WO2008059194A2

WO2008059194A2 - Methods and means of assembling electric/ electronic kits

Info

Publication number: WO2008059194A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/003679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stewart Dunn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-30
Filing date: 2007-09-27
Publication date: 2008-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-30
Also published as: GB2442251A; GB2442251B; WO2008059194A3; GB0619351D0

Abstract

Methods useful in the construction of electric or electronic circuits making use of links comprising electrically conductive magnetic or ferromagnetic cores contained within an insulating body, the upper and/or lower surfaces and/or the sides of the cores being accessible for electrical contact with other cores or components.

Description

Methods and means of Assembling Electric/ Electronic Kits

Methods and means useful in the construction of electric or electronic circuits and parts useful therein, make use of one or more links which comprise magnetic or ferromagnetic cores which are either inherently electrically conductive, or are surrounded by or contain an insert of an electrically conductive material, and which cores are contained within an insulating body, the cores being accessible from above and/or below the surface of the insulating body and/or from the sides of the cores.

Prior Art

GB 2,205,985 In this patent I described a versatile construction kit for the teaching of electric / electronic circuitry theory. One of the advantages of that invention is that when viewed from above the theoretical circuits made using the kit closely resemble the standard theoretical schematic circuit diagrams shown in electrical circuit textbooks. The invention is based upon the use of an electrically insulating base board into which are incorporated 'clusters' of electrical connecting points (sockets) which do not significantly protrude above the top or bottom surface of the board. The clusters are two or more electrically connecting sockets electrically connected together and adapted to receive electrical conductors entering from the same direction. The clusters in the insulating base are spaced between a grid pattern of holes in the base board spaced to allow parts from popular construction kits to be mounted thereon. The bases boards are normally supplied with the clusters located in predetermined positions thereon. It is clear that when using base boards with preset clusters, it can prove to be expensive when only some of the clusters are being used. Thus the convenience of having all the clusters in position has to be offset against the cost of them.

In that patent I also described the use of 'component boards' and 'mini circuit- boards' which are used in conjunction with the main base boards. In no circumstances did either the 'component boards' or 'mini circuit-boards' contain any 'clusters' protruding significantly below the surface of the board.

GB Patent 2,301,929

In this patent I disclosed that significant technical flexibility and economic saving was achieved by making use of 'dedicated cluster' and/or dedicated 'cluster component boards' that could carry individual components with circuit symbols which are linked together with wires on an electrically insulating board which contains a number of spatially related holes, preferably in a regular grid pattern, into which pegs or click-rivets can be removably inserted.

US Patent 3,845,573

This patent discloses magnets used to fix electronic parts in place on a base plate and which terminals are interconnected by means of leads by making using use of magnetic attraction.

It does not show how to avoid the use of wires and it cannot connect below the baseboard or add layers stacked above the main circuit. The base plate disclosed i only allows the circuit to be assembled in a messy way. It does not produce a circuit which looks the same as a standard circuit diagram with technically correct connections made either vertically or horizontally. It does not use magnets to join the carrier boards together.

US Patent 3,043,554

This patent only discloses the use of magnets to hold component holders in place on a sheet of steel. The magnets are not used directly to conduct electricity but just to keep a loose set of component holders in place and to touch some foil.

New Zealand Patent 299,897

Discloses a component comprising a strip of electrically insulating permanently magnetic material one surface of which supports an electrically conductive material.

The magnet strips used are separate from or are glued underneath the carrier boards limiting the usefulness of the magnets.

The components are placed on a ferromagnetic base plate through and underneath which connections cannot be made.

The magnet material of the component is used solely as a holding device and is not used for conducting electricity directly.

EP Patent number 0526,090

This refers to component tiles and a mounting board, the board and the tiles having co-operable magnet means holding the tiles magnetically on the board. The circuit functioning relies entirely on the use of link wires, the magnets not being part of any circuit.

US Patent 2,166,036

The subject of this patent is the use of removable letters on a sign board. The sign boards are supported on one or pairs of metal bars to which the letters are held in position by magnetic means.

US Patent 3,510,963

This patent discloses the use of magnets to hold panels holding a circuit in place on a sheet of steel. The magnets are not used directly to conduct electricity but just to hold the panels on a mounting board.

US Patent 4,010,555

This patent discloses a way of holding support housings on board preferably using ceramic magnets devoid of electrical conductivity. The magnets only hold parts in place they are not used to pass electric current. Circuits require the use of loose extra extending conductors General Description

I have developed an improved method for the easy and rapid assembly of electric and electronic circuits using links which include one or more cores which comprise magnetic or ferromagnetic cores which are either inherently electrically conductive, or are surrounded by or contain an insert of an electrically conductive material and which cores are contained within an insulating body, the upper and/or lower surfaces and/or the sides of the cores being accessible for electrical contact with other cores or components.

The cores providing both the mechanical and electrical connections required to make a circuit. The assembled circuits replicate the circuit diagram being copied when using links carrying the appropriate electric and /or electronic symbols.

Whilst most magnetic materials will function many of them will not be suitable in practice due to surface degradation e.g. corrosion causing loss of electrical conductivity and/or magnetic attraction. Suitable materials for the magnetic cores include; iron, magnetic steel and ceramic etc. but it is preferable to use magnets having a high Gauss rating materials such as Neodymium-iron-boron. Whilst it is possible to use materials having a pulling power of 0.04Kg per magnet core it is preferable to have more than 0.1Kg. When using materials liable to corrosion the magnets may have a coating, e.g nickel or tin which also provides electrical conduction and flow of electricity to all sides of the magnet to provide a reliable electricity contact.

Assembled circuits work without the need to use flexible wires although in certain circumstances they may be used.

Links making up a circuit can be used in the same plane or, in more than one plane.

When more than one core is contained within an insulating body it is necessary that the magnetic cores are so orientated that when links are used in conjunction with other links, the cores in the different links are attracted to each other, rather than being repelled.

The cores can take various forms, examples include cylindrical and spherical and maybe rigid or flexible and may include a location-restrainer which helps increase the resistance to lateral movement after assembly.

Links may contain solely magnetic or solely ferromagnetic cores, or magnetic and ferromagnetic cores may be used in combination making the system more economic in use.

The links may include one or more components, e.g. a resistor or transistor. Components can be enclosed within the link, thus freeing the surface/s to accommodate the electric /electronic symbol of the component or circuit. When required the insulating body of the link may be made from a material transparent to light and/or sound.

Links may be also contain signal cores so that processing signals can enter and/or exit the link via the signal core. The links may carry the usual electric or electronic symbol, generally on its upper surface.

A plurality of such links may be used to assemble electric and / or electronic circuits. When used in combination the links are held together in physical contact by magnetic attraction thus allowing the flow of electricity if an electrical circuit is required.

Circuits using this invention can be assembled without the user using tools, solder, screws, wires, sockets, frictional force or mechanical connectors as has been necessary heretofore.

By using links carrying components, and which links have on their upper surface the electric or electronic symbol of the component or circuit being carried. Circuits can be assembled to look like the circuit diagram being copied.

The insulating base may have either fixed or removable power rails.

The links can be made using various techniques, thus magnets can be inserted into holes which have a electrically conducting lining, or an electrical contact point, connected to a component. This may be achieved by using plating-through-holes using printed circuit technology and plastic injection moulding methods.

Circuits can be constructed without a base although sometimes it may be desirable, although not necessary to use. Bases, when used facilitate the use of circuits in combination with other items, e.g. when constructing robots and the like. The bases may comprise an insulating base having fixed or removable power rails Bases may comprise a layer of ferromagnetic or magnetic material on which is a thin layer of electrically insulating material.

The advantages of my invention arise from the use of magnetic forces to hold the cores together and at the same time allow the flow of electricity through or around the cores in the assembly of circuits, giving rise to faster and simpler assembly and disassembly of circuits, Various options are available in the way a circuit may be assembled, the links may be in various horizontal and/or vertical planes. Assembled circuits replicate the theoretical circuit diagram and can be made without using tools, wires, soldering.

As a result of the use of magnetic cores, and the resultant magnetic force, make the links self-aligning, avoiding the need for complicated connection points and mechanical friction joints.

The magnetic polarity is arranged so that the cores in the links are attracted to each other.

To reduce cost, ferromagnetic cores which conduct electricity can be used in combination by sharing the power of magnetic cores with neighbouring magnetic cores and/or ferromagnetic cores.

Whilst a base is not necessary one may be used. Referring to drawings

Fig. 1 shows a single core linki comprising a core 2 set in an insulating body 3 Fig. 2 shows a double core link 4 containing two cores 2 set in an insulating body 3

Fig. 3 shows a double core link 4 in which cores 2 are set in an insulating body 3 and on which insulating body is a component 5 which is connected electrically to the cores 2 The insulating body shows the appropriate component symbol legend 6.

Fig 3b shows the same basic configuration as Fig 3 but with a smaller core 2 and an insulating body 3 that is shaped to expose the core sides.

Fig. 4 shows a double core link 4 containing a set of components 5 which together form a circuit 7

Fig. 5 shows double-core link 4 with flying wires 8.

Fig. 6 shows a multi-core link 9 containing three cores 2.

Fig. 7 shows a multi-core circuit link 10 comprising six cores 2 set in an insulating body 3 which carries an electronic circuit 7 and the appropriate symbol 6.

Fig. 8 shows a double core link 11 in which a component 5 and cores 2 are enclosed within the insulating body 3 and in which the top and bottom surfaces of the cores 2 are exposed.

Fig. 9 shows a double core link 12 in which a component 5 and the cores 2 are enclosed within an insulating body 3 and in which the top and bottom surfaces of the cores 2 are exposed and the sides of the cores are partially exposed.

Fig. 10 shows a double core link 13 in which is a component 5 and in which one or both ends of the cores are spherical or multifaceted.

Fig. 11 shows a single link 1 with a core 2 around which is a location-restrainer 14.

Fig. 12 shows double core link 15 in which a component or circuit 5, and the cores 2 are enclosed within an insulating body 3 which also contains signal cores16.

Fig 12a show a range of alternative core forms 2 that can be used.

Fig. 13 shows two enclosed signal links 15 one above the other and in which the cores 2 are in contact surmounted by a single core link 1 in contact with a signal core 16. The lower enclosed signal link 15 has the cores 2 in contact with the cores of two double core links 4.

Fig. 14 shows a circuit comprising four double core links 4.

Fig 14a shows the circuit diagram from which the assembly is constructed and which diagram will be seen on the assembly when viewed from above. Fig. 15 shows a circuit utilising links a set of double core links 2 in which the cores 2 touch the core of the adjacent link in the same plane.

Fig 15a shows the circuit diagram from which the assembly is constructed and which diagram will be seen on the assembly when viewed from above.

Fig. 16 shows a circuit utilising double core links 4 and in which the cores 2 touch conductive strips 17, some of which are placed above and some beneath the cores.

Fig. 17 shows a circuit assembled on a base which comprises a layer of ferromagnetic or magnetic material 20 and on which is a thin layer of electrically insulating material 19.

Fig. 18 shows an insulating base 21 containing cores 2 and on which is mounted a typical circuit.

Fig.18a is similar to Fig 18 with the cores of the links 4 attracted to cores 2.

Fig. 19 shows an insulating base containing cores 2 and having power rails 23 connecting some of the cores.

Fig. 20 shows an insulating base 22 and a multi-core circuit link 10 and illustrating a method of connecting cores using flexible leads having at each end a magnetic or ferromagnetic core. It also shows fixing holes into which can be placed additional parts 25 and a conductive strip 17 connecting two cores.

Fig. 21 Is a summary drawing showing many of the parts described in this invention and assembled on an insulating base 22 and under which is a double core link 4.

Fig 22 shows a sectional side view of an assembly of links according to this invention. The insulating base 21 has various types of cores 2 passing though, two cores 2b of which are below the surface.

Claims

What I claim is>

1) An electric/electronic circuit building system comprising links which are connected together by vertically stackable electrically conducting cores of substantially circular cross-section, said cores partly contained within an insulating body (or insulating base), the stack held together by magnetic force generated by at least one magnetic core in each stack, and forming an electrical contact between each of the cores in the stack.

2) A circuit building system as defined in claim 1 wherein the core(s) is/are inherently electrically conductive.

3) A circuit building system as defined in claim 1 wherein the core(s) contains an insert of or is surrounded by electrically conductive material.

4) A circuit building system as defined in any preceding claim wherein the stack contains at least one ferromagnetic core.

5 A circuit building system as defined in any preceding claim wherein the magnetic cores are contained within an insulating base.

6.A link as in any preceding claim in which the core is coated with an electrically conductive anti-corrosion coating.

7. A link as in any preceding claim in which the core is coated in nickel, tin or zinc.

8. A link as in any preceding claim in which the links carry a component either on the upper or lower surfaces or contained within the insulating body.

9. A link as in any preceding claim in which the links carry the appropriate electric or electronic symbol on the surface of the insulating body.

10. A link as in any preceding claim in which the cores are rigid,

11. As link as in any preceding claim in which the core is cylindrical.

12. A link as in any preceding claim in which the core is spherical or multifaceted.

13. A link as in any preceding claim in which the diameter of the core is between 1 mm and 10mm.

14.A link as in any preceding claim in which the diameter of the core is between 2mm and 6mm.

15. A link as in any preceding claim in which the links have cores with a location- restrainer.

16.A link in claim 8 in which the links contain one of more signal cores to allow a signal to enter an enclosed component.

17. A link as in any preceding claim in which the insulating body is transparent to light.

18. A link as in any preceding claim in which the insulating body allows sound to enter or exit.

19. Cores for use in links as in claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 and 10 to 15 in which the cores are made from magnetic material such as:- magnetic-steel, Ceramic. Alinco, Samarium- Cobalt, or Neodymium-lron-Boron magnet.

20. Cores for use in the assembly or construction of circuits as in claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 and 10 to 15 in which the cores are made from Neodymium-lron-Boron.

21. Cores as in claims 19 and 20 in which the magnet has a pull of more than 0.04kg per core.

22. Cores as in claims 19 and 20 in which the magnet pull is more than 0.1kg. per core.

23. Cores as in claims 19and 20 in which the magnet pull is more than 0.1kg. per core.

24. Cores as in claims 19 and 20 in which the magnet pull is more than 0.16kg per core.

25. A circuit building system in any preceding claim are used in combination with a base.

26. A circuit building system as in claim 25 in which the insulating base has links added below and above the insulating base.

27.A circuit building system as in any preceding claim in which the insulating base contains permanent cores placed in a regular or irregular pattern which align with cores within links.

28. A method as in any preceding claim in which the insulating base has fixed or removable power rails.

29. A method as in any preceding claim in which the insulating base has fixed power rails.

30. A method and means of assembling circuits substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings and text.