Printed circuit board, method of manufacturing same, and method of mounting the circuit board in a connector socket
A circuit board that is to be mounted in a connector socket includes a plurality of electrical connectors located along a side edge of the circuit board. Retention bosses are formed on first and second opposite sides of the circuit board, each of the retention bosses protruding from a surface of the circuit board and extending parallel to and adjacent to the first edge of the circuit board. When the first edge of the circuit board is inserted into a slot of a connector socket, contact surfaces of the first and second retention bosses contact top surfaces of the connector socket to help immobilize the circuit board with respect to the connector socket. Adhesive layers on the contact surfaces of the first and second retention bosses may adhere to the top surfaces of the connector socket to help hold the circuit board immobile with respect to the connector socket.
1. A method of forming at least one retention boss on at least one surface of a circuit board having electrical contacts located along a first edge of the circuit board, the method comprising:
inserting the circuit board into a mold having a cavity that is configured to form a molded retention boss on a first surface of the circuit board such that the molded retention boss protrudes from the first surface and extends parallel to and adjacent the first edge;
filling the mold cavity with a moldable material;
allowing the moldable material to cure and thereby form a molded retention boss on the first surface, the molded retention boss including a contact surface that is configured to contact a surface of a connector socket when the first edge of the circuit board is inserted into the connector socket; and
removing the circuit board from the mold.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying an adhesive layer to the contact surface of the molded retention boss.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling step comprises filling the mold cavity with a moldable resin material that hardens when it cures.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the circuit board into a mold having first and second cavities that are configured to form first and second molded retention bosses, respectively, on first and second opposite surfaces of the circuit board such that the first and second molded retention bosses protrude from the first and second surfaces and extend parallel to and adjacent the first edge, wherein the filling step comprises filling the first and second mold cavities with a moldable material, and wherein the allowing step comprises allowing the moldable material to cure and thereby form first and second molded retention bosses on the first and second surfaces of the circuit board, respectively, the first and second molded retention bosses each including a contact surface that is configured to contact a surface of a connector socket when the first edge of the circuit board is inserted into the connector socket.