Rigid PCB Holder Assembly for Vibration-Stable Electrical Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit board mounting techniques in devices like gas burners and valves face challenges in protecting against dust, foreign bodies, and water, often requiring extensive mechanical separation and precise alignment, which can lead to loose connections and failure due to mechanical vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A circuit board holder is securely attached to a device housing using a fastening element, such as screws or rivets, ensuring the holder and housing are immovable, thereby eliminating the need for flexible electrical connections like ribbon cables and providing robust protection against environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flexible electrical connections like ribbon cables are used to connect the circuit board to the housing, then adaptability and ease of installation are improved, but reliability deteriorates due to loosening from mechanical vibrations and limited bending cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the flexible electrical connection (ribbon cable) from the system by implementing direct rigid electrical contact between the circuit board and housing through integrated contact carriers and screw connections, thereby removing the source of vibration-induced failure while maintaining installation feasibility through the holder's integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the mechanical fastening function and electrical connection function into a single integrated structure where the holder and contact carriers serve both purposes simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate flexible cables and reducing the number of components that could fail under vibration
2Object-affected harmful factors
If extensive mechanical separation is implemented to protect against dust, foreign bodies, and water, then protection level is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components and precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective housing structure with the electrical connection system into an integrated design where the housing itself provides both mechanical protection and electrical contact pathways, reducing the number of separate components needed while maintaining IP protection levels
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing environmental protection against dust and water, serving as a structural mounting element, and providing direct electrical contact pathways for the circuit board, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection standards
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment of contact carriers with housing screw connections is required, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to tolerance chain management
Solution Approach 1:
The contact carriers and electrical contact elements are pre-positioned and fixed to the housing during housing manufacturing before final assembly, establishing precise alignment references in advance that simplify subsequent circuit board mounting and eliminate complex tolerance chain adjustments during final assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection system is segmented into separate contact carriers that can be independently manufactured and pre-aligned with the housing, allowing precise positioning to be achieved in modular stages rather than requiring complete assembly-level precision, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining alignment accuracy
Data Source
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AI summary
Mounting device for a printed circuit board. Arrangement for mounting a printed circuit board (4), the arrangement comprising: a first tubular mounting element (6) and a first conductor inside the first tubular mounting element (6); the arrangement comprising a mounting (2) for the printed circuit board (4); wherein the mounting (2) comprises at least one projection for mechanically mounting the printed circuit board (4); wherein the mounting (2) comprises a first opening; wherein the first tubular mounting element (6) is guided through the first opening in the mounting (2); wherein the first tubular mounting element (6) is mechanically rigidly connected to the mounting (2) such that the mounting (2) is substantially immobile relative to the first tubular mounting element (6); the arrangement comprising a first connection for rigidly connecting the first conductor to the printed circuit board (4);wherein the first tubular fastening element (6) comprises an end which is directed away from the support (2); wherein the first connection is at the end of the first tubular fastening element (6).