Measuring and testing – Inspecting
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-19
2004-02-24
Williams, Hezron (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Inspecting
C439S620180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06694831
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to servicing components in computer systems and more particularly to locating a component automatically on a planar, such as a printed circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With advances in technology, there is a continued interest in packing more components into a limited space in computer systems, such as personal computers and servers. As it is now, components can be arranged on planars, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) to maximize the number of components, while minimizing the amount of space not utilized.
FIG. 1
illustrates a portion of a typical PCB
10
with components coupled thereto. As is shown, a plurality of dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs)
12
a
-
12
p
can be coupled to the PCB
10
. As the number of components increases, the space on the PCB
10
becomes more impacted and it becomes more difficult to identify and locate particular components.
Diagnostic programs have been developed which audit the system for component failures. While these diagnostic programs have the ability to identify a faulty component, it is another matter altogether to locate the faulty component so that it can be serviced or replaced. The Light Path Diagnostics™ system developed by International Business Machines of Armonk, N.Y., couples a diagnostics program with a component locating element. If the program senses a nonfunctional component during an audit, an alert is issued to a system administrator, and an LED located near the nonfunctional component is illuminated. Thus, the Light Path Diagnostics™ system informs the system administrator of a failed component and indicates the location of that component on the PCB so that the administrator can replace and/or service the component.
In
FIG. 1
, a status LED
14
a
-
14
p
, like that utilized in the Light Pat Diagnostics™ system, is placed near each component
12
a
-
12
f
. Each component
12
a
-
12
f
is represented by one LED
14
a
-
14
f
. Therefore, if a component
12
a
fails, the diagnostics program (not shown) will sense the failure, notify the system administrator (not shown) of the problem, and illuminate the corresponding LED
14
a
near the failed component
12
a
. Thus, the system administrator can identify the failed component
12
a
by locating the illuminated corresponding LED
14
a.
Although the Light Path Diagnostics™ system functions adequately for its intended purpose, difficulties arise when the number of components
12
a
-
12
p
on the PCB
10
increases. For example, as more components
12
are coupled to the PCB
10
, the components
12
must be placed closer together in order for all of them to fit within the confined space of the PCB
10
. Accordingly, the corresponding LEDs
14
are placed closer to one another. In some circumstances, the LEDs cannot physically fit into the allotted space and must therefore be relocated. For instance, in
FIG. 1
, LEDs
14
o
and
14
p
cannot be located below LED
14
n
because of design restrictions and must be relocated to the left end of the components
12
o
and
12
p.
As the components
12
become more densely packed, it becomes more difficult to determine which components
12
correspond to which LEDs
14
. Thus, when an LED
14
h
is illuminated, it is difficult to determine which component is the nonfunctional component
12
h
corresponding to the illuminated LED
14
h
. If the PCB
10
is viewed from an angle other than from one directly above the illuminated LED
14
h
, a parallax effect can cause the administrator to incorrectly conclude that a functional component
12
g
corresponds to the illuminated LED
14
h
. Thus, the incorrect component
12
g
would be removed.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for locating faulty components connected to a planar, such as a PCB. The system and method should be automatic and highly reliable requiring little or no maintenance. In addition, the system and method should be cost effective. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A method and system for automatically locating a component on a planar, is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing at least one substantially clear latch coupled to a component, mounting a light emitting element on the planar beneath at least one latch, and activating the light emitting element, thereby illuminating the at least one latch of the component such that the component can be readily located.
Through the aspects of the present invention, the location of a faulty component on a planar is easily identified because at least one latch connected to the component is illuminated. Because the light emitting element is beneath the latch, space otherwise taken up by the LEDs is now available for additional components on the planar.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3634804 (1972-01-01), Mineo
patent: 4499649 (1985-02-01), Maxner
patent: 4622740 (1986-11-01), Mirley, Jr. et al.
patent: 4699454 (1987-10-01), Brubaker
patent: 5199087 (1993-03-01), Frazier
patent: 5790725 (1998-08-01), Rykowski et al.
patent: 6062908 (2000-05-01), Jones
Assimos, II Charles
Tawil Mohamad Hassan
Sawyer Law group
Wilson Katina
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