Abstract:
A joint structure of electronic element for linking circuit board and electronic element is provided. The joint structure of an electronic element for being electrically connected to a circuit board has at least one slot positioned thereon. And, the joint structure of the electronic element includes: at least one terminal which has a curved portion including a deflected angle with a normal line of a plane of the circuit board, wherein when the joint structure of the electronic element is connected with the slot, the terminal produces an elastic stress through suffering a jostle from the slot so as to urge against the slot for forming an electrical connection therebetween.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention is related to a joint structure of electronic element for linking circuit board and electrical element, and more particularly, to a joint structure of electronic element which has features of elasticity, selectivity and is capable of fabricating an electronic element and a circuit board without tools. When the electrical element is connected with circuit board, the terminal of the electronic element and the circuit board will be electrically connected.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    While Electronic products are getting more complex, the number of electrical elements on the circuit board is increased in these several years. That is why there are a lot of electrical elements on the general circuit boards. Take mother board as an example, there are all kinds of elements of mounted on it, including chips, resistors, capacitances and slots. For slot, it is used for inserting all sorts of electronic card such as memory card, vision card and sound card or any card for inputting and outputting power source.  
           [0003]    In general, in order to obtain the biggest expansion for the computer, the computer manufacturer usually welds all sorts of expansion slots (or connectors) on the mother board so that the client can insert more control cards and electrical elements whenever needed. But, most computer users are common families not professional users, so they only need a few slots in the beginning period. After a few time later, when the users want to increase the new electrical elements (for example: control card), the unused expansion slot will be used. However, most general users upgrade computers rarely and the unused expansion slots are wasted and the cost of the computers is increased.  
           [0004]    Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates the connecting structure of the electrical terminal and the circuit board. The structure includes the terminal  101  of the electrical element  100 . The terminal  101  is electrically connected with the rejecting part  104  of the circuit board  103  by soldering tin  102 . In this kind of manufacturing process, usually the electrical element  100  is inserted into the circuit board  103  by auto-machine (not show in the drawing). Then, the circuit board  103  is passed through the soldering pot so as to connect the rejecting part  104  and the terminal  101  through the soldering tin  102  by the capillarity between the terminal  101  and the rejecting part  104 . Here the electrical element  100  could be seen as a connector. Only a few necessary slots are set on the mother board and not all connectors are welded on the mother board. In theory, the users can weld the electrical element  100  by hand to increase new connectors on the mother board when they want to increase the number of connector. However, most of them don&#39;t have relevant tools, even they have, they still can&#39;t operate the welding well like the professionals do, and the slot or mother board might be unavoidably damaged. Furthermore, since the present electrical elements usually have plural terminals and the distance between the terminals is getting smaller, the welding by hand is more difficult.  
           [0005]    Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing another connection between the terminal and the circuit board according to prior art t. The structure includes the terminal  201 . The terminal  201  has an arrow-like shape, which is enlarged from bottom to middle for forming the fixing part  202  having a width A. This kind of conventional terminal  201  is used in some handheld electronic products like mobile phones. Since small volume is one of the purposes for mobile phone, the density of the electrical elements is usually high. In addition, in order to manufacture fast, the terminal  201  is pressed into the fixing hole  204  of the rejecting part  203  by the special machine (not show in this drawing). This kind of electronic products are mostly consumptive and the electrical elements need not to be detached so the width B of the fixing hole  204  is wider than the width A. When the terminal  201  is pressed into the fixing hole  204 , the limit of the width B will make the width A have a shape change (plasticity changing), so as to ensure that the connection between the fixing hole  204  and the terminal  201  will not loose by light impact. In other words, the terminal  201  has the functions of transmitting signals and power source and supporting the electrical element  200  so as to guarantee that the fixing hole  204  and the terminal  201  will not be separated easily.  
           [0006]    However, the conventional structure shown in FIG. 2 is used in communication industry only at the present time. Inserting the terminal  201  into the fixing hole  204  completely has to be accomplished only by special tools that provide enough force and common people can&#39;t do it by themselves. Through test we can realize it needs 2 to 4.5 kg to insert one single terminal  201  into the fixing hole  204 . In general, there are ten to forty terminals on the slot. In another words, we need 20 to 180 kg to set a slot on the mother board, which is likely impossible to accomplish by hand. Moreover, common families will not buy the tools only for increasing the slots and the sellers will not provide the tools for free. Besides, the terminal  201  has a lot of functions and needs to be avoided the bending of the terminal  201 , so the material of the terminal  201  needs to be choose carefully and the cost is high (about 40 dollars).  
           [0007]    Please refer to FIGS.  3 ( a ) and ( b ). FIGS.  3 ( a ) and ( b ) illustrate a general connector connected with a circuit board. The connector  300  is welded and fixed on the slot  302  of the circuit board  301  by soldering tin (please refer to the technical contents of FIG. 1). The terminal  304  of the connector  300  is electrically connected with the circuit board  301  by soldering tin. At last, the needed circuit board  305  with different function is inserted into the circuit board  305  and fixed by the fixing element  303  (shown in FIG. 3( b )). Although there is only one connector (expansion slot) shown in the drawing, in general, in order to obtain the biggest expansion of the computer, the computer manufacture usually weld all sorts of expansion slots (or called connectors) on the mother board so that the clients can insert into more control cards and electrical elements whenever needed.  
           [0008]    In order to overcome the drawbacks and solve the problems encountered in the prior art, an improved joint structure of electronic element is provided in the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a joint structure of an electronic element for being electrically connected to a circuit board having at least one slot positioned thereon. The joint structure of the electronic element includes: at least one terminal which has a curved portion including a deflected angle with a normal line of a plane of the circuit board, wherein when the joint structure of the electronic element is connected with the slot, the terminal produces an elastic stress through suffering a jostle from the slot so as to urge against the slot for forming an electrical connection therebetween.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the terminal includes two pieces which from an adjustable space therebetween and each of which is bent toward the adjustable space for forming a force-receiving surface and a protruding part, and when the joint structure of the electronic element is connected to the circuit board, because the force-receiving surface is pushed by the slot the two pieces approach each other so as to reduce the adjustable space.  
           [0011]    Preferably, the joint structure of electronic element further comprising a bridge which combines the two pieces so that when the two pieces are plugged into the slot so as to approach the two pieces to each other through a compression, and the bridge is elastically deformed and when the two pieces are unplugged from the slot, the two pieces are then opened again through an the elasticity of the bridge.  
           [0012]    Preferably, the slot is a slender one so that the terminal is movable along the slender slot.  
           [0013]    Preferably, the joint structure further includes a first fixing element and the circuit board further includes a second fixing component, and the first fixing component and the second fixing component are fixed to each other.  
           [0014]    Preferably, the electronic element further includes a first positioning piece and the circuit board further includes a second positioning piece, and the first positioning piece is matched with the second positioning piece so as to position the terminal at the slot.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the first positioning piece is positioned on the first fixing component and the second fixing component is used as the second positioning piece.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the first positioning piece is a pin and the second positioning piece is a pinhole, and when the first positioning piece is matched with the second positioning piece, the pin is plugged into the pinhole.  
           [0017]    Preferably, the first positioning piece is a guide rail and the second positioning piece is a guide bar, and when the first positioning piece is matched with the second positioning piece, the guide bar is placed into the guide rail.  
           [0018]    Preferably, the second fixing component is a fixing groove for containing the first fixing component therein and the second fixing component further includes an opening for jamming therein the circuit board.  
           [0019]    Preferably, after the opening is jammed by the circuit board, a card is plugged into the fixing groove for preventing the circuit board from escaping from the opening.  
           [0020]    Preferably, the electronic element is a voltage regulation module.  
           [0021]    Preferably, the circuit board is a computer motherboard.  
           [0022]    Preferably, the joint structure further includes a first fixing component and a third fixing component and the circuit board includes a second fixing component and the first fixing component and the second fixing component are loose fitted to each other and become to be close fitted to each other because the third fixing component further opens the first fixing component.  
           [0023]    Preferably, the second fixing component is an inserted hole.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the first fixing component is an inserting pin, and the inserting pin and the joint structure are formed integrally.  
           [0025]    Preferably, the third fixed component is a plug for further opening the inserting pin elastically so as to urge the inserting pin tightly against the hole.  
           [0026]    Preferably, the first fixing component and the second fixing component are formed to be a locking pin.  
           [0027]    Preferably, the joint structure of the electronic element is a connector.  
           [0028]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a joint structure of an electronic element for linking a circuit board which has at least one slot positioned thereon. The joint structure of the electronic element includes: at least one terminal which has a deflected angle with a normal line of a plane of the circuit board so as to from a protruding part, when the joint structure of the electronic element is connected with the slot, the protruding part produces an elastic stress through suffering a jostle from the slot for forming an electrical connection therebetween.  
