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US 2003/0169578 A1Published application
Guided munitions electronics package and method
AssigneeAlliant Techsystems Inc.
InventorsErnest Steven Blazic, Kent Carl Nelson, Farhad James Nekoogar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is method and system for packaging electronics with an electronic card rack of radial panels, an outer casing, a stabilizing ring, and a flex-circuit interconnect, whereby electronic cards inserted into the sectors formed by the radial panels do not carry the structural load. The card-mounted devices are optimally oriented for set back forces, and minimal potting and/or structural foam is required, if any. The present invention provides a lightweight, highly serviceable assembly that is relatively less expensive to produce, test and rework compared with potted assemblies.
Claims16
A system for packing electronics exposed to a gun-launched environment comprising:
- a card rack comprising:
- a disc-shaped base portion having an upper side, a lower side, an edge and a center;
- a substantially cylindrical wall portion having a principal axis, the substantially cylindrical wall portion being substantially perpendicular to and extending from the disc-shaped base portion, the substantially cylindrical wall portion having an inside wall, an outside wall and a top edge wherein the principal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall portion is aligned with the center of the card rack;
- and a plurality panels having a top side and an outer side, each of the top sides of the plurality of panels oriented radially from the principal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall and thereby extending outward from the outside of the cylindrical wall portion;
- and a plurality of mounting sectors wherein any two adjacent panels of the plurality of radially oriented panels, an interstitial sector of the upper side of disc-shaped base, and an interstitial portion of the outside of the substantially cylindrical wall form a mounting sector;
- at least one flex-circuit card assembly having a top edge mechanically insertable into a mounting sector of the plurality of mounting sectors of the card rack;
- and
- a flex-circuit interconnect in electrical communication with the at least one flex-circuit card assembly inserted into a mounting sector, the flex-circuit interconnect mounted to the top side of each of the plurality of panels.
5 more elements
A structure for packing electronics exposed to a gun-launched environment comprising:
- a card rack comprising:
- a disc-shaped base portion having an upper side, a lower side, an edge and a center;
- a substantially cylindrical wall portion having a principal axis, the substantially cylindrical wall portion being substantially perpendicular to and extending from the disc-shaped base portion, the substantially cylindrical wall portion having an inside wall, an outside wall and a top edge wherein the principal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall portion is aligned with the center of the card rack;
- and a plurality panels having a top side and an outer side, each of the top sides of the plurality of panels oriented radially from the principal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall and thereby extending outward from the outside of the cylindrical wall portion;
- and a plurality of mounting sectors, each of the plurality of mounting sectors for receiving a flex-circuit card assembly, wherein any two adjacent panels of the plurality of radially oriented panels, an interstitial sector of the upper side of disc-shaped base, and an interstitial portion of the outside of the substantially cylindrical wall form a mounting sector;
- at least one outer case fastener;
- and
- an outer casing, having a plurality of internal ribs aligned with the plurality of panels of the card rack, the outer casing fastened to the card rack with at least one outer case fastener.
5 more elements
A method of packing electronics exposed to a gun-launched environment, the method comprising:
- fabricating a card rack comprising:
- a disc-shaped base portion having an upper side, a lower side, an edge and a center;
- a substantially cylindrical wall portion having a principal axis, the substantially cylindrical wall portion being substantially perpendicular to and extending from the disc-shaped base portion, the substantially cylindrical wall portion having an inside wall, an outside wall and a top edge wherein the principal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall portion is aligned with the center of the card rack;
- and a plurality panels having a top side and an outer side, each of the top sides of the plurality of panels oriented radially from the principal axis of the substantially cylindrical wall and thereby extending outward from the outside of the cylindrical wall portion;
- and a plurality of mounting sectors wherein any two adjacent panels of the plurality of radially oriented panels, an interstitial sector of the upper side of disc-shaped base, and an interstitial portion of the outside of the substantially cylindrical wall form a mounting sector;
- fabricating at least one flex-circuit card assembly;
- inserting the al least one flex circuit into a mounting sector of the plurality of mounting sectors of the card rack;
- fabricating a flex-circuit interconnect;
- mounting the flex-circuit interconnect to the top side of each of the plurality of panels with the flex-circuit interconnect in electrical communication with the at least one flex-circuit card assembly inserted into a mounting sector.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.