Removable expansion card cage
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsClifford B. Willis, Vincent P. Hileman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expansion enclosure allows additional expansion cards to be used with a computer system. The enclosure exhibits a small footprint (e.g., one rack unit, or 1¾ inches) for installation in a rack or other area in which space is limited. The enclosure accepts one or more (e.g., four) expansion cards, which are connected to a removable expansion card cage. The removable cage forms part of the structure of the enclosure and provides strength and rigidity. A stabilizer may be removably but securely installed in the enclosure to stabilize or hold the removable cage as a card is installed in or removed from the cage.
Claims20
An expansion card assembly for removable installation in an enclosure no more than one rack unit in height, comprising:
- a central member comprising a plurality of expansion card slots and an aperture configured to releasably engage a guide prong installed on a base of the enclosure;
- a first cross-member comprising guides corresponding to each of said expansion card slots;
- and
- a second cross-member comprising apertures configured to facilitate electrical connection to expansion cards installed in said expansion card slots, wherein said second cross-member comprises a portion of a first wall of the enclosure.
A removable apparatus for operating expansion cards in a computer equipment enclosure, the apparatus comprising:
- a central member comprising multiple expansion card slots;
- a first cross-support comprising:
- guides for facilitating manipulation of expansion cards in said slots;
- and
- one or more fans;
- a second cross-support forming a portion of a wall of the enclosure and comprising access apertures configured to enable access to signal connectors of said expansion cards;
- and
- one or more receptacles for releasably engaging enclosure guides for guiding the removable installation of the apparatus within the enclosure.
An enclosure for removably housing multiple computer expansion cards, comprising:
- a removable expansion card assembly comprising:
- multiple expansion card slots for accepting computer expansion cards;
- and
- an aperture configured to releasable engage a guide for guiding placement of said removable expansion card assembly within the enclosure;
- one or more status indicators, visible external to the enclosure, configured to indicate a status of the enclosure;
- a removable power supply;
- and
- one or more fans coupled to said removable expansion card assembly;
- wherein the enclosure is no more than one rack unit in height.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.