Lockheed Corporation

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

Robert A Morrison

Attila Frink

Lyle C Armstrong

The invention is a cooling system for electronic circuit modules such as a printed circuit boards. In detail the invention comprises a housing assembly having first and second opposed plates. The opposed plates include a plurality of spaced guide rails thereon. A plurality of electronic modules each having a metallic frame, are slidably mounted in the opposed guide rails and detachably clampable thereto. A cooling system is included, which comprises: each of the guide rails having internal cooling passages, preferably in a serpentine pattern, with the cooling passages extending from the first and second ends of the rails; and each of the opposed plates having a coolant inlet passage and a coolant outlet passage coupling each end in parallel. A coolant flow control system is provided which insures that phase change cooling is accomplished within the serpentine shaped guide rails.

Cooling system for electronic modules

The invention is a clamp for thermically clamping a circuit board module by its edge to spaced guide rails within an enclosure, the guide rails forming a channel for the module. In detail, the system includes at least one hollow closed off tube, filled with a fluid-like material, joined to the edge of the module, the at least one tube having a semi-flexible wall and a specific width and volume. A mechanism is mounted to the module for decreasing the volume of a portion of the at least one tube causing the remaining portion of the at least one tube to increase in width clamping the module between the guide rails.

Hydraulic thermal clamp for electronic modules

The electrical connector comprises a first connector half having a heating element mounted therein. The heating element includes at least one non electrically conductive surface having a set of electrically conductive surface traces mounted on the at least one surface. Also included in the first connector half are a set of first contacts having one end joined to a first portion of the surface traces on the at least one surface. A second connector half is included for mating with the first connector half. The second connector half includes a set of second electrial contacts for contacting a second portion of the surface traces on the at least one surface of the heating element when the connector halves are joined. A coating of solder is applied to the second portion of the conductive surface traces on the heating element or the one end of the second electrical contacts or both. Thus, when the first and second connector halves are joined such that the one end of the second electrical contacts are in contact with the second portions of the surface traces on the heating element, the heating element can be activated, causing the solder to melt and thereafter deactivated causing the solder to cool solidify, joining the one end of the second electrical contacts to the second portions of the surface traces on the heating element.

Resolderable electrical connector

The invention is an electrical connector assembly particularly suited for coupling or interfacing external wiring to the back plane of a circuit board housing. In detail, the invention comprises a first connector half having a first set of electrical contacts and a second connector half having a second set of electrical contacts. At least one of the first and second sets of electrical contacts is coated or tinned with solder. An integral heater is coupled to the first electrical connector for heating the solder to a temperature wherein the solder can be melted. Thus, the connector halves can be connected such that the first and second sets of electrical contacts are in contact. Thereafter, the contacts can be heated by applying electrical current to the heater so that the solder is reflowed. When the electrical power is terminated the solder solidifies, thus forming a continuous and air tight path between the first and second sets of contacts. To separate the connector halves, electrical power is again applied to the heater to reflow the solder and thereafter, the connector halves can be manually separated.

The invention is a system for securing the data stored within a computer. The system 10 includes a cabinet 11 having a peripheral frame 12 with at least one drawer 22C having a front panel 24C moveable from a closed position to an open position. The drawer 22C is adapted to hold that portion 26 of the computer containing the data to be secured. The system further comprises electrical connector halves 28, 29 mounted in the front panel 24C of the drawer 22C having electrical cables 30 and 31 coupled to the portion 26 of the computer therein. The connectors are adapted to mate with external electrical connector halves 32, 33 attachable thereto. A cover 48, mounted to the cabinet, is moveable from a first position covering the electrical connector halves 28, 29 to a second position allowing access thereto. A lock 63 is provided which is adapted to lock the cover to the cabinet.

System for securing data within a computer

The invention is a circuit board housing assembly for electrically coupling at least one circuit board 30 to a mother board 22 mounted within the housing. The housing assembly incorporates at least one zero insertion force socket 26 having a plurality of electrical terminals 23 mounted therein and, further, is adapted to receive an edge portion 29 of at least one circuit board 30 which has a plurality of second electrical terminals 33 mounted thereon. An electrical connector 38 is mounted within the housing which includes a spring member 40 having a first end 41 terminating in a curved member 42 having a plurality of electrical contacts in slideable contact with the plurality of first electrical terminals of the socket mounted thereon. A cam assembly 64, 66 is mounted to the second end 60 of the spring member 40 and is adapted, when actuated, to force the plurality of electrical contacts into engagement with the plurality of second electrical terminals 33 no the circuit board 30 where maintaining electrical engagement with the plurality of first electrical terminals 23. In order embodiments, the socket is adapted to receive a pair of circuit boards and several configurations of the electrical connector are disclosed.

Zero-insertion-force housing for circuit boards

The invention is a circuit board housing for electrically coupling at least one circuit board 14 to a mother board 20 mounted within the housing 10, the circuit board 14 having a plurality of first electrical terminals 90 mounted along an edge portion thereof. The housing has at least one zero insertion force socket 12 wherein a plurality of second electrical terminals 18 are mounted therein. An electrical connector 16 is provided to couple the printed circuit board 14 to the mother board 20. The electrical connector 16 comprises a circuit board support member 26 slideably engageable with the socket 12. A pair of jaws 40a and 40b are attached to the support member 26 which are adapted to releaseably engage the edge portion of the circuit board 14. The electrical connector further comprises first and second resilient pads 62 and 63 mounted within the jaws. A resilient member 66 is rotatably mounted to the support member 26 moveable from a first position out of engagement with the plurality of second electrical terminals 18 to a second position in engagement therewith. A flexible conductor element 60 is provided having first and second ends incorporating a plurality of first electrical contacts 80 and a middle portion having a plurality of second electrical contacts 84 with the plurality of first and second contacts electrically joined by insulated electrical conductors 82. The first and second ends are wrapped about and joined to the first and second pads 62 and 63, respectively, and the middle portion is wrapped about and joined to the resilient member 66. Thus, when the circuit board 14 is in place and the electrical connector 16 installed in the socket 12 rotation of the resilient member 66 from the first position to the second position makes electrical contact between the plurality of first and second electrical terminals 90 and 18.

Circuit board housing with zero insertion force connector

Each individual module includes a sealed chamber containing the electronic components being cooled, the liquid cooling medium, and at least one minature evaporator. The evaporator's outer surface area is in direct contact with the cooling medium, so as to maintain it at a desired temperature. Preferably, in order to minimize the weight associated with the liquid cooling medium and in order to compensate for its coefficient termal expansion and the associated internal pressure variation, the chamber may be packed with resilient spheres that will displace a substantial quantity of the cooling medium without a corresponding increase in its effective viscosity (and thus without any substantial effect on the liquid's capability of transferring heat from the components to the evaporator by means of thermal convection currents). The mechanical, electrical and refrigerant connections between the module and the other assemblies of the avionics system are such that the individual module may be readily removed and replaced thereby further enchancing the overall maintainability of the system. An expansion bladder vented to the external environment may also be provided within the chamber.

Electronic packaging module utilizing phase-change conductive cooling

A test probe apparatus having a housing movable into engagement with a printed circuit device connected to a circuit board with a plurality of electrical contact members extending at various angles to the circuit board, and a plurality of contact probes mounted by said housing for engaging each of said contact members with a constant force insufficient to damage their connection to the circuit device, and a mounting device for holding the housing in engagement with the circuit device while attached to the printed circuit board.

Growing community of inventors

Long Beach, CA, United States of America

Robert A Morrison