Detection of improperly seated electronic component

A system comprises a circuit board, a pair of electrically-conductive board contacts mounted on the circuit board, and a connector assembly coupled to the board and adapted to receive an electrical component. The connector assembly has a pair of deflectable arms. Each deflectable arm comprises a conductive arm contact. Inserting the electrical component into the connector causes the deflectable arms to be deflected from a resting position and away from said electrical component thereby preventing the board contacts from electrically contacting the arm contacts. When the electrical component is fully seated in the connector, the deflectable arms revert back to the resting positioning thereby causing the arm contacts to electrically contact the board contacts.

BACKGROUND

Many computer systems permit electronic components to be installed by a user of the system. Examples of such electronic components include memory modules, add-in circuit boards, etc. It is possible that a user only partially, not fully, seats the electronic component in place in the system. It is also possible that the user believes he or she has fully seated the electronic component in place, and thus not realize that the component is only partially seated. A component that is only partially seated will likely not work properly or at all.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates a computing system10in accordance with various embodiments. Computing system10may comprise a computer such as a desktop or notebook computer, or other type of electronic system. As shown, the system10comprises a chassis12that contains a circuit board14. In some embodiments, the circuit board14represents the “system” or “mother” board and, as such, contains one or more semiconductor devices16such as a processor, memory, etc.

The system10ofFIG. 1also comprises an electronic component18adapted to be mated to, and removed from, a connector assembly20. The electronic component18may comprise any of variety of components such as a memory module, add-in card, etc. The connector assembly20is generally C-shaped and contains an electrical connector (not shown inFIG. 1) that mates to a corresponding electrical connector (also not shown inFIG. 1) on the electronic component18. The connector assembly20may be mounted on circuit board14or otherwise mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the circuit board.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of the connector assembly20. Connector28is shown which receives a corresponding connector from electronic component18. The assembly20comprises a connector body26and a pair of arms22,24. In at least some embodiments, the arms22,24and the body26are molded as one unitary piece. In other embodiments, the arms22,24are separate from, but coupled to, the body26by for example, adhesive, a hinge, etc. The arms22,24generally extend away from the body26at, or approximately, a 90 degree angle so as to provide the connector assembly its C-shape. The arms22,24are shown inFIG. 2in their natural resting position. Each arm comprises a protruding member30,32as shown. Each protruding member30,32extends inward toward the other arm. Each protruding member may be electrically conductive or non-conductive.

The arms22,24are deflectable meaning that outward force on an arm will cause that arm to be bent outward to a degree without breaking or otherwise separating from connector body26. The degree to which each arm can be deflected outward without breaking is at least just enough to permit the electronic component18to be mated to the connector assembly. The flexible nature of arms22,24to accommodate insertion of electronic component18is illustrated inFIGS. 3aand3b.FIG. 3aillustrates the partial insertion of the electronic module into the connector assembly20. The electronic component18comprises a pair of recessed areas39and38that generally coincide with the arms' protruding members30and32. As a user slides the electronic component18into the connector assembly20between the arms22,24(in the direction of arrow25), the sides40and42of the electronic component are contacted by the arm's protruding members30,32and thereby force the arms to deflect outward as shown. Each arm22,24is deflected outward at an angle A1that varies as the electronic component18is slid into place to mate with connector assembly20. The material selected from which to fabricate the connector assembly and, in particular, the arms22,24is such that the arms can be deflected outward to an angle of at least A1without breakage.

FIG. 3billustrates that the electronic component18is fully seated in connector assembly20thereby establishing electrical connectivity between the electronic component18and connector assembly20. Upon establishing electrical connectivity between electronic component18and connector assembly20, protruding members30,32fit into the corresponding recessed areas38,39, thereby permitting the arms to revert back to their natural resting state.

As illustrated byFIGS. 3aand3b, the arms22,24can be forced apart to permit the electronic component18to be inserted into and mated to the connector assembly20. The arms are forced away from their natural resting position and, due do the spring-like nature of the arms, the arms revert back to their resting position when the protruding members30,32are able to fit into the corresponding recess areas38,39. This occurs when the electronic component18is fully seated in the connector assembly20. When the electronic component18is only partially seated in the connector assembly20, the arms22,24are pushed apart as shown inFIG. 3a. In accordance with various embodiments, a sensing mechanism is provided to detect when the arms are not in their natural resting position, which is indicative of the electronic component18not being fully seated. The sensing mechanism thus differentiates between an electronic component18being fully versus partially seated.

FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate an embodiment of such a sensing mechanism.FIG. 4depicts the distal end of arm24away from body26. The end of the other arm22is similarly configured. As shown, the arm24comprises an electrically conductive contact50wrapped partially or fully around the arm. The protruding member32is part of the contact50or may be a separate component. Because the conductive contact50is provided on the arm24, the conductive contact50is referred to herein as an “arm contact.” The arm contact50comprises a portion54that extends away from the arm24as shown. The conductive extension54of the arm contact50is bent at a right angle as shown, or can be formed into other shapes as desired, or not bent at all. The arm contacts50are electrically connected via a conductor36that is provided in, or on, the connector assembly20. The conductor36passes through, or on, the arms22,24and body26.

Another electrical contact56is coupled to the circuit board14. In some embodiments, the contact56is mounted directly onto the board14, but in other embodiments, the contact56is mounted elsewhere but electrically coupled to circuitry on the board14. This contact is referred to as a “board contact” (regardless of whether or not the contact is mounted directly on board14). The board contact has a generally double-curved shape as shown. Each board contact56comprises a base portion58and spring portion60. Portions58and60may be formed as a unitary structure or separate structures attached together (e.g., glued, welded, etc.). When the electronic component is fully seated in connector assembly20, the arms22,24revert back to their natural resting state which thereby causes the electrically-conductive arm contact50(specifically extension portion54) to contact the electrically conductive board contact56. If the electronic component18is not fully seated, then one or both of the arms22,24remain in the outwardly deflected state (best shown inFIG. 3a). As such, the contacts50,56associated with the arm(s) that remains deflected will not be in electrical contact with each other.

FIG. 6illustrates an electrical schematic of at least a portion of the computer system10. Arm contacts50aand50bare depicted on either side of the connector assembly20(the arms22,24are not specifically shown). The board contacts56aand56bare also shown in electrical contact with the arm contacts50a,50b. Electrical contact between arm and board contacts50,56is established as shown only if the electronic component18is fully seated as explained above. Board contact56bis grounded and board contact56ais connected to a resistor R1which, in turn, is connected to a voltage source VCC. A connector interface72is also provided which receives the voltage across resistor R1. The connector interface causes the connector assembly to be electrically and/or logically disconnected from the system10under the control of the host logic70. The host logic70may comprise a processor or other type of circuit in the system10. In some embodiments, the connector interface72is part of the host logic70. The connector interface72asserts a digital signal to the host logic based on whether the electronic component18is fully seated. This determination is made based on the voltage across resistor R1. If the electronic component is fully seated, the board contact56ais at the ground potential via conductor36(also shown inFIG. 2) and via arm contact50band board contact56bwhich are connected together with board contact56bbeing grounded as shown. The voltage across resistor R1is VCC (e.g., 3 VDC) and the connector interface72interprets that voltage as a logic high.

If, however, the electronic component18is not fully seated, then board contact56awill not be grounded as one or both of the pairs of arm and board contacts50,56will not be in electrical contact with each other. In this case (board contact56anot being grounded by way of board contact56b), resistor R1will not be connected to ground and no current will flow through resistor R1. As no current flows through resistor R1, the VCC voltage is not provided across resistor R1. The connector interface72detects this state of resistor R1as a logic low.

The connector interface72informs the host logic70as to whether the electronic component18is fully seated. If the host logic70is informed by the connector72that the electronic component18is not fully seated, the host logic70takes appropriate action. The action could be to prevent power from being provided to the connector assembly20, to prevent data communications with the electronic component, to generate an alert (e.g., audible or visual), or other suitable actions.

FIG. 7shows another type of sensing mechanism to detect a partially seated electronic component18. In this embodiment, the connector assembly20comprises a pair of switches80and82provided at opposing ends of connector assembly body26and interconnected via conductor36. One switch (e.g., switch80) is grounded and the other switch (e.g., switch82) is connected to resistor R1. The switches are arranged so that when the electrical module is fully seated in the connector assembly20, both of the switches are closed by the electrical module. The switches80,82are electro-mechanical switches. In some embodiments, the switches80,82are normally-open switches that are closed upon the electronic component being fully seated in the connector assembly20. If the electronic component is not fully seated, one or more both of the switches80,82will not be closed. The switches80,82are connected to the connector interface72in much the same way as depicted inFIG. 6and explained above regarding board contacts56.