Patent US6162073A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6162073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Hot plug structure and method for engaging/disengaging PCI compliant card
Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
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Filing: 1998-12-31
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Granted: 2000-12-19
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Expires: 2018-12-31
Abstract
Abstract Structure and methods are provided for engaging/disengaging (1) a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) compliant card and (2) a slot therefor on a baseboard of a computer, without having to power down the system or remove any computer chassis components. The structure includes a bracket to hold the PCI compliant card, as a first part of the structure. The bracket slides into a channel of a second part of the structure, this second part having the engagement/disengagement mechanism built into it. The engagement/disengagement mechanism includes a camming structure which rotates to press against the channel and forces it downward (thereby forcing the PCI compliant card, held by the bracket in the channel, downward), to engage the electrical contacts of the PCI compliant card to electrical connectors in the slot. Upon release of the camming structure, a spring of the engagement/disengagement mechanism forces the channel upward to disengage the PCI compliant card from the slot. The engagement/disengagement mechanism includes ejection structure to eject the bracket (and PCI compliant card held thereby) from the channel when the PCI compliant card has risen above the slot.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohammed N. Haq
- 👤 Russell S. Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/185; G06F1/184; G06F1/186; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4081; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1401; H05K7/1414; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/7005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A hot plug component, comprising: a hot plug biasing mechanism; and a hot plug channel member, for holding a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, integrated with the hot plug biasing mechanism, wherein the hot plug biasing mechanism includes a camming structure, the hot plug channel member being adapted to co-act with the camming structure to move the hot plug channel member so the peripheral component interconnect compliant card enters a slot, to engage the peripheral component interconnect compliant card in the slot, when the camming structure moves in a first direction, and wherein the hot plug biasing mechanism further comprises a spring connected to the hot plug channel member and biased in a direction opposite said first direction when the peripheral component interconnect compliant card is engaged with said slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A hot plug component, comprising: a hot plug biasing mechanism; and a hot plug channel member, for holding a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, integrated with the hot plug biasing mechanism, wherein the hot plug biasing mechanism includes a camming structure, the hot plug channel member being adapted to co-act with the camming structure to move the hot plug channel member so the peripheral component interconnect compliant card enters a slot, to engage the peripheral component interconnect compliant card in the slot, when the camming structure moves in a first direction, and wherein the hot plug biasing mechanism further comprises a spring connected to the hot plug channel member and biased in a direction opposite said first direction when the peripheral component interconnect compliant card is engaged with said slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The hot plug component according to claim 1, further comprising an actuating mechanism, wherein movement of the camming structure is activated by the actuating mechanism, and wherein said actuating mechanism is a front lever which moves the camming structure and a button which initiates movement of the camming.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The hot plug component according to claim 1, wherein the hot plug biasing mechanism and the hot plug channel member are each positioned horizontally, and wherein the hot plug channel member is adapted to be moved vertically downwardly when the camming structure moves in the first direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The hot plug component according to claim 1, wherein said camming structure is adapted to operate to move the hot plug channel member from a first position where the peripheral component interconnect card is introduced to the hot plug channel, to a second position where the peripheral component interconnect card engages the slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
The hot plug component according to claim 1, wherein said camming structure is adapted to operate to move the hot plug channel member from an intermediate position, between a first position where the peripheral component interconnect card is introduced to the hot plug channel member and a second position where the peripheral component interconnect card engages the slot, to said second position; and wherein the hot plug biasing mechanism further comprises a back lever and springs, the springs being activated to move the hot plug channel member from said first position to the intermediate position when said back lever is tripped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
A bracket for a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, comprising: a hot plug cartridge to extend along an entire length of a top surface of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said hot plug cartridge having a cross-sectional configuration so as to slide into a hot plug channel member of a hot plug biasing mechanism and be held therein, wherein the hot plug cartridge is H-shaped in cross-section, and can slide into an H-shaped opening of the hot plug channel member; and an attachment member to extend along at least a back end of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card and having structure to attach to said peripheral component interconnect compliant card.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
A bracket for a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, comprising: a hot plug cartridge to extend along an entire length of a top surface of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said hot plug cartridge having a cross-sectional configuration so as to slide into a hot plug channel member of a hot plug biasing mechanism and be held therein, wherein the hot plug cartridge is H-shaped in cross-section, and can slide into an H-shaped opening of the hot plug channel member; and an attachment member to extend along at least a back end of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card and having structure to attach to said peripheral component interconnect compliant card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bracket according to claim 6, wherein the hot plug cartridge is attached to said attachment member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bracket according to claim 6, wherein the hot plug cartridge is integral with said attachment member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The bracket according to claim 6, wherein said member is configured so as to extend along said back end and a bottom edge of the PCI compliant card, and to permit electrical contacts on the bottom edge of the PCI compliant card to extend beneath said member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Hot plug structure, comprising: the hot plug component according to claim 1; and a bracket for holding the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, the bracket being adapted to slide into said hot plug channel member so as to be held therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
Hot plug structure according to claim 10, wherein said bracket includes: a hot plug cartridge to extend along an entire length of a top surface of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said hot plug cartridge having a cross-sectional configuration so as to slide into the hot plug channel member of the hot plug biasing mechanism and be held therein; and an attachment member to extend along at least a rear end of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card and having structure to attach to said peripheral component interconnect compliant card.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
