Dimm/expansion card retention method for highly kinematic environments
AssigneeCrystal Group Inc.
InventorsJames E Shaw, Brad Patrick McDermott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for stabilizing a DIMM in a DIMM connector so as to reduce wear related electrical disconnections therebetween. A base is disposed between adjacent DIMM connectors and is coupled to the motherboard. A cap engages a top edge of a plurality of DIMMs and an adjustable force is applied to the top of the DIMMS by turning a screw which extends from the cap into the base.
Claims20
A system for reducing inadvertent electrical disconnection of memory modules during operation in harsh environments comprising:
- a parallel plurality of adjacent dual in-line memory module (DIMM) connectors, (112, 114) each having a connector longitudinal axis, being disposed on a motherboard with an interstitial gap (113) therebetween;
- a parallel plurality of adjacent DIMMs (130) each having a memory module top edge and a memory module longitudinal axis;
- a multi-DIMM vibration damping cap (140) having a cap longitudinal axis and a parallel plurality of cap to memory module top edge engaging regions;
- a base (120), having a base longitudinal axis, said base disposed in said interstitial gap and coupled to one of:
- the motherboard;
- and
- one of the parallel plurality of adjacent DIMM connectors;
- said base longitudinal axis, said connector longitudinal axis, said memory module longitudinal axis and said cap longitudinal axis all being parallel;
- and
- a coupling (150) for adjustably biasing said multi-DIMM vibration damping cap toward a parallel plurality of memory module top edges.
A system for reducing inadvertent electrical disconnection of circuit boards during operation in harsh environments comprising:
- a parallel plurality of adjacent connectors, each having a connector longitudinal axis, being disposed on a primary circuit board with an interstitial gap therebetween;
- a parallel plurality of adjacent secondary circuit cards each having a secondary circuit card top edge and a secondary circuit card longitudinal axis;
- a multi-secondary circuit card vibration damping cap having a cap longitudinal axis and a parallel plurality of cap to secondary circuit card top edge engaging regions;
- a base having a base longitudinal axis, said base disposed in said interstitial gap and coupled to one of:
- the primary circuit card;
- and
- one of the parallel plurality of adjacent connectors;
- said base longitudinal axis, said connector longitudinal axis, said secondary circuit card longitudinal axis and said cap longitudinal axis all being parallel;
- and
- a coupling for adjustably biasing said multi-secondary circuit card vibration damping cap toward a parallel plurality of secondary circuit card top edges.
A method of reducing inadvertent electrical disconnection of circuit boards during operation in harsh environments comprising:
- providing a parallel plurality of adjacent connectors, each having a connector longitudinal axis, being disposed on a primary circuit board with an interstitial gap therebetween;
- providing a parallel plurality of adjacent secondary circuit cards each having a secondary circuit card top edge and a secondary circuit card longitudinal axis;
- proving a multi-secondary circuit card vibration damping cap having a cap longitudinal axis and a parallel plurality of cap to secondary circuit card top edge engaging regions;
- providing a base having a base longitudinal axis, said base disposed in said interstitial gap and coupled to one of:
- the primary circuit card;
- and
- one of the parallel plurality of adjacent connectors;
- said base longitudinal axis, said connector longitudinal axis, said secondary circuit card longitudinal axis and said cap longitudinal axis all being parallel;
- and
- adjustably biasing said multi-secondary circuit card vibration damping cap toward a parallel plurality of secondary circuit card top edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.