Circuit board assembly and method of fabricating same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a circuit board assembly that defines structural features that allow for improved stability in the connection between two boards.
In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a first circuit board defining an aperture and a second circuit board having an edge.
The first circuit board has at least one conductive feature proximate the aperture, and the second circuit board has at least one conductive feature proximate the edge.
Each board has at least one circuit trace in electrical communication with its respective conductive feature.
The conductive features of the boards are placed in electrical communication with each other by way of the edge of the second board being disposed in the aperture of the first board.
This relationship places the circuit traces of the first board in electrical communication with the circuit traces of the second board.
The second board defines a hole proximate the edge.
Preferably, the hole extends through the entire thickness of the second board, i.
e.
, from a first side to a second side.
When the edge of the second board is disposed in the aperture of the first board, the hole is positioned near a surface of the main board.
As such, the hole is particularly well-suited for receiving a portion of a.
solder joint.
In a preferred embodiment, the assembly further comprises a solder joint connecting the two boards.
Preferably, the solder joint includes a first portion disposed in the hole and second and this portions disposed on the first board.
A fourth portion of the solder joint can be disposed within a void region defined by the first board proximate the aperture.
The present invention also provides a method of fabricating a circuit board assembly.
In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing a first circuit board; creating an aperture in the first circuit board; disposing a first conductive feature on the first circuit board proximate the aperture; providing a second circuit board having an edge, a second conductive feature proximate the edge, and defining a hole proximate the edge; disposing the edge of the second circuit board within the aperture of the first circuit board such that the conductive features of the two boards are in electrical communication with each other; and disposing a solder joint on the first and second circuit boards