Abstract:
The present invention relates to the field of security gate operating systems, more specifically a method and apparatus for attaching control module housings to a printed circuit board containing at least a portion of the controller for the security gate operating system. A controller module unit is disclosed with a plurality of controller module connectors of a first type mounted on a printed circuit; a controller module housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposing elongated walls and a pair or opposing shorter walls; a module housing second type of connector extending from the bottom wall may comprise an elongated second type connector body having a plurality of second type connector elements; the module housing second type connector body enters into a respective connector bay and enables connection between the first and second type connector elements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of security gate operating systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for attaching control module housings to a printed circuit board containing at least a portion of the controller for the security gate operating system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is well known in the art of security gate controllers to have a printed circuit board on which to contain the controller, which may include such things as a microprocessor/microcontroller which can be programmed to perform a number of functions, as well as selectively positionable input/output switches utilized to customize the control of the security gate for a particular installation, e.g., setting alarm sensors, timers, operating frequencies and the like. These are most often done with switches and rheostats and the like that are fixedly attached to the printed circuit board containing the remainder of the security gate operating system controller, or substantially all of it. Certain elements, e.g., security gate loop controller modules may require, e.g., more complex customization for a given unit installation, e.g., setting the frequency at which a vehicle detection loop used by the system controller will operate, and the operating circuitry and components to operate the security gate vehicle detection unit. In such cases it may be necessary to have a module that is detachable from the printed circuit board and easily substituted for with a like module. In such cases, it is critical that the installer at the site of the security gate in question be able to correctly install the module. This can require correctly positioning the module with respect to connector pins or sockets on the printed circuit board with the corresponding socket or pins on the module, without damaging the pins or socket on the respective members, assuring that all pins are inserted into the appropriate socked on either the printed circuit board or the module, as appropriate, and retaining the module in connection on the circuit board, but allowing for subsequent removal and substitution in order to correct malfunctions or to change the desired operating characteristics of the security gate after initial installation. Since the modules can be rather substantial in size and heavy, misalignment in installation, in addition to perhaps improperly connecting each pin to its appropriate socket, may cause serious damage, as by bending one or more misaligned pins in the installation process.  
           [0003]    There is, therefore a need for a better method and apparatus for the installation of controller modules onto a controller printed circuit board for a security gate controller.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A controller module unit is disclosed which may comprise a printed circuit board having a generally flat upper surface; a plurality of controller module connectors of a first type mounted on the printed circuit board, wherein each controller module connector may comprise: an elongated body; a plurality of first type connector elements arranged generally in alignment with the length of the elongated body; a flexible latching detent attached to the elongated body; a controller module alignment and positioning housing mounted on the printed circuit board; the controller module positioning and alignment frame may comprise: a front wall and a rear wall, each having an interior surface a connector bay containing a respective one of the controller module connectors; a first and a second guide shelf extending generally parallel to the upper surface of the printed circuit board, the separation of each of the first and second guide shelves from each other defining a first dimension of the connector bay; at least one guide wall extending vertically upward from each of the first and second guide shelves, the position of the at least one guide wall defining a second dimension of the connector bay for the respective connector; a controller module, that may comprise: a controller module housing having a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposing elongated walls and a pair or opposing shorter walls, and a module housing second type of connector extending from the bottom wall, the module housing second type connector that may comprise: an elongated second type connector body having a plurality of second type connector elements arranged generally in alignment with the length of elongated connector body; an elongated generally rigid latching member extending along one side of the elongated second type connector body; with the first and second guide shelves positioned with respect to the connector bay and the respective first type connector element positioned with respect to the connector bay and the second type connector positioned with respect to the bottom wall of the module housing such that when a first one of the pair of shorter walls of the module housing is in contact with the interior surface of one of the front and rear walls of the positioning and alignment frame, the module housing second type connector body comes into contact with one of the first and second shelves and when the second one of the pair of shorter walls of the module housing is in contact with the interior surface of the other of the front and rear walls of the positioning and alignment frame, the module housing second type connector body enters into the respective connector bay and enables connection between the first and second type connector elements. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a printed circuit board containing a portion of the controller for a security ate operating system;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 shows a detachable controller module housing to be mounted on the circuit board, and positioned within an alignment and positioning receptor according to the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the bottom of a controller module with an aligning connector member at the bottom the module;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 shows a front view of the controller module of FIG. 3.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 shows a side view of a connector pin mounting according to the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 6 shows a front view of the connector pin mounting of FIG. 5; and,  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an alignment and positioning receptor according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    Turning now to FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a security gate operating mechanism controller, having a printed circuit board  12  shown in a partially cutaway plan view. Mounted on the printed circuit board  12 , as by being attached by screws (not shown), is an alignment and positioning receptor  14 , as more fully described below. The alignment and positioning receptor  14  can have a pair of receptor shelves  16  and a receptor bay  18 , with each of the receptor shelves  16  being separated into several, e.g., three, separate receptor slots by guide walls  30 . Positioned within the receptor bay  18 , aligned with each respective receptor slot is a connector element  80 , which as shown may be a male connector element  80 , as more fully described below. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this could also be a female connector element  80 , without departing from the concept of the invention.  
         [0013]    Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a security gate operating system controller module  40 . The controller module can be, e.g., a module containing circuitry and electronic/electro-mechanical/electro-magnetic components that are associated with, e.g., a sensor loop, which may be utilized to sense the various positions of a vehicle as it passes through the security gate in relation to the steps of operating the gate in the open or closed direction as the vehicle passes through the gate. It is often desirable to have several different such loops and to operate each with a separate controller, which may also have some slightly different operating parameter(s), e.g., the operating frequency of the sensor apparatus. These parameters may vary from installation to installation, and may, therefore, be most conveniently incorporated into the security gate operating system controller by selective installation of customizable modules. The controller module  40  may have a casing  41  which may comprise a top wall  43 , a pair of opposing elongated side walls  45  and a pair of shortened opposing side walls  47 , as well as a bottom wall  49 . The top wall  43  may contain switches  42 , e.g., for selecting a parameter, e.g., operating frequency, and indicator lights for, e.g., “loop fail”  44 , “detect” in effect  44  and “power on”  48 . At least one of the elongated side walls  45  may contain text  56  with instructions, e.g., for setting up the module  40  to obtain the desired parameter(s). Extending from the bottom wall  47  can be a connector element  58 , as more fully described below, which as illustrated can be a female connector element  58 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the connector element  58  can be a male connector element  58 , provided that the connector element  80  is also modified to be a female connector element  80  without departing from the concept of the present invention.  
         [0014]    Turning now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, there is shown respectively, a side view and a front view, of the security gate operating mechanism controller module  40 , with part of the casing  41  of the module  40  cut off. The casing  41  may have extending from the bottom wall  49  thereof a connector element  58 . The connector element  58  may include a connector body  50  extending outwardly from the bottom wall  49  and including a connector setting flange  64 , which may extend along the length of the connector body  60 . On the opposing side of the connector body  60  there can be an attachment for a portion of a controller module printed circuit  70 , extending out from an opening in the bottom wall  47  of the housing  41 . This attachment may comprise, e.g., a plurality of soldered connections  71  of wires  72 , which can each extend into the connector body  60  for attachment to a respective one of a plurality of female connector receptacles  74 , one of such female connector receptacles  74  being shown through the partial cut-away view into the connector body  60 . The connector body  60  on the elongated side opposing the setting flange  64  an including the attachment of the printed circuit board  70  may also include a plurality of protrusions  68  extending upwardly from a shelf  78 , the upper surface of which may abut the printed circuit board  70  and the protrusions  60  on the interior side thereof may serve to hold the printed circuit board  70  in place and on the exterior side thereof may serve to aide in properly inserting the module  40  into the appropriate receptor slot.  
