US5861602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap together PCMCIA cards with laser tack welded seams
Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc
•
Filing: 1995-07-24
•
Granted: 1999-01-19
•
Expires: 2015-07-24
Abstract
Abstract The present invention features an improvement in the construction and manufacturing of small peripheral cartridges which plug into exterior slots of computer systems such as PCMCIA cards. The metal cover of a snap-together PCMCIA card is typically tack welded at its seams An inexpensive and highly accurate welding technique is presented for performing this welding operation. The inventive welding technique may be used without risk of damage to highly sensitive electronic components. The lap joint seam formed using the techniques exhibits the strength and stiffness characteristics that allow the size of welded seams to be minimized thereby also reducing the risk of burn-through or other damage to the cards during manufacturing.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilton Louis Cox
- 👤 Charles David Fieselman
- 👤 Leonard Douglas Hobgood
- 👤 Paul Gilbert Watson, Jr.
- 👤 Simon Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:11
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K5/00; H05K5/02; H05K5/0256; H05K5/026; H05K5/0265; H05K5/0269; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/10; B23K26/12; B23K26/123; B23K26/127; B23K26/20; B23K26/21; B23K26/24; B23K26/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for producing computer cartridges, comprising the steps of: a) providing an electronic circuit including a connector; b) providing a metal cover with at least two parts; c) positioning said electronic circuit between the metal cover parts; d) connecting the parts of said metal cover to form an enclosure containing said electronic circuit, said enclosure comprising an opening for communication between said connector and an external computer system, and at least one lap joint seam; and e) tack welding said at least one lap joint seam including the further steps of: i) penetrating with a laser through an exterior metal layer, and ii) penetrating at least partially through a subsequent, adjacent metal layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for producing computer cartridges, comprising the steps of: a) providing an electronic circuit including a connector; b) providing a metal cover with at least two parts; c) positioning said electronic circuit between the metal cover parts; d) connecting the parts of said metal cover to form an enclosure containing said electronic circuit, said enclosure comprising an opening for communication between said connector and an external computer system, and at least one lap joint seam; and e) tack welding said at least one lap joint seam including the further steps of: i) penetrating with a laser through an exterior metal layer, and ii) penetrating at least partially through a subsequent, adjacent metal layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step (d) of connecting the parts includes the further steps of: i) snapping together the metal cover parts with an interference fit to form at least two lap joint seams along edges of said enclosure, and ii) tack welding along at least one of the lap joint seams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 1 in which: the welding step (e) further includes the steps of: iii) providing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser, and iv) adjusting said pulsed Nd:YAG laser to provide a spot size of about 0.6 mm, and a peak power of about 0.8 Kw, to provide tack welds that will sufficiently secure said metal cover parts along said at least one lap joint seam; v) accomplishing said welding in an oxygen-free cover gas atmosphere; and vi) holding the lap joint seam to a positional tolerance of less than 0.3 mm, and vii) positively pressing said exterior metal layer of the lap joint against said adjacent layer of the lap joint during tack welding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said lap joint of step (d) is formed by holding a strip of metal over a butt joint; and further wherein the welding step (e) further includes the step of: iii) welding along two longitudinal edges of said strip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3586816A
Cited
US3949186A
Cited
US4386388A
Cited
US4682002A
Cited
US4758704A
Cited
US4678890A
Cited
US4899030A
Cited
US5107073A
Cited
US4873415A
Cited
US4833295A
Cited
US4845447A
Cited
US5031076A
Cited
US5302801A
Cited
US5609288A
Cited
US5250782A
Cited
US5529503A
Cited
US5276298A
Cited
US5354964A
Cited
US5268555A
Cited
US5339222A
Cited
US5397857A
Cited
US5386340A
Cited
US5626776A
Cited
US5414597A
Cited
US5519184A
Cited
US5463531A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |