Patent EP0300717A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0300717A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic module interconnection system
Assignee: Tandem Computers Inc
•
Filing: 1988-07-18
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2008-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A system interconnects electronic modules with one another, to a power supply and to signal lines through a printed circuit board. The modules are electrically connected to traces on the printed circuit board using blind mateable connectors. EMI shielding plates are mounted to the circuit board at the I/O connectors for the external cables. Guide elements, such as pin and socket guides and printed circuit board edge guides, are mounted to the circuit board to guide the blind mateable connectors. The system eliminates the numerous cables which would otherwise be required. The printed circuit board is mounted within the system housing and acts as an air duct barrier to aid proper air circulation. The circuit board also acts as a structured element helping to stabilize the housing and various module supports and serves as a mounting structure for various elements, such as cooling fans.
Inventors
- 👤 Joerg U. Ferchau
- 👤 Randall J. Diaz
- 👤 Hoa Pham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for interconnecting modules among one another and to a power supply and to signal lines, the system comprising: a circuit board including power supply traces and signal traces connected to the power supply and to the signal lines, respectively; first blind mateable connectors mounted to the modules; second blind mateable connectors mounted to chosen positions on the circuit board for connection with chosen ones of the power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable connectors configured for mating engagement with the first blind mateable connectors; and module guide elements for guiding the modules into position adjacent the circuit board so the first and second blind mateable connectors engage one another thus interconnecting the modules with one another and connecting the modules to the power supply and to the signal lines.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A system for interconnecting modules among one another and to a power supply and to signal lines, the system comprising: a circuit board including power supply traces and signal traces connected to the power supply and to the signal lines, respectively; first blind mateable connectors mounted to the modules; second blind mateable connectors mounted to chosen positions on the circuit board for connection with chosen ones of the power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable connectors configured for mating engagement with the first blind mateable connectors; and module guide elements for guiding the modules into position adjacent the circuit board so the first and second blind mateable connectors engage one another thus interconnecting the modules with one another and connecting the modules to the power supply and to the signal lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the guide elements include guide pins and guide sockets carried by the modules and the circuit board, the guide pins being mounted to the circuit board through holes in the circuit board, the holes positioned relative to selected ones of the chosen positions on the circuit board, to aid engagement of the first and second blind mateable connectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the circuit board includes holes positioned relative to selected ones of the chosen positions on the circuit board and wherein at least chosen ones of the module guide elements are located relative to the circuit board through engagement with the holes in the circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the module guide elements is secured to the circuit board, the circuit board providing structural rigidity to said at least one module guide element, the circuit board including holes positioned relative to selected ones of the chosen positions on the circuit board, and wherein said at least one module guide element is located relative to the circuit board through engagement with the holes in the circuit board.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
38 words
The system of claim l further comprising: means for mounting a DC cooling fan to the circuit board; and an electrical fan power connector mounted to the circuit board and electrically connected to a chosen power supply trace.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for interconnecting modules among one another, to a power supply and to signal lines, the system comprising: a circuit board including power supply traces and signal traces connected to the power supply and to the signal lines respectively, the circuit board having positioning holes at chosen positions and locating holes at chosen locations; first blind mateable connectors mounted to the modules; second blind mateable connectors mounted to the chosen positions on the circuit board using the positioning holes and making electrical connection with chosen ones of the power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable connectors configured for mating engagement with the first blind mateable connectors; and module guide elements for guiding the modules into position adjacent the circuit board so the first and second blind mateable connectors engage one another thus interconnecting the modules with one another and connecting the modules to the power supply and to the signal line.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
154 words
A system for interconnecting modules among one another, to a power supply and to signal lines, the system comprising: a circuit board including power supply traces and signal traces connected to the power supply and to the signal lines respectively, the circuit board having positioning holes at chosen positions and locating holes at chosen locations; first blind mateable connectors mounted to the modules; second blind mateable connectors mounted to the chosen positions on the circuit board using the positioning holes and making electrical connection with chosen ones of the power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable connectors configured for mating engagement with the first blind mateable connectors; and module guide elements for guiding the modules into position adjacent the circuit board so the first and second blind mateable connectors engage one another thus interconnecting the modules with one another and connecting the modules to the power supply and to the signal line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
204 words
An electronic system comprising: disc drive modules each having a first blind mateable drive connector; direct current power supply modules, each coupled to a source of alternating current and each having a first blind mateable DC connector; a printed circuit board having power supply traces, signal traces, positioning holes at chosen positions and locating holes at chosen locations; signal lines electrically connected to the signal traces; second blind mateable drive and DC connectors mounted to the circuit board via the positioning holes and making electrical contact with chosen ones of power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable drive and DC connectors configured to mate with the first blind mateable drive and DC connectors; and a unitized disc drive and power supply support and guide structure mounted to the circuit board and positioned via the locating holes for positioning the disc drive and power supply modules relative to the printed circuit board so the first and second blind mateable drive connectors engage one another and the first and second blind mateable DC connectors engage one another thereby interconnecting the disc drive modules with one another, the power supply modules with the disc drive modules and the disc drive modules with the signal lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
204 words
An electronic system comprising: disc drive modules each having a first blind mateable drive connector; direct current power supply modules, each coupled to a source of alternating current and each having a first blind mateable DC connector; a printed circuit board having power supply traces, signal traces, positioning holes at chosen positions and locating holes at chosen locations; signal lines electrically connected to the signal traces; second blind mateable drive and DC connectors mounted to the circuit board via the positioning holes and making electrical contact with chosen ones of power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable drive and DC connectors configured to mate with the first blind mateable drive and DC connectors; and a unitized disc drive and power supply support and guide structure mounted to the circuit board and positioned via the locating holes for positioning the disc drive and power supply modules relative to the printed circuit board so the first and second blind mateable drive connectors engage one another and the first and second blind mateable DC connectors engage one another thereby interconnecting the disc drive modules with one another, the power supply modules with the disc drive modules and the disc drive modules with the signal lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
An electronic system of the type including electronic modules coupled to a power supply and to signal lines, and system comprising: a housing; a circuit board mounted within the housing and forming a structured support element of the system, the circuit board including power supply traces and signal traces connected to the power supply and to the signal lines, respectively; first blind mateable connectors mounted to the modules; second blind mateable connectors mounted to chosen positions on the circuit board for connection with chosen ones of the power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable connectors configured for mating engagement with the first blind mateable connectors; and module guide elements for guiding the modules into position adjacent the circuit board so the first and second blind mateable connectors engage one another thus interconnecting the modules with one another and connecting the modules to the power supply and to the signal lines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
An electronic system of the type including electronic modules coupled to a power supply and to signal lines, and system comprising: a housing; a circuit board mounted within the housing and forming a structured support element of the system, the circuit board including power supply traces and signal traces connected to the power supply and to the signal lines, respectively; first blind mateable connectors mounted to the modules; second blind mateable connectors mounted to chosen positions on the circuit board for connection with chosen ones of the power supply and signal traces, the second blind mateable connectors configured for mating engagement with the first blind mateable connectors; and module guide elements for guiding the modules into position adjacent the circuit board so the first and second blind mateable connectors engage one another thus interconnecting the modules with one another and connecting the modules to the power supply and to the signal lines.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The electronic system of claim 8 further comprising a fan mounted to the circuit board at a chosen position, the circuit board having an opening at the chosen position to allow air to be forced therethrough by the fan, the circuit board configured to divide the housing into sections so the circuit board acts as an air duct barrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
The electronic system of claim 8 further comprising: first and second signal line connectors mounted to the circuit board and to chosen ones of the signal lines, respectively; and a grounding plate mounted to the circuit board and in electrically conductive contact with the first signal line connector and with the housing so to ground the first signal line connector to the housing, the grounding plate sized to shield the circuit board from EMI generated by the signal line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electronic system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the modules includes at least two first blind mateable connectors mounted to the at least one module for floatable movement relative to one another to aid proper alignment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.