Coriant Oy

Antti Holma

Petri Kohonen

Heikki Laamanen

Ian Leiman

Jari-Pekka Laihonen

Heikki Jekunen

Pasi Räikkönen

Peter Kokko

Juha Sarapelto

An electrical system includes modules and a frame structure for mechanically supporting the modules successively in an arrival direction of cooling air. Each module includes a cooling element in heat conductive relation with one or more electrical components. The frame structure mechanically supports the modules so that the cooling elements are substantially in the same attitude and successively in the arrival direction of the cooling air. The cooling elements are shaped so that, when the modules are mechanically supported by the frame structure, the cooling elements conduct cooling air in a direction deviating from the arrival direction of the cooling air. Furthermore, at least a part of a flank of the heat transfer portion of each cooling element is oblique with respect to the arrival direction of the cooling air. Thus, each of the cooling elements receives a fresh portion of the cooling air.

Modular electrical system

A method for manufacturing a circuit board system comprising mechanical protection of electrical components is presented. The circuit board system comprises a circuit board () furnished with electrical components (-) and a protection element () attached to areas of the circuit board which are free from the electrical components. The protection element has thickness in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board and it is shaped to leave the electrical components unscreened in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board. Thus, the protection element constitutes barriers protecting the electrical components but still allows the electrical components to be accessed from the direction perpendicular to the circuit board for example in a flying probe testing. Furthermore, the protection element provides electrical connections between functional entities of the circuit board system.

Method for manufacturing a circuit board system with mechanical protection

An electrical device includes a circuit board (), a light source (), and a light guide (). The light guide receives light from the light source and conducts the received light to an end of the light guide so that the light crosses, in a direction parallel with the circuit board, an edge of the circuit board. The end of the light guide constitutes a display surface for showing the light to a user. On a fringe area extending from the edge of the circuit board a distance (D) towards the opposite edge of the circuit board, the light guide is between geometrical planes parallel and coinciding with surfaces of the circuit board. Hence, the light guide does not require room in directions perpendicular to the circuit board. Therefore, for example, more connectors, key buttons, and/or other instruments can be placed on a control panel of the electrical device.

Electrical device

A circuit board system according to the invention comprises a circuit board (), at least one element () mechanically supported with respect to the circuit board, and a spring-fastener () arranged to mechanically support the at least one element with respect to the circuit board. The spring-fastener comprises a pressing portion () pressing the at least one element and a latching portion () extending from an end of the pressing portion and being shape-locked in one or more apertures (-) of the circuit board. The latching portion and the one or more apertures of the circuit board are shaped to provide shape-locking whose opening requires at least a first movement of the latching portion in a first direction against the spring-force of the spring fastener and, subsequently, a second movement of the latching portion in a second direction against the spring-force of the spring fastener.

Circuit board system comprising a spring fastened element

A circuit board comprises one or more first electrical conductors (-) in a first portion of the thickness of the circuit board, one or more second electrical conductors () in a second portion of the circuit board, at least one via-conductor () providing a galvanic current path between the first and second electrical conductors, a hole extending through the first and second portions of the circuit board, and an electrically conductive sleeve () lining the hole and having galvanic contacts with the second electrical conductors. The thermal resistance from the electrically conductive sleeve to the first electrical conductors is greater than the thermal resistance from the electrically conductive sleeve to the second electrical conductors so as to obtain a reliable solder joint between a part of the electrically conductive sleeve belonging to the first portion of the circuit board and an electrical conductor pin () located in the hole.

Circuit board

Equipment including at least one plug-in unit and a body device for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The plug-in unit includes a mechanical structure () enabling the plug-in unit to be locked in its operating position with respect to the body device with a fastening element () that can be, for example, a fastening screw. The plug-in unit further includes a sensor circuit () having first electrical properties when the fastening element is in the position locking the plug-in unit in the operating position and otherwise different electrical properties. The equipment includes a monitoring circuit () for generating a signal indicative of a difference between the prevailing electrical properties of the sensor circuit and the first electrical properties, the signal being indicative also of correctness of the installation of the plug-in unit. Thus, the correct installation of the plug-in unit can be electrically indicated and monitored.

Equipment and a plug-in unit of the equipment

Equipment including at least one plug-in unit () and a body device () for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The equipment includes a circuit () including a test signal generator for supplying a test signal to a measurement circuit including galvanic contacts provided by electrical connectors between the body device and a plug-in unit so that the test signal belongs at least partly to a frequency band used in data transfer between the plug-in unit and the body device. The equipment includes a monitoring circuit for generating a signal indicative of a difference between a quantity responsive to the test signal and a reference. As the test signal belongs at least partly to the frequency band used in the data transfer, the quality of the galvanic contacts between the body device and the plug-in unit can be monitored concerning the behavior on the data transfer frequency band.

Equipment including at least one plug-in unit and a body device for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The plug-in unit includes an electrically conductive structure () having at least one surface area capable of forming a capacitive coupling with a surface area of an electrically conductive part () of the body device when the plug-in unit is inserted in the body device. The equipment further includes a monitoring circuit () for generating a signal indicative of electrical properties of a measurement circuit including the capacitive coupling and at least one galvanic contact provided by electrical connectors of the plug-in unit and the body device. The generated signal is also indicative of correctness of the installation of the plug-in unit. Thus, the correct installation of the plug-in unit can be electrically indicated and monitored.

Equipment provided with one or more plug-in units

A circuit board system includes a circuit board (), at least one electrical component (), and a conductor part () in heat conducting relation with the electrical component. A surface of the circuit board includes a portion () that is uneven so as to increase the surface area of the portion. The portion is coated with a coating () made of conductor material so that a surface of the coating is uneven. The circuit board includes a heat conductive pathway () made of conductor material and extending from the conductor part to the coating. Thus, the coating operates as a cooling element for cooling the electrical component.

Circuit board system comprising a cooling arrangement

An assembly that is provided with condition monitoring includes a first element having two or more electrically conductive contact members (-), a second () element attached to the two or more electrically conductive contact members and providing galvanic connections between the contact members. The assembly further includes a monitoring circuit () for monitoring electrical conductivities of the galvanic connections and for generating an indicator signal in response to a situation in which the electrical conductivity of one or more of the galvanic connections is lower than a threshold. When the joint between the first and second elements is totally or partially out of order, the electrical conductivity of one or more of the galvanic connections is low or zero and thus the indicator signal is generated. Therefore, the condition of the joint can be electrically monitored.

Growing community of inventors

Espoo, Finland

Antti Holma