Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-17
2001-02-27
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S741000, C361S728000, C361S801000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195262
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic packaging in general and, in particular, to electronic packaging of Personal Computers (PC) and other network interconnecting devices.
2. Prior Art
Personal computers and network interconnecting devices such as routers, concentrators, etc. typically have an enclosure in which several components are mounted. Typical components include blowers, hard disk, motherboard, circuit cards, etc. Most of the designs were roll-your-own in that each manufacturer designs its machines to its own liking without regard for interchangeability of parts from other manufacturers. Examples of prior art machines are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,916,578; 5,175,669; 5,218,514; 5,519,573; 5,596,483 and 5,600,538.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,916,578 (Personal Computer Chassis Connection Method). This patent shows a box that uses a sliding 4-sided top cover over a 3-sided base with a special interlock detail for EMC sealing. The adapters are vertically oriented and top pluggable, requiring removal of the top cover first. The corner EMC seal is a contact clip.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,669 (Support Member that Couples an Electronic Card to a Chassis). This patent shows a mechanism for retaining an adapter card which is installed into a box from the top. The top cover would have to be removed to access the adapter. The mechanism would probably be molded plastic so that it can flex to snap into the retaining slots in the box base. The adapters plug into a mother board and are oriented vertically in the box.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,514 (Compact High Power Personal Computer with Improved Air Cooling System). This patent describes a cooling system for a personal computer box that pulls air in through apertures in the front and blows it out the back. It also describes the location of the components within the box such as the power supply and riser board and I/O cards which are horizontally oriented. The patent seems very specific to the product it describes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,573 (I/O Riser Card for Motherboard in Personal Computer/Server). This patent shows a mother board with a vertically oriented riser board for I/O connection attached. The riser board has an EMC gasket (
40
) mentioned. The description is a compliant die-cut part which has connector exit openings and is sandwiched between the outer box case.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,483 (Silent Air Cooled Computer . . . ). This patent claims a very specific means for cooling a hard drive which apparently also reduces noise levels. It claims a fan which is adhesively mounted to an elastic gasket. It also claims a hard drive with a fluid containing pouch.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,538 (Personal Computer and Housing Structure . . . ). This patent describes an Apple computer with removable decorative panels and with a removable mother board with a sub-chassis mounted on top. The disk drives are mounted on slides which are accessible from the front exterior of the box after a decorative panel is removed. The patent appears very specific to the Apple product.
There seems to be a trend, in the computer and communications industries, toward open systems whereby hardware would be compatible with other hardware no matter what company makes it. To foster this interchangeability, several companies have formed a consortium called PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG™) which promulgates the CompactPCI® (Peripheral Component Interconnect) specification that uses industry standard mechanical components and high performance connector technologies to provide a system intended for rugged environments. Included in the specification is a standard form factor for adapters or boards. Both 3U (100 mm by 160 mm) and 6U (233.35 mm by 160 mm) board size are defined. More details are set forth in the standard which is incorporated herein by reference.
Even though the specification is a step in the right direction in that electronics are packaged on a standardized board that fits enclosures from different manufacturers, the enclosures themselves are built on a “roll-your-own” interchangeable component design. Kits containing mechanical parts for the enclosures can be purchased and assembled. The enclosures are usually expensive due to high cost for the mechanical components and labor costs for manually assembling them. In addition, the fit between parts are variable due to tolerances and to variable assembly positions. Moreover, the appearances are not pleasing; thus, requiring covers that further augment the overall cost. Finally, these “tinker-toy like” enclosures are not very good in providing EMI shielding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rugged electrical machine that is compatible with the Compact PCI specification.
It is another object of the invention to provide a low cost enclosure that supports CompactPCI® form factor standard boards.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure whose manufacture is fully or partially automated.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure with improved EMI shielding.
The electrical machine includes an enclosure, components mounted in the enclosure and EMI shielding to control electromagnetic interferences (EMI).
The enclosure includes a base section with spaced horizontal slots fabricated along the front of the base and spaced vertical slots fabricated along the top rear of the base. The cover section includes tabs positioned on the front and back edge. The tabs are fabricated to be inserted in the slots when the cover section is placed on the base section. The tabs and associated slots are part of the EMI shielding system that is further enhanced by conductive gaskets disposed relative to the tabs on the cover.
The base further includes a support, for mounting the backplane card, connected to the base. A plurality of spaced card rail brackets are connected between the support and the access opening in the front wall of the base. The card rail brackets also provide grounding and latching surfaces for the card brackets and injector/ejector lever mechanism. The card rail brackets are arranged to provide access openings for different size circuit boards. Card guides, upon which the circuit boards ride, are fitted on the card rail brackets. Grounding clips for grounding the circuit board are provided in the card guides.
The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent in the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5121296 (1992-06-01), Hsu
patent: 5536905 (1996-07-01), Redman et al.
patent: 5689406 (1997-11-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5912799 (1999-06-01), Grouell et al.
Bodette Edward James
Bulluck John Gary
Durham Christopher Lee
Miles Anthony Wayne
Oakley Brian Scott
Cockburn Jocelyn G.
Duong Hung Van
International Business Machines - Corporation
Picard Leo P.
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