Patent Publication Number: US-2011069465-A1

Title: Printed circuit board assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to printed circuit boards (PCBs) and, particularly, to a PCB assembly accommodating electronic devices of different dimensions. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many electronic devices include PCBs for hosting various electronic elements. A PCB of an electronic device may be an integrated single board, shaped to conform to the physical design of the electronic device. However, when dimensions of the electronic device changes, such as decreased size, the PCB no longer corresponds in size to the electronic device. A new PCB must be manufactured to match the new configuration of the electronic device, which can increase costs and is inconvenient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a front side plan view of the PCB assembly of  FIG. 1 , connected to a signal cable in a first arrangement. 
         FIG. 3  is a front side plan view of the PCB assembly of  FIG. 1 , connected to a signal cable in a second arrangement. 
         FIG. 4  is a front side plan view of the PCB assembly of  FIG. 1 , connected to a signal cable in a third arrangement. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly  100  is used in electronic devices. The PCB assembly  100  can satisfy electronic devices of different dimensions. 
     The PCB assembly  100  includes two integral function boards  10  and  20  separated by a V-shaped groove  30 , effectively providing two individual function boards. 
     In other embodiments, the PCB assembly  100  may include more than two function boards separated by V-shaped grooves. Alternatively, the separating groove can have other shapes. 
     The function board  10  includes a function module  12 , and function board  20  includes a function module  22 . The function modules  12  and  22  can include requisite electrical elements corresponding to function. A signal connector  14  is mounted on the function board  10  adjacent to the groove  30 , electrically connecting to the function module  12 . A signal connector  24  is mounted on the function board  20  and adjacent to the groove  30 , electrically connected to the function module  22 . The two function modules  12  and  22  can communicate with each other via a signal cable  200  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) between the signal connector  14  and the signal connector  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , if the electronic device dimensions can accommodate the entire PCB assembly  100 , including function boards  10  and  20  connected to and coplanar with each other, the signal cable  200  is connected between the signal connector  14  and the signal connector  24 , and the PCB assembly  100  is positioned appropriately in the electronic device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , however, if dimensions of the electronic device cannot accommodate the entire PCB assembly  100  with the function boards  10  and  20  connected to and coplanar with each other each other, the PCB assembly  100  is separated into two individual function boards  10  and  20  along the groove  30 . The two individual function boards  10  and  20  overlap as required by available space. The signal cable  300  is connected between the signal connector  14  and the signal connector  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , if dimensions of the electronic device can accommodate the entire PCB assembly  100  with the function boards  10  and  20  connected to and coplanar with each other, but some elements of the electronic device infringe on certain areas, interfering with the PCB assembly  100 , the PCB assembly  100  can be separated into its two individual function boards  10  and  20 , which may then be relocated as required to an appropriate location, whereby the elements are accommodated therebetween. The signal cable  400  is connected between the signal connector  14  and the signal connector  24 . 
     The PCB assembly  100  accommodates electronic devices of different dimensions via separating the PCB assembly  100  into two individual function boards  10  and  20 , and then arranging the two individual function boards  10  and  20  in appropriate places of the electronic devices, which is very convenient and can save costs. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.