Capacitor assembly adapted for circuit board

Abstract

A capacitor assembly is providing for adapting a replacement capacitor to an existing circuit board layout. The capacitor assembly has an adapter with a plate and the replacement capacitor affixed thereto, and the adapter has terminals which are connected to the leads of the replacement capacitor. The adapter further has leads, such as pins, extending downward from the plate, to electrically connect the capacitor assembly to the circuit board.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . An adapter for connecting a capacitor having first and second leads to a circuit board, comprising:
 (a) a plate having an inner face and an outer face;   (b) a first terminal positioned on the plate and electrically connectable to the first lead of the capacitor;   (c) a first connector having at least one lead extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the adapter to the circuit board;   (d) a first pathway electrically connecting the first terminal to the first connector;   (e) a second terminal position on the plate and electrically connectable to the second lead of the capacitor;   (f) a second connector having at least one lead extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the adapter to the circuit board; and   (g) a second pathway electrically connecting the second terminal to the second connector.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein each of the leads of the first and second connectors comprise a pin connector. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the first connector comprises two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the second connector comprises two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 3 , wherein the first pathway comprises a first conductive sheet electrically connected to the two pins of the first connector, and the second pathway comprises a second conductive sheet electrically connected to the two pins of the second connector. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first conductive sheet and the second conductive sheet is embedded in the plate. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 2 , wherein the first connector is positioned at a first end of the plate and the second connector is positioned at a second end of the plate, whereby the first end of the plate is opposite the second end of the plate. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  claim 6 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are both positioned at either the first end or the second end of the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the second connector comprises three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector is positioned at a first end of the plate and the second connector is positioned at a second end of the plate, whereby the first end of the plate is opposite the second end of the plate, and the three pins of the first connector are aligned parallel to the three pins of the second connector. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are both positioned at either the first end or the second end of the plate. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the first pathway comprises a first conductive sheet electrically connected to the three pins of the first connector, and the second pathway comprises a second conductive sheet electrically connected to the three pins of the second connector. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive positioned on the outer face of plate for affixing the capacitor to the plate. 
     
     
         13 . A capacitor assembly for replacing a capacitor on a circuit board, comprising:
 (a) a plate having an inner face and an outer face;   (b) a replacement capacitor having first and second leads, wherein the replacement capacitor is affixed to the outer face of the plate;   (c) a first terminal positioned on the plate and electrically connected to the first lead of the replacement capacitor;   (d) a first connector having at least one lead extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the adapter to the circuit board;   (e) a first pathway electrically connecting the first terminal to the first connector;   (f) a second terminal position on the plate and electrically connected to the second lead of the replacement capacitor;   (g) a second connector having at least one lead extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the adapter to the circuit board; and   (h) a second pathway electrically connecting the second terminal to the second connector.   
     
     
         14 . The capacitor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitor is affixed to the plate by a double-faced adhesive tape having one side bonded to the outer face of the plate and an opposite side bonded to the capacitor. 
     
     
         15 . The capacitor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the replacement capacitor replaces at least two capacitors on the circuit board, and wherein the lead of the first connector comprises two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the lead of the second connector comprises two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate. 
     
     
         16 . The capacitor assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first connector is positioned at a first end of the plate and the second connector is positioned at a second end of the plate, whereby the first end of the plate is opposite the second end of the plate, and the pins of the first connector are aligned parallel to the pins of the second connector. 
     
     
         17 . A method of replacing a capacitor on a circuit board, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a replacement capacitor having first and second leads;   (b) providing a plate having (i) an inner face and an outer face; (ii) a first terminal positioned on the plate and electrically connectable to the first lead of the replacement capacitor; (iii) a first connector having at least one lead extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the adapter to the circuit board; (iv) a first pathway electrically connecting the first terminal to the first connector; (v) a second terminal position on the plate and electrically connectable to the second lead of the replacement capacitor; (vii) a second connector having at least one lead extending outward from the inner face of the plate, for electrically connecting the adapter to the circuit board; and (viii) a second pathway electrically connecting the second terminal to the second connector;   (c) affixing the capacitor to the outer face of the plate and electrically connecting the first lead of the replacement capacitor to the first terminal of the plate and electrically connecting the second lead of the replacement capacitor to the second terminal of the plate; and   (d) electrically connecting the leads of the first connector and the pins of the second connector to the circuit board, in place of the capacitor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the capacitor is affixed to the plate by an adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lead of the first connector comprises two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and the lead of the second connector comprises two pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the replacement capacitor is a single capacitor, which replaces at least two capacitors on the circuit board. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the lead of the first connector comprises three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and the lead of the second connector comprises three pins extending outward from the inner face of the plate, and wherein the replacement capacitor is a single capacitor, which replaces at least three capacitors on the circuit board.