The invention relates to electronic systems, and more particularly to novel connectors and retention mechanisms for add-in cards.
Many electronic systems provide the capability to supplement the functionality of the system by providing an interface through which additional electronic circuitry can be added to the system. For example, with reference to
Some memory devices, which are relatively small, include latches on both ends of the memory connector. The latches help retain the memory card in the slot and may also be used to eject the memory card.
The power consumption and complexity of computer add-in cards has been increasing due to performance demands. For example, conventional high performance video cards may require power of about 25 watts and may weigh about 400 grams. As the required power increases, the weight of the add-in card consequently increases due to the need for more complex thermal solutions including larger heat sinks and fans. Even without increased power demands, the mass of the add-in card may increase due to larger card size and more devices and/or components on the add-in card.
If an add-in card is not sufficiently retained, the card can be displaced, or even dislodged from the system board connector, e.g. due to shock and vibration. This can result in an open circuit or even structural damage. The severity of the problem mainly depends on the card mass, the location of the center of gravity, and the card/connector design. Add-in cards with a large relative mass also have more inertia during shock and/or vibration events. The increased card inertia applies a larger impact force on constraining parts of the card such as the card connector. This can potentially cause failures such as the connector housing pulling off from soldered pins and/or other damage on the connector housing itself.
Various features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals generally refer to the same parts throughout the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular structures, architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the various aspects of the invention may be practiced in other examples that depart from these specific details. In certain instances, descriptions of well known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.
As noted above, conventional high performance graphics cards may weigh about 400 grams or more. An add-in graphics card supporting the AGP standard may include a tab near the end of the connector to aid in retention of the card when the card is subject to vertical displacement forces. In general, to remove the card, a retention mechanism which engages with the tab must be manually disengaged. The supplemented retention is primarily in the vertical direction. An example of such a retention mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,551,120, assigned in common with the present application.
The inventors have discovered that with heavier add-in cards (e.g. 400 grams or more), lateral forces on the card can unseat the card and/or cause damage to the system. For example, lateral forces (i.e. forces including a component which is transverse to the plane of the add-in card) may be generated when the electronic system is subject to an impact which is perpendicular to the orientation of the add-in card. With reference to
The inventors have performed extensive tests for heavier cards in a computer system to confirm that card retention failure during shock and vibration conditions may occur due to impacts made perpendicular to the card. Even advanced graphics cards with the additional retention tab fail the tests. It is believed that the conventional supplemental retention tab has limited effect on restricting card deflection during side impact and therefore is not satisfactory to solve the side impact failures. In some instances (e.g. with a 400 gram graphics card), the additional retention tab was broken during shock testing.
Various retention mechanisms providing a side constraint are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/404,975, filed Mar. 31, 2003, entitled RETENTION MECHANISM FOR HIGH MASS ADD-IN CARDS, assigned in common with the present application.
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An appropriate guide for a particular electronic system may take any suitable form and may be made from any suitable material. Plastic is a preferred material for the guide. Preferably, the guide provides a slot or channel that is a close fit with the thickness of the add-in card. For example, the guide may define a slot between two resilient protrusions (e.g. walls 34a and 34b). The width of the slot may be less than the thickness of the card, with the protrusions being sufficiently resilient to expand to accept the card. An advantage of the resilient protrusions is that they provide retention forces in the both the vertical and lateral directions, thus supplementing the retention force provided by the latch and the retention tab.
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For example, the walls 44a and 44b of the guide 44 may contact one or more side surfaces of the card 63 to reduce the amount the card 63 may flex about the pivot point near the end of the connector 42. Preferably, the guide 44 is adapted to provide a side constraint which substantially prevents lateral flexing of the card 63 at the point where the guide 44 contacts the card 63. With the latch 47 in an open position, the guide 44 allows the card 63 to be inserted into the connector 42. The card 63 includes an extension (e.g. a retention tab) 65 which is positioned in the slot 46 when the card 63 is seated in the connector 42. The latch 47 may them be moved to a closed position. With the latch 47 in the closed position, a surface of the protrusion 48 engages a surface 67 of the tab 65 to inhibit removal of the card 63 or other Z-axis movement of the card 63 out of the connector 42.
