PCB Inductor Spacer for Soldering Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inductive components on printed circuit boards are either expensive and bulky, making them difficult to solder and increasing the board's thickness, and existing solutions for positioning and soldering these components are either complex or require additional components.

Innovation Solution

The use of spacers arranged on the connecting wires or integrated into the housing of the inductive component, which allows for precise vertical positioning and mechanical stability during soldering, enabling a lower overall height and simplified soldering process without altering the component itself.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If low-profile inductors are used to reduce PCB thickness, then the board thickness is reduced, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePCB thicknessVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function is segmented from the inductor component itself and implemented through separate spacer elements attached to connecting wires. This allows standard inductors to be used while adding only minimal height through the spacers, avoiding the need for expensive low-profile inductors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If large inductors are used, then easier handling is achieved, but precise positioning for soldering becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling easeVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Spacers serve as intermediary elements between the connecting wires and the PCB surface. These spacers provide precise positioning references for soldering while allowing the inductor to remain attached to the connecting wires, thus maintaining handling ease during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If spacers are attached to connecting wires, then positioning precision is improved, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting wires serve multiple functions: electrical connection and mechanical support for the spacer. The spacer itself serves dual purposes of vertical positioning and horizontal positioning reference. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated positioning components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If standard inductors are used without modification, then component availability is improved, but positioning and soldering difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent availabilityVSAvoidsoldering ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Spacers are pre-attached to the connecting wires before the inductor assembly is placed on the PCB. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when the assembly is placed on the board, the inductor is automatically positioned correctly relative to the solder pads, making soldering easier without requiring modified components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3547337B1Positioning and mounting aid for coils on printed circuit boards
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3547337B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3547337B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3547337B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The present invention relates to an inductive component designed for soldering onto a printed circuit board (1), which has connecting wires (4) arranged laterally on the component (2) and a spacer (5) arranged on at least one of the connecting wires (4) for positioning the component (2) on the printed circuit board (1) with respect to its height, wherein the spacer (5) is held by the connecting wire (4) and is supported on the printed circuit board (1) in a vertical direction (z) when the component (2) is placed on the printed circuit board (1) for soldering.