Electrical connectors – With coupling separator – Including retainer or joiner
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-09
2001-01-09
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling separator
Including retainer or joiner
C361S689000, C361S756000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171120
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present claimed invention relates to the field of connection systems for electronic components. More specifically, the present claimed invention relates to an improved apparatus for connecting circuit board cards to a computer system.
BACKGROUND ART
Prior art computer systems use circuit board cards for adding additional functionality to the computer system. Circuit boards are installed into each computer to add the desired functionality to the computer system. However, with prior art computer systems, the circuit board cards must be installed within the housing of the computer. Typically, housings for high end computer systems include outer skins made of plastic which cover an chassis which serves as an electromagnetic interference (EMI) enclosure.
Typically, in order to install or remove a circuit board card in a prior art computer system that includes an outer skin and an chassis, the installer must first remove the skin covering the chassis. This usually involves removing one or more screws that hold the skin to the chassis. Then, a door or panel must be removed so as to allow access to the internal components of the computer that are contained within the chassis. Typically, screws which hold the door or panel in place must be removed. The installer then must slide the circuit board card into a slot adapted to receive the circuit board card for installation of a circuit board card or slide a circuit board card out from a particular slot for removal of a circuit board card.
Thus, the installation and removal process is difficult and time consuming. The installation and removal of circuit board cards is complicated by the restricted access that the installer has to the interior of the computer due to internal computer components and systems. In particular, other circuit boards and daughter boards and wiring make access difficult.
In some prior art systems, multiple circuit board cards are connected to a daughter card which is then connected to the motherboard. In these systems, the daughter board must first be detached from the motherboard prior to installation or removal of the circuit board card which is to be attached to the daughter board. The circuit board cards are then attached to the daughter card using conventional card edge connectors located on the circuit board cards to be added which mate with connector receptacles adapted to receive the card edge connectors. When a compression connector is used to connect the mother board to the daughter board, the mounting screws which secure the compression connector to the motherboard must be removed and replaced. However, in a crowded computer housing, it is often difficult to align the compression connector and it is difficult to attach the compression connector to the motherboard so as to compress the compression connector. Thus, it is difficult to lock the two circuit boards together. The process is particularly cumbersome for computer users who are accustomed to prior art designs which simply involve pressing the two boards together so as to mate card edge connectors to slotted connector receptacles.
After the installation process is complete, the door or panel must then be replaced. Then the skin must be replaced. This process must be repeated each time that a circuit board card is to be added or removed.
What is needed is a computer system which provides an easy way to install and remove circuit board cards. In addition, the connection mechanism should provide for connectivity using methods which allow for reduced signal delay.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the above need with a card cage which allows for the easy installation and removal of circuit board cards.
A card cage which couples to a computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment the computer system includes a chassis which encloses a mother board. The chassis includes an opening adapted to receive a card cage. A connection mechanism electrically connects the mother board to the card cage.
The card cage of the present invention includes a daughter card with connector receptacle. The card cage and the daughter card are connected to the motherboard via the connection mechanism. The connector receptacles on the daughter card are adapted to receive circuit board cards. Thus, one or more circuit board cards may be coupled to the computer system simply by inserting the circuit board card(s) into the connector receptacle(s) of the card cage and inserting and attaching the card cage in the computer chassis.
In one embodiment, the connection mechanism includes a flex circuit and a compression connector. The flex circuit is electrically coupled to the connector receptacles and includes a grid array which extends across the front of the compression connector. A corresponding grid array is disposed in the motherboard such that, upon the engagement of the compression connector, electrical contact is made between the grid array of the motherboard and the grid array of the flex circuit to electrically connect the connector receptacles of the card cage the the mother board.
In one embodiment the compression connector is coupled to the motherboard by two cams which are disposed on opposite sides of the compression connector such that the cams rotate in unison. A backplate hook is attached to the motherboard which includes two posts. The card cage is mechanically locked in place within the chassis by the engagement of the compression connector such that the compression connector is mechanically secured to the mother board. Upon the engagement of the compression connector into the engaged position, the cams are rotated such that each cam engages a post of the backplate hook so as to draw the compression connector and the card cage towards the motherboard. In the engaged position, the cams are fully engaged so as to secure the card cage and so as to press the front surface of the compression connector tightly against the mother board so as to press the grid array of the flex circuit to the corresponding grid array on the motherboard. This makes a good electrical contact between the flex circuit and the circuits of the mother board so as to electrically connect the circuits of the connectors to the circuits of the motherboard.
The card cage includes a locking lever which is attached to an arm which couples to one of the cams for rotation of the cams into the engaged position and into the disengaged position. The locking lever is placed on one side of the card cage such that it is accessible from the rear of the card cage. Since the lever is accessible from the rear of the card cage, the lever is easily accessible to a user when the card cage is inserted into the chassis.
In operation, the card cage is opened by removing the top and the desired circuit board cards are placed into the connector receptacles in the card cage and the top of the card cage is replaced. The card cage is then inserted into the chassis. The locking lever is moved into the engaged position. This rotates both cams into the engaged position and pulls the card cage towards the mother board such that electrical contact is made and such that the card cage is mechanically secured within the chassis.
Cards may be removed by moving the locking lever into the disengaged position. This disengages the cams from the posts attached to the motherboard. The card cage then may be pulled out from the chassis. The card cage is then opened and the desired card is removed.
The present invention also mates conventional card edge connectors and pin-in-socket connectors. Conventional pin-in socket connectors and card edge connectors typically require a significant force to insert and extract the connectors, which must be applied over the insertion distance of the connector. Once fully inserted, no additional force is needed. Compression connectors, by contrast, typically have zero insertion force. However, force must be applied to the compression connector after insertion in order to maintain connectivity. The present invention allows for the insertion of the card cage into the chas
Bolich Bryan D.
Glusker Mark J.
Wheaton Christopher S.
Abrams Neil
Silicon Graphics Inc.
Wagner , Murabito & Hao LLP
Zarroli Michael C.
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