TECHNIQUES FOR EFFICIENT WIRE ROUTING IN ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Techniques for efficient routing of wires and electrical components within a device are disclosed. The electrical tape surrounding a device may be folded, cut, or otherwise altered in order to create a trough between distinct device elements. A wire or other component may then be routed within the trough. A wire can be routed, for example, in the space between two device elements (e.g., two battery cells) with the use of a bracket inserted between the cells to provide structural support. The brackets may be placed within the cavity between device elements after cutting a section of the electrical tape. In some embodiments, multiple brackets may be inserted between the device elements, creating a structurally stable trough through which a wire or other component may be routed. After routing a wire through the trough, another electrical part or housing may be fixed above the device elements.
1 . A device, comprising:
a substrate;
at least one electrical part in contact with the substrate;
a cavity neighboring the electrical part and above the substrate;
an electrical tape covering a substantial portion of the outside of the at least one electrical part and deformed into the cavity thereby providing a trough; and
an electrical component routed through the trough.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB).
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical part comprises two components separated by the cavity.
4 . The device of claim 3 wherein the two components are each battery cells.
5 . The device of claim 3 wherein the two battery cells and the substrate are packaged in the electrical tape.
6 . The device of claim 1 wherein the tape is deformed into the cavity by pressing the tape into the cavity by hand or using an implement.
7 . The device of claim 6 wherein the implement is used to define the geometry of the trough.
8 . The device of claim 1 wherein the tape substantially conforms to the substrate and the at least one electrical part.
9 . The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a housing and/or an electrical part covering a substantial portion of the electrical component.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical component comprises a wire.
11 . An electrical device comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB);
at least two battery cells in contact with the PCB;
a cavity with three or more boundaries comprising at least the PCB and one edge of each of the two battery cells;
electrical tape surrounding a substantial portion of the outside of the at least two battery cells and folded to form a trough within the cavity; and
at least one wire routed within the trough.
12 . The electrical device of claim 11 wherein the electrical tape folded within the cavity is stretched.
13 . The electrical device of claim 12 wherein the trough within the cavity has a shape defined by an implement used to stretch the tape into the cavity.
14 . The electrical device of claim 11 wherein the electrical tape is folded to substantially conform to the PCB and one edge of each of the two battery cells.
15 . The electrical device of claim 11 further comprising at least one of a housing and/or an electrical part covering a substantial portion of the electrical component.
16 . A method for routing an electrical component, comprising:
folding a portion of an electrical tape within a cavity next to at least one electrical part and above a substrate; and
depositing the electrical component above the electrical tape within the cavity.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one electrical part comprises two components held together by the electrical tape and separated by the cavity.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein folding a portion of the electrical tape within the cavity includes pressing the tape into the cavity.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein an implement is used to define the geometry of the trough.
20 . The method of claim 16 wherein folding a portion of the electrical tape within the cavity includes stretching the tape into the cavity.