Guide system for a removable electronic device in a computer bay
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsMichele Bovio, Allan S. Baucom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A removable electronic module of this invention includes an electronic device, such as a memory storage drive, having an electrical device connector for mating with an electrical bay connector in a computer. The module also includes a connector guide mounted about the electrical device connector. The connector guide is adapted to engage the electrical bay connector to align the electrical device connector with the electrical bay connector. The module further includes an auxiliary device guide positioned apart from the connector guide. The auxiliary device guide is adapted to engage an auxiliary bay guide to align the connector guide with the electrical bay connector.
Claims17
A removable electronic module for mating with an electrical bay connector within a computer, the electronic module comprising:
- an electronic device including an electrical device connector for mating with the electrical bay connector;
- a connector guide mounted about the electrical device connector for engaging the electrical bay connector to align the electrical device connector with the electrical bay connector;
- an auxiliary device guide positioned apart from the electrical device connector for engaging an auxiliary bay guide to align the connector guide with the electrical bay connector;
- and
- a preliminary device guide for guiding the electronic module along a preliminary bay guide and for aligning the auxiliary device guide with the auxiliary bay guide.
A guide system for guiding an electronic device in a bay, the guide system comprising:
- a cabinet defining a port opening into a bay;
- an electrical bay connector mounted within the bay;
- an auxiliary bay guide mounted within the bay, apart from the electrical bay connector;
- a removable electronic module sized and shaped to be inserted through the port and mounted within the cabinet, the removable electronic module including an electrical device connector positioned and adapted to mate with the electrical bay connector when the removable electronic module is mounted within the cabinet via the port and an auxiliary device guide;
- a connector guide mounted about one of the electrical bay connector and the electrical device connector for engaging one of the electrical device connector and the electrical bay connector to align the electrical device connector with the electrical bay connector;
- the auxiliary device guide being positioned apart from the connector guide for engaging the auxiliary bay guide for aligning the connector guide with one of the electrical bay connector and the electrical device connector;
- and
- a preliminary bay guide for guiding the removable electronic module through the bay, the removable electronic module further including a preliminary device guide for engaging the preliminary bay guide.
A method of engaging an electrical device connector of an electronic device with an electrical bay connector within a computer bay comprising the steps of:
- engaging an auxiliary device guide with an auxiliary bay guide;
- engaging a connector guide with one of the electrical bay connector and the electrical device connector to align the electrical device connector with the electrical bay connector, the auxiliary guides aligning the connector guide with one of the electrical device connector and the electrical bay connector;
- and
- a preliminary device guide with a preliminary bay guide before engaging the auxiliary device guide with the auxiliary bay guide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.