GB2504395A

GB2504395A - RF filter housing

Info

Publication number: GB2504395A
Application number: GB1312198.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stuart Tinker
Original assignee: Radio Design Ltd
Current assignee: Radio Design Ltd
Priority date: 2012-07-09
Filing date: 2013-07-08
Publication date: 2014-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-08
Also published as: GB201212159D0; GB2504395B; GB201312198D0

Abstract

A lid or wall 4 of an RF filter housing is formed by a printed circuit board (PCB) on which a low noise amplifier and cavity filter tuning screws 20 are arranged. The tuning screws are located in sleeves arranged in holes in the PCB and can be moved into or out of the PCB to tune the filter.

Description

Electronic Apparatus Housing and Method of Assembly Thereof This invention relates to an electronic apparatus housing and a method of assembly thereof.

Although the following description refers almost exclusively to a housing for electronic apparatus in the form of a radio frequency (RE) filter, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the housing could be used to house any electronic apparatus as required.

Conventional RE filter housings generally comprise an aluminium body which houses the RE filter components therein.

The aluminium body is typically formed using a high pressure die cast tool if being prod Liced in large quantities, or the body can be machined if being produced in smaller quantities. The aluminium body is typically plated with a noble metal, such as silver, to improve the electrical performance of the unit in use.

One or more paint layers can be applied on top of, or underneath, the noble metal on the exterior surface of the filter body to provide protection from environmental conditions, such as rain, heat, snow, salt spray and/or the like, and to provide an improved aesthetic appearance to the housing. A problem with using metal or aluminium to form the RE filter housings is that the end product is expensive to produce and is typically heavy, which is a particular problem if the housing is being located at the top of a telecommunications mast.

In addition, due to the space restrictions associated with telecommunications apparatus, particularly, as mentioned above, if the apparatus is being located at the top of a telecommunication mast, it is known to form recesses on the outer surface of the RE filter housing to allow one or more printed circuit boards (PCB's) to be located in the same, thereby removing the requirement for separate equipment to be provided. The PLE's have to be located on a part of the filter housing that does not interfere with other components of the housing, such as for example the filter tuning screws typically located on a lid of the filter housing and/or the like. Thus for example, it is known to provide the PCB for a low noise amplifier (LNA) on the outer surface of a base of an aluminium filter housing.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved electronic apparatus housing, and particularly but not necessarily exclusively, to provide an improved RE apparatus and/or filter hon sing.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing electronic apparatus housing and/or a method of manufacturing a RE apparatus and/or filter housing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic apparatus housing, said apparatus housing having a plurality of outer walls, and wherein at least part of at least one of said outer walls is formed from or solely comprises one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) and/or printed circuit board (PCB) material.

Thus, the present invention uses one or more PCBs or PCB material to directly form at least part of an outer wall of the housing. This significantly reduces the cost associated with forming said outer housing wall, whilst providing a space saving advantage of having a PCB or PCB like material located on or with the apparatus housing. The present invention is in contrast to prior art housings wherein the PCB is attached to and/or located in a recess or cavity on an outer wall of a metallic housing.

In one embodiment the PCB or PCB material forms the sole barrier on a part of a wall of the housing between an internal cavity of the housing and an exterior of the housing.

Tn one embodiment the electronic apparatus housing typically has a top wall or lid, base wall, and one or more side walls and/or ends walls. The one or more PCBs or 2GB material can be used to form any part, whole or substantial whole of any or any combination of said housing walls.

Preferably the base, side walls and/or end walls are integrally formed.

Preferably the lid is detachably attached to the remaining walls of the housing.

In a preferred embodiment the one or more PGBs or PGB material form at least a part of a top wall or lid of the apparatus housing. By forming at least part of the top wall or lid of the apparatus housing, this can, in some cases, remove the requirement for space to be provided on the base or any other surface of the housing for the location of one or more PCBs or PCB material.

Further preferably a single 2GB or single sheet of PCB material is used to form substantially the entire top wall, a wall or lid of the apparatus housing.

The one or more PGBs or PCB material can be attached to the housing, a frame of the housing and/or one or more other walls forming the housing via attachment means. The attachment means can include any or any combination of solder, adhesive, friction fit, one or more screws, nuts and bolts, clips, inter-engaging members and/or the like.

Tn one embodiment at least part of the apparatus housing could be formed from or include a frame and one or more PCBs or PCB material can be attached to said frame in use to form one or more walk or wafl parts of said apparatus housing.

In one embodiment two or more PCBs or sheets of PCJJ material could be used to form a wall or part of a wall of the apparatus housing. The two or more PCBs or PCB sheets could be provided adjacent to each other in a side by side orientation, could be spaced apart from each other and/or could be provided in partial or wholly overlapping arrangement (i.e. to form a stack of PCBs and/or a multi-layered PCB wall).

Preferably the electronic apparatus housing is a radio frequency (RE) equipment hoLising, such as a RE filter housing.

In one embodiment the PCB or PCB material provides the circuitry for a low noise amplifier (LNA) for the RE equipment h (I) Li 5i U g.

In one embodiment, one or more screws, such as for example tuning screws if the apparatus is a RU filter housing and the tuning screws are used to tune the filter, are required to be located through the PCB or PCB material when forming said housing wall or wall part. A potential problem with this is the ability to form complementary screw threads in the wall of the PCB or PCB material to allow secure engagement between one or more screws and/or to provide a required leve' of metallisation on the PCB or PCB material.

S

Thus, in one embodiment, and according to an independent aspect of the present invention, a sleeve member is provided for location through an aperture or channel defined in the P03 or PCB material. The sleeve member has a channel defined therethrough to allow the location of a screw or other component therethrough in use. The sleeve member typically forms a lining for the one or more walls of the PCB or PCB material defining said aperture.

The sleeve member can be inserted into the PCB or P03 material from above, below or from any suitable orientation as req LI ire ci.

The sleeve member typically forms a lining for the one or more walls of the P03 or P03 material defining substantially said entire aperture.

The aperture is typically defined between a first outer facing surface of the PCB or PCB material and a second, and preferably opposite inner facing surface of the PCB, PCB material or further PCB.

Preferably at least the one or more walls of the sleeve member defining the channel are formed from metal or have a metallic layer or coating provided thereon.

Preferably at least a lower surface of the PCB, PCB material or surface of the PCB or PCB material facing inwardly of a cavity of the apparatus housing has one or more layers or coatings of an electrical conductive material, metal and/or a metallic material thereon.

In one embodiment the inner or inwardly facing surface of the channel of the sleeve member is provided with a screw thread thereon and preferably said screw thread is substantially complementary to a screw thread of a screw or component that is to be located through said channel in use.

The sleeve member can be attached to the PCB or PCB material via engagement means. The engagement means can include any or any combination of solder, adhesive, friction fit, inter-engaging members and/or the like.

In one embodiment a recess is defined in an upper, lower, inner or outer surface of the FCB or PCB material and at least part of said sleeve member is located in said recess.

In one embodiment the sleeve member is engaged to an upper, lower, inner or outer surface of the PCB or PLB material.

In one embodiment the sleeve member includes at least a head portion and a neck portion. Preferably the head portion is located at one end of the sleeve member and the neck portion is located at or adjacent a second or opposite end of said sleeve member.

Preferably the dimensions of the head portion are larger than the dimensions of the neck portion.

Thus, in one embodiment the sleeve member has a narrowing taper or step from the head portion towards or to the neck portion.

Preferably a shoulder portion is defined between the head portion and the neck portion. In a preferred embodiment the shoulder portion engages with a top, or outer surface of the PCB or PCB material in use. Preferably a lower surface of the shoulder portion engages with a top, or outer surface of the PCB or PCB material. However, the sleeve member could be fitted in reverse such that the shoulder portion engages with a base or lower surface of the PCB or PCB material in use.

The neck portion is preferably of such a length so as to be substantially equal to or slightly less than the depth of the PCB or PCB material thickness or aperture defined in the PCB or PCB material. This results in the neck portion being substantially flush or slightly recessed with respect to a lower surface of the PC]3 or PC13 material in use in one example.

Ilowever, the neck portion could protrude below the lower surface of the PCB or PCB material and into the housing cavity if required. Alternatively, the neck portion could be flush, recessed or protruding from an upper or outer surface of the PCB or P03 material.

Preferably the neck portion is located through the aperture or recess defined in the P03 or PCI3 material. Thus, in one embodiment the neck portion defines a lining of the walls defining the PCB aperture.

Preferably the head portion is located at least partially above the oLiter, lower or upper surface of the PCB or PCB material.

Preferably the channel is defined through the head portion and neck portion of the sleeve member.

In one embodiment the head portion protrudes above or outwardly of the outer or upper surface of the PCI3 or P03 material. This can provide clearance or a space between the lower surface of the head portion and the upper, lower or outer surface of the PCB or PCB material so as not to obstruct one or more components provided on the PCB or PCB material that may need to be located relatively close to the sleeve member in use. For example, it allows a nut to be located on a tuning screw located through the sleeve member in use without the nut obstructing one or more electrical components provided on the PCB or PCB material. Alternatively, the head portion could protrude from below or outwardly from a lower or inner surface of the PCB or PCB material.

