Abstract:
Information regarding electrical components and their use is provided with a foldable information sheet having instructions thereon. The sheet has apertures which fit over the electrical components and information is printed on the sheet in proximity to the electrical component or components to which it applies. A portion of the information sheet may be adhered to a planar surface on which the components are mounted and non-adhered portions of the information sheet may be folded over the components.

Description:
The present invention relates to providing instructions for use with electrical circuits such as electronic circuit boards. 
   Many of the electrical circuits in use today require user interaction to set up and maintain the circuits for optimum performance. Also, many modern circuits are so “feature rich” that only a small amount of the circuit&#39;s capabilities are commonly used and the rest of the capabilities tend to be forgotten. When different sets of capabilities are needed, the circuit must be re-configured which is a difficult task when the user is trying to do so from memory. 
   Complicated circuitry is often shipped with an owner&#39;s or user&#39;s manual which provides instructions for set up and use. Such manuals are often misplaced over time and valuable resources are lost trying to find replacement manuals for previously purchased equipment. Further, even when the manual can be found its use may be difficult because of the mental translations required between pictures and words in the manual and the actual electrical circuits to be controlled. 
   In the case of electrical circuit boards some producers print the definitions of parts and sometimes instructions for use on the board itself. The circuit boards are however, fabricated to maximize the performance of the electrical circuit and to minimize its cost. Accordingly, a circuit board generally has little space available for meaningful information. What is needed in the art are improved methods and apparatus for providing electrical circuit related information to the user of such circuits. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  shows an information sheet attached to an electrical circuit; 
       FIG. 2  shows a bottom surface of an information sheet; 
       FIG. 3  shows an end view of a circuit board with an open information sheet attached; 
       FIG. 4  shows an end view of a circuit board with a folded information sheet; 
       FIG. 5  shows a circuit board without information sheet; 
       FIG. 6  shows a top surface of an information sheet; and 
       FIG. 7  shows a folded information sheet attached to an electrical circuit. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   The present description relates to methods and apparatus for providing user information which is affixed to the circuit to which it pertains. The examples described relate to a wireless communication link circuit, however, it will be readily seen that the principles taught herein apply equally well to all other types of electrical circuits. 
   A circuit board  11  ( FIG. 3 ) is shown in  FIG. 1  which has an information sheet  13  attached hereto. As is described in greater detail later herein, information sheet  13  has disposed thereon, instructions for use of the circuit board  11  and in several places circuit elements of the circuit board protrude through the information sheet  13 . The circuit board  11  and information sheet  13  are attached inside a circuit box  15 , a portion of which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . 
     FIG. 5  shows an end view of circuit board  11  before the attachment of the information sheet. A bottom surface  17  of circuit board  11  is populated with the majority of the circuits required to provide a portion of a wireless communication link. The exact nature of the wireless communication link is not described herein as its understanding is not required for an understanding of the present invention. Certain electrical components of the wireless communication link are disposed on a top surface  18  of the circuit board. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  the electrical components on the surface  18  comprise LEDs  14   a–e , switches  20   a–d  and connectors  22   a–c . The portion of the top surface  18  of the circuit board  11  not populated by electrical components is a substantially planar surface. 
   The particular electrical components of the wireless communication circuit which are placed on the top surface  18  are those which require some user interaction including user observation. In order to explain how the user should interact with the electrical components, an information sheet  13  ( FIG. 6 ) is prepared. The information sheet  13  is made to be placed on the top surface  18  of circuit board  11  and includes apertures to fit over the electrical components e.g.,  22   a–c . For example, the information sheet  13  of  FIG. 6  includes apertures  54   a–e  to fit over LEDs  14   a–e , apertures  60   a–d  to fit over switches  20   a–d  and apertures  62   a–c  to fit over connectors  22   a–c . Information sheet  13  ( FIG. 6 ) may also include apertures  27  for use with screws  29  to attach the information sheet  13  to the top surface  18  of the circuit board. The bottom surface  25  of information sheet  13  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Bottom surface  25  may include an adhesive area  31  to adhere the information sheet to the substantially planar top surface  18  of the circuit board  11 . 
     FIG. 3  shows circuit board  11  having an attached information sheet  13  with the electrical components e.g.,  22   a , protruding therethrough. The information sheet  13  may also include creases or fold lines  33 – 36  transverse to the width of the information sheet so that the information sheet can be folded to protect the electrical components e.g.,  22   a  and form a more compact structure.  FIG. 4  shows the information sheet  13  folded over the electrical components and fastened with a fastener  38 . Fastener  38  may comprise mating hook and loop fastener portions  38   a  and  38   b  shown on the information sheet in  FIGS. 2 and 6 . The folded information sheet  13  is also shown in  FIG. 7  where it is attached to the inside of circuit box  15 . The information sheet  13  may be fabricated from any number of products depending on the environment in which it is to be placed. It has been found, however, that card board, plastic and laminated paperboard or paper perform well. 
   When constructed as above described, an information sheet  13  which is capable of holding detailed instructions and information can be produced. Advantageously, information regarding a given electrical components e.g.,  22   a  is placed on the information sheet in proximity to the aperture through which the given component will protrude. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6  the top surface  24  of information sheet  13  is divided into six zones  1 – 6  separated by boundary lines  41 . Differing shades of gray or colors could also be used to separate the zones. Zone  1  contains power input connector  22   a  and includes instructions for connecting incoming power. Zone  2  contains a ground connector  22   b  which is clearly labeled on the information sheet  13 . Zone  3  contains network connector  22   c  and includes, in graphical form, how to connect to an RS-485 network. Zone  4  contains frequency switch  20   c , program switch  20   d  and program LED  14   d  and instructions are provided for manipulating and observing those components to set a frequency. Zone  5  contains a connection switch  20   a  and graphical instructions for setting switch  20   a  for remote or local connection. Lastly, zone  6  contains mode switch  20   b  and LEDs  14   a–c  and includes both graphical and textual instructions for performing a test of transmission range and setting an operating mode. From the examples of  FIGS. 1 and 6 , a person of ordinary skill can use the principles of the present invention with many other types of circuits and provide other types of information and instructions as needed.