Patent ID: 7944710

Claim:
An interconnected set of printed circuit boards (PCBs), having a first PCB and a second PCB, said first and second PCBs configured with components needing electrical or flux coupling with components on the other of said first and second PCBs, each said PCB being constructed from insulating and non-insulating materials with conducting traces embedded inside or located on the surface of each said PCB, said PCBs coupled by at least one termination point, each said termination point comprising: a male conductive annular ring seated in said first PCB, wherein said male conductive annular ring contains a plated-through hole, and wherein the termination mating area of said first PCB immediately surrounding said male conductive annular ring is not covered with solder-mask material; a female conductive annular ring seated in said second PCB, said female conductive annular ring containing a plated-through hole, wherein said plated-through hole of said female conductive annular ring is sized and shaped to fit around and be coupled with said male conductive annular ring seated in said first PCB, and wherein the outer circumference and axial mating surface of said female conductive annular ring is sized and shaped to make corresponding contact with said area around said male conductive annular ring that is not covered with solder-mask; wherein all aforementioned conductive annular rings are sized and shaped to allow fitting between said pair of male and female conductive annular rings; a terminal pin sized and shaped to fit into said plated-through hole of said male conductive annular ring; and a terminal coupling of said first PCB with said second PCB, wherein said terminal pin is disposed in said plated-through hole of said male conductive annular ring and fixed in place with solder, wherein said plated-through hole of said female conductive annular ring is mated with the outer surface of said male conductive annular ring, wherein the top of said terminal pin does not substantially protrude beyond the non-mated axial surface of said female conductive annular ring, wherein said terminal pin is fixed to said female conductive annular ring with solder, wherein no portion of solder for of any said solder joint is disposed between the planar surfaces of said first and second PCBs, thereby ensuring that no unused air space exists between said first and second PCBs, and wherein a minimum distance between the non-terminal interface areas of said first and second PCBs is maintained to prevent unwanted electrical connections between said first and second PCBs.