# US 9,436,233 B2 · Redundant power supply motherboard assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,233 B2 - Document ID: US9436233B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/695,547 - Filed: 2015-04-24 - Published: 2015-12-17 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-16 - Assignees: Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc. - Applicants: Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Anthony Correll; Brian John Gillespie; Terry Lee Barber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436233B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/184: Mounting of motherboards - G06F 1/181: {Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613)} - G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards - G06F 1/188: Mounting of power supply units - G06F 1/189: {Power distribution} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - H01R 13/62: Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement - H01T 4/06: Mounting arrangements for a plurality of overvoltage arresters - H05K 7/14: Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack - H05K 7/1477: {including backplanes} - H05K 7/1482: {PLC power supply; PLC accessories, e.g. for safety} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H01T: SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES (overvoltage protection circuits H02H) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A redundant power supply motherboard assembly connects control segments of a fieldbus-type control system to a host computer. The assembly has a compact design with pairs of power supply modules mounted in nests on the motherboard. The nests securely hold the modules to prevent contact impairment due to vibrations, shocks and handling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly comprising a motherboard; a module connector on the motherboard; a nest on the motherboard, the nest comprising a body with opposed ends, a wall extending between the ends, a connector opening in the wall, and two module support members extending above the wall, a module support member at each end of the body, the connector opening aligned with the module connector; and an electronic module in the nest and extending above the module support members, the module comprising a contact nose engaging the module connector, and opposed module edges; two physical connections removably mounting the module edges in the module support members; each connection comprising two spaced module friction engagement surfaces, two spaced member friction engagement surfaces, each member friction engagement surface engaging a module friction engagement surface, and an elastically and non-destructively stressed first elastic member holding such friction engagement surfaces together, whereby said connections secure the module in the nest to prevent shocks, vibrations or handling of the module from impairing electrical connections between the contacts in the contact nose and in the module connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly as in claim 1 wherein one of said surfaces is on the elastic member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly as in claim 2 wherein the elastic member comprises a first rib extending along the adjacent module edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly as in claim 3 including a second rib holding such friction engagement surfaces together, another of said surfaces on said second rib. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The assembly as in claim 3 wherein said ribs are spaced apart a distance X when the ribs are not flexed, the friction engagement surfaces not on the ribs are spaced apart a distance Y, and the distance X is less than the distance Y. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly as in claim 5 wherein the difference between distance X and distance Y is about 0.13 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly as in claim 1 wherein the module height is about five times greater than the support member height. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly as in claim 7 including an engagement surface on each module support member, said engagement surfaces facing each other to align the module for engagement between the nose and the connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly as in claim 8 including an alignment rib on each module support member, said engagement surfaces on such ribs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly as in claim 1 wherein each module edge comprises a plurality of spaced horizontal ribs, said module friction engagement surfaces on opposite sides of one horizontal rib only. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly as in claim 1 wherein the body includes two rigid portions, each rigid portion on one side of the connector opening, and the sidewalls include two strips joining said rigid portions at the connector opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly as in claim 11 wherein each sidewall comprises feet engaging the motherboard and vertical recesses between adjacent feet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assembly as in claim 1 wherein the body is formed from thermoplastic resin. ### Claim 14 An assembly comprising a motherboard; a module connector on the motherboard; a nest on the motherboard, the nest comprising an elongate body with opposed ends, a wall extending between the ends, a connector opening in the wall aligned with the module connector, and a first module support member at one end of the body; and an electronic module in the nest, the module comprising a portion extending above the nest, a contact nose engaging the module connector, a first module edge, and a first friction engagement surface on the module edge; said module support member comprising a first member friction engagement surface; an elastically and non-destructively flexible member on either said module edge or said support member, one of said module friction engagement surfaces or said support member friction engagement surfaces located on said flexible member; the module inserted in the nest with said module and member friction engagement surfaces engaging each other and said flexible member stressed to hold such surfaces together to form a frictional fit securing the module in the nest, said fit preventing shocks, vibrations or handling of the modules from impairing electrical connections between contacts in the contact nose and in the module connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly as in claim 14 where the height of the module is about five times the height of the module support member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly as in claim 15 including a second module friction engagement surface and a second member friction engagement surface, such surfaces engaging each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The assembly as in claim 14 wherein the nest comprises a second module support member, and said module comprises a second module edge, said second module edge in said second support member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The assembly as in claim 15 wherein the body is formed from thermoplastic resin.