Patent US3765076A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3765076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Printed circuit board and a method of repairing contacts on a printed circuit board
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-16
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A printed circuit board having at least one defective contact along an edge thereof is repaired by first cutting away the defective contact and a portion of the underlying board to form a slot therein, the removed contact being severed from an associated conductor and the portion of the board not removed forming a shelf at the bottom of the slot. Next, a contact assembly comprised of a replacement terminal carried on a section of insulating material and fabricated substantially similar in configuration to the terminal and board cut away, is secured on the shelf within the slot. The replacement terminal is then electrically connected with the associated conductor.
Inventors
- 👤 E Brandt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:07
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/225; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3405; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/11; H05K1/117; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09009; H05K2201/09036; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/1028; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/02; H05K2203/0228; H05K2203/17; H05K2203/173; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0044; H05K3/40; H05K3/4007; H05K3/4015; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49174; Y10T29/49179; Y10T29/49718; Y10T29/49732; Y10T29/49734
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of repairing a wiring board having a circuit path thereon connected with a defective terminal along one edge thereof, which comprises: cutting away the terminal and an underlying portion of the board to a depth which is less than the total thickness of the board to form a slot and a bottom shelf and to sever the terminal from the circuit path, the circuit path terminating at an edge of the slot; fabricating a section of insulating material with a replacement terminal carried thereon, the section being fabricated to correspond in area and thickness to the area and depth of the slot; placing the section of insulating material in the slot to rest on the bottom shelf with the replacement terminal adjacent to the end of the circuit path; and electrically connecting the replacement terminal with the circuit path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of repairing a wiring board having a circuit path thereon connected with a defective terminal along one edge thereof, which comprises: cutting away the terminal and an underlying portion of the board to a depth which is less than the total thickness of the board to form a slot and a bottom shelf and to sever the terminal from the circuit path, the circuit path terminating at an edge of the slot; fabricating a section of insulating material with a replacement terminal carried thereon, the section being fabricated to correspond in area and thickness to the area and depth of the slot; placing the section of insulating material in the slot to rest on the bottom shelf with the replacement terminal adjacent to the end of the circuit path; and electrically connecting the replacement terminal with the circuit path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrically connecting step comprises soldering a conductive bridge between the replacement terminal and the circuit path.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of replacing a plurality of adjacent defective contacts carried along an edge of a printed wiring board, the defective contacts each being connected to an associated circuit path on the wiring board, which comprises: machining away the defective contacts and a portion of the underlying board to sever the defective contacts from their associated circuit paths and to form a cavity in the board, the underlying portion of the board not machined away forming a shelf and the circuit paths terminating at an edge of the cavity; fabricating a contact assembly from a section of insulating material and a plurality of replacement contacts equal in number to the number of defective contacts machined away, the contact assembly conforming in configuration to the defective contacts and underlying board which were machined away; mounting the contact assembly on the shelf in the cavity to position a different replacement contact adjacent to each circuit path terminating at the edge of the cavity; and electrically connecting each replacement contact with its adjacent circuit path.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of replacing a plurality of adjacent defective contacts carried along an edge of a printed wiring board, the defective contacts each being connected to an associated circuit path on the wiring board, which comprises: machining away the defective contacts and a portion of the underlying board to sever the defective contacts from their associated circuit paths and to form a cavity in the board, the underlying portion of the board not machined away forming a shelf and the circuit paths terminating at an edge of the cavity; fabricating a contact assembly from a section of insulating material and a plurality of replacement contacts equal in number to the number of defective contacts machined away, the contact assembly conforming in configuration to the defective contacts and underlying board which were machined away; mounting the contact assembly on the shelf in the cavity to position a different replacement contact adjacent to each circuit path terminating at the edge of the cavity; and electrically connecting each replacement contact with its adjacent circuit path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a method of repairing a circuit board having a conductive circuit path on a surface thereof extending toward one edge of the board, and a defective conductive terminal running from the circuit path toward the edge of the board, which comprises: milling the defective terminal and a section of the underlying circuit board to remove the defective terminal and to form a slot running from the edge to the end of the circuit path, the slot extending downward from the surface to a depth which is less than sufficient to extend through the circuit board; forming an insert having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the milled section of the board and having a terminal corresponding to the milled terminal, the terminal having a lip extending from one end of the insert; mounting the insert in the slot with the lip of the terminal positioned above the end of the circuit path, and electrically securing the lip of the terminal to the underlying conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
In a method of repairing a circuit board having a conductive circuit path on a surface thereof extending toward one edge of the board, and a defective conductive terminal running from the circuit path toward the edge of the board, which comprises: milling the defective terminal and a section of the underlying circuit board to remove the defective terminal and to form a slot running from the edge to the end of the circuit path, the slot extending downward from the surface to a depth which is less than sufficient to extend through the circuit board; forming an insert having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the milled section of the board and having a terminal corresponding to the milled terminal, the terminal having a lip extending from one end of the insert; mounting the insert in the slot with the lip of the terminal positioned above the end of the circuit path, and electrically securing the lip of the terminal to the underlying conductor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |