EP0564117A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for replacing electronic components on a printed circuit board
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for facilitating the installation and removal of standard surface mount clock oscillator modules. A clock oscillator module socket is disclosed which can be mounted on a printed circuit board in the standard recommended land pattern for surface mount clock modules which will provide for easy installation of the clock module and easy removal of the module either for maintenance or for general replacement by a clock of different speed. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 James B. Mcintrye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/02; H05K7/10; H05K7/1015; H05K7/103; H05K7/1046; H05K13/00; H05K13/04; H05K13/0486; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/301
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An adapter system for use in removably connecting a component to a printed circuit board, said component having electrical contact leads and a body portion, said adapter system comprising: a) a first contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a first electrical contact point on said board and a second portion extending away from said board; and b) a second contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a second electrical contact point on said board and a second portion extending away from said board; said second contact clip device being positionable generally opposite to said first contact clip device, and said component being insertable between said extending portions of said first and second contact clip devices; whereby said component body portion is held securely by said first and second extending portions to retain abutting electrical contact between said component leads and said conducting portions of said first and second contact clip devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An adapter system for use in removably connecting a component to a printed circuit board, said component having electrical contact leads and a body portion, said adapter system comprising: a) a first contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a first electrical contact point on said board and a second portion extending away from said board; and b) a second contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a second electrical contact point on said board and a second portion extending away from said board; said second contact clip device being positionable generally opposite to said first contact clip device, and said component being insertable between said extending portions of said first and second contact clip devices; whereby said component body portion is held securely by said first and second extending portions to retain abutting electrical contact between said component leads and said conducting portions of said first and second contact clip devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter system of claim 1 further comprising a non-conductive enclosure device for enclosing said first and second contact clip devices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The adapter system of claim 2 wherein said non-conducting enclosure device comprises two opposite and parallel vertical side members connected perpendicular to a bottom member; each of said side members containing apertures into which said extending portions of said contact clip devices may be demountably attached and said bottom member containing apertures into which said conducting portions of said contact clip devices may be demountably attached and through which said conducting portions may be electrically mated to said printed circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adapter system of claim 3 wherein said non-conducting enclosure device is a molded plastic enclosure device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The adapter system of claim 4 wherein said non-conducting enclosure device is rectangular and of sufficient size to hold said body portion of said component snugly and yet allow easy removal of said component from said enclosure device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The adapter system of claim 1 wherein said first contact clip device comprises at least two contact clips, and said second contact clip device comprises at least two contact clips, each of said contact clips having a predetermined angled configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
The adapter system of claim 6 wherein each said contact clip comprises an L shaped member having a predetermined orientation in said adapter system wherein a portion of the bottom conducting portion of the L is bent downward and folded back upon itself to form a clip-on foot of said contact clip, and wherein the top part of said extended portion is bent to a position perpendicular to said extended portion of said contact clip, and in a direction opposite to said bottom conducting portion of said contact clip, and wherein said upright portion of said contact clip is curved inwardly in the direction of said foot of said contact clip to form a bias holding area on said contact clip at approximately a distance above said foot of said contact clip to match the height of said electrical contact leads on said component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter system of claim 7 further comprising a non-conductive enclosure device for enclosing said first and second contact clip devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
The adapter system of claim 8 wherein said non-conducting enclosure device comprises two opposite and parallel vertical side member connected perpendicular to a bottom member; each of said side members containing apertures into which said top portion of said extended portion of each of said contact clips may be demountably attached and said bottom member containing apertures into which said clip-on foot of each of said contact clips may be demountably attached and through which said contact clips may be electrically mated to said printed circuit board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The adapter system of claim 9 wherein said contact clips are spatially positioned in said enclosure device such that said clip-on feet of said contact clips are mated to said printed circuit board in the land pattern recommended for said surface mount component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The adapter system of claim 6 wherein said contact clips are constructed of spring copper and coated with a tin finish, said contact clips being fully hardened subsequent to formation in said predetermined angled configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
An adapter system for use in removably connecting a crystal oscillator module to a printed circuit board, said crystal oscillator module having a body portion and electrical contact leads, said adapter system comprising: a) a molded plastic enclosure comprised of two parallel vertical side members perpendicularly connected to a bottom member; and b) a plurality of contact clips having a predetermined angled configuration, each of said contact clips having a conductive portion and a second portion, each of said contact clips being demountably connected to said enclosure through an aperture in said vertical member and through an aperture in said bottom member, whereby said conducting portion of said connector clips extending through said bottom member may be mated electrically to a printed circuit board, said crystal oscillator module be insertable into said enclosure device such that said body portion of said oscillator module may be held securely by said contact clips to retain abutting contact between said crystal oscillator module electrical contact leads and said conductive portion of said contact clips.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
171 words
