PCB Bus Bar Tab Retention for Stable Component Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bus bars for circuit boards face issues with positional stability during electronic component mounting, often requiring additional tooling to secure the bus bar properly.
Innovation Solution
The bus bar design incorporates a second terminal with a tab that deforms to secure itself within the circuit board slot, eliminating the need for additional tooling by utilizing the tab's resilience to hold the bus bar in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional bus bar terminals are used without additional tooling, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the bus bar cannot maintain its position during electronic component mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The bus bar terminal incorporates an integrated tab that automatically secures the bus bar to the circuit board during the component mounting process. The tab engages with the circuit board slot and maintains the bus bar position without requiring external tooling or additional fastening operations, allowing the bus bar to self-secure during manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The tab is designed with flexible properties that allow it to deform during insertion into the circuit board slot and then maintain a secured position. This dynamic characteristic enables the tab to adapt during the mounting process while providing stable positioning once secured
2Stability of the object's composition
If prong terminals with rabbit ear shape are used to maintain bus bar position, then the bus bar remains stable during mounting, but additional tooling and manufacturing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The tab function is merged directly into the bus bar terminal structure, combining the terminal's electrical function with the mechanical securing function. This integration eliminates the need for separate rabbit ear-shaped prongs and external tooling, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The securing function is extracted from the terminal body itself and implemented through the integrated tab mechanism. This allows the terminal to maintain its simple electrical contact function while the tab provides the mechanical securing capability, avoiding the complexity of multi-functional terminals
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 design effectively maintains the bus bar's position during electronic component mounting without requiring extra tooling, simplifying the assembly process and enhancing manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The tab is a resilient member configured to deform to a compressed position and return to an uncompressed position
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit assembly includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of slots; and a bus bar including a first member, a first terminal and a second terminal configured to be seated within a corresponding one of the plurality of slots, the first member being an elongated member having a bottom edge, and the first terminal and the second terminal are spaced apart from each other and disposed on the bottom edge of the first member. The second terminal includes a tab protruding outwardly from the surface. The tab is deformed to the compressed position as the second terminal is passed through the corresponding one of the plurality of slots and returns to the uncompressed position when the tab passes through the corresponding slot so as to secure the second terminal therein.