U.S. patent application number 11/612557 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for locking and activation mechanism for a hot swappable daughter card.
Invention is credited to Jeremy Scott Bridges, David L. Hager, Dean F. Herring, Daniel Paul Kelaher, Paul Andrew Wormsbecher.
Application Number | 20080146062 11/612557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39466403 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080146062 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bridges; Jeremy Scott ; et
al. |
June 19, 2008 |
LOCKING AND ACTIVATION MECHANISM FOR A HOT SWAPPABLE DAUGHTER
CARD
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for locking a cam lever which
positions a second card as inserted into a connector on a first
card, and activating the second card with a coupling member. In one
embodiment, the second card is inserted between a pair of guides
secured to the first card into a connector on the first card. A
hinged cam lever on either a guide or the second card positions the
second card. A coupling member on the cam lever can be moved to
lock the cam lever in place and engage a switch on the second card
to activate the second card. When removal of the second card is
desired, the coupling member on the cam lever can be moved to
unlock the cam lever and disengage the switch on the second card to
deactivate the second card.
Inventors: |
Bridges; Jeremy Scott;
(Apex, NC) ; Hager; David L.; (Wake Forest,
NC) ; Herring; Dean F.; (Youngsville, NC) ;
Kelaher; Daniel Paul; (Holly Springs, NC) ;
Wormsbecher; Paul Andrew; (Apex, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IBM CORPORATION (SS/NC);c/o STREETS & STEELE
13831 NORTHWEST FREEWAY, SUITE 355
HOUSTON
TX
77040
US
|
Family ID: |
39466403 |
Appl. No.: |
11/612557 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/1414 20130101;
G06F 1/185 20130101; H05K 7/1487 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/325 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/62 20060101
H01R013/62 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a first circuit board having a first
electronic connector; a second circuit board having a second
electronic connector configured for electronically interfacing with
the first electronic connector to enable electronic communication
between the first and second circuit boards and a switch configured
for activating the second circuit board in response to engagement
of the switch; first and second guides secured to the first circuit
board on opposing sides of the first electronic connector; a first
cam lever pivotally supported on the first guide and moveable from
an open position to a closed position while contacting the second
circuit board to secure the second circuit board to the first
circuit board; a second cam lever pivotally supported on the second
guide and moveable from an open position to a closed position while
contacting the second circuit board to secure the second circuit
board to the first circuit board; and a coupling member slidably
supported on one of the first cam lever and the second cam lever
and slidably moveable from an unlocked position to a locked
position such that the coupling member is coupled with the other of
the first cam lever and the second cam lever in the locked
position, and wherein the locked position of the coupling member
locks the first cam lever in the closed position and engages the
switch on the second circuit board.
2-3. (canceled)
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cam lever is secured
to the first guide by a hinge.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guides are disposed at an
angle perpendicular to the plane of the first circuit board to
ensure the proper insertion of the second printed circuit board
into the electronic connector of the first circuit board.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cam lever, when
moved to the closed position, engages the second circuit board to
urge the second circuit board toward the first circuit board such
that the second electronic connector is inserted into the first
electronic connector.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a protuberance on
the coupling member; and a mating slot in the circuit board,
wherein the protuberance is received in the mating slot when the
coupling member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked
position.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the switch is disposed within
the mating slot such that the protuberance engages the switch when
the coupling member is moved to the locked position.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch on the second
circuit board activates the second circuit board by completing a
circuit with the coupling member in the locked position, and
deactivates the second circuit board with the coupling member in
the unlocked position by opening the circuit.
10-13. (canceled)
14. An apparatus for connecting first and second circuit boards,
comprising: a first electronic connector on the first circuit
board; a second electronic connector on the second circuit board
configured for electronically interfacing with the first electronic
connector to place the first and second circuit boards in
electronic communication; one or more guide adjacent the first
connector for positioning the second circuit board with respect to
the first circuit board to align the second electronic connector
with the first electronic connector for coupling; opposing cam
levers pivotally secured to the one or more guide and movable into
contact with the second circuit board to a closed position to
couple the first and second electronic connectors; a switch on the
second circuit board configured for activating the second circuit
board; and a coupling member movable from an unlocked position to a
locked position for removably locking the first and second cam
levers together when the opposing cam levers are in the closed
position, wherein movement of the coupling member to the locked
position also engages the switch.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the opposing cam levers are
pivotable toward one another to move the cam levers to the closed
position.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein movement of the opposing cam
levers from the open position to the closed position is in the
plane of the second circuit board.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling member is
slidably secured to one of the opposing cam levers such that the
coupling member is slidable along the axis of that coupling member
into contact with the other opposing cam lever to move the coupling
member from the unlocked position to the locked position.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a slot on the
second circuit board generally aligned in a direction of movement
of the coupling member when the lever arms are in the closed
position; and a protuberance on the coupling member that moves into
the slot as a result of movement of the coupling member from the
unlocked position to the locked position.
19. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the switch is disposed along
the slot, such that the protuberance engages the switch when the
coupling member is moved to the locked position.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the slot is positioned on
the second circuit board such that the protuberance on the coupling
member is only aligned to move into the slot when the second
circuit board is properly positioned.
21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the locking of the coupling
member occurs at approximately the midpoint between the two
guides.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit board
comprises a motherboard and the second circuit board comprises a
daughter card.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seating surface
on the first cam lever and a seating surface on the second cam
lever that mates with the seating surface on the first cam
lever.
24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling member closely
encompasses the mating seating surfaces in the locked position, to
interlock the first and second cam levers.
25. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a seating surface
on the first cam lever and a seating surface on the second cam
lever that mates with the seating surface on the first cam
lever.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the coupling member closely
encompasses the mating seating surfaces in the locked position, to
interlock the first and second cam levers.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the safe insertion and
removal of hot-swappable computer components.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Hot swappable components have become commonplace in computer
systems. Server systems often use hot swappable memory, hard
drives, and various pieces of hardware commonly referred to as
daughter cards. Hot swapping may involve the removal of a piece of
hardware, or the insertion of a piece of hardware, or both while
the computer is on and functioning.
[0005] Computer systems that support hot swapping need some ability
to detect that a component has been removed or inserted and to
determine what resources are available for use. Notifying the
system that a component has been inserted or removed allows for
efficient allocation of resources and the use of computing
power.
[0006] In addition, all connections need to be designed such that
neither the component nor the user can be injured by removing or
installing it. Most, if not all, computer components require power
to be operational. The electronic connections between components
must be designed to ensure that connecting the components will not
result in a power surge to either component, which may result in
damage to sensitive electronics. Also, care must be taken to avoid
electrical shock to the user inserting or removing the
component.
[0007] The components of the computer system must be designed to
accommodate removal or installation of other components. When a
component is removed, the computer system must reallocate tasks to
other components. When a component is inserted, the system must be
able to allocate tasks to that component in order to make the most
efficient use of the system resources.
[0008] Furthermore, the removal of a hot swappable component must
be accomplished in such a manner as to allow the component to
complete any operations that are underway, and allow for seamless
operation of the computer system. Removal of a component should not
result in the loss or corruption of data. The removal or addition
of a component should also be possible at any time, to enable the
user to make "on-the-fly" adjustments to the computer system.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus for
activating the card after insertion, or deactivating the card prior
to removal. It would be desirable for the method and apparatus to
provide a locking mechanism to prevent removal prior to
deactivation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for
locking a cam lever which positions a second card as inserted into
a connector on a first card, and activating the second card with a
single coupling member. In one embodiment, the first card has a
connector with first and second guides disposed on opposing sides
of the connector. Two hinged cam levers pivot to secure the second
card to the first card when inserted into the connector on the
first card. A coupling member is disposed upon one of the hinged
cam levers. A slot in an edge of the second card distal to the
connector receives a protuberance on the coupling member. When the
hinged cam levers are closed to position and secure the second
card, the coupling member may be moved to lock the cam levers in
place, lock the second card in place, and engage a switch on the
second card to activate the daughter card.
[0011] In another embodiment, a first card has a connector with one
or more guide disposed adjacent the side of the connector, such as
first and second guides disposed on opposing sides of the
connector. One or more cam lever pivots to secure the second card
to the first card when inserted into the connector on the first
card. A coupling member is disposed upon the hinged cam lever. When
the hinged cam lever is closed to position the second card, the
coupling member may be moved to lock the cam lever in place to a
fixed structure on the motherboard, lock the second card in place,
and engage a switch on the daughter card to activate the daughter
card.
[0012] The present invention also provides a method for locking a
cam lever which positions a second card as inserted into a
connector on a first card, and activating the daughter card with a
single coupling member. A cam lever is closed to properly position,
and retain the second card in place. A coupling member is axially
slid across the cam lever to lock the cam lever, and activate the
second card.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical motherboard with a
connector and a daughter card.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a partial side view of daughter card operatively
received in the connector on the motherboard with the hinged cam
levers in a closed position.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of daughter card operatively received
in the connector on the motherboard with the coupling member in a
locked position.
[0016] FIGS. 4A-C are a series of side views of a motherboard with
a daughter card being inserted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The present invention addresses the needs described above.
The invention provides an apparatus and a method for locking a cam
lever that positions a second card as inserted into a first card,
and activating the second card with a single coupling member.
[0018] The invention is applicable to any situation where there are
two cards that communicate with each other, and it is desirable to
control the order in which a second card is inserted and activated,
or deactivated and removed relative to a first card. However, for
ease of explanation and clarity of the description, the discussion
that follows will deal with a typical scenario in which the first
card is a motherboard and the second card is a daughter card.
[0019] First and second guides are secured to a motherboard on
opposite or opposing sides of a connector on the motherboard that
is designed to accept the insertion of a daughter card for
electronic communication therebetween. A hinged cam lever is
disposed on the guide to position and secure the daughter card. In
the open position, the cam lever allows for the manual insertion of
the daughter card into the motherboard connector. The hinged cam
lever is closed to engage and properly position the card.
[0020] The hinged cam lever also includes a coupling member that
moves between a locked position and an unlocked position. In one
embodiment, the coupling member incorporates a protuberance that is
alignable with a mating slot in the daughter card when the card is
properly positioned. The coupling member and protuberance are
designed so that the hinged cam lever may only be fully closed with
the coupling member in the unlocked position. Once the hinged cam
lever is closed with a daughter card inserted, the coupling member
may be moved to the closed position. The coupling member will be
moved along the axis of the cam lever to couple with a structure on
the motherboard, such as a guide, or an opposing cam lever. In the
closed position, the coupling member will lock both the hinged cam
lever and the daughter card in place, and activate the daughter
card. The coupling of the coupling member with a structure on the
motherboard, or an opposing cam lever will prevent the cam lever
from rotating at the hinge. Therefore, the cam lever cannot
accidentally open and subject the card to damage or removal.
Furthermore, when the coupling member is in the locked position,
the protuberance on the coupling member will activate the daughter
card and enable safe communication between the daughter card and
the motherboard.
[0021] The protuberance on the coupling member may depress an
activation switch on the daughter card as the coupling member is
moved from the unlocked position to the locked position. The
activation switch may be located anywhere on the daughter card to
allow for the coupling member to depress it. The protuberance may
be angled, so that the sliding motion depresses the activation
switch, or the activation switch may be positioned within the
mating slot on the daughter card, so that the locking of the
daughter card activates the switch.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the coupling member locks two
opposing hinged cam levers together, while simultaneously locking
the daughter card in place, and activating a switch upon the
daughter card. The cam levers may be pivotally secured at the top
of two opposing guides on either side of the connector on the
motherboard. Alternatively, the cam levers may be pivotally secured
to the daughter card for engagement with the guide. The two cam
levers will preferably allow for even positioning of the daughter
card, without uneven pressure on either side of the daughter card.
To achieve an even pressure distribution, the locking of the
coupling member will preferably occur at approximately the midpoint
between the two guides.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical motherboard 10 with a
connector 12 receiving a daughter card 25. Two guides 14 are
secured to the motherboard 10, with one guide 14 disposed on either
side of the connector 12. Hinged cam levers 16, 18 are coupled to
the daughter card 25 at the hinges 22. The guide 14 has a lip 15 to
engage the hinged cam levers 16, 18.The hinges 22 may be of any
type to allow motion of the hinged cam levers 16, 18 preferably in
the plane of an inserted daughter card 25. While the hinges 22
should allow the cam levers to move out of the path of the lip 15
during insertion, the hinges 22 preferably provide enough of a
range of motion for the hinged cam lever 16, 18 to achieve this
purpose. The hinged cam lever 18 has a seating surface 19 to match
the seating surface 17 of the opposing hinged cam lever 16. The
hinged cam lever 18 also includes a coupling member 20, with a
protuberance 24 that is alignable to mate with a slot 26 in the
daughter card 25.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side view of a typical motherboard 10 with a
connector 12 receiving a daughter card 25. In this embodiment, two
guides 14 are secured to the motherboard 10, with one guide 14
disposed on either side of the connector 12. Hinged cam levers 16,
18 are pivotally coupled to the guide 13. The hinges 22 may be of
any type to allow motion of the hinged cam levers 16, 18,
preferably in the plane of an inserted daughter card 25.While the
hinges 22 should allow the cam levers to move out of the path of a
daughter card during insertion, the hinges 22 preferably allow at
least ninety degrees of motion for the hinged cam lever 16, 18 for
this purpose. The hinged cam lever 18 has a seating surface 19 to
match the seating surface 17 of the opposing hinged cam lever 16.
The hinged cam lever 18 also includes a coupling member 20, with a
protuberance 24 that is alignable to mate with a slot 26 in the
daughter card 25.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the daughter card 25
operatively received in the connector (not shown) positioned by the
hinged cam levers 16, 18 on the motherboard (not shown), with the
coupling member 20 in the unlocked position. A protuberance 24 on
the coupling member 20 fits within the slot 26 in the edge of the
daughter card 25. An angled portion 21 of the coupling member 20 is
distal to the seating surface 19 of the hinged cam lever 18. The
daughter card 25 has an activation switch 28 positioned to be
depressed when the coupling member 20 is moved to the locked
position (to the left in FIG. 2). It should be recognized that the
angled portion 21 in combination with the adjacent switch or sensor
28 is just one example. Note that the activation switch 28 may
alternatively be located within or adjacent to the slot 26 in the
daughter card for activation by the protuberance 24 when the
coupling member 20 has been slid to a fully locked position (See
FIG. 3). As shown, the protuberance 24 preferably extends downward
and then substantially horizontally in order to latch the coupling
member 20 to the daughter card 25. Preferably, the protuberance 24
forms a "U-shaped" member that hooks into a horizontal leg of the
slot 26. The switch may be disposed in any other desirable location
for selective engagement with a portion of the coupling member when
in a locked position.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of daughter card 25
operatively received in the connector (not shown) positioned by the
hinged cam levers 16, 18 on the motherboard (not shown), with the
coupling member 20 in the locked position. The protuberance 24
depresses the activation switch 28 on the daughter card 25. In this
position, the protuberance 24 is disposed within a second leg of
the slot 26 in the daughter card 25 and prevents opening of the cam
levers 16, 18. It should be recognized that the locking and
activating mechanisms described in FIGS. 3 and 4 are consistent
with either of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0027] In a second embodiment, a single cam lever may be utilized
to position the daughter card. The coupling member would then lock
the single cam lever directly to a structure on the motherboard,
such as the second guide, while simultaneously locking the daughter
card and activating a switch upon the daughter card.
[0028] While the above embodiments show a mechanical switch being
depressed on the daughter card, one skilled in the art will see
that any switching mechanism may be used. For example, the coupling
member may release a switch in the locked position which was
depressed in the unlocked position in order to activate the
daughter card. The coupling member may also complete a circuit to
provide power to the daughter card in the locked position. Any
mechanism of activating the daughter card while also locking the
hinged cam lever and daughter card may be implemented.
[0029] The present invention also provides a method for locking the
hinged cam lever, the daughter card, and activating the daughter
card with a single coupling member. Upon insertion of a daughter
card into the motherboard, the daughter card is positioned by at
least one hinged cam lever. Preferably, the cam lever cannot be
fully closed if the daughter card is improperly positioned.
Furthermore, the daughter card may not be removed with the cam
lever in the closed position. The cam lever is locked in place by a
coupling member, wherein the coupling member also activates the
daughter card when the coupling member is in the locked position.
The activation of the daughter card may be accomplished by engaging
a switch with the coupling member, disengaging a switch which was
engaged, completing a circuit with the coupling member, or any
other means that activates the daughter card when the coupling
member is in the locked position or as the coupling member is being
locked.
[0030] FIGS. 5A-5C are a series of side views of a motherboard 10
with a daughter card 25 being inserted, locked and activated. In
FIG. 5A (step one), the hinged cam levers 16, 18 are in the open
position. The hinge 22 allows the hinged cam levers 16, 18 to be
moved out of the path of the daughter card 25. The daughter card 25
is operatively received by the connector 12 on the mother board 10.
The guides 14 ensure that the daughter card 25 is inserted at the
correct angle to the motherboard 10 and the connector 12 on the
motherboard. The daughter card 25 will have a connector 13 which
mates with the connector 12 on the motherboard. While this figure
shows two cam levers 16, 18, a single cam lever may be similarly
utilized to position the daughter card 25.
[0031] In FIG. 5B (step two), the daughter card 25 has been
received by the mother board 10 in the connector 12. The cam levers
16, 18 are then closed to properly position and secure the daughter
card 25. The hinges 22 for the cam levers 16, 18 are at the proper
height on the guides 14 so that a portion of the cam levers push
downward on the upper edge of the daughter card to ensure complete
insertion of the daughter card 25. A protuberance 24 on the
coupling member 20 is received in a first leg of the slot 26 in the
daughter card.
[0032] In FIG. 5C (step three), the coupling member 20 is moved (to
the left in FIG. 4C) to lock the cam levers 16, 18 in place. Since
the coupling member 20 closely encompasses the mating seating
surfaces 17, 19, the cam levers are effectively interlocked.
Simultaneously, the protuberance 24 locks the daughter card 25 in
place and locks the cam levers down against the daughter card. As
the daughter card 25 is locked in place, the coupling member 20
also activates the daughter card 25. This activation may be
accomplished via depressing a switch 28 with either the
protuberance 24 of the coupling member 20, or the coupling member
20 itself. When the above steps are performed in reverse, the
daughter card is safely deactivated, the cam lever is unlocked, and
the daughter card may be removed from the motherboard.
[0033] The terms "comprising," "including," and "having," as used
in the claims and specification herein, shall be considered as
indicating an open group that may include other elements not
specified. The terms "a," "an," and the singular forms of words
shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such
that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The
term "one" or "single" may be used to indicate that one and only
one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer
values, such as "two," may be used when a specific number of things
is intended. The terms "preferably," "preferred," "prefer,"
"optionally," "may," and similar terms are used to indicate that an
item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not
required) feature of the invention.
[0034] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments
can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention
as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should
be limited only by the attached claims.
* * * * *