Patent Publication Number: US-8113862-B2

Title: Accessory PCB fixture and electronic device employing the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and in particular to an accessory printed circuit board (PCB) fixture used therein. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In electronic devices, an edge connector mounted on a main printed circuit board (PCB) provides electronic connection to an accessory PCB. Generally, the accessory PCB electronically connects to the edge connector by insertion thereinto. However, if the accessory PCB is received in the edge connector without any additional securing means, the accessory PCB is easily disengaged from the edge connector during use or transport. 
     Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electronic device, including an accessory PCB fixture, in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an accessory PCB fixture in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an electronic device of the disclosure, including the accessory PCB fixture of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an accessory PCB fixture in accordance with a third embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an electronic device of the disclosure, including the accessory PCB fixture of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an electronic device  100  as disclosed includes an accessory printed circuit board (PCB) fixture  10 , a main PCB  20  and an accessory PCB  30  defining at least two holes  32 . An edge connector  22  is located on the main PCB  20  to electronically connect the accessory PCB  30 . Here, the edge connector  22  is close to an edge of the main PCB  20 . 
     The accessory PCB fixture  10 , also disclosed, employed in the electronic device  100 , is used to fix the accessory PCB  30 . The accessory PCB fixture  10  includes at least one positioning foot  12 , at least two latch portions  14  and a connecting portion  16 . The at least one positioning foot  12  is fixed on the main PCB  20 . The at least two latch portions  14  match the at least two holes  32  of the accessory PCB  30  to fix the accessory PCB  30 . The connecting portion  16  rigidly connects the at least one positioning foot  12  with the at least two latch portions  14 . 
     A first embodiment of the electronic device  100  of the disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, the accessory PCB fixture  10  includes two positioning feet  12 , fixed to two sides of the edge connector  22 . Each positioning foot  12  includes a pin  122 . The main PCB  20  defines two positioning holes  24  to receive the pins  122  of the positioning feet  122 . The accessory PCB fixture  10  is fixed on the main PCB  20  by the pins  122  being received into the positioning holes  24 , and two fasteners  50 , such as screws, received in the positioning feet  12  and the main PCB  20 . The fasteners  50  and positioning feet  12  cooperatively maintain the position of the accessory PCB fixture  10 . 
     In this embodiment, the accessory PCB  30  defines two holes  32 , and the accessory PCB fixture  10  includes two latch portions  14  correspondingly. Each latch portion  14  includes a positioning portion  142 , a spring arm  144  and a hook  146 . The positioning portions  142  are angled from the connecting portion  16  toward the accessory PCB  30  to be received in the holes  32  of the accessory PCB  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, each of the positioning portions  142  includes a supporting portion  141  to support the accessory PCB  30 . The spring arms  144  are angled from the connecting portion  16  along the same direction as the positioning portion  142 . The hooks  146  are respectively formed on the spring arms  144  and cooperate with the positioning portions  142  to latch the accessory PCB  30 . 
     During installation of the accessory PCB  30  into the edge connector  22  and the accessory PCB fixture  10 , one end of the accessory PCB  30  is received in the edge connector  22 , and the other end of the accessory PCB  30  lowers such that the positioning portions  142  are received in the holes  32 , such that one surface of the accessory PCB  30  is supported on the supporting portions  141 , and hooks  146  latched the other surface of the accessory PCB  30 . Supporting portions  141  accordingly cooperate with the hooks  146  to latch the accessory PCB  30 . 
     When the accessory PCB  30  is to be removed from the edge connector  22 , the two spring arms  144  are withdrawn such that hooks  146  depart from the accessory PCB  30 , which can accordingly be removed. 
     A second embodiment of the accessory PCB fixture  10  and the electronic device  100  is shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , differing from that of the first embodiment in that accessory PCB fixture  10  of the second embodiment includes two different latch portions  14 , and each latch portion  14  includes a supporting portion  141 , a positioning portion  142 , a spring arm  144  and a hook  146 . The supporting portions  141  support the accessory PCB  30  on substantially the same surface as the main PCB  20 . The positioning portions  142  are perpendicular to the supporting portions  141 , and received in the holes  32  of the accessory PCB  30 . The spring arms  144  are angled from one end of the supporting portions  141 , and extend towards the accessory PCB  30 . The hooks  146  are formed on the spring arms  144  and cooperate with the positioning portions  142  to latch the accessory PCB  30 . That is, one surface of the accessory PCB  30  is supported on the supporting portions  142 , and the hooks  146  latch the other surface of the accessory PCB  30 . 
     A third embodiment of the accessory PCB fixture  10  and the electronic device  100  is shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , differing from the first and second embodiments in that each latch portion  14  includes a supporting portion  141 , a positioning portion  142  and a hook  146 . The supporting portions  141  are angled from the connecting portion  16 , and support the accessory PCB  30 . The positioning portions  142  extend from the supporting portions  141  toward the accessory PCB  30 . Each of the hooks  146  angled from one end of the corresponding positioning portion  142  is flexible, passing through the holes  32  from one surface of the accessory PCB  30  and latch the other surface of the accessory PCB  30 . 
     In the third embodiment, during installation, one end of the accessory PCB  30  is received in the edge connector  22 , and the other end of the accessory PCB  30  is lowered such that the hooks  146  and the positioning portions  142  are received in holes  32 , such that one surface of the accessory PCB  30  is supported on the supporting portions  141 , and the hooks  146  latch the other surface of the accessory PCB  30 . Accordingly, the supporting portions  141  cooperate with the hooks  146  to latch the accessory PCB  30 . When the accessory PCB  30  is to be removed from the accessory PCB edge connector  22 , the accessory PCB  30  is drawn toward the hooks  146 , which deform and withdraw from the holes  32  of the accessory PCB  30 . 
     In the embodiments disclosed, the accessory PCB fixture  10  is formed by bending a metal sheet several times. The accessory PCB fixture  10  has a simple structure and mounts the accessory PCB  30  securely. 
     While exemplary embodiments have been described, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not by way of limitation. The breadth and scope of the disclosure should not be limited by the described exemplary embodiments, but only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.