Grid-Based Peripheral Coupling Assembly for Flexible PCB Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intelligent peripheral coupling assemblies face challenges in connecting highly individualized peripheral devices while maintaining standardization and reducing circuit board design complexity, leading to inflexibility and increased costs due to the need for custom hardware and complex cabling.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a grid-based conductor track layout on the circuit board allows for standardized embedding of peripheral coupling subassemblies, with programmable logic and microcontroller connections, enabling flexible connection of diverse peripheral devices without requiring extensive hardware modifications, thus simplifying the design and reducing cabling efforts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom hardware and complex cabling are used to connect highly individualized peripheral devices, then connection flexibility is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal connector component with standardized conductor track layout that can connect multiple types of peripheral devices (sensors, actuators, communication modules) through a single interface. The grid-based conductor track design with assignable zones allows the same physical connector to serve different functions by configuring which conductors are active, eliminating the need for device-specific hardware designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector component is divided into multiple independently configurable zones, each corresponding to specific conductor tracks. These zones can be individually assigned to different peripheral device types, allowing the system to accommodate various devices by activating only the necessary zones rather than designing custom connectors for each device type.
2Ease of manufacture
If standardized circuit board design is used to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to individual peripheral devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces software-based configuration that dynamically assigns conductor tracks to different peripheral device functions. The standardized physical hardware remains unchanged, but the electrical connections are dynamically reconfigured through programming the controller unit to recognize different device types and activate appropriate conductor assignments, enabling a single standardized board to adapt to various devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters of the connector by selectively activating or deactivating specific conductor tracks based on the connected peripheral device type. The physical connector structure remains standardized, but the electrical configuration parameters (which conductors are connected, their signal types, and assignment) are programmatically adjusted to match the requirements of different devices.
3Reliability
If custom cabling is used for each peripheral device connection, then connection reliability is improved, but loss of time and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual connection functions into a single integrated connector component. Instead of requiring separate cables and connection points for each peripheral device, the system uses one multi-functional connector that consolidates power, ground, and signal connections for various device types, dramatically reducing cabling effort while maintaining reliable electrical connections through standardized contact points.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an intelligent peripheral coupling assembly (IP) which has sub-assemblies on a circuit board comprising at least one conductor path layer, wherein the following are provided: a network coupling sub-assembly group (N) for coupling the peripheral coupling assembly (IP) to at least one - preferably central - control unit (CON) via a data network (DN); and/or a microcontroller sub-assembly group (MUG) for programmed operation of the peripheral coupling assembly (IP); and/or a programmable logic (PL) for connection to one or more peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) (PUG) used to establish the coupling to at least one peripheral device (PG) to be controlled and/or to be regulated and/or to be monitored; and, in a peripheral coupling sub-assembly group zone (SG) of the circuit board, a region for the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) (PUG) for coupling to at least one peripheral device (PG) to be controlled and/or to be regulated and/or to be monitored; and at least one connector component (I/O-C) for electrical or optical or wireless connection of the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) (PUG) to the peripheral device(s) (PG). The programmable logic (PL) and/or the microcontroller sub-assembly group (MUG) and/or the network coupling sub-assembly group (N) has or have a zone connection (VZC) for electrical connection via one or more conductor(s) to the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) (PUG) in the peripheral coupling sub-assembly groups zone (SG), and each of the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) (PUG) in the peripheral coupling sub-assembly groups zone (SG) has a connector component connection (VSC) for electrical connection via one or more conductor(s) to one or more pin(s) (P) of the connector component (I/O-C), wherein the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) (PUG) in the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group(s) zone (SG) is or are assigned to a grid (R) having a plurality of grid spaces (RP), wherein there is at least one grid space (RP) in the grid (R) of the peripheral coupling sub-assembly groups zone (SG) which can be wholly or partially occupied by a peripheral coupling sub-assembly group (PUG), to which grid space one or more conductor(s) of the zone connection (VZC) is or are allocated in at least one conductor path layer (L0, L1, L2, L3, L4) of the circuit board designated therefor, by means of which conductor(s) the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group (PUG) can be electrically connected via one or more contact(s) (ZK). Also provided is at least one grid space (RP) in the grid (R) of the peripheral coupling sub-assembly groups zone (SG) which can be wholly or partially occupied by a peripheral coupling sub-assembly group (PUG) to which one or more conductor(s) of the connector component connection (VSC) is or are allocated, in at least one conductor path (L0, L1, L2, L3, L4) of the circuit board designated therefor, by means of which conductor(s) the peripheral coupling sub-assembly group (PUG) can be electrically connected via one or more contact(s) (CK). The invention further relates to a computer-assisted method for configuration of a data network-based system for controlling and/or regulating and/or monitoring at least one peripheral device by means of data transfer between participants of a data network.