CATV Filter assembly with improved electrical grounding

A filter assembly for CATV applications comprising:

• a) a printed circuit board having top and bottom surfaces, a longitudinal axis and a pair of substantially parallel, elongated, side edges on opposite sides of said axis;
• b) a filter circuit having a plurality of sections formed by components mounted upon said circuit board in electrically operative communication;
• c) a grounding bus of electrically conducting material extending along a marginal portion inwardly adjacent at least one of said side edges on at least one of said top and bottom surfaces;
• d) a hollow, cylindrical, inner housing portion having a first central axis, first inner and outer diameters, and a first, open end with a pair of open slots of predetermined undeformed width extending linearly from said first end, substantially parallel to said central axis, at least one of said slots having a length at least as great as the length of said grounding bus;
• e) said circuit board being mounted at least partially within said inner portion with said edge portions extending into said slots;
• f) a plurality electrically conducting paths, one of said paths extending between a respective one of said plurality of filter circuit sections and said grounding bus;
• and
• g) a hollow, cylindrical, outer housing portion having a second central axis, second inner and outer diameters, said second inner diameter being smaller than said first outer diameter by a predetermined dimension allowing force fit insertion of said inner portion into said outer portion with resultant narrowing of said predetermined slot width from said undeformed to a deformed width, urging said inner portion into electrically grounding contact with said grounding bus.

A housing assembly for a printed circuit board having a pair of parallel side edges spaced by a predetermined distance and having a predetermined length and thickness, said assembly comprising:

• a) a first, cylindrical housing member having first and second ends, and first, inner and outer diameters respectively smaller and greater than said predetermined distance;
• b) a pair of slots in opposite sides of said first housing member extending from open ends at said first end of said first housing member to closed ends, said slots having a length at least as great as said predetermined length of said side edges;
• and
• c) a second, cylindrical housing member having third and fourth ends, and a second, inner diameter over at least a portion of its axial length, said second, inner diameter being smaller than said first, outer diameter by an amount such that forced insertion of said first end of said first housing member into said third end of said second housing member causes said slots to decrease from a first width, greater than said predetermined thickness, to a second width, substantially equal to said predetermined width, whereby edge portions of said circuit board inwardly adjacent said side edges may be placed in said slots prior to said forced insertion and will be physically engaged between opposite sides of said slots after said forced insertion.

A method of mounting a printed circuit board within a housing assembly, aid method comprising:

• a) forming a circuit board of predetermined thickness with a pair of parallel side edges spaced by a predetermined distance, and edge portions inwardly adjacent said side edges;
• b) forming an inner housing portion having a hollow, cylindrical wall with a first, open end, a second, sealed end, and first inner and outer diameters;
• c) cutting a pair of parallel, linear slots through said wall at positions where the distance between said inside and outside diameters of said inner housing portion at said slots is smaller and larger, respectively, than said predetermined distance, said slots having a uniform, first width greater than said predetermined thickness and extending from open ends at said first end of said inner portion to closed ends;
• d) forming an outer housing portion having a hollow, cylindrical wall with a third, open end, a fourth, sealed end, and a second inner diameter, smaller than said first, outer diameter by a predetermined dimension;
• e) placing said circuit board with said edge portions in said slots;
• and
• f) forcibly inserting said first end of said inner portion into said third end of said outer portion, thereby reducing the widths of said slots from said first width to a second width wherein opposing sides of said slots forcibly engage said edge portions of said circuit board inwardly adjacent said side edges.

A method of mounting a printed circuit board within a housing, said method comprising:

• a) forming a printed circuit board with elongated, parallel side edges spaced by a predetermined distance, and edge portions inwardly adjacent and extending the full length of said side edges, said edge portions being of a first, electrically conducting material;
• b) mounting a plurality of electrical components upon said circuit board to form a circuit including said edge portions, said components, and electrical paths on said circuit board connecting said components and said edge portions;
• c) forming a housing having opposed wall portions of a second, electrically conducting material spaced by substantially said predetermined distance;
• d) inserting said circuit board into said housing with said side edges contacting said opposed wall portions;
• and
• e) applying a solder bead mechanically and electrically connecting each of said edge portions, along substantially the full length thereof, with adjoining areas of said opposed wall portions.

An assembly forming an electrical circuit within a sealed housing with improved grounding means for said circuit, said assembly comprising:

• a) a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical components mounted thereon, with first areas of first, electrically conducting material connecting said components with one another and with at least one second area of electrically conducting material forming a grounding bus for said circuit;
• b) a first housing portion of second, electrically conducting material;
• c) a second housing portion formed for cooperative, mutual assembly with said first housing portion to provide an enclosed space of a size suitable for containing said circuit board;
• and
• d) at least one of said housing portions including an engagement portion which, upon mutual assembly of said first and second housing portions, is in physical and electrical contact with said grounding bus, thereby providing electrical grounding for said circuit.