Circuit boards, connectors, cases, circuit board assemblies, case assemblies, devices and methods of manufacturing the same

Abstract

Example embodiments are directed to circuit boards, connectors, cases, circuit board assemblies, case assemblies, devices and methods of manufacturing the same, which are common to at least two different form factors.

1 . A circuit board, comprising:
 a board, common to at least a first form factor and a second form factor;   first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor; and   second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor.   
   
   
       2 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first form factor and the second form factor are different. 
   
   
       3 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first form factor and the second form factor are mutually exclusive. 
   
   
       4 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are on the same end of the circuit board. 
   
   
       5 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are on different ends of the circuit board. 
   
   
       6 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are on both ends of the circuit board. 
   
   
       7 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are on the same side of the circuit board. 
   
   
       8 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are on different sides of the circuit board. 
   
   
       9 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are on both sides of the circuit board. 
   
   
       10 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are offset from a first edge of the circuit board. 
   
   
       11 . The circuit board of  claim 10 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are offset from a second edge of the circuit board. 
   
   
       12 . The circuit board of  claim 1 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are nested. 
   
   
       13 . The circuit board of  claim 12 , where the first and second circuit board connection terminals are alternating. 
   
   
       14 . The circuit board of  claim 12 , where only one of the first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor and the second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor are connected. 
   
   
       15 . A circuit board assembly, comprising:
 the circuit board of  claim 1 ; and   a connector including connector connection terminals;   where only one of the first circuit board connection terminals and the second circuit board connection terminals are connected to the connector connection terminals.   
   
   
       16 . The circuit board assembly of  claim 15 , where the at least one of the first circuit board connection terminals and the second circuit board connection terminals are mechanically connected to the connector connection terminals. 
   
   
       17 . The circuit board assembly of  claim 15 , where the at least one of the first circuit board connection terminals and the second circuit board connection terminals are connected to the connector connection terminals via a conductive material. 
   
   
       18 . The circuit board assembly of  claim 17 , where the conductive material is at least one of solder paste and solder balls. 
   
   
       19 . A device of the first form factor, comprising:
 the circuit board assembly of  claim 15 ; and   a case of the first form factor.   
   
   
       20 . A device of the second form factor, comprising:
 the circuit board assembly of  claim 15 ; and   a case of the second form factor.   
   
   
       21 . A circuit board, comprising:
 a board;   first circuit board connection terminals on the board; and   second circuit board connection terminals on the board, mutually exclusive of the first circuit board connection terminals.   
   
   
       22 . A case assembly, comprising:
 at least a top surface or a bottom surface, of a first form factor or a second form factor;   a connector, attached to the top surface or the bottom surface, the connector including first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor and second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor; and   a securing element attached to the top surface or the bottom surface;   the connector including connector connection terminals, where only one of the first circuit board connection terminals and the second circuit board connection terminals are connected to the connector connection terminals.   
   
   
       23 . The case assembly of  claim 22 , where the securing element is one or more guide rails. 
   
   
       24 . A device of the first form factor, comprising:
 the case assembly of  claim 22 ; and   a board, common to at least the first form factor and the second form factor, including first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor and second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor, wherein the first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor of the board are connected to the first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor of the connector and the board is secured to the case by the securing element.   
   
   
       25 . A device of the second form factor, comprising:
 the case assembly  claim 22 ; and   a board, common to at least the first form factor and the second form factor, including first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor and second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor, wherein the first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor of the board are connected to the first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor of the connector and the board is secured to the case by the securing element.   
   
   
       26 . A case assembly, comprising:
 at least one of three sides, a top, and a bottom surface; and   a connector, connected to the at least one of three sides, the top, and the bottom surface, the connector including connector connection terminals.   
   
   
       27 . A device, comprising:
 a case of one of a first form factor and a second form factor;   a circuit board of the first form factor;   first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor; and   second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor.   
   
   
       28 . A connector, comprising:
 first connector connection terminals of a first form factor; and   second connector connection terminals of a second form factor.   
   
   
       29 . The connector of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 a first interface of the first form factor; and   a second interface of the second form factor.   
   
   
       30 . The connector of  claim 29 , where only one of the first connector connection terminals of the first form factor and the second connector connection terminals of the second form factor are connected and wherein only one of the first interface of the first form factor and the second interface of the second form factor are connected. 
   
   
       31 . The connector of  claim 28 , where the first form factor and the second form factor are mutually exclusive. 
   
   
       32 . A method of manufacturing a common circuit board, comprising:
 providing a board, common to at least a first form factor and a second form factor;   forming first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor on the board; and   forming second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor on the board.   
   
   
       33 . A method of connecting a common circuit board, comprising:
 providing a board, common to at least a first form factor and a second form factor with first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor and second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor on the board; and   connecting the common circuit board to an external device using only one of the first connection and second circuit board connection terminals.   
   
   
       34 . A method of manufacturing an assembly or device, comprising:
 combining at least two of a circuit board, a connector, and a case to form any one of a circuit board assembly, a case assembly, or a device.