LED Circuit Board Retaining Clip for Automated Thermal Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening methods for LED circuit boards in the lighting industry are not well-suited for automated production processes and do not ensure optimal contact pressure for heat dissipation, leading to potential assembly complexities and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A fastening element comprising a retaining clip with spring legs and a mounting plate, where the mounting plate is pre-assembled with an adhesion promoter, allowing for automatic assembly and secure fixation of the LED circuit board to a lighting component, ensuring uniform pressing force and compensating for manufacturing tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional fastening methods (screws, rivets) are used to fix LED circuit boards, then the fixing strength is sufficient, but the assembly process becomes complex and unsuitable for automated production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical fastening systems (screws, rivets requiring manual or complex automated assembly) with a spring-based retaining clip system that can be automatically inserted and deployed. The spring mechanism provides self-contained fastening action that is compatible with automated placement machines, eliminating the need for complex multi-step assembly processes while maintaining secure fixation of LED circuit boards
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining clip incorporates a spring mechanism that automatically engages with the mounting plate and circuit board opening upon insertion. The spring's elastic force provides self-contained fastening action without requiring additional tools, operators, or complex positioning systems, enabling seamless integration into automated production lines where the fastener serves its own installation function
2Manufacturing precision
If mounting plates with adhesion promoters are used for pre-assembly, then the contact pressure uniformity improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the mounting plate: structural support, positioning (via centering legs), and adhesion (via solder coating). This integration ensures uniform contact pressure distribution across the LED circuit board while eliminating separate adhesion application steps. The solder coating is applied during standard PCB manufacturing processes, so the additional functionality is achieved without adding separate manufacturing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting plate serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it provides the mechanical interface for the spring retaining clip, ensures uniform pressure distribution through its rigid flat surface, provides positioning accuracy via centering legs, and creates electrical/mechanical bonding through solder coating. This multi-functionality achieves manufacturing precision goals without proportionally increasing process complexity, as all functions are integrated into a single component manufactured using existing PCB technologies
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the assembly process, ensures optimal contact pressure for heat dissipation, and eliminates the need for separate placement machines, providing a reliable and efficient fastening method for LED circuit boards.
Implementation Method 1
Two spring legs (19) arise from it and hold the shaft (13) between them
Implementation Method 2
the underside of the mounting plate facing away from the shaft head is provided with an adhesion promoter, in particular a solder coating, by means of which the mounting plate can be fixed on the surface of the first component
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes and illustrates a fastening element (10) for securing two components on one another, wherein the first component (22) has a through-passage and the second component (24) has a recess (23) and, for securing purposes, the fastening element penetrates through the through-passage (23) and is seated in the recess, in particular for securing an LED circuit board (22) on a luminaire component (24), having a retaining clip (11), wherein the retaining clip · forms a shank (13), at one end of which a shank head (15) is arranged, · has a clamping element (18), which is arranged on the shank head, and is provided with at least one retaining element (16), which is capable of retaining the shank in the recess of the second component, wherein the fastening element comprises an installation plate (12), in which the retaining clip (11) is retained in a preassembled state.