Power Supply Case With Corner-Attachable Legs To Preserve Board Area
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply apparatus designs face challenges in minimizing the area of the board where circuit elements can be mounted, as notches for engaging a case with the board lead to a reduction in available mounting space.
Innovation Solution
A power supply apparatus design featuring a case with corner-attachable leg portions that engage with the board's corner portions, utilizing claws on both the major and back surfaces to secure the case, allowing for a stable attachment while minimizing the reduction in board area for circuit element mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If notches are formed at locations corresponding to a pair of mutually opposed sides of the board for engaging a case with the board, then the case can be attached to the board, but the area of the board where circuit elements can be mounted becomes narrower
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from forming notches on the board surface (2D plane) to extending leg portions from the case in a direction toward the board (3D space). The leg portions protrude from the case's bottom surface and engage with the board's top surface, utilizing the vertical dimension to achieve attachment without consuming board mounting area.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the board by forming notches to receive the case, the invention inverts the approach by having the case provide its own attachment structure (leg portions) that protrude toward the board. This reverses the traditional attachment paradigm where the stationary component (board) is modified to accommodate the moving component (case).
2Ease of manufacture
If notches are formed recessed in a direction in which the width of the board decreases, then the case can be engaged with the board, but the available area for mounting circuit elements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure moves from the board's planar surface (2D) to the case's vertical dimension (3D). Leg portions extend downward from the case bottom surface to engage the board top surface, utilizing the Z-axis dimension to achieve attachment without encroaching on the X-Y plane mounting area.
Solution Approach 2:
The case is segmented into a main body portion and separate leg portions. The leg portions are distinct structural elements that extend from the case's bottom surface to engage with the board, separating the attachment function from the case's primary enclosure function.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply apparatus includes a board including a major surface on which a circuit element is mounted, and a case. The case includes a cover portion located at a distance from the board and covering the major surface of the board, and a plurality of leg portions extending from the cover portion toward the board, the case being attached to the board by the leg portions. The leg portions of the case include corner-attachable leg portions that are engaged with corner portions of the board.