US6286066B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hot-plug interface for detecting adapter card insertion and removal
Assignee: Dell USA LP
•
Filing: 1998-12-15
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Granted: 2001-09-04
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Expires: 2018-12-15
Abstract
Abstract Adapter cards generally have a metal bracket at one end. The adapter card attaches to an adapter card slot of a computer system by fastening the bracket to a connector on the computer system. Conventionally, the bracket is fastened to the connector using a screw. It has been discovered that an electrically-conductive flip-down retainer advantageously functions as an improved fastener to secure the adapter card to the connector. The electrically-conductive flip-down retainer is a single structure that performs the combined functions of an electrical switch and a mechanical fastener. The electrically-conductive flip-down retainer includes electrical contacts that form a closed circuit when the bracket is fastened to the connector and an open circuit when the bracket is not fastened. The electrical contacts are connected to conductors extending to a controller. The controller monitors the status of the electrical switch of the electrically-conductive flip-down retainer and controls application of power to the adapter card slot, typically under control of an operating system. The controller terminates power to the adapter card slot when the electrically-conductive flip-down retainer is unfastened, indicating that the adapter card is disengaged from the adapter card slot. The controller restores power to the adapter card slot when the electrically-conductive flip-down retainer is fastened, indicating the adapter card is engaged with the adapter card slot.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart Hayes
- 👤 Mukund P. Khatri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06F13/38; G06F13/40; G06F13/4063; G06F13/4068; G06F13/4081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for fastening a card to a card slot comprising: an electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card that is engaged in the card slot, locking the card into engagement in the card slot, and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
An apparatus for fastening a card to a card slot comprising: an electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card that is engaged in the card slot, locking the card into engagement in the card slot, and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot, the adapter card including a metal bracket that fastens to a connector on a chassis, the electrically-conductive fastener being adapted to fasten the metal bracket to the connector, forming a closed electrical circuit between the metal bracket and the connector when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the electrically-conductive fastener is an electrically-conductive flip-down retainer in a single structure that performs the combined functions of an electrical switch and a mechanical fastener.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus compliant with a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus specification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus compliant with a hot-plug specification.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus in a computer system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus comprising: a communication bus; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card that is engaged in the card slot, locking the card into engagement in the card slot, and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
151 words
An apparatus comprising: a communication bus; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card that is engaged in the card slot, locking the card into engagement in the card slot, and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus comprising: a communication bus; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise; and a controller coupled to the first monitoring terminal and coupled to the second monitoring terminal, the controller for monitoring the electrical switch to determine whether the switch forms a closed circuit or an open circuit.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus comprising: a communication bus; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise; and a controller coupled to the first monitoring terminal and coupled to the second monitoring terminal, the controller for monitoring the electrical switch to determine whether the switch forms a closed circuit or an open circuit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus comprising: a communication bus; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise; and a hot-plug controller coupled to the first monitoring terminal and coupled to the second monitoring terminal, the controller for monitoring the electrical switch to determine whether the switch forms a closed circuit or an open circuit, the hot-plug controller coupled to the power switch and controlling application of power from the power source to the card slot.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus comprising: a communication bus; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal, the electrically conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise; and a hot-plug controller coupled to the first monitoring terminal and coupled to the second monitoring terminal, the controller for monitoring the electrical switch to determine whether the switch forms a closed circuit or an open circuit, the hot-plug controller coupled to the power switch and controlling application of power from the power source to the card slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot, the adapter card including a metal bracket that fastens to a connector on a chassis, the electrically-conductive fastener being adapted to fasten the metal bracket to the connector, forming a closed electrical circuit between the metal bracket and the connector when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the electrically-conductive fastener is an electrically-conductive flip-down retainer in a single structure that performs the combined functions of an electrical switch and a mechanical fastener.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to the communication bus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus compliant with a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus specification.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus compliant with a hot-plug specification.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein: the card is an adapter card and the card slot is an adapter card slot for coupling the adapter card to a communication bus in a computer system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a communication bus coupled to the processor; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; a controller coupled to the power switch and controlling application of power from the power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal of the controller and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal of the controller, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card that is engaged in the card slot, locking the card into engagement in the card slot, and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
184 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a communication bus coupled to the processor; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; a controller coupled to the power switch and controlling application of power from the power source to the card slot; and an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal of the controller and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal of the controller, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card that is engaged in the card slot, locking the card into engagement in the card slot, and forming an open circuit otherwise.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
