Abstract:
A retaining facility for clearance-free fixing of a printed circuit board onto a one-dimensional curved surface is provided. In the direction of curvature of the one-dimensional curved surface, a tensile or compressive force acts on the printed circuit board or on at least one first connection device connected to the latter, with the printed circuit board being bent and pressed onto the curved surface. In this way the printed circuit board is held solidly and with little vibration on the surface even when acted on by centrifugal forces.

Description:
[0001]    The present patent document claims the benefit of the filing date of DE 10 2008 017 155.7 filed Apr. 3, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present embodiments relate to fixing printed circuit boards onto a one-dimensional curved surface without any clearance. 
         [0003]    When electrical and electronic devices are constructed, printed circuit boards equipped with components are usually arranged and fixed in or on the housing of the devices. Long, extended printed circuit boards are fixed to the outer surface of a cylinder or the inner surface of a hollow cylinder. For non-contact signal transmission in computer tomography, printed circuit boards with lengths of over two meters are fixed to the inner or outer side of rings with a diameter of more than 1.6 m. The printed circuit boards are glued and/or screwed to the rings. 
       SUMMARY AND DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    The present embodiments may obviate one or more of the drawbacks or limitations of the related art. For example, in one embodiment, a retaining facility for printed circuit boards with which long printed circuit boards are able to be installed easily and quickly with no clearance is provided. The centrifugal forces can be accommodated. The printed circuit boards are easy to exchange. Compensation is able to be provided for different coefficients of thermal expansion and the signal transmission characteristics are not adversely affected. For example, tensile or compressive forces are applied in the direction of curvature of a one-dimensional curved surface, so that a printed circuit board will be adapted to the concave or convex surface. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a retaining facility for clearance-free fixing of printed circuit boards onto a one-dimensional curved surface is provided. In the direction of curvature of the one-dimensional curved surface, a tensile or compressive force acts on the printed circuit board or on at least a first connection device connected to the printed circuit board. As a result, the printed circuit board is bent and is pressed onto the curved surface. 
         [0006]    As used herein, a force in the direction of curvature connection device includes a force component that acts tangentially in the direction of curvature of the surface. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a retaining facility for clearance-free fixing printed circuit boards onto a one-dimensional curved surface includes a tensile or compressive force acting in the direction of curvature of the one-dimensional curved surface on at least one first connection device solidly connected detachably to the printed circuit board. As a result, the first connection device and the printed circuit board are bent and the first connection device is pressed onto the curved surface. 
         [0008]    Printed circuit boards can be installed and removed quickly and easily. An appropriate arrangement of the forces is able to cater for centrifugal forces occurring in the system without the forces having an influence on the position of the printed circuit board. Tensioned printed circuit boards may lie over a wide surface close to the curved body with a force that can be adjusted by the tension, which prevents a movement/vibration of the printed circuit boards in rotating systems. The retaining facility may compensate for thermal expansion. A change of the ambient temperature may cause different coefficients of thermal expansion. Accordingly, tolerances, for example, the printed circuit board length and the diameter of a curved support, may be compensated for using the retaining facility. There may be no resulting negative effect on the transmission characteristics in data transmission systems, since no disruptive metallic elements are required in the area of the conductor tracks for fixing the conductor tracks. 
         [0009]    The retaining facility may include at least one second connection device, such as a tension or compression spring. The second connection device may be arranged and embodied such that it introduces the tensile or compressive force into the circuit board or into the first connection device. As a result, the printed circuit boards may be installed and removed in a simple manner. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, the printed circuit board or the first connection device may be held in a direction of curvature at one end by a fixing element, which for example is connected to the surface. The other free end of the printed circuit board or of the first connection device may be connected to the second connection device. Accordingly, the printed circuit board or the first connection device may be pressed onto the curved surface without clearance. 
         [0011]    The at least one second connection device may be connected via at least one coupling element to the printed circuit board or to the first connection device. Accordingly, a simple, detachable, and secure connection between the second connection device and the printed circuit board, especially for printed circuit boards made from soft or flexible material, may be provided. 
         [0012]    In a further embodiment, the at least one first connection device may be embodied in the shape of a rod, a thread, or a wire and may be routed through the inside of the printed circuit board or in grooves of the printed circuit board. Stresses in the printed circuit board may be minimized, which reduces elastic and plastic deformations of the printed circuit board. 
         [0013]    The printed circuit board or the first connection device may be guided in the direction of curvature so that lateral shaking is prevented. The guidance may be provided by a recess in the curved surface, by at least one lateral groove embodied in the surface or by lateral delimiting elements arranged on the surface. The lateral groove or lateral delimiting elements guide the printed circuit board at right angles to the direction of tension or compression and securely hold the printed circuit board in this direction. 
         [0014]    A further embodiment comprises a computer tomography system with a retaining facility. A long printed circuit board may be able to be mounted on the rings of the computer tomography system safely and without clearance. 
         [0015]    Further special features and advantages are evident from the subsequent illustrations of a number of exemplary embodiments based on schematic drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with a tension spring, 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with a compression spring, 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view of a further retaining facility with a tension spring, 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with tension spring and coupling element, 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  illustrates a sectional view of retaining facility with tension spring, coupling element, and element to provide the tension, 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  illustrates a sectional view of a further retaining facility with an element to provide the tension, 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with two elements to provide the tension, 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with three elements to provide the tension, 
           [0024]      FIG. 9   a  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with elements to provide the tension integrated into the printed circuit board, 
           [0025]      FIG. 9   b  illustrates a transparent overhead view of the retaining facility depicted in  FIG. 9   a,    
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view of a holder device with elements to provide tension integrated into the printed circuit board, 
           [0027]      FIG. 11   a  illustrates a sectional view of a further holder device with elements to provide tension integrated into the printed circuit board, 
           [0028]      FIG. 11   b  illustrates a transparent overhead view of the retaining facility depicted in  FIG. 11   a,    
           [0029]      FIG. 12  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with elements to provide tension arranged below the printed circuit board, 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  illustrates a sectional view of a retaining facility with two printed circuit boards and 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  illustrates a sectional view of a further retaining facility with two printed circuit boards. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a section through a carrier  2  in the form of a circular cylinder segment, arranged on the concave curved surface  8  of which is a printed circuit board  1 . The printed circuit board  1  is tensioned at one end in a fixing element  4 . The fixing element  4  is structurally connected (fixed) to the surface  8  of the carrier  2 . A tensile force F is applied to the free end of the printed circuit board  1  by a second connection device  3 , shown as a tension spring. Accordingly a tensile stress is provided within the printed circuit board, through which the printed circuit board  1  is pressed onto the concave surface  8  of the carrier  2 . Tensile forces may also be additionally applied at further points between the two ends of the printed circuit board  1 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a section through a carrier  2  in the form of a circular cylinder segment, arranged on the convex curved surface  8  of which is a printed circuit board  1 . The printed circuit board  1  is tensioned at one end in a fixing element  4 . The fixing element  4  is structurally connected to the surface  8  of the carrier  2 . A compressive force F is applied to the free end of the printed circuit board  1  by a second connection device  3 , shown as a compression spring. Accordingly, a compressive stress is produces within the printed circuit board  1 , through which the printed circuit board  1  is pressed onto the convex surface  8  of the carrier  2 . Compressive forces may also be additionally applied at further points between the two ends of the printed circuit board  1 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a further embodiment of the retaining facility from  FIG. 1 . The tension spring  3  exerting the force is inserted into a correspondingly designed cutout  7  of the printed circuit board  1 . The tension spring  3  may introduce the tensile force F into the printed circuit board  1 . The printed circuit board  1  fixed in the fixing element  4  may be pressed onto the concave surface  8  of the carrier  2 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of the retaining facility from  FIG. 1 . A coupling element  5 , which is structurally (solidly) connected in a detachable manner to the printed circuit board  1  is connected to the tension spring  3 . The tensile force F presses the printed circuit board  1  fixed at one end into the fixing element onto the concave surface  8  of the carrier  2 . The coupling element  5  may be used when the material of the printed circuit board  1  is relatively soft and/or flexible A number of coupling elements can also be attached to the printed circuit board  1 . The coupling element  5  may, for example, be glued, screwed, soldered, riveted or clamped to the printed circuit board  1 . 
         [0036]    By contrast with the previous embodiments, with the retaining facility depicted in  FIG. 5 , a tensile or compressive force may not act directly on the printed circuit board  1  itself but on a first connection device  6  connected to it.  FIG. 5  shows a section through a retaining facility with a concave curved carrier  2  onto the surface  8  of which is pressed a printed circuit board  1  with the aid of a first connection device  6 . A second connection device  3 , for example, a tension spring, transmits a tensile force F to the first connection device  6 . The first connection device  6  and the second connection device  3  are connected using a coupling element  5 . At the end opposite the coupling element  5 , the first connection device  6  is arranged solidly (fixed) in a fixing element  4 . Advantageous materials for the first connection device  6  are Kevlar, glass, or carbon fibers or plastics reinforced with such fibers. The first connection device  6  may be embodied in a thin form, for example in the form of a thread or a wire, or in a flat form, for example as a film or as a tape. Permanently-elastic materials, such as a rubber band, can also be used for example. 
         [0037]    The first connection device  6  may be arranged differently.  FIGS. 6 to 8  show three exemplary embodiments in a sectional view perpendicular to the view depicted in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  shows the carrier  2  with a recess in which the printed circuit board  1  is secured against lateral shaking. A first connection device  6  may lie directly against the printed circuit board  1  and presses the printed circuit board against the carrier  2 .  FIG. 7  shows two first connection devices  6 , which are arranged at the edge areas of the printed circuit board  1 . The two connection devices  6  press the printed circuit board  1  against the carrier  2 .  FIG. 8  shows a simultaneous fixing of two printed circuit boards  1  by three first connection devices  6 . The printed circuit boards  6  lie in parallel in recesses of the carrier  2  and are pressed at their edge areas by the three first connection devices  6  onto the carrier  2 . 
         [0038]    In a further embodiment, the first connection device may be integrated in the printed circuit board  1 .  FIG. 9   a  depicts a printed circuit board  1  with a number of first connection devices  6  which have already been introduced into the printed circuit board  1  during its production. The first connection devices  6  may be made of Kevlar or glass fibers. The first connection devices  6  may extend outwards in a longitudinal direction of the printed circuit board  1 , as shown from above in  FIG. 9   b.    FIG. 10  shows a variant in which two first connection devices  6  are arranged in lateral guide slots of the printed circuit board  1 .  FIG. 11   a  shows the arrangement of two first connection devices  6  in grooves on the surface of the printed circuit board  1 .  FIG. 11   b  shows the associated overhead view.  FIG. 11   b  shows the printed circuit board  1  with the two first connection device  6 . The first connection device  6  may be attached to the second connection device  3  at one end and may be attached to the fixing elements  4  at the other end. 
         [0039]    The first connection device  6  may also be located in alternating positions on the upper and lower side of the printed circuit board  1 , with the switch between upper and lower side preferably occurring at notches or cavities. 
         [0040]      FIG. 12  shows a sectional view of a concave curved carrier  2  with a curved printed circuit board  1 , with the printed circuit board  1  now not being pressed directly onto the carrier  2  but being arranged with a positive fit on a first connection device  6 . The first connection device  6  is pressed by tensile force F onto the concave surface  8  of the carrier  2 . The tensile force F is applied via a coupling element  5  connected to the first connection device  6 . The tensile force F is produced by a second connection device connected to the coupling element  5  and the support  2 , for example, a tension spring. The permanent connection between printed circuit board  1  and first connection device  6  is made, for example, by gluing, screwing, soldering, riveting or clamping. 
         [0041]    A mechanical coupling of a number of printed circuit boards  1  on a carrier  2  is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 .  FIG. 13  shows a sectional view of a cylindrical carrier  2  on the concave surface  8  of which are arranged two printed circuit boards  1 . The two printed circuit boards  1  are connected to each other by connection device of a coupling element  5 . Through a second connection device  3 , a tensile force F is applied via a further coupling element  5  in the first printed circuit board  1 . The second printed circuit board  1  is held in a fixing element  4  on the surface of the carrier  2 . Alternatively, one end of each printed circuit board  1  respectively can be provided with a second connection device  3 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 14  shows a sectional view of a ring-shaped carrier  2  with two printed circuit boards  1 . The two printed circuit boards  1  are connected at one end with a coupling element  5 . The two other ends are connected to a second connection device  3 . This enables the two printed circuit boards  1  to be pressed under tension onto the concave surface  8  of the carrier  2 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show embodiments as would also be employed in computer tomography. 
         [0044]    Various embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another. The above description has described only a few of the many possible implementations of the present invention. For this reason, this above description is intended by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents that are intended to define the scope of this invention.