Abstract:
A method and system for automatically locating a component connected to a planar, such as a printed circuit board, is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing at least one substantially clear latch coupled to the component, mounting a light emitting element on the planar beneath the at least one latch, and activating the light emitting element, thereby illuminating the at least one latch of the component such that the component can be readily located.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to servicing components in computer systems and more particularly to locating a component automatically on a planar, such as a printed circuit board.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    With advances in technology, there is a continued interest in packing more components into a limited space in computer systems, such as personal computers and servers. As it is now, components can be arranged on planars, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs) to maximize the number of components, while minimizing the amount of space not utilized. FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a typical PCB  10  with components coupled thereto. As is shown, a plurality of dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs)  12   a - 12   p  can be coupled to the PCB  10 . As the number of components increases, the space on the PCB  10  becomes more impacted and it becomes more difficult to identify and locate particular components.  
           [0003]    Diagnostic programs have been developed which audit the system for component failures. While these diagnostic programs have the ability to identify a faulty component, it is another matter altogether to locate the faulty component so that it can be serviced or replaced. The Light Path Diagnostics™ system developed by International Business Machines of Armonk, N.Y., couples a diagnostics program with a component locating element. If the program senses a nonfunctional component during an audit, an alert is issued to a system administrator, and an LED located near the nonfunctional component is illuminated. Thus, the Light Path Diagnostics™ system informs the system administrator of a failed component and indicates the location of that component on the PCB so that the administrator can replace and/or service the component.  
           [0004]    In FIG. 1, a status LED  14   a - 14   p , like that utilized in the Light Pat Diagnostics™ system, is placed near each component  12   a - 12   f . Each component  12   a - 12   f  is represented by one LED  14   a - 14   f . Therefore, if a component  12   a  fails, the diagnostics program (not shown) will sense the failure, notify the system administrator (not shown) of the problem, and illuminate the corresponding LED  14   a  near the failed component  12   a . Thus, the system administrator can identify the failed component  12   a  by locating the illuminated corresponding LED  14   a.    
           [0005]    Although the Light Path Diagnostics™ system functions adequately for its intended purpose, difficulties arise when the number of components  12   a - 12   p  on the PCB  10  increases. For example, as more components  12  are coupled to the PCB  10 , the components  12  must be placed closer together in order for all of them to fit within the confined space of the PCB  10 . Accordingly, the corresponding LEDs  14  are placed closer to one another. In some circumstances, the LEDs cannot physically fit into the allotted space and must therefore be relocated. For instance, in FIG. 1, LEDs  14   o  and  14   p  cannot be located below LED  14   n  because of design restrictions and must be relocated to the left end of the components  12   o  and  12   p.    
           [0006]    As the components  12  become more densely packed, it becomes more difficult to determine which components  12  correspond to which LEDs  14 . Thus, when an LED  14   h  is illuminated, it is difficult to determine which component is the nonfunctional component  12   h  corresponding to the illuminated LED  14   h . If the PCB  10  is viewed from an angle other than from one directly above the illuminated LED  1   4   h , a parallax effect can cause the administrator to incorrectly conclude that a functional component  12   g  corresponds to the illuminated LED  14   h . Thus, the incorrect component  12   g  would be removed.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for locating faulty components connected to a planar, such as a PCB. The system and method should be automatic and highly reliable requiring little or no maintenance. In addition, the system and method should be cost effective. The present invention addresses such a need.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    A method and system for automatically locating a component on a planar, is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing at least one substantially clear latch coupled to a component, mounting a light emitting element on the planar beneath at least one latch, and activating the light emitting element, thereby illuminating the at least one latch of the component such that the component can be readily located.  
           [0009]    Through the aspects of the present invention, the location of a faulty component on a planar is easily identified because at least one latch connected to the component is illuminated. Because the light emitting element is beneath the latch, space otherwise taken up by the LEDs is now available for additional components on the planar. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a printed circuit board (PCB) with components, such as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), connected thereto.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a single DIMM according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 illustrates orthogonal views (side and bottom) of a DIMM latch in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the PCB in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    The present invention relates to servicing components in computer systems and more particularly to automatically locating faulty components on a planar, such as a printed circuit board. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the component could be connected to some planar other than a PCB. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0015]    The present invention is disclosed in the context of a preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment involves identifying the location of a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) which has failed or needs servicing, where the DIMM includes at least one latch for securing the DIMM to a planar, such as a PCB  10 . In conventional systems, a faulty DIMM is identified by a diagnostic program such the Light Path Diagnostics TM system. An LED  14  located near the failed DIMM is illuminated to identify the DIMM&#39;s location on the PCB  10 . As stated above, this system operates adequately until the number of DIMMs increases to the point where it becomes difficult to identify which LED  14  corresponds to which DIMM.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a single DIMM  100  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As is shown, the DIMM  100  includes at least one latch  102  made from a substantially clear material, such as plastic. The latches  102  are located at each end of the DIMM  100  and snap into place when the DIMM  100  is installed onto the PCB  10  (not shown). Retaining pins  104  also secure the DIMM  100  to the PCB  10 .  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3A illustrates a side view of the substantially clear DIMM latch  102 . A handle portion  204  preferably rotates around a connector portion  206 . FIG. 3B is a view from the bottom of the DIMM latch  102 . As is shown, a slot  208  is formed in the bottom of the connector portion  206  so that the connector portion  206  can fit over an LED  14 , or other light emitting element (not shown) when the DIMM  100  is secured to the PCB  10 .  
         [0018]    According to the present invention, the LED  14  associated with each DIMM  100  is relocated to sit directly beneath the connector portion  206  of the DIMM latch  102  on the PCB  10 . When the LED  14  is activated, the DIMM latch  102  behaves like a conventional light pipe, in that it captures and diffuses the light emitted from the LED  14 , i.e., the DIMM latch  102  becomes illuminated by the LED  14 . This is possible because the latch  102  is made of a substantially clear material. Thus, a system administrator can easily identify the location of the faulty DIMM  100  because at least one of its latches  102  will be illuminated.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the PCB  200  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. By relocating the LEDs  14 - 14   p  to sit beneath the DIMMs&#39;  12   a - 12   p  latches  102   a - 102   p , the space once occupied by LEDs (see FIG. 1) is now available for additional components. Note that LEDs  14   o  and  14   p  can now be located in line with the other LEDs  14   a - 14   n . Moreover, because at least one latch  102  of the failed DIMM  100  is illuminated, there is little chance of removing the wrong DIMM  100 . Finally, the present invention is cost effective because it only requires a change in the latch material. If the latch  102  is currently made of opaque plastic, it need only now be made of clear plastic. The substantially clear latch  102  of the present invention can be clear or colored, and/or the color of the LED  14  chosen depending on the preferences of the user.  
         [0020]    Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments. For instance, although the component in the preferred embodiment is a DIMM, any component could be utilized in accordance with the present invention. In addition, while the present invention has been described as a substantially clear plastic latch  102 , one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the latch  102  could be made from other materials, such as glass, rubber, or ceramic. The latch  102  could also be transparent or it could have color that is clear. Those exemplary variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.