Circuit board chassis and method including sidewall aperture and backplane insertion slots for side assembled backplane

A circuit board chassis and a method for assembling a backplane and a circuit board into the circuit board chassis include an aperture within at least one sidewall of the circuit board chassis. The backplane is inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis through the aperture (that may include a counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots) in a first direction, and a circuit board is inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis and the backplane in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. By inserting and assembling the backplane into the aperture and slots, rather than assembling the backplane as an external surface component of the circuit board chassis, the embodiments provide for ease of replacement of the backplane and circuit board under space constrained limitations. The resulting embodiments also provide enhanced rigidity and enhanced thermal dissipation within the circuit board chassis.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to circuit board chassis. More particularly, the invention relates to circuit board chassis that permit flexible insertion and assembly of backplanes and circuit boards into the circuit board chassis.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to effectively realize enhanced functionality of advanced microelectronic circuits, circuit components that comprise those advanced microelectronic circuits are typically assembled to a circuit board. Such a circuit board typically further comprises a plurality of conductor layers that are separated by a plurality of dielectric layers so that a plurality of circuit components may be electrically interconnected. To provide further advanced functionality, individual circuit boards (which are often designated as “daughter boards”) may be further connected and interconnected using a backplane (which is often designated as a “motherboard”).

Finally, for purposes of environmental protection, as well as to facilitate proper assembly of a plurality of circuit boards with respect to a backplane, both the backplane and the plurality of circuit boards are positioned and assembled with respect to each other using a chassis that may also function as an environmental enclosure.

While the use of such a chassis or environmental enclosure is common within the electronics packaging and component assembly art, the use of such a chassis or environmental enclosure is not entirely without problems. In that regard, assembly of a backplane and a plurality of circuit boards into a chassis or environmental enclosure may present difficulties under circumstances where the chassis or environmental enclosure is located within a space constrained area. Such circumstances are often prevalent within the context of chassis or environmental enclosures that are intended for military, avionics or seaworthy applications.

Various circuit board chassis and related assemblies are known in the electronics packaging and component assembly arts.

For example, O'Brien, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,564, teaches a circuit board retainer assembly which when attached to a circuit board allows the circuit board to slide freely within a slot within a circuit board chassis. This particular circuit board retainer assembly is self contained, and includes a mechanism to prevent accidental disassembly.

In addition, Tirrell et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,423, teaches a circuit board chassis suitable for interconnected circuit boards. This particular circuit board chassis includes a movable ceiling panel and a movable floor panel that provide for installation of backplanes of various thicknesses.

Finally, El-Batal et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,694, teaches a disk storage system that includes removable arrays of disk drives. Within this particular disk storage system, the removable arrays of disk drives are located upon multiple backplanes that are inserted into a chassis.

Desirable are circuit board chassis and circuit board enclosures that allow for flexible installation and assembly of backplanes and circuit boards into those circuit board chassis and circuit board enclosures, particularly under space constrained limitations.

SUMMARY

The embodiments provide a plurality of circuit board chassis into which may be assembled at least one backplane and at least one circuit board under space constrained limitations. The embodiments further include a method for assembling the at least one backplane and the at least one circuit board into the plurality of circuit board chassis under the space constrained limitations.

The embodiments realize the foregoing objects by including within a sidewall of the circuit board chassis an aperture into which a backplane may be inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis. Typically, a counter-opposed pair of sidewalls of the aperture may also include a counter-opposed pair of slots that extend into the circuit board chassis. The counter-opposed pair of slots is intended to accommodate insertion and assembly of the at least one backplane into the circuit board chassis. By using such a sidewall aperture and related counter-opposed pair of slots for insertion and assembly of the at least one backplane into the circuit board chassis, rather than an external surface assembly of the at least one backplane to the circuit board chassis by means of a plurality of mechanical fasteners, the embodiments provide for insertion and assembly of a backplane into a circuit board chassis under space constrained limitations. Such insertion and assembly of the backplane under space constrained limitations is effected absent a need for moving the circuit board chassis, or gaining access to a rear or bottom of the circuit board chassis, to assemble the at least one backplane or replace the at least one backplane.

The embodiments provide several additional and supplemental advantages within the context of the circuit board chassis when inserting and assembling a backplane through a sidewall aperture that includes a counter-opposed pair of slots in the circuit board chassis, rather than using an external surface assembly of the backplane or replacement of the backplane. These additional supplemental advantages include: (1) superior mechanical integrity of the circuit board chassis and backplane assembly using the sidewall aperture and related counter-opposed slots; (2) reduced backplane assembly time with the sidewall aperture and related counter-opposed slots due to elimination of a plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as but not limited to screws; and (3) superior heat transfer of the circuit board chassis and backplane assembly using the sidewall aperture and related counter-opposed slots, in comparison with a backplane that is assembled with the plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as but not limited to screws, as an external surface assembly of the backplane to the circuit board chassis.

The foregoing additional advantages are realized in particular under circumstances where the inventive insertion and assembly of a backplane into a circuit board chassis through a sidewall aperture further including a counter-opposed pair of slots is effected using linear clamping devices such as but not limited to wedge-lock type clamping devices, in comparison with outer surface assembly of a backplane to a circuit board chassis which is typically effected using a plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as but not limited to screw type fasteners.

A particular circuit board chassis in accordance with the invention includes an enclosure comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are counter-opposed, and connected to and separated by a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall that are counter-opposed, and connected to and separated by the first sidewall and the second sidewall. At least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall includes an aperture to accommodate insertion and assembly of a backplane into the circuit board chassis in a first direction through the aperture. This particular circuit board chassis also includes at least one circuit board guide means incorporated into at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall, the fourth sidewall and the backplane to accommodate insertion and assembly of a circuit board into the circuit board chassis and the backplane in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Another particular circuit board chassis in accordance with the invention includes an enclosure comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are counter-opposed, and connected to and separated by a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall that are counter-opposed, and connected to and separated by the first sidewall and the second sidewall. At least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall includes an aperture further including a counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots that extend into the circuit board chassis to accommodate insertion and assembly of a backplane into the circuit board chassis in a first direction through the aperture. This particular circuit board chassis also includes at least one circuit board guide slot incorporated into at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall to accommodate insertion and assembly of a circuit board into the circuit board chassis and the backplane in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

A particular method for assembling a backplane and a circuit board into a circuit board chassis includes inserting a backplane in a first direction through an aperture within a first sidewall within a circuit board chassis comprising: (1) an enclosure comprising the first sidewall and a second sidewall that are counter-opposed, and connected to and separated by a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall that are counter-opposed, and connected to and separated by the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first sidewall including the aperture to accommodate insertion and assembly of the backplane into the circuit board chassis in the first direction through the aperture; and (2) at least one circuit board guide means incorporated into at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the third sidewall and the fourth sidewall to accommodate insertion and assembly of a circuit board into circuit board chassis and the backplane in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. This particular method also includes inserting and assembling the circuit board into the circuit board chassis and the backplane in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Within the instant disclosure, a “circuit board chassis” is intended as a chassis or enclosure to which is assembled at least one backplane and at least one circuit board. A circuit board chassis in accordance with the embodiments may be fully enclosed by use of appropriately sized covers, or alternatively only partially enclosed.

Within the instant disclosure, a “backplane” is intended as a primary circuit board to which other circuit boards are attached and assembled within a circuit board chassis. A backplane in accordance with the invention may alternatively be referred to as a “motherboard.”

Within the instant disclosure, a “circuit board” is intended as a secondary circuit board which is attached to and assembled to a backplane within a circuit board chassis. A circuit board in accordance with the embodiment and the invention may alternatively be referred to as a “daughterboard.”

Within the instant disclosure, an “aperture” is intended as an opening extending completely through a sidewall of a circuit board chassis to permit insertion and assembly of a backplane into the circuit board chassis through the aperture.

Within the instant disclosure, a “slot” is intended as a groove or related structure: (1) optionally within a sidewall of an aperture, but extending into a circuit board chassis for insertion and assembly of a backplane into the circuit board chassis (i.e., a counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots); or (2) within an interior portion of a sidewall for insertion and assembly of a circuit board into the circuit board chassis and the backplane (i.e., a circuit board insertion and assembly slot).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments, which include a plurality of circuit board chassis and a method for assembling at least one backplane and at least one circuit board into the plurality of circuit board chassis, are understood within the context of the description set forth below. The description set forth below is understood within the context of the drawings described above. Since the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1Ashows an isometric-view diagram of a circuit board chassis in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1Ashows generally a circuit board chassis10that comprises a first sidewall12and a second sidewall14that are counter-opposed, and separated by and connected to a third sidewall16and a fourth sidewall18that are similarly counter-opposed, and separated by and connected to the first sidewall12and the second sidewall14. WithinFIG. 1A, the first sidewall12includes an aperture24that further includes a counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25in a pair of opposite sidewalls of the aperture24. The counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25extends into the circuit board chassis10.

Thus, the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18form in a first instance an open ended tubular rectangular enclosure, where the first sidewall12further includes the aperture24. For a more complete enclosure of the open ended tubular rectangular enclosure formed by the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18, the circuit board chassis10that is illustrated inFIG. 1Aalso optionally includes: (1) a bottom plate20(i.e., attached to one end of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18); and (2) a cover plate22(i.e., attached to an other opposite end of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18). To finalize enclosure of the circuit board chassis10,FIG. 1Bshows an aperture cover23which is intended to cover the aperture24.

Each of the foregoing sidewall components (i.e., the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18) that comprise the circuit board chassis10that is illustrated inFIG. 1A, as well as the optional bottom plate20, the optional cover plate22and the optional aperture cover23, may comprise materials, and be formed and fabricated to dimensions, that are otherwise generally conventional in the circuit board chassis and circuit board enclosure design and fabrication art.

Typically and preferably, each of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18comprises a thermally conductive material, such as but not limited to a metal or a metal alloy material, that is generally suitable for fabricating the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18. Suitable metals and metal alloy materials may include, but are not necessarily limited to, aluminum and aluminum alloys, iron and iron alloys, stainless steel and stainless steel alloys, copper and copper alloys, and titanium and titanium alloys. Thermally conductive composites and related materials are also not excluded for fabricating the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18.

Typically and preferably, each of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18has a height dimension H1(i.e., interposed between the bottom plate20and the cover plate22) from about 15 to about 40 centimeters and a width dimension W1(i.e., in the plane of the pertinent sidewall and perpendicular to the height dimension H1) from about 15 to about 60 centimeters that correlates with the height and width dimensions of a backplane and circuit boards that are intended to be assembled into the circuit board chassis10. Typically, the height dimension H1and the width dimension W1of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18are sized to provide an internal volume of the circuit board chassis10adequate to accommodate at least one backplane, and from about 2 to about 21 circuit boards.

Typically and preferably, each of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18has a thickness that is also otherwise generally conventional in the circuit board chassis and circuit board enclosure design and fabrication art. Such a non-limiting thickness is typically from about 3 to about 25 millimeters.

The bottom plate20, the cover plate22and the aperture cover23may be formed and fabricated from the same or different materials in comparison with the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18. Commonly the bottom plate20, the cover plate22and the aperture cover23comprise the same material from which is comprised the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18, but such is not intended as a limitation of this particular embodiment, or of the invention.

The aperture24is intended to provide for insertion and assembly of a backplane into the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Aabsent the aperture cover23, and with or without the bottom plate20and the cover plate22. Thus, the aperture24will typically have a height dimension H2from about 0.5 to about 2.0 centimeters and a width dimension W2from about 10 to about 55 centimeters, as is needed to accommodate a particular backplane. However,FIG. 1illustrates a generally greater height to the aperture24than might nominally be expected as needed for a particular backplane. This particular additional height provides for a clearer view of the interior of the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1A, which as noted above is not necessarily drawn to scale.

AlthoughFIG. 1Aillustrates the aperture24as located and formed within the first sidewall12, as is common within the instant embodiment, the embodiment is not intended to be so limited. Rather, the embodiment also contemplates that an aperture, such as the aperture24, may be located and formed within at least one of the first sidewall12, the second sidewall14, the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18for purposes of insertion and assembly of a backplane into the circuit board chassis10whose schematic isometric-view diagram is illustrated inFIG. 1A.

FIG. 1Aalso illustrates a plurality (i.e., a pair) of counter-opposed backplane insertion and assembly slots25located and formed into a counter-opposed pair of sidewalls of the aperture24. As is illustrated withinFIG. 1A, the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25extends into the circuit board chassis10and includes a portion of the third sidewall16and (by implication) the fourth sidewall18. As will be illustrated in greater detail below, the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25provides for ease in insertion and assembly of a backplane through the aperture24and into the circuit board chassis10through the aperture24.

FIG. 1Aalso illustrates a plurality of circuit board insertion and assembly slots26located and formed interposed between a plurality of ribs27located and formed into interior portions of third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18, but not the first sidewall12and the second sidewall14. The plurality of circuit board insertion and assembly slots26that are located and formed interposed between the plurality of ribs27is intended to assist in the positioning, inserting and assembling of circuit boards within the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1A. To that end, the plurality of ribs27typically have: (1) a depth protruding into the circuit board chassis 10 from about 5 to about 20 millimeters; (2) a width along the third sidewall16or the fourth sidewall18of the circuit board chassis10from about 5 to about 20 millimeters; and (3) a separation distance along the third sidewall16or the fourth sidewall18of the circuit board chassis10from about 5 to about 20 millimeters, that is otherwise generally conventional, and intended to accommodate circuit boards and related circuit board fasteners that are otherwise also generally conventional. Under certain circumstances, the plurality of circuit board insertion and assembly slots26and the plurality of ribs27may also be included on interior portions of the first sidewall12and the second sidewall14.

Finally,FIG. 1Aalso further illustrates more narrowly spaced and dimensioned slots and ribs located and formed upon the outer surfaces of the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18. These vertically arranged and more narrowly spaced (i.e., from about 2 millimeters to about 5 millimeters) and dimensioned (i.e., from about 2 millimeters to about 5 millimeters thickness and from about 5 to about 20 millimeters depth to a core of the third sidewall16or the fourth sidewall18) slots and ribs are intended to assist with thermal dissipation from circuit boards and a backplane assembled within the circuit board chassis10whose schematic isometric-view diagram is illustrated inFIG. 1A. Thus, the circuit board chassis10may be passively cooled through conduction cooling. This particular passive conduction cooling is common and preferred, but not limiting, within the circuit board chassis10of the instant embodiment.

Alternatively, the circuit board chassis10may be cooled while using active cooling means such as but not limited to air cooling means (i.e., which would commonly include a fan or other air handling mechanism) and liquid cooling means (i.e., which would commonly include a heat exchanger).

The circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Amay be fabricated and assembled using methods that are otherwise generally conventional in the circuit board chassis design, fabrication and assembly art. Such methods may include, but are not necessarily limited to machining methods, brazing methods and mechanical assembly methods that use subcomponent parts for fabricating and assembling the circuit board chassis ofFIG. 1A. Typically, the circuit board chassis ofFIG. 1Ais fabricated and assembled using at least subcomponent sidewall parts.

Also contemplated is an embodiment of a circuit board chassis where a pair of slots that correlates with the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25is located and formed primarily, or completely, within the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18, and not specifically within the first sidewall12(although the aperture24is still located and formed within the first sidewall12). Such a pair of slots may be fabricated incident to an enlargement or tapering of the aperture24. Such a pair of slots may further ease insertion and assembly of a backplane within those slots that correlate with the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25.

Such an embodiment of a circuit board chassis with these alternative slots is illustrated within the schematic isometric-view diagram ofFIG. 1B, which illustrates generally a circuit board chassis10′. The circuit board chassis10′ ofFIG. 1Botherwise correlates with the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1A(i.e., like or identical components and structures are designated with identical reference numerals), but the aperture24as illustrated inFIG. 1Ais enlarged to form an aperture24′ so that a counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25′ (i.e., of which only one is visible) that correlate with the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that is illustrated inFIG. 1Ais located and formed primarily, or completely, within the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18.

Further discussion and illustration of the embodiments will be directed towards the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Arather than the circuit board chassis10′ ofFIG. 1B, although each of the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Aand the circuit board chassis10′ ofFIG. 1Bprovides an operative embodiment.

FIG. 2Ashows a schematic isometric-view diagram of a backplane28generally, and wedge-lock assemblies30that may be inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Athrough the aperture24within the first sidewall12within the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 2Ashows more particularly that the backplane28comprises a backplane substrate32upon which is located and assembled a plurality of circuit board connectors34and a plurality of alignment pins36.

The backplane substrate32(i.e., which is generally similar to a circuit board substrate) typically comprises a multi-layer laminate that includes patterned conductor layers that are separated by dielectric layers. Commonly, but not exclusively, the patterned conductor layers comprise copper, copper alloy, aluminum or aluminum alloy conductor materials. Commonly, but not exclusively, the dielectric layers comprise a resin impregnated material, such as but not limited to a fiberglass material.

The circuit board connectors34are otherwise generally conventional, and sized appropriately for particular circuit boards.

The alignment pins36are intended to assist with registration of individual circuit boards with respect to individual circuit board connectors34on the backplane28. To that end, the alignment pins36may comprise any of several materials, including but not limited to conductor materials and dielectric materials, but are generally fabricated of sufficient mechanical integrity to assist with ease of insertion and removal of a circuit board with respect to a particular circuit board connector34.

Although not particularly illustrated within the schematic diagram ofFIG. 2A, the backplane28may comprise any of several conventional or non-conventional designs. Conventional designs are often designated as VPX, VME, Compact PCI and micro TCA designs, among other particular conventional designs. A particular backplane is typically selected within the context of particular functionality desired or required within the context of particular circuit boards that are intended to be inserted and assembled to the particular backplane.

The wedge-lock assemblies30are of otherwise generally conventional design and construction. Thus, the wedge-lock assemblies30comprise counter-opposed wedge components which when drawn to each other by means of a lineal contraction force will offset and wedge the backplane28within the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that begin within the sidewalls of the aperture24within the first sidewall12of the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1A, as will be illustrated in further detail below.

As is illustrated inFIG. 2B, the wedge-lock assemblies30are now assembled to the backside of the backplane substrate32. The alignment pins36and the circuit board connectors34are also illustrated within the schematic cross-sectional diagram ofFIG. 2B.FIG. 3shows the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Ainto which now is inserted and assembled the backplane28with the wedge-lock assemblies30assembled thereto, into the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25and through the aperture24within the first sidewall12of the circuit board chassis10. When the wedge-lock assemblies30are in an uncontracted position, the backplane28with the wedge-lock assemblies30assembled thereto may simply be slid into the circuit board chassis10through the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that comprise the sidewall portions of the aperture24, as well as interior portions of the third sidewall16and the fourth sidewall18, as will be illustrated in further detail below.

FIG. 4shows an end-view of the circuit board chassis ofFIG. 3after the backplane28with the wedge-lock assemblies30assembled thereto has been completely inserted and assembled into the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25and through the aperture24.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, whileFIG. 2BandFIG. 3illustrate the wedge-lock assemblies30assembled to the backplane28, alternatively the wedge-lock assemblies may be assembled to the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that extend into the circuit board chassis10beginning at the aperture24sidewalls.

As is illustrated inFIG. 3, the wedge-lock assemblies30are located assembled to the backplane substrate32portion of the backplane28. The wedge-lock assemblies30and backplane28are inserted into the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that begin at the sides of the aperture24. Contraction of the wedge-lock assemblies30causes for the wedge-lock assemblies30and the backplane substrate32to become wedged in the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that begin at each side of the aperture24. Thus, the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25is sized to accommodate freely the backplane28and wedge-lock assemblies30when the wedge-lock assemblies30are uncontracted, but also to clamp the backplane28when the wedge-lock assemblies30are contracted.

FIG. 5shows the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 3, into which the backplane28has been completely inserted and assembled. However,FIG. 5also illustrates a circuit board38(i.e., including circuit components39, connectors40and a support frame41assembled thereto) and associated wedge-lock assemblies31assembled thereto that is inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis10and the backplane28(i.e., after the backplane28is completely inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis10). The circuit board38is inserted and assembled in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion and assembly of the backplane28, and with the assistance of the circuit board insertion and assembly slots26(and also the alignment pins36on the backplane28).

The circuit board38is otherwise generally conventional in the circuit board design, fabrication and assembly art, and selected to mate appropriately with a particular backplane28. The circuit board38typically comprises circuit board substrate materials analogous, equivalent or identical to substrate materials that are used for fabricating the backplane substrate32that comprises the backplane28. Typically, the circuit board38will comprise a plurality of circuit components39.

The circuit components39are also otherwise generally conventional, and are generally provided as circuit modules that may include, but are not necessarily limited to, resistors, transistors, diodes and capacitors. Circuit components39that include discrete electrical components rather than circuit modules are also not excluded within the embodiments.

The connectors40located and assembled to the circuit board38are also generally conventional in the circuit board design, fabrication and assembly art. To that end, the connectors40are intended to mate specifically with the connectors34located and assembled to the backplane28.

The frame41is also generally conventional in the circuit board design, fabrication and assembly art. The frame41provides mechanical support to the circuit board38, and as well may assist in thermal dissipation from the circuit board38.

Finally, the wedge-lock assemblies31are otherwise generally related to the wedge-lock assemblies30associated with the backplane28, but sized appropriately to operate effectively with the circuit board38and the circuit board insertion and assembly slots26, rather than the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25within the aperture24sidewalls and extending into the circuit board chassis10.

As is noted above, the embodiment provides value insofar as the insertion and assembly of the backplane28into the aperture24and counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that extend into the circuit board chassis10from the first sidewall12of the circuit board chassis10provides flexibility within the context of sequentially inserting and assembling the backplane28and the circuit board38into the circuit board chassis10. Such flexibility is particularly desirable when the circuit board chassis10is positioned with constrained space limitations and under circumstances where the backplane28is otherwise assembled as an outer surface assembly of the circuit board chassis10.

Moreover, and as is also noted above, the embodiment provides value under the foregoing outer surface assembly circumstances with or without constrained space limitations insofar as the inventive sidewall aperture24and counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25assembly of the backplane28with wedge-lock assemblies30provides the circuit board chassis10, with the backplane28so assembled therein, with enhanced mechanical characteristics such as enhanced rigidity and assembly speed, as well as enhanced thermal transfer characteristics.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing embodiments that derive fromFIG. 1AandFIG. 1Bare not intended as limiting within the context of the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25that are illustrated inFIG. 1Aor the counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots25′ that are illustrated inFIG. 1B. Rather, the foregoing embodiments also contemplate guide means other than slots for sidewall insertion and assembly of a backplane into a circuit board chassis, such as the circuit board chassis10ofFIG. 1Aor the circuit board chassis10′ ofFIG. 1B. Such alternative guide means may include, but are not necessarily limited to circuit board guide rails sized to accommodate a thickness of a circuit board absent wedge-locks installed. These alternative guide means may be adapted with alternative clamping means, such as but not limited to leaf springs or other spring-like clamping means.

In addition similar considerations apply for the circuit board insertion and assembly slots26, which may also be replaced by alternative circuit board guide means, such as but not limited to circuit board guide rails sized to accommodate a thickness of a circuit board absent wedge-locks installed. These alternative circuit board guide means may also be adapted with alternative clamping means, as described above.

The embodiments are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting of the invention. Revisions and modifications may be made to materials, structures and dimensions of a circuit board chassis and related method in accordance with the embodiments, while still providing a circuit board chassis and related method in accordance with the invention, further in accordance with the accompanying claims.