Patent Publication Number: US-11652309-B2

Title: Board coupling structure with separate power supply circuit board

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a board coupling structure in which a power supply circuit board is formed as a separate board. More specifically, embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a board coupling structure in which a signal processing circuit board for processing signals such as image signals, voice signals, or the like and a power supply circuit board are formed as different types of boards and the different types of boards are laterally coupled to each other. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Conventionally, a signal processing circuit for processing image signals and/or voice signals and a power supply circuit for supplying necessary power are divided and disposed in separate regions on a single board. 
       FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a conventional printed circuit board (PCB) structure. A single board  10  is divided into a signal processing circuit region  11  and a power supply circuit region  12  and necessary circuits and elements are disposed in each of the regions. Generally, a board has a multi-layer structure of three or more layers in order to reduce an area of a circuit region. 
     However, forming a circuit board including a signal processing circuit and a power supply circuit as a board having a multi-layer structure causes an increase in cost of the board. In addition, depending on product specifications for the signal processing circuit portion or the power supply circuit portion, a change inevitably occurs in an area occupied by the corresponding circuit or in circuit arrangement. In this case, there is a problem in that an area change in the entire board or a change in circuit layout is caused so that an increase in cost occurs. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a board coupling structure in which a signal processing circuit board and a power supply circuit board are formed as different types of boards and the boards are coupled to each other to operate as a single board, thereby reducing board production cost and preventing or minimizing a change in circuit layout or a change in area of one board according to a change in circuit layout or a change in area of the other board. 
     The technical objectives of the inventive concept are not limited to the above disclosure; other objectives may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based on the following descriptions. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the inventive concept, a board coupling structure includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board formed of a smaller number of layers than the number of layers of the first circuit board, and a fastening unit configured to laterally fasten a contact edge of the first circuit board to a contact edge of the second circuit board which are facing each other. 
     In an embodiment, the fastening unit may be provided with two or more fasteners spaced apart from each other. 
     In an embodiment, each of the two or more fasteners may include an upper piece configured to cross an upper or lower boundary between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, and two insertion pieces which are bent and extend from opposite sides of the upper piece toward the boards and are inserted into a first fastener insertion hole formed in the first circuit board and into a second fastener insertion hole formed in the second circuit board. 
     In an embodiment, of the two or more fasteners, two fasteners may be formed as a pair of fasteners and may be supported by one support that crosses the upper or the lower boundary between the first circuit board and the second circuit board. 
     In an embodiment, the board coupling structure may further include at least one electrical connector configured to electrically connect the first circuit board to the second circuit board. 
     In an embodiment, the electrical connector may be disposed between the fasteners, pins located at one side of the electrical connector may be inserted into first insertion holes formed in the first circuit board, pins located at the other side of the electrical connector may be inserted into second insertion holes formed in the second circuit board, and the pins located at the one side may be electrically connected to the pins located at the other side which correspond to the pins located at the one side. 
     In an embodiment, the electrical connector may be disposed between the pair of fasteners, pins located at one side of the electrical connector may be inserted into first insertion holes formed in the first circuit board, pins located at the other side of the electrical connector may be inserted into second insertion holes formed in the second circuit board, and the pins located at the one side may be electrically connected to the pins located at the other side which correspond to the pins located at the one side. 
     In an embodiment, the first circuit board may be a circuit board of three or more layers, and the second circuit board may be a single-layer circuit board or a two-layer circuit board. 
     In an embodiment, the first circuit board may be a signal processing circuit board for processing an image signal and/or a voice signal, and the second circuit board may be a power supply circuit board for supplying power to the first circuit board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the inventive concepts will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the inventive concepts. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a view illustrating a conventional printed circuit board (PCB) structure; 
         FIG.  2 A  shows an overall appearance of the board coupling structure in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive concept,  FIG.  2 B  is a side view of coupling components,  FIG.  2 C  is an exploded perspective view of the coupling components, and  FIG.  2 D  is a perspective view of the coupling components; 
         FIG.  3 A  shows an overall appearance of the board coupling structure in accordance with another embodiment of the inventive concept,  FIG.  3 B  is a plan view of coupling components,  FIG.  3 C  is a side view of the coupling components,  FIG.  3 D  is a front view of the coupling components, and  FIG.  3 E  is an exploded perspective view of the coupling components; 
         FIG.  4 A  shows an overall appearance of the board coupling structure in accordance with still another embodiment of the inventive concept,  FIG.  4 B  is an exploded perspective view of coupling components,  FIG.  4 C  is a layout comparison view of the coupling components, and  FIG.  4 D  is a perspective view of the coupling components; and 
         FIGS.  5 A to  5 D  show views for describing a board coupling structure in accordance with yet another embodiment of the inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, configurations and operations of embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  2    shows views for describing a board coupling structure in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive concept. 
       FIG.  2 A  shows an overall appearance of the board coupling structure,  FIG.  2 B  is a side view of coupling components,  FIG.  2 C  is an exploded perspective view of the coupling components, and  FIG.  2 D  is a perspective view of the coupling components. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , a board coupling structure  100  may include a first circuit board  110 , which is a signal processing circuit board, for processing image signals and/or voice signals, a second circuit board  120  which is a power supply circuit board, fasteners  130  for physically coupling the two boards, and electrical connectors  140  for electrically connecting the two boards. 
     Elements or modules for processing image signals and/or voice signals are disposed on the first circuit board  110  and the elements or modules are omitted for convenience of description. 
     The first circuit board  110  may be a printed circuit board (PCB) of three or more layers. In some cases, the first circuit board  110  may be a two-layer PCB. 
     First fastener insertion holes  112  for inserting the fasteners  130  may be formed in an edge, which faces the second circuit board  120 , of the first circuit board  110 . 
     First socket insertion holes  1142  for inserting pins  1422  of a socket  142  may be formed in the edge, which faces the second circuit board  120 , of the first circuit board  110 . 
     First connector insertion holes  1122  for inserting pins  1442 , which are located at the first circuit board, of a connector header  144  may be formed in the edge, which faces the second circuit board  120 , of the first circuit board  110 . 
     Elements or modules for providing necessary power to the first circuit board  110  are disposed on the second circuit board  120  and the elements or modules are omitted for convenience of description. 
     The second circuit board  120  may be a single-layer PCB or a two-layer PCB. 
     Second fastener insertion holes  122  for inserting the fasteners  130  may be formed in an edge, which faces the first circuit board  110 , of the second circuit board  120 . 
     Second socket insertion holes  1242  for inserting pins  1422  of socket  142  may be formed in the edge, which faces the first circuit board  110 , of the second circuit board  120 . 
     Second connector insertion holes  1222  for inserting pins  1442 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header  144  may be formed in the edge, which faces the first circuit board  110 , of the second circuit board  120 . 
     The fastener  130  may include an upper piece  132  crossing a boundary between the first circuit board  110  and the second circuit board  120 , and two insertion pieces  134  which are bent and extend from opposite sides of the upper piece  132  and are inserted into the first fastener insertion hole  112  and the second fastener insertion hole  122 . 
     Locking steps  136  locking on one side of the first fastener insertion hole  112  and one side of the second fastener insertion hole  122  may be formed at ends of the insertion pieces  134 . 
     The fastener  130  laterally fastens the first circuit board  110  to the second circuit board  120  to be pressed against each other from edge to edge. 
     The fastener  130  may be made of an elastic metal material or a synthetic resin material. 
     The electrical connector  140  may include two sockets  142 , which are inserted and coupled to respective upper surfaces of the circuit boards, and a connector header  144  which is inserted and coupled to upper sides of the two sockets  142  facing each other. 
     The pins  1422  of one socket  142  may be inserted into the first socket insertion holes  1142 . Pin through-holes  1444  may be formed in an upper surface of the socket  142 , wherein the pins  1442 , which are located at the first circuit board, of the connector header  144  are inserted into and pass through the pin through-holes  1444 . The pins  1422  of the socket may be electrically connected to the pins  1442 , which are located at the first circuit board, of the connector header in the pin through-holes  1444 . 
