Method and apparatus for building and testing electronic circuits

Abstract

A method and system with a magnetically attractive breadboard and associated devices for constructing and testing electronic circuits. The breadboard can comprise a single or multi-layer circuit board with metallic foil conductors that can be connected to magnetically attractive pads. Electrical contacts between the pads and foil conductors can be made by wrapping the foil over an edge of insulating material. The insulating material can comprise a flexible insulation sheet with the desired circuit printed thereon. The electronic components are preferably supported by component holders which contain magnets that are attracted to the breadboard. The component holders facilitate attachment of the components to the foil conductors. A circuit can be built by selecting the desired component holder, plugging the component into the component holder, and then attaching the component holder to the breadboard on the proper foil conductor to complete the circuit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of constructing a magnetically attractive circuit board, comprising the steps of: 
 positioning conductive paths on an insulating material by attaching conductive metallic foil on one side of the insulating material; and    placing the other side of the insulated material over a magnetically attractive material.    
     
     
         2 . A method of constructing a circuit board as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: paper, tape, plastic, cardboard, or rubber.  
     
     
         3 . A method constructing a circuit board as defined in  claim 1 , with a multiplicity of layers comprising: crossing the foil and placing insulating portions comprising insulating tape between the foil at a location where the foil crosses to separate and insulate the crossed foil.  
     
     
         4 . A method of constructing a circuit board as defined in  claim 1 , including printing a circuit on the insulated material.  
     
     
         5 . A circuit board as defined in  claim 1 , with foil wrapped around insulating material in order to make contact with pads that make connection to off board modules.  
     
     
         6 . A circuit board as defined in  claim 1 , that can be used for technology teaching and wherein the magnetically attractive circuit board comprises steel or iron.  
     
     
         7 . A circuit board, comprising: 
 electronic components with leads providing contacts;    conductors for connecting said electronic components;    magnets for securing said contacts of said electronic components to said conductors;    a breadboard comprising magnetically attractive material;    magnet-containing holders for holding said electronic components and containing said magnets; and    said magnets being sufficient-magnetic strength to securely engage said magnetically attractive material.    
     
     
         8 . A circuit board as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said electronic components being held by said holders are selected from the group consisting of: resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, transistors, integrated circuits, light emitting diodes, diodes, lights, and batteries.  
     
     
         9 . A circuit board as defined in  claim 7  for technology teaching or building and testing electronic circuits including: 
 a case for housing said electronic components;  
 a plurality of modules mounted to said case; and  
 said conductor comprising metallic foil wrapped over an edge of insulating material.  
 
     
     
         10 . A circuit board as defined in  claim 9  wherein said modules are selected from the group consisting of: power sources, signal generators, test equipment, speakers, switches, logic level indicators, modems, cables, amplifiers, transistors, regulators, filters, oscillators, converters, rectifiers, drivers, detectors, modulators, timers, phase lock loops, integrators, differentiators, sample and hold circuits, integrated circuits, and batteries.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for building or testing an electronic circuit, comprising: 
 a circuit board providing a breadboard comprising a substantially imperforate electrically conductive support having a magnetically engageable surface, said electrically conductive support comprising a magnetically attractive material for engaging and being attracted to one or more natural magnets;    an electronic circuit comprising one or more electronic devices connected to electrical conductors; said electronic devices comprising one or more electronic components with leads providing electrical contacts engaging said conductors, said conductors comprising electrically conductive metallic foil positioned between said electronic devices and said breadboard;    an insulating support comprising an electrical insulating non-magnetic material positioned between a substantial amount of said conductors and said breadboard, said insulating support having a conductor-engaging support surface for engaging and supporting a substantial amount of said conductors and having a breadboard-facing surface for engaging said magnetically engageable surface of said electrically conductive support of said breadboard;    one or more natural magnets for magnetically engaging said magnetically engageable surface of said electrically conductive support of said breadboard to secure said insulating support to said magnetically engageable surface of said electrically conductive support of said breadboard and to securely connect said electrical contacts of said electronic devices to said conductors; and    one or more holders for holding said magnets and supporting said electronic devices to removably and detachably connect said electronic devices to said conductors of said electronic circuit.    
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said magnetically attractive material of said electrically conductive support comprises a sheet of metal selected from a group consisting of steel or iron.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said metallic foil comprises non-magnetic flexible foil selected from the group consisting of: aluminum foil, copper foil, tin foil, tinsel, and metallic foil tape.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said holders comprise substantially rigid magnet-containing holders comprising electrically insulating non-magnetic material selected from the group consisting of plastic or wood.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said electronic devices comprise components selected from the group consisting of one or more resistors, capacitors, diodes, light-emitting diodes, transistors, inductors, integrated circuits, batteries, switches, lamps, lights, transformers, speakers, amplifiers, logic level indicators, regulators, signal filters, oscillators, converters, rectifiers, modulators, drivers, detectors, integrators, differentiators, timers, microprocessors, central processing units, computers, calculators, testers, phase lock loops, audible signaling devices, and visual signaling devices.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said conductive metallic foil is secured to said conductor-engaging support surface by one or more connectors selected from the group consisting of: adhesive tape, transparent tape, electrical tape, insulating tape, velcro-type fasteners, glue, and adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said conductors cross over each other and are separated from each other at an intersection by insulating tape.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein said insulating support comprises a flexible sheet of insulating material selected from the group consisting of: paper, paperboard, plastic, rubber, and insulating tape.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 18  wherein said conductor-engaging support surface of said insulating support has a diagram of said electronic circuit printed thereon.