Quick-connect breadboarding system

摘要

The breadboarding of complex electrical circuits is simplified by performing all interconnections on one side of a component-receiving board, using slotted beam insulation-piercing connectors. Boards with or without metallization patterns are adaptable to the basic approach. Using boards with an X-Y pattern of plated-through holes arranged in columns, slotted beam connector elements are readily pressed into one side; and corresponding circuit elements such as dual-in-line packs plugged from the other side into the connector elements. The system is enhanced by a tool which feeds insulated conductor from a source and into selected slotted beams. The tool includes a retraceable knife with which a given wire run may be terminated. For the manual mode, a sequence of wiring is indicated to an operator by stepping of a laser beam which illuminates successive slotted beams to be connected.