Parallel printed circuit board assembly

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a circuit board assembly, and more particularly to a circuit board assembly having parallel printed circuit boards.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] Two printed circuit boards are ordinarily connected perpendicular to or parallel to one another. Parallel connection is usually adopted in portable electrical devices, such as notebooks or PDAs. In such an arrangement, a plurality of printed circuit boards are stacked in parallel with electrical connectors connected therebetween.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,185 discloses a conventional parallel circuit board assembly which comprises a main circuit board and an auxiliary circuit board. Two receptacle electrical connectors are mounted on the auxiliary circuit board, and two plug electrical connectors are mounted on the main circuit board. The two circuit boards are electrically connected together by mating the plug connectors and the receptacle connectors.

[0007] However, the conventional parallel circuit board assembly has a shortcoming. When the auxiliary circuit board is rotated a 180 angle, the receptacle connectors of the auxiliary circuit board also can mate with the plug connectors of the main circuit board. Therefore, an incorrect coupling of the two circuit boards can result.

[0008] A parallel circuit board assembly which can prevent mistaken connection of two circuit boards is desired.

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a parallel printed circuit board assembly having two circuit boards which are prevented from being incorrectly connected together.

[0010] To achieve the above object, a parallel printed circuit board assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a main circuit board and an auxiliary circuit board. The main circuit board has a surface with a plug and receptacle connectors mounted thereon. The auxiliary circuit board has a surface with a plug and receptacle connectors mounted thereon. The plug and receptacle connectors of the main circuit board respectively mate with the receptacle and plug connectors of the auxiliary circuit board.

[0011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main circuit board of a parallel printed circuit board assembly of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an auxiliary circuit board of the parallel printed circuit board assembly of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a parallel printed circuit board assembly with the main and auxiliary circuit boards; and

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a parallel printed circuit board assembly with the main and auxiliary circuit boards.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a parallel printed circuit board assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a main circuit board 1, an auxiliary circuit board 2 and a first and second board-to-board connectors 3, 4.

[0017] The main circuit board 1 has a first surface 12 and a second surface 14. The auxiliary circuit board 2 has a first surface 22 and a second surface 24. A plurality of electrical elements (not shown) are respectively disposed on the main circuit board 1 and on the auxiliary circuit board 2.

[0018] The first board-to-board connector 3 has a first plug connector 32 and a first receptacle connector 34, said the first plug and receptacle connector 32, 34 respectively having a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) electrically connecting with the circuit boards 1, 2. The second board-to-board connector 4 has a second plug connector 42 and a second receptacle connector 44, said the second plug and receptacle connector 42, 44 respectively having a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown) electrically connecting with the circuit boards 2, 1.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first plug connector 32 and the second receptacle connector 44 are arranged parallel to one another on the second surface 14 of the main circuit board 1. The first receptacle connector 34 and the second plug connector 42 are arranged parallel to one another on the first surface 22 of the auxiliary circuit board 2. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the main and auxiliary circuit boards 1, 2 are oriented parallel to one another, the first surface 22 of the auxiliary circuit board 2 facing the second surface 14 of the main circuit board 1. The first plug connector 32 of the main circuit board 1 faces and mates with the first receptacle connector 34 of the auxiliary circuit board 2, and the second receptacle connector 44 of the main circuit board 1 faces and mates with the second plug connector 42 of the auxiliary circuit board 2. Thus the main and auxiliary circuit boards are electrically connected together.

[0020] Compared with the conventional parallel printed circuit board assembly, when the auxiliary circuit board 2 is rotated a 180 degree angle, the second plug connector 42 and the first receptacle connector 34 of the auxiliary circuit board 2 respectively face the first plug connect 32 and the second receptacle connector 44 of the main circuit board 1, and they can not be mated together. So incorrect connection of the two circuit boards can be avoided.

[0021] Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it should be noted that the described embodiment is not necessarily exclusive and that various changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.