Chassis structure of a computer, comprising: a frame structure, having openings therein through which peripheral component interconnect compliant cards can be passed so as to be respectively inserted into slots in a baseboard of the computer; and the hot plug component according to claim 1, exposed through one of said openings, and positioned with respect to said one of said openings and a slot, of said slots associated with said one of said openings such that a peripheral component interconnect compliant card of said peripheral component interconnect compliant card can be held in the hot plug channel member of the hot plug component and moved into said slot associated with said one of said openings by said hot plug biasing mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Chassis structure according to claim 12, wherein the frame structure includes a top, a front and a rear, and wherein said openings are in said rear of the frame structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Chassis structure according to claim 13, wherein said hot plug component is horizontal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Computer system comprising the chassis structure according to claim 13, and a bracket for the peripheral component interconnect compliant card.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
Computer system according to claim 15, wherein the bracket comprises: a hot plug cartridge to extend along an entire length of a top surface of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said hot plug cartridge having a cross-sectional configuration so as to slide into the hot plug channel member of the hot plug biasing mechanism and be held therein; and an attachment member to extend along at least a rear end of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card and having structure to attach to said peripheral component interconnect compliant card, and wherein the computer system further includes said peripheral component interconnect compliant card held by said bracket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Computer system comprising the chassis structure according to claim 12, and a bracket for the peripheral component interconnect compliant card.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
Computer system according to claim 11, further comprising a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, held by said bracket.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of engaging a peripheral component interconnect compliant card to a slot, comprising: sliding the peripheral component interconnect compliant card along a hot plug channel member of a hot plug component, so as to be held by the hot plug channel member, with the hot plug channel member located at a first position; and moving the hot plug channel member to a second position, the peripheral component interconnect compliant card moving therewith, the second position being a position at which the peripheral component interconnect compliant card held by the hot plug channel member is engaged to said slot, wherein said moving the hot plug channel member includes moving the hot plug channel member from the first position to an intermediate position between the first and second positions, and then moving the hot plug channel member from the intermediate position to the second position, wherein said moving the hot plug channel member from the first position to the intermediate position is initiated by sliding the peripheral component interconnect compliant card into the hot plug channel member, and wherein moving the hot plug channel member from the intermediate position to the second position is performed by moving a camming structure of the hot plug component.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of engaging a peripheral component interconnect compliant card to a slot, comprising: sliding the peripheral component interconnect compliant card along a hot plug channel member of a hot plug component, so as to be held by the hot plug channel member, with the hot plug channel member located at a first position; and moving the hot plug channel member to a second position, the peripheral component interconnect compliant card moving therewith, the second position being a position at which the peripheral component interconnect compliant card held by the hot plug channel member is engaged to said slot, wherein said moving the hot plug channel member includes moving the hot plug channel member from the first position to an intermediate position between the first and second positions, and then moving the hot plug channel member from the intermediate position to the second position, wherein said moving the hot plug channel member from the first position to the intermediate position is initiated by sliding the peripheral component interconnect compliant card into the hot plug channel member, and wherein moving the hot plug channel member from the intermediate position to the second position is performed by moving a camming structure of the hot plug component.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 19, wherein said moving the hot plug channel member moves the hot plug channel member from the first position to the second position by a single movement of the hot plug channel member, actuated by an actuating mechanism at the front of the hot plug component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 19, wherein the peripheral component interconnect compliant card is supported by a bracket; and in said sliding said peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said bracket is slid into a channel of said hot plug channel member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 19, further comprising disengaging the peripheral component interconnect compliant card from the slot, by moving the hot plug channel member back to said first position, and ejecting the peripheral component compliant card from said hot plug channel member at said first position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
137 words
A bracket for a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, comprising: a hot plug cartridge to extend along an entire length of a top surface of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said hot plug cartridge having a cross-sectional configuration so as to slide into a hot plug channel member of a hot plug biasing mechanism and be held therein; and an attachment member to extend along at least a back end of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card and having structure to attach to said peripheral component interconnect compliant card, wherein said attachment member is configured so as to extend along said back end and a bottom edge of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, and to permit electrical contacts on the bottom edge of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card to extend beneath said attachment member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
137 words
A bracket for a peripheral component interconnect compliant card, comprising: a hot plug cartridge to extend along an entire length of a top surface of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, said hot plug cartridge having a cross-sectional configuration so as to slide into a hot plug channel member of a hot plug biasing mechanism and be held therein; and an attachment member to extend along at least a back end of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card and having structure to attach to said peripheral component interconnect compliant card, wherein said attachment member is configured so as to extend along said back end and a bottom edge of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card, and to permit electrical contacts on the bottom edge of the peripheral component interconnect compliant card to extend beneath said attachment member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5644470A
Cited
US5657204A
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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) | 2003-12-19 | 2004-06-19 | 2004-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-19 | 2008-06-19 | 2008-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-19 | 2012-06-19 | 2012-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |