Wire retention cover for printed circuit boards in an electronic device

A wire retention cover for an antenna mounting arrangement within an electronic device is configured to be positioned over an edge of a printed circuit board and protect the antenna wires and connectors on the connector side thereof. A non-connector side portion or leg of the cover includes one or more slots for receiving antenna wires. A connector side portion or leg of the cover includes raised and lowered portions. The raised portions are configured to cover and protect antenna wire connections to the PCB.

FIELD

The present principles relate generally to electronics and, more particularly, it relates to a wire retention cover for an antenna mounting arrangement within an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is an improvement to known electronic apparatuses or devices. The devices can be set-top boxes and are typically assembled apparatuses having a plurality of walls and other components. The devices can include components such as printed circuit boards, heat sinks or heat spreader, wires, hard drives, smart card assemblies, and antennas. The plurality of walls and components make the assembly of these devices quite challenging in high volume manufacturing environments. As such, there is a need to insure that the components are staged, mounted, and installed in a manner that is fast and safe for the components. Further, there is a need to insure that the components are capable of being inspected and designed in a manner that makes their installation as reversible as possible for rework in the factory or in the field.

As such, some devices such as a vertically oriented set top box incorporate screwless attachment concepts to assemble the housings of the devices in such a way that the access to the devices in the field can be performed in a safe efficient manner by an authorized person without the need to undue screws. Such designs make gaining access to the interior components of these devices more convenient and reduce excessive handling.

The casings of the vertically oriented set top boxes and gateway devices are relatively tall. The bases are generally narrow. With such geometry, these designs present more challenges than the horizontally oriented set top boxes for screwless housing assembly. The reason being it is difficult to include a locking mechanism in these tall boxes that can extend from the top side to the bottom side of the boxes, and yet still be able to house the plurality of necessary components which can include a plurality of antennas without interfering with the locking mechanism.

The need for a plurality of antennas in these vertically oriented set top boxes or gateway devices particularly presents a challenge. The problem is that in some designs up to 7 antennas are required, which means that additional wires must be used to connect the antennas to a circuit board, and additional fixtures or antenna supports must be installed in the devices to support the antennas. Further, the antennas not only involve extra handling of the work product in the factory that place other components at risk and drive up manufacturing cost, but also these antennas have a propensity for electrostatic discharge in use. As such, designers must ensure that the antennas are adequately shielded in these devices which tend to be quite crowded. Thus, the need exists for an antenna mounting system that is commensurate with the screwless attachment concepts and yet do not pose the risk of electrostatic discharge to and from the antennas.

SUMMARY

According to an implementation, the cover in an electronic device includes a cover having a U-shape configured to fit over an edge of a printed circuit board. The U-shape cover further includes a first leg which is a non-connector side portion having at least one slot positioned at a point along the first leg. The at least one slot being configured to receive an antenna wire. The second leg is a connector side portion having a plurality of raised surfaces and a plurality of lower surfaces. The raised surfaces fit over and protect antenna wires and antenna wire connectors.

According to another implementation, a cover for a printed circuit board contained within an electronic device is provided. The printed circuit board having a connector side and a non-connector side. The wire retention cover includes a first leg configured to be positioned on the non-connector side of the printed circuit board. The first leg has at least one slot positioned at a point along the first leg for receiving an antenna wire. A second leg, connected to the first leg, is configured to be positioned on the connector side of the printed circuit board. A base portion connects the first leg to the second leg. The base portion covering an edge of the printed circuit board when the cover is installed.

According to a further implementation, an electronic device includes a printed circuit board having wire securing slots along an edge of the printed circuit board and electrical connectors on an upper side of the printed circuit board adjacent to the edge. The electronic components have wires extending therefrom, the wires each being secured in one of the wire securing slots and connected to one of the electrical connectors. The cover has a first leg and a second leg. The first leg of the cover overlays the wires extending through the wire securing slots on the first leg of the printed circuit board, and the second leg overlays an opposite side of the printed circuit board.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The current principles prevent antenna wires from becoming unplugged during the assembly process, promote bend radius of wires to be a preselected value (e.g. 5 mm radius for some applications), improve antenna performance, and insure the coaxial connectors are completely engaged.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of a vertically oriented electronic device200that houses an antenna bracket601and antennas602(not shown in this figure). The device can include a top210, a front wall208, a rear wall206, side walls204, and a base205.

FIG. 2shows the three principal pieces of the vertically oriented electronic device200. The three pieces are the case bottom piece213, the case top front piece211, and the case top back piece212. The case top front piece211and the case top back piece212are upper parts of the device200.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of a retention clip214which can be optionally composed of metal and is utilized to engage and secure the case bottom piece213to the case top front piece211and/or the case top back piece212. The retention clip214is positioned toward the bottom of the electronic device and is a useful part of the locking mechanism applied on the electronic device.

As will be described in further detail below with reference toFIGS. 11 and 12-18, by having the retention clip214at the bottom, the antenna bracket601and the antennas602can be positioned at the other end of the electronic device; hence, the antenna bracket601(shown inFIG. 36at the top end of the rear wall206) and the antennas602do not interfere with locking and/or unlocking of the electronic device. Additionally, the use of the retention clip214in concert with other features to be described permits easy access to the antenna bracket601and the antennas602when needed. The retention clip214can be part of a screwless locking mechanism positioned adjacent to the base205of the electronic device and can be remote from the antennas in the antenna bracket601, especially when they are positioned adjacent to the top210.

FIG. 4shows how the case top front piece211is slid back onto the case top back piece212of the electronic device200, and then up into retaining elements in order to lock the two pieces together such that internal electronic components can be housed therein when the assembly is finalized.

Referring toFIG. 5,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7, there is shown a specific engagement mechanism215,216,217to which the current principles are applied. A protruding surface216extends inwardly from the interior surface of one of the vertical walls of one of the pieces. The protruding surface216includes a further protrusion215that engages a protrusion receiving opening217on the case top front piece211. The protrusion receiving openings217are generally horizontal surfaces that have upstanding peripheral walls to make a slot that can receive the protrusions215. The slots can be oversized in the dimension that is perpendicular to the interior surfaces of the vertical walls from which the horizontal ledge extends, or the slots can be oversized along its long lateral axis. The slot can be narrow along the dimension parallel to the vertical walls or along the horizontal surface's short lateral axis to snuggly fix the protrusions215. The protruding surface216, the further protrusions215, and the protrusion receiving openings217form a screwless engagement structure977.

The arrangement of the protruding surfaces216and the further protrusions215can be spaced from the interior top surface of the case top210to permit the antenna bracket601and the antennas602to be positioned at a lateral level between the interior top surface of the case top210and the protruding surfaces216and the further protrusions215. This permits the antenna bracket601and the antennas602from interfering with the locking and/or unlocking the pieces of the electronic device.

FIG. 8andFIG. 9show further perspective views of the retaining elements that are used to engage the case top front piece211with the case top back piece212.FIG. 8shows ribs218that are positioned above the protrusion receiving openings217and also extend inwardly from the interior surface of one of the vertical walls of the front piece211. The ribs218would interfere with the case rear retention element if an assembly start position is attempted that is too low.FIG. 9shows that a chamfer299guides the case top210to an acceptable start location. Rib218prevents case front from starting in a position that is too low by preventing excessive case travel which can damage components.

FIG. 10is a disassembled perspective view of the vertically oriented electronic device200showing the interior of the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212to which the current principles are applied. The retention protrusions291, the retention openings292, and the over travel prevention portions293are shown.

FIG. 11shows a bottom perspective view of the vertically oriented electronic device200where the case bottom piece213is not attached revealing the retention clips214.

FIG. 12,FIG. 13, andFIG. 14are various views of the retention clip214to which the current principles are applicable. The retention clip214can be optionally composed of metal. The views show that the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212can be attached to one another and can then be attached to the case bottom piece213using the retention clips214. The retention clips214are retained by elements on the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212. The clip214is generally V-shape and includes an anchor portion220which is one side or leg of the V-shape. In accordance with one implementation, the anchor portion220has a rectangular planar shape and has an aperture277that fits into an anchor base221of the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212.FIG. 14shows how an aperture277of the anchor portion220engages a protrusion221A in the anchor base221such that an inward pointing surface at the top of the anchor portion220grasps a top portion of the anchor base221and a bottom inner wedge grasps the bottom portion of the anchor base221to secure the retention clip214in place. This permits a locking portion219of the clip214, which is the other side or leg of the V-shape, to engage with elements of the case bottom piece213to close or assemble the electronic device200.

In particular, referring toFIG. 15andFIG. 16, the top of the locking portion219can have a horizontal surface219A that extends inwardly to contact a bottom surface of a clip engaging element222. The locking portion219can further have an upward extension2198at the edge of the horizontal surface219A to engage an edge of the bottom surface of the clip engaging element222. As shown inFIG. 17, the outward spring force of the clip214causes the locking portion to move outward to engage the element222. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that although a V-shape is shown and described, a U-shape could be employed as well and both sides of the V or U-shape part can have different heights. The retention clip214and the engaging elements222can be part of a screwless locking mechanism positioned adjacent to the base205of the electronic device and can be remote from the antennas in the antenna bracket601which can be positioned adjacent to the top210of the electronic device.

FIG. 15is a perspective view of the case bottom piece213, which shows the base205and the clip engaging elements222that extend vertically upward from the bottom piece213to which the current principles are applied. The clip engaging elements222are designed to engage the locking portion219of the clips214on the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212. A screwless clip and spring mechanism288is formed from the clips214and the clip engaging elements222.

FIG. 16andFIG. 17are perspective views showing how the case bottom piece213engages the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212to which the current principles are applied. Release finger301pushes the locking portion219inward to disengage the locking portion219as it enters an aperture223in the bottom piece205.

FIG. 18is a bottom perspective view of the vertically oriented electronic device200to which the current principles are applicable. As will be apparent from this figure, the apertures223for the unlocking the retention clips214are remote from the antenna bracket601and the antennas602located near the top of the vertically oriented electronic device.

FIG. 19is a top view of a release fixture300to which the current principles are applied.FIGS. 16-19show the release aperture223in base205. One or more release fingers301are positioned on a base of a release fixture300. When more than one release finger301is used, they will be arranged on the base of the fixture300in the same pattern as corresponding apertures223on the bottom of the device. The release fingers are permitted to enter the corresponding release aperture223to push the locking portion219inward toward the anchor portion220, thereby removing the top portion (219A and291B) of the locking portion219from the engaging element222. This can be understood also with reference toFIG. 18in which the release finger301(not shown inFIG. 18) will contact the outer edge of the locking portion219and move the locking portion219away from the engaging element222.

FIG. 20is a flow diagram showing an exemplary method2100for assembling an electronic device having a case bottom piece, a case top front piece, a case top back piece, an antenna bracket and antennas mounted therein. Here, at step2105, the antenna bracket601is mounted onto an interior vertical wall of the case top front piece or case top back piece or mounted to a component that is mounted to the interior vertical wall of the case top front piece or case top back piece. At step2110, the case top front piece211is attached to the case top back piece212to form a top structure210using a screwless engagement structure977(SeeFIG. 2). At step2120, the top structure210is attached to the case bottom piece213using a plurality of screwless clip and spring mechanisms288. The case top back piece212includes printed circuit board staging slots230which are described in greater below.

The issue that arises with the antennas within the method above is that the antennas must be electronically connected to the antenna connectors on one or more printed circuits and it is often difficult to make the plurality of connections. This difficulty can arise with other connections to the one or more printed circuits. This can be because it is difficult to make certain connections when the circuit boards are already attached to casing walls, and also because it is difficult to hold the circuit boards still with one hand and make a plurality of connections with the other.

FIG. 21is a flow diagram showing an exemplary method2200for disassembling an electronic device having a case bottom piece, a case top front piece, and a case top back piece having the antenna bracket601mounted therein. The method2200is applied to an assembled condition, wherein the case top front piece is attached to the case top back piece212to form a top structure210using a screwless engagement structure, and the top structure is then attached to the case bottom piece using a plurality of screwless clip and spring mechanisms288. At step2210, a release fixture300is moved vertically upward to cause the release fingers301to also move vertically upward toward a bottom of the electronic device to simultaneously disengage a locking portion219of each of the plurality of screwless retention clips214and spring mechanisms288, thereby allowing the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212to be removed upwardly from the case bottom piece213. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the release tool300can be positioned on a surface and the entire electronic device is lifted and placed down onto the releases tool to enable the fingers301to engage the respective apertures223and disengage the locking portions219of each of the retention clips214. At step2220, the case top front piece211slides down with respect to the case top back piece212to disengage the screwless engagement structure and separate the case top front piece211from the case top back piece212such that electronic components included within the electronic device can be accessed.

The electronic device200can be a set-top box or the like and can be vertically oriented such that the height of the device is higher than the width of the front vertical surface and/or the rear vertical surface and/or the lateral depth. The lateral cross section can be a quadrilateral shape in which the front and back are parallel and the side surfaces are not parallel to one another. The device can be designed such that the release fixture and release fingers move vertically upward toward the bottom of the device to simultaneously disengage the plurality of the locking portions to allow the case top front piece211and the case top back piece212to be remove upward from the case bottom piece213. The case top front piece211and the case top back piece212can then further be detached from one another by moving the case top in a motion oppose to that shown inFIG. 5to attach the two pieces (case top front piece211and case top back piece212). With the two pieces211and212attached, the assembly can be reassembled or assembled by aligning the clip engaging elements222with the clip214when the release fixture is removed or not present.

As noted above, the electronic device200can be a quadrilateral generally in which the front and back are parallel and the side surfaces are not parallel to one another. However, the general quadrilateral shape can include some additional vertical connecting surfaces to make at least two additional minor surfaces (i.e. substantially smaller vertical surfaces)280between the rear wall206and side walls204(as shown inFIG. 4).

