Saddle Enclosure Mounting PCB Without Standoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic enclosure designs for aircraft are bulky and do not match the compact design of new electronic boards, requiring large securing methods that increase weight and installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A compact printed circuit board (PCB) enclosure with an open base and side plates featuring securing tabs and a cover with mating flanges, providing registration and spacing for secure mounting on a main circuit board, along with integral cable strain relief and EMI protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bent sheet metal or milled metallic enclosure designs are used, then connectors can be placed along the exterior and boards can be secured with standoff posts or slide-in rack edges, but the enclosure becomes many times the size of the electronics housed therein, increasing weight and installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the circuit board mounting function directly into the enclosure structure itself. The enclosure includes a base with peripheral edges that directly support the circuit board, eliminating the need for separate standoff posts or rack edges. The cover with its peripheral edges also directly supports and secures the board, merging the enclosure housing and mounting mechanism into a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes traditional bulky securing methods such as external racks, standoff posts, and slide-in edges from the design. By extracting these separate securing components and replacing them with the enclosure's own integrated peripheral edges, the design eliminates unnecessary weight while maintaining secure mounting capability.
2Reliability
If traditional sheet metal enclosure designs are used, then boards can be secured within the enclosure, but equally large securing methods such as racks are required, increasing device complexity and installation impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the enclosure housing and board securing functions into a single integrated structure. The base peripheral edges and cover peripheral edges serve dual purposes: forming the enclosure boundaries and providing the mounting surfaces for the circuit board. This eliminates the need for separate racks or securing mechanisms, reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure's peripheral edges serve multiple functions simultaneously: they define the enclosure boundaries, provide structural support, enable board mounting, and facilitate secure attachment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized securing components, simplifying the overall design.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional enclosure designs are used, then connectors can be placed along the exterior, but the enclosure volume is many times larger than the electronics housed therein
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connector mounting function into the enclosure's cover structure. The cover includes peripheral edges that directly support and position connectors, integrating the connector mounting function into the housing itself rather than requiring separate mounting structures, thereby minimizing enclosure volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A printed circuit board enclosure employs a box having an open base and opposing side plates. Securing tabs extend laterally from the side plates. The securing tabs have bottom surfaces that are coplanar extensions of a bottom surface of the box and are configured to be attached to the main circuit board. A cover is received on the box. The cover is configured to close the open top of the box. The cover has side flanges extending downwardly from a top plate with mating tabs extending laterally from the side flanges aligned with the securing tabs.