188 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a communication bus coupled to the processor; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; a controller coupled to the power switch and controlling application of power from the power source to the card slot; an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal of the controller and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal of the controller, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise; and a program code operable in conjunction with the processor and the controller implementing a hot-plug functionality.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
188 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a communication bus coupled to the processor; a card slot coupled to the communication bus; a power switch coupled to the card slot for switchably coupling a power source to the card slot; a controller coupled to the power switch and controlling application of power from the power source to the card slot; an electrically-conductive fastener for fastening a card to the card slot, the electrically-conductive fastener including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a continuous conductive pathway between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact, the first electrical contact for coupling to a first monitoring terminal of the controller and the second electrical contact for coupling to a second monitoring terminal of the controller, the electrically-conductive fastener being operative as an electrical switch forming a closed circuit between the first monitoring terminal and the second monitoring terminal when the electrically-conductive fastener is in a fastened position holding the card to the card slot and forming an open circuit otherwise; and a program code operable in conjunction with the processor and the controller implementing a hot-plug functionality.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
66 words
A computer system according to claim 18 further comprising: a hot removal process operational when the card slot is powered, a hot removal process code including: a program code detecting unfastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of an unfastened card in a corresponding unfastened card slot; and a program code responsive to unfastening of the electrically-conductive fastener by quiescing the unfastened card and the unfastened card slot.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
A computer system according to claim 19 further comprising: the hot removal process code further including: a program code issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to terminate power to the unfastened card slot; a program code responsive to the hot-plug primitive by asserting a reset signal to the unfastened card slot, terminating power to the unfastened card slot, and controlling a slot-state indicator indicative that power to the unfastened card slot is terminated; and a program code notifying a user that power to the unfastened card slot is terminated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer system according to claim 18 further comprising: a hot insertion process operational when the card slot is not powered, a hot insertion process code including: a program code detecting fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of a newly fastened card in a corresponding fastened card slot; and a program code responsive to fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener by issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to apply power to the fastened card slot; and a program code applying power to the fastened card slot.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer system according to claim 21 further comprising: the hot insertion process code further including: a program code responsive to the hot-plug primitive by applying power to the card slot, deasserting a reset signal to the fastened card slot, and controlling a slot-state indicator indicative that power to the fastened card slot is applied; and a program code notifying a user that power to the fastened card slot is applied.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of operating a computer system comprising: detecting unfastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of an unfastened card in a corresponding unfastened card slot; responsive to unfastening of the electrically-conductive fastener, guiescing the unfastened card and the unfastened card slot; and issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to terminate power to the unfastened card slot; responsive to the hot-plug primitive, asserting a reset signal to the unfastened card slot, terminating power to the unfastened card slot; and controlling a slot-state indicator indicative that power to the unfastened card slot is terminated.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of operating a computer system comprising: detecting unfastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of an unfastened card in a corresponding unfastened card slot; responsive to unfastening of the electrically-conductive fastener, guiescing the unfastened card and the unfastened card slot; and issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to terminate power to the unfastened card slot; responsive to the hot-plug primitive, asserting a reset signal to the unfastened card slot, terminating power to the unfastened card slot; and controlling a slot-state indicator indicative that power to the unfastened card slot is terminated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 23 further comprising: notifying a user that power to the unfastened card slot is terminated.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of operating a computer system comprising: fastening a card that is engaged in a card slot with a retainer; detecting fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of the fastened card in a corresponding fastened card slot; and responsive to fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener, issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to apply power to the fastened card slot; and applying power to the fastened card slot.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of operating a computer system comprising: fastening a card that is engaged in a card slot with a retainer; detecting fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of the fastened card in a corresponding fastened card slot; and responsive to fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener, issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to apply power to the fastened card slot; and applying power to the fastened card slot.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of operating a computer system comprising: detecting fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of a newly fastened card in a corresponding fastened card slot; and responsive to fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener, issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to apply power to the fastened card slot; applying power to the fastened card slot; responsive to the hot-plug primitive, applying power to the card slot; deasserting a reset signal to the fastened card slot; controlling a slot-state indicator indicative that power to the fastened card slot is applied; and notifying a user that power to the fastened card slot is applied.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of operating a computer system comprising: detecting fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener of a newly fastened card in a corresponding fastened card slot; and responsive to fastening of the electrically-conductive fastener, issuing a hot-plug primitive to a hot-plug system driver to apply power to the fastened card slot; applying power to the fastened card slot; responsive to the hot-plug primitive, applying power to the card slot; deasserting a reset signal to the fastened card slot; controlling a slot-state indicator indicative that power to the fastened card slot is applied; and notifying a user that power to the fastened card slot is applied.
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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) | 2004-09-03 | 2005-03-05 | 2005-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-03 | 2009-03-05 | 2009-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-03 | 2013-03-05 | 2013-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |