# US 2016/0261083 A1 · Circuit board actuator system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0261083 A1 - Document ID: US20160261083A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/704,166 - Filed: 2015-05-05 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06 - Assignees: Facebook, Inc. - Applicants: Facebook, Inc. - Inventors: Renee Chu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160261083A1 ## CPC - H01R 43/205: {with a panel or printed circuit board} - H05K 7/1409: {by lever-type mechanisms} - H05K 7/1489: {characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/20736: {within cabinets for removing heat from server blades} - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Technology is provided for circuit board actuator systems for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector. The actuator system includes a cross-member attached to a circuit board and a pair of levers pivotably coupled to opposite end portions of the cross-member. Each lever is moveable between a closed position and an open position and includes an arm with an insertion pawl and an ejector pawl extending from the arm. The system further includes a pair of circuit board guides, each including a keeper and mountable adjacent a circuit board connector. The insertion pawls operate against the keepers to insert the circuit board into the connector when the levers are moved toward the closed position, and the ejector pawls operate against the keepers to eject the circuit board from the connector when the levers are moved toward the open position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit board actuator for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector, comprising: a cross-member attachable to a circuit board, the cross-member having a catch portion; and at least one lever pivotably coupled to the cross-member and moveable between a closed position and an open position, including: an arm; a pair of opposed pawls extending from a first end portion of the arm; and a latch disposed on a second end portion of the arm and configured to engage the catch portion on the cross-member when the at least one lever is in the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit board actuator of claim 1, wherein the latch includes a release tab operable to disengage the latch from the catch when activated by a user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The circuit board actuator of claim 2, wherein the latch includes a tooth disposed on the release tab configured to engage the catch portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The circuit board actuator of claim 3, wherein the catch portion comprises a catch groove formed in the cross-member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The circuit board actuator of claim 3, wherein the catch portion comprises a flange extending from the cross-member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuit board actuator of claim 1, wherein the pair of opposed pawls include an insertion pawl and an ejector pawl. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuit board actuator of claim 1, wherein the cross-member is attachable along an edge of the circuit board. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The circuit board actuator of claim 1, wherein the cross-member is attachable to a side surface of the circuit board. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The circuit board actuator of claim 1, wherein the at least one lever is pivotably coupled to the cross-member by a fastener. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit board actuator of claim 9, wherein the fastener is operable to mount the cross-member to the circuit board. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The circuit board actuator of claim 1, including a resilient member positioned to urge the at least one lever toward the open position. ### Claim 12 A circuit board actuator system for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector, the circuit board actuator system comprising: a cross-member attachable to a circuit board and having catch portions; a pair of levers pivotably coupled to opposite end portions of the cross-member and moveable between a closed position and an open position, the pair of levers each including: an arm; a pair of opposed pawls extending from a first end portion of the arm; and a latch disposed on a second end portion of the arm and configured to engage a catch portion on the cross-member when the pair of levers are in the closed position; and a pair of circuit board guides mountable adjacent a circuit board connector, the pair of circuit board guides each including a keeper against which the pair of opposed pawls operate for ejection and insertion of the circuit board into the circuit board connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The circuit board actuator system of claim 12, wherein the pair of circuit board guides each include a groove sized and configured to receive an edge margin of the circuit board. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit board actuator system of claim 13, wherein each groove is oriented orthogonally to a corresponding keeper. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The circuit board actuator system of claim 12, wherein the pair of opposed pawls include an insertion pawl and an ejector pawl, wherein the insertion pawls each operate against a first surface of the keepers to insert the circuit board into the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the closed position, and the ejector pawls each operate against a second surface of the keepers to eject the circuit board from the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the open position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The circuit board actuator system of claim 12, wherein the pair of levers are pivotably coupled to the cross-member by fasteners. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The circuit board actuator system of claim 16, wherein the fasteners are operable to mount the cross-member to the circuit board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The circuit board actuator system of claim 12, further comprising a resilient member positioned to urge each lever toward the open position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The circuit board actuator system of claim 12, further comprising a chassis, wherein the pair of circuit board guides are mounted to the chassis adjacent the circuit board connector. ### Claim 20 A circuit board actuator system for ejecting and inserting a circuit board into a circuit board connector, the circuit board actuator system comprising: a circuit board; a cross-member attached to the circuit board and having catch portions; a pair of levers pivotably coupled to opposite end portions of the cross-member and moveable between a closed position and an open position, the pair of levers each including: an arm; an insertion pawl extending from a first end portion of the arm; an ejector pawl opposite the insertion pawl extending from the first end portion of the arm; and a latch disposed on a second end portion of the arm and configured to engage a catch portion on the cross-member when the pair of levers are in the closed position; and a pair of circuit board guides each including a keeper and mountable adjacent a circuit board connector, wherein the insertion pawls each operate against a first surface of the keepers to insert the circuit board into the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the closed position, and the ejector pawls each operate against a second surface of the keepers to eject the circuit board from the circuit board connector when the pair of levers are moved toward the open position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The circuit board actuator system of claim 20, wherein each latch includes a release tab operable to disengage the latch from the corresponding catch portion when depressed by a user. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The circuit board actuator system of claim 20, wherein the cross-member is attachable along an edge of the circuit board. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The circuit board actuator system of claim 20, wherein the cross-member is attachable to a side surface of the circuit board. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The circuit board actuator system of claim 23, wherein each lever is pivotably coupled to the cross-member by a fastener. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The circuit board actuator system of claim 24, wherein the fasteners are operable to mount the cross-member to the circuit board.