           [0029]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following descriptions with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a connection between the terminal and the circuit board according to prior art;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing another connection between the terminal and the circuit board according to prior art;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another connection between the connector and the circuit board according to prior art;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a joint structure of electronic element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    FIGS.  5 ( a ) and ( b ) are schematic views showing joint structures of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b ) are schematic views showing joint structures of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0036]    FIGS.  7 ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) are schematic views showing joint structures of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0037]    FIGS.  8 ( a ) and ( b ) are schematic view showing joint structure of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0038]    FIGS.  9 ( a ) and ( b ) are a schematic view showing a joint structure of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0039]    The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a joint structure of electronic element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The circuit board  400  has the slot  401  mounted thereon. The metal terminal  402  is inserted into the slot  401  and is electrically connected with the slot wall  4001  of the slot  401  through the protruding part  4021 , as shown in the FIG. 4. The metal terminal  402  further includes the force-receiving surface  4022  which forms the adjustable space  4023 . When the metal terminal  402  is inserted into the slot  401 , the force-receiving  4022  will be pushed against the slot wall  4001  so that the terminal  402  is elastically deformed to urge against the center of the slot  401 . Meanwhile, since the metal terminal  402  is made of elastic metal, an elastic stress will be produced to allow the protruding part  4021  of the terminal  402  rejected against the slot wall  4001 . Hence, the protruding part  4021  is electrically connected to the slot wall  4001  stably by this elastic stress.  
         [0040]    Please refer to FIG. 5. FIGS.  5 ( a ) and ( b ) are joint structures of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is changed from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. There are two bar terminals  502  which form the adjustable space  5023 . The two terminals  502  bend to each other, which form two protruding parts  5021 . The width between the two protruding parts  5021  is W and the two terminals  502  have force-receiving surfaces  5022  respectively. When the two terminals  502  are inserted into the slot  501 , the force-receiving surface  5022  is pushed against the slot  501 , and the two terminals approach to each other so as to decrease the adjustable space  5023 . For this reason, the width between the two protruding parts  5021  will be the same with the width D of the slot  501  at this time, due to the width limit of the slot wall  501 . When the user allows the terminal  502  detached from the slot  501 , the limit from the slot  501  disappears and the two terminals  502  will return to their original shapes by their elasticity. Therefore, the width of two protruding parts  5021  will return to W.  
         [0041]    Please refer to FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b ). FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b ) are joint structures of electronic element according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is changed from the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The two terminals  602  form the adjustable space  6023  in the center therebetween and the two terminals  602  are connected to each other by the bridge  6024 . Otherwise, the two terminals  602  form the force-receiving surface  6022  and the protruding part  6021 . The bridge  6024  is elastic and when the terminal  602  is inserted into the slot  601 , the protruding part  6021  is pushed against the slot wall  6001  to let the width W the same with the width D of the slot  601 . Therefore, the bridge  6024  is elastically deformed at this time. When the two mental terminals  602  are detached from the slot  601 , the bridge  6024  will return to original shape due to its elasticity. The protruding part  6021  will not be limited by the slot wall  6001  and the width of the protruding part  6021  will return to original width W.  
         [0042]    According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit board shown in FIG. 4, FIGS.  5 ( a ) and ( b ), and FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b ) are the same circuit board or mother board with the one in prior art. Thus, there is no need to design new circuit board particularly for the joint structure provided in the invention. The general one will be workable well.  
         [0043]    Please refer FIGS.  7 ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ). FIGS.  7 ( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) are another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7( a ) is a three-dimension diagram illustrating the connection between the fixing component and the circuit board. And FIGS.  7 ( b ) and ( c ) are partial enlarged ones of the first fixing component  701  and the circuit board  700 . The electronic element U moves toward direction e so that the first positioning piece  7011  extended from the fixing component  701  is matched with the second positioning piece  703 . For this reason the first positioning piece  7011  can move along the direction e and is inserted into the second positioning piece  703  (which is equal to the second fixing component) without shaking. When the opening  7021  is matched with the position of the circuit board  700  and the electronic element U moves toward direction f, the opening  7012  moves toward the circuit board  700  so as to allow the Opening  7021  and the circuit board  700  engaged with each other. That is, the second fixing component  7031  is jammed within the opening  7021 . Through the engagement between the opening  7012  and circuit board  700 , the electronic element U gets engaged with the circuit board  700  so as to solve the problem that the single engagement between the terminal  702  and the circuit board  700  might not be tight enough. In order to ensure the opening  7012  will not get loose from the circuit board  700 , the card  704  can be plugged into the fixing groove  7027  to fix the first position piece  7011  (FIG. 7( b )).  
         [0044]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the slot  705  is a slender slot, as shown in FIG. 7( c ). For matching the embodiment of FIG. 7( a ), when the first positioning piece  7011  was jammed with the second positioning piece  703 , the terminal  702  is inserted into the first position  7051  of the slot  705  first (reference FIG. 7( a )). Then, the first positioning piece  7011  moves horizontally and the opening  7021  was jammed with the circuit board  700  (FIG. 7( a )). In the meantime, the terminal  702  could is inserted into the second position  7052  of the slot  705 .  
         [0045]    The terminal shown in FIGS.  7 ( a ) and ( c ) are two pieces the same with the terminal  502  shown in FIGS.  5 ( a ) and ( b ) and the terminal  602  shown in FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b ). The terminal  402  is one piece without fixing ability and even the two piece terminals don&#39;t have enough force, and that is why there is the need to have the first fixing component  701  and the second positioning piece  703  to help the electronic element U get fixed on the circuit board  700 .  
         [0046]    FIGS.  8 ( a ) and ( b ) show another kind of situation when the electronic element U is connected with the circuit board  800 . The first positioning piece is the slot  801  mounted on the electronic element U, while the second positioning piece is the piece  8002  mounted on the circuit board  800 . When the slot  801  is matched with the piece  8002 , the inserting pin  803  can approach to the circuit board  800  stably without shaking. The first fixing component  802  will be jammed with the second fixing component  8001 . The inserting pin  803  (Referring to FIGS. 4-6) will be electrically connected with the slot wall of the slot  804  to complete the connecting action between the electronic element U and the circuit board  800 .  
         [0047]    Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9( a ) illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9( a ), the joint structure of the electronic element  900  is connected with the circuit board  901 . There is at least one slot  902  mounted on the circuit board  901 . The joint structure of electronic element  900  includes the electronic element  903  which has a plurality of terminals  904 . The terminals  904  have deflected angles with a normal line of a plane of the slot  902  of the circuit board so as to form the protruding part  9041 . When the joint structure of electronic element  900  is connected with the slot  902 , the terminal  904  will receive a positive force from the slot wall to let the terminal  904  produce an elastic force to urge against the slot  902  so as to be electrically connected therewith. And the elastic force could be adjusted according to different measures of the electronic elements by changing the deflected angle.  
         [0048]    However, the joint structure of electronic element  900  is fixed with the circuit board  901  through the engagement among the first fixing component  906  of the joint structure of electronic element  900 , the third fixing component  905 , and the second fixing component  907  of the circuit board  901 . The first fixing component  906  is an inserting pin. The joint structure of electronic element  900  and the inserting pin  906  are formed integrally. The second fixing component is an inserting hole and the third fixing component  905  is a plug.  
         [0049]    The manufacturing process is as follows. First, the joint structure  900  is mounted on the circuit board  901 . The terminal  904  is matched with the slot  902  so that the terminal  904  receives a positive force from the slot wall to produce an elastic force from the terminal  904 . The terminal  94  is jammed against the slot  902  so as to be electrically connected therewith. Therefore, there is no need to use soldering tin to weld the terminal  904  and the circuit board  901 . At this time, the first fixing component  906  is inserted into the second fixing component  907  so as to allow the first fixing component  906  and the second fixing component loose fitted to each other. In order to allow the joint structure  900  fixed on the circuit board  901  completely, the third fixing component  905  is pressed into the hole of the first fixing component  906 . Then, the first fixing component  906  is opened by elasticity and the first fixing component  906  and the third component  907  will be tightly fitted. Hence, the joint structure  900  will be fixed on the circuit board  901  completely.  
         [0050]    Form the content of above description, we can realize that the fabricating of the electrical element and circuit board can be accomplished without any tools according to the disclosure of the present invention. For the industry&#39;s need, the electrical element and the circuit board are connected with each other completely and the electrical connection is accomplished at the time when the fabrication is finished. Further, the present invention doesn&#39;t need the welding step to ensure the electrical connection. And more particularly, the joint structure of electrical element has the features of elasticity, selectivity and is capable of fabricating an electrical element and a circuit board without tools.  
         [0051]    Furthermore, the present invention provides the joint structure of electrical element, which allows the computer manufacturer needn&#39;t weld all electrical elements on the mother board. And the users could add slots or connectors whenever needed in the future. Therefore, the cost for mother board is reduced. In addition, the joint structure of electrical element for lining circuit board and electrical element is capable of mounting many electrical elements thereon.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 9( b ) is another preferred embodiment of the present invention according to the seventh embodiment. The theory of FIG. 9( b ) is the same with FIG. 9( a ) according to sixth embodiment and it&#39;s a variation of the sixth embodiment that the shapes of the terminals  904  are slightly changed.  
         [0053]    The joint structure of electrical element in the above description could be a connector, for example an expansive slot for computer memory. The electrical element in the above description could be a voltage regulator module. And the circuit board in the above description could be a mother board.  
         [0054]    In sum, the present invention has an industry utility since it has the characteristics of connecting electrical element with circuit board completely without any tools. More importantly, the electrical connection can be accomplished without welding step, which is an advance breakthrough.  
         [0055]    While the invention has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is defined by the appended claims.