Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-28
2003-04-15
Martin, David (Department: 2841)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S810000, C361S759000, C361S820000, C248S316400, C439S327000, C439S368000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06549425
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) or a server having a separating plate for securing an electronic component, such as an I/O card, and to electrically insulatively separate the latter from another. In particular, the preset invention relates to such a separating plate, a securing member fitted on the separating plate and a separating structure for separating two electronic components.
2. Description of the Related Art
Each PCI card, or another I/O card such as an EISA card, mounted in an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer or a server is fitted in the connector in the electronic apparatus, and in this condition, the electronic apparatus is shipped from the factory. The electronic component such as the I/O card, however, may come out of the connector into what is called the “loosened condition” due to vibration to which the electronic component is exposed during the shipment or transportation. This loosened condition may also occur if the electronic apparatus is frequently moved while in use. An example of a structure for securing the electronic components of the conventional electronic apparatus to prevent this loosened condition of the I/O card, etc. will be explained with reference to
FIG. 13
in the attached drawings.
As shown in
FIG. 13
, I/O cards
3
a
,
3
b
and
3
c
of different height are fitted in connectors
2
fixed to a casing
1
of an electronic apparatus. L-shaped securing members
5
a
,
5
b
and
5
c
are arranged above the I/O cards
3
a
to
3
c
, respectively. The bottom portion
5
d
of each securing member is in contact with the upper end
9
of each I/O card through a sponge
4
. A support bar
6
is fixed to a support frame of the casing
1
by screws
8
at the ends thereof at the upper part of the casing
1
. The upper end of each of the securing members
5
a
to
5
c
is fixed by a screw
7
to the support bar
6
. A plurality of I/O cards
3
a
to
3
c
fitted in the connectors
2
in this way are secured at the upper ends
9
thereof by the securing members
5
a
to
5
c
, thereby preventing the I/O card from being loosened.
In recent years, various types of industrial equipment have been operated continuously, and computers for office use are often used continuously for batch processing. Thus, the servers and the personal computers attached to these equipments are also run continuously. Switching off the power supply of the server or the like at the time of maintenance or inspection, therefore, constitutes the loss of time and reduces productivity. For this reason, various maintenance operations on servers or the like are often conducted without switching off the power supply, and so the electronic components, such as I/O cards, must be replaced without switching off the power supply. An increased size of the server and the resulting increase in the chance of connecting to a multiplicity of external units, on the other hand, gives rise to a demand for a great variety of interfaces in greater numbers, and I/O cards as interfaces are to be added. Further, continuous operation causes the electronic components to be replaced with a comparative greater frequency.
In changing or adding an I/O card using the conventional securing structure of an electronic component shown in
FIG. 13
, the securing member
5
a
is removed by loosening the screw
7
for changing the I/O card
3
a
, for example. In the process, the screw
7
may be carelessly dropped in the casing
1
. If the screw
7
thus dropped falls on the substrate such as the mother board located at a lower portion in the casing l, for example, a short circuit or the like trouble may occur undesirably. Also, the worker's hand may touch the adjacent I/O card
3
b
thereby posing the problem of interference with an I/O card which is not to be changed.
With an electronic apparatus such as a server, an improved workability and safety at the time of changing or adding an electronic component is required to avoiding accidents such as those described above. For this purpose, a structure is required in which an electronic component is positively insulated electrically and fixedly secured without using any screws or the like.
The conventional structure for securing the electronic component of the electronic apparatus shown in
FIG. 13
also involves a great number of parts, requires a great number of steps for assembly and has a low cost effectiveness. Further, the requirement for a multiplicity of interfaces and the use of a great variety of sizes of the I/O card requires, in the case of
FIG. 13
, the securing members
5
a
,
5
b
and
5
c
of different lengths, leading to a higher parts cost. In view of this, a simple securing structure is required which can secure an I/O card or the like of any size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a separating plate, a securing member, a separating structure for an electronic component and an electronic apparatus in which the electronic component can be positively secured and fixed while being electrically insulated from an adjacent electronic component on the one hand, and can be changed or added with an improved workability and safety on the other hand.
A second object of the invention is to provide a separating plate, a securing member, a securing structure for an electronic component and an electronic apparatus in which the electronic component can be positively secured and fixed and can be easily replaced even in the case where the size of an electronic component is changed.
A third object of the invention is to provide a separating plate, a securing member, a separating structure for an electronic component and an electronic apparatus having a simple configuration to permit both the parts cost and the number of assembly steps to be reduced.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a separating plate comprising a plate member made of an electrically insulating material, the plate member having opposite surfaces and at least one latch region having a first latch member formed in at least one of the opposite surfaces, the plate member being constructed such that a securing member having a second latch member can be fitted on the latch region and the second latch member can engage with the first latch member to secure an electronic component arranged in proximity to the plate member.
With this separating plate, the electronic component can be separated and electrically insulated from another electronic component by means of the electrically insulating plate member. In application to an electronic apparatus, therefore, the interference with another electronic component can be avoided at the time of changing or adding the electronic components. Thus, it becomes possible, for example, to conduct the work of changing or adding the electronic component while keeping the power supply of the electronic apparatus on for an improved workability and an improved safety. Also, the first latch member includes a plurality of grooves and the second latch member includes a protrusion or a pawl, for example, to form a latch structure, whereby the securing member, upon fitting on the latch area, moves freely in the direction of fitting but not in the reverse direction. Therefore, the securing member, when inserted until it comes into contact with an end of an electronic component, stops there and can fixedly secure the electronic component positively. The latch region can be formed on one or both of the surfaces of the plate member.
Preferably, the plate member has an upper edge and the latch region has a top corresponding to the upper edge, the latch grooves being arranged below the top so that the securing member can be fitted on the latch region in a first direction from the top toward the latch grooves, the latch grooves being configured such that the pawl can be moved beyond some of the latch grooves in the first direction but ca
Armstrong Westerman & Hattori, LLP
Bui Hung
Martin David
LandOfFree
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