Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-12
2001-02-06
Fuller, Benjamin R. (Department: 2855)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S752000, C439S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The disclosures herein relate generally to a computer chassis and more particularly to the insertion and removal of expansion cards in a alive chassis.
The use of PCI expansion cards in computer chassis is well known. It often becomes necessary or desirable to add or replace these cards in a live chassis, i.e. a chassis that is in an operating mode. Typically, expansion cards include a plug which extends from one edge thereof. The cards are mounted in the chassis in a vertical orientation with the plug edge connected into a horizontal motherboard. This arrangement requires vertical insertion and removal of the card.
However, in order to vertically insert or remove a card, the chassis top cover must be removed. This requires removal of fastening devices which hold the cover in place. As a result, the cover removal is time consuming. Removal of the cover of a live chassis and insertion or removal of a card therein presents additional problems. In some instances, the chassis may be mounted in a component rack. Component racks are used to store components of computer systems in a centralized location. The racks are tall metal cabinets with trays for supporting components including a chassis. If a chassis is mounted in a component rack, and an expansion card is to be added or removed, the chassis must first be removed from the rack after which the chassis cover can be removed to permit access to insert and/or remove expansion cards.
Other problems associated with inserting the expansion cards on the board. The include alignment of the card plug with the plug on the mother board, the card edge connector insertion/extraction force is quite large, and strain relief of the expansion card and the mother board requires consideration.
Therefore, what is needed is a device which protects and aligns an expansion card during insertion and removal of the card from a live chassis so that chassis covers do not have to be removed and the chassis does not have to be removed from a rack or cabinet.
SUMMARY
One embodiment, accordingly, includes an apparatus and a method for providing quick and easy insertion and removal of an expansion card through a slot It in a side of a computer chassis. To this end, an expansion card assembly is provided including a card carrier. A jumper board is mounted in the carrier. A card is mounted on the jumper board and a connector on the card engages a first connector on the jumper board. A second connector on the jumper board is positioned adjacent an end of the carrier and is coupled to the first connector.
A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the carrier is removably insertable into the chassis to position the second connector of the jumper board for engagement with a connector in the chassis. The plug-in requirement of the card is transferred to the jumper board which is carried and supported by the card carrier.
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Dell USA, L. P.
Fuller Benjamin R.
Haynes and Boone LLP
Patel Jagdish
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