Motorola Corporation

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

David J Cottingham

David C Brown

Steven Frederic Davidson

Christopher C Gielow

Thomas J Tischhauser

Kim D Vollendorf

Michael F DiCicco

Albert L Nagele

Phillip E Lindeman

Brian Jon Hassemer

Scott Michael Kouri

Michael I Petrites

Leslie J Clemens

Keith A Meny

Frank E Kazak

Patrick A McGovern

Patrick McCormick

Michael J Petrites

Holder for a communication device

Personal communications unit handset

Personal communications unit docking station

Housing for a portable communications device

An electronic module assembly (50) has a bendable base plate (52) upon which circuit components (76) are mounted. A module enclosure device (56) mates with the base plate and has an integrally formed, non-removable support arm (96). During assembly, the base plate (52) is bent around the support arm (96) in a 'C' shape. Thus formed, the base plate (52) and the module enclosure device (56) form an internal cavity that holds the circuit components (76).

Electronic module assembly

An electronic module assembly (31) is provided by assembling components (17) to a planar polyimide flex circuit film (14) laminated to an aluminum rigidizer plate (11). The flex circuit film and rigidizer are then bent by a sheet metal bending process such that the rigidizer plate forms an exterior protective housing and the components are provided in an interior space (30). Connector pins (23) provide external electrical access to the components and circuit patterns (15, 16, 19) on the film (14). Structures (24, 25, 29) mate with the bent plate and substantially enclose the interior space. Module cost is reduced since the existing flex circuit rigidizer plate is used to form part of the module housing, and economical planar component assembly techniques are utilized while eliminating the step of mounting the flex circuit rigidizer plate to an external module housing. Two techniques for using a mandrel shaft (26, 35) to bend the plate (11) without stressing the film (14) are disclosed.

Method of manufacturing electronic module assembly

Electronic module assembly and method of manufacture

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Wilmette, IL, United States of America

David J Cottingham