Capacitor Support Apparatus with Through-Board Legs and Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current circuit board designs face challenges in providing efficient strain relief for densely packed capacitors due to limited space, as traditional clamps occupy too much real estate and adhesives used for direct bonding are limited and difficult to rework.
Innovation Solution
A compact, self-aligning support apparatus with multi-directional load stability and built-in venting channels for capacitor leads, allowing for scalable and reworkable capacitor support, using materials matched or mismatched with CTE to the capacitors, and featuring a center hole for air flow during soldering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional clamps are used for capacitor support, then strain relief is provided, but circuit board space is excessively occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus transitions from a two-dimensional planar clamp design to a three-dimensional structure with vertical legs extending through the circuit board. This dimensional change allows the support to provide strain relief in the vertical dimension while minimizing footprint on the circuit board plane, resolving the contradiction between strain relief capability and space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support apparatus is designed with nested components where the capacitor sits within a recess formed by the support structure. The legs extend through the circuit board and can be secured within holes or slots, creating a nested configuration that maximizes space efficiency while maintaining structural support and strain relief functionality.
2Reliability
If adhesives are used for direct bonding, then capacitor support is achieved, but rework becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: legs for mechanical support and anchoring, a body structure for positioning, and a recess for capacitor retention. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates rework, as individual components can be adjusted or replaced without requiring complete removal and reapplication of adhesives.
Solution Approach 2:
The support apparatus acts as an intermediary between the capacitor and the circuit board, providing mechanical support and strain relief without requiring direct adhesive bonding between the capacitor and board. The legs extend through the board and can be secured mechanically, while the capacitor is retained by the support structure, enabling rework by removing and replacing individual components.
3Area of stationary object
If compact support design is implemented, then space is optimized, but ventilation for soldering is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus incorporates thin-walled structures and open configurations that allow air to pass through the component supports during soldering. The legs and body are designed with sufficient openness to permit ventilation and air flow for heat dissipation and fume removal, while maintaining compact dimensions for space optimization on the circuit board.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A support apparatus for a component is provided and includes a periphery entirely disposable within a footprint of the component on a surface of a substrate, a first portion having a first surface adhesively connectable to the component, a second portion having a second surface disposable to contact the surface of the substrate in discrete sectors and defining an aperture through which leads are extendable from the component and through the substrate, and vents extending between the discrete sectors from the aperture to the periphery, and bosses disposed to protrude from the second surface and into through-holes defined in the substrate.