Modular Attachment Parts for Flexible PCB Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing modular systems for producing electronic devices face challenges in easy assembly and variable equipping with connections or functional components, limiting their flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A modular system featuring attachment parts with a pitch corresponding to a predetermined smallest division unit or its integer multiple, allowing for variable combinations to create different lengths and functions, which can be guided into a housing to securely hold a circuit board in place, enabling flexible configuration and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a modular system with fixed attachment parts is used, then the assembly process becomes standardized and simpler, but the flexibility to configure different electronic devices is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly process standardizationVSAvoiddevice configuration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into modular sections with standardized openings that can accommodate different combinations of attachment parts. Each attachment part is a separate, interchangeable component that can be selectively installed to create different device configurations while maintaining standardized assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment parts are designed with universal mounting interfaces that allow the same basic component type to serve multiple functions across different device configurations. The standardized opening dimensions and attachment part geometries enable a single set of modular components to adapt to various electronic device requirements.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If attachment parts are made highly configurable to meet various application needs, then device versatility increases, but assembly complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice configuration flexibilityVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

While maintaining overall standardized dimensions, the attachment parts incorporate local variations in features such as connection types, mounting hole patterns, or functional elements only where specifically needed for particular applications. This allows customization at local points without compromising the global modular standardization that simplifies assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a standardized modular system is used, then production costs decrease, but the ability to accommodate specific application requirements is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction cost reductionVSAvoidapplication-specific configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The modular system is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing the same standardized housing and attachment part library to be recombined in different configurations for specific applications. The standardized interfaces enable rapid reconfiguration without requiring custom tooling or complex assembly procedures, maintaining cost-effectiveness while adapting to application needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3721687B1Modular system for producing an electronic device
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3721687B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3721687B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3721687B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A modular system for producing an electronic device (1) comprises a housing (10), which forms an accommodating space (15), and a printed circuit board (12) which can be inserted into the accommodating space (15) of the housing (10) along an insertion direction (E) and is accommodated in the accommodating space (15) in an assembly position. Attachment parts (13, 13A-13G) which can be connected to the printed circuit board (12) each have, when viewed along the insertion direction (E), a division (X1, X2, X3, X6, X9) which corresponds to a predetermined smallest division unit (X1) or an integer multiple of the predetermined smallest division unit (X1). Each attachment part (13, 13A-13G) has a first guide device (133) for guiding on a second guide device (107) of the housing (10). A combination of attachment parts (13, 13A-13G) can be connected to the printed circuit board (12) in a manner aligned side-by-side along the insertion direction (E).