Further disclosed is a method of making a printed circuit board to printed circuit board electrical connection or configuration500when a second printed circuit board502is positioned at a right angle to the primary printed circuit board501. This can include the second PCB being connected behind the primary PCB on the component side504and the second printed circuit board being positioned on a non-component or bottom side505of the primary PCB. The connection for the two PCBs is through connector503.

FIG. 22,FIG. 23,FIG. 24, andFIG. 25show perspective views of circuit board assembly configuration500which can be employed in the vertically oriented electronic device200to which the current principles are applied. These views show wire securing slots540on the primary printed circuit board501along its upper edge. These slots540can be associated with connectors606which can be antenna connectors for antenna wires604. The small plan view cross-section area of the configuration500from a bottom perspective makes the configuration500commensurate with the screwless casing design of the vertically oriented electronic device200. The reason is the plan view cross-section can effectively be a T-shape that can be positioned by design to avoid the screwless locking mechanism or vice-versa. Further, by having the antenna bracket601mounted in the finished product at heights in the device in which most of the antenna bracket601is above the top edge of the vertically oriented primary printed circuit board501, makes the arrangement of the internal components further commensurate with the screwless casing design. With such an arrangement, the locking elements of the housing and the associated release fixture and release fingers for disassembly can be more freely positioned to avoid contacting or interfering with the printed circuit boards and/or other components. If one of the circuit boards were to be horizontally positioned, there would be less positions and greater constraints on the positioning of the locking elements of the housing and associated release fixture and release fingers. The circuit boards would need to be smaller and/or need to be positioned at higher locations with the device.

Since a component side504of PCB501can face a rear wall206of the housing of the electronic device, a problem is that access to the components on the component side504and access to a secondary PCB502may need to be made through an undesirable cable. Cables add cost and a point of potential failure. However, the connector503inFIG. 23provides a way for the secondary PCB502to be directly attached to the primary PCB501in which the secondary PCB502is inserted into the connector503. This arrangement reduces cost, improves quality and makes assembly easier, with fewer possibilities for assembly error.

Because the PCB arrangement shown inFIGS. 22 and 23reduces the number of cables, it makes room for the use of the plurality antenna cables or wires604needed to transmit antenna electrical signal within the device. As observed inFIG. 24, if the antenna connectors606are positioned near the top edge of the first printed circuit board501, it is possible to have the antenna connectors606on the component side504. As such, the antenna wires604can be short and the overall number of cables/wires within the device itself can be kept to a minimum number.

Also, having the connector503being elongated to run along the major axis adds stability to the support of second PCB502. Such a configuration of the connector503being positioned in a central portion of the primary board501allows the second board502to fit more conveniently in the casing, in which case top front piece211has a tapered shape in which the casing narrows to the front wall208.

As shown inFIG. 25, in an embodiment, a portion of the second printed circuit board502includes an extension591of the second printed circuit board from a plane592that substantially abuts a surface of the second printed circuit board when the first printed circuit board501is connected to the second printed circuit board by the connector503. Contacts588are arranged on the extension591.

FIG. 26is a cross sectional perspective view of a circuit board assembly configuration500highlighting the connector503and showing the contacts506that are on the interior cavity508of the connector503to which the current principles are applied. The connector503can be a rectangular structure having peripheral walls507. The rectangular structure can have a leading edge510that can be a surface that faces the component side504of the PCB501and contacts the PCB501and a portion of the connector503that protrudes through aperture509in the first PCB501. The connector503can extend back to the panel jack at the panel jack opening or can be connected to a cable running to the panel jack. The panel jack can be on the rear wall206of the electronic device or can be a part of the rear wall. The rear wall206can be part of the case top back piece212in which some of the lower rectangular features on the piece212inFIG. 11can represent a panel jack.

FIG. 27, andFIG. 28show interior perspective views of the vertically oriented electronic device200illustrating the circuit board assembly configuration500to which the current principles are applied. These views show that the primary PCB501can be screwed, bolted, or secured to the rear case or the case top back piece212.

The view inFIG. 28further illustrates that the secondary PCB502can have a heat spreader or heat sink512on one of its sides. The heat spreader or heat sink512can have a central contact portion513that thermally contacts the PCB502or heat generating components thereon. The spreader or sink512can have a planar peripheral portion that permits heat to be radiated or convected away from the PCB502.

In an embodiment, the heat spreader or heat sink512can be generally parallel to the PCB502and both heat spreader or heat sink512and PCB502can be perpendicular to the PCB501. The heat spreader or heat sink512can further provide structural support for the second PCB502. Here, the heat spreader or heat sink512can have a base edge with a vertical surface588that connects to the first PCB501or the case back212to support by the heat spreader512and in turn the heat spreader512support the second PCB502through contact points514(which can be screws or bolts or the like). The contact points514can work in conjunction with connector503to support the PCB502. The contact points can run along an edge of the PCB502opposite the edge of PCB502having the base edge (support edge). Other mechanical connection features799, such as screws or bolts, can secure the main board501to the electronic device200.

FIG. 29shows an exemplary method4800for assembling an electronic device having a case bottom piece, a case top front piece, and a case top back piece having printed circuit board (PCB) staging slots230. At step4801, one can provide an interior vertical wall of a case piece206having PCB staging slots230attached or formed thereon. These staging slots230will be discussed in more detail below and are shown inFIGS. 31, 33, 36, 38, and 39. At step4802, the antenna bracket601with antennas602can be mounted onto the interior vertical wall or to a component thereon. It should be understood that alternatively the antennas602can be added to the bracket601after the mounting of the bracket. At step4803, the PCB501is provided having wire securing slots540and the antenna wires604can then be inserted into the wire securing slots540. The wire securing slots540can be L-shaped to support one wire or a T-shaped (i.e. made by an L-shape and it mirror image combined) to support two wires in which the T-shape is inverted compared the L-shape and one wire goes to the left side and one wire goes to the right side of the line segment of the T-shape that is parallel to the edge of the printed circuit board. The L-shape and T-shape cutouts are shown inFIG. 31Dwhich is a magnified view of the identified portion ofFIG. 31Cin the wire securing slots region541. At step4804, an edge of the printed circuit board501is inserted into the staging slots230such that the printed circuit board (PCB) stands at an angle with respect to the interior vertical wall, and the antenna wires604can be connected to antenna connectors606on the printed circuit board. This is an intermediate process step and shown inFIG. 38. These steps4802and4803can also be used or can alternatively be used to make other connections to the printed circuit board or printed circuit boards. At step4805, the printed circuit board is removed from the staging slots and is attached to the interior vertical wall and the wire retention cover is applied to the printed circuit board edge over the wires. See views inFIGS. 42-46to see how the cover is configured and fits along the top edge of the circuit board. At step4806, the case piece having the printed circuit board is attached to other case pieces and the casing is closed to complete the assembly of the electronic device200.

This method4800can include one or multiple printed circuit boards in an electronic device200. The mounting of the bracket can include the use of screws, bolts or the like. The method can include connecting the second printed circuit board502to the first printed circuit board501in a perpendicular configuration500by the connector503on the first printed circuit board501, by passing a portion of the second printed circuit board502through a second side of the first printed circuit board501to engage the connector503on the first side of the printed circuit board501. The method can also include providing a structural support for a heat spreader or heat sink512having at least a portion thereof thermally contacting the second printed circuit board502or one or more heat generating components on the second printed circuit board502, by connecting a vertical ledge of the heat spreader or heat sink512to the first printed circuit board501or to the case top back piece212.

Although the staging slots have been beneficial, an embodiment of the current principles includes features as described inFIG. 29, but with no staging slots for the supporting the printed circuit board while the antenna wires are inserted in the wire securing slots. Instead the circuit board with the wire securing slots can be appropriately staged by something other than the staging slots such that the wires can be inserted in the wire securing slots.

FIG. 30shows the feature of the set top box without the case in which a plurality of antennas602are distributed over the printed circuit boards501and502and outside the peripheries of one or both of the orthogonally arranged printed circuit boards501and502. An embodiment can include only one board and less than 7 antennas. Here, the first printed circuit board501with a board heat spreader and heat sink520(in which “board” refers to the heat sink or spreader being associated with the circuit board) is attached to one side of the first printed circuit board501that is opposite the side that connects to the second printed circuit board502. The board heat spreader and heat sink520is between the first printed circuit board501and the rear wall206of the case top back piece212of the casing of the electronic device. The antennas602are connected to one of the circuit boards and, in this embodiment, are all attached to the first printed circuit board501. The antennas602can be connected to the antenna connector606on the first printed circuit board501by way of the antenna wires604. The antennas can be WIFI antennas and can be vertically oriented in the vertically oriented set top box as shown and positioned adjacent to the top210between the outer top peripheral edges of the printed circuit boards and the top210of the set top box. The antennas positioned along the rear wall206can be parallel to the rear wall206and laterally positioned to be between a vertical plane extending from the plane of the first printed circuit board501and the rear wall206. The antennas602can be laminated antenna printed circuit boards.

FIG. 31Ashows the rear wall206of the case top back piece212that is omitted inFIG. 30.FIG. 31Bshows the board heat spreader and/or heat sink520positioned adjacent to the rear wall, andFIG. 31Cshows the first printed circuit board501which is connected to the board heat spreader and/or heat sink520thereover. These figures also show the staging slots230positioned on the interior wall of the rear wall206.

