LiDAR Circuit Board Alignment Using Pre-Threaded Chassis Pins

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-threading pins into the chassis before attempting to mate electrical connectors. These pins extend through openings in the chassis and engage with corresponding features on the circuit boards, establishing precise alignment and physical contact before the electrical connectors are fully mated. This preliminary mechanical coupling guides the connectors into proper alignment, eliminating the time-consuming trial-and-error associated with blind mating while maintaining the advantage of not requiring direct visualization of the connectors during assembly.

The patent introduces pins as intermediary elements that mediate the coupling between circuit boards and the chassis. These pins extend through openings in the chassis and make contact with corresponding features on the circuit boards before the electrical connectors are fully mated. The pins act as physical guides and intermediaries that establish proper alignment and distribute mechanical stresses, preventing direct force application to the fragile electrical connectors during the assembly process. This intermediary mechanism protects the connectors from damage while enabling blind mating operation.

The patent applies self-service through features on the circuit boards that engage with the pins extending from the chassis. The circuit boards include corresponding features (such as recesses or protrusions) that automatically engage with the pin features, causing the circuit boards to self-align with the chassis openings. This self-aligning mechanism ensures precise connector alignment without requiring direct visualization or manual adjustment, as the mechanical features guide the components into proper alignment automatically during the assembly process.