Sequentially unlocking expansion slots
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorMichael Janicek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lockout apparatus for a number of expansion slots in a printed circuit board includes a lockout mechanism for the expansion slots. Each lockout mechanism includes a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open. Only a single expansion slot is available for use at any one time. In another embodiment, add-on card installed into expansion slots may be retained in the expansion slot when the next expansion slot is filled.
Claims39
A lockout apparatus for a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots, the lockout apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one lockout mechanism for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open.
A lockout apparatus for a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots, comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one of the plurality of lockout mechanisms for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising:
- a lockout disk rotatable about a central point, the lockout disk having:
- a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open, the lockout member fixedly rigidly attached to the lockout disk, the lockout member extending into its respective expansion slot;
- a lockout opening aligned with the lockout channel when the lockout member is in its first position;
- and
- a lockout rod rotatably mounted to the lockout disk, the lockout rod extending into the lockout channel and lockout opening of the adjacent expansion slot when the lockout member is in its first position, and movable out of the lockout opening of the adjacent expansion slot when the lockout member moves to its second position.
A lockout apparatus for a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots, comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one of the plurality of lockout mechanisms for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising:
- a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open, and wherein each lockout member comprises:
- a body having a first end and a second end;
- a displacement tab extending from the first end;
- an add-on card opening positioned between the first end and the second end.
A lockout apparatus for a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots, comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one of the plurality of lockout mechanisms for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising:
- a power supply;
- a switch with a contact disposed in a first expansion slot;
- a lockout member movable between a first position in which it blocks a second expansion slot, and a second position in which the second expansion slot is open;
- a lockout solenoid in the second expansion slot, the switch connected between the power supply and the lockout solenoid, wherein actuation of the switch actuates the lockout solenoid to retract the lockout member from the second expansion slot.
A lockout apparatus for a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots, comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one of the plurality of lockout mechanisms for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising:
- a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open, and wherein each lockout mechanism comprises:
- a body movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open, the body having a cover arm at one end and a lockout member at the other end, and wherein the body is rotatable between its first and second positions about a pivot point between the one end and the other end.
A lockout apparatus for a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots, comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one of the plurality of lockout mechanisms for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising:
- a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open, the lockout member having a plurality of openings therein;
- a gear having teeth, the gear rotatable about a pivot point, the teeth engaging the plurality of lockout member openings;
- and
- a cover arm fixedly, rigidly attached to the gear.
An add-on card for a printed circuit board, the add-on card having a slot therein for retention of the add on card in an expansion slot having a retention means.
A computer system, comprising:
- a computer having a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot, a last expansion slot, and a plurality of intermediate expansion slots;
- and
- a lockout apparatus for the plurality of expansion slots, the lockout apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one lockout mechanism for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open.
A printed circuit board having a plurality of expansion slots comprising a first expansion slot and a plurality of remaining expansion slots, and a lockout apparatus, the lockout apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of lockout mechanisms, one lockout mechanism for each of the plurality of intermediate expansion slots and the last expansion slot, each lockout mechanism comprising a lockout member movable between a first position in which its respective expansion slot is blocked, and a second position in which its respective expansion slot is open.
A method of sequential access to a plurality of expansion slots of a printed circuit board, the method comprising:
- blocking access to all but the first of the plurality of expansion slots;
- and
- opening access to the next of the plurality of expansion slots upon installation of an add-on card into the first of the expansion slots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.