; and
a baseplate, said method comprising;
selecting said PCB;
selecting mounting hardware according to what type of module is desired, wherein said open frame mounting hardware is for assembling said open frame module and said baseplate mounting hardware is for assembling said baseplate module;
attaching said at least one lead frame to said selected PCB using said selected mounting hardware; and
attaching said baseplate to said opposite surface of said selected PCB if said desired type of module is said baseplate module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of selectively assembling a printed circuit board (PCB) module intended for attachment to another structure, such as another larger PCB. A plurality of different mounting hardware for a PCB are provided for enabling the selective enhancement of the thermal characteristics of the module. One embodiment provides a conversion kit comprising a PCB having a circuit mounted thereon, lead frames, a baseplate, and open frame and baseplate mounting hardware that, when selectively attached to the PCB, result in an open frame or a baseplate module. The manufacturer of power conversion or other modules can thus manufacture and pretest the board'"'"'s electronics before assembly into either an open frame or baseplate module, while also providing a conversion kit that includes inexpensive mounting hardware to enable a user to select between assembling a module as either an open frame or a baseplate module.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of selectively assembling a module as either an open frame module or a baseplate module from a conversion kit including a printed circuit board (PCB) having an electric circuit thereon and a first surface and an opposite surface and having at least one row of pins extending out from said first surface proximate to an edge of said PCB for enabling said circuit to be connected to a circuit external to said PCB;
- at least one non-conductive lead frame having a plurality of holes in a position to enable said lead frame to be positioned on the first surface of said PCB with each said pin extending through a corresponding hole in said lead frame;
open frame mounting hardware;
baseplate mounting hardware; and
a baseplate, said method comprising;selecting said PCB; selecting mounting hardware according to what type of module is desired, wherein said open frame mounting hardware is for assembling said open frame module and said baseplate mounting hardware is for assembling said baseplate module; attaching said at least one lead frame to said selected PCB using said selected mounting hardware; and attaching said baseplate to said opposite surface of said selected PCB if said desired type of module is said baseplate module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- at least one non-conductive lead frame having a plurality of holes in a position to enable said lead frame to be positioned on the first surface of said PCB with each said pin extending through a corresponding hole in said lead frame;
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6. A conversion kit for enabling a user to select between assembling a module as either an open frame module or a baseplate module, said kit comprising:
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a printed circuit board (PCB) including an electrical circuit having one or more components mounted on a first surface thereof and having two rows of pins extending out from said first surface proximate to opposite edges of said PCB for enabling said circuit to be connected to a circuit external to said PCB, and including one or more components of said circuit mounted on the opposite surface of said PCB; two non-conductive lead frames each having a plurality of holes in a position to enable each lead frame to be positioned on the surface of said PCB with each said pin extending through a corresponding hole in one of said lead frames; and providing a) open frame mounting hardware for attaching said lead frames to said PCB, and b) baseplate mounting hardware for attaching a baseplate to said opposite surface of said PCB and for attaching said lead frames to the PCB; wherein said open frame mounting hardware, said baseplate, and said baseplate mounting hardware are provided for enabling user selection for assembling either said open frame module or said baseplate module so as to provide user-selectable heat dissipation alternatives for said circuit components and for attaching said lead frames to said PCB. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification