Patent GB-866528-A (GB)
Title: Three-dimensional electrical circuit systems and modular units therefor
IPC: H01R12/50
Filed: 1959-12-23
Abstract: 866,528. Circuit assemblies. AMP Inc. Dec. 23, 1959 [Dec. 29, 1958], No. 43661/59. Class 37. A circuit assembly is composed of a plurality of modular units, each of which is made of electricallyinsulating material and contains at least one electrical circuit component with its leads connected to conductive strips on the outside of the unit and extending in a direction such that in planes perpendicular thereto the unit is of uniform cross-section. Fig. 1 shows a unit of square cross-section and comprising a plurality of plates 25 each supporting one or more components which are connected to recessed terminal areas at the edges of the plate by printed wiring, Fig. 2 (not shown). The plates are assembled by being held in a jig, resilient conductive strips 33, Fig. 3, thereafter being inserted in the recessed terminal areas and in corresponding recesses in the end-plates 31, 32. The strips 33 carry a coating of solder on their lower edges; assembly is completed by the application of heat to fuse the solder to the recessed terminal areas of the plates 25. The unit may then be encapsulated in an epoxy resin or left open when it is desired that cooling air should circulate around the components of the unit. The units are mounted in a support-member 4, Fig. 7, which is provided with open-ended compartments for receiving the units, the walls of the compartments being formed with channels 8 carrying printed circuit conductors with which the components of the units are interconnected by means of the conductive strips 33. The conductors in the channels 8 are connected to similar conductors in channels 12 on the outer walls of the support-member by means of conductively lined holes 72 or rivets. The member 4 may also be provided with conductive strips and be mounted with other similar members 4A, 4B &c. within an H-shaped pack 6. The components within the units are interconnected by the printed conductors within the channels 8 and 12 and power may be supplied to the circuit so formed from a power cable 53 by means of a suitable unit to which it is connected and the channels. 8 and 12 with which the unit makes contact. Instead of being mounted within a support-member, the units may be assembled together as shown in Fig. 10, by means of a pair of conductive strips 80 lying in and soldered to aligned contiguous strips of units 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D. Further short strips 81 effect specific connections between the units. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 17, the units may be formed with recesses 134 for receiving the conductive strips 33 as well as with the strips themselves and be arranged within a support-member 130 having recesses 132 and conductive strips 33, as shown. The units may be of rectangular or circular cross-section in which case suitablyshaped compartments are provided in the support members, Fig. 12 (not shown). Printed circuits. The printed conductors within the channels 8 and 12 may be prepared by dipping the support-member in an electroless nickel or silver plating solution and thereafter coating those areas where no conductor is required with a resist. An electrolytic coating of copper, silver or gold may then be deposited on the exposed areas after which the resist is removed and the nickel or silver layer applied as the first stage is etched away.