Abstract:
A modular component securing apparatus includes a chassis, a securing member moveably coupled to the chassis and including an activation surface, a biasing member coupled to the securing member and operable to bias the securing member into a deactivated position, a component detection member coupled to the securing member and operable to move the securing member relative to the chassis and into an activated position in response to the component detection member being engaged by a modular component, and an activation member including an activator surface. In response to the securing member being moved into the activated position, the activator surface may engage the activation surface in order to move the securing member relative to the chassis and into a securing position. The securing member may be moved into the securing position only when a modular component is positioned in the chassis.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for securing a modular component in a chassis.  
         [0002]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.  
         [0003]     Modular components such as, for example, floppy disk drives, optical drives, storages devices, and a variety of other equivalent components known in the art, or often used with information handling systems. These modular components may be coupled to and removed from the information handling system as a users needs require.  
         [0004]     It is desirable to provide for the securing of these modular components in the information handling system chassis. However, conventional securing devices may become be activated without the modular component present in the chassis, which can result in damage to the modular component, the chassis, and/or the securing mechanism. Additionally, convention devices tend to exist at least partially external to the chassis, which raises security issues.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for securing a modular component in a chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     According to one embodiment, a modular component securing apparatus is provided that includes a chassis, a securing member moveably coupled to the chassis and including an activation surface, a biasing member coupled to the securing, member and operable to bias the securing member into a deactivated position, a component detection member coupled to the securing member and operable to move the securing member relative to the chassis and into an activated position in response to the component detection member being engaged by a modular component, and an activation member including an activator surface, whereby in response to the securing member being moved into the activated position, the activator surface may engage the activation surface in order to move the securing member relative to the chassis and into a securing position.  
         [0007]     A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the securing member cannot be moved into the securing position without a modular component being positioned in the modular component passageway. Furthermore, the apparatus may exist internal to the chassis. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an information handling system.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a securing member.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  is a top view illustrating an embodiment of the securing member of  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an activation member.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a modular component.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for securing a modular component in a chassis.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the securing member of  FIG. 2   a  coupled to the chassis of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 7   b  is a top view illustrating the securing member and chassis of  FIG. 7   a.    
         [0017]      FIG. 8   a  is a perspective view illustrating the securing member and chassis of  FIG. 7   a  with the activation member of  FIG. 3  positioned adjacent the securing member.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating the securing member, chassis, and activation member of  FIG. 8   a.    
         [0019]      FIG. 9   a  is a top view illustrating the modular component of  FIG. 5  positioned in the chassis of  FIG. 8   a.    
         [0020]      FIG. 9   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating the modular component and chassis of  FIG. 9   a.    
         [0021]      FIG. 10   a  is a perspective view illustrating the securing member, chassis, and activation member of  FIG. 8   a  with the securing member securing the modular component in the chassis.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating the securing member, chassis, activation member, and modular component of  FIG. 10   a.    
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, information handling system  10 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a microprocessor  12 , which is connected to a bus  14 . Bus  14  serves as a connection between microprocessor  12  and other components of computer system  10 . An input device  16  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide input to microprocessor  12 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  18 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  10  further includes a display  20 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12  by a video controller  22 . A system memory  24  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  12 . It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  12  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a securing member  100  is illustrated. Securing member  100  includes a component detecting section  102  including a component detecting member  102   a  extending out of the side of the component detecting section  102 . A stop channel  102   b  and a biasing channel  102   c  are defined by the component detecting section  102  and positioned on opposite sides of the component detecting section  102  and adjacent the distal end of the component detecting section  102 . A pivot coupling  104  is positioned adjacent the component detecting section  102 . A component securing section  106  extends from the pivot coupling  104  at an angle A from the component detecting section  102 . An inclined activation surface  106   a  is positioned adjacent a distal end of the component securing section  106 . A substantially level deactivation surface  106   b  is included adjacent the inclined activation surface  106   a . A locking tooth  106   c  extends from a side of the component securing section  106  adjacent the deactivation surface  106   b.    
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an activation member  200  is illustrated. Activation member  200  includes an elongated base  202  including a handle  203  positioned on its distal end. A activator section  204  is positioned on the end of the elongated base  202  opposite the handle and includes an inclined activator surface  204   a . A substantially level deactivator surface  204   b  is positioned adjacent the inclined activator surface  204   a . Activation member  200  includes an axis  206  along its length.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a chassis  300  is illustrated. Chassis  300  includes a base  302  and wall  304  extending substantially perpendicularly from the base  302 . Wall  304  defines a modular component entrance  304   a  partially along its length. Base  302  defines a modular component passageway  302   a  which has a width substantially equal to the width of the modular component entrance  304   a . A bracing member  306  extends from the base  302  and the wall  304  adjacent the modular component passageway  302   a  and includes a bracing surface  306   a . A pivot point  308  is positioned adjacent the modular component passageway  302   a . A stop surface  310   a  and a biasing surface  310   b  extend from the base  302  and are positioned in a spaced apart relationship adjacent the modular component passageway  302   a.    
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a modular component  400  is illustrated. Modular component  400  includes a base  402  having a front  402   a  and a side  402   b  positioned substantially perpendicularly to the front  402   a . A lock channel  402   ba  is defined by the side  402   b  of modular component  400  and is positioned adjacent the front  402   a  of the modular component  400 .  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4, 6 ,  7   a , and  7   b , a method  500  for securing a modular component is illustrated. The method  500  begins at step  502  where the securing member  100  is pivotally coupled to the chassis  300  adjacent the modular component passageway  302   a  by coupling pivot coupling  104  on securing member  100  to pivot point  308  on chassis  300 . A biasing spring  502   a  is coupled to the biasing surface  310   b  on chassis  300  and positioned in biasing channel  102   c  and on securing member  100  and in contact with securing member  100 . With biasing spring  502   a  coupled to the chassis  300  and the securing member  100 , the securing member  100  is biased into a deactivated position B with stop surface  310   a  engaging the securing member  100  in stop channel  102   b . In deactivated position B, the component detecting member  102   a  on securing member  100  is positioned in the modular component passageway  302   a , with the inclined activation surface  106   a  on securing member  100  positioned partially underneath a portion of bracing member  306 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6, 8   a , and  8   b , the method  500  proceeds to step  504  where the activation member  200  is positioned adjacent the securing member  100 . The activation member  200  is coupled to the chassis  300  such that the activation member  200  is allowed to move vertically along its axis  206  but not perpendicularly to the axis  206 . Activator section  204  on activation member  200  engages the bracing surface  306   a  on bracing member  306 , further restricting the horizontal movement of activation member  200 . The method  500  then proceeds to step  506  where the deactivator surface  204   b  on activation member  200  is engaged with deactivation surface  106   b  on securing member  100 . With deactivator surface  204   b  on activation member  200  engaging deactivation surface  106   b  on securing ember  100 , activation member  200  is restricted from moving vertically along its axis  206  and from moving the securing member  100 .  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   b ,  6 ,  7   b ,  8   a ,  9   a , and  9   b , the method  500  proceeds to step  508  where the modular component  400  is positioned in the chassis  300 . Modular component  400  enters chassis  300  and modular component passageway  302   a  through modular component entrance  304   a . As modular component  400  moves through modular component passageway  302   a , side  402   b  of modular component  400  engages component detecting member  102   a . In response to the engagement of modular component  400  and component detecting member  102   a , the securing member  200  is rotated clockwise, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7   b  and  9   a , about pivot coupling  104  an into an activated position C. The angle A between the component securing section  106  and the component detecting section  104  on securing member  100  is such that, upon pivoting the securing member  100  by engaging the component detecting member  102   a , the locking tooth  106   c  does not enter the lock channel  402   ba  on modular component  400 . Furthermore, upon pivoting the securing member  100 , deactivator surface  204   b  on activation member  200  disengages deactivation surface  106   b  on securing member  100  and activator surface  204   a  on activation member  200  is positioned to engage activation surface  106   b  on securing member  100 .  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6, 9   a ,  9   b ,  10   a , and  10   b , the method  500  proceeds to step  510  where the activation surface  106   a  on securing member  100  is engaged by the activator surface  204   a  on activation member  200 . Handle  203  on activation member  200  may be used to move the activation member  200  vertically along its axis  206  in a direction X. Movement of the activation member  200  in direction X engages the activation surface  106   a  on securing member  100  with the activator surface  204   a  on activation member  200  and causes the securing member  100  to rotate clockwise about pivot coupling  104  and into a locking position D. In locking position D, locking tooth  106   c  on securing member  100  is positioned in locking channel  402   ba , with activation member  200  holding securing member  100  and locking tooth  106   c  in position due to the engagement of activation surface  106   a  and activator surface  204   a . The method  500  then proceeds to step  512  where the modular component  400  is secured in the chassis  300 . The activation member  200  is locked in place using conventional means known in the art, holding the locking tooth  106   c  in the locking channel  402   ba . Bracing member  306  provides support for activation member  200  to prevent locking tooth  106   c  on securing member  100  from being removed from locking channel  402   ba  on modular component  400 . The modular component  400  may be removed from the chassis  300  by unlocking the activation member  200  and moving it vertically along its axis  206  in a direction opposite the direction X. Moving the activation member  200  in a direction opposite the direction X allows the biasing spring  502   a  to rotate the securing member  100  counter-clockwise about pivot coupling  104  and removes the locking tooth  106   c  from the locking channel  402   ba  on modular component  400 .  
         [0033]     It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the elements and teachings of the various illustrative embodiments may be combined in whole or in part with some or all of the illustrated embodiments.  
         [0034]     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.