Breadboard-Style PCB With Embedded Wires and Solder Bridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of breadboards and traditional printed circuit boards (PCBs) requires cumbersome and time-consuming processes involving hookup wires, which need to be cut, stripped, and soldered, making circuit design and transfer laborious and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A breadboard style printed circuit board that utilizes embedded wires and solder bridges to form connections, allowing for easy and flexible circuit design without the need for hookup wires, by using copper layers and solder bridges to create partial connections that can be completed with a small amount of solder, reducing the time and effort required for soldering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hookup wires are used to connect components on breadboard or traditional PCB, then electrical connections between circuit elements can be achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming requiring cutting, stripping, and soldering of wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-forms electrical connections by embedding wires within the PCB structure during manufacturing, and pre-positions solder bridges at designated locations. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming wire cutting, stripping, and soldering during circuit assembly, while ensuring reliable electrical connections are already in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces solder bridges as intermediary elements that facilitate electrical connections between circuit elements. These solder bridges serve as pre-prepared connection points that replace the need for hookup wires, allowing components to be connected simply by placing them on the board and applying minimal solder, thus dramatically reducing assembly time while maintaining connection reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional PCB manufacturing processes are used, then permanent electrical connections can be achieved through soldering, but the process is laborious and requires significant skill and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection-making process into two distinct phases: (1) manufacturing phase where wires are embedded and solder bridges are pre-positioned during PCB fabrication, and (2) assembly phase where components are simply placed and minimal soldering is required. This segmentation transfers the complex manufacturing steps to the PCB fabrication process, making the final assembly extremely easy and rapid.
Solution Approach 2:
All complex connection preparation work is performed in advance during PCB manufacturing - wires are embedded, routed, and solder bridges are pre-formed at exact locations. This preliminary action ensures that the final assembly requires minimal skill and time, while the embedded wires and pre-positioned solder bridges guarantee permanent, reliable connections once assembled.
3Adaptability or versatility
If breadboard layout is used for PCB, then circuit transfer from breadboard to PCB becomes possible, but hookup wires still need to be cut, stripped and soldered making the process laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a PCB that replicates the breadboard layout and connectivity pattern. The embedded wires and solder bridges are positioned to mirror the breadboard's electrical connections, allowing direct copying of the circuit design from breadboard to PCB. This copying approach, combined with pre-formed connections, enables rapid circuit transfer without the laborious wire preparation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCB is pre-configured with embedded wires and solder bridges that replicate the breadboard's connection topology before the circuit transfer begins. This preliminary preparation of the target PCB allows the circuit to be transferred by simply placing components in their corresponding positions and applying minimal solder, dramatically improving transfer efficiency while maintaining the adaptability of breadboard-style design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to electric circuit testing, building, or implementing using a breadboard-style printed circuit board (PCB). Aspects of the present invention include eliminating the need to use hookup wires when building and testing electric circuits on PCBs. In one or more embodiments, a PCB system having rows and columns of signal tie points connected in a breadboard layout and using an embedded wire and a solder bridge to form partial connections between signal tie points may be built. In one or more embodiments, an embedded wire and solder bridge is capable of connecting a column of signal tie points, and/or an embedded wire and solder bridge is capable of connecting a power rail to a signal tie point. Thus, a circuit may be implemented and tested by applying a small amount of solder to the solder bridge without the need for hookup wire.