PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD

Abstract

Disclosed is a printed circuit board having a holder for a battery, wherein the holder includes first and second contacts connected to conductive traces of the printed circuit board and wherein the holder is embodied such that a battery inserted into the holder is clamped so that poles of the battery on opposite end faces of the battery make electrical contact with the first and second contacts. The battery lies clamped between the contacts on a support region of the printed circuit board and is oriented with reference to the printed circuit board so that an imaginary line connecting the poles of the battery is essentially in parallel with the plane of the support region. The printed circuit board has connected with the support region a rigid first section, which is essentially perpendicular to the support region, and wherein the first contact is arranged on the first section.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A printed circuit board, comprising: a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace; a support region; a rigid first section connected with the support region and arranged perpendicularly to the support region; and a holder for a battery, wherein the holder includes a first contact connected to the first conductive trace and a second contact connected to the second conductive trace, wherein the holder is embodied such that a battery insertable into the holder is clamped in the installed state in such a manner between the first contact and the second contact that poles of the battery arranged on mutually opposite end faces of the battery make electrically conductive contact each with different ones of the two contacts and the battery lies clamped between the first contact and the second contact on the support region of the printed circuit board supporting the battery and is oriented with reference to the printed circuit board such that an imaginary line connecting the poles is parallel with the support region of the printed circuit board, and wherein the first contact is arranged on the first section.

17. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: a rigid second section connected with the support region and arranged perpendicularly to the support region, wherein the second contact is arranged on the second section.

18. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first contact includes a contact area arranged on the first section, and wherein the contact area serves for electrical connection with one of the poles of a battery inserted into the holder in the installed state, such that in the installed state the pole is in direct electrical connection with the contact area.

19. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first contact includes a resilient first contact element or a first contact element having a resilient section, wherein the first contact element serves for clamping and electrical connection, and wherein the second contact includes a resilient second contact element or a second contact element having a resilient section, wherein the second contact element serves for clamping and electrical connection.

20. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first contact element and the second contact element are embodied as SMD-solderable components which are soldered on a contact area on the printed circuit board, and wherein the contact area is connected to the conductive trace connected to the relevant contact.

21. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second contact element is a contact clip arranged in the support region, and wherein the contact clip includes a foot soldered on the provided contact area and resilient section serving for clamping and electrical connection.

22. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first contact element is a spring contact arranged in the first section, and wherein the second contact element is a spring contact arranged in the second section.

23. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support region includes an opening into which a battery is insertable, and wherein the opening is dimensioned such that a portion of the battery installed from a first side of the support region into the opening and bearing on the opening protrudes out from the support region on a second side of the support region lying opposite the first side.

24. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least one component is arranged on the second side of the support region, and wherein the opening is dimensioned such that the portion of the battery extending out from the printed circuit board has extending out from the support region a height, which is less than a height of the at least one component which has the greatest structural height.

25. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 16, wherein the support region is connected with the perpendicular first section via a flexible printed circuit board region of the printed circuit board, or wherein the support region and the first section arranged perpendicularly thereto are formed by two regions of a rigid printed circuit board directly bordering one another, between which is provided a trough-shaped depression forming a fold line in the printed circuit board.

26. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support region is connected with the perpendicular second section via a flexible printed circuit board region of the printed circuit board, or wherein the support region and the perpendicular second section are formed by two rigid regions of the printed circuit board directly bordering one another, between which is provided a trough-shaped depression in the printed circuit board forming a fold line.

27. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: a first locking means arranged on the printed circuit board and embodied to affix the first section perpendicularly to the support region.

28. The printed circuit board as claimed in claim 17, further comprising: a first locking means arranged on the printed circuit board and embodied to affix the first section perpendicularly to the support region; and a second locking means arranged on the printed circuit board and embodied to affix the second section perpendicularly to the support region.

29. A housing of a field device of automation technology, comprising: a printed circuit board, including: a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace; a support region; a rigid first section connected with the support region and arranged perpendicularly to the support region; and a holder for a battery, wherein the holder includes a first contact connected to the first conductive trace and a second contact connected to the second conductive trace, wherein the holder is embodied such that a battery insertable into the holder is clamped in the installed state in such a manner between the first contact and the second contact that poles of the battery arranged on mutually opposite end faces of the battery make electrically conductive contact each with different ones of the two contacts and the battery lies clamped between the first contact and the second contact on the support region of the printed circuit board supporting the battery and is oriented with reference to the printed circuit board such that an imaginary line connecting the poles is parallel with the support region of the printed circuit board, and wherein the first contact is arranged on the first section; and a first housing region for the first section of the printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit board is arranged in the housing such that the first housing region mechanically supports the first section of the printed circuit board by means of a seat and fixes the orientation of the first section of the printed circuit board perpendicularly to the support region of the printed circuit board, wherein the first section protrudes into the seat of the first housing region.

30. The housing of claim 29, wherein the circuit board further includes a rigid second section connected with the support region and arranged perpendicularly to the support region, wherein the second contact is arranged on the second section, wherein the housing further comprises a second housing region for the second section of the printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit board is arranged in the housing such that the second housing region mechanically supports the second section of the printed circuit board by means of a seat and fixes the orientation of the second section of the printed circuit board perpendicularly to the support region of the printed circuit board, wherein the second section protrudes into the seat of the second housing region.

31. A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board, comprising, providing a rigid, planar, starting, printed circuit board, including: a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace; a support region; a rigid first section connected with the support region; and a holder for a battery, wherein the holder includes a first contact connected to the first conductive trace and a second contact connected to the second conductive trace, wherein the holder is embodied such that a battery insertable into the holder is clamped in the installed state in such a manner between the first contact and the second contact that poles of the battery arranged on mutually opposite end faces of the battery make electrically conductive contact each with different ones of the two contacts and the battery lies clamped between the first contact and the second contact on the support region of the printed circuit board supporting the battery and is oriented with reference to the printed circuit board such that an imaginary line connecting the poles is parallel with the support region of the printed circuit board, and wherein the first contact is arranged on the first section, wherein the starting, printed circuit board includes a first fold line extending between the support region and the first section; milling a first trough-shaped depression into the starting, printed circuit board along the first fold line; and folding the starting, printed circuit board along the first fold line between the first section and the support region so that the first section is perpendicular to the support region.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the starting, printed circuit board further includes a rigid second section connected with the support region and further includes a second fold line extending between the support region and the second section, the method further comprising: milling a second trough-shaped depression into the starting, printed circuit board along the second fold line; and folding the starting, printed circuit board along the second fold line between the second section and the support region so that the second section is perpendicular to the support region.

33. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the trough-shaped depression of a fold line has a round, rectangular or V-shaped cross section.

Description

[0034] The figures of the drawing show as follows:

[0035] FIG. 1a a sectional view of an example of an embodiment of the printed circuit board of the invention with a battery installed in the holder;

[0036] FIG. 1b a plan view of the example of an embodiment of FIG. 1a of the printed circuit board of the invention with a battery installed in the holder;

[0037] FIG. 2a a sectional view of an additional example of an embodiment of the printed circuit board of the invention with a battery installed in the holder;

[0038] FIG. 2b a plan view of the additional example of an embodiment in FIG. 2a of the printed circuit board of the invention with a battery installed in the holder;

[0039] FIG. 2c a sectional view of an additional example of an embodiment of the printed circuit board of the invention with a battery installed in the holder;

[0040] FIG. 3a a plan view of an example of an embodiment of the applied starting, printed circuit board in the case of the method for manufacturing the printed circuit board of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 3b a plan view of another example of an embodiment of the starting, printed circuit board used in the case of the method for manufacturing the printed circuit board of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 4a a sectional view of an embodiment of the example of an embodiment of the starting, printed circuit board shown in FIG. 3b;

[0043] FIG. 4b a sectional view of an additional embodiment of the example of an embodiment of the starting, printed circuit board shown in FIG. 3b;

[0044] FIG. 5 another example of an embodiment of the method for manufacturing the printed circuit board of the invention;

[0045] FIG. 6a a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of the housing and a printed circuit board of the invention arranged therein;

[0046] FIG. 6b a perspective view of an additional example of an embodiment of the housing and a printed circuit board of the invention arranged therein.

[0047] Shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b is an example of an embodiment of the printed circuit board of the invention 1 with a battery 9 installed in the holder 2, wherein FIG. 1a represents a sectional view and FIG. 1b a plan view.

[0048] Holder 2 for battery 9 is formed by structural features including a support region 4, a first section 41 arranged perpendicularly thereto and the contacts 21, 22, wherein the battery 9 lies on the support region 4 in the installed state. First section 41 is, in such case, affixed in its essentially perpendicular orientation with reference to the support region 4 by a mechanical locking means 13, which is mounted on the printed circuit board 1. Alternatively, the locking means 13 can also be formed by a cured potting compound, which is applied, for example, in an injection forming method on a predetermined region of the printed circuit board 1, or, however, also by an adhesive.

[0049] The first contact 21 includes, in such case, a contact area 51, which lies directly against a first pole of the battery 9 installed in the holder 2 in the installed state. The contact area 51 is, in such case, connected to a conductive trace 31. In this way, an electrical connection of the first pole of the battery 9 with the printed circuit board 1 is established, wherein here only a section of the relevant region of the printed circuit board 1 is shown.

[0050] The second contact 22 includes a contact area 72 arranged on the support region 4 and a contact element 62 soldered to the contact area 72. The contact element is in this example of an embodiment an SMD-solderable and sectionally elastically deformable, contact clip 62b known per se from the state of the art and comprising a foot, which is soldered to the contact area 72, and a resilient section. Also, the contact area 72 is, in such case, connected to a conductive trace 32.

[0051] The resilient section of the contact clip 62b serves for establishing the electrical connection with a pole of the battery 9 as well as for the clamping of the battery 9 between the two contacts 21, 22 of the holder 2. In this way, electronic components EC, which are arranged and soldered on a first and/or second surface of the printed circuit board 1, can be supplied with energy from the battery 9 installed in the holder 2, wherein the insertion and/or the replacement of the battery 9 into the holder 2 of the invention is directly possible.

[0052] At the same time, the first section 41 of the printed circuit board assures in the first contact 21 an ideal distribution and forwarding of the clamping forces. In this embodiment of the invention, the resilient clamping is provided by the resilient section of the contact clip 62b. The contact clip 62b is, in such case, embodied as an SMD-solderable contact clip 62b, so that the arrangement of the contact clip 62b of the second contact 22 of the holder 2 is easy to incorporate into the shared reflow-soldering of all SMD-solderable components EC.

[0053] Furthermore, in this example of an embodiment, an opening 8 is introduced into the printed circuit board 1, wherein the opening 8 is arranged in the support region 4 of the printed circuit board 1. The opening 8 can in this example of an embodiment (as well as also in other embodiments of the invention), for example, be milled into the printed circuit board 1, or be created in the printed circuit board 1 by means of other working methods known from the state of the art. The dimensioning of the opening 8 is matched to the battery 9 provided for insertion into the holder 2 in such a manner that a portion 91 of the battery 9 protrudes through the opening 8; this is evident in the sectional view of FIG. 1a as well as also from the plan view of FIG. 1b. In this way, a space saving arrangement of the battery 9 is enabled, such being especially advantageous when the printed circuit board 1 is part of a field device of automation technology.

[0054] FIGS. 2a and 2b show an embodiment of the printed circuit board 1 of the invention alternative to that shown in FIGS. 1a, b. FIG. 2a shows a sectional view, while FIG. 2b represents a plan view.

[0055] The first contact 21 of the example of an embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a, b is, in such case, embodied similarly to the example of an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a, b, since it also has a first section 41 arranged perpendicularly to the support region 4, wherein here, additionally, the second contact 22 is now formed by, among other features, an additional section, namely the second section 42, arranged perpendicularly to the support region 4.

[0056] Second section 42 is, in such case, held in its perpendicular orientation relative to the support region 4 by a locking means 14, which can be applied and embodied in the same way as the locking means 13 of the first contact 21 mentioned in connection with FIGS. 1a, b. For clamping, the second contact 22 includes, in such case, an additional spring contact 62a, wherein the additional spring contact 62a is an essentially cylindrical contact spring, which is SMD-soldered on a contact area 72 arranged in the second section 42. Advantageously in such case, the clamping forces in this embodiment in each of the two contacts 21, 22 act only as normal forces on the contact areas 51, 72.

[0057] Also in the example of an embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a, b, the opening 8 shown in FIGS. 1a, b is provided in the support region 4 of the printed circuit board 1. In the example of an embodiment in FIGS. 2a, b, supplementally, a component EC with a structural height hEC in the direction perpendicular to the support region 4 is shown. In such case, the component EC is soldered on the second side 402 of the support region 4, wherein the battery 9 is insertable from the first side 401 of the support region 4 into the holder 2.