         [0015]    Turning now to FIG. 4 there is shown a front view of the connector as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0016]    Turning now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, there is shown a side view of the connector element  80 , which can be attached to the floor of the receptor well  18  as for example, by a combination of the solder connection (not shown) of its pins  86  to the underside surface of the printed circuit board  12  and adhesive attachment of a bas portion  82  of the connector element  80  to the upper side surface of the printed circuit board  12  in the receptor well  18 . The connector element  80  may have a plurality of male connector pins  86 , for example ten such pins  82  spaced generally evenly along the length of the connector element  80 . The base member  82  may have a notch  84  removed from opposing corners of the base member  82  on the side to which a detent member  90  is attached to the base member  82 . In addition, the connector element  80  may have a spring-loaded detent member  90 . The spring loaded detent member  90  may comprise a flexible side wall portion  92  and a detent member  94  at the distal end of the flexible wall portion  92 , which may comprise an upper inwardly slanting surface  96  and a lower inwardly slanting surface  98  which intersects the upper inwardly slanting surface  96 . As shown in FIG. 6, the detent member  90  may comprise a second detent member  90 ′, with each of the detent member  90  and the second detent member  90 ′ extending substantially along the entire length of the connector element  80  base member  82 .  
         [0017]    The connector element  58  connector body  60  and the connector element  80  connector base  82  and detent member  90  may each be constructed as is well known from s suitable plastic by molding or extrusion and subsequent trimming, to form e.g., the notches  84 .  
         [0018]    Turning now to FIG. 7 there is shown a perspective side view of the positioning and alignment receptor  14  with a controller module  40  inserted into a respective receptor slot. As shown, the controller module  40  bottom wall  47  may abut the respective portion of the shelf  16  within the respective receptor slot and the connector element  58  is receivedly engaged by the connector element  80 , with the setting flange engaged by the detents  94  (not shown in FIG. 7) on the flexible detent members  90  and  90 ′. The alignment and positioning receptor  14  as shown may have a side wall  100 , a back wall  102 , a second side wall  104  and a front wall  106 . As shown, the front wall  106  may be shorter in elevation than the back wall  102  and may have a plurality of module locator texts  50 ,  52  and  54  one for each respective receptor slot for each respective module  40  indicating which respective type of module belongs in the respective receptor slot. The connector element  80  is positioned within the respective receptor slot portion of the receptor well  18  such that with one wall of the module  40 , e.g., the shortened side wall  47  of the module  40  generally abutting the rear wall  102  of the positioning and alignment receptor the connector element  58  and the connector element  80  are in alignment to properly engage, e.g., the pins on the connector element  80  with the receptacle  74  on the connector element  54 , with each such pin  86  aligned with its respective receptacle  74 . In the event that the connector element  58  is misaligned to the left as shown in FIG. 7 the connector element  58  will be prevented from being inserted into the respective receptor slot portion of the receptor well, as, e.g., by the connector element  58  engaging the shelf portion  16  in the respective receptor slot, e.g., to the left of the of the module as positioned as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, with the connector element  58  positioned on the module to be displaced from the centerline of the bottom wall  49 , as shown in FIG. 3, any attempt to insert the module backwards, e.g., with shortened side wall  47  on the left hand side of the view as shown in FIG. 7 will result in the connector element  58  being prevented from being inserted into the respective receptor slot portion of the receptor well  18 , as, for example, by the connector element  58  engaging the top of the flexible detent element  90  in a manner that will not induce the detent member to flex to give way for the insertion of the connector element  58 , as occurs, e.g., when the module  40  is inserted in the proper alignment and positioning such that the setting flange is properly aligned such that, e.g., its slanted portion  65  engages the top inwardly slanting surface of the flexible detent member  90  and flexes the detent member  90  to allow engagement of the setting flange  64  by the detent member  90  when it bends back into the upright position.  
         [0019]    In operation, therefore, the present invention may be utilized to insure, e.g., that the module  40  and its connector element  58  are properly inserted so as to insure correct connector contact between the respective male and female elements, e.g., pins  86  and receptacles  74 , and that the installer cannot attempt to force a connection with a misalignment/mispositioning of the module, causing damage to either of the male or female connector elements  58 ,  80 , and particularly, e.g., bent pins  86 .  
         [0020]    While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For that reason, the scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims: