Patent ID: 6182883
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B23K,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
Apparatus for enabling the replacement of a component on a printed circuit board which is equipped with a plurality of components, each of which is mounted thereon in a corresponding component mounting site, said apparatus facilitating the precise application of solder paste to a selected one of said plurality of component mounting sites, which selected component mounting site comprises a plurality of surface mount pads that are formed in a predetermined pattern on said printed circuit board to receive a component whose conductors correspond to said predetermined pattern of surface mount pads, comprising:a plurality of component solder paste mask registration apertures formed in said printed circuit board and located juxtaposed to said predetermined pattern of surface mount pads, which comprises said selected component mounting site;component solder paste mask means having a plurality of apertures formed therein that correspond exclusively to said predetermined pattern of surface mount pads which comprises said selected component mounting site; andmask registration means formed on said component solder paste mask means for insertion into said plurality of component solder paste mask registration apertures to secure said component solder paste mask means in position with respect to said plurality of surface mount pads formed in said predetermined pattern on said printed circuit board, which comprises said selected component mounting site, to align said plurality of apertures formed in said component solder paste mask means exclusively with said plurality of surface mount pads formed in said predetermined pattern on said printed circuit board, which comprises said selected component mounting site, to enable the application of solder paste exclusively to said plurality of surface mount pads via said plurality of apertures formed in said component solder paste mask means, wherein said mask registration means comprises:a plurality of mask registration features, each of which comprises:first section extending from a first surface of said component solder paste mask means for insertion into a corresponding one of said plurality of component solder paste mask registration apertures; anda second section extending from a second surface of said component solder paste mask means for providing a grip for a user.