Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080209097 | APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING POWER TO A HOT SWAPPED CIRCUIT BOARD - Apparatus and method to controlling power and communications between to an electronic circuit board. A chassis includes a first electronic circuit board with a first connector and a cassette includes a second electronic circuit board with a second connector. When the cassette is received by the chassis, chassis flex circuitry and cassette flex circuitry come into contact to complete a circuit between the components. Closing the circuit indicates to a controller that the cassette is properly secured to the chassis and that a user is not attempting removal of the cassette. The controller instructs a power source to provide power to the second electronic circuit board through the first connector. When the circuit is broken by a user, the controller causes the completion of operations on the second electronic circuit board and causes the power source to stop supplying power to the second electronic circuit board. | 08-28-2008 |
20090034221 | METHOD FOR DIRECTING POWER TO A HOT SWAPPED CIRCUIT BOARD - Method for controlling power and communications between to an electronic circuit board. A chassis includes a first electronic circuit board with a first connector and a cassette includes a second electronic circuit board with a second connector. When the cassette is received by the chassis, chassis flex circuitry and cassette flex circuitry come into contact to complete a circuit between the components. Closing the circuit indicates to a controller that the cassette is properly secured to the chassis and that a user is not attempting removal of the cassette. The controller instructs a power source to provide power to the second electronic circuit board through the first connector. When the circuit is broken by a user, the controller causes the completion of operations on the second electronic circuit board and causes the power source to stop supplying power to the second electronic circuit board. | 02-05-2009 |
20090035979 | Reduced Footprint Memory Module Connector and Latching Mechanism - One embodiment of a memory module connector includes a connector body having a slot for removably receiving a DIMM and a latching mechanism for facilitating the insertion and removal of the DIMM from the slot. The footprint of the connector may be minimized in at least four ways: (1) by orienting a lever's pivot axis so that it is parallel with a plane of the DIMM, (2) by laterally spacing the pivot axis with respect to this plane, (3) by positioning the latch at the end(s) of the connector, and (4) by uniquely sculpting the latch to minimize its contribution to the overall footprint of the connector. | 02-05-2009 |
20090070993 | METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A HIGH SPEED MEZZANINE CONNECTION - A reduced insertion force mezzanine connector is used to couple first and second circuit boards. In one embodiment a connector frame has a first end disposed against the first circuit board and defining a first wall, and an opposing second end disposed against the second circuit board and defining a second wall generally parallel with the first wall. A plurality of wafers are disposed. Each wafer has a first edge in sliding contact with the first wall and an opposing second edge in sliding contact with the second wall. A plurality of electrically conducting pathways extend along each wafer from the first edge to the second edge. A wafer guide structure defines a plurality of wafer-support aisles on the first and second walls for receiving the edges of the wafers to constrain the wafers with a fixed spacing and generally parallel alignment. A plurality of terminals are biased to protrude laterally into each wafer support aisle, and are spaced along the wafer support aisle such that each wafer is movable within the respective wafer support aisle between a first position, wherein each electrically conducting pathway is disposed between adjacent terminals, to a second position, wherein each electrically conducting pathway is in electrical contact with a terminal on the first wall and an associated terminal on the second wall. | 03-19-2009 |
20090077293 | Dimm Ejection Mechanism - A connector for an electronic card includes an improved latching mechanism for facilitating the insertion and removal of the card. In one embodiment, a connector body is secured to a motherboard and has a socket for removably receiving a DIMM to a seated position. In the seated position, DIMM terminals are in electrical contact with socket terminals, placing the DIMM in electronic communication with the motherboard. A lever is pivotally coupled to an end of the connector body, and is pivotable into engagement with the DIMM to raise the DIMM. A linear actuator is movably secured on a track and is movable into engagement with the lever. A user ejects the DIMM by pressing downward on the linear actuator at a push point. In response, the linear actuator engages the lever to cause the lever to raise the DIMM from the seated position to a raised position, thereby separating electrical contact between the DIMM terminals and the socket terminals. | 03-19-2009 |
20090279244 | Disk Drive Carrier and Cage Preventing Installation of Incompatible Disk Drives - An apparatus comprising a disk drive assembly and a disk drive cage for selectively receiving the disk drive assembly. The disk drive assembly includes first and second side rails secured to opposing sides of a disk drive, wherein the first side rail includes a distal end having a distally-opening slot configured to receive a rigid structure, such as a bent portion of the cage, fixedly extending from the disk drive cage. The slot in the first side rail enables the disk drive assembly to distally advance to a fully installed position within the disk drive cage. Incompatible disk drive assemblies do not include such a slot and are prevented from reaching the fully installed position. Preferably the distal end of first side rail extends beyond the distal end of the disk drive. | 11-12-2009 |
20090279248 | Hard Disk Drive Carrier Latch Apparatus - A hard disk drive carrier having a latch apparatus to facilitate leveraged insertion of a hard disk drive into a receiving drive bay to an interfaced position, securing of the hard disk drive carrier in the drive bay when the hard disk drive secured to the carrier interfaces with a host computer, leveraged dislodgement of the hard disk drive from its interfaced position for removal of the hard disk drive from the drive bay, and proper positioning of the latch apparatus upon insertion of the hard disk drive carrier to ensure proper engagement of the latch apparatus with the drive bay for leveraged insertion and removal. | 11-12-2009 |
20090279249 | Latch for Securing a Hardware Component Into a Component Bay - A latch apparatus and method to facilitate leveraged insertion of a component into a component bay to an interfaced position, securing of the component in the component bay when the component interfaces with a host computer, leveraged dislodgement of the component from its interfaced position for removal of the component from the component bay, and proper positioning of the latch apparatus upon insertion of the component housing to ensure proper engagement of the latch apparatus with the component bay for leveraged insertion and removal. One latch apparatus comprises a frame adapted to be secured to a proximal end of a component housing, a handle pivotally secured to the frame, and an extendable arm slidably secured to a distal end of the handle and biased toward an extended position, wherein the distal end of the extendable arm has a distally extending latch key for engaging a slot in the component bay. | 11-12-2009 |