Tn a preferred embodiment the sleeve member, or at least the neck of the sleeve member, is substantially cylindrical or annular in shape. However, it will be appreciated that the sleeve member could be any suitable shape, size and/or design.

Tn one embodiment the sleeve member can be inserted in or engaged with the P03 or PCB material using tape and reel apparatus, pick and place apparatus and/or the like.

The dimensions of the sleeve member can be scaled according to the screw and/or component to be located therethrough in use.

One or more components, such as electrical components, can be located on the outer or upper surface of the PCB, PCB material and/or lower or inner surface of the PCI3, or PCB material as req U ire (1.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of assembling electronic apparatus housing, said apparatus housing having a plurality of outer walls, and wherein said method includes the step of attaching one or more printed circuit boards (P03) and/or printed circuit board (P03) material to the apparatus to form or solely form at least part of at least one of said outer walls.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronic apparatus housing, said apparatus housing having a plurality of outer walls, at least part of at least one of said outer walls is formed from one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) or PCB material, one or more apertures defined through said one or more PCBs or PCB material and wherein a sleeve member is provided or associated with said one or more apertures.

Reference to a PCB or PCB material herein typically refers to a conventional PCB or PCB material formed of substantially non-conductive material with one or more conductive pathways or surfaces defined or etched thereon.

Preferably a surface of the PCB or PCB material forming at least part or whole of a lower or inner surface of the housing wall of the present invention is provided with a conductive or metallic coating thereon. The conductive or metallic coating can be copper, silver, a noble metal and/or the like.

Preferably the non-conductive material from which the PCB or PCB material is formed is a resin based material, such as epoxy resin. The PCB or PCB material can be a single layer or multi-layered board. If a multi-layered board is provided, one or more electrically insulating layers can be provided between one or more electrically conductive layers.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein: Figures la-ic show a top view of radio filter frequency housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, a cross sectional view taken along lines A-A in figure Ia, and an enlarged view of the detail B' shown in figure lb respectively; and Figures 2a-2d show a side view, plan view from above, cross sectional view taken along line A-A in figure 2a and a perspective view accordingly.

Referring to the figures, there is illustrated radio filter frequency housing 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The housing 2 comprises a lid 4, base wall 6, side walls 8, 10 and end walk 12, 14. Tn accordance with the present invention, the Ed 4 is formed from a printed circuit board (PCB).

A plurality of cavities 16 are defined in housing 2 for the location of one or more resonating rods 18. The frequency at which each rod 18 resonates at and the coupling between them is determined and tuned using a plurality of tuning screws 20. A nut 22 is provided with each tuning screw 20 to set the tuning screw depth with respect to the housing cavity at the required resonating frequency.

Formation of the lid 4 from PCB material significantly reduces the cost for forming the same compared to the conventional approach of using a lid formed from aluminium that is often plated with either copper or silver, together with reducing the weight of the overall filter housing. In addition, the PCB can be used to provide additional electronic circuitry thereon which may otherwise conventionally have had to be provided as additional P03 circuitry attached to one or more other aluminium formed walls of the RF housing.

In order to ensure good electrical contact between the tuning screw 20 and the walls of the PCB defining an aperture in which the tuning screw is located through in use, a metallic insert or sleeve member 24 is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The s'eeve member 24 comprises a head portion 26 provided at a first end 28 and a neck portion 30 provided at a second end 32. A channel 34 is defined through the sleeve member 24 and has an opening on top wall 36 of head portion 26 and base wall 38 of neck portion 30. The inner facing wafls 40 of channel 34 are provided with a screw thread thereon which is substantially complementary to the screw thread of the tuning screw located therethrough in use.

The neck portion 30 has a smaller dimension than head portion 26, thereby forming a narrowing taper or step from head portion 36 to neck portion 30. A shoulder portion 42 is therefore formed between the head portion 26 and neck portion 30. The shoulder portion 42 typically engages with a top or outer surface 44 of the P03 in use.

The depth of the head portion 26 or height of the head portion above the top surface of the P03 is such that when the nut 22 of the tuning screw is located between the head portion 26 and a head 46 of the tuning screw 20, the nut 22 does not obstruct any electronic components that may be located on outer surface 44 of the PCI3 and which are relatively close to tuning screw 20.

The neck portion 30 of sleeve member 24 is typically inserted through an aperture defined in the PCB between the outer and inner surfaces of the PCI3. The depth, height or length of the neck portion d' is typically substantially equal to or slightly less than the depth of the PCB in which the neck portion is located in use. However, the neck portion could protrude below the lower surface of the PCB and into the housing if required.

The sleeve member 24 can be secured in place in the aperture defined in the PCB via solder and/or the like.

Claims

Claims 1.Electronic apparatus housing, said apparatus housing having a plurality of outer walls, and wherein at least part of at least one of said outer walk is formed from or solely comprises one or more printed circuit boards (PCB) and/or printed circuit board (PCB) material.
2. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim I wherein the housing includes a top wall or lid, one or more side walls and/or one or more end walls.
3. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 2 wherein at least part of a top wall or lid of the apparatus housing is formed from a P03 and/or P03 material.
4. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 1 wherein a single PCI3 or PCB material sheet is used to form substantially an entire wall, top wall or lid of the apparatus housing.
5. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim I wherein the one or more PCBs or PCI3 material is attached to the housing, a frame of the housing and/or one or more other walls of the housing via attachment means.
6. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 5 wherein the attachment means includes any or any combination of solder, adhesive, friction fit, one or more screws, nuts and bolts, clips or inter-engaging members.
7. [lectronic apparatus housing according to claim I wherein two or more PCBs or sheets of PCB material are used to form a wall or part of a wall of the apparatus housing.
8. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 7 wherein the two or more PCJ3s or sheets of PCB material are provided adjacent to each other in a side by side orientation, are a spaced distance apart from each other and/or are provided in a partial or wholly overlapping arrangement.
9. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim I wherein the housing is a radio frequency equipment housing.
10. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 9 wherein the PCB or PCB material provides circuitry for a low noise amplifier for the radio frequency equipment housing.
11. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 9 wherein one or more screws or tuning screws are located through the PCB or PCB material.
12. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim I wherein at least a lower surface of the PCB or PCB material, or surface of the PCB or PCB material facing inwardly of a cavity of the apparatus housing has one or more layers or coatings of an electrical conductive material, metal and/or metallic material provided thereon.
13. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 1 or 11 wherein a sleeve member is located through an aperture or channel defined in the PCB or PCB material, the sleeve member having a channel defined therethrough for the location of a screw or other component therethrough in use.
14. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 13 wherein the sleeve member forms a lining for one or more walls of the PCB or PCB material defining substantially the entire aperture.
15. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 13 wherein at least one or more walls of the sleeve member defining the channel are formed from metal or have a metallic layer or coating provided thereon.
16. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 13 wherein an inner or inwardly facing surface of the channel of the sleeve member is provided with a screw thread thereon.
17. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 16 wherein the screw thread is substantially complementary to a screw thread of a screw, tuning screw or component located through said channel in use.
18. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 13 wherein the sleeve member is attached to the PCB via engagement means.
19. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 18 wherein the engagement means include any or any combination of solder, adhesive, friction-fit or inter-engaging members.
20. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 1 wherein a recess is defined in an upper, lower, inner and/or outer surface of the PCB or PCB material and at least part of a sleeve member is located in said recess.
21. Electronic apparatus housing according to claims 13 or 20 wherein the sleeve member is engaged to an upper, lower, inner and/or outer surface of the PCB or P03 material.
22. Electronic apparatus housing according to claims 13 or 20 wherein the sleeve member includes a head portion and a neck portion.
23. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 22 wherein the head portion is located at one end of the sleeve member and the neck portion is located at or adjacent a second or opposite end of the sleeve member.
24. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 22 wherein the head portion has larger dimensions that the neck portion.
25. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 24 wherein a shoulder portion is defined between the head portion and the neck portion and the shoulder portion engages with a top, base, inner and/or outer surface of the PCB in use.
26. Electronic apparatus housing according to claim 22 wherein the neck portion is of such a length so as to be substantially equal or slightly less than the depth of the PCB or PCB material thickness or aperture defined therein.
27. Electronic apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the neck portion is located through the aperture or recess of the 2GB or PGB material.
28. Electronic apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the head portion is located at least partially above an outer, lower or upper surface of the 2GB or PGB material.
29. Electronic apparatus according to claim 22 wherein a lower surface of the head portion is located a spaced distance apart from an outer, upper or lower surface of the PGB or PGB material to which it is adjacent.
30. A method of assembling electronic apparatus housing, said apparatus housing having a plurality of outer walls, and wherein said method includes the step of attaching one or more printed circuit boards (PCB) and/or printed circuit board (PCB) material to the apparatus to form or solely form at least part of at least one of said outer walls.