[0058] The battery protrudes with a height hBat from the opening 8 of the support region 4. In such case, the dimensioning of the opening 8 of the holder 2 is matched in such a manner to the components provided for soldering on the side 402 of the support region 4 as well as to the battery 9 that the protruding height hBat is less than or equal to the structural height hEC of that component EC soldered on the second side 402, or provided for soldering, which has the greatest structural height, i.e. the greatest structural height in comparison with all additional components soldered on the second side 402, or provided for soldering on the second side 402. The component EC, and/or the matching of the opening 8 to the structural height hEC and the battery 9, can, of course, also be added to the preceding example of an embodiment of FIGS. 1a, b.

[0059] In given cases, in the embodiment of the invention with the two sections 41, 42 arranged perpendicularly to the support region 4, the holder 2 can also have spring contacts 61a, 62a in both of the contacts, the first contact 21 and the second contact 22. This other example of an embodiment is shown in a sectional view in FIG. 2c. In the case of both spring contacts 61a, 62a, these are provided in this example of an embodiment in the form of spring contacts 61a, 62a SMD-soldered on the contact areas 71, 72, wherein the spring contacts 61a, 62a are embodied here essentially with U-shape. These can be soldered, for example, in a single reflow-process together with all SMD-solderable components, in each case, on a contact area 31 of the first contact 21, and on a contact area 32 of the second contact 22, of the printed circuit board 1. Of course, alternatively, in case the first contact 21 is embodied similarly as in the example of an embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, then only the second contact 22 can have an essentially U-shaped spring contact 62a. In the first contact 21, then (see FIG. 2a) a pole of the battery 9 lies directly on a contact area 51.

[0060] FIGS. 3-5 show examples of embodiments of a method, with which the printed circuit board 1 of the invention is manufacturable; especially examples of embodiments of a method for obtaining the first section 41 or alternatively the first section 41 and the second section 42, arranged perpendicularly to the support region 4 and connected with the support region 4.

[0061] Especially, FIG. 3a shows a plan view of a schematic representation of a starting, printed circuit board 16. Arranged In the rigid and planar, starting, printed circuit board 16 are, in such case, the support region 4, the first section 41 and the second section 42, firstly, in a single, shared plane. Milled into the starting, printed circuit board 16 are two trough shaped depressions 121, 122, which form fold lines 101 and 102, respectively. The trough-shaped depressions 121, 122 can, in such case, in given cases, be milled into the starting, printed circuit board 16 simultaneously with the opening 8. Because of the folding of the starting, printed circuit board 16 along the fold lines 101,102, the regions of the printed circuit board 1 of the invention arranged perpendicularly relative to one another are obtained, i.e. the support region 4 relative to the first section 41 and, in given cases, the support region 4 relative to the second section 42. In such case, fold directions for the foldings are indicated with the arrows.

[0062] FIG. 3b is a plan view of an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3a, wherein here a more detailed representation of the starting, printed circuit board 16 is shown. Especially, the starting, printed circuit board 16 is processed in such a manner that it is arrangeable into the housing 15 (see FIGS. 6a and 6b). The plan view of FIG. 3b shows, in such case, the bottom, or second, side 402 of the support region 4, on which contact areas for components to be soldered thereon are indicated. Shown at the same time are plan views of the trough-shaped depressions 121,122, which are also shown in detail in the sectional views of FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0063] In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, fold line 101 has a trough-shaped depression 121 with an essentially V-shaped profile. In the invention, there are no limitations concerning which side of the starting, printed circuit board 16 the trough shaped depression 121, 122 of the fold line 101,102 is arranged. Therefore, the folding of the printed circuit board is, as shown in FIG. 4a based on the arrows, possible in both directions, i.e. in a direction opening the trough shaped depression 121 or in a direction closing the trough shaped depression 121. In the embodiment in FIG. 4a, the trough shaped depression 121 has an essentially V-shaped profile, here with an aperture angle of about 120. In contrast, an alternative embodiment in FIG. 4b of the profile of the trough-shaped depression 122 is essentially U-shaped and arranged on the oppositely lying side of the starting, printed circuit board; of course, the profile of the trough-shaped depression 122 can also be rectangularly shaped.

[0064] Since the conductive traces 31,32 (here not shown) transverse the fold lines 101,102, it needs to be assured that in the case of the one time folding of the starting, printed circuit board 16, the conductive traces are not damaged. This can be achieved by a layer-like construction of the starting, printed circuit board 16, in which a reinforcement with copper structures having a wall thickness of some 100 micrometers is incorporated (here not shown). This is, for example, the case for the WIRELAID product and, in given cases, semi-flexible starting, printed circuit boards 16 specially prepared for the invention.

[0065] Alternatively, it is possible, such as shown in FIG. 5, to use a starting, printed circuit board with different rigid and planar sections, which are connected with one another via a flexible printed circuit board region 14. Such a rigid-flexible, starting, printed circuit board 16 permits essentially any arrangement of the rigid and planar sections. Thus, for example, the support region 4 can be formed by a first rigid section of the rigid-flexible printed circuit board and the perpendiculary thereto to be arranged first section 41 by a second rigid section connected therewith via the flexible printed circuit board region 14. Of course, also combinations of the examples of embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3a, b, 4 and 5 are possible, in that, for example, the first section 41 and its perpendicular arrangement relative to the support region 4 as shown in FIGS. 3a, b and FIG. 4 is used, and the second section 42 and its perpendicular arrangement relative to the support region 4 as shown in FIG. 5 is used.

[0066] FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views of examples of embodiments of a housing 15 with, in each case, a printed circuit board 1 of the invention arranged therein, and, in each case, a battery 9 installed in the holder 2 of the printed circuit board 1. Housing 15 is a housing 15 of a field device of automation technology.

[0067] FIG. 6a, in such case, shows a printed circuit board 1 arranged in the housing 15 and embodied similarly to the printed circuit board 1 shown in FIGS. 2a, b. In contrast with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, in this variant of the invention, no locking means 13, 14 is provided on the printed circuit board 1. Instead of that, the first section 41 and the second section 42 of the printed circuit board 1 are supported in their orientation essentially perpendicular to the support region 4 by means of the housing 15. In such case, for each of the sections 41, 42, in each case, arranged essentially perpendicularly to the support region 4, a housing region 151a, 152a supporting the section 41, 42 is provided in each case. The supporting housing regions 151a, 152a include, in such case, in each case, also a seat 151b, 152b, into which the sections 41, 42, in each case, protrude. The seat 151b, 152b includes, for example, such as shown here support, an elevation holding the section 41, 42, wherein the elevation is sectionally a solid sphere. Other embodiments of the seat 151b, 152b are, of course, possible.

[0068] FIG. 6b represents another example of an embodiment of a housing 15 having a printed circuit board 1 of the invention arranged therein with a battery 9 installed in the holder 2, wherein the printed circuit board 1 is embodied in such case similarly to the printed circuit board 1 shown in FIGS. 1a, b. In this example of an embodiment, the printed circuit board 1 includes, arranged essentially perpendicularly to the support region 4, only one section 41, whose orientation is supported by the housing region 151a. In contrast with the printed circuit board 1 shown in FIGS. 1a, b, this means that here no locking means 13 mounted on the printed circuit board is necessary for the first section 41.

[0069] Of course, alternatively, another embodiment of the printed circuit board 1 of the invention can be arranged in the housing 15, such as, for example, the embodiment of the printed circuit board 1 of the invention shown in FIG. 2c, similarly to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6a.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS AND SYMBOLS

[0070] 1 printed circuit board [0071] 14 flexible printed circuit board region [0072] 2 holder [0073] 21 first contact [0074] 22 second contact [0075] 31, 32 conductive traces [0076] 4 support region [0077] 401 first side of the support region [0078] 402 second side of the support region [0079] 41 first section [0080] 42 second section [0081] 51 contact area [0082] 61 first contact element [0083] 61a spring contact [0084] 62 second contact element [0085] 62a spring contact [0086] 62b contact clip [0087] 71, 72 contact area [0088] 8 opening [0089] 9 battery [0090] 101,102 fold line [0091] 121,122 trough shaped depression [0092] 13, 14 locking means [0093] 15 housing [0094] 151a, 152a housing regions [0095] 151b,152b elevations [0096] 16 starting, printed circuit board [0097] EC component [0098] hEC structural height of the highest component [0099] hBat protruding height of the battery