Patent Application
20180174728
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electrical devices, and more particularly, to electrical devices that utilize flexible connectors.
Electrical devices such as transformers and inductors are utilized in many applications to convert power and filter input and output signals. Transformers and inductors require numerous electrical conductors in a desired arrangement to provide the desired functionality. Often, creating and arranging the numerous electrical conductors is expensive and difficult.
According to an embodiment, an electrical device includes a first flexible connector, including a first flexible conductor and a second flexible conductor, and a flexible insulator disposed between the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor, a second flexible connector spaced apart from the first flexible connector, the second flexible connector including a third flexible conductor, a first interconnect to electrically connect the first flexible conductor and the third flexible conductor, a second interconnect to electrically connect the third flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor, wherein the second interconnect is opposite the first interconnect.
According to an embodiment an electrical device includes a first printed wiring board including a first interconnect, a second printed wiring board including a second interconnect, a first flexible connector disposed between the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board, the first flexible connector including a first flexible conductor and a second flexible conductor, and a flexible insulator disposed between the first flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor, a second flexible connector spaced apart from the first flexible connector and disposed between the first printed wiring board and the second printed wiring board, the second flexible connector including a third flexible conductor, wherein the first interconnect electrically connects the first flexible conductor and the third flexible conductor, and the second interconnect electrically connects the third flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor, wherein the second interconnect is opposite the first interconnect.
Technical function of the embodiments described above includes a first interconnect to electrically connect the first flexible conductor and the third flexible conductor, a second interconnect to electrically connect the third flexible conductor and the second flexible conductor, wherein the second interconnect is opposite the first interconnect.
Other aspects, features, and techniques of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the embodiments are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are numbered alike in the FIGURES:
Referring to the drawings,
In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical device assembly 100 allows for electrical connections to be formed in a desired arrangement. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical device assembly 100 includes insulation barriers 114, an outer flexible connector 116a, a device core 112, and an inner flexible connector 116b. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical device assembly 100 can be any suitable shape, including, but not limited to toroid shaped, etc.
In the illustrated embodiment, the outer flexible connector 116a and the inner flexible connector 116b are spaced apart with a device core 112 disposed therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, the device core 112 is a solid core formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to ferromagnetic materials. In certain embodiments, the device core 112 is an air core. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, insulation barriers 114 can be disposed around the outer flexible connector 116a and the inner flexible connector 116b to prevent unintended electrical connections within the electrical device assembly 100 and provide structural support.
In the illustrated embodiment, electricity can flow within the flexible connectors 116a, 116b in a desired path to allow for a desired function, such as an inductor, transformer, etc. Referring to
Referring back to
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, conductive interconnects 106 can be formed within the lower printed wiring board 102. The conductive interconnects 106 can be copper conductive pathways. In the illustrated embodiment, the interconnects 106 are embedded within the lower printed wiring board 102 and are otherwise insulated. In the illustrated embodiment, ends of the interconnect 106 include contact pads 105 that are formed on the surface of the lower printed wiring board 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the interconnect 106 allows electrical contact between one contact pad 105 and the opposite contact pad 105 on the opposite end of the interconnect 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact pads 105 and the interconnects 106 allow for electrical contact between conductors of the outer flexible connector 116a and the inner flexible connector 116b.
In the illustrated embodiment, the contact pads 105 are aligned with the conductors within the flexible connectors 116a, 116b to allow electrical contact between the conductors within the outer flexible connector 116a and the inner flexible connector 116b.
In the illustrated embodiment, input/output traces 108 can provide electricity into and out of the electrical device assembly 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the input/output traces 108 are electrically connected to select interconnects 106 to allow for electricity to flow through a desired path through the connector assembly 110.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, conductive interconnects 106 can be formed within the upper printed wiring board 104. The conductive interconnects 106 can be copper conductive pathways. In the illustrated embodiment, the interconnects 106 are embedded within the upper printed wiring board 104 and are otherwise insulated. In the illustrated embodiment, ends of the interconnect 106 include contact pads 105 that are formed on the surface of the upper printed wiring board 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact pads 105 allow electrical contact between one contact pad 105 and the opposite contact pad 105 on the opposite end of the interconnect 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact pads 105 and the interconnects 106 allow for electrical contact between conductors within the outer flexible connector 116a and the inner flexible connector 116b.
In the illustrated embodiment, the contact pads 105 are aligned with the conductors within the flexible connectors 116a, 116b to allow electrical contact between the conductors within the outer flexible connector 116a and the inner flexible connector 116b.
Referring to
For example, in the illustrated embodiment, electrical current can flow into the electrical device assembly 100 via the input/output trace 108, wherein the input/output trace 108 is connected to an interconnect 106 (ILower) disposed within the lower printed wiring board 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact pad 105 and the interconnect 106 (ILower) are aligned within the lower printed wiring board 102 with the outer flexible connector 116a to allow a flexible conductor 117a (
Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the contact pad 105 and the interconnect 106 (IUpper) within the upper printed wiring board 104 are aligned with the inner flexible connector 116b to allow the flexible conductor 117a (
Referring to
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the embodiments. While the description of the present embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the form disclosed. Many modifications, variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangement not hereto described will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments. Additionally, while various embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that aspects may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but are only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
