Patent Publication Number: US-10312614-B2

Title: Adaptive card and motherboard having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of CN application serial No. 201621252669.0, filed on Nov. 17, 2016. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by references herein and made a part of specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to an adaptive card and, more specifically, to an adaptive card for a motherboard. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     With the development and popularization of the information technology, electronic devices, such as computers, are necessary in human life. M.2 interface is a specification for an expansion function card and a connector of a computer, which has flexible configuration. M.2 interface is applicable for different structures, such as modules with different widths and lengths. The M.2 interface specification provides more characteristic to achieve a higher level interface. As a result, the M.2 interface is more suitable for a solid storage that used in a notebook or a tablet computer than the mSATA, specifically when used in a small-size device. 
     A plurality of functions can be integrated in the M.2 device, such as WIFI, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, Near Field Communication (NFC), digital broadcasting, Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig), Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) and Solid State Disk (SSD). The M.2 interface is a new standard storage device format and its hardware structure specification is also established recently. 
     When the M.2 device is assembled to a motherboard, they still have to be plugged in and out, or even added more M.2 devices onto the same motherboard when required. However, it is difficult to be disassembled and replaced with a conventional configuration. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the disclosure, an adaptive card is provided. The adaptive card is for a motherboard, the motherboard includes a connecting slot. The adaptive card comprises a main body, a first connector, a second connector, a plurality of first fixing holes, a plurality of second fixing holes and a port. The main body includes a first surface, a second surface and a side edge. The first connector is configured on the first surface. The second connector is configured on the second surface. A plurality of first fixing holes are formed on the first surface and arranged along a direction corresponding to an insertion direction of the first connector. A plurality of second fixing holes are formed on the second surface and arranged along a direction corresponding to an insertion direction of the second connector. A port is configured on the side edge and used to be connected to the connecting slot. 
     According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a motherboard is provided. The motherboard comprises a main body, a memory slot, a M.2 adaptive card slot, and a M.2 adaptive card. The M.2 adaptive card includes a main body, a first M.2 connector, a second M.2 connector, a plurality of first fixing holes, a plurality of second fixing holes and a port. The main body includes a first surface, a second surface and a side edge. The first M.2 connector is configured on the first surface. The second M.2 connector is configured on the second surface. The plurality of first fixing holes are formed on the first surface, and corresponding to the first M.2 connector. The plurality of second fixing holes are formed on the second surface, and corresponding to the second M.2 connector. The port is disposed on the side edge to be connected to the connecting slot. 
     In sum, according to the adaptive card and the motherboard with the adaptive card in embodiments of the disclosure, the M.2 device can be configured more. The M.2 devices are easily detached. The heat dissipation efficiency and the operation efficiency of the M.2 device are improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following embodiments and accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an adaptive card in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a back of the adaptive card shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic view showing a motherboard with an adaptive card in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is a local enlarged view of partial of a motherboard with an adaptive card in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing an adaptive card and a light guiding device in an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing an adaptive card and an assisting device in an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an adaptive card in an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a back of the adaptive card shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, an adaptive card, such as a M.2 adaptive card  100 , includes a main body  101 , such as a circuit board. The main body  101  includes a first surface  102 , a second surface  104  and a side edge  105 . 
     A first connector, such as a first M.2 connector  110 , is disposed on the first surface  102 . A second connector, such as a second M.2 connector  120 , is disposed on the second surface  104 . 
     A plurality of first fixing holes, such as first M.2 fixing holes  106 , are formed on the first surface  102  and arranged along a direction corresponding to an insertion direction of the first M.2 connector  110 . 
     A plurality of second fixing holes, such as second M.2 fixing holes  108 , are formed on the second surface  104  and arranged along a direction corresponding to an insertion direction of the second M.2 connector  120 . 
     A port  170  is formed on the side edge  105  of the main body  101 . The port  170  is configured to be plugged into a connecting slot of a motherboard. In an embodiment, the connecting slot is an adapter slot. The exterior of the adapter slot is similar to that of a memory slot of the motherboard. In an embodiment, the port  170  is a connecting unit with golden fingers formed on the main body  101 . The first M.2 fixing holes  106  and the second M.2 fixing holes  108  are through holes or blind holes, which is not limited herein. 
     In an embodiment, the first M.2 device  130  is connected to the first M.2 connector  110 . The second M.2 device  140  is connected to the second M.2 connector  120 . In an embodiment, the first M.2 device  130  and the second M.2 device  140  are M.2 hard disks. 
     In an embodiment, an opening  150  is formed on the main body  101 . The opening  150  has a regular or irregular shape in embodiments. At least a part of the first M.2 device  130  is exposed from the opening  150 . Then, when heat is dissipated from a side of the main body  101 , the heat dissipation effect of the first M.2 device  130  is improved via the opening  150  of the main body  101 . In an embodiment, the first M.2 device  130  is disposed above the main body  101  or under the main body  101 . The opening  150  is formed above the main body  101  or under the main body  101  correspondingly, which is not limited herein. 
     In an embodiment, the M.2 adaptive card  100  further includes a light emitting diode (LED) module disposed on the main body  101 . The LED module is controlled by a control module, such as a central processing unit (CPU), to show predetermined illumination changes. 
     In an embodiