Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-08
2002-09-10
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S801000, C361S802000, C361S704000, C439S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06449163
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retention mechanism for capturing a printed circuit board assembly.
2. Background Information
Integrated circuits are typically assembled to packages that are mounted to a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board may have a plurality of conductive pads which plug into a mating connector. The mating connector may be mounted to a motherboard of a computer system. The conductive pads must be aligned with corresponding contacts of the connector to properly connect the printed circuit board with the motherboard. Plugging the circuit board into the motherboard connector is typically a manual process which requires a certain level of skill to align the pads and contacts of the connector.
Computer systems are sometimes exposed to shock and vibration loads. The shock and vibration loads create stresses in the printed circuit board and the motherboard connector. Some computer systems contain mechanical guide rails which receive the edges of the printed circuit board and align the pads with the contacts when the board is being plugged into the connector. The guide rails are typically mounted to a metal frame of a computer which provides structural support for the circuit board and the connector. Some computer systems may further incorporate mechanical latches to secure the printed circuit board to the motherboard. The latches typically cooperate with the guide rails or other features of the computer chassis.
It may be desirable to enclose the printed circuit board assembly with a cover to protect the electrical components of the assembly. The cover may allow an end user to readily plug the assembly into a motherboard without making contact with the electrical components. Such an assembly may require a retention system which cooperates with the cover to insure that the printed circuit board remains plugged into the motherboard connector even when the system is subjected to shock and vibration. It would be desirable to provide a retention system that secures an enclosed printed circuit board assembly. It would also be desirable if the retention mechanism has a relatively small profile to limit the amount of motherboard space occupied by the mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a retention mechanism which may include a retention beam that has a flexible tab. The flexible tab may be pressed into a side edge of a substrate which supports an integrated circuit package.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3539879 (1970-11-01), Bradley et al.
patent: 3662224 (1972-05-01), Rauch
patent: 3801874 (1974-04-01), Stefani
patent: 3829741 (1974-08-01), Athey
patent: 3895267 (1975-07-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 3932016 (1976-01-01), Ammenheuser
patent: 4110552 (1978-08-01), Lombardi
patent: 4266267 (1981-05-01), Ruegg
patent: 4521827 (1985-06-01), Jordan et al.
patent: 4602315 (1986-07-01), Breese
patent: 4652971 (1987-03-01), Peterson et al.
patent: 4717989 (1988-01-01), De Barros et al.
patent: 4899256 (1990-02-01), Sway-Tin
patent: 4910434 (1990-03-01), Doumani et al.
patent: 4917618 (1990-04-01), Behrens et al.
patent: 5006667 (1991-04-01), Lonka
patent: 5014160 (1991-05-01), McCoy, Jr.
patent: 5020866 (1991-06-01), McIlwraith
patent: 5043534 (1991-08-01), Mahulikar et al.
patent: 5055971 (1991-10-01), Fudala et al.
patent: 5241453 (1993-08-01), Bright et al.
patent: RE34393 (1993-09-01), McIlwraith
patent: 5250752 (1993-10-01), Cutright
patent: 5278351 (1994-01-01), Herrick
patent: 5289347 (1994-02-01), McCarthy et al.
patent: 5294994 (1994-03-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5303113 (1994-04-01), Goleman et al.
patent: 5309315 (1994-05-01), Naedel et al.
patent: 5323299 (1994-06-01), Weber
patent: 5333100 (1994-07-01), Anhalt et al.
patent: 5353201 (1994-10-01), Maeda
patent: 5354951 (1994-10-01), Lange, Sr. et al.
patent: 5398822 (1995-03-01), McCarthy et al.
patent: 5422433 (1995-06-01), Rivera et al.
patent: 5430607 (1995-07-01), Smith
patent: 5473111 (1995-12-01), Hattori et al.
patent: 5477421 (1995-12-01), Bethurum
patent: 5483422 (1996-01-01), Bowen et al.
patent: 5483423 (1996-01-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5526229 (1996-06-01), Wakabayashi et al.
patent: 5545843 (1996-08-01), Arvidsson et al.
patent: 5550713 (1996-08-01), Pressler et al.
patent: 5650917 (1997-07-01), Hsu
patent: 5659459 (1997-08-01), Wakabayashi et al.
patent: 5822197 (1998-10-01), Thuault
patent: 5829601 (1998-11-01), Yurchenco et al.
patent: 5838542 (1998-11-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5856910 (1999-01-01), Yurchenco et al.
patent: 5883782 (1999-03-01), Thurston et al.
patent: 5883783 (1999-03-01), Turturro
patent: 5889656 (1999-03-01), Yin
patent: 5943218 (1999-08-01), Liu
patent: 6179414 (2001-01-01), Keefe et al.
patent: 407245492 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 410084193 (1998-03-01), None
Rutigliano Michael L.
Stark Michael R.
Duong Hung Van
Schuberg Darren
LandOfFree
Inboard retention system for processor enclosure assemblies... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inboard retention system for processor enclosure assemblies..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inboard retention system for processor enclosure assemblies... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2838216