Abstract:
A method and system for connecting a vertical printed circuit board with a horizontal printed circuit board where a contact device is biased in a first position when not contacting a vertical printed circuit board and is biased in a second position when the vertical printed circuit is coupled to the horizontal printed circuit board.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to antenna devices and more particularly to systems and methods for coupling antennas to printed circuit boards. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The use of wireless communication devices for data networking continues to grow at a rapid pace. Data networks that use “WiFi” (“Wireless Fidelity”), also known as “Wi-Fi,” are relatively easy to install, convenient to use, and supported by the IEEE 802.11 standard. WiFi data networks also provide performance that makes WiFi a suitable alternative to a wired data network for many business and home users. 
         [0005]    WiFi networks operate by employing wireless access points that provide users, having wireless (or “client”) devices in proximity to the access point, with access to varying types of data networks such as, for example, an Ethernet network or the Internet. The wireless access points include a radio that operates according to the standards specified in different sections of the IEEE 802.11 specification. Generally, radios in the access points communicate with client devices by utilizing omni-directional antennas that allow the radios to communicate with client devices in any direction. The access points are then connected (by hardwired connections) to a data network system that completes the access of the client device to the data network. The different standards under IEEE 802.11 define ‘channels’ that wireless devices, or clients, use when communicating with an access point. 
         [0006]    These wireless access points and client devices typically have external or internal antennas. If internal antennas are employed in wireless access points and client devices, they are often connected to printed circuit boards (PCBs) by directly soldering the antenna to the PCB or with expensive connectors. Both approaches suffer from increasing cost either directly with hardware cost or indirectly with cost associated with complex soldering approaches caused by the size and angle of the installed antenna. Also, the physical size of connectors used in other approaches often makes use of those connectors impossible in highly integrated assemblies. 
         [0007]    Thus, there is a need for a system and approach for rapidly and cost effectively installing antennas on PCBs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A system and method for surface mounting contacts for use in high density assemblies where more than one PCB is required to be connected electrically, such as an antenna PCB to a controller PCB regardless of signal type (RF, digital or analog environment while reducing direct and indirect cost. The contact device is formed from a single material and mounted on a first PCB is biased in a first position when at rest and in a second position when in electrical contact with a second PCB. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a contact device in accordance with an example implementation of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top and side view of the contact device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the contact device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in a contact application with vertical PCB in accordance with an example implementation of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of the vertical PCB and horizontal PCB of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vertical PCB of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a contact device between a vertical PCB and horizontal PCB in accordance with another example implementation of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of an application of the contact device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  on to a PCB in accordance with an example implementation of an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In the following description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]    In  FIG. 1 , a perspective view  100  of a contact device  102  in accordance with an example implementation of an embodiment of the invention is shown. The contact device  102  may be formed by micro stamping a conductive metal alloy; examples of such alloys may include brass with nickel and silver as described in the Copper Development Association, Copper Alloy Spring Materials, CDA Publication TN12, 1973. It is desirable to choose a conductive alloy that is a spring material with reduced corrosion characteristics. The contact device is created with a raised portion  104  and may also have an anchor portion  106  or pad. The raised portion  104  may be formed out of the alloy by having a first bend  108  that raises a portion of the contact device  104  and a second bend  110  that is in the opposite direction of the first bend 
         [0018]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , a top and side view  200  of the contact device  102  of  FIG. 1  is shown. The contact device  102  has a first position without contacting a vertical PCB and a second position when engaged with the vertical PCB board. The contact device  102  is biased to the first position and exerts a biasing force in the second position against an inserted vertical PCB as shown in  FIG. 3 . The biasing force is created upon downward pressure being placed upon a raised portion  104  of the contact device. The raised portion  104  may be compressed by the vertical PCB board with the raised section  104  being moved from the biased first position to the second position. An anchor point  106  or pad may also include a protruding member  202  that aids in the anchoring of the contact device. 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 3 , a perspective view  300  of the contact device  102  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  mounted on a PCB  302  connecting with a vertical PCB  304  in accordance with an example implementation of an embodiment of the invention. The vertical PCB  304  may have microstrip contact lines, such as  306  and ground pads  308  and  310  that may wrap on the side wall of the PCB  304  substrate (the side walls may contain conductive metal for connection with the microstrip contact lines). The boundaries for the wrap around microstrip contact lines and ground pads may be achieved by drilling/routing operations. To ensure that the vertical PCB and microstrip contact lines/pads of PCB  304  create enough pressure against the contacts on PCB  302 , such as contact  102  and bias the contacts to a second position, a one or more guides ( 312  and  314 ) may be used. 
         [0020]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , perspective side view of the vertical PCB  304  and horizontal PCB  302  of  FIG. 3  is depicted. The vertical PCB  304  is shown with the microstrip contact line  306  extending to the edge of vertical PCB  304  and then wrapping around the edge of the PCB (wraparound metallization  402 ). The microstrip contact line  306  may be extended a bit more on the far side of the vertical PCB  304 , and then plated (stitched) through hole  404  in order to prevent the wraparound contact from peeling off. When the vertical PCB  304  is placed over the horizontal PCB  302  and contact  102 , the contact interface or coupling formed is robust and reliable. 
         [0021]    It is also noted that the vertical PCB  304  is seated on top of the contact  102  which show the efficient use of space by the contact on the horizontal PCB  302 . In other implementations, the contact  102  may engage a corner of the vertical PCB  304  rather than a side. 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 5 , a perspective view  500  of the vertical PCB of  304  of  FIG. 3  is shown. The ground pads  308  and  310  wrap around the edge of PCB  304 . The ground pads are shown to be drilled (or in other implementations routed) prior to be metalized (by coating or etching). As noted in  FIG. 4 , the microstrip contact line  306  may also be seen as extending around the edge of PCB  304 . 
         [0023]    Turning to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view  600  of a contact device  602  between a vertical PCB  604  and horizontal PCB  606  in accordance with another example implementation of an embodiment of the invention is shown. A microstrip  608  may be applied to the vertical PCB  604  that wraps around the edge and results in wraparound metallization  610 . The microstrip  608  may be plated through or stitched through a hole  612  to help secure the microsrtip to the vertical PCB  604 . The contact device  602  may be achieved with solder paste in between the microstrip  608  of the vertical PCB  604  and a pad or other electronic contact on the horizontal PCB  606 . The solder paste may be solidified during the surface mounting of devices on the horizontal PCB  606 . The solder paste in  FIG. 6  is shown prior to solidifying. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 7 , a flow diagram  700  of an example application of the contact device  102  of  FIG. 1  to a PCB  302  of  FIG. 3  in accordance with an example implementation of an embodiment of the invention is shown. A contact area (microstrip contact lines  306  or pads  308  and  310 ) may be formed  702  on a vertical PCB (such as PCB  304 ). A contact device  102  may then be placed upon the contact area, (microstrip contact lines  306  or on a pad)  704  on the main PCB board (such as PCB  302 ). The anchor point  106  of the contact device  102  is then secured to main PCB board with solder  706 . This may be accomplished by initially securing the anchor point  106  and then flow soldering over the contact device  102 . Other soldering or electro-coupling may be employed such as riveting or screwing. 
         [0025]    Further, one or more of the vertical PCBs may have an antenna formed on or in it. In other implementations, the vertical PCB may be another circuit board that contains sub-assemblies of an electronic device. The contact device  102  is shown being mounted on the horizontal PCB, in other implementations the contact device may be mounted on the vertical PCB or a combination of both vertical and horizontal PCBs. 
         [0026]    The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element, part, step, component, or ingredient which is not specifically disclosed herein. 
         [0027]    While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.