Method for providing an electrical connection

Abstract

A preferred method for electrically connecting a first and a second component includes inserting a wire pin through a through hole formed in the first component so that a first portion of the wire pin is located within the through hole and a second portion of the wire pin is located within a retaining feature formed at least in part by the second component. The preferred method also includes moving one of the first and the second components in relation to the other of the first and the second components so that the wire pin resiliently deflects thereby establishing a first contact force between the first portion of the wire and the first components and a second contact force between the second portion of the wire and the second component.

1 . A method for electrically connecting a component and a printed circuit board, comprising: 
 inserting a wire pin through a first through hole formed in the component so that a first portion of the wire pin is located within the first through hole and a second portion of the wire pin is located within a second through hole formed in the printed circuit board; and    moving one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board so that the wire pin resiliently deflects thereby establishing a first contact force between the first portion of the wire pin and the component, and a second contact force between the second portion of the wire pin and the printed circuit board.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the component is a printed circuit board.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the component is a printed circuit board of an electrical-energy meter.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a wire pin through a first through hole formed in the component comprises inserting the wire pin in a first direction, and moving one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board comprises moving the one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board so that the wire pin resiliently deflects comprises moving one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board so that the wire pin bends.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising substantially aligning the first and second through holes before inserting the wire pin.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the moving one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board so that the wire pin resiliently deflects comprises substantially misaligning the first and second through holes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first through hole is a plated through hole and the first contact force is established between the first portion of the wire and plating of the first through hole.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locking the one of the component and the printed circuit board in position in relation to the other of the component and printed circuit board after moving the one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting a wire pin through a first through hole formed in the component comprises dropping the wire pin through the first through hole.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board so that the wire pin resiliently deflects comprises moving the one of the component and the printed circuit board in relation to the other of the component and the printed circuit board so that the first portion of the wire is restrained by the component and the second portion of the wire is restrained by the printed circuit board thereby causing the first portion of the wire to move in relation to the second portion of the wire in response to the movement of the component in relation to the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         12 . A method for electrically connecting a first and a second component, comprising: 
 substantially aligning a first through hole formed in the first component with a second through hole formed in the second component;    inserting a wire pin through the first through hole in a first direction so that a first portion of the wire pin is located within the first through hole and a second portion of the wire pin is located within the second through hole; and    moving one of the first and the second components in a second direction in relation to the other of the first and the second components, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, thereby causing one of the first and second portions of the wire pin to move in relation to the other of the first and second portions of the wire pin.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first component is a printed circuit board.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first component is a printed circuit board of an electrical-energy meter.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second component is a printed circuit board.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second component is a printed circuit board of an electrical-energy meter.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving one of the first and the second components in a second direction in relation to the other of the first and the second components comprises moving one of the first and the second components in a second direction in relation to the other of the first and the second components so that the wire pin resiliently deflects thereby establishing a contact force between the wire pin and the first and second components.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein moving one of the first and the second components in a second direction in relation to the other of the first and the second components comprises moving the one of the first and the second components in relation to the other of the first and the second components so that the first portion of the wire is restrained by the first component and the second portion of the wire is restrained by the second component thereby causing the first portion of the wire to move in relation to the second portion of the wire.