Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-04
2001-05-15
Gandhi, Jayprakash N. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S800000, C361S816000, C175S051000, C175S038000, C211S041170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233158
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to assembling computers, and more particularly to methods and devices for installing and grounding a motherboard in a computer chassis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer chassis house processors, memory devices, power supplies, expansion cards and several other components. A computer chassis should protect the computer components from dust, static electricity, external electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions, physical impact and other external factors. Computer chassis also protect users and the environment from EMI emissions generated by the computer components. In a typical application, a computer chassis has a high structural integrity to protect against physical impact, and conductive, shielding materials to reduce EMI emissions. The conductive components of the computer are also grounded to the chassis to protect users and computer components from electric shock.
In the competitive computer industry, it is important to efficiently install the components in the chassis to control the cost to assemble a computer or upgrade computer components. The efficiency of installing computer components in the chassis is a function of the ease of attaching, removing, or replacing components in the chassis. Additionally, motherboards and other components should be easily accessible for upgrading and expanding the hardware of computers. Thus, the design of the computer chassis for efficient assembly and upgrading directly impacts the overall cost of manufacturing a computer.
FIG. 1
is a schematic isometric overview of a computer system
10
including a computer
12
, a monitor
14
coupled to the computer
12
, and a keyboard
16
coupled to the computer
12
. The operative components of the computer
12
are housed in a chassis
20
.
FIG. 2
is a schematic isometric top view illustrating the installation of an NLX motherboard
22
into the chassis
20
. The NLX motherboard
22
is installed by sliding the motherboard
22
along guides
23
(arrow A). The motherboard
22
includes a metal gasket
24
with a row of beryllium copper spring fingers
26
. As the motherboard
22
slides into the chassis
20
, the spring fingers
26
slide across an interior chassis wall
28
to maintain a ground contact between the motherboard
22
and the chassis
20
. After the motherboard
22
is installed in the chassis
20
, the gasket
24
obstructs an opening
29
in the chassis wall
28
and shields the motherboard
22
from EMI emissions external environmental factors.
One drawback of the chassis
20
is that it may not adequately shield the computer components from EMI emissions. To adequately shield the computer components, an EMI shield must electrically contact the chassis at enclosure seam gaps. The prior art gasket
24
may not provide adequate EMI shielding because the spring fingers
26
may bend or break as they slide across the chassis wall
28
during installation or removal of the motherboard
22
. As a result, the spring fingers
26
may not contact the chassis
20
in a manner that properly grounds the motherboard
22
and restricts EMI emissions.
Another drawback of the chassis
20
is that it may not have sufficient structural integrity to protect the computer components during shipping and operation. To permit installation of the motherboard
22
, a backplate
30
is removed from the chassis
20
and the rear corner of the sidewall
28
includes a notch
27
to receive the motherboard
22
. The removable backplate
30
detrimentally effects the structural integrity and strength of the chassis
20
because the entire rear surface of the chassis
20
is a separate component that may become loose. Additionally, the notch
27
reduces the strength of the sidewall
28
such that the sidewall
28
is subject to twisting at the rear corner of the chassis
20
. The chassis
20
, therefore, may not have sufficient structural integrity to adequately protect the computer components.
The chassis
20
also presents a manufacturing concern because it may impair efficient installation and/or removal of the motherboard
22
. For example, because the fingers
26
may be damaged or destroyed as they slide across the interior wall
28
, installers must use great care and slowly slide the motherboard
22
into the chassis
20
. Installing and removing NLX motherboards
22
is accordingly a time consuming part of assembling or upgrading computers. Moreover, if the fingers
26
are damaged, more time is required to repair the fingers
26
or replace the gasket
24
. Thus, the chassis
20
may significantly impair the manufacturing and repair costs of computers with NLX motherboards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a computer chassis and methods for installing components in the chassis. One computer chassis of the present invention includes a plurality of panels configured to define an interior cavity, an input/output aperture in one of the panels, and a movable cover plate having a grounding contact. The cover plate has a fastening portion that is releasably attachable to a panel of the chassis to cover the input/output aperture. The cover plate is movable to a first position in which the cover plate closes the input/output aperture and the grounding contact electronically couples with a ground contact of a motherboard in the chassis. The cover plate is also moveable to a second position in which the fastening portion of the cover plate is disengaged from the panel and the grounding contact is disengaged from the ground contact on the motherboard. When the cover plate is in the second position, the motherboard can pass into or out of the component cavity of the chassis without contacting the grounding contact of the cover plate.
The cover plate can be pivotally attached and/or removably attached to the chassis. For example, the cover plate can be hingeably attached to the chassis to rotate between the first and second positions, or the cover plate can be completely detachable from the chassis. To hold the cover plate in the first position, the chassis can further include a snap that “snap-fits” the cover plate into the input/output aperture of the chassis, a latch, or another suitable fastener. The cover plate may be positioned in any part of the chassis itself, as long as the grounding contact of the cover plate electronically couples with the ground contact of the motherboard when the cover plate is in the first position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5332306 (1994-07-01), Babb et al.
patent: 5691504 (1997-11-01), Sands et al.
patent: 6088222 (2000-07-01), Schmitt et al.
patent: 3-105997 (1991-05-01), None
patent: WO 87/05776 (1987-09-01), None
Gandhi Jayprakash N.
Micron Electronics Inc.
Perkins Coie LLP
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