Patent ID: 12249779

The same numbers are often used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components, including hyphenated numbers to designate variations of the like features and components previously shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

A main board, such as a PCB, may include at least one surface that supports components, circuitry, and an electrical interface for interfacing with other devices and systems, including device-auxiliary boards. In conventional arrangements, an electrical connector may be mounted to the surface of the main board to physically (e.g., mechanically) and electrically link the main board to components and circuitry of an auxiliary board. For example, the electrical connector may physically-secure an entire edge, or portion thereof, of an auxiliary board to a surface of the main board, thereby providing an orthogonal or straight connection between the two. When mated to the connector, electrical contacts at a secured portion of an auxiliary board are electrically coupled to corresponding contacts within the connector. Embodiments described herein provide for more affordable and compact devices, by avoiding the need to provide main boards with specialized connectors and surface extensions in parallel and orthogonal directions.

Techniques and systems for enabling circuit board surface-slot-edge connections are described. In embodiments, a first, main board includes a slot through surfaces of the main board. At least one edge of the slot includes electrical contacts to the main board. A second, auxiliary board includes a connector component mounted on a surface of the auxiliary board that opposes a surface of the main board. When the connector component is aligned with the slot, the connector component can be inserted to protrude vertically (e.g., perpendicularly) through the slot. The connector component may then be moved laterally towards an edge of the slot. Electrical contacts on the edge of the slot can then engage with electrical contacts in the connector component. This enables two boards to be arranged closely, without extending the main surface in an orthogonal or lateral direction. At the same time, a secure connection may be provided using a connector attached to an auxiliary board, rather than mounted to the main board.

Example System

FIG.1illustrates an example system100that uses circuit board surface-slot-edge connections, in accordance with techniques of this disclosure. The system100can be part of any type of device where circuit boards are used. For example, the system100may be part of a computer system (e.g., a server, a workstation), a vehicle (e.g., an automotive system, an aircraft system), a robot, a satellite, an industrial system (e.g., a power plant), or other application where circuit boards are used.

The system100includes two circuit boards, a circuit board102and a circuit board104, and each is shown inFIG.1in a top-down view. The circuit boards102and104may be formed of a substrate or other material. The circuit board102may be a main circuit board, and the circuit board104may be an auxiliary circuit board. The circuit boards102and104may support a variety of components and circuitry (e.g., chips, processors, memories, wires, traces), however, for ease of description and simplicity in the drawings, details of the circuit boards102and104are omitted and only those features that enable surface-slot-edge connections are shown.

To enable surface-slot-edge connections between the circuit boards102and104, a slot106protrudes through the circuit board102, leaving a hole or window through both surfaces of the circuit board102. In addition, a connector component108is mounted to an under surface of the circuit board104. The slot106and the connector component108can be of a variety of shapes and sizes, including rectangular, square, circular, irregular, or other shape. The connector component108is generally sized to be smaller than the slot106to allow the connector component108to move vertically and laterally within the slot106. The slot106includes an electrical interface110at an edge of the slot106. Accordingly, electrical contacts may be provided on the first circuit board102at or adjacent to the periphery of the slot106, for example along the slot's longitudinal edges or at the edges forming its corners. The connector component108also includes an electrical interface112configured to mate with the electrical interface110when the connector component108is engaged in the slot106. In embodiments, the electrical interface112on the second circuit board104may be provided as an interface port or slot for receiving the electrical interface110on the first circuit board102.

The slot106and the connector component108are configured to provide surface-slot-edge connections between the circuit boards102and104. The connections enable close positioning of opposing surfaces of the two circuit boards102and104, which facilitates integration in a small form factor. In addition, the connections do not extend the surface of the circuit board102in an orthogonal direction, nor do they necessarily extend the circuit board104past the edges of the circuit board102, each of which likewise facilitates integration in a small form factor.

Directional arrow114illustrates a formation of a surface-slot-edge connection. When the circuit board104moves with the directional arrow114, it becomes aligned in parallel with the circuit board102. In particular, the connector component108on the underside of the circuit board104is positioned above or below the slot106. At this point, the two circuit boards102and104may be brought closer together. This causes the connector component108to protrude into the slot106. With the connector component108vertically arranged through the slot106, the circuit board104can be moved laterally further with the directional arrow114, and towards the edge of the slot106where the electrical interface110(e.g., electrical contacts) can engage with the electrical interface112(e.g., electrical contacts) in the connector component108positioned within in the slot106. In this way, the two boards102and104can be arranged closely in parallel, with a secure surface-slot-edge connection provided by the connector component108attached to the circuit board104.

By including a connector component on an auxiliary board, and not on a surface of a main board, a surface-slot-edge connection may achieve a significant cost benefit over other connection techniques. In addition, a surface-slot-edge connection enables PCB designs in which the connection is provided from most locations within a surface of a PCB. As such, connections are not restricted to one edge of the PCB and hence improved circuit design flexibility may be facilitated. For example, the length of connection traces, such as those carrying high-speed signals, can be shortened.

Example Main Board

FIG.2-1illustrates a top-down or bottom-up view of a circuit board including a surface-slot-edge connection, in accordance with techniques of this disclosure. The circuit board102is shown having the slot106and at one edge of the slot106, the electrical interface110.FIG.2-2illustrates a cross-sectional side-view of the circuit board shown inFIG.2-1. The circuit board102is shown having the slot106through the two surfaces of the circuit board. The cross-section A bisects the slot and shows a portion of the electrical interface110on the edge of the slot106. The electrical interface110may be at or near a surface of the circuit board102, or within the slot106(e.g., on a wall of the slot106).

Example Auxiliary Board

FIG.3-1illustrates a top-down view of a circuit board including an under-surface mounted connector component that is configured to engage with a surface-slot-edge connection, in accordance with techniques of this disclosure. The circuit board104is shown without any components shown on a top surface that is opposite a surface that supports the connector component108(shown in dotted line form), although many components or circuitry may be positioned on the top surface or bottom surface of the circuit board104.FIG.3-2illustrates a bottom-up view of the circuit board shown inFIG.3-1to show the under-surface mounted connector that is configured to engage with a surface-slot-edge connection, in accordance with techniques of this disclosure. An outline of the connector component108is shown in this view, although the cut out300and the electrical interface112, as described below, is not shown.

FIG.3-3illustrates a side-view of the circuit board shown inFIG.3-1. From the side-view, the connector component108is shown mounted to an under surface of the circuit board104. The connector component108may include a cut out300that provides support and helps to physically secure the second circuit board104once connected, for example by forming a press-fit when engaged with the opposing surfaces of the first circuit board102. As such, the cut out300acts as a retention feature to help maintain connection between the connector component108, and an edge of a slot (e.g., the slot106). Opposite an opening to the cut out300that receives the slot106, the connector component108includes the electrical interface112.

FIG.3-4illustrates a cross-sectional, bottom-up view of the circuit board shown inFIGS.3-3. From this view, inner details of the connector component108are shown, including the electrical interface112, which extends the length of the connector component108, while leaving some empty space within the cut out300for receiving the circuit board102.

Example Scenario

FIGS.4-1and4-4illustrate conceptual diagrams a main board making a surface-slot-edge connection with a connector component of an auxiliary board, in accordance with techniques of this disclosure. Turning toFIG.4-1, in conceptual diagram400-1, a main board104-1is positioned above a surface of an auxiliary board102-1, to align the connector component108of the auxiliary board102-1to the slot106of the main board104-1. By moving the main board104-1vertically closer to the auxiliary board102-1, the connector component108can move, vertically into the slot106such that it is inserted through the slot106in a vertical direction402. The vertical direction402of travel of the connector component108is orthogonal to the surface of the main board102-1with the slot106.

In conceptual diagram400-2ofFIG.4-2, the auxiliary board104-1is allowed to move in a lateral direction404(orthogonal to the vertical direction402), towards an edge of the slot106. During assembly, this enables the interface112on the connector component108of the auxiliary board104-1to contact and engage the interface110on the slot106.FIG.4-2illustrates that there may be some overlap between the interfaces110and112.

FIGS.4-3and4-4show conceptual diagrams400-3and400-4, which illustrate the auxiliary board104-1and the main board102-1after having formed a surface-slot-edge connection between them. The conceptual diagram400-3shows a top-down view of the auxiliary board104-1stacked over the surface of the main board102-1. The conceptual diagram400-4shows a bottom-up view of the main board102-1, including the connector component108of the auxiliary board104protruding through the slot106and engaging the interfaces110and112.

Example Processes

FIG.5illustrates a flow diagram of an example process500to form a surface-slot-edge connection between two circuit boards, in accordance with techniques of this disclosure. The operations of the process500may be rearranged, skipped, repeated, or performed in different ways than the specific flow shown in the diagram. A processor of a computer system, computer hardware components, a controller, a control unit, or other computer may perform the process500by controlling an automated production line based on robots to form the system100, as shown inFIG.1. For example, manufacturing equipment, three-dimensional printing technology, and the like, may execute the process500to arrange form a surface-slot-edge connection between main and auxiliary boards.

At502, a first circuit board with a slot through both surfaces for enabling a surface-slot-edge connection to a second circuit board with a connector component is formed. For example, the circuit board102including the slot106is formed. The slot106is sized and shaped to accommodate the connector component108, including, by integrating the interface110on an edge of the slot106to electrically couple the interface112on the connector component108to the interface110on the slot106.

At504, a connector component of the second circuit board is arranged above or below the first circuit board and aligned with the slot. For example, the circuit board104is arranged with the connector component108positioned over the slot106of the circuit board102.

At506, the connector component of the second circuit board is moved vertically into the slot and laterally within the slot to engage the connector component with electrical contacts on the slot. For example, the circuit board104is arranged closer to the circuit board102so that the connector component108can move in the vertical direction402, into the slot106, and in the lateral direction404, towards the edge with the interface110.

Additional Examples

Some additional examples of circuit board surface-slot-edge connections include the following:

Example 1. A system, comprising: a first circuit board comprising a slot through two surfaces of the first circuit board, an edge of the slot including an electrical contact to the first circuit board; and a second circuit board comprising a connector component on an opposite side of one of the two surfaces of the first circuit board, the connector component being arranged in the slot and configured to contact the electrical contact at the edge of the slot.

Example 2. The system of any preceding example, wherein the connector component is configured to secure the second board to the slot of the first circuit board.

Example 3. The system of any preceding example, wherein the connector component is configured to secure the second board to the slot of the first circuit board to maintain an electrical connection between contacts of the connector component and the electrical contact at the edge of the slot.

Example 4. The system of any preceding example, wherein the connector component includes a cut out configured to provide support and physical security between the connector component and the edge of the slot.

Example 5. The system of any preceding example, wherein the cut out is configured to retain an entire edge or portion of an edge of the slot.

Example 6. An apparatus comprising: a main circuit board comprising a slot through two surfaces of the main circuit board, an edge of the slot including an electrical contact to the main circuit board, the edge of the slot configured to be received by a cut out of a connector component of an auxiliary circuit board when the connector component is positioned within the slot.

Example 7. An apparatus comprising: an auxiliary circuit board comprising one surface with a connector component configured to engage with an edge of a slot through two surfaces of a main circuit board when the connector component is positioned within the slot.

Example 8. A method comprising: forming a first circuit board with a slot through both surfaces for enabling a surface-slot-edge connection to a second circuit board with a connector component; forming the second circuit board with the connector component on one surface of the second circuit board; arranging the connector component above or below the first circuit board and aligned with the slot; and moving the connector component vertically into the slot and laterally within the slot to engage electrical contacts in the connector component with electrical contacts on a edge of the slot.

Example 9. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to control an automatized robot production line to perform the method of any preceding example.

Example 10. An automatized robot production line system comprising a processor configured to perform the method of any preceding example.

Example 11. A system comprising means for performing the method of any preceding example.

CONCLUSION

While various embodiments of the disclosure are described in the foregoing description and shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims. In addition to printed circuit board connections, problems associated with electrical connections for other electrical or computer systems can be overcome using the described techniques. Therefore, although described as a way to improve main-to-daughter board connections, the techniques of the foregoing description can be adapted and applied to other problems to electrically couple to components.

The use of “or” and grammatically related terms indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

Finally, it is also envisaged that other arrangements may be provided in which the first circuit board comprises a cut-out or notch in its peripheral edge, rather than a slot. In such arrangements, a first electronic interface for the first circuit board may be provided at or adjacent an edge of the notch. The second circuit board may again include a connector component projecting from its surface, with this connector component being configured to align with the notch such that it may extend between the notch to enable the second electronic interface to be connectable to the first electronic interface. Accordingly, as with the embodiments described above, at least one electrical connection between the first and second circuit board may be established, with the first and second circuit boards being arranged closely in parallel, with a secure surface-notch-edge connection. Therefore, as with the above embodiments, a compact assembly of a main and auxiliary circuit board may be provided, whilst locating the specialized connector on the auxiliary board. At the same time, the indentation forming the notch at the edge of the circuit board may thereby allow the space on the first circuit board to be maximized.