Inspection ofFIG. 30shows that interior volume of vertically oriented electronic devices can be quite crowded with a complex arrangement of components that comprise circuit boards, the components on the circuit boards, and the components to which the circuit board components are physically or electronically connected. This crowdedness and complexity is further enhanced when a plurality of antennas is needed, due to the fact that conventional arrangement of the antennas involves having their own independent support. This, in turn, adds to the number of interior components that must be individually staged, isolated from other components and installed. Furthermore, in these vertically oriented electronic devices, it turns out that there are spatial constraints and inefficiencies with the individual supports. In other words, the need for rapid assembly in high volume factories makes it difficult to manufacture such devices in which the antennas are individually supported with their own supports.

In view of the above mentioned issues with individual supports and the need to shield and connect antennas, a single unitary antenna bracket601provided and shown inFIG. 32for holding the plurality of antennas602and the staging slots230provided and shown inFIG. 31are helpful. The perspective view ofFIG. 32shows the antenna bracket601that holds multiple antennas and antenna wires604. The antenna bracket includes multiple bracket walls or sides603to form a polygon structure and antenna pockets605supported on at least two bracket walls, wherein the antennas fit within the pockets and the pockets prevent electrostatic discharge to and/or from the antennas. The antenna bracket601can have rounded corners and the sides603, and the corners can follow or generally follow the interior contour of the vertical walls of the casing.FIG. 33shows a rear perspective view of the antenna bracket601in relation to the printed circuit board501and in relation to the staging slot230.FIG. 36further shows the wire securing slots region541in which the plurality of the wire securing slots540can be distributed along an end of the printed circuit board501.

FIG. 34A,FIG. 34B, andFIG. 34Cshow various perspective views of the antenna bracket601and how the antennas602slide into the pockets605. In particular, the corner region610of the bracket601highlighted inFIG. 34Ais enlarged inFIGS. 34B and 34Cto show how the antenna602can be inserted into and supported by the pockets605. The pockets605have a hollow structure with two broad walls parallel to the broad surfaces of the antenna and two openings. The pockets can further include two narrow opposing end walls that bridge the two broad walls. One opening can be at the top for the antenna to slide into and another opening at the bottom for the antenna wire604to extend through to connect preferably to one of the printed circuit boards.

FIG. 35shows a perspective view of the antenna bracket601and how the antenna wires604can be routed to one bracket wall603. This view, along with the view inFIG. 30, shows that the antenna wires604can be routed from an end of the antenna pockets605, along the bracket walls603toward one of the bracket walls603, and downward toward the antenna connector606. Also,FIG. 35andFIG. 34show that the antenna bracket601can have mounting apertures611on at least one of its walls603to secure the bracket601to a wall of the housing of the electronic device or to a printed circuit board.

FIG. 36shows a perspective view of the antenna bracket601and how the antenna wire604can be routed to one bracket wall603and down to the first printed circuit board501between the first printed circuit board501and the rear wall206. The wires604can connect to connectors606at the edge of the first printed circuit board501. This view shows that the bracket601and the printed circuit board can both be attached to the same wall206of the housing of the electronic device.FIG. 36shows that the antenna bracket601can be positioned above the staging slots230and the printed circuit board501can be positioned below the staging slot230in the final configuration, after the antenna wires604are attached and the circuit board501is removed from the staging slots.FIG. 36further shows the wire securing slots region541in which the plurality of the wire securing slots540can be distributed along an end of the printed circuit board501.

FIG. 37shows a rear perspective view of the antenna bracket601and how the antenna wire604can be routed to one bracket wall603and down to the first printed circuit board501and connect to antenna connector606at the edge of the first printed circuit board501. This view shows that the bottom edge of the bracket wall603to which each of the wires604are routed can be separated from the top edge of the printed circuit board501to which the wires604are routed.

Although quite helpful, the implementation of the antenna bracket601shown inFIG. 37has its own problems. For example, it is difficult to attach the wires604when the first printed circuit board501is already attached to rear wall206, due to the fact that there are spatial constraints that do not allow for easy access to the side of the printed circuit board501that faces the rear wall206. It is also difficult to attach the wires604to the connectors when the bracket601is already attached to the wall206and the circuit board is not yet attached, due to the fact that one needs to hold the circuit board501up with one hand and then try to connect each wire604individually. This is tedious and time consuming and requires great care, because the wires604are kept at short lengths to ensure they fit in the housing, to ensure they do not interfere or entangle with other components, and to save on material costs. Attaching the wires to the circuit board before both the bracket and circuit board are connected to the rear wall206is also problematic, because some wires tend to disconnect due the difficulty in handling the bracket and board together when they are separate components that are intentionally not rigidly bound together. The method4800inFIG. 29addresses this problem with the introduction of the staging slots230.

As such, the solution to ensure easy connections of the wires604to the connectors606on the first printed circuit board501can be better understood with reference toFIG. 38AandFIG. 38Band the method described inFIG. 29.FIG. 38Ais a magnified view of section570of the intermediate assembly shown inFIG. 38B. In the view shown inFIG. 38A, the antenna wires604are not yet inserted into the wire securing slots540. After the board heat sink is attached to the back wall206as shown inFIG. 31B, the circuit board501can be placed in staging slots230. As such, the rear wall206of the casing of the electronic device includes staging slots230that are adapted to support the circuit board in a vertical or upstanding position with respect to the rear wall206, which is oriented horizontally to permit access and viewing of the underside of the printed circuit board. Once the antenna wires604are attached to the connectors606, the circuit board501is removed from the staging slots230and oriented parallel to the rear wall for the remaining steps and final assembly which is shown inFIG. 31Cthat omits the bracket. There can be two staging slots230which can have C-shapes, U-shaped or V-shaped profiles in which the open ends face one another. These profiles of the staging slots can extend perpendicularly inward from the rear wall206to have a sufficient depth to be able to support the printed circuit board which can be parallel to the bracket601at point in this temporary state.FIGS. 42-46described below show how the cover is configured and fits along the top edge of the circuit board after the wires are applied to the staging slots.

FIG. 39shows the antenna wires604attached to the connectors606. At this point, the circuit board501can be removed from the staging slots230and oriented parallel to the rear wall206for the remaining steps and final assembly.

FIG. 40shows the circuit board501after being removed from the staging slots230and oriented parallel to the rear wall for the remaining step and final assembly.

FIG. 41Ashows a perspective view of the non-component/bottom side505of the first printed circuit board501having the wire securing slots540thereon.

FIG. 41Bshows a perspective view of the component side504of printed circuit board501having the wire securing slots540thereon.

The implementation of the wire securing slots540shown inFIG. 41has been proven to be quite helpful in the assembling of the vertically oriented electronic device200having the antenna brackets601. The wire securing slots540remove or substantially reduce the strain on the antenna wires that invariably occurs and causes some coaxial connectors of the antenna wires604to unplug after the plugging step. This might occur in the various methods for assembling the device. For example, in the case with the following order of steps: placing the rear wall206of the casing on a bench; adding or installing the heat spreader or heat sink512to the rear wall; adding or installing the antenna bracket601to the rear wall206; placing the printed circuit board501on the bench; plugging the antenna wires604onto coaxial antenna connectors606; the cover as shown inFIG. 42,FIG. 43,FIG. 44,FIG. 45, andFIG. 46can then be applied to the top edge of the circuit board; adding the printed circuit board501with antennas602to the rear wall; routing the antenna wires604and antennas602to proper locations in the bracket.

With the implementation of the wire securing slots540, the step of plugging the antenna wires can include sliding and/or securing the antenna wires604into the wire securing slots and placing the cover over the wires and the edge of the circuit board such that there is no strain between the antennas wire as it comes out from the wire securing slot540and extends to the antenna connector606on the printed circuit board. The retention cover shown inFIG. 42,FIG. 43,FIG. 44,FIG. 45, andFIG. 46also assists in preventing strain by contacting the wire which steers and guides the wires. The cover can be secured with hooks that engage hook slots which can be through-hole slots laterally positioned by the cusp areas of the securing slots. The hook slots can be completely surrounded by circuit board substrate to not be a groove from the edge of the circuit board.

In sum,FIGS. 41-46show a solution to the antenna wire strain problem. The solution is the additional step or feature of adding wire securing slots540on or integrated into the printed circuit board itself. As illustrated in theFIGS. 41A and 41B), there can be two types of wire securing slots540: a single hook and a double hook cutout that curve from an edge of the printed circuit board501. The hooks or slots of the wire securing slots540can have a J-shape or an L-shape cutout for the single hook type, or a T-shape cutout for the double hook type in the plane of the applicable printed circuit board. The advantage of the double hook is that one double hook takes up less room than 2 single hooks to accommodate two wires. If the L-shape is used and a single cutout is desired to accommodate two wires, a T-shape can be employed. The orientation of the T-shape would be inverted (i.e., upside down T) compared to the upright L-shape or the J-shape. The feature of the wire securing slots540can be incorporated with any of the assembly process.

