Patent ID: 9179536
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for a printed circuit board (PCB) having a pin hole extending through the PCB, the method comprising: providing an electrically non-conductive ring entirely around the pin hole, the non-conductive ring being a portion of the PCB; providing an electrically conductive trace, lacking a solder coating thereon, on a surface of the PCB, the trace having a trace ring entirely around the non-conductive ring with the non-conductive ring being between the pin hole and the trace ring such that the non-conductive ring electrically isolates the pin hole from the trace ring; inserting an electrically conductive pin, having a rectangular cross-section, through the pin hole with corners of the pin physically intersecting corresponding portions of the non-conductive ring immediately adjacent to the pin hole, the pin and the trace ring being electrically isolated from one another by the non-conductive portion; after the pin is inserted through the pin hole, performing a soldering process intended to provide a soldered connection between the pin and the trace ring, wherein a soldered connection between the pin and the trace ring is present when the soldering process is successful, wherein a soldered connection between the pin and the trace ring is absent when the soldering process is unsuccessful; and detecting after the step of performing the soldering process intended to provide a soldered connection between the pin and the trace ring that a soldered connection between the pin and the trace ring is absent when electrical continuity is absent between the pin and the trace ring as a soldered connection between the pin and the trace ring has to be present to provide the electrical continuity between the pin and the trace ring due to the pin and the trace ring otherwise being physically separated and electrically isolated from one another by the non-conductive portion.