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US 7,095,622 B2Granted
Backplane support system with stiffener
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsStephan K. Barsun, Robert W. Dobbs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic system includes a chassis, a backplane having a printed circuit board and at least one connector extending from the printed circuit board and a backplane stiffener. The backplane stiffener includes a portion adjacent the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is between the chassis and the portion. The portion is stationarily retained relative to the printed circuit board and the chassis without requiring perforation of the printed circuit board for the insertion of fasteners. In particular embodiments, stiffener portions may be provided on each face of the circuit board and ioined to one another by couplers.
Claims80
A backplane support system comprising:
- a backplane including:
- a planar printed circuit board extending in a first plane and having a first face, a second opposite face, and a perimeter having at least three sides;
- and
- at least one connector extending from the printed circuit board;
- and
- a backplane stiffener including:
- a first planar portion extending parallel to and across the first face;
- and
- a second opposite planar portion extending parallel to and across the second face, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend beyond at least three of the sides, wherein the first portion is coupled to the second portion beyond the perimeter, and wherein the printed circuit board includes a first aperture, wherein the first portion includes a second aperture in alignment with the first aperture and wherein the second portion includes a third aperture in alignment with the first aperture such that the first aperture, the second aperture and the third aperture an airflow path through the backplane and the backplane stiffener.
6 more elements
An electronic system comprising:
- a chassis having a wall;
- a planar backplane having a printed circuit board with a perimeter, a and a second opposite face facing the wall and at least one connector extending from the first face of the printed circuit board;
- a backplane stiffener including a first planar portion adjacent and parallel the first face of the printed circuit board and a second portion adjacent and parallel to the second face of the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is between the chassis and the first portion and wherein the first portion is stationarily retained relative to the printed circuit board and the chassis without requiring perforation of the printed circuit board, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to one another beyond the perimeter;
- and
- at least one standoff extending from the second portion of the stiffener and spacing the second portion from the wall.
2 more elements
A backplane stiffener for use with a backplane having a printed circuit board with a first face, a second face and a perimeter defined by at least three sides and at least one connector extending from the first face the printed circuit board, the stiffener comprising:
- a first planar portion configured to extend across the first face, parallel to the first face and beyond at least three of the sides;
- and
- a second opposite planar portion configured to extend across the second face, parallel to the second face and beyond at least three of the sides, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to be coupled to one another beyond the perimeter and to cooperate with one another so as to receive the printed circuit board therebetween, wherein the printed circuit board includes a first face, a second opposite face and a perimeter edge between the first face and the second face and wherein the stiffener includes a coupling portion coupled to the first portion and the second portion and extending opposite the perimeter edge and wherein the first portion is moveably coupled to the second portion for movement between an open position facilitating insertion of the printed circuit board between the first portion and the second portion and a closed position.
A method for assembling a backplane having a printed circuit board with a first face, a second opposite face and a perimeter including at least three sides in a chassis of an electronic system, the method comprising:
- providing a first surface formed as part of or coupled to the chassis;
- positioning the first face of the printed circuit board against the first surface such that the first surface extends beyond at least three of the sides;
- pivoting a second surface about a hinge against the second face of the printed circuit board such that the second surface extends beyond at least three of the sides;
- connecting the first surface to the second surface beyond the perimeter;
- and
- stationarily coupling the second surface to at least one of the chassis and the first surface.
3 more elements
A backplane support system comprising:
- a backplane including:
- a planar printed circuit board having a first face and a second opposite face;
- at least one connector extending from the first face of the printed circuit board;
- and
- a backplane stiffener including:
- a first portion extending across the first face and having an opening into which the at least one connector projects;
- and
- a second opposite portion extending across the second face and pivotally coupled to the first portion.
5 more elements
A backplane support system comprising:
- a backplane including:
- a planar printed circuit board extending in a first plane and having a first face, a second opposite face, and a perimeter having at least three sides;
- and
- at least one connector extending from the printed circuit board;
- and
- a backplane stiffener including:
- a first planar portion extending parallel to and across the first face;
- and
- a second opposite planar portion extending parallel to and across the second face, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend beyond at least three of the sides, and wherein the first portion is coupled to the second portion beyond the perimeter, wherein the printed circuit board includes a perimeter edge between the and the second face and wherein the stiffener includes a coupling portion coupled to the first portion and the second portion and extending opposite the perimeter edge and wherein the coupling portion is integrally formed as part of a single unitary body with the first portion and the second portion.
6 more elements
A backplane support system comprising:
- a backplane including:
- a planar printed circuit board extending in a first plane and having a first face, a second opposite face, and a perimeter having at least three sides;
- and at least one connector extending from the printed circuit board;
- and
- a backplane stiffener including:
- a first planar portion extending parallel to and across the first face;
- and
- a second opposite planar portion extending parallel to and across the second face, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend beyond at least three of the sides, and wherein the first portion is coupled to the second portion beyond the perimeter and wherein the first portion is moveably coupled to the second portion for movement between an open position facilitating insertion of the printed circuit board between the first portion and the second portion and a closed position.
5 more elements
An electronic system comprising:
- a chassis having a wall;
- a planar backplane having a printed circuit board with a perimeter, a and a second opposite face facing the wall and at least one connector extending from the first face of the printed circuit board;
- a backplane stiffener including a first planar portion adjacent and parallel the first face of the printed circuit board and a second portion adjacent and parallel to the second face of the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is between the chassis and the first portion and wherein the first portion is stationarily retained relative to the printed circuit board and the chassis without requiring perforation of the printed circuit board, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to one another beyond the perimeter;
- and
- at least one standoff spacing the second portion from the wall, wherein the first portion and the second portion are held adjacent the printed circuit board by the chassis.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.