PCB Fastening Structure Using External Support Member Legs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printed circuit board fastening structures are cumbersome, costly, and difficult to install manually, often requiring space inside the casing and wasting valuable space on the board for anchoring mechanisms, which complicates the installation of circuit elements and heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A printed circuit board fastening structure featuring a first bearing surface coupled with a support member having legs and a fastening hole, allowing for external fastening through the casing, which simplifies installation and conserves space on the board for circuit elements and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the printed circuit board is installed close to the casing to utilize space, then space utilization is improved, but the installation becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing the printed circuit board from the inner side towards the outer side as in conventional techniques, this invention inverts the installation direction by fastening from the outer side towards the inner side. The fastening element runs through the casing and couples with the support member, allowing operators to perform fastening operations from the outer side where more space is available, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining compact space utilization.
2Reliability
If anchor elements are provided to wedge in notches to enhance anchoring, then anchoring reliability is improved, but the notches must be formed at greater size wasting printed circuit board area
Solution Approach 1:
This invention extracts the anchoring function from the printed circuit board itself and relocates it to a dedicated support member. The support member has legs that couple to the first bearing surface and an end portion with a fastening hole, transferring the anchoring requirements to the support member structure rather than requiring large notches in the printed circuit board, thus preserving valuable board area while maintaining anchoring reliability.
3Reliability
If a bolt runs through the printed circuit board to connect with anchor strut, then fastening is achieved, but the bolt takes substantial space above the printed circuit board crowding circuit elements
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted from the printed circuit board assembly and relocated to a separate support member. The support member's legs couple to the first bearing surface while the end portion with the fastening hole provides the connection point, removing the need for large fastening elements above the printed circuit board and freeing up space for circuit elements.
4Reliability
If spherical coupling elements with annular grooves are used to wedge by anchor holes, then coupling is achieved, but wedging is troublesome and fabrication errors make coupling even more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support member's leg structure is designed to self-align and couple with the first bearing surface through the printed circuit board. The leg geometry and coupling mechanism are simplified to eliminate the need for precise wedging operations, making the installation process easier and more tolerant of fabrication variations while maintaining reliable coupling.
5Reliability
If manual fastening installation is performed inside the power supply, then fastening is achieved, but it does not provide much improvement on fastening operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional fastening approach by running the fastening element from the outer side of the casing towards the inner side, rather than from inside the power supply outward. This allows operators to perform fastening operations from the accessible outer side where more space and better tool access are available, significantly improving ease of operation while achieving the same fastening reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A printed circuit board fastening structure aims to fasten a printed circuit board which has a first bearing surface abutting and coupling on a casing and a second bearing surface. The first bearing surface is coupled with at least one support member. The support member has at least one leg connecting to the first bearing surface and an end portion formed with a fastening hole. The end portion is adjacent to the casing. A fastening element is provided to run through the casing from another side thereof to couple with the support member, thereby to fasten the printed circuit board to the casing.