Mounting arrangement for microwave power amplifier

A thin, compliant, electrically and thermally conductive aluminum shim for providing minimum distance circuit path from a power amplifier (or transistor) to the underside of the circuit board (ground). The aluminum shim creates an interference fit between the underside of the circuit board and chassis, which guarantees an electrical connection with the bottom of amplifier and underside of the circuit board. Additionally, with the present invention, post-machining of the chassis during assembly of components is not required since the aluminum shim is sufficiently compliant to conform to both the bottom surface of the amplifier and the existent flatness and surface finish on the chassis produced from the initial machining step. This ensures superior electrical and thermal contact to the chassis regardless of slight imperfections in chassis flatness and surface finish at the seat location, thereby improving reliability and decreasing cost of manufacture and assembly.

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What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device mounting arrangement, comprising:

(a) a chassis having a top side;

(b) a circuit board having an underside, where the underside of the circuit board faces the top side of the chassis;

(c) a component directly mounted on the top side of the chassis; and

(d) a thin, compliant, electrically and thermally conductive material shim placed between the component and the top side of the chassis, and between the underside of the circuit board and the top side of the chassis, such that the shim issimultaneously electrically and thermally in contact with the component, electrically connected with the circuit board, and thermally connected with the chassis.

2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the shim is made of aluminum.

3. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the shim is between 0.001 and 0.003 inches thick.

4. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) the shim is cross-shaped as if two, equal-sized, rectangles intersected each other orthogonally, giving said shim four rectangular protruding sections;

(b) two opposite sections of the shim contain holes which line up with holes in the chassis and with holes in the component; and

(c) the rectangle formed from the sections containing the holes is in the same shape as the contact surface area of the component.

5. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the shim, when installed, produces an interference fit between the circuit board and the chassis.

6. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the shim creates a circuit path along the following route: bottom of the component, through the aluminum shim, to the underside of said circuit board.

7. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the chassis is made of a nonconductive material.