# US 2017/0290190 A1 · System for electrical connection of printed circuit boards and backplanes in server enclosure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0290190 A1 - Document ID: US20170290190A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/086,386 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Oracle International Corporation - Applicants: Oracle International Corporation - Inventors: Stephen Lindquist; William Izzicupo; Lyne Dore; Todd Ellsworth; Daniela Buchman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170290190A1 ## CPC - H05K 7/1489: {characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/1417: {having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards (H05K7/1461 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/1439: {Back panel mother boards} - H05K 7/1485: {Servers; Data center rooms, e.g. 19-inch computer racks} - H05K 7/1487: {Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade} - H05K 7/1492: {having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications} - H05K 13/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Utilities (e.g., apparatuses, systems, methods, etc.) for reducing or eliminating gaps between the tips of male pins and the bottoms of corresponding female sockets of interfaced connectors (e.g., daughtercard and backplane connectors) of a computing module and a backplane of a server enclosure under a variety of differing mechanical tolerances in the lengths of the server enclosure and the computing module (e.g., along a dimension that is parallel to the longitudinal axes of the male pins and female sockets). The disclosed utilities allow for increased signal quality and data rates through interfaced connectors while reducing strain on the PCB, solder joints, and the like during the interfacing of the connectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A module for slidable receipt in an electronics enclosure, comprising: a chassis including opposite front and rear portions, opposite first and second side portions, and an interior portion; a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted within the interior portion of the chassis for sliding movement along an axis that extends from the front portion to the rear portion between the first and second side portions of the chassis; at least a first connector electrically connected to the PCB adjacent the rear portion of the chassis; and a biasing apparatus interconnected between the chassis and the PCB that is configured to deflect upon engagement between the first connector and a corresponding second connector secured within the electronics enclosure as the chassis is inserted into a socket of the electronics enclosure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the chassis further includes a bottom portion, and wherein the PCB is slidable over the bottom portion of the chassis along the axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2, further including: a frame that is slidably attached to the bottom portion of the chassis for sliding movement along the axis, wherein the PCB is rigidly attached to the frame for movement therewith along the axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein one of the frame and the chassis includes a plurality of protrusions, and wherein the other of the frame and the chassis includes a plurality of slots that configured to receive the plurality of protrusions to guide sliding of the frame and PCB along the axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The module of claim 3, wherein the biasing apparatus includes at least first and second portions, wherein the first portion is rigidly secured to the chassis and is non-movable relative to the chassis, and wherein the second portion is in contact with the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The module of claim 5, wherein the second portion is rigidly secured to the frame and is non-movable relative to the frame, and wherein the biasing apparatus includes a third portion between the first and second portions that is configured to deflect upon engagement between the first and second connectors as the chassis is inserted into the socket of the electronics enclosure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the biasing apparatus is a beam spring that is configured to deflect within a plane that is parallel to the bottom portion of the chassis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, further including: a lever arm pivotally attached to the chassis for urging the chassis towards the second connector secured within the electronics enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein the at least one connector is a plurality of connectors electrically attached to the PCB, and wherein the module further includes: a stiffening plate interconnecting the plurality of connectors; and a plurality of stiffening members interconnecting the stiffening plate to the PCB, wherein the stiffening plate and the plurality of stiffening members are configured resist bending moments induced in the plurality of connectors as the module is inserted into the socket of the electronics enclosure. ### Claim 10 A server, comprising: an enclosure including a housing and an interior space within the housing, wherein the interior space defines a plurality of sockets; a backplane secured to the housing within the interior space adjacent a rear portion of the plurality of sockets, wherein the backplane includes at least one backplane connector adjacent the rear portion of each socket of the plurality of sockets; a computing module receivable in a first socket of the plurality of sockets, wherein the computing module includes: a chassis that is slidable within the first socket along a first axis; a printed circuit board (PCB) that is slidable relative to the chassis along a second axis that is collinear with or parallel to the first axis; and at least one PCB connector attached to the PCB for electrical connection with the backplane connector of the first socket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The server of claim 10, wherein the computing module further includes a biasing apparatus interconnected between the chassis and the PCB that is configured to allow the PCB to slide along the second axis when the chassis is inserted into the first socket along the first axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The server of claim 11, wherein the computing module further includes a lever arm pivotally attached to the chassis that is configured to contact a portion of the enclosure as the lever arm pivots into a closed position to urge the chassis into the first socket towards the backplane. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The server of claim 11, wherein the computing module further includes a frame that is slidably attached to the chassis for movement along the second axis, wherein the PCB is rigidly attached to the frame for movement therewith along the second axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The server of claim 10, wherein the computing module further includes a lever arm pivotally attached to the chassis that is configured to contact a portion of the enclosure as the lever arm pivots into a closed position to urge the chassis into the first socket towards the backplane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The server of claim 10, wherein the at least one PCB connector is a plurality of PCB connectors electrically attached to the PCB, and wherein the computing module further includes: a stiffening plate interconnecting the plurality of PCB connectors; and a plurality of stiffening members interconnecting the stiffening plate to the PCB, wherein the stiffening plate and the plurality of stiffening members are configured resist bending moments induced in the plurality of PCB connectors as the computing module is inserted into the first socket of the enclosure. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: inserting a chassis of a computing module into a socket of an enclosure; establishing, during the inserting, contact between a first electrical connector adjacent a rear of the chassis and a second electrical connector adjacent a rear of the socket in the enclosure; allowing, during the establishing, the first electrical connector to slide along an axis relative to the chassis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including: urging, during the establishing, the first electrical connector along the axis relative to the chassis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the urging includes: biasing the first electrical connector along the axis away from a front of the chassis, wherein the front is opposite the rear of the chassis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the urging includes: receiving a force on the first electrical connector to urge the first electrical connector along the axis towards the front of the chassis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including: resisting, during the establishing, a bending moment inducted in the first electrical connector.