Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-09-04
Gaffin, Jeffrey (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S689000, C361S788000, C174S254000, C174S255000, C174S260000, C439S061000, C439S059000, C439S062000, C248S223410
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285563
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to electrical cabinets adapted to store, or house, electrical components, and, more particularly to printed-circuit boards used in data storage and transfer systems.
As is known in the art, electrical cabinets are used to store, or house, a variety electrical components such as printed circuit boards. The electrical cabinets allow the components within the cabinet to be interconnected and also allow the internal components to be connected to components external to the cabinets. The cabinets typically have an access door and a number of compartments, such as a card cage, i.e., a housing to store the various interconnected printed circuit boards. In addition, the individual components within the cabinet may be replaced or removed to a different location for repair.
Typically, some of the components are printed circuit boards arranged in a card cage, or housing, in an array of vertical or horizontal guide slots (i.e., a linear array of guide slots) provided between opposing sides of the cabinet. Each board is insertable into a corresponding pair of the opposing guide slots and is urged towards the rear of the cabinet to enable an electrical connector mounted to the rear edge of the board to engage, and thereby electrically connect to, a backplane. A backplane typically is a printed circuit board which contains a plurality of electrical connectors. The backplane commonly is referred to as a mother board. The other printed circuit boards discussed above, which connect to the mother board, commonly are referred to as daughter boards.
As currently configured, when a technician inserts a daughter printed circuit board into one of the guide slots, he/she may inadvertently bend or buckle the backplane printed circuit board. In order to accommodate the quantity and speed of systems currently in use, printed circuit boards require a large number of densely packed connectors. Each of these connectors provides resistance when the printed circuit board is inserted into the housing and connected with the backplane. Thus, the greater the number of connectors, the larger the force required to insert and connect the printed circuit board. For example, an existing printed circuit board may require 200 pounds or more of force to insert and connect the printed circuit board to the backplane.
As the daughter boards are inserted and connected to the backplane (typically at a right angle to the backplane), the backplane may not have sufficient rigidity to withstand the force of the daughter board. Therefore, the backplane printed circuit board may bend, buckle, break, not make a proper electrical connection and/or become misaligned.
Additional support may be applied to secure the backplane when the daughter boards are inserted and connected to the backplane. Hardware may be installed to reinforce the backplane, but the hardware typically attaches to the cabinet and across the backplane (as opposed to attaching to the backplane). Such hardware typically requires several pieces which increases part counts for electrical cabinets as well as the time required for installation. In addition, the time required to remove such hardware and remove the backplane for repairs or replacement can be significant.
In addition, when hardware is installed to secure the backplane after insertion, the backplane may be secured in a position that is misaligned relative to the position of the connectors of the daughter boards. Therefore, additional time may be required at installation to correct the misalignment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the invention is a support bracket that secures a printed circuit board, such as a backplane having a plurality of electrical connectors that engage corresponding electrical connectors of daughter boards. The support bracket includes a cross member attachable to the printed circuit board in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of motion of the daughter boards. The support bracket also includes first and second end support members attached transversely to the cross member at corresponding ends of the cross member. The end support members are fixable to a support surface and are adapted to secure the support bracket in the direction of motion of the daughter boards.
Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention include the following features.
The support device is symmetrical about both a horizontal and a vertical axis. The end support members have identical structure. A set of recessed registration points of the support device allow the printed circuit board to be aligned within in, e.g., a card cage. The end support members have holes that allow the printed circuit board to be attached to, e.g., a card cage. The support device includes guideholes to assist in proper positioning of the printed circuit board.
Another aspect of the invention is a printed circuit board including the support device described above. A preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention is a printed circuit board having two support devices located on opposing sides of the printed circuit board and entirely overlapping in the direction of motion of the daughter boards.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of attaching a cross support to a printed circuit board wherein the cross support is attached prior to installing the printed circuit board into, e.g., a card cage.
Preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention include attaching fixation members at the ends of the cross support prior to installing the printed circuit board into, e.g., the card cage. The printed circuit board is subsequently registered to a position and secured.
Each embodiment within the scope of the claims may have one or more of the following advantages.
The support bracket prevents or reduces misalignment of the printed circuit board. The support bracket prevents or reduces buckling of the printed circuit board. The support bracket prevents breakage of the printed circuit board. The support bracket allows high insertion forces to be applied. The support bracket allows high extraction forces to be applied. The support bracket allows the printed circuit board to have a large number of electrical connectors. The support bracket allows the printed circuit board to have densely packed electrical connectors. The support bracket allows the printed circuit board to be easily aligned. The support bracket allows the printed circuit board to be easily positioned. The support bracket allows the printed circuit board to be easily installed. The support bracket allows the printed circuit board to be easily removed. The support bracket can be attached as an integral part of the printed circuit board, e.g., to reduce the part count of the electrical cabinet, reduce installation time, reduce repair time, and/or reduce replacement time.
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Co-Pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/283,029, filed Mar. 31, 1999, Examiner J Hansen.
Co-Pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/282,673, filed Mar. 31, 1999, Examiner D. Foster.
Co-Pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/282,482, filed Mar. 31, 1999, Examiner Unknown at this time.
Claprood Edward
Nelson Erik
Tirrell Paul T.
Daly, Crowley & Mofford LLP
EMC Corporation
Foster David
Gaffin Jeffrey
LandOfFree
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