Compact device housing and assembly techniques therefor

• US 8,934,261 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Wey-Jiun, Pan, Kevin, de la Cruz, Conrado Sacluti
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T
• Application Number:
  US12/489,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20100159755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 361752-753, 361/792, 361/803, 439/76.1, 439/65
• US Class Current: 361/792
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/57 surface mounting terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/58 terminals for insertion into holes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/111 co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/145 Arrangements wherein electric components are disposed between and simultaneously connected to two planar printed circuit boards, e.g. Cordwood modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/048 Second PCB mounted on first PCB by inserting in window or holes of the first PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09181 Notches in edge pads
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/366 substantially perpendicularly to each other H05K3/361 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

High density electronic device assemblies and techniques for forming high density electronic device assemblies are disclosed. These assemblies and techniques can be used to form compact electronic devices. In one embodiment, substrate arrangements that include a multiple-part substrate can be used to form a high density electronic device assembly. In another embodiment, one or more clips can be used in a high density electronic device assembly to provide mechanical and electrical interconnection between electrical structures that are to be removably coupled together as parts of the high density electronic device assembly. In still another embodiment, a removable cap (and a method for forming the removable cap) can be used for an electronic device housing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening;

an electrical connector accessible from the opening in said housing, wherein the electrical connector has a plurality of sides; and

a printed circuit board assembly comprising a plurality of printed circuit boards having a plurality of electrical components coupled thereto, said printed circuit board assembly being provided within said housing and being electrically connected to said electrical connector, and said printed circuit board assembly being configured adjacent to a plurality of sides of said electrical connector, wherein said printed circuit board assembly has at least three sides that are each defined by a different one of the plurality of printed circuit boards and that are arranged to be adjacent to one of the sides of said electrical connector and a fourth side defined by one of the printed circuit boards, wherein the fourth side is attached to the electrical connector, and wherein the printed circuit board assembly comprises a bracket extending between a first portion and a second portion of one of the plurality of printed circuit boards, wherein the bracket extends adjacent to one of the plurality of sides of said electrical connector.

2. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector is a peripheral port connector.

3. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a power adapter.

4. An electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board assembly comprises a first and a second end, and the electrical connector is located at the first end of the printed circuit board assembly.

5. An electronic device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a plug located at the second end of the printed circuit board assembly.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening;

an electrical connector accessible from the opening in said housing, wherein said electrical connector has a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side; and

a printed circuit board assembly comprising a plurality of printed circuit boards having a plurality of electrical components coupled thereto, said printed circuit board assembly being provided within said housing and being electrically connected to said electrical connector, and said printed circuit board assembly being configured adjacent to a plurality of sides of said electrical connector,

wherein said printed circuit board assembly has at least three sides that are each defined by a different one of the plurality of printed circuit boards and that are arranged to be adjacent to one of the sides of said electrical connector, wherein said printed circuit board assembly comprises;

a first printed circuit board provided adjacent the first side of said electrical connector;

a second printed circuit board provided adjacent the second side of said electrical connector;

a third printed circuit board provided adjacent the third side of said electrical connector;

a fourth printed circuit board provided adjacent the top side of said electrical connector, and wherein the fourth printed circuit board is smaller than the first printed circuit board.

7. An electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the printed circuit board assembly comprises a first and a second end, and the electrical connector is located at the first end of the printed circuit board assembly.

8. An electronic device as recited in claim 7, further comprising a plug located at the second end of the printed circuit board assembly.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening;

an electrical connector accessible from the opening in said housing; and

a printed circuit board assembly having a plurality of electrical components coupled thereto, said printed circuit board assembly being provided within said housing and being electrically connected to said electrical connector, and said printed circuit board assembly being configured adjacent to a plurality of sides of said electrical connector,

wherein said electrical connector has a top side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side, and

wherein said printed circuit board assembly comprises;

a bottom printed circuit board attached to the electrical connector;

a bracket extending between a first portion and a second portion of the bottom printed circuit board, wherein the bracket extends adjacent to the bottom side of said electrical connector;

a first side printed circuit board provided adjacent the left side of said electrical connector;

a second side printed circuit board provided adjacent the right side of said electrical connector; and

a top printed circuit board provided adjacent the top side of said electrical connector.

10. An electronic device as recited in claim 9,

wherein said top printed circuit board is physically and electrically connected to said first side printed circuit board and said second side printed circuit board, and

wherein said bottom printed circuit board is physically and electrically connected to said first side printed circuit board and said second side printed circuit board.

11. An electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the first side printed circuit board and the second side printed circuit board are the same size.

12. An electronic device as recited in claim 9, wherein the printed circuit board assembly comprises a first and a second end, and the electrical connector is located at the first end of the printed circuit board assembly.

13. An electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein said top printed circuit board is electrically connected to said bottom printed circuit board through at least one of said first side printed circuit board or said second side printed circuit board.

14. An electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the top printed circuit board is larger than the first and second side printed circuit boards.

15. An electronic device as recited in claim 12, further comprising a plug located at the second end of the printed circuit board assembly.

16. An electronic device as recited in claim 14, wherein the bottom printed circuit board is larger than the top printed circuit board.