     The pins  1422  of the other socket  142  may be inserted into the second socket insertion holes  1242 . Pin through-holes  1444  may be formed in an upper surface of the other socket  142 , wherein the pins  1442 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header  144  are inserted into and pass through the pin through-holes  1444 . The pins  1422  of the other socket may be electrically connected to the pins  1442 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header in the pin through-holes  1444 . 
     The pins  1442 , which are located at the first circuit board, of the connector header  144  are electrically connected to the pins  1442 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header  144 . 
     The pins  1442 , which are located at the first circuit board, of the connector header  144  are inserted into and pass through the pin through-holes  1444  of one socket  142  and are inserted into the first connector insertion holes  1122 . The pins  1442 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header  144  are inserted into and pass through the pin through-holes  1444  of the other socket  142  and are inserted into the second connector insertion holes  1222 . 
     The first circuit board  110  and the second circuit board  120  are electrically connected to each other through the connector header  144 . 
     An assembly process of the board coupling structure in accordance with the present embodiment is as follows. 
     First, after the socket  142  is mounted on the first circuit board, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the first circuit board, and after the socket  142  is mounted on the second circuit board, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the second circuit board. 
     Next, after insertion components are mounted on each of the circuit boards on which the reflow soldering is performed, flow soldering is performed. 
     Next, after the first circuit board and the second circuit board are fixed on a jig, the fasteners and the connector header are assembled on each circuit board so that the boards are coupled to each other. 
       FIG.  3    shows views for describing a board coupling structure in accordance with another embodiment of the inventive concept. 
       FIG.  3 A  shows an overall appearance of the board coupling structure,  FIG.  3 B  is a plan view of coupling components,  FIG.  3 C  is a side view of the coupling components,  FIG.  3 D  is a front view of the coupling components, and  FIG.  3 E  is an exploded perspective view of the coupling components. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , a board coupling structure  100  may include a first circuit board  110 , which is a signal processing circuit board, for processing image signals and/or voice signals, a second circuit board  120 , which is a power supply circuit board, fasteners  230  for physically coupling the two boards, and electrical connectors  240  (which may be formed as connector headers in the present embodiment) for electrically connecting the two boards. 
     Elements or modules for processing image signals and/or voice signals are disposed on the first circuit board  110  and the elements or modules are omitted for convenience of description. 
     The first circuit board  110  may be a PCB of three or more layers. In some cases, the first circuit board  110  may be a two-layer PCB. 
     First fastener insertion holes  112  for inserting the fasteners  230  may be formed in an edge, which faces the second circuit board, of the first circuit board  110 . 
     Third connector insertion holes  1124  for inserting pins  242 , which are located at the first circuit board, of the connector header  240  may be formed in the edge, which faces the second circuit board  120 , of the first circuit board  110 . 
     Elements or modules for providing necessary power to the first circuit board  110  are disposed on the second circuit board  120  and the elements or modules are omitted for convenience of description. 
     The second circuit board  120  may be a single-layer PCB or a two-layer PCB. 
     Second fastener insertion holes  122  for inserting the fasteners  230  may be formed in an edge, which faces the first circuit board  110 , of the second circuit board  120 . 
     Fourth connector insertion holes  1224  for inserting pins  242 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header  240  may be formed in the edge, which faces the first circuit board  110 , of the second circuit board  120 . 
     The fastener  230  may include an upper piece  232  crossing a boundary between the first circuit board  110  and the second circuit board  120 , and two insertion pieces  234  which are bent and extend from opposite sides of the upper piece  232  and are inserted into the first fastener insertion hole  112  and the second fastener insertion hole  122 . 
     The insertion piece  234  may be formed to have two legs in which an incised groove is formed at a central portion thereof, and locking steps  236  locking on one side of the first fastener insertion hole  112  and one side of the second fastener insertion hole  122  may be formed at ends of the insertion pieces  234 . 
     The fastener  230  laterally fastens the first circuit board  110  to the second circuit board  120  to be pressed against each other from edge to edge. 
     The fastener  230  may be made of an elastic metal material. 
     The electrical connector  240  may be formed as a connector header which is inserted into and coupled to the third connector insertion holes  1124  and the fourth connector insertion holes  1224  facing each other. 
     The pins  242 , which are located at the first circuit board, of the connector header  240  are electrically connected to the pins  242 , which are located at the second circuit board, of the connector header  240 . 
     The first circuit board  110  and the second circuit board  120  are electrically connected to each other through the connector header  240 . 
     An assembly process of the board coupling structure in accordance with the present embodiment is as follows. 
     First, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the first circuit board and reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the second circuit board. 
     Next, the circuit boards on which the reflow soldering is performed are mounted on a pallet, the fasteners and the connector header are assembled on each circuit board, and then flow soldering is performed. 
     Another assembly process of the board coupling structure in accordance with the present embodiment is as follows. 
     First, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted on a pallet and then reflow soldering is performed. 
     Next, insertion components for the second circuit board are assembled, the fasteners and the connector header are assembled on each circuit board, and then flow soldering is performed. 
       FIG.  4    shows views for describing a board coupling structure in accordance with still another embodiment of the inventive concept. 
       FIG.  4 A  shows an overall appearance of the board coupling structure,  FIG.  4 B  is an exploded perspective view of coupling components,  FIG.  4 C  is a layout comparison view of the coupling components, and  FIG.  4 D  is a perspective view of the coupling components. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , a board coupling structure  100  may include a first circuit board  110 , which is a signal processing circuit board, for processing image signals and/or voice signals, a second circuit board  120 , which is a power supply circuit board, fasteners  330  for physically coupling the two boards, and supports  340  for supporting the fasteners. 
     Elements or modules for processing image signals and/or voice signals are disposed on the first circuit board  110  and the elements or modules are omitted for convenience of description. 
     The first circuit board  110  may be a PCB of three or more layers. In some cases, the first circuit board  110  may be a two-layer PCB. 
     First fastener insertion holes  112  for inserting the fasteners  330  may be formed in an edge, which faces the second circuit board  120 , of the first circuit board  110 . 
     Elements or modules for providing necessary power to the first circuit board  110  are disposed on the second circuit board  120  and the elements or modules are omitted for convenience of description. 
     The second circuit board  120  may be a single-layer PCB or a two-layer PCB. 
     Second fastener insertion holes  122  for inserting the fasteners  330  may be formed in an edge, which faces the first circuit board  110 , of the second circuit board  120 . 
     The fastener  330  may include an upper piece  332  crossing a boundary between the first circuit board  110  and the second circuit board  120 , and two insertion pieces  334  which are bent and extend from opposite sides of the upper piece  332 , are inserted into the first fastener insertion hole  112  and the second fastener insertion hole  122 , and are inserted into fastening holes  342  of the support. 
     The insertion piece  334  may be formed to have a detaching groove formed in a central portion thereof, and a locking bar  336  for being locked to a locking step  344  of the support may be formed below the detaching groove to extend upward. 
     The fastener  330  may be made of an elastic metal material or a synthetic resin material. 
     The support  340  may be formed to have a total of four fastening holes  342  so as to correspond to two fastening holes  342  per one fastener  330  in order to support the two fasteners  330  on lower surfaces of the first and second circuit boards. 
     The locking step  344  may be formed on one side of the fastening holes  342  to extend downward. 
     The fasteners  330  and the support  340  laterally fasten the first circuit board  110  to the second circuit board  120  to be pressed against each other. 
     The two fasteners  330  and one support  340  corresponding thereto may be referred to as a pair of fasteners. 
     Although an electrical connector is not shown in the embodiment of  FIG.  4   , components associated with the electrical connector  140  of  FIG.  2    and/or components associated with the electrical connector  240  of  FIG.  3    may be applied without changing. 
     The first circuit board  110  and the second circuit board  120  may also be electrically connected to each other through the electrical connector. 
     In the present embodiment, the electrical connector may be formed between a pair of fasteners. 
     Alternatively, the first circuit board and the second circuit board may be electrically connected through a general cable connection connector. 
     An assembly process of the board coupling structure in accordance with the present embodiment is as follows. This assembly process is a process for an example using a general cable connection connector. 
     First, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the first circuit board and then reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the second circuit board. 
     Next, after insertion components are assembled on each of the circuit boards on which the reflow soldering is performed, flow soldering is performed. 
     Next, after the first circuit board and the second circuit board are fixed on a jig, the fasteners  330  and the support  340  are fixedly assembled on each circuit board. 
     Next, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are connected through a cable connection connector. 
     Another assembly process of the board coupling structure in accordance with the present embodiment is as follows. This assembly process is a process for an example using the electrical connector in  FIG.  2   . 
     First, after the socket  142  is mounted on the first circuit board, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the first circuit board, and after the socket  142  is mounted on the second circuit board, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the second circuit board. 
     Next, after insertion components are mounted on each of the circuit boards on which the reflow soldering is performed, flow soldering is performed. 
     Next, after the first circuit board and the second circuit board are fixed on a jig, the connector header, the fasteners  330 , and the support  340  are assembled on each circuit board and fixed. 
     Still another assembly process of the board coupling structure in accordance with the present embodiment is as follows. This assembly process is a process for an example using the electrical connector in  FIG.  3   . 
     First, reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the first circuit board and reflow soldering is performed on an upper surface of the second circuit board. 
     Next, the circuit boards on which the reflow soldering is performed are mounted on a pallet, the connector header is assembled on each circuit board, and then flow soldering is performed. 
     Next, after the first circuit board and the second circuit board are fixed on a jig, the fasteners  330  and the support  340  are fixedly assembled on each circuit board. 
     In accordance with the present embodiment, yet another assembly process for an example using the electrical connector of  FIG.  3    is as follows. 
     First, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are mounted on a pallet, and reflow soldering is performed. 
     Next, insertion components for the second circuit board are assembled, the connector headers for the two circuit boards are assembled, and then flow soldering is performed. 
     Next, after the first circuit board and the second circuit board are fixed on a jig, the fasteners  330  and the support  340  are fixedly assembled on each circuit board. 
       FIG.  5    shows views for describing a board coupling structure in accordance with yet another embodiment of the inventive concept. 
       FIGS.  5 A to  5 D  show examples of different sizes and different coupling contact edge lines of a first circuit board  110  serving as a signal processing circuit board and a second circuit board  120  serving as a power supply circuit board. 
       FIG.  5 A  shows a general harness connection using an electrical connector  440 , and  FIG.  5 B  shows a general cable connection using an electrical connector  450 . 
     In  FIGS.  5 C and  5 D , electrical connectors are omitted. 
     In  FIGS.  5 A to  5 D , an adhesive  430 , such as epoxy or silicone, is used as a fastening unit for each circuit board at contact edge lines facing each other between the circuit boards so that the respective circuit boards may be laterally fastened to be pressed against each other. 
     The example of  FIG.  5    may further include the fasteners described in  FIGS.  2  and  3    so that fastening force between the boards may be improved, and the adhesive may be used for the contact edge lines of the boards with respect to the embodiments described with reference to  FIGS.  2  to  4    so that fastening force between the boards may be further improved. 
     In the inventive concept, the first circuit board and the second circuit board are fastened laterally and tightly using the fasteners and the electrical connector to be pressed against each other from edge to edge. Therefore, there is an advantage in that it is possible to provide convenience in use that allows two boards to be treated as one board. 
     In the inventive concept, the electrical connector is disposed between the fasteners or between the pair of fasteners. Therefore, it is possible to further improve fastening force between two boards by not only the fasteners but also the electrical connector. 
     While the embodiments of the inventive concept has been described above. The scope of the inventive concept is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it may be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept described in the appended claims. 
     For example, in  FIGS.  2  to  4   , although the upper pieces of the fastener are described as being formed to cross the upper surface of the first circuit board and cross the upper surface of the second circuit board, the disposed fasteners are alternately disposed so that the upper pieces of the fastener may be formed to cross the upper surfaces of the boards and the upper pieces of the other fastener adjacent thereto may be formed to cross lower surfaces of the boards. 
     Further, instead of the electrical connectors described in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , through a general harness connection or a general cable connection, the boards may be electrically connected. 
     According to the inventive concept, the signal processing circuit board and the power supply circuit board are formed as different types of boards and the boards are coupled to each other to operate as a single board, and thus board production cost can be reduced and the boards can be easily installed and managed. 
     Further, a change in circuit layout or a change in area of one board according to a change in a circuit layout or a change in area of the other board can be unnecessary or can be minimized.