Abstract:
A retaining device for stationarily positioning at least one electronic circuit component card comprising a bracket and a fastener. In one exemplary embodiment, a single fastener is manipulated from outside a wall of a chassis to hold two or more electronic circuit component cards in position. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to computing or processing devices using at least one electronic circuit component card and, more particularly, to retaining devices for stationarily positioning such cards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of state-of-the-art computers, processors, and similar devices use electronic circuit component cards, which are also referred to as electronic cards or card devices. Examples of such electronic circuit component cards include, for example, peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”) cards. The industry has developed PCI and the other so-called local bus technologies to provide expansion capabilities to computer systems. 
     These electronic circuit component cards typically have card edge connectors for mating with the slot connectors on motherboards or backplanes. The card edge connectors and the slot connectors have a corresponding number of relatively closely spaced metal contacts in registry with each other. When the card edge connector is inserted in a slot connector, the corresponding contacts make electrical connection. Through these contacts and their electrical connection, the card device and the motherboard communicate electronically. PCI and similar electronic cards generally derive power from the motherboard or backplane through the card slot into which they are received or plugged. 
     For a more secure and stable connection, the front edges of the respective cards typically have metal brackets for mounting to a wall or other surface using a bracket and a conventional retainer, such as a screw or a rivet. The brackets and retainers collectively hold the cards stationary relative to the wall, which is particularly important in an environment subject to shock and vibration. 
     Considering the overall systems, a trend exists in their designs for redundancy and consistency to include duplicative or multiple components, such as multiple power supplies and fans. The redundancy helps to protect against productivity and economic losses associated with system downtime, which is particularly important in computing or processing devices used to perform critical business functions. In a design using redundant parts, one skilled in the art will appreciate that if one component malfunctions or fails, the system may still continue to operate. In addition, it is possible that a technician may be able to replace a defective component using “hot swapping” or “hot plugging”devices without either shutting down or crashing the system. This allows what is sometimes referred to as “concurrent maintenance.” 
     Current designs of rack-mount servers, however, normally use systems that retain only one card at a time. The primary reason is spatial or volumetric constraints that exist within a chassis. In fact, because of the limited space or volume within the chassis, the single card is usually required to be oriented horizontally. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system that uses a plurality of electronic circuit component cards with a single motherboard or backplane. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprises a card receiving system and apparatus for retaining the edges of at least two electronic circuit component cards. In this design, the present invention positions two cards horizontally so that one card is disposed above or over the other card and those two cards are oriented substantially parallel to each other. 
     The present invention also comprises a system in which the electronic circuit component cards may be collectively held stationarily in place relative to each other using a single positioning or retaining system. 
    
    
     These and other features of the card receiving system and retaining system will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that show, for purposes of illustration only, an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded side view partially in schematic of an exemplary embodiment showing the components of the dual-card retaining device. 
     FIG. 1A is an alternative side view of FIG. 1 in which the riser connector and riser are integrally formed as a single unit. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dual-card retaining device of FIG. 1 positioned within a chassis. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a retaining device of the present invention used to hold two cards of the dual-card retaining device. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the retaining device shown in FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, “a,” “an,” or “the” can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. The preferred embodiment is now described with reference to the figures, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the figures. 
     Referring generally to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention comprises a receiving system  10  for holding and electronically communicating with at least two circuit component cards  40 ,  42 . The drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment that is a dual-card receiving device  10 . Another aspect of the present invention includes a system that secures the cards  40 ,  42  in position to prevent their inadvertent removal in response to a physical shock or vibration. This securing system  50  comprises a single bracket  60  and fastener  70  to retain multiple cards. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, a dual-card receiving device  10  is shown being used with a motherboard  30  or a backplane. The motherboard  30  has an upper surface  32 , a lower surface  34 , and an edge  36  circumscribing at least a portion of the motherboard  30 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, the motherboard  30  is substantially horizontally disposed in a chassis C. 
     The dual-card receiving device  10  is designed to receive two cards, a first card  40  and a second card  42 . The first and second cards  40 ,  42  each have card edge connectors  44  for mating with respective slot connectors to create an electrical connection therebetween that allows the card to communicate electronically with the device or component to which it is connected. 
     Initially addressing the connection of the first card  40 , a straddle connector  20  is shown attached to a portion of the edge  36  of the horizontally-disposed motherboard  30 . An example of a straddle connector  20  is an edge card connector (“ECC”) sold by AMCO TEC INTL., INC. having part designation number 331-184TBSNS1. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the straddle connector  20  is typically used with a personal computer and is usually disposed upright or substantially vertically, whereas the straddle connector  20  in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is disposed substantially horizontally. As such, the straddle connector  20  receives the first card  40  within its slot connector  22  when that first card  40  is horizontal. 
     One skilled in the art will also appreciate that although the straddle connector  20  is shown attached to a portion of the edge  36  of the motherboard  30 , it may also be mounted on or proximate to either the upper surface  32  or lower surface  34  of the motherboard  30  near its edge  36 . The straddle connector  20  may be connected or attached to the motherboard  30  (or to an adjacent structure such as a chassis C) using any means known in the art, such as chemical adhesives, fusing, mechanical fasteners, or other bonding techniques. 
     Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated dual-card receiving device  10  also includes a riser connector  24  and a riser  26 . The riser connector  24  is attached to the upper surface  32  of the motherboard  30 , is located proximate the straddle connector  20 , and is disposed upright. An example of a riser connector  24  is sold by AMP having part designation number 5-179009-9. The riser connector  24  is typically mounted or attached to the upper surface  32  of the motherboard  30  using a bracket (not shown) interconnecting both the riser connector  24  on one end and a mechanical fastener (not shown) on the opposed end. The mechanical fastener, such as a screw, may be connected to the motherboard  30  or the bottom of the metal casing of the underlying chassis C or rack. As one skilled in the art will further appreciate, instead of using a fastener, the riser connector  24  may be alternatively connected to the motherboard  30  or chassis C using other means known in the art, such as chemical adhesives, fusing, or other bonding techniques. 
     The riser  26  is coupled to the riser connector  24  so that the two components electronically communicate with the second card  42  (when received by the riser  26 ), the motherboard  30 , and each other. An example of a riser  26  is sold by AMP having part designation number 179029-9. 
     When necessary, mechanical or chemical means may be used to buttress the physical coupling between the riser  26  and the riser connector  24  to ensure that the components are not separated as a result of vibrations or shock. Referring now to FIG. 1A, it is also contemplated that the riser connector  24  and the riser  26  may be integrally formed together so that these two components are a single device or structure, e.g., no separate riser connector would be used with the riser and that riser would be connected directly to the motherboard. 
     As will be noted, the illustrated riser  26  has a slot connector  28  that is horizontally oriented so that it receives the card edge connector  44  of the second card  42  when that second card is oriented substantially horizontally. As such, when the first and second cards  40 ,  42  are received within the respective slot connectors  22 ,  28  of the straddle connector  20  and riser  26 , the second card  42  is disposed over or above and substantially parallel to the first card  40 . In one embodiment, a standard PCI card spacing of 0.8 inches is maintained between the first and second cards  40 ,  42 . One skilled in the art will appreciate from FIG. 2 that this design allows the mounting of two cards without substantially increasing the volume or space used in a single-card design. 
     Although not illustrated, it is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention to mount a third and additional cards above the first and second cards  40 ,  42 . That is, for a third card (not shown), the additional riser connector would be farther away from the edge of the motherboard and taller than for the riser connector used with the second card. Thus, the riser for the third card would be positioned elevationally above that for the second card and the third card, when connected, would be positioned above the second card. 
     Addressing again the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, the first and second cards  40 ,  42  may be the same type of cards, which provides advantageous redundancy to the system. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, if one card malfunctions or fails, the system may still continue to operate with the “good” card. Furthermore, it may be possible that a technician may be able to “hot swap” the defective card without either shutting down or crashing the system. As a specific example, the first and second cards  40 ,  42  may both be peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”) cards. Alternatively, the first and second cards  40 ,  42  may be different types of cards, which increases the functionality and capability of the motherboard and, accordingly, of the system. 
     Now referring specifically to FIG. 2, the illustrated dual-card receiver  10  is shown contained within an Electronic Industry Association (“EIA”) 1U chassis that is designed for installation in a in a system rack (not shown). The 1U chassis holds a single row of devices and has rack mounts (not shown) that are accessible so that the chassis C can easily be secured/unsecured from the rack. More specifically, in addition to the motherboard  30 , the 1U chassis typically holds one or more power supply units (“PSUs”) and a power distribution module (“PDM”), forming a single fully redundant central power supply section (“CPSS”). Multiple PSUs are advantageous because, having a modular design, they can be hot-swappable, in which one can be replaced while the other operates in light of their redundant configuration. The 1U chassis may also include ten drives in addition to the motherboard  30  and CPSS. 
     As one skilled in the art appreciates, however, there are spatial constraints within a chassis C, including its height limitation. Accordingly, the dual-card receiver  10  of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is designed so that the vertical separation between the lower surface  34  of the motherboard  30  and the top of the second card  42  is less than 1.75 inches, the height of a 1U chassis. 
     As one skilled in the art will appreciate, it is preferred that the cards be securely positioned so that shock or vibrations do not result in any of the cards  40 ,  42  becoming lose and dislodged from the riser  26  or the straddle connector  20  or both. A common method to achieve this objective is to use a bracket fixedly attached to the card, sometimes referred to as a tailstock, and screw that traverses through the tailstock and into the chassis C. Such designs are disclosed by the component having reference numeral “4” in U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,760 and component “110” in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,230, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     Using small screws or similar fasteners to secure each of the tailstocks of the two cards may be problematic in a “hot-swap” operation because too much time is required to remove/replace such a fastener. Moreover, there is a danger that the loosened screw could fall onto powered components and potentially cause an electrical disaster. As one skilled in the art appreciates, these small screws are difficult to maneuver in the tight space even when the system is shutdown and de-energized. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention also comprises a retaining device  50  or system that secures either one or all of the cards in position. The exemplary embodiment is illustrated and disclosed as being used to secure two separate cards  40 ,  42 , which follows the disclosure above of the dual-card receiving device  10 . To that end, the retaining device  50  of the present invention comprises a bracket  60  and a fastener  70 . 
     The bracket  60  includes a securing section  62 , an engaging section  66 , and a connecting section  64 . The securing section  62 , which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 abutting the wall W of the chassis C or the rack case, defines an opening  63  of a size to receive a portion of the fastener  70  therethrough. As best shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the securing section  62  adjacent and surrounding the opening  63  is substantially planar. 
     The engaging section  66 , which is spaced apart from the securing section  62 , is of a dimension to complementarily engage a portion of each of the two cards, preferably the tailstock. Similar to the securing section  62  and as best shown in FIG. 4, a portion of the engaging section  66  is also substantially planar. Referring back to FIG. 3, the engaging section  66  has two opposed edges and defines a void  68  therebetween so that the engaging section  66  has two spaced-apart segments  69 . As will be noted, each segment  69  is of a dimension to complementarily engage a portion of one respective card, such as the tailstock. 
     The connecting section  64  has a body portion extending between and interconnecting the securing and engaging sections  62 ,  66 . The connecting section  64  is shown oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to the substantially planar portions of the securing and engaging sections  62 ,  66 . Although not necessary, the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 shows that a majority of the body portion of the connecting section  64  is substantially planar. As will be noted, the substantially planar portions of the securing and engaging sections  62 ,  66  are oriented at non-parallel angles relative to each other, which again is best shown in FIG.  4 . As will further be noted, both the transition from the securing section  62  to the connecting section  64  and the transition from the engaging section  66  to the connecting section  64  are arcuate, although a sharp angled connection is also contemplated. 
     Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener  70  is a screw  72  and a nut  74 , which complementarily engages the screw  72 . A portion of the fastener  70  traverses through both the opening  63  of the securing section  62  and the wall W of the rack or chassis C. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the nut  74  is optional when the opening  63  of the securing section  62  includes a threaded surface to complementarily engage the threaded surface of the screw  72 . Although less preferred, other fasteners that detachably hold the bracket  60  may be used. 
     As the screw  72  is tightened, the substantially planar portion of the securing section  62  of the bracket  60  is drawn or pulled toward the wall W. As this occurs, the two spaced-apart segments  69  of the engaging section  66  correspondingly first engage and then secure the tailstock of the two respective cards. The connecting section  64  in the exemplary embodiment being at a non-perpendicular angle with the substantially planar sections of the assists the technician in connecting the components in the tight space. Also, the bracket  60  may pivot about the fastener  70  as it is tightened to position properly the components if the technician technical has difficulty in pre-positioning the bracket  60  and tailstock of the cards located within the chassis C. 
     As one skilled in the art will also appreciate, the screw  72  used in FIGS. 3 and 4 is started or fed from a position outside of the interior of the rack or chassis C. Accordingly, if the screw  72  is inadvertently dropped, then the chances of adversely affecting the system decrease significantly. It may also be easier for the technician to maneuver the components and tighten the screw  72  since its head is positioned outside the wall W. Having the ability to secure more than one card at one time with a single screw  72  may additionally result in time savings to the technician when initially installing or changing cards. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that they are included in the accompanying claims. For example, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the retaining device  50  of the present invention may be used in other contexts besides the dual-card retaining device  10  and, likewise, the dual-card retaining device  10  may be used without the disclosed retaining device  50  or in a system other than a server shown, for example, in FIG.  2 .