Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of fabricating a component module for piggyback mounting on, and interconnection with, an integrated circuit package of the type having dual-in-line leads, said method comprising the steps of: partially blanking at least first and second oppositely directed and longitudinally spaced terminals out of an elongated strip stock carrier, each of said terminals including a first outwardly disposed leg portion, a second inwardly disposed leg portion, and at least a third leg portion that extends perpendicularly to said second leg portion; forming the third leg portion of each of said terminals into a contact member for electrically engaging opposite end electrodes of a component and for providing temporary support for such a component; positioning the body portion of the component between the second leg portions of said terminals such that said component is supported by, and its opposite end electrodes are respectively biased against, the contact members of said terminals; completely serving said first and second terminals from said strip stock carrier, while clamping at least the outermost ends of the first leg portions of said terminals such that they remain in a common plane; encapsulating said component, including its electrodes and said terminal contact members, within a molded housing with at least a major part of the second leg portion of each terminal embedded in said housing; and bending the first leg portions of said terminals downwardly from respective regions adjacent to two diagonally disposed corners of said housing, the resulting spacing between the first leg portions of said first and second terminals being selected so that said terminals will respectively contact selected correspondingly disposed leads of an associated integrated circuit package, having dual-in-line leads, when said fabricated component module is subsequently piggyback-mounted thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of fabricating a component module for piggyback mounting on, and interconnection with, an integrated circuit package of the type having dual-in-line leads, said method comprising the steps of: partially blanking at least first and second oppositely directed and longitudinally spaced terminals out of an elongated strip stock carrier, each of said terminals including a first outwardly disposed leg portion, a second inwardly disposed leg portion, and at least a third leg portion that extends perpendicularly to said second leg portion; forming the third leg portion of each of said terminals into a contact member for electrically engaging opposite end electrodes of a component and for providing temporary support for such a component; positioning the body portion of the component between the second leg portions of said terminals such that said component is supported by, and its opposite end electrodes are respectively biased against, the contact members of said terminals; completely serving said first and second terminals from said strip stock carrier, while clamping at least the outermost ends of the first leg portions of said terminals such that they remain in a common plane; encapsulating said component, including its electrodes and said terminal contact members, within a molded housing with at least a major part of the second leg portion of each terminal embedded in said housing; and bending the first leg portions of said terminals downwardly from respective regions adjacent to two diagonally disposed corners of said housing, the resulting spacing between the first leg portions of said first and second terminals being selected so that said terminals will respectively contact selected correspondingly disposed leads of an associated integrated circuit package, having dual-in-line leads, when said fabricated component module is subsequently piggyback-mounted thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said component comprises a capacitor, and wherein said forming step comprises forming each of said contact members into a C-shaped configuration for supporting the capacitor and contacting its end electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the blanking and severing steps include forming out of said strip carrier a rectangularly shaped and electrically isolated heat sink positioned so as to be beneath said component, and wherein the encapsulating step comprises at least partially embedding the heat sink in said molded housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein during said partial blanking step, the first leg portion of each of said first and second terminals is formed with a resilient, bifurcated end region, said end region defining two laterally spaced and resilient leg sections that are configured to form a necked-down opening therebetween which communicates with a laterally disposed slot that is also formed by said leg sections, said slot being wider than the narrowest inner width of said opening immediately adjacent thereto, and also being dimensioned so as to allow a shoulder portion of a rectangularly shaped circuit package lead to be readily snapped therein after having been forced through the communicating opening.