Abstract: An electrical system includes modules and a frame structure for mechanically supporting the modules successively in an arrival direction of cooling air. Each module includes a cooling element in heat conductive relation with one or more electrical components. The frame structure mechanically supports the modules so that the cooling elements are substantially in the same attitude and successively in the arrival direction of the cooling air. The cooling elements are shaped so that, when the modules are mechanically supported by the frame structure, the cooling elements conduct cooling air in a direction deviating from the arrival direction of the cooling air. Furthermore, at least a part of a flank of the heat transfer portion of each cooling element is oblique with respect to the arrival direction of the cooling air. Thus, each of the cooling elements receives a fresh portion of the cooling air.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a circuit board system comprising mechanical protection of electrical components is presented. The circuit board system comprises a circuit board (101) furnished with electrical components (103-111) and a protection element (102) attached to areas of the circuit board which are free from the electrical components. The protection element has thickness in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board and it is shaped to leave the electrical components unscreened in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board. Thus, the protection element constitutes barriers protecting the electrical components but still allows the electrical components to be accessed from the direction perpendicular to the circuit board for example in a flying probe testing. Furthermore, the protection element provides electrical connections between functional entities of the circuit board system.

Abstract: An electrical system includes modules and a frame structure for mechanically supporting the modules successively in an arrival direction of cooling air. Each module includes a cooling element in heat conductive relation with one or more electrical components. The frame structure mechanically supports the modules so that the cooling elements are substantially in the same attitude and successively in the arrival direction of the cooling air. The cooling elements are shaped so that, when the modules are mechanically supported by the frame structure, the cooling elements conduct cooling air in a direction deviating from the arrival direction of the cooling air. Furthermore, at least a part of a flank of the heat transfer portion of each cooling element is oblique with respect to the arrival direction of the cooling air. Thus, each of the cooling elements receives a fresh portion of the cooling air.

Abstract: Telecommunication equipment includes a rack and telecommunication devices attached to the rack with mounting screws. A head of at least one of the mounting screws is shaped to constitute a grounding connector so that a connector terminal of a grounding cable is connectable to the grounding connector without loosening, detaching, or otherwise changing the position of the mounting screw. The other end of the grounding cable is connectable for example to clothes of a maintenance person so as to prevent static electricity from damaging electronic components of the telecommunication devices during maintenance work. There is no need for a separate grounding connector and its mounting screw because the at least one mounting screw of the telecommunication devices is arranged to act not only as the mounting screw but also as the grounding connector.

Abstract: An electrical device includes a circuit board (101), a light source (104), and a light guide (105). The light guide receives light from the light source and conducts the received light to an end of the light guide so that the light crosses, in a direction parallel with the circuit board, an edge of the circuit board. The end of the light guide constitutes a display surface for showing the light to a user. On a fringe area extending from the edge of the circuit board a distance (D) towards the opposite edge of the circuit board, the light guide is between geometrical planes parallel and coinciding with surfaces of the circuit board. Hence, the light guide does not require room in directions perpendicular to the circuit board. Therefore, for example, more connectors, key buttons, and/or other instruments can be placed on a control panel of the electrical device.

Abstract: A circuit board system according to the invention comprises a circuit board (101), at least one element (102) mechanically supported with respect to the circuit board, and a spring-fastener (106) arranged to mechanically support the at least one element with respect to the circuit board. The spring-fastener comprises a pressing portion (107) pressing the at least one element and a latching portion (108) extending from an end of the pressing portion and being shape-locked in one or more apertures (109-110) of the circuit board. The latching portion and the one or more apertures of the circuit board are shaped to provide shape-locking whose opening requires at least a first movement of the latching portion in a first direction against the spring-force of the spring fastener and, subsequently, a second movement of the latching portion in a second direction against the spring-force of the spring fastener.

Abstract: A circuit board comprises one or more first electrical conductors (102-107) in a first portion of the thickness of the circuit board, one or more second electrical conductors (108, 109) in a second portion of the circuit board, at least one via-conductor (112) providing a galvanic current path between the first and second electrical conductors, a hole extending through the first and second portions of the circuit board, and an electrically conductive sleeve (114) lining the hole and having galvanic contacts with the second electrical conductors. The thermal resistance from the electrically conductive sleeve to the first electrical conductors is greater than the thermal resistance from the electrically conductive sleeve to the second electrical conductors so as to obtain a reliable solder joint between a part of the electrically conductive sleeve belonging to the first portion of the circuit board and an electrical conductor pin (119) located in the hole.

Abstract: Equipment including at least one plug-in unit and a body device for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The plug-in unit includes a mechanical structure (108) enabling the plug-in unit to be locked in its operating position with respect to the body device with a fastening element (141) that can be, for example, a fastening screw. The plug-in unit further includes a sensor circuit (111) having first electrical properties when the fastening element is in the position locking the plug-in unit in the operating position and otherwise different electrical properties. The equipment includes a monitoring circuit (112) for generating a signal indicative of a difference between the prevailing electrical properties of the sensor circuit and the first electrical properties, the signal being indicative also of correctness of the installation of the plug-in unit. Thus, the correct installation of the plug-in unit can be electrically indicated and monitored.

Abstract: Equipment including at least one plug-in unit (102) and a body device (101) for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The equipment includes a circuit (124) including a test signal generator for supplying a test signal to a measurement circuit including galvanic contacts provided by electrical connectors between the body device and a plug-in unit so that the test signal belongs at least partly to a frequency band used in data transfer between the plug-in unit and the body device. The equipment includes a monitoring circuit for generating a signal indicative of a difference between a quantity responsive to the test signal and a reference. As the test signal belongs at least partly to the frequency band used in the data transfer, the quality of the galvanic contacts between the body device and the plug-in unit can be monitored concerning the behavior on the data transfer frequency band.

Abstract: Equipment including at least one plug-in unit and a body device for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The plug-in unit includes an electrically conductive structure (121, 122, 123) having at least one surface area capable of forming a capacitive coupling with a surface area of an electrically conductive part (130, 131) of the body device when the plug-in unit is inserted in the body device. The equipment further includes a monitoring circuit (124) for generating a signal indicative of electrical properties of a measurement circuit including the capacitive coupling and at least one galvanic contact provided by electrical connectors of the plug-in unit and the body device. The generated signal is also indicative of correctness of the installation of the plug-in unit. Thus, the correct installation of the plug-in unit can be electrically indicated and monitored.

Abstract: A circuit board system includes a circuit board (101), at least one electrical component (102), and a conductor part (103) in heat conducting relation with the electrical component. A surface of the circuit board includes a portion (104) that is uneven so as to increase the surface area of the portion. The portion is coated with a coating (105) made of conductor material so that a surface of the coating is uneven. The circuit board includes a heat conductive pathway (106) made of conductor material and extending from the conductor part to the coating. Thus, the coating operates as a cooling element for cooling the electrical component.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a circuit board system comprising mechanical protection of electrical components is presented. The circuit board system comprises a circuit board (101) furnished with electrical components (103-111) and a protection element (102) attached to areas of the circuit board which are free from the electrical components. The protection element has thickness in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board and it is shaped to leave the electrical components unscreened in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board. Thus, the protection element constitutes barriers protecting the electrical components but still allows the electrical components to be accessed from the direction perpendicular to the circuit board for example in a flying probe testing. Furthermore, the protection element provides electrical connections between functional entities of the circuit board system.

Abstract: A circuit board comprises one or more first electrical conductors (102-107) in a first portion of the thickness of the circuit board, one or more second electrical conductors (108, 109) in a second portion of the circuit board, at least one via-conductor (112) providing a galvanic current path between the first and second electrical conductors, a hole extending through the first and second portions of the circuit board, and an electrically conductive sleeve (114) lining the hole and having galvanic contacts with the second electrical conductors. The thermal resistance from the electrically conductive sleeve to the first electrical conductors is greater than the thermal resistance from the electrically conductive sleeve to the second electrical conductors so as to obtain a reliable solder joint between a part of the electrically conductive sleeve belonging to the first portion of the circuit board and an electrical conductor pin (119) located in the hole.

Abstract: An electrical device includes a circuit board (101), a light source (104), and a light guide (105). The light guide receives light from the light source and conducts the received light to an end of the light guide so that the light crosses, in a direction parallel with the circuit board, an edge of the circuit board. The end of the light guide constitutes a display surface for showing the light to a user. On a fringe area extending from the edge of the circuit board a distance (D) towards the opposite edge of the circuit board, the light guide is between geometrical planes parallel and coinciding with surfaces of the circuit board. Hence, the light guide does not require room in directions perpendicular to the circuit board. Therefore, for example, more connectors, key buttons, and/or other instruments can be placed on a control panel of the electrical device.

Abstract: A circuit board system includes a circuit board (101), at least one electrical component (102), and a conductor part (103) in heat conducting relation with the electrical component. A surface of the circuit board includes a portion (104) that is uneven so as to increase the surface area of the portion. The portion is coated with a coating (105) made of conductor material so that a surface of the coating is uneven. The circuit board includes a heat conductive pathway (106) made of conductor material and extending from the conductor part to the coating. Thus, the coating operates as a cooling element for cooling the electrical component.

Abstract: A device provided with fire protection includes a casing (102), electrical components (103) inside the casing, and a fan element (104). The casing includes a first wall having ventilation apertures and the fan element is configured to produce ventilation flow through the ventilation apertures so as to cool the electrical components. The device further includes a fire protection element (105) including thermally expanding material (109) configured to suppress the ventilation flow via the ventilation apertures in response to a situation in which the thermally expanding material is exposed to heat and gets expanded. The fire protection element is outside the casing, the fan element is mechanically supported to the casing, and the fire protection element is removable and re-installable without detaching the mechanical support between the casing and the fan element. Therefore, the fire protection element can be a post-installable element.

Abstract: A circuit board system according to the invention includes a circuit board (101), an element (102) e.g. a heat sink mechanically supported with respect to the circuit board, and a spring-fastener (106) arranged to mechanically support the element. The spring-fastener includes a pressing portion pressing the element and a latching portion (107) extending from an end of the pressing portion and engaging with a securing member (108) that is fixed with respect to the circuit board. The latching portion is formed to constitute a loop (109) and the securing member extends through the loop. The loop is formed so that disengaging the latching portion from the securing member requires changing the shape of the loop against the spring-force of the material of the latching portion. Therefore, the risk of unintentional disengagement of the spring-fastener is reduced.

Abstract: A circuit board system according to the invention comprises a circuit board (101), at least one element (102) mechanically supported with respect to the circuit board, and a spring-fastener (106) arranged to mechanically support the at least one element with respect to the circuit board. The spring-fastener comprises a pressing portion (107) pressing the at least one element and a latching portion (108) extending from an end of the pressing portion and being shape-locked in one or more apertures (109-110) of the circuit board. The latching portion and the one or more apertures of the circuit board are shaped to provide shape-locking whose opening requires at least a first movement of the latching portion in a first direction against the spring-force of the spring fastener and, subsequently, a second movement of the latching portion in a second direction against the spring-force of the spring fastener.

Abstract: A circuit board system including mechanical protection of electrical components includes a circuit board (101) furnished with electrical components (103-111) and a protection element (102) attached to areas of the circuit board which are free from the electrical components. The protection element has thickness in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board and it is shaped to leave the electrical components unscreened in the direction perpendicular to the circuit board. Thus, the protection element constitutes barriers protecting the electrical components but still allows the electrical components to be accessed from the direction perpendicular to the circuit board for example in a flying probe testing. The body of the protection element can be made of same material as the electrically insulating body of the circuit board. Thus, the thermal expansion co-efficient of the protection element can be substantially the same as that of the circuit board.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a circuit board system includes attaching (501), to a circuit board, electrical components that constitute together with the circuit board a first functional entity and a second functional entity that are disconnected from each other so that operations of the first and second functional entities are substantially free from mutual interactions. The method includes directing (502) electrical activity, for example testing and/or data loading, to the first functional entity and/or to the second functional entity. Subsequently, the method includes providing (503) at least one galvanic connection between the first and second functional entities by pushing one or more press-fit pins in holes of the circuit board in order to enable the first and second functional entities to co-operate with each other. The method allows functional entity-specific testing, data loading, and other electrical activity after e.g. a soldering process and prior to possible functionality testing (504).