Printed circuit board assembly tooling

• US 8,850,695 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Call, Norman L., Chavez, Jose M., Chavez, Rodolfo
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, MINH N
• Application Number:
  US12/652,091
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 297/29, 29739-743, 298/84, 29874-876, 295/921, 29732-736, 269/236, 269/267, 269/2, 174/255, 174260-264, 228/41, 22818021-18022
• US Class Current: 29/739
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/04 Mounting of components , e.g. of leadless components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/1003 Non-printed inductor
• 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 3/007 Manufacture or processing of a substrate for a printed circuit board supported by a temporary or sacrificial carrier H05K1/187, H05K3/20 and H05K3/4682 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/30 Assembling printed circuits with electric components, e.g. with resistor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53265 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

Printed circuit board (PCB) assembly tooling and methods are provided. Particular tooling includes a first tooling fixture having a first core component receiver to receive a first portion of a magnetic core to be coupled to a first side of a PCB. The tooling also has a second tooling fixture including a second core component receiver to receive a second portion of the magnetic core to be coupled on a second side of the PCB to the first portion of the magnetic core. The tooling also has an alignment component disposed on at least one of the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture. The alignment component enables alignment of the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture. When the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture are aligned, the first portion of the magnetic core and the second portion of the magnetic core are aligned.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly tooling, comprising:

a first tooling fixture including a first core component receiver to receive a first portion of a magnetic core to be bonded to a second portion of the magnetic core, wherein the first core component receiver includes a first moveable member to retain the first portion of the magnetic core;

a second tooling fixture including a second core component receiver to receive the second portion of the magnetic core to be bonded to the first portion of the magnetic core; and

an alignment component disposed on at least one of the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture, wherein the alignment component enables alignment of the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture, and wherein, when the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture are aligned, the first portion of the magnetic core and the second portion of the magnetic core are aligned.

2. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, further comprising one or more retaining members coupled to at least one of the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture, the one or more retaining members operable to secure the first tooling fixture and the second tooling fixture in an aligned position during use.

3. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the first tooling fixture comprises one or more first biasing members, the one or more first biasing members operative to urge the first portion of the magnetic core toward a PCB during use.

4. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more first biasing members is adjustable to adjust a gap between the first portion of the magnetic core and the second portion of the magnetic core.

5. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 3, wherein the one or more first biasing members urge the first portion of the magnetic core toward a first side of the PCB, wherein one or more second biasing members urge the second portion of the magnetic core toward a second side of the PCB.

6. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the first core component receiver includes one or more spacers that retain the first portion of the magnetic core at a specified assembly position relative to the PCB.

7. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the first moveable member is configured to apply a force to the first portion of the magnetic core to move the first portion of the magnetic core into an assembly position of the first portion of the magnetic core relative to a PCB.

8. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 7, wherein the assembly position of the first portion of the magnetic core relative to the PCB defines an adhesive gap that accommodates an adhesive that flexibly couples the first portion of the magnetic core to the PCB.

9. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the first tooling fixture includes at least one PCB alignment component, wherein the at least one PCB alignment component facilitates alignment of the first tooling fixture and a PCB.

10. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the second core component receiver comprises a second moveable member to retain the second portion of the magnetic core.

11. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 10, wherein the second moveable member is configured to apply a force to the second portion of the magnetic core to move the second portion of the magnetic core into an assembly position relative to the first portion of the magnetic core.

12. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 11, wherein the assembly position of the second portion of the magnetic core relative to the first portion of the magnetic core defines an adhesive gap that accommodates an adhesive, and wherein the second portion of the magnetic core is bonded to the first portion of the magnetic core using the adhesive.

13. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 10, wherein the second moveable member includes a material that is softer than the magnetic core.

14. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the second tooling fixture comprises one or more second biasing members, the one or more second biasing members operative to urge the second portion of the magnetic core toward the PCB during use.

15. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 14, wherein the one or more second biasing members are adjustable to adjust a gap between the first portion of the magnetic core and the second portion of the magnetic core.

16. The PCB assembly tooling of claim 1, wherein the first moveable member includes a material that is softer than the magnetic core.