In some embodiments, the latch 47 may include a lever design that combines card insertion, retention, and ejection functions. An example of such a multi-function lever design is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0137811 A1. For example, the latch 47 may include a base portion between the pivot axis (e.g. about pivot point 47a) and the bottom of the guide 44. The base portion may include a protrusion. When the card is positioned in the slot 46, the bottom of the tab 65 (or another portion of the card 63) may contact the protrusion. When the card 63 is pushed into the connector 42, the tab 65 pushes the protrusion and causes the latch 47 to automatically go from the open position to the closed position. Alternatively, the latch 47 may be manually moved from the open position to the closed position to assist in the insertion of the card 63 in the connector 42 (with the protrusion 48 applying an insertion force on the surface 67 of the tab 65). During removal, the latch 47 may be moved from the closed position to the open position to assist in the removal of the card 63 from the connector 42. Specifically, the protrusion on the base portion of the latch 47 contacts a bottom edge of the card 63 and applies a positive vertical removal force which assists in removing the card 63 from the connector 42.
Advantageously, some embodiments of the invention may include a combination of features relating to inhibiting lateral card movement, inhibiting vertical card movement, and providing improved functions for at least one of the card insertion or ejection operations. The numerous possible configurations of the retention mechanisms described herein provide design flexibility, scalability, and have only minor impact on the system board layout.
Any suitable technique may be utilized to secure the guide 44 to the system board 61. For example, the guide 44 may define one or more openings adapted to receive a fastener (e.g. a screw). The system board 61 may provide corresponding mounting holes (not shown). In some embodiments, the system board 61 corresponds to an ATX compatible motherboard. In some embodiments, the guide 44 may be secured to an ATX mounting hole already provided on the motherboard, thus reducing the amount of rework or board re-routing required to utilize the guide 44.
In some embodiments, the guide 44 may include alignment features to aid in the positioning of the slot 36 with respect to the connector 42. For example, a guide may define a plurality (i.e. at least two) of holes which are used as alignment features. Corresponding mounting holes are provided on the system board. The holes may be keyed. The mounting holes may be configured such that when the holes in the guide are aligned with the mounting holes, the slot defined by the guide is aligned with the lengthwise axis of the connector. For example, the guide may be mounted on the system board via two wave-soldered through-hole pins. Other methods of board mounting can also be used such as press-fit, or the addition of snap-in features. Many other variations of the guide and mounting fasteners are possible.
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For example, the walls 124a and 124b of the guide 124 may contact one or more side surfaces of the card 133 to reduce the amount the card 133 may flex about the pivot point near the end of the connector 122. Preferably, the guide 124 is adapted to provide a side constraint which substantially prevents lateral flexing of the card 133 at the point where the guide 124 contacts the card 133. The card 133 includes an extension (e.g. a retention tab) 135 which is positioned outside the slot 126 when the card 133 is seated in the connector 122. A surface of the protrusion 128 engages a surface 137 of the tab 135 to inhibit removal of the card 133 or other Z-axis movement of the card 133 out of the connector 122.
When inserting the card 133, the user may contact the contact surface 129 of the arm 125 to move the protrusion out of the way for card insertion. Preferably, the protrusion 128 includes an angles surface 127 which reduces the need for the user to move the protrusion 128 out of the way during card insertion. During insertion, an edge of the tab 135 contacts the angled surface 127 and deflects the resilient arm 125. When the card 133 is seated, the tab 135 is clear of the protrusion 128 and the protrusion 128 snaps into place to aid in the retention of the card 133. To remove the card 133, the arm 125 is bent out of the way and the card 133 may be pulled out of the connector 122 without substantial impediment from the protrusion 128. Another surface (e.g. the surface adjacent to surface 127) of the protrusion 128 may also be beveled to allow for less deflection of the arm 125 during removal of the card 133.
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For example, the walls 154a and 154b of the guide 154 may contact one or more side surfaces of the card 193 to reduce the amount the card 193 may flex about the pivot point near the end of the connector 152. Preferably, the guide 154 is adapted to provide a side constraint which substantially prevents lateral flexing of the card 193 at the point where the guide 154 contacts the card 193. The card 193 includes an extension (e.g. a retention tab) which is positioned outside the slot 156 when the card 193 is seated in the connector 152. A surface of the protrusion 158 engages a surface of the tab to inhibit removal of the card 193 or other Z-axis movement of the card 193 out of the connector 152.
When inserting the card 193, the user may contact the contact surface 159 of the arm 155 to move the protrusion out of the way for card insertion. Preferably, the protrusion 158 includes an angles surface 157 (see
As compared to the retention mechanism of
A method according to some embodiments includes providing a system board, mounting a connector on the system board, attaching an electronic card to the connector, the card overhanging the connector at least on an inward end of the card; and securing a guide to the system board spaced from the connector, providing a latch connected to the guide, inhibiting lateral movement of the card with the guide; and inhibiting removal of the electronic card from the connector with the latch.
The foregoing and other aspects of the invention are achieved individually and in combination. The invention should not be construed as requiring two or more of such aspects unless expressly required by a particular claim. Moreover, while the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the preferred examples, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and the scope of the invention.