# US 5,345,364 A · Edge-connecting printed circuit board

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- Number: US 5,345,364 A
- Document ID: US5345364A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/109,213
- Filed: 1993-08-18
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-08-18
- Assignees: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
- Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345364A

## CPC

- H01R 12/721: {cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits}
- H05K 1/117: {Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors}
- H05K 3/326: {the printed circuit having integral resilient or deformable parts, e.g. tabs or parts of flexible circuits (H05K3/365 takes precedence)}
- H05K 2201/0133: Elastomeric or compliant polymer
- H05K 2201/09163: Slotted edge
- H05K 2201/09172: Notches between edge pads
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A printed circuit board capable of resilient deformation having two major surfaces and a contact edge. Electrically conductive traces are provided on each major surface of the board which lead to electrically conductive contact pads at the contact edge of the board. A gap is provided between the two major surfaces of the board along the contact edge. The gap permits resilient deformation of the board so that a force is created upon deformation which will bias the major surfaces toward their undeformed position. An elastomeric biasing member may be provided in the gap.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printed circuit board comprising:
a printed circuit board capable of resilient deformation and having first and second outer major surfaces and a contact edge; and
a plurality of electrically conductive traces provided on at least one of the major surfaces leading to a plurality of electrically conductive contact pads at the contact edge of the board;
wherein the first and second major surfaces define a gap therebetween at the contact edge, wherein the gap permits resilient deformation of the board so that a force is created upon deformation which will bias the major surfaces toward their undeformed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The board of claim 1, further including a second plurality of contact pads on the other major surface leading to a second plurality of electrically conductive contact pads at the contact edge, and wherein the force created upon deformation biases the two pluralities of contact pads away from each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The board of claim 1, further including a pin guide assembly, wherein the contact edge is disposed within the assembly, and wherein the assembly is configured to guide a plurality of conductive pins into electrical contact with the plurality of contact pads.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The board of claim 1, further including a biasing member provided within the gap.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The board of claim 4, wherein the biasing member is an elastomer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The board of claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact pads on one of the major surfaces is separated from an adjacent contact pad in the same surface by a slot in the board perpendicular to the contact edge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The board of claim 6, wherein each slot ends prior to the contact edge of the board.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The board of claim 2, further including a pin guide assembly, wherein the two pluralities of contact pads on the two major surfaces of the board are disposed within the assembly, and wherein the assembly is configured to guide the two pluralities of electrically conductive pins into electrical contact with the two pluralities of contact pads.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The board of claim 2, further including an elastomeric biasing member provided within the gap.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The board of claim 3, further including an elastomeric biasing member provided within the gap.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The board of claim 3, wherein the assembly is detachably secured to the board.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The board of claim 5, wherein the elastomer is an adhesive.