Circuit Board Interconnection Architecture With Slots

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-density electronic systems face precision fitting and assembly challenges due to increased connector density and assembly tolerance, leading to potential deformation during mating of circuit boards.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of slots on the edges of circuit boards allows for unequal spacing between connectors, enabling them to move perpendicular to the board surface, ensuring precise alignment and connection without deformation, even with assembly tolerance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If connectors on front and rear circuit boards are directly mated perpendicularly in orthogonal manner, then electrical connection between functional circuits is implemented, but assembly tolerance and accumulated tolerance chain cause deformation of circuit boards after mating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit board is designed with a flexible section that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. This flexible section includes a first section and a second section that can rotate relative to each other, allowing the connector to adapt to assembly tolerances and prevent deformation during mating operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a rotational degree of freedom between the first and second sections of the circuit board. This additional dimensional movement allows the connector to compensate for tolerance accumulation in the orthogonal mating direction, solving the precision problem by adding movement in a different dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If connectors are placed closer together to increase arrangement density, then higher integration density is achieved, but larger external force is required during installation to assemble them onto circuit boards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearrangement densityVSAvoidinstallation force
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible section with rotational capability reduces the installation force requirement by allowing the connector to self-align during mating. The dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for excessive external force that would be required to force rigid connectors into precise alignment when spaced closely together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If connectors are placed closer together to increase arrangement density, then higher integration density is achieved, but fitting precision becomes difficult to maintain due to larger assembly tolerance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearrangement densityVSAvoidfitting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible section enables dynamic position adjustment of the connector, allowing it to compensate for assembly tolerances even when connectors are densely packed. This maintains fitting precision despite the reduced spacing between connectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By introducing rotational movement capability, the system compensates for tolerance accumulation in the horizontal mating direction through vertical plane rotation, maintaining fitting precision in high-density arrangements where tolerance accumulation would normally be problematic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2945470B1Circuit board interconnection architecture
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2945470B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2945470B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2945470B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a circuit board interconnection architecture, which includes at least one first plugboard and at least two second plugboards substantially perpendicular to the first plugboard, where at least one of the first plugboard and the second plugboards is provided with several slots; the first plugboard and the second plugboards are mated and electrically connected by using signal connectors on both sides of the slots. The circuit board interconnection architecture solves a fitting precision problem of the first plugboard and the second plugboards in orthogonal directions. Even though there is an assembly tolerance between the first plugboard and the second plugboards, the connectors still satisfy assembly precision requirements, which can also avoid overall deformation of a first circuit board and a second circuit board after the first plugboard and the second plugboards are interconnected and mated orthogonally. The present invention further provides an electronic system and an electronic device which uses the electronic system.