Electronic Assembly Modular Backplane Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic assemblies with complex backplane architectures become cumbersome and costly due to extensive task-specific wiring, which complicates communication between functional units and external systems, especially as the number of functional units increases.
Innovation Solution
A modular design separates the contact plate from a communication unit connected via data lines, allowing for a compact and simplified backplane architecture, where the communication unit acts as a central interface for adapting different communication protocols and data rates, and is mechanically and signal-wise connected to the contact plate, enabling efficient data transmission without active components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If functional units are arranged next to one another on the contact plate, then communication between external systems is enabled, but data line paths become complex and large
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane is segmented into a contact plate for mechanical connection and a separate communication unit for data transmission. This separation allows functional units to communicate with external systems through the communication unit without requiring complex data line paths across the entire backplane, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication unit acts as an intermediary between the contact plate and external systems. It receives data from functional units via simplified paths and handles communication protocols and data rates, mediating the interaction between internal functional units and external systems without requiring direct complex wiring between all components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If task-specific wiring is implemented on the backplane, then functional units can communicate with external systems, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication unit serves as a universal interface for all functional units, providing multi-functional communication capabilities including protocol adaptation and data rate conversion. This single universal component replaces the need for individual task-specific wiring for each functional unit, significantly simplifying manufacturing while maintaining adaptability to different communication requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If a centralized backplane is used for communication, then functional units can be standardized, but data line paths become lengthy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the backplane into a contact plate and a separate communication unit positioned adjacent to the contact points, the patent eliminates lengthy data line paths. Functional units connect to the communication unit through short local connections, while the communication unit handles external communications, thus maintaining standardization benefits without requiring longè·¨-functional-unit wiring.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic assembly (2, 36), comprising several functional units (4), which each comprise a circuit board element (6) populated with electronic components (8), the circuit board elements each having a number of contact points (10) arranged in at least one row, and a contact circuit board (12, 38), which has at least one row (66) of contact receptacles (14) for each circuit board element (6), the contact receptacles being electrically connected directly to the contact points (10) of the circuit board element (6) thereof, and said rows (66) pointing in the longitudinal direction thereof to a side (64) of the contact circuit board (12, 38). In order to be able to produce several similar assemblies (2) compactly and at low cost, the assembly (2) comprises a communication unit (22, 40) separate from the contact circuit board (12, 38) for communication with components (8) of the circuit board elements (6), which communication unit is connected to the contact circuit board (12, 38) by means of several data lines (16, 18), wherein the data lines (16, 18) are contacted with the contact circuit board (12, 38) on the side (64) to which the rows (66) point.