IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,921,867
Granted Patent B2
US 6,921,867 · App. 10/306,155 · Granted Jul 26, 2005

Stress release feature for PWBs

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,921,867
App. No.
10/306,155
Filed
Nov 29, 2002
Granted
Jul 26, 2005
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2841
USPC
174/254
Abstract

An element, such as a PWB or PCB is provided with elongated lower-stiffness areas, which provide the element with areas of a lower deformation during deformation of the element, such as during a fall thereof. Fragile or large electronic or electrical parts, such Integrated Circuits, such as BGAs are positioned at the lower deformation areas in order to maintain electrical connection to the element during and after the deformation of the element.

Claims (40)

1. An element comprising:

at least one electrical conductor thereon or therein;

at least one electrical or electronic part attached to the element and in electrical connection with at least one conductor; and

the element including at least one elongated bending area with a stiffness lower than a stiffness of the element in areas adjacent to the bending areas; and

wherein at least one elongated bending area is defined by at least one through hole in the element and at least one of the at least one through hole is filled with a material having a stiffness lower than that of an area adjacent to the at least one filled through hole.

2. An element according to claim 1 , wherein the element has at least substantially a first thickness and stiffness over a major area thereof and wherein the at least one elongated bending area comprises at least one area of the element wherein a thickness of the element is less than the first thickness.

3. An element according to claim 2 , where the at least one area of lower thickness is filed with a material having a stiffness lower than that of an adjacent area.

4. An element according to any one of the claims 1 - 3 wherein at least one of the elongated areas is adjacent to one of the parts.

5. An assembly including an element according to claim 1 and a base part wherein the element is attached to the base part at at least one point or area of the element.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 , wherein:

at least one of the at least one elongated area is directed at least substantially perpendicularly to a line defined by a direction of the element in which the element is most deformed when a force is provided to the element at a part and at least substantially perpendicular to the element.

7. An assembly including an element according to claim 2 and a base part wherein the element is attached to the base part at at least one point or area of the element.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 , wherein:

at least one of the at least one elongated area is directed at least substantially perpendicularly to a line defined by a direction of the element in which the element is most deformed when a force is provided to the element at a part and at least substantially perpendicular to the element.

9. An assembly including an element according to claim 3 and a base part wherein the element is attached to the base part at at least one point or area of the element.

10. An assembly according to claim 9 , wherein:

at least one of the at least one elongated area is directed at least substantially perpendicularly to a line defined by a direction of the element in which the element is most deformed when a force is provided to the element at a part and at least substantially perpendicular to the element.

11. An assembly including an element according to claim 4 and a base part wherein the element is attached to the base part at at least one point or area of the element.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 , wherein:

at least one of the at least one elongated area is directed at least substantially perpendicularly to a line defined by a direction of the element in which the element is most deformed when a force is provided to the element at a part and at least substantially perpendicular to the element.

13. An assembly according to claim 2 , wherein:

the at least one elongated bending area is at least one of substantially perpendicular to a line from a part to a point of a line between two points, or is at least substantially parallel to a line between two points.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 , wherein:

at least one of the at least one elongated area is directed at least substantially perpendicularly to a line defined by a direction of the element in which the element is most deformed when a force is provided to the element at a part and at least substantially perpendicular to the element.

15. A mobile telephone comprising an element according to claim 1 .

16. A mobile telephone according to claim 15 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein the at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

17. A mobile telephone comprising an assembly according to claim 2 .

18. A mobile telephone according to claim 17 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein the at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

19. A mobile telephone comprising an element according to claim 3 .

20. A mobile telephone according to claim 19 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

21. A mobile telephone comprising an element according to claim 4 .

22. A mobile telephone according to claim 21 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

23. A mobile telephone comprising an assembly according to claim 5 .

24. A mobile telephone according to claim 23 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

25. A mobile telephone comprising an assembly according to claim 7 .

26. A mobile telephone according to claim 25 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein at least one elongated area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

27. A mobile telephone comprising an assembly according to claim 9 .

28. A mobile telephone according to claim 27 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.

29. A mobile telephone comprising an assembly according to claim 11 .

30. A mobile telephone according to claim 29 , wherein at least one part is an integrated circuit and wherein at least one elongated bending area is provided adjacent to the integrated circuit.