Method of forming printed circuit board having connector, and electric junction box having printed circuit board

• US 7,857,637 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Kasai, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/934,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.2, 439/76.1, 439/79, 361/752, 361/753
• US Class Current: 439/76.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7011 Locking or fixing a connector to a PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/205 with a panel or printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10424 Frame holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/167 Using mechanical means for positioning, alignment or registration, e.g. using rod-in-hole alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/306 Lead-in-hole components, e.g. affixing or retention before soldering, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of forming a printed circuit board having a connector including providing a base portion including through holes into which terminals are inserted; inserting terminals projecting from a bottom surface of the base portion into a terminal hole provided on the printed circuit board; fitting a rib projecting from the bottom surface of the base portion with a through hole provided on the printed circuit board; temporarily fixing the bottom surface of the base portion, the surface contacting a surface of the printed circuit board; then fixing with soldering each of the terminals inserted into the terminal hole of the printed circuit board; fitting a connector housing with the base portion, the connector housing having a fitting hole within which the base portion is fitted; and placing the connector housing on the printed circuit board while the terminals are housed within the connector housing.

Claims

1. A method of forming a printed circuit board having a connector comprising:

providing a base portion including terminals projecting therefrom;

inserting each of the terminals projecting from the base portion into a respective terminal aperture provided on the printed circuit board;

inserting a rib projecting from the bottom surface of the base portion into an aperture provided on the printed circuit board;

temporarily fixing the bottom surface of the base portion, the bottom surface contacting a surface of the printed circuit board;

fixing with soldering each of the terminals inserted into the terminal apertures of the printed circuit board;

fitting a connector housing with the base portion, the connector housing having a fitting hole within which the base portion is fitted;

placing the connector housing on the printed circuit board while the terminals are housed within the connector housing; and

housing the printed circuit board within a case including a lower case and an upper case so that the outer surface of the connector of the printed circuit board is sandwiched and positioned between the upper case and the lower case and on an outer surface of the case.

2. The method of forming a printed circuit board according to claim 1, said providing a base portion including terminals projecting therefrom further comprising:

providing holes in the base portion; and

inserting the terminals in the holes.

3. The method of forming a printed circuit board according to claim 1, said providing a base portion including terminals projecting therefrom further comprising:

insert molding a base portion with the terminals projecting therefrom.

4. The method of forming a printed circuit board according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the printed circuit board with a plurality of base portions and the connector housing, the base portions aligned and including spaces therebetween;

providing the connector housing with through holes into which the base portions are fitted, the through holes including spaces therebetween; and

providing the connector housing with a dividing wall forming connector receptacles into which distinct connectors are fitted.

5. An electric junction box for a vehicle, comprising:

a printed circuit board having a connector, the printed circuit board housed within a case including a lower case and an upper case, the outer surface of the connector of the printed circuit board is sandwiched and positioned between the upper case and the lower case and on an outer surface of the case to fit with a connector connected to a wire harness;

the printed circuit board comprising;

a base portion including a plurality of terminals fixed therein, each terminal soldered through a respective terminal aperture in the printed circuit board and projecting therefrom;

a connector housing provided on a surface of the printed circuit board, the connector housing including a fitting hole therein, the base portion fitted in the fitting hole, and a rib provided on a bottom surface of the base portion inserted into an aperture in the printed circuit board; and

a latching portion projecting from an outer surface of the connector housing that latches with latched portions provided on the lower case and the upper case, so that the connector housing is fixed between the lower case and the upper case.

6. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the printed circuit board is formed by a method comprising:

providing a base portion including terminals projecting therefrom;

inserting each of the terminals projecting from the base portion into a terminal aperture provided on the printed circuit board;

inserting a rib projecting from the bottom surface of the base portion into an aperture provided on the printed circuit board;

temporarily fixing the bottom surface of the base portion, the bottom surface contacting a surface of the printed circuit board;

fixing with soldering each of the terminals inserted into the terminal apertures of the printed circuit board;

fitting a connector housing with the base portion, the connector housing having a fitting hole within which the base portion is fitted; and

placing the connector housing on the printed circuit board while the terminals are housed within the connector housing.

7. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of base portions provided on the printed circuit board, the base portions aligned and including spaces therebetween;

through holes provided in the connector housing into which the base portions are fitted, the through holes including spaces therebetween; and

a dividing wall provided in the connector housing, said dividing wall forming connector receptacles into which distinct connectors are fitted.

8. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first connector and a second connector provided on the printed circuit board, the first and second connectors adjacently aligned on the printed circuit board, the first connector comprising a connector receptacle for an airbag circuit; and

a slidable connector cover slidably attached to at least one of the lower case and the upper case, the connector cover sliding over the connector receptacle for an airbag circuit and the adjacent connector receptacle, the connector cover being configured so that a connector can be inserted into the adjacent connector receptacle only when the connector for an airbag circuit is fitted and the connector cover is slid over the connector for an airbag circuit.

9. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising:

a first connector and a second connector provided on the printed circuit board, the first and second. connectors adjacently aligned on the printed circuit board, the first connector comprising a connector receptacle for an airbag circuit; and

a slidable connector cover slidably attached to at least one of the lower case and the upper case, the connector cover sliding over the connector receptacle for an airbag circuit and the adjacent connector receptacle, the connector cover being configured so that a connector can be inserted into the adjacent connector receptacle only when the connector for an airbag circuit is fitted and the connector cover is slid over the connector for an airbag circuit.

10. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the connector receptacles are provided on a side of the printed circuit board between the upper case and the lower case, further comprising:

a pair of slide portions formed by a substantially U-shaped cross section of the slidable connector cover;

a guide rail provided on a surface of the upper case or the lower case, the guide rail configured to receive the slide portions of the slidable connector cover; and

a projection provided in the guide rail and configured so that both slide portions are moved over the projection.

11. The electric junction box for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the connector receptacles are provided on a side of the printed circuit board between the upper case and the lower case, further comprising:

a pair of slide portions formed by a substantially U-shaped cross section of the slidable connector cover;

a guide rail provided on a surface of the upper case or the lower case, the guide rail configured to receive the slide portions of the slidable connector cover; and

a projection provided in the guide rail and configured so that both slide portions are moved over the projection.