An adapter system for use in removably connecting a crystal oscillator module to a printed circuit board, said crystal oscillator module having a body portion and electrical contact leads, said adapter system comprising: a) a molded plastic enclosure comprised of two parallel vertical side members perpendicularly connected to a bottom member; and b) a plurality of contact clips having a predetermined angled configuration, each of said contact clips having a conductive portion and a second portion, each of said contact clips being demountably connected to said enclosure through an aperture in said vertical member and through an aperture in said bottom member, whereby said conducting portion of said connector clips extending through said bottom member may be mated electrically to a printed circuit board, said crystal oscillator module be insertable into said enclosure device such that said body portion of said oscillator module may be held securely by said contact clips to retain abutting contact between said crystal oscillator module electrical contact leads and said conductive portion of said contact clips.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for removably connecting a component to a printed circuit board, said module having electrical contact leads and a body portion, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a first contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a first electrical contact point on said board and having a second portion extending away from said board; b) creating a second contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a second electrical contact point on said board and having a second portion extending away from said board; said second contact clip device being positionable generally opposite to said first contact clip device; c) electrically attaching said conductive portions of said contact clip devices to said printed circuit board; and d) inserting said component between said extending portions of said first and second contact clip devices whereby said component body portion is held securely by said first and second extending portions to retain abutting electrical contact between said component leads and said conducting portions of said first and second contact clip devices.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for removably connecting a component to a printed circuit board, said module having electrical contact leads and a body portion, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a first contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a first electrical contact point on said board and having a second portion extending away from said board; b) creating a second contact clip device having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a second electrical contact point on said board and having a second portion extending away from said board; said second contact clip device being positionable generally opposite to said first contact clip device; c) electrically attaching said conductive portions of said contact clip devices to said printed circuit board; and d) inserting said component between said extending portions of said first and second contact clip devices whereby said component body portion is held securely by said first and second extending portions to retain abutting electrical contact between said component leads and said conducting portions of said first and second contact clip devices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 comprising the additional step of forming a non-conducting structure to enclose said first and second contact clip devices and into which said component may be removably inserted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the additional steps of: a) forming said non-conducting structure by connecting two side members to opposite and parallel sides of a bottom member perpendicular to said bottom member; b) creating apertures in said side members into which said extending portions of said contact clip devices may be demountably attached;and c) creating apertures in said bottom member into which said conducting portions of said contact clip devices may be demountably attached and through which said contact clip devices may be electrically mated to said printed circuit board.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said non-conductive enclosure device is made of molded polypropylene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said component is a surface mount crystal oscillator module.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for removably connecting a component to a printed circuit board, said component having electrical contact pins and a body portion, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a first pair of contact clips having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a first pair of electrical contact points on said board and said first pair of contact clips having a second portion extending away from and perpendicular to said board; b) creating a second pair of contact clips having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a second pair of electrical contact points on said board and a second portion extending away from said board; said second pair of contact clips being positionable generally opposite to said first pair of contact clips; c) electrically attaching said conductive portions of said contact clips to said printed circuit board; and d) inserting said component between said extending portions of said first and second pair of contact clips whereby said component body portion is held securely by said extending portions of said contact clips to retain abutting electrical contact between said component leads and said conducting portions of said first and second pairs of contact clips.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
210 words
A method for removably connecting a component to a printed circuit board, said component having electrical contact pins and a body portion, said method comprising the steps of: a) creating a first pair of contact clips having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a first pair of electrical contact points on said board and said first pair of contact clips having a second portion extending away from and perpendicular to said board; b) creating a second pair of contact clips having a conductive portion which may be electrically connected to said printed circuit board at a second pair of electrical contact points on said board and a second portion extending away from said board; said second pair of contact clips being positionable generally opposite to said first pair of contact clips; c) electrically attaching said conductive portions of said contact clips to said printed circuit board; and d) inserting said component between said extending portions of said first and second pair of contact clips whereby said component body portion is held securely by said extending portions of said contact clips to retain abutting electrical contact between said component leads and said conducting portions of said first and second pairs of contact clips.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 comprising the further step of forming each of said contact clips into a predetermined angled configuration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
148 words
The method of claim 18 comprising the further step of forming each of said clips into an L shaped member having a predetermined orientation in said adapter system wherein a portion of the bottom conducting portion of the L is bent downward and folded back upon itself to form a clip-on foot of said contact clip, and wherein the top part of said extended portion is bent to a position perpendicular to said extended portion of said contact clip, and in a direction opposite to said bottom conducting portion of said contact clip, and wherein said upright portion of said contact clip is curved inwardly in the direction of said foot of said contact clip to form a bias holding area on said contact clip at approximately a distance above said foot of said contact clip to match the height of said electrical contact leads on said component.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
98 words
21 The method of claim 20 comprising the additional step of mounting said L shaped clips into a non-conducting enclosure device which comprises two opposite and parallel vertical side members connected perpendicular to a bottom member; each of said side members containing apertures into which said top portion of said extended portion of each of said contact clips may be demountably attached and said bottom member containing apertures into which said clip-on foot of each of said contact clips may be demountably attached and through which said contact clips may be electrically mated to said printed circuit board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 21 comprising the additional step of spatially positioning said contact clips in said enclosure device such that said clip-on feet of said contact clips are mated to said printed circuit board in the land pattern recommended for said surface mount component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
23 The method of claim 22 wherein said component is a crystal oscillator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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