On-line replacement apparatus for printed circuit cards
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorHannsjorg Obermaier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved apparatus is disclosed for removing and installing faulty printed circuit cards laterally through a side wall of a computer system, while the remaining cards of the computer system remain under power and operational. The computer system incorporates zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors for receiving the printed circuit cards, and a special interlock mechanism prevents each ZIF connector from being moved from its open position to its closed position until an associated card has been fully installed into the connector. In addition, a special centering mechanism is used to adjustably position the printed circuit card with its electrical contacts precisely aligned with the contacts of the ZIF connector.
Claims20
Apparatus for removing and installing a printed circuit card from and into a chassis, wherein the printed circuit card has a lower edge, an upper edge opposite the lower edge, and a side edge between the lower edge and upper edge, and wherein the printed circuit card includes a multiple-contact connector located along its lower edge and a bulkhead located along its side edge, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a chassis connector mounted on the chassis and having a plurality of electrical contacts that define a slot for receiving the lower edge of the printed circuit card, wherein the chassis connector contacts are movable between a retracted position, in which the lower edge of the printed circuit card can be slid along the slot without contacting the chassis connector contacts to permit the card to be removed and installed, and an engagement position, in which the chassis connector contacts make electrical contact with the multiple-contact connector of the printed circuit card and secure the card in place;
- a control lever for selectively moving the chassis connector contacts between their retracted position and their engagement position;
- and
- a mechanical interlock for preventing the control lever from moving the chassis connector contacts from their retracted position to their engagement position unless the printed circuit card has been fully inserted.
Apparatus for removing and installing a printed circuit card from and into a chassis, wherein the printed circuit card has a lower edge, an upper edge opposite the lower edge, and a side edge between the lower edge and upper edge, and wherein the printed circuit card includes a multiple-contact connector located along its lower edge and a bulkhead located along its side edge, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- a chassis connector mounted on the chassis and having a plurality of electrical contacts that define a slot for receiving the lower edge of the printed circuit card, wherein the chassis connector contacts are movable between a retracted position, in which the lower edge of the printed circuit card can be slid along the slot without contacting the chassis connector contacts to permit the card to be removed and installed, and an engagement position, in which the chassis connector contacts make electrical contact with the multiple-contact connector of the printed circuit card and secure the card in place;
- a control lever for selectively moving the chassis connector contacts between their retracted position and their engagement position;
- and
- a centering device, separate from the contacts of the chassis connector and operable when the printed circuit card has been fully inserted into the chassis connector, for adjustably positioning the printed circuit card such that the printed circuit card contacts are aligned with the corresponding chassis connector contacts.
A computer system comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of printed circuit cards, each card having a lower edge, an upper edge opposite the lower edge, and a side edge between the lower edge and upper edge, and each card incorporating a multiple-contact connector along its lower edge and a bulkhead along its side edge;
- a plurality of elongated zero insertion force (ZIF) connectors mounted in the housing in spaced, parallel relationship, each ZIF connector having a plurality of electrical contacts that define a slot for receiving the lower edge of a printed circuit card, wherein the ZIF connector contacts are movable between a retracted position, in which the lower edge of the printed circuit card can be slid along the slot without contacting the ZIF connector contacts, and an engagement position, in which the ZIF connector contacts make electrical contact with the multiple-contact connector of the printed circuit card and secure the card in place;
- a plurality of control levers, each associated with a separate one of the plurality of ZIF connectors, for selectively moving the ZIF connector contacts between their retracted and engagement positions;
- a plurality of mechanical interlocks, each associated with a separate one of the ZIF connectors, for preventing the associated control lever from moving the ZIF connector contacts from their retracted position to their engagement position unless a printed circuit card has been fully inserted therein;
- and
- a plurality of centering devices, each associated with a separate one of the ZIF connectors, and each operable when a printed circuit card has been fully inserted into the ZIF connector, for adjustably positioning the printed circuit card such that the printed circuit card contacts are aligned with the corresponding ZIF connector contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.