U.S. patent application number 10/085444 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for docking cassette for printed circuit boards.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Barringer, Dennis R., Seminaro, Edward J., Toffler, Harold M..
Application Number | 20030161117 10/085444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27733383 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030161117 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barringer, Dennis R. ; et
al. |
August 28, 2003 |
DOCKING CASSETTE FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
Abstract
A docking apparatus for printed circuit boards including a
cassette housing, having a housing base, a housing cover and a
housing wall, wherein the housing base and the housing wall are
disposed relative to each other so as to define a housing cavity
for containing a printed circuit board and wherein the housing wall
includes a cable opening disposed so as to be communicated with the
housing cavity, a linkage mechanism, wherein the linkage mechanism
includes an engagement configuration and a disengagement
configuration and wherein the linkage mechanism is disposed so as
to be associated with the cassette housing and a housing bezel,
wherein the housing bezel is disposed relative to the cassette
housing so as to be associated with the cable opening.
Inventors: |
Barringer, Dennis R.;
(Wallkill, NY) ; Seminaro, Edward J.; (Milton,
NY) ; Toffler, Harold M.; (Newburgh, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Philmore H. Colburn II
Cantor Colburn LLP
55 Griffin Road South
Bloomfield
CT
06002
US
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
27733383 |
Appl. No.: |
10/085444 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/759 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1448 20130101;
H05K 7/1409 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/759 |
International
Class: |
H05K 005/00; H05K
005/04; H05K 005/06 |
Goverment Interests
[0001] This invention was made with Government support under
subcontract B338307 under prime contract W-7405-ENG-48 awarded by
the Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in this
invention
Claims
We claim:
1. A docking apparatus for printed circuit boards comprising: a
cassette housing, having a housing base, a housing cover and a
housing wall, wherein said housing base and said housing wall are
disposed relative to each other so as to define a housing cavity
for containing a printed circuit board and wherein said housing
wall includes a cable opening disposed so as to be communicated
with said housing cavity; a linkage mechanism, wherein said linkage
mechanism includes an engagement configuration and a disengagement
configuration and wherein said linkage mechanism is disposed so as
to be associated with said cassette housing; and a housing bezel,
wherein said housing bezel is disposed relative to said cassette
housing so as to be associated with said cable opening.
2. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing
cover is non-movably associated with said housing wall.
3. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing
cover is removably connected to said housing wall using screws.
4. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing
cover is removably connected to said housing wall using clips.
5. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cassette
housing further includes a PCB connector opening disposed so as to
be communicated with said housing cavity.
6. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cassette
housing includes a mounting device for movably containing a printed
circuit board.
7. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cassette
housing includes a protrusion for non-movably communicating said
cassette housing with a computer system.
8. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing
bezel includes an inner bezel, an outer bezel and a tail-stock
mechanism, wherein said tail-stock mechanism includes a tail-stock
front having a tail-stock front opening and a tail-stock wall
having a tail-stock top, a tail-stock bottom and a tail-stock
side.
9. A docking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
tail-stock front and said tail-stock wall define a tail-stock
cavity.
10. A docking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said
tail-stock bottom includes a flanged opening.
11. A docking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said outer
bezel includes a forward outer flange and a rear outer flange.
12. A docking apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said inner
bezel includes a forward bezel wall having a forward opening.
13. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing
bezel and said cassette housing are non-movably associated using a
screw.
14. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing
bezel and said cassette housing are non-movably associated using a
clip.
15. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linkage
mechanism is disposed relative to said cassette housing so as to be
partially disposed within said housing cavity.
16. A docking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said linkage
mechanism includes a linkage handle, a linkage rail, a linkage
mounting device and a linkage compression device, wherein said
linkage compression device is movably associated with said linkage
rail.
17. A docking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein when said
linkage mechanism is in said engagement configuration, said linkage
compression device is compressingly associated with said printed
circuit board and wherein when said linkage mechanism is in said
disengagement configuration said linkage compression device is
non-compressingly associated with said printed circuit board.
18. A docking apparatus comprising: a printed circuit board; a
linkage mechanism, wherein said linkage mechanism includes an
engagement configuration and a disengagement configuration; and a
cassette housing having a mounting device and defining a housing
cavity for movably containing said printed circuit board, wherein
said mounting device is disposed within said housing cavity so as
to slidingly contain said printed circuit board within said housing
cavity, and wherein said linkage mechanism is disposed within said
housing cavity so as to be communicated with said printed circuit
board, wherein when said linkage mechanism is in said engagement
configuration, said linkage mechanism is compressingly associated
with said printed circuit board and wherein when said linkage
mechanism is in said disengagement configuration, said linkage
mechanism is non-compressingly associated with said printed circuit
board.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a docking
cassette for printed circuit boards and more specifically to a
docking cassette for printed circuit boards that acts as a guide
and latch and provides the printed circuit board with a level of
thermal and electrical protection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] As integrated circuit (IC) and printed circuit board (PCB)
design and fabrication techniques become more sophisticated,
computer system design techniques must also become more
sophisticated. This is because as IC's and PCB's become more
densely populated, their performance capabilities and speeds
increase and computer systems which employ these IC's and PCB's
must be able to support the increase in performance. In addition,
as businesses that employ these computer systems and components
become more sophisticated, they demand greater performance from
their computer systems resulting in increasingly densely populated
PCB's and computer systems having tightly packed packages. As a
result of these tightly packed packages, these PCB's and computer
systems are susceptible to a variety of problems which must be
considered.
[0004] First, they are more susceptible to damage and performance
disruptions due to electromagnetic interference (EMI) effects. This
is because as the processing speed of these PCB's and computer
systems increase, the electromagnetic (EM) energy unintentionally
radiated from these PCB's and computer systems similarly increases
and any electrical circuit within the general area will receive
this energy. If the circuit is not designed to dissipate this
energy, performance disruptions and/or damage may result.
[0005] Second, they are more susceptible to damage and performance
disruptions due to thermal effects. As components and circuits
become smaller, their packaging becomes smaller thus allowing
manufacturers and designers to more densely populate boards and
systems. However, the smaller packaging means that there is less
opportunity to dissipate heat generated by the component. As a
result, any externally radiated heat from PCB's or components
surrounding the smaller packaging is less likely to be dissipated,
thus producing thermal damage and/or noise within the circuit and
component
[0006] Lastly, as the computer systems become more tightly packed,
ingress and egress of system components becomes more difficult
making system maintenance and repair cumbersome and arduous. This
is because removing a PCB from a system or node is usually achieved
by sliding the entire node in or out of a system via rails. This
requires that the system provide proper mechanical clearances and
additional cable length in order to support the movement of the
rail which is often cumbersome and costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A docking apparatus for printed circuit boards comprising: a
cassette housing, having a housing base, a housing cover and a
housing wall, wherein the housing base and the housing wall are
disposed relative to each other so as to define a housing cavity
for containing a printed circuit board and wherein the housing wall
includes a cable opening disposed so as to be communicated with the
housing cavity; a linkage mechanism, wherein the linkage mechanism
includes an engagement configuration and a disengagement
configuration and wherein the linkage mechanism is disposed so as
to be associated with the cassette housing; and a housing bezel,
wherein the housing bezel is disposed relative to the cassette
housing so as to be associated with the cable opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Referring now to the figures, which are exemplary
embodiments, and wherein the like elements are numbered alike:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a docking cassette in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a docking cassette in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3a is a top down view of a housing base in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3b is a side view of a housing base in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of a linkage mechanism shown in the
"engagement" configuration and the "disengagement"
configuration;
[0014] FIG. 5a is a cross sectional side view of a docking cassette
being disposed within a computer system with linkage mechanism in
the "disengagement" configuration in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 5b is a cross sectional side view of a docking cassette
being disposed within a computer system with linkage mechanism in
the "engagement" configuration in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention;
[0016] FIG. 6a is a side view of a docking cassette and a computer
system main board prior to docking in accordance with an embodiment
of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 6b is a side view of a docking cassette and a computer
system main board after docking in accordance with an embodiment of
the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded overall view of a docking cassette and
a computer system in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring generally to the figures, a docking apparatus 1
for mounting a printed circuit board (PCB) into a computer system
is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Docking apparatus 1 preferably provides structural support to the
PCB so as to allow for the easy insertion and removal of the PCB
from a computer system, as well as thermal and electrical isolation
from other PCB's and components within the computer system.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, a docking
apparatus 1 for mounting a printed circuit board (PCB) in a
computer system is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention. Docking apparatus 1 preferably includes a cassette
housing 2, a linkage mechanism 4 and a housing bezel 6. Cassette
housing 2 preferably includes a housing base 8, a housing cover 10
and a housing wall 12, wherein housing base 8 and housing wall 12
are non-movably associated with each other and disposed relative to
each other so as to define a housing cavity 14 for movably
containing a PCB 16.
[0021] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, housing base 8
preferably includes a linkage cavity 33 and four mounting devices
38 for movably holding PCB 16. PCB 16 preferably includes a PCB
mounting mechanism 40 and mounting device 38 preferably includes a
device opening 39 for slidingly containing PCB mounting mechanism
40, wherein PCB mounting mechanism 40 may be a screw, a pin or any
mounting mechanism suitable to the desired end purpose. In
addition, housing base 8 preferably includes a linkage mounting
receptacle 9 for associating linkage mechanism 4 with housing base
8. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, although linkage
mounting receptacle 9 is preferably a receptacle opening for
receiving a linkage mounting screw 91, linkage mounting receptacle
9 may be any receptacle device suitable to the desired end purpose,
such as a clip receptacle. In accordance with an exemplary
embodiment, it is considered within the scope of the invention that
PCB 16 may be movably associated with housing base 8 using any
device or method suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a
screw or pin.
[0022] Housing wall 12 preferably includes a cable opening 18, a
PCB connector opening 20 and a plurality of vent openings 22. In
addition, housing wall 12 preferably includes a first protrusion 24
and a second protrusion 26, wherein first protrusion 24 and second
protrusion 26 are disposed so as to lockingly engage with a main
board of a computer system. In accordance with an embodiment of the
invention, first protrusion 24 and second protrusion 26 are shown
as being disposed on housing wall 12. However, it is considered
within the scope of the invention that first protrusion 24 and
second protrusion 26 may be disposed anywhere on cassette housing 2
in a manner suitable to the desired end purpose. Moreover, housing
wall 12 preferably includes at least one mounting structure 28
which defines a threaded cavity 30 for receiving a mounting
apparatus 32, such as a screw. In addition, PCB connector opening
20 and cable opening 18 are preferably disposed so as to allow
communication with the PCB connector 42 and the PCB cable
connections 44 when PCB 16 is disposed within housing cavity
14.
[0023] Housing cover 10 preferably includes at least one cover
opening 46 disposed so as to allow communication with mounting
structure 28 when housing cover 10 is associated with housing wall
12. Cover opening 46 is preferably disposed so as to allow mounting
apparatus 32 to communicate with threaded cavity 30 for non-movably
associating housing cover 10 with housing wall 12. Although an
exemplary embodiment describes housing cover 10 being non-movably
associated with housing wall 12, it is considered within the scope
of the invention that housing cover 10 may also be non-movably
associated with housing base 8 and/or housing wall 12 using any
mounting device or method suitable to the desired end purpose.
[0024] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, housing
bezel 6 preferably includes an inner bezel 48, an outer bezel 50
and a tail-stock mechanism 52. Inner bezel 48 preferably includes a
forward bezel wall 58 having at least one forward opening 60. Outer
bezel 50 preferably includes a forward outer flange 62 and a rear
outer flange 64. Tail-stock mechanism 52 preferably includes a
tail-stock front 66 having a tail-stock front opening 67 and a
tail-stock wall 68 having a tail-stock top 70, a tail-stock bottom
72 and a tail-stock side 74. In accordance with an embodiment of
the invention, tail-stock front 66 and tail-stock wall 68 are
preferably non-movably associated with each other so as to form a
tail-stock cavity 76. In addition, tail-stock bottom 72 preferably
includes at least one flanged opening 78. Tail-stock top 70 also
preferably includes at least one tail-stock mounting hole 80 for
mounting housing bezel 6 to cassette housing 2.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, a linkage mechanism 4 is described and
preferably includes a linkage handle 82, a linkage rail 84, a
linkage mounting device 88 and a linkage compression device 86
having a linkage elbow 87. In accordance with an exemplary
embodiment, linkage handle 82 is preferably slidingly associated
with linkage rail 84 and linkage elbow 87 is preferably movably
associated with linkage rail 84. Moreover, linkage mechanism 4 is
preferably configurable between an engagement configuration 90 and
a disengagement configuration 92. Linkage mechanism 4 is disposed
into the engagement configuration 90 by sliding linkage handle 82
along linkage rail 84 so as to cause linkage elbow 87 to move away
from linkage rail 84. Linkage mechanism 4 is disposed into the
disengagement configuration 92 by sliding linkage handle 82 along
linkage rail 84 so as to cause linkage elbow 87 to move toward
linkage rail 84. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,
although linkage mounting device 88 is preferably a linkage opening
for receiving a linkage mounting screw 91, linkage mounting device
88 may be any mounting device suitable to the desired end purpose,
such as a clip.
[0026] Referring to the figures, a docking apparatus 1 containing a
PCB 16 having a PCB mounting hole 17 is shown and discussed,
wherein the docking apparatus 1 is disposed within a computer
system. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, linkage
mechanism 4 is disposed within housing cavity 14 such that linkage
mounting device 88 is communicated with linkage mounting receptacle
9. Linkage mechanism 4 is then non-movably associated with housing
base 8 via linkage mounting device 88 and linkage mounting
receptacle 9 using linkage mounting screw 91. In accordance with an
exemplary embodiment, a PCB 16 is then disposed within housing
cavity 14 so as to allow communication with PCB connector 42 and
PCB cable connections 44 through PCB connector opening 20 and cable
opening 18, respectively. In addition, PCB 16 is disposed within
housing cavity 14 so as to allow communication with mounting device
38 through PCB mounting hole 17. PCB 16 is preferably movably
associated with housing base 8 using PCB mounting mechanism 40.
Moreover, PCB 16 preferably includes an elbow opening 35 disposed
so as to be communicated with linkage elbow 87 when PCB 16 is
disposed within housing cavity 14. In accordance with an exemplary
embodiment, although PCB 16 is preferably movably connected to
linkage elbow 87 using an elbow screw 93, it is considered within
the scope of the invention that PCB 16 may be movably connected to
linkage elbow 87 using any device or method suitable to the desired
end purpose. Furthermore, linkage mechanism is preferably disposed
within housing cavity 14 so as to be associated with linkage cavity
33 thus allowing linkage elbow 87 to move without interference from
housing base 8.
[0027] Linkage mechanism 4 is preferably disposed within housing
cavity 14 so as to be movably associated with PCB 16 such that
linkage handle 82 is protruding from cable opening 18. Linkage
mechanism 4 is preferably disposed such that when linkage mechanism
4 is configured into engagement configuration 90, PCB 16 is
compressed via compression device 86 such that PCB connector 42 is
moved toward PCB connector opening 20. Likewise, when linkage
mechanism 4 is configured into disengagement configuration 92, PCB
16 is decompressed such that PCB connector 42 is moved away from
PCB connector opening 20. Housing cover 10 is then disposed over
housing cavity 14 so as to allow communication with threaded cavity
30 through cover opening 46.
[0028] Inner bezel 48 is then disposed within tail-stock cavity 76
so as to be adjacent to tail-stock front 66 such that the
tail-stock front opening 67 and forward opening 60 are also
adjacent. Inner bezel 48 is then disposed such that tail-stock top
70 is communicated with housing cover 10. Outer bezel 50 is
preferably disposed such that forward outer flange 62 is
communicated with flanged opening 78 on tail-stock bottom 72. In
addition, outer bezel 50 is also preferably disposed such that rear
outer flange 64 is communicated with housing base 8. Housing bezel
6 is preferably disposed over cable opening 18 so as to enclose
housing cavity 14. In addition, housing bezel 6 is preferably
disposed such that tail-stock mounting hole 80 is communicated with
cover opening 46 and threaded cavity 30. Housing cover 10, linkage
mechanism 4 and tail-stock mechanism 52 is then non-movably
associated with housing wall 12 using mounting apparatus 32.
[0029] In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, docking cassette
1 is then disposed onto a computer system main board 100 having a
PCB connector receptacle 102, a first receptacle 104 and a second
receptacle 106. Docking cassette 1 is preferably disposed onto
computer system main board 100 such that PCB connector 42 is
adjacent to PCB connector receptacle 102. In addition, docking
cassette 1 is preferably disposed such that first protrusion 24 is
communicated with first receptacle 104 and second protrusion 26 is
communicated with second receptacle 106 so as to non-movably
associate docking cassette 1 with computer system main board 100.
Linkage mechanism 4 is then configured from the disengagement
configuration 92 into the engagement configuration 90. This is done
by sliding linkage handle 82 along linkage rail 84 so as to cause
linkage elbow 87 to move away from linkage rail 84. This causes
compression device 86 to compress PCB 16 in such a manner so as to
electrically communicate PCB connector 42 and PCB connector
receptacle 102. Likewise, sliding linkage handle 82 along linkage
rail 84 so as to cause linkage elbow 87 to move toward linkage rail
84 will cause compression device 86 to decompress PCB 16 in such a
manner so as to electrically discommunicate PCB connector 42 and
PCB connector receptacle 102.
[0030] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, housing
base 8 and housing wall 12 are preferably constructed from a rigid
material such as plastic (polycarbonate with glass filler).
However, it is considered within the scope of the invention that
housing base 8 and housing wall 12 may be constructed from any
material suitable to the desired end purpose.
[0031] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, housing
cover 10 is preferably constructed from a rigid material such as
plastic. However, it is considered within the scope of the
invention that housing cover 10 may be constructed from any
material suitable to the desired end purpose.
[0032] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, linkage
mechanism 4 is preferably constructed from a rigid material having
sufficient strength, such as steel and/or stainless steel. However,
it is considered within the scope of the invention that linkage
mechanism 4 may be constructed from any material suitable to the
desired end purpose.
[0033] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, outer
bezel 50 is preferably constructed from a rigid material having
sufficient strength and electromagnetic compatibility properties,
such as beryllium copper and/or stainless steel. However, it is
considered within the scope of the invention that outer bezel 50
may be constructed from any material suitable to the desired end
purpose.
[0034] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, inner
bezel 48 and tail-stock mechanism 52 are preferably constructed
from a rigid material having sufficient strength, such as steel
and/or stainless steel. However, it is considered within the scope
of the invention that inner bezel 48 and tail-stock mechanism 52
may be constructed from any material suitable to the desired end
purpose.
[0035] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *