Patent Publication Number: US-6661323-B2

Title: Surface mounting device and its used support

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a surface mounting device and its used support; in particular, to a surface mounting inductor and its used support. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, conventional surface mounting inductors are divided into several types. Referring to FIG. 1 a  and FIG. 1 b , a surface mounting inductor  10  without a support is shown. Such surface mounting inductor  10  is provided with an iron core  11  and a coil  12 . The coil  12  must be directly soldered to the bottom  111 , as shown in FIG. 1 c , of the iron core  11 . 
     When the surface mounting inductor  10  is mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown), it cannot be isolated from the printed circuit board. Thus, circuits on the printed circuit board cannot pass through the bottom  111  of the iron core  11 . As a result, the layout of the circuit requires additional space and the size of the whole printed circuit board increases. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 a , FIG. 2 b , FIG. 3 a  and FIG. 3 b , other surface mounting inductors  20 ,  30  are shown. The surface mounting inductor  20  is provided with an iron core  21 , a coil  22  and a support  23 , and the surface mounting inductor  30  is provided with an iron core  31 , a coil  32  and a support  33 . The support  23  is provided with a pin  231 , and the support  33  is provided with a pin  331 . The coil  22  winds around the pin  231 , and the coil  32  winds around the pin  331 . 
     Electrodes of the surface mounting inductors  20 ,  30  are formed by L-shaped metal supports  23 ,  33  glued to the bottom of the iron core  21 ,  31 . Since the fabricating process of the surface mounting inductors  20 ,  30  are simple, the manufacturing cost of the surface mounting inductors  20 ,  30  is lower than that of the surface mounting inductor  10 . However, the surface mounting inductors  20 ,  30  have the same disadvantage as the surface mounting inductor  10 . That is, when the surface mounting inductors  20 ,  30  are mounted on the printed circuit board, they cannot be isolated from the printed circuit board. 
     Referring to FIG. 4 a  and FIG. 4 b , another surface mounting inductor  40  is shown. The surface mounting inductor  40  is provided with an iron core  41 , a coil  42 , a support  43 , and two L-shaped metal parts  44 . The coil  42  is soldered to the support  43 . The L-shaped metal parts  44  are used as electrodes, and partially inserted into holes  45  of the support  43 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5 a  and FIG. 5 b , another surface mounting inductor  50  is shown. The surface mounting inductor  50  is provided with an iron core  51 , a coil  52 , a support  53 , and two U-shaped metal parts  54 . The support  53  is provided with an upper surface  531  and a flat bottom surface (not shown). The upper surface  531  is provided with a concave portion  531   a  with the iron core  51  disposed thereupon. The U-shaped metal parts  54  are used as electrodes, and fit with the circumference of the support  53 . The coil  52  is soldered to the U-shaped metal parts  54 . When the surface mounting inductor  50  is mounted on the printed circuit board, the bottom surfaces of the U-shaped metal parts  54  are in contact with the printed circuit board. 
     The surface mounting inductors  40 ,  50  have the following disadvantages: 
     1. Since the L-shaped metal parts  44  and the U-shaped metal parts  54  are disposed on the support  43 ,  53 , the bottom surfaces of the supports  43 ,  53  are uneven; and 
     2. Since the supports  43 ,  53  are made of plastic, the strength of the supports  43 ,  53  is insufficient and the supports  43 ,  53  are easily damaged when the profile of the supports  43 ,  53  is thin. In contrast, when the thickness of the supports  43 ,  53  increases, the thickness of the whole surface mounting inductors  40 ,  50  also increases. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to address the disadvantages of the aforementioned surface mounting inductor, the invention provides a surface mounting inductor with an isolation support. 
     Another purpose of this invention is to provide a support for a surface mounting device having an inductive device. 
     Accordingly, the invention provides a support for modifying an inductive device to a surface mounting device. The inductive device is provided with a core and a coil, and the support includes an electric portion and an isolation portion. The electric portion, having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, is electrically coupled to the coil. The first surface of the electric portion is in contact with the core. The isolation portion is disposed on the second surface of the electric portion in a manner such that the isolation portion covers one part of the second surface of the electric portion. The isolation portion is flush with the other part of the second surface of the electric portion. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the electric portion is a metal plate with an L-shaped cross-section. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the electric portion includes two metal plates respectively having an L-shaped cross-section. 
     Furthermore, the metal plates are integrally formed. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the electric portion is a metal plate with a U-shaped cross-section. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the electric portion is provided with a plurality of pins for the coil winding thereon. 
     Furthermore, each of the pins is provided with a notch for leading the coil. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the electric portion is glued to the core. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the isolation portion is a paint layer coating on the one part of the second surface of the electric portion. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the isolation portion is a plastic film glued to the one part of the second surface of the electric portion. 
     In another preferred embodiment, this invention provides a surface mounting device. It includes a core, a coil, an electric portion and an isolation portion. The coil winds around the core. The electric portion, having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, is electrically coupled to the coil. The first surface of the electric portion is in contact with the core. The isolation portion is disposed on the second surface of the electric portion in a manner such that the isolation portion covers one part of the second surface of the electric portion. The isolation portion is flush with the other part of the second surface of the electric portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a schematic view of a conventional surface mounting inductor without a support; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a side view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 1 a;    
     FIG. 1 c  is a bottom view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 1 a;    
     FIG. 2 a  is an exploded view that shows another conventional surface mounting inductor; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a schematic view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 2 a;    
     FIG. 3 a  is an exploded view that shows another conventional surface mounting inductor; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a schematic view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 3 a;    
     FIG. 4 a  is an exploded view that shows another conventional surface mounting inductor; 
     FIG. 4 b  is a schematic view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 4 a;    
     FIG. 5 a  is an exploded view that shows another conventional surface mounting inductor; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a schematic view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 5 a;    
     FIG. 6 a  is an exploded view that shows a surface mounting inductor as disclosed in a first embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 b  is a perspective view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 6 a;    
     FIG. 6 c  is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. 6 a;    
     FIG. 7 a  is an exploded view that shows a surface mounting inductor as disclosed in a second embodiment of this invention; and 
     FIG. 7 b  is a perspective view of the surface mounting inductor in FIG. 7 a.   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to FIG. 6 a  and FIG. 6 b , a support  60   b  as disclosed in a first embodiment of this invention is shown. The support  60   b  is used for modifying an inductor  60   a  to a surface mounting device  60 . The inductor  60   a  is provided with a core  61  and a coil  62 , and the support  60   b  includes an electric portion  63  and an isolation portion  64 . The electric portion  63  is provided with a first surface  633  and a second surface  634  opposite to the first surface  633 . The first surface  633  of the electric portion  63  is glued to the bottom of the core  61 ; that is, it is in contact with the core  61 . The electric portion  63  is provided with a plurality of pins  631  for the coil  62  to be wound thereon. The pins  631  bend toward the core  61 , and each of the pins  631  is provided with a notch  632  as shown in FIG. 6 c . Since the coil  62  winds around the notch  632 , the notch  632  can lead the coil  62 , and the coil  62  can stably wind around the pins  631 . Thus, the electric portion  63  is electrically coupled to the coil  62 , and there is no need to solder the coil  62  to the electric portion  63 . The isolation portion  64  is disposed on the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63  in a manner such that the isolation portion  64  covers one part of the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63 . That is, the other part of second surface  634  of the electric portion  63  is not covered by the isolation portion  64 , and is exposed to the surroundings. The isolation portion  64  may be a paint layer coating on the one part of the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63 , or may be a plastic film glued to one part of the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63 . In addition, the isolation portion  64  is flush with the other part of the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6 a , the electric portion  63  includes two metal plates, and the cross-section of the electric portion  63  may be L-shaped, as shown in FIG. 6 a , or U-shaped (not shown). However, the electric portion  63  is not limited to this, two metal plates may be integrally formed into one metal plate. 
     After assembling the core  61 , the coil  62 , the electric portion  63  and the isolation portion  64 , the surface mounting inductor  60  is completed as shown in FIG. 6 b . Since the isolation portion  64  is flush with the other part of the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63 , the surface mounting inductor  60  can be mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) in a manner such that there is no gap between the surface mounting inductor  60  and the printed circuit board. Thus, the surface mounting inductor  60  is evenly mounted on the printed circuit board. In addition, the other part, not covered by the isolation portion  64 , of the second surface  634  of the electric portion  63  can be used as an electrode, and is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to FIG. 7 a  and FIG. 7 b , a support  70   b  as disclosed in a second embodiment of this invention is shown. The support  70   b  is used for modifying an inductor  70   a  to a surface mounting device  70 . The inductor  70   a  is provided with a core  71  and a coil  72 , and the support  70   b  includes an electric portion  73  and an isolation portion  74 . The core  71  includes a drum-typed core  711  and a cap-typed core  712 . The electric portion  73  is provided with a first surface  733  and a second surface  734  opposite to the first surface  733 . The first surface  733  of the electric portion  73  is glued to the bottom of the core  71 ; that is, it is in contact with the core  71 . The electric portion  73  is provided with a plurality of pins  731  for the coil  72  winding thereon. The pins  731  bend toward the core  71 , and each of the pins  731  is provided with a notch  732 . Since the coil  72  winds around the notch  732 , the notch  732  can lead the coil  72 , and the coil  72  can stably wind around the pins  731 . Thus, the electric portion  73  is electrically coupled to the coil  72 , and there is no need to solder the coil  72  to the electric portion  73 . The isolation portion  74  is disposed on the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73  in a manner such that the isolation portion  74  covers one part of the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73 . That is, the other part of second surface  734  of the electric portion  73  is not covered by the isolation portion  74 , and is exposed to the surroundings. The isolation portion  74  may be a paint layer coating on the one part of the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73 , or may be a plastic film glued to the one part of the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73 . In addition, the isolation portion  74  is flush with the other part of the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7 a , the electric portion  73  includes two metal plates, and the cross-section of the electric portion  73  may be L-shaped, as shown in FIG. 7 a , or U-shaped (not shown). However, the electric portion  73  is not limited to this, two metal plates may be integrally formed into one metal plate. 
     After assembling the core  71 , the coil  72 , the electric portion  73  and the isolation portion  74 , the surface mounting inductor  70  is fabricated as shown in FIG. 7 b . Since the isolation portion  74  is flush with the other part of the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73 , the surface mounting inductor  70  can be mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown) in a manner such that there is no gap between the surface mounting inductor  70  and the printed circuit board. Thus, the surface mounting inductor  70  is evenly mounted on the printed circuit board. In addition, the other part, not covered by the isolation portion  74 , of the second surface  734  of the electric portion  73  can be used as an electrode, and is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board. 
     As stated above, the support as disclosed in this invention includes the electric portion and the isolation portion, and is used to modify the inductor to the surface mounting device. The electric portion, glued to the core, is used as the electrode, while the isolation portion is disposed between the electric portion and the printed circuit board. Thus, when the surface mounting device as disclosed in this invention is mounted on the printed circuit board, it can be isolated from the printed circuit board. In addition, since there is no gap between the surface mounting inductor and the printed circuit board, the surface mounting inductor can be evenly mounted on the printed circuit board. Furthermore, overall costs are reduced. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover the disclosed embodiment, those alternatives which have been discussed above, and all equivalents thereto.