US5238423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit board and insertion tool
Assignee: Thinking Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-03-26
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Granted: 1993-08-24
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Expires: 2012-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for installing a circuit board edge connector into a motherboard connector from the side to accommodate high density card arrangements that obstruct overhead clearance. In one embodiment, the system utilizes an insertion tool which conveys the circuit board across the motherboard and positions it with the pins of both boards aligned. The tool locates the board adjacent the motherboard with the aligned connectors just touching and blocked against withdrawal. The cooperation between ramps and pins associated with the tool and circuit board applies a force, upon the withdrawal of the tool from the motherboard, to engage fully the pins of the circuit board with the pins of the motherboard. The extraction of the circuit board from the motherboard uses the tool in a reverse sequence. In a second embodiment the system includes a circuit board incorporating slidably configured rail and groove mechanism and a bell crank that allows the circuit board to slide in over the motherboard through relative sliding of the rail and groove and permits the two boards to be drawn together with mating pins by activation of the bell crank. In yet another embodiment the system includes a circuit board incorporating a spacer and a cardcage incorporating a spacer track which permits increased utilization of the circuit board surface for the placement of components.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Daniel Hillis
- 👤 William Gerner
- 👤 Theodore W. Bilodeau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:49
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1401; H05K7/1415; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R43/00; H01R43/26; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A circuit and motherboard interconnection system comprising: a circuit board having a first connector element; a motherboard having a second connector element oriented to receive said first connector element in mating relationship; and a mounting system for initially conveying said circuit board across said motherboard to bring said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and thereafter to move the circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board across said motherboard thereby to force said first and second connector elements together to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard, said mounting system positioned adjacent to said first and second connector elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A circuit and motherboard interconnection system comprising: a circuit board having a first connector element; a motherboard having a second connector element oriented to receive said first connector element in mating relationship; and a mounting system for initially conveying said circuit board across said motherboard to bring said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and thereafter to move the circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board across said motherboard thereby to force said first and second connector elements together to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard, said mounting system positioned adjacent to said first and second connector elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The circuit and motherboard interconnection system of claim 1 in which said mounting system comprises: a guide mounted to convey said circuit board across said motherboard to place said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and a handle coupled to a force amplifier, to apply a force between said first and second connector elements to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said guide comprises a slotted tool and said force amplifier includes an inclined edge on said slotted tool and a cam riding against said inclined edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
187 words
A circuit and motherboard interconnection system comprising: a circuit board having a first connector element; a motherboard having a second connector element oriented to receive said first connector element in mating relationship; and a mounting system for initially conveying said circuit board across said motherboard to bring said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and thereafter to move the circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board across said motherboard thereby to force said first and second connector elements together to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard, wherein said mounting system comprises: a guide mounted to convey said circuit board across said motherboard to place said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and a handle coupled to a force amplifier, to apply a force between said first and second connector elements to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard and wherein said force amplifier includes a rail pivotally attached to said circuit board and riding in said guide and said force amplifier includes a pivoted lever arm between said handle and said rail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
A circuit and motherboard interconnection system comprising: a circuit board having a first connector element; a motherboard having a second connector element oriented to receive said first connector element in mating relationship; and a mounting system for initially conveying said circuit board across said motherboard to bring said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and thereafter to move the circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board across said motherboard thereby to force said first and second connector elements together to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard, wherein said mounting system comprises: a guide mounted to convey said circuit board across said motherboard to place said first and second connector elements in mating juxtaposition and a handle coupled to a force amplifier, to apply a force between said first and second connector elements to thereby interconnect said circuit board and said motherboard and wherein said force amplifier includes a rail pivotally attached to said circuit board and riding in said guide and said force amplifier includes a pivoted lever arm between said handle and said rail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a cardcage comprising a spacer track and in which said circuit board further comprises a spacer, said spacer movably locatable within said spacer track during circuit board insertion and deletion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for inserting a circuit board edge connector, having a plurality of pins, on a circuit board assembly into a motherboard connector, having a plurality of pins, on a motherboard, said system comprising: a guide associated with said motherboard; a circuit board; a rail associated with said circuit board and slidingly mating with said guide for conveyance of said circuit board across said motherboard to a stop, said pins of said circuit board edge connector being oriented transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board, said pins of said motherboard connector being oriented transverse to the direction of conveyance, said rail attached to said circuit board by a linkage, said linkage permitting relative movement of said rail and said circuit board in a direction allowing mating of said circuit board and motherboard connectors; and a crank for applying a mechanical advantage force between said motherboard and circuit board connectors to move said circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for inserting a circuit board edge connector, having a plurality of pins, on a circuit board assembly into a motherboard connector, having a plurality of pins, on a motherboard, said system comprising: a guide associated with said motherboard; a circuit board; a rail associated with said circuit board and slidingly mating with said guide for conveyance of said circuit board across said motherboard to a stop, said pins of said circuit board edge connector being oriented transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board, said pins of said motherboard connector being oriented transverse to the direction of conveyance, said rail attached to said circuit board by a linkage, said linkage permitting relative movement of said rail and said circuit board in a direction allowing mating of said circuit board and motherboard connectors; and a crank for applying a mechanical advantage force between said motherboard and circuit board connectors to move said circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 6 further comprising a cardcage, in which said motherboard is located, said cardcage having a spacer track, and wherein said circuit board comprises a spacer movably locatable within said spacer track of said cardcage, during circuit board insertion and deletion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 6, wherein: said rail is pivotally attached to first ends of first and second arms of said linkage; said circuit board is pivotally attached to second ends of said arms; and said crank is rigidly attached to one of said first and second arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said guide and rail have a mating respective channel and cross section to provide sliding motion therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 9, further comprising an alignment member for maintaining alignment of said circuit board edge connectors and said motherboard connectors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said channel and said cross section are complementary "T" shaped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said system comprises a card cage and a card slot thereon opposite said connectors positioned to receive said circuit board over a range of said relative movement of said circuit board and said rail.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronics rack assembly comprising a card cage containing the system of claim 6, said motherboard having a plurality of guides, said card cage having a plurality of said circuit boards with associated ones of said rails, said linkages and said cranks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The rack assembly of claim 13 wherein said cardcage further comprises a spacer track and wherein each said circuit board comprises a spacer movably locatable within said spacer track of said cardcage, during circuit board insertion and deletion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
A circuit board with a crank, adaptable for conveyance across a motherboard to a stop, wherein pins of edge connectors of said circuit board are oriented transversely to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board, comprising: a circuit board; a guide rail and a linkage pivotally attaching said rail to said circuit board in a parallelogram shape and having a crank, wherein said guide rail is adapted for use with a guide track associated with said motherboard to guide said circuit board across said motherboard and to align said edge connectors of said circuit board with connectors of a motherboard for mating, at said stop, and by actuation of said crank to move said circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance to thereby mate said circuit board and motherboard connectors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
135 words
A circuit board with a crank, adaptable for conveyance across a motherboard to a stop, wherein pins of edge connectors of said circuit board are oriented transversely to the direction of conveyance of said circuit board, comprising: a circuit board; a guide rail and a linkage pivotally attaching said rail to said circuit board in a parallelogram shape and having a crank, wherein said guide rail is adapted for use with a guide track associated with said motherboard to guide said circuit board across said motherboard and to align said edge connectors of said circuit board with connectors of a motherboard for mating, at said stop, and by actuation of said crank to move said circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance to thereby mate said circuit board and motherboard connectors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The circuit board of claim 15 wherein said circuit board comprises a spacer movably locatable within a spacer track of a cardcage, within which said motherboard is located, during circuit board insertion and deletion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The circuit board with a crank of claim 15, wherein said crank is a lever similar in length to the side of said circuit card perpendicular to said motherboard, and is attached to a side of said parallelogram shape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The circuit board with a crank of claim 17, wherein said linkage comprises two arms one end of each pivoted to said rail and the other end of which is pivoted to said circuit board.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The circuit board with a crank of claim 15, wherein said guide rail is elongated and of cross sectional dimension to mate with an interior channel of said guide track.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-23 | 1997-02-22 | 1997-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-23 | 2001-02-22 | 2001-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-23 | 2005-02-22 | 2005-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |