Abstract:
A memory module comprises a PCB and a safety detachable assembly. The PCB has a terminal portion. The safety detachable assembly includes a metal strap connected to the PCB and is disposed on the terminal portion. The metal straps can provide force for the memory module to be detached from a memory slot, and prevent electrostatic from transmitting to the PCB such that normal operations of the PCB maybe affected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The instant disclosure relates to a safe detachable design for electronic devices; in particular, to a safety detachable assembly and the memory module using the same which can prevent electrostatic interference. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    As the volume of electronic devices continues to miniaturize, the processing speed and operational functions are gradually becoming faster and more powerful, respectively. As a result, mainboards and electronic components in electronic devices are not only required to be miniaturized, but are also required to provide even higher operation speed in order to meet users&#39; demand. As the data processing power increases, the demand for higher capacity and speed from memory modules of computers increases. 
         [0005]    Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is presented in the form of a module within a computer. In other words, DRAM module includes integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. Users usually first align the printed circuit board of the DRAM module against the memory slot, then apply a force on the top portions of the DRAM module such that the printed circuit board is inserted into the memory slot, thus, the computer system can operate normally. 
         [0006]    However, static electricity tends to store in the hands of users and is transmitted to the DRAM module which can lead to abnormal operations thereof. In severe cases, electronic components may malfunction or even be damaged. Moreover, the surface area on top of the DRAM module in which users can apply force upon is relatively small. Specifically, the force applicable area is substantially the thickness of the printed circuit board. As a result, users are more likely to misalign the DRAM module with the memory slot, thus, affecting normal operations, or even worse, damaging the DRAM module. 
         [0007]    To address the above issues, the inventor strives via associated experience and research to present the instant disclosure, which can effectively improve the limitation described above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The object of the instant disclosure is to provide a safety detachable assembly to facilitate detachment of electronic devices and prevent static electricity from transmitting to the electronic devices, which may affect normal operations during detachment. 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the aforementioned objects according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, a safety detachable assembly for a memory module of a printed circuit board is provided. The printed circuit board has a terminal portion. Notably, the safety detachable assembly includes a metal strap which is coupled to the portions opposite from the terminal portion of the printed circuit board. 
         [0010]    According to the aforementioned safety detachable assembly, the instant disclosure also provides a memory module which includes a printed circuit board and a safety detachable assembly. The printed circuit board has a terminal portion. The safety detachable assembly includes a metal strap which is coupled to the portions opposite from the terminal portion of the printed circuit board. 
         [0011]    In an instant embodiment of the instant disclosure, the printed circuit board has a free portion oppositely arranged from the terminal portion. The free portion is formed with a recess, and the metal strap is disposed in the recess. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the printed circuit board is also formed with two thru holes proximate to the recess such that two ends of the metal strap are respectively coupled through the two thru holes in order to be fixed proximate to two portions of free portion  14  that define the recess  141 . 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the two ends of the metal strap form an annular coupling structure to respectively couple to the two thru holes. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the safety detachable assembly further includes a plurality of metal sleeves. The printed circuit board has a free portion arranged opposite from the terminal portion. The metal sleeves envelop the free portion of the printed circuit board and a portion of the metal strap is coupled between the metal sleeves and the printed circuit board. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the metal sleeves are arranged with a predetermined distance therebetween to provide means for evenly applying force thereon. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the printed circuit board includes a first surface and an oppositely arranged second surface. The first surface and the second surface each has a first corner and a second corner arranged proximate to the terminal portion and have a third corner and a fourth corner arranged away from the terminal portion. The metal sleeves envelop the free portion of the printed circuit board, and the metal sleeves are respectively disposed on the third, fourth corners of the first surface and the third, fourth corners of the second surface. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, each of the metal sleeves has a base wall and an annular side wall extended from the base wall. An inner portion of the annular side wall has a protrusion formed thereon. The PCB includes two sidewalls. The sidewalls of the printed circuit board have a plurality of notches formed thereon. The protrusion of the metal sleeve is correspondingly coupled to one of the notches. 
         [0018]    In summary, the instant disclosure provides the following features: Through the safe detachable of the instant disclosure, users can single-handedly or two-handedly evenly apply force to detach the memory module from the memory slot via the metal strap of the safety detachable assembly. Moreover, electrostatic is prevented from transmitting to integrated circuits which can cause damages and reduce the usable life of the memory module. 
         [0019]    In order to further understand the instant disclosure, the following embodiments and illustrations are provided. However, the detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the disclosure, rather than limiting the scope being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a memory module illustrating the first embodiment according to the instant disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram of the memory module illustrating the first embodiment according to the instant disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the memory module illustrating the second embodiment according to the instant disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a partial detailed view of the memory module illustrating the second embodiment according to the instant disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is schematic diagram of the memory module illustrating an operational state of the second embodiment according to the instant disclosure; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the memory module illustrating the third embodiment according to the instant disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The aforementioned illustrations and detailed descriptions are exemplarities for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the instant disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the instant disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings. 
       First Embodiment  
       [0027]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  as the schematic diagram illustrating a memory module  1  according to the first embodiment of the instant disclosure. The memory module  1  includes a printed circuit board  10  and a safety detachable assembly  20 . 
         [0028]    Specifically, the printed circuit board  10  is formed by a plurality of packaged integrated circuits  11  and a module card  12  in which the peripheral portions of the packaged integrated circuits  11  have a plurality of metal pins disposed thereon. A surface of the module card  12  is pattern to form thru holes thereon (not shown in figures) for soldering the metal pins thereto. In addition, the printed circuit board  10  further includes a terminal portion  13  and a free portion  14  arranged away from the terminal portion  13 . The terminal portion  13  has a metal contact region  130  defined thereon for inserting into a memory slot S of a computer motherboard, thus, the memory module  1  can store programs and data into the computer system. 
         [0029]    The safety detachable assembly  20  includes a metal strap  21  coupled to the free portion  14  of the printed circuit board  10 . In the instant embodiment, the free portion  14  of the printed circuit board  10  is formed with a recess  141  where the metal strap  21  can be disposed therein. The length of the recess  141  (defined by the distance between the two opposing sidewalls of the recess) must be larger than the length of the metal strap  21  while both lengths can be adjusted based on the product specifications. Moreover, the placement of the recess  141  is not limited to the example provided herein. However, the preferred placement is located at the center of the free portion to facilitate users to evenly exert force on the printed circuit board  10  via the metal strap  21 . 
         [0030]    Furthermore, the printed circuit board  10  may also have a plurality of thru holes  142  formed on the first surface  15  and the second surface  16  of the printed circuit board  10 . In the instant embodiment, the quantity of thru holes  142  is set as two. (The two thru holes  142  are formed proximate to the edges of the recess  141  respectively.) The two ends of the metal strap  21  are respectively coupled through the two thru holes  142  in order to be fixed to two portions of free portion  14  that define the recess  141 . Also, a plurality of metal traces  17  of the first and second surfaces  15 ,  16  of the printed circuit board  10  are electrically connected to a plurality of ground terminals  131  of the metal contact region  130 . 
         [0031]    In the instant embodiment, the two ends of the metal strap  21  each respectively extends away from the center to form an annular coupling structure  211 . The two coupling structures  211  of the metal strap  21  respectively couple through the two thru holes  142  in order to be fixed proximate to an edge of the recess  141 . Users can single-handedly or two-handedly while evenly apply force to detach the memory module  1  from the memory slot S via the safety detachable assembly  20  of the instant disclosure. Moreover, electrostatic stored in users&#39; hand can be transmitted from the metal strap  21  through the ground terminal  131  and further transmitted out of the computer system. As a result, electrostatic is prevented from transmitting to integrated circuits  11 , which can cause damages and reduce the usable life of the memory module  1 . 
       Second Embodiment  
       [0032]    Please refer to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  to illustrate the memory module according to the second embodiment of the instant disclosure. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the safety detachable assembly  20  further includes a plurality of metal sleeves  22 . 
         [0033]    In the instant embodiment, the quantity of the metal sleeves  22  is set as two. The two metal sleeves  22  are disposed on the free portions  14  of the printed circuit board  10  such that a portion of the metal strap  21  is coupled between the metal sleeves  22  and the printed circuit board  10 . Moreover, the two metal sleeves  22  are arranged with a predetermined distance D therebetween to provide means for evenly applying force thereon. The predetermined distance D is not particularly limited, as long as the distance allows the metal strap  21  to be fixed and facilitates users&#39; to exert force on the metal strap  21 , then the distance is the predetermined distance D between the two metal sleeves  22  of the instant embodiment. The quantity and dimensions of the metal sleeves  22  are not particularly limited to the examples provided herein, and can be adjusted based on the specification&#39;s or user&#39;s requirement 
         [0034]    Moreover, the metal sleeve  22  substantially resembles “L”. Furthermore, the metal sleeves  22  has a base wall  211  and an annular side wall  222  extended from the base wall  211 . An inner portion of the annular side wall  222  has a protrusion  223  arranged thereon. The PCB includes two sidewalls. The sidewalls of module card  12  on the printed circuit board  10  have a plurality of notches  121  formed thereon such that the protrusion  223  of the metal sleeve  22  can be selectively coupled to one of the notches  121  depending on the various sizes of the metal strap  21 . As a result, the two ends of the metal strap  21  is disposed and fixed on the printed circuit board  10  during the installation of the metal strap  21 . 
         [0035]    Notably, the metal sleeves  22  of the instant embodiment can be integrally formed with a conductive (such as metals) or non-conductive material (such as plastics). Users may evenly exert force onto the two metal sleeves  22  of the safety detachable assembly  20  according to the instant embodiment such that the memory module  1  is inserted into the memory slot S during the installation of the memory module  1 . On the other hand, during the detachment of the memory module  1 , users may single-handedly or two-handedly while evenly apply force to detach the memory module  1  from the memory slot S via the metal strap  21  of the safety detachable assembly  20  according to the instant embodiment (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). Moreover, electrostatic stored in users&#39; hand can be transmitted from the metal strap  21  through the ground terminal  131  during installation or detachment to obviate electrostatic interference. 
       Third Embodiment  
       [0036]    Please refer to  FIG. 6  as the schematic diagram of the memory module illustrating the third embodiment according to the instant disclosure. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that no additional coupling structures are required between the printed circuit board  10  and the safety detachable assembly  20  of the instant embodiment. 
         [0037]    In particular, the annular side wall  222  of the metal sleeve  22  has two opposing sidewall surfaces which are arranged with a predetermined distance therebetween. The predetermined distance is substantially smaller than the thickness of the printed circuit board  10 . The predetermined distance provides the metal sleeves a direct and fit coupling with the free portion  14  of the printed circuit board  10  while no additional coupling structures are required. As a result, a portion of the metal strap  21  is coupled between the metal sleeves  22  and the printed circuit board  10 . 
         [0038]    Preferably, the first and second surface  15 ,  16  each respectively has a first corner  151 ,  161  and a second corner  152 ,  162  arranged proximate to the terminal portion  13 , and a third corner  153 ,  163  and a fourth corner  154 ,  164  arranged away from the terminal portion  13 . The two metal sleeves  22  directly envelop the free portion  14  of the printed circuit board  10 . Specifically, the two metal sleeves  22  each respectively envelops the third corners  153 ,  163  of the first surface  15  and second surface  16 , the fourth corners  154 ,  164  of the first surface  15  and second surface  16  with a fit coupling. In further details, the aforementioned corners are provided with further explanation. The printed circuit board  10  also has two long sides  18  and two relatively short sides  19 , in which each long side  18  intersects with two relatively short sides  19 , and vice versa. The first corners  151 ,  161 , second corners  152 ,  162 , third corners  153 ,  163 , and the fourth corners  154 ,  164  are respectively arranged on four intersections of two long sides  18  and two relatively short sides  19 . 
         [0039]    In summary, users can single-handedly or two-handedly while evenly apply force to detach the memory module  1  from the memory slot S via the safety detachable assembly  20  of the instant disclosure. Moreover, electrostatic stored in users&#39; hand can be transmitted from the metal strap  21  through the ground terminal  131  and further transmitted out of the computer system. As a result, electrostatic is prevented from transmitting to integrated circuits  11 , which can cause damages and reduce the usable life of the memory module  1 . 
         [0040]    Furthermore, during the installation of the memory module  1 , users can evenly exert force with two hands to assure the installation of the memory module  1  into the memory slot S of the computer motherboard. Also, reliability of the electrical connection can be assured between the memory module  1  and the computer system such that the computer system can operate normally. 
         [0041]    The figures and descriptions supra set forth illustrated the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, combinations or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.