IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,237,970
Granted Patent B2
US 10,237,970 · App. 15/434,176 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Bending method for printed circuit board

Inventors: Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); James J. Surman (Clinton Township, MI); Todd Jared Konet (Canton, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
H05K1/0278H01R43/0256H05K1/111H05K3/0044H05K3/34H05K2203/107
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,237,970
App. No.
15/434,176
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bendable printed circuit board is provided. The bendable circuit board may include a circuit board having first and second sections and at least one plated wire that electrically connects and mechanically joins the first and second sections together. The first section may be pivotable with respect to the second section through the at least one plated wire.

Claims (19)

1. A method of making a bendable printed circuit board comprising:

placing a plated wire, on at least one solder pad disposed on each of the sections;

soldering the plated wire to the at least one solder pad on each of the sections; and

after the soldering, removing a predetermined amount of substrate within a circuit board to define a weakened portion dividing the circuit board into a first and second section.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the soldering step is accomplished by heating a portion of the plated wire and a portion of the soldering pad.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a force to either the first section or second section to bend the circuit board to a desired angle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing step is accomplished by applying a triangular cutting roller to at least one side of the circuit board.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing step is accomplished by scoring at least one side of the circuit board.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating the first and second sections of the circuit board by positioning the weakened portion of the circuit board above a bottom anvil and below a top anvil and displacing the top anvil towards the bottom anvil to break weakened portion without damaging the plated wire.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the top anvil has a triangular tip and the bottom anvil has a recessed portion corresponding to the triangular tip of the top anvil and is configured to allow the circuit board to be displaced within the recessed portion until a desired angle between the first and second sections is achieved.

8. A method of producing an angled circuit board comprising:

placing an elongated plated wire, on at least two solder pads attached to a circuit board substrate;

soldering the plated wire to the at least one solder pad on each of the sections;

after the soldering, removing a predetermined amount of substrate within a circuit board to define a weakened portion dividing the circuit board into a first and second section; and

separating the first and second sections from one another.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising applying a first and second solder pads to the circuit board substrate.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the separating step is accomplished by applying a force to either the first or second section by a hand brake to separate the first and second sections from each other.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein soldering step is accomplished by directing a laser beam to the plated wire.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the removing step is accomplished by routing a portion of the circuit board with a router.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2017
From: KONET, TODD JARED
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041277/0061 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2017
From: SURMAN, JAMES J.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041277/0097 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2017
From: SALTER, STUART C.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041277/0117 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180235082A1 · Aug 16, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,590,476