Abstract:
A latch and ejector system utilized in an electronic device. The latch and ejector system allows for the tool-less release and removal of various components, such as drives, from various electronic devices. The latch system secures the component within the electronic device during use but provides for the ready release and movement of the component to an ejected position. Once the component is at the ejected position, a user may readily remove the component.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to modular devices, such as drives, that are mounted in a variety of electronic devices, e.g. computers and servers. The invention is particularly related to a latch and ejector system for facilitating selective retention and ejection of the component from the chassis of the electronic device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A variety of electronic devices, such as computers and servers, comprise various components that may be replaced or interchanged with other components. For example, a computer or server typically has one or more drives. Such drives usually are mounted in a chassis via screws. To service, replace or switch drives, the computer is placed out of service while a technician removes screws and manually disconnects cables to exchange or service the drive, e.g. CD drive or floppy drive.  
           [0003]    It would be advantageous to have a technique that facilitates the exchange of drives or a variety of other components used in electronic devices.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to a technique for tool-less exchange of components in an electronic device. An exemplary component is a drive that might be found in a computer or server. The technique utilizes a latch system that secures the component in a chassis. However, upon activation of the latch system, the component is both released and forced outwardly to an ejected position. When the component is moved to this ejected position, a user is readily able to grasp the component for servicing or for exchange with another component. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view an exemplary electronic device incorporating aspects of the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary drive and latch system mounted within a chassis;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary latch system illustrated in FIG. 2;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lever portion of the system illustrated in FIG. 3;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a latch and base portion of the system illustrated in FIG. 3; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plunger component utilized in the system illustrated in FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    Referring generally to FIG. 1, an exemplary electronic device  10  is illustrated according to one embodiment of the present invention. Electronic device  10  may comprise, for example, a computer or a server having one or more removable components  12  and  14 . A typical example of a removable component  12  or  14  is a drive, such as a CD drive, floppy drive, hard drive or DVD drive. The removable components or drives  12 ,  14  are accessible through a panel  16 , such as a front panel of electronic device  10 .  
         [0013]    Device  10  also comprises at least one latch system  18  associated with at least one of the drives  12  or  14 . In the embodiment illustrated, both drives  12  and  14  have a corresponding latch system  18 . By actuating latch system  18 , the corresponding drive or other removable component is released and moved to an ejected position. For example, in FIG. 1, drive  14  is illustrated in a latched or operating position, and drive  12  is illustrated in an ejected position that permits a user to easily grasp the drive and remove it from device  10 . The latch system  18  is designed to electrically and mechanically disconnect the associated drive as it is forced outwardly to the ejected position. This facilitates easy exchange or servicing of a desired drive.  
         [0014]    In the embodiment illustrated, the exemplary latch system  18  is actuated by pressing an actuator  19 . One example of actuator  19  is a pair of push buttons  20  and  22 . Push button  22  extends through the front of push button  20  such that a user initially presses push button  22  inwardly until contacting push button  20  which is then moved inwardly an additional distance. Depression of push button  22  mechanically releases the associated drive, and continued depression of push button  20  physically moves the drive to the ejected position.  
         [0015]    Referring generally to FIGS. 2 and 3, one specific embodiment of latch system  18  is illustrated. As illustrated best in FIG. 2, latch system  18  is mounted to a chassis  24  of a desired electronic device, such as the computer or server discussed above. Mounted in chassis  24  is a movable component, e.g. movable component  14 . In this particular embodiment, component  14  comprises a drive that is electrically coupled into electronic device  10  via a connector  26  that plugs into a corresponding connector  28  (shown in dashed lines) of device  10  when installed.  
         [0016]    Movable component  14  comprises an outer housing  30  having a front  32 , a back  34  and a pair of sides  36 . Latch system  18  is positioned along one of the sides  36 . This side  36  comprises a recessed or cutout portion  38  that interacts with latch system  18  to securely latch or hold component  14  when installed in electronic device  10 .  
         [0017]    Latch system  18  generally comprises a throw or lever  40 , a base portion  42 , a latch  44  and a release plunger  46  (see also FIG. 3). When component  14  is installed, latch  44  engages recessed portion  38  to securely hold the component within chassis  24 . When latch system  18  is actuated, however, latch  44  is moved away from recessed portion  38  to release component  14 . Subsequently, lever  40  is actuated against back  34  of component  14  to force the component outwardly to its ejected position. The lever acts against back  34  with sufficient force to disconnect connector  26  and to slide component  14  outwardly for servicing, replacement or exchange with another type of drive or other component.  
         [0018]    It should be noted that a variety of levers, buttons, and other actuators can be used to release component  14  and to move the component to an ejected position. As illustrated, though, release plunger  46  comprises push button  22  that extends through an opening  48  formed through the front of push button  22 . Push button  22  forms a part of base portion  42 . To release and move component  14  to its ejected position, an individual presses push button  22  to move release plunger  46  against latch  44 . This movement causes latch  44  to disengage from recessed portion  38 , as indicated by arrow  50  of FIG. 1. As the user continues to depress push button  22 , push button  20  is eventually engaged causing movement of base portion  42 .  
         [0019]    For example, base portion  42  may be slidably mounted to chassis  24  via one or more pins  52  extending from chassis  24  and engaged within a slot  54  formed in base portion  42 . As base portion  42  is slid along pin  52 , it acts against lever  40  and pivots lever  40  about a pivot  56 . Pivot  56  may be formed by an appropriate boss or screw extending through lever  40  into engagement with chassis  24 .  
         [0020]    Lever  40  is positioned such that it is pivoted into back  34  of component  14  to force a disconnection of connector  26  and to move component  14  to its ejected position. Thus, a user is able to actuate latch system  18  with a single linear motion, e.g. by applying pressure with a thumb or forefinger, to both release and eject a given component.  
         [0021]    As illustrated best in FIG. 4, an exemplary lever  40  comprises a pivot arm  58  having an opening  60  therethrough for receiving pivot  56 . An abutment portion  62  is attached or formed at one end of pivot arm  58 . Abutment portion  62  is designed to abuttingly engage base portion  42  when latch system  18  is actuated. At an end of pivot arm  58  generally opposite abutment portion  62 , a press plate  64  is positioned to engage back  34  of component  14 . Thus, as force is applied to abutment portion  62  by base portion  42 , pivot arm  58  pivots about pivot  56  and drives press plate  64  against the back  34  of component  14 . When sufficient force is applied, connector  26  is disconnected and component  14  is moved to its ejected position.  
         [0022]    Referring generally to FIG. 5, one exemplary embodiment of both base portion  42  and latch  44  is illustrated. Base portion  42  is designed generally as a plunger having a framework  66  extending between a press plate member  68  and push button  20 . Framework  66  comprises a bottom plate  70  through which slot  54  is formed. Bottom plate  70  also comprises a slotted region  72  for slidably receiving release plunger  46 .  
         [0023]    Press plate member  68  is positioned to engage abutment portion  62  of lever  40  when push button  20  is pressed during actuation of latch system  18 . Push button  20 , on the other hand, is a generally hollow structure having a plurality of side walls  74  and a lead wall  76  through which opening  48  is formed. Push button  20  generally has a hollow interior  78  to receive release plunger  46 .  
         [0024]    Latch  44  is mounted to framework  66  by a spring member  80  to permit flexible motion of latch  44  as represented generally by arrow  82 . Latch member  44  further comprises a catch  84  designed for insertion into recessed portion  38  of component  14 . Spring member  80  biases catch  84  towards this engaged position. Thus, spring member  80  must be flexed against this bias to remove catch  84  when releasing and ejecting component  14 .  
         [0025]    To accomplish release of catch  84 , latch  44  further comprises a spur  86  that extends across the sliding path of travel of release plunger  46 . Spur  86  also is coupled to spring member  80  and disposed at an appropriate angle or arc such that movement of release plunger  46  against a slide surface  88  of spur  86  causes sufficient flex of spring member  80  to withdraw catch  84  from recessed portion  38 . In the embodiment illustrated, spur  86  is positioned such that catch  84  is moved approximately twice the distance of the movement of release plunger  46  during release of component  14 . However, the desired angle and/or arc of spur  86  and the resultant movement of catch  84  may vary from one application of latch system  18  to another.  
         [0026]    Referring generally to FIG. 6, one exemplary embodiment of release plunger  46  is illustrated. In this embodiment, push button  22  is mounted to a framework  90  that includes a slide member  92 . Slide member  92  is sized and positioned to extend upwardly through slotted region  72  of base portion  42 . Additionally, the width of framework  90  may be selected for sliding receipt in a lower groove  94  of base portion  42 , as illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0027]    An engagement plate  96  extends from slide member  92  such that the engagement plate also protrudes upwardly through slotted region  72  of base portion  42 . Engagement plate  96  is positioned to engage slide surface  88  of spur  86  during actuation of latch  44  and release of catch  84 . Engagement plate  96  may comprise an angled lead surface  98  angled to engage slide surface  88 . Additionally, engagement plate  96  may include a notched region  100  sized to slidably receive spur  86  therein. Notched region  100  maintains spur  86  in a desired orientation during actuation.  
         [0028]    The various components are combined to provide an easy, tool-less release and ejection of component  14 . Actuation of both the release mechanism and the ejection mechanism only requires that a user provide a force and motion in one direction. However, it should be noted that other designs may deviate from this single motion depending on the particular design of electronic device  10  and tool-less latch system  18 .  
         [0029]    It will be understood that the foregoing description is of exemplary embodiments of this invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. For example, the latch system may be incorporated into a variety of electronic devices for the removal of different types of components; the latch system may be formed of various materials, including plastics and metals; and the size, shape, location and orientation of various features and components of the latch system may be changed for a given application. These and other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.