Printed circuit board for connecting of mult-wire cabling to surge protectors

Abstract

A multi-layer printed circuit board assembly providing a rigid structural platform for supporting a plurality of surge protector modules for coupling to multi-line communications cables on one board. The multi-layer printed circuit board assembly includes a printed circuit board, multiple protector female sockets pins and at least two connectors mounted on the printed circuit board. The multi-layer printed circuit board assembly can also include a ground plane and a pin support block. The multiple protector female socket pins partially reside in receptacles within the printed circuit board and are arranged to receive and electrically connect surge protector modules to the multi-layer printed circuit board. This allows the traces within the printed circuit board to electrically connect each lead of a designated communication line with a corresponding surge protector pin.

1 . An assembly for receiving at least one surge protector, comprising: 
 a plurality of protector female socket pins disposed partially within a printed circuit board to rigidly extend outward from the printed circuit board and for electrically connecting one or more pins of at least one surge protector that is not directly in contact with the printed circuit board protector; and    at least one trace formed within the printed circuit board, the trace electrically connecting the protector female socket pin to a communication line.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the multi-layer circuit board comprises at least one ground plane disposed within the printed circuit board, the ground plane electrically connecting at least one protector female socket pin to ground.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the protector female socket pin has a first end and a second end, the first end disposed within the multi-layer printed circuit board to electrically connect to at least one trace, the second end extended outward from the multi-layer printed circuit board to secure one or more surge protectors without residing the surge protectors on the multi-layer printed circuit board.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the multi-layer printed circuit board forms a compressed fit around each first end of the protector female socket pins to rigidly attach each first end to the multi-layer printed circuit board.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein each first end resides in a plated receptacle on the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the second end of the protector female socket pin forms a compression fit around each surge protector pin.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein each first end of the protector female socket pins forms a soldered connection with a plated receptacle of the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the second end of the protector female socket pin accepts at least one pin of the surge protector by expanding to form a compression fit between at least one pin of the surge protector and the second end.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein a unique electrical couple is created between each plated receptacle of the multi-layer printed circuit board, first and second ends of the protector female socket pin and surge protector pin resulting in an electrical connection between the surge protector pin and the designated trace.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein at least one plated receptacle contains an inner wall having two portions, a conductive portion and a non-conductive portion.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the length of the first end of each protector female socket pin is of approximately equal length.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the non-conductive portion of the plated receptacle is located between the ground plane and each first end and the conductive portion of the plated receptacle is located between the trace of the multi-layer printed circuit board and each first end, the electrical connection between the first end and at least one trace within the printed circuit board is formed.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein the conductive portion of the plated receptacle is located between the ground plane and each first end and the non-conductive portion of the plated receptacle is located between the trace and each first end, the electrical connection between the first end and ground is formed.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 3  wherein the protector female socket pins have two separate and distinct first end lengths, a short first end being one and a longer first end being the other.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the protector female socket pins having the short first end are electrically connected to the ground plane and the protector female socket pins having the long first end are electrically insulated from the ground plane and electrically connected to the trace.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein at least one protector female socket pin having the short first end forming an electrically connection between the ground plane and a ground pin of at least one surge protector.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly for receiving at least one surge protector, comprising: 
 a ground plane;    a plurality of protector female socket pins formed partially within a printed circuit board, each protector female socket pin forming a compliant fit with the ground plane and the printed circuit board which secures the ground plane to the printed circuit board, the compliant fit rigidly holding each protector female socket pin and allowing each protector female socket pin to extend outward from the ground plane and printed circuit board and for electrically connecting one or more pins of at least one surge protector to the plurality of protector female socket pins; and    at least one trace formed within the printed circuit board, the trace electrically connecting the protector female socket pin to a communication line.    
     
     
         19 . A protector assembly, comprising 
 a pin support block;    a plurality of protector female socket pins formed partially within a printed circuit board and partially within the pin support block for coupling the printed circuit board to the pin support block and for electrically connecting one or more pins of at least one surge protector to the protector female socket pins;    at least one trace formed within the printed circuit board, the trace electrically connecting the protector female socket pin to an incoming or outgoing communication line and at least one ground plane formed within the printed circuit board, the ground plane electrically connecting at least one protector female socket pin to ground.    
     
     
         20 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 19  wherein the protector female socket pin has a first end and a second end, the first end being a first end disposed within the printed circuit board to electrically connect to at least one trace and the second end being an elongated female socket which extends outward from the printed circuit board to secure one or more surge protectors.  
     
     
         21 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 19  wherein the printed circuit board, pin support block and the ground plane contain at least one plated receptacle each.  
     
     
         22 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 21  wherein the protector female socket pins couple the pin support block, ground plane and printed circuit board together to form a single protector assembly.  
     
     
         23 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 22  wherein the protector female socket pin is pressed into the plated receptacle of the pin support block, ground plane and printed circuit board forming a compliant fit with the pin support block and a compression fit with the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         24 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 19  wherein the protector female socket pin is rigidly attach to the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         25 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 23  wherein the pin support block forms a compliant fit around each second end of the protector female socket pins which rigidly attaches the pin support block to the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         26 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 20  wherein at least one first end of the protector female socket pins reside within a plated receptacle of the printed circuit board and at least one other first end resides within a plated receptacle of the ground plane.  
     
     
         27 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 20  wherein the first end of the protector female socket pins forms a soldered connection with a plated receptacle of the printed circuit board.  
     
     
         28 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 20  wherein the second end of the protector female socket pins accept at least one pin of each surge protector by expanding to form a compression fit between at least one pin of the surge protector and the second end.  
     
     
         29 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 28  wherein a unique electrical couple is created between each plated receptacle of the printed circuit board, first and second ends of the protector female socket pin and surge protector pin resulting in an electrical connection between the surge protector pin and the designated trace.  
     
     
         30 . The surge protector assembly of  claim 21  wherein the length of the first end of each protector female socket pin is of equal length.  
     
     
         31 . A protector assembly, comprising: 
 a pin support block;    a plurality of protector female socket pins having a first end and a second end, the first end formed within the multi-layer printed circuit board to electrically connect to at least one trace and the second end being an elongated female socket which extends outward from the multi-layer printed circuit board for coupling the multi-layer printed circuit board to the pin support block and a ground plane and for electrically connecting one or more pins of at least one surge protector to the protector female socket pins; and    at least one trace formed within the printed circuit board, the trace electrically connecting the protector female socket pin to an incoming or outgoing communication line, the ground plane electrically connecting at least one protector female socket pin to ground.    
     
     
         32 . A protector female socket pin for connecting multiple layers of a surge protector assembly together, comprising: 
 a first end having a conductive needle tip for resisting compression when pressed into a receptacle of a multi-layer printed circuit board, said first end forming a compression fit with the receptacle of the multi-layer printed circuit board and electrically connecting the receptacle to the first end;    a base pressed into a receptacle of a support pin socket to form a compliant fit with the pin support block for coupling the multi-layer printed circuit board to the pin support block; and    a second end having elongated finger sockets for receiving a surge protector pin, said second end extending outwardly from the multi-layer printed circuit board into the receptacle of the pin support block for electrically coupling a surge protector pin to the multi-layer printed circuit board.    
     
     
         33 . The protector female socket pin of  claim 31  wherein the compression fit between the conductive needle tip of the first end and the receptacle of the multi-layer printed circuit board electrically connects a trace within the multi-layer printed circuit board to the first end.  
     
     
         34 . The protector female socket pin of  claim 31  wherein the elongated finger sockets of the second end form a compression fit around the inserted surge protector pin forming an electrical connection between the elongated finger sockets and the surge protector pin.  
     
     
         35 . The protector female socket pin of  claim 31  wherein a unique electrical couple is created between the receptacle of the multi-layer printed circuit board, first and second ends of the protector female socket pin and the surge protector pin resulting in an electrical connection between the surge protector pin and a designated trace on the multi-layer printed circuit board.  
     
     
         36 . A method of coupling a pin support block to a multi-layer printed circuit board using protective female socket pins comprising: 
 compressing each first end of a plurality of protector female socket pins having a first end on one end and an elongated female socket on the other into a receptacle of the multi-layer printed circuit board;    compressing the elongated female socket of each protector female socket pin into a receptacle of a pin support block;    connecting input and output connectors on the communication lines;    connecting the input connectors to a multi-layer printed circuit board;    connecting the output connectors to a multi-layer printed circuit board; and    connecting one of a five pin or six pin surge protector assembly to the elongated female socket, wherein traces on the multi-layer printed circuit board electrically connect pins of the surge protector assembly in series with the corresponding input and output pins of the input and output connectors, respectively.