One aspect of the present principles is that the J-space or L-shape cutout or slot permits the edge of the printed circuit board501to hold the wire while the end of the wire604is connected. The J-space or L-shape cutout/slot grasps or holds the wire securely to permit the manipulation of the dangling or free portion of the antenna wire604. The J-shape cutout/slot can include a flat bottom portion at the bottom of the J and a short curled portion (upward portion). The opening of the cutout/slot width must be large enough to accommodate the width of the wire; however, it is contemplated that the wire securing slot540can taper down to a width smaller than the width of the wire so the wire can be gripped tighter as the wire is advanced in the slot. The wire602can be secured in the wire securing slots540by pushing the wire into the slot in a direction in the plane of the board and parallel to the linear part of the J-shape cutout/slot near the opening. The downward portion of the J-shape or L-shape cutout/slot can be perpendicular to the edge of the printed circuit board. The antenna wire602can remain in the wire securing cutout/slot540after the connection to the connector606. The wire602can rest at the bottom of the J-shape or L-shape cutout/slot, or can rest at the short curled up portion of the J-shape slot if the J-shape cutout/slot is employed. Although a J-shape and an L-shape have been disclosed here, other effective shapes are also possible that can include some longer entrance portion (downward portion), some bottom portion or cusp portion and some upward portion back toward the edge of the board. For example, different versions of a check design (✓) can be utilized, which can include one or both strokes (i.e. upward and downward) at an acute angle with the edge of the printed circuit board or one stroke perpendicular to the edge of the printed circuit board.

TheFIG. 42,FIG. 43,FIG. 44,FIG. 45, andFIG. 46show how the retention cover enhances the effectiveness of the various wire securing slots. In accordance with one implementation, the retention cover700is generally U-shaped, where one leg701of the U is on the non-connector side, and the other leg704of the U is on the connector side of the PCB501, and the base portion709of the U covers or straddles the edge of the PCB once the retention cover is installed. In accordance with the present principles, the retention cover can be made of any type of plastic that has good insulating qualities (non-conductive). In addition, the plastic material should be flexible enough for the snap fittings to the PCB work and do not fatigue or break over time.

FIG. 42shows the non-connector side of the PCB501with the non-connector side701of the retention cover700positioned on the edge thereof, according to an implementation of the present principles. The non-connector side701of the retention cover700is generally planar and has wire receiving slots702which are positioned to align with the wire securing cutouts/slots540in the PCB501. The wire receiving slots702allow the retention cover to be positioned on the edge of the PCB such that antenna wires604pass through them allowing the various antennas602to be positioned during the staging process of assembly.FIG. 43shows the retention cover700from the connector side of the PCB501. As shown, the connector side704of retention cover700includes raised surfaces708and lower surfaces706.

FIG. 44, andFIG. 45show the retention cover700removed from the edge of the PCB. The connector side portion704has raised portions or surfaces708and lower portions or surfaces706. The raised portions/surfaces708are convex in shape and have an interior or underside radius that is configured to contain the wire604as the wire rounds over an edge of a channel in the circuit board501to ensure that the wire follows the interior radius710of the underside of the convex shape of the raised portion/surface708to insure that the wire604does not crimp or bend too sharply which can damage the wire or change its impedance or other electrical properties. As will be apparent from the Figures, the coaxial connector606are completely engaged (i.e., connected to the PCB501) in order for the retention cover700to be assembled onto the edge of the PCB. The raised portions/surfaces708have sufficient clearance to “cover” the coaxial connection606when the retention cover is in its operable position over the edge of the PCB501.

One or more hooks712are provided on either lower portions/surfaces706of the connector side portion704of the retention cover700and/or on the non-connector side701of the retention cover700. The non-connector side implementation of hook712is shown inFIG. 44. The hooks712have a protrusion714that is configured to snap into an aperture550on the PCB so as to secure the retention cover700in place. (See enlarged portion ofFIG. 44). Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the positioning of the apertures550and corresponding hooks712of the retention cover700can be modified depending on the desired application and/or particular needs of a specific design.

FIG. 46AandFIG. 46Bshow the final assembly of the retention cover700, according to an implementation of the present principles. Once the retention cover700is positioned as shown inFIGS. 42-43 and 45, an anchor rib750is positioned to hold the cover700in place to prevent disengagement during drop and vibration testing of the electronic device. The anchor rib750includes a recess752configured to fit over the retention cover700(SeeFIG. 46B). The other side of the anchor rib is secured against the casing or other stationary part of the electronic device housing, and thereby operates to secure the retention cover700in place. The anchor rib750could be removed after drop and vibration testing is completed and the product sold to the user public.

Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles are not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles. For example, although the embodiments generally refer to the components with a vertically oriented electronic device in which the vertical height of the device can be greater than the horizontal length of each of the side walls, the principles are intended to be useful and are intended to include horizontally oriented electronic device.

Additionally, although the sides of the vertically oriented electronic device as well as other components are characterized as being “vertical” or “vertically oriented,” it should be understood that these expression are intended to include surfaces which may have some curvature or some small deviations from being completely vertical (e.g. +/−10° from vertical can be considered vertical).

Also, it is intended that the expressions “rear” and “front,” the expressions “top” and “bottom,” and the expressions “vertical” and “horizontal,” as well as other complementary terms are intended to be construed from the perspective of the observer of the figures; and as such, these expression can be interchanged depending upon the direction that the observer observes the device.