Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-02
2001-03-13
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Insulating body having plural mutually insulated terminals...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200170
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to structure and processes for retaining electronic modules and components in physical and operative interrelationship to each other. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with apparatus and methods for stacking and interconnecting a multiplicity of electronic units in a mechanically and electrically interconnected relationship. Columnar racks of electronic equipment are established through use of the present invention.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the art to form racks of modules of electronic equipment by creating an overall frame into which the modules are inserted. See for instance U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,838 by Ferchau et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,681 by Swift et al. Electrical interconnections between the mounted modules are generally provided by a maze of external cabling, by cabling which passes through or along the tubular members forming the frame, or by special coupler adapters, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,178 by Harvey et al and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,172 by Carstens et al.
The use of rack frames limits the number of modules or elements in a given stack, or else requires acceptance of greater space requirements if less than all the shelves of the frame are in use. Thus, others have endeavored to avoid use of discrete frames by adapting the elements for stacking by providing arrangements for retaining elements on top of each other. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,239 by Kamerman et al shows L-shaped shelf elements that are held in stacked relation between base and cap units by means of pivotal T-shaped connectors while cables electrically interconnect the elements through the use of D-type connectors. Another example of prior efforts to produce equipment racks by interlocking and stacking individual modules is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,858 by Godfrey et al which employs a pivotal handle to both retain modules physically and to engage electrical connectors. U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,445 by Sorensen et al describes stackable modules that are held together by locking pins inserted into attachment feet channels beneath each module.
Despite the state of the prior art, the need persists for arrangements capable of securely retaining stacks of devices with a high degree of flexibility in accepting a relatively wide variety of module shapes and sizes in a rack-like configuration suitable for use or shipping as a unit while accommodating electrical communication and power interconnections between those modules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to tower building blocks which are advantageously utilized to provide mechanical structure, as well as a host environment for input/output (I/O) bus communication and power routing for a stack of shelves or other rack mountable devices. The invention is cost efficient in that it can utilize existing shelf structures while eliminating many elements inherent in fixed cabinet designs. The modular nature of the operating environment for this invention allows for nearly unlimited expansion opportunities with remarkable versatility.
The tower building blocks associated with this invention provides a highly flexible enclosure system for a wide family of products including data storage devices, such as disk drives, tape drives, controllers, processors and the like. The invention provides a modular enclosure for device storage shelves which do not require additional EMI certification while maintaining all the functionality of contemporary cabinetry. The structure provides excellent structural strength while remaining suitable for fabrication of plastic materials. The invention environment is a superstructure which routs power and I/O bus distribution for all of the devices contained within the shelf area while permitting relatively straight-forward snap-type assembly.
Whenever a contemporary cabinet enclosure is introduced, independent EMI testing is required. The present invention reduces the need for additional EMI testing for new devices thereby avoiding much of the additional testing costs. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to reduce entry level costs to the user who can acquire only the capacity necessary for their utilization while avoiding the necessity for acquisition of a fixed cabinet having greater capacity than is needed all while enjoying a practically unlimited modular expansion capability as needed or desired at a later time.
Apparatus in accordance with this invention permits the secure stacking of equipment modules between a pair of blocks. Typically, these blocks each have first and second elongated panels retained in parallel but spaced relation to one another so as to define elongated channels opening from opposite sides into the space, therebetween. A latch element is slidably mounted within one of these elongated channels with that latch element containing a first plurality of finger segments The other of the elongated channels has an arrangement for receiving a similar latch element contained on another block and including a second plurality of finger segments for cooperatively engaging the first plurality of finger segments of the other block.
A mount attached to an exterior surface of one of the panels securely receives the equipment module intended as a component of the stacked storage. A lever is connected for moving the latch element for shifting at least one of the pluralities of finger segments between engaged and disengaged positions.
This apparatus can further include at least one alignment pin extending from one side of one of the panels and at least one alignment pin receptacle on the opposite side of that same panel. A board having electrical connections between opposite edges thereof with electrical couplings from that board to the equipment module secured between the panels is retained in intervening but parallel relation to the block panels. The board also has opposite edge electrical connections accessible in respective channels formed by the panels thereby establishing electrical connections between blocks when the associated latch elements are engaged.
The latch element can include at least one snap for retaining the latch element in the receiving channel whenever the latch element is not engaged within a receiving channel of another block. The operating lever can include an over-center mounting between the panels so as to lock the latch element in place and retain the two thus coupled blocks in interlocked relation. In addition, this lever can have an arm externally extending from the surface of one of the panels.
For interfacing alignment purposes, each panel can include a plurality of pins extending from one side and a matching plurality of receptacles on the other side. Thus, a tower is formed by a plurality of these blocks each having a board retained therein with some of said boards having power connections while others of the boards having electrical signal connections. To prevent inadvertent coupling of a power connector to an electrical signal connector, these panel pins, receptacles and slidable latch elements for blocks having power connections are positioned oppositely from the panel pins, receptacles and slidable latch in the blocks having electrical connection boards retained therein.
The tower can extend from a base unit having a pair of connections along a surface thereof for mechanically securing in spaced relation a respective power connection block and electrical signal connection block. This base unit can include at least one power supply connected for electrically energizing a power connector located in conjunction with the base unit connection for engaging the connector of a power connector board in one of the blocks.
The method of fabricating a rack of equipment modules begins by forming blocks from parallel panels so as to define channels located on opposite sides thereof with both of these channels having a plurality of receiving slots therein. A latch element is retained in sliding relation in one of those channe
Amberg Mark Frederick
Clark Allen Walter
Young Benjamin Alma
Burton Carol W.
Compaq Computer Corporation
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Kubida William J.
Nguyen Khiem
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