Printed circuit assemblies with an elongated cut-out

The use of different printed circuit assemblies (PCA's) having different lengths may be used to allocate modules (e.g., electronic expansion cards) having different lengths. In this respect, there is an existing demand for designers to develop a universal PCA design that can accommodate a large number of modules having different lengths.

The following detailed description references the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a PCA according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a PCA according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate an example of a movable bracket according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an example of a PCA allocating a module according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate two examples of two PCA's allocating two modules according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a PCA allocating a module according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a flowchart for building a PCA according to the present disclosure.

The examples of PCA's according to the present disclosure include a PCA having a cut-out wherein a module can be allocated, a movable bracket having a standoff and a connector.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a PCA 100 according to the present disclosure. In particular, the PCA 100 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 110 having an elongated cut-out 120 . The cut-out 120 can define a first and a second opposite elongated edges 122 and 124 in the PCB 110 . Furthermore, the PCA 100 comprises a platform connector 150 that can be adapted to plug-in an electronic module (not shown) and a movable bracket 130 having a standoff 140 established on the surface of the movable bracket 130 , the movable bracket 130 can connect to the first and the second opposite elongates edges 122 and 124 as shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 2 shows another example of a PCA 200 according to the present disclosure. In this particular example, the first and the second opposite elongated edges 222 and 224 comprises attachment features. In particular the first elongated edge 222 comprises attachments feature as e.g. notches 212 a , 212 b and 212 c and the second elongated edge 224 comprises attachment features as e.g. protrusions 214 a , 214 b and 214 c . Other types of attachments features as e.g. slots could be used. Furthermore, any combination of attachment features (e.g. notches, protrusions, slots, etc.) could be established on the first and the second edges of the PCB 210 or at least on the first or on the second edge of the PCB 210 .

The PCA 200 of FIG. 2 further comprises a movable bracket 230 . The movable bracket 230 comprises mechanical attachment features 232 and 234 . Mechanical attachment feature 232 can interact with the mechanical attachment features (e.g. notches) 212 a to 212 c of the first elongated edge 222 and mechanical attachment feature 234 can interact with the mechanical attachment features (e.g. protrusions) 214 a to 214 c of elongated edge 224 . Moveable bracket 230 is held in fixed position when the attachment features of moveable bracket 230 interact with the attachment features of elongated edges 222 and 224 .

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show three different views of a movable bracket 330 comprising mechanical attachment features as mentioned above in FIG. 2 . In particular FIG. 3A is a top view of the movable bracket 330 having a standoff 340 established on its surface. FIG. 3B is a plan view of the movable bracket 330 that comprises a mechanical attachment feature 332 designed to interact with the notches 212 a , 212 b and 212 c comprises in the first elongated edge 222 . Furthermore, the movable bracket 330 further comprises another mechanical attachment feature 334 designed to interact with the protrusions 214 a , 214 b and 214 c comprises in the second elongated edge 224 . FIG. 3C shows an isometric view of the movable bracket 330 comprising attachment features 332 and 334 . By means of the interaction between the attachment features of the PCB and the attachment features of the movable bracket 330 allows for a suitable fixation of the movable bracket 330 on the PCB to be achieved. Hence, the movable bracket 330 is adapted to be fixed to the PCB at different locations along the PCB by means of the mechanical attachment features of the elongated edges and the mechanical attachment features 332 and 334 of the movable bracket 330 .

FIGS. 4A and 4B shows an example of a PCA 400 according to the present disclosure allocating a module 460 a . FIGS. 4A and 4B shows that the PCA 400 is adapted to allocated a module 460 a . The module 460 a can be e.g. an expansion card. The length of the module can be e.g. one of 16 mm, 26 mm, 30 mm, 38 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm and 110 mm. Each length may be associated to a particular mechanical attachment feature on the elongated edges of PCA 400 . For the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , the mechanical attachment features 412 a and 414 a of the elongated edges of PCA 400 can be associated with a module 460 a having a length of 60 mm. The mechanical attachment features 412 b and 414 b can be associated with a module having a length of 80 mm and the mechanical attachment features 412 c and 414 c can be associated with a module having a length of 110 mm. An elongated cut-out 420 is adapted to allocate the module 460 a as shown in FIG. 4A .

Furthermore, the PCA 400 comprises a platform connector 450 that can be adapted to plug-in the module 460 a and a standoff 440 established on the surface of the movable bracket 430 . The standoff 440 can be adapted to secure the module 460 a to the PCB 410 of the PCA 400 by means of a screw 470 .

FIG. 5A shows a PCA 500 allocating a module 560 b having a length of 80 mm. The PCA 500 comprises a movable bracket 530 having mechanical attachment features that are designed to interact with the mechanical attachment features 512 b and 514 b in order to fix the module 560 b with a length of 80 mm in place. Module 560 b may be secured to the PCA 500 by a standoff 540 established on the surface of the movable bracket 530 and a screw (not shown).

In some implementations, the mechanical attachment features 512 a and 514 a can be associated with a module having a length of 60 mm. In some implementations, the mechanical attachment features 512 c and 514 c can be associated with a module having a length of 110 mm.

FIG. 5B shows a PCA 500 allocating a module 560 c having a length of 110 mm. The PCA 500 comprises a movable bracket 530 having mechanical attachment features that are designed to interact with the mechanical attachment features 512 c and 514 c to fix the module 530 c with a length of 110 mm in place. Module 560 c may be secured to the PCA 500 by a standoff established on the surface of the movable bracket 530 and a screw (not shown).

In some implementations, the mechanical attachment features 512 a and 514 a can be associated with a module having a length of 60 mm. In some implementations, the mechanical attachment features 512 b and 514 b can be associated with a module having a length of 80 mm.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a PCA 600 with a module 660 allocated in the elongated cut-out of a PCB 610 . The PCA 600 comprises a movable bracket 630 , a standoff 640 established on the movable bracket 630 and a platform connector 650 adapted to plug-in module 660 . As it is shown in FIG. 6 , a part 660 x of the module 660 is allocated under the surface of the PCB 610 due to the elongated cut-out of the PCB 610 . In some examples, this may permit a reduction between 25% and 35% of the total thickness of the PCA 600 plus the module 660 as the part 660 x of the module 660 may through the surface of the PCB 610 .

FIG. 7 shows an example of a flowchart 700 for building a PCA according to the present disclosure. In particular the flowchart 700 comprises step 710 for forming an elongated cut-out on a PCB, the cut-out can define a first and a second opposite elongated edges in the PCB.

Furthermore, the flowchart 700 comprises step 720 for attaching a movable bracket of the PCB, the movable bracket having a standoff established on the surface on the movable bracket. The movable bracket can connect to the first and the second opposite elongated edges.

Furthermore, the flowchart 700 comprises step 730 for attaching a platform connector to the PCB. The module can be plugged in to the platform connector as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B .

The flowchart 700 can further comprise a step for forming mechanical attachment features on the first and the second opposite elongated edges in the PCB as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B . After forming the mechanical attachment features on the elongated edges of the PCB, during the step 720 for attaching the movable bracket to the PCB, mechanical attachment features established on the movable bracket as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C can interact with the mechanical attachment features on the elongated edges of the PCB as shown in FIG. 2 to fix the movable bracket in place.

The flowchart 700 can further comprise a step for attaching a module to the PCA as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B . Attaching the module to the PCA can comprise allocating the module in the elongated cut-out, plugging in the module to the platform connector, securing the module to the PCB by means of the standoff established on the surface of the movable bracket and a screw as shown in FIG. 4B .

The flowchart 700 can further comprise a step for moving the movable bracket along the PCB to a new location on the PCB and fixing the movable bracket to the PCB at the new location on the PCB as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B .

Relative terms used to describe the structural features of the figures illustrated herein are in no way limiting to conceivable implementations. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methods, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of this application, including the appended claims. Additionally, where the disclosure or claims recite “a,” “an,” “a first,” or “another” element, or the equivalent thereof, it should be interpreted to include one or more than one such element, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.