# US 2017/0286346 A1 · Network interface card assembly having port connector accessible from region outside of computing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0286346 A1 - Document ID: US20170286346A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/090,018 - Filed: 2016-04-04 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Randol D. Aldridge; James Smalls - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170286346A1 ## CPC - G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling} - G06F 13/385: {for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices} - G06F 13/4045: {where the bus bridge performs an extender function} - G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An apparatus includes a circuit card substrate that is associated with a network interface card. The circuit card substrate includes a connector edge to be received in a connector that is nominally associated with a slot to receive an expansion card that, when installed in a computing device, is physically enclosed within the computing device. The apparatus includes a port connector that is mounted to the circuit card substrate. The port connector is to be accessible from a region outside of the computing device when the connector edge of the circuit card substrate is received in the connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a computing device comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a port opening; a motherboard disposed in the enclosed space comprising a central processing unit (CPU) mounted and a slot connector; and a network interface card assembly comprising: a circuit card comprising an connector edge to be inserted into the slot connector; and a cantilevered network communication module mounted to the circuit card and comprising a port connector, the module to extend to the port opening of the housing to allow access to the port connector from a region outside of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the slot connector is nominally associated with an expansion card that, when installed in the slot connector, is physically enclosed within the computing device ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the slot connector comprises an M.2 interface connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface card assembly comprises a fiber optics network interface card assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the port connector comprises a subscriber connector, a lucent connector or a straight tip connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit card, when the connector edge is inserted into the slot connector, is generally planar with the motherboard. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the network communication module comprises an electrical-to-optical conversion module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the slot connector comprises electrical contacts associated with a storage drive interface and electrical contacts associated with a PCIe interface. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: a circuit card substrate associated with a network interface card and comprising a connector edge to be received in an M.2 slot connector disposed inside a computing device; and a port connector mounted to the circuit card substrate, the port connector to be accessible from a region outside of the computing device when the connector edge of the circuit card substrate is received in the M.2 slot connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: an electrical-to-optical conversion module mounted on the circuit card substrate and comprising the port connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is elongated between a first end and a second end, the port connector being disposed at the first end, and the electrical-to-optical conversion module being disposed at the second end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuit card substrate comprises an opening to receive a fastener to secure the circuit card to the motherboard. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: inserting a network interface card assembly in an M.2 slot connector of a processor-based system; and extending an optical communication module of the network interface card assembly to an opening in a housing of the processor-based system to allow an external connection to the network interface card. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein inserting the network interface card assembly in the M.2 slot connector comprises mounting the network interface card assembly in a ninety degree connector slot of a motherboard of the processor-based system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein extending the optical communication module comprises mounting the module to a chassis of the processor-based system to allow access to the port connector through an opening in a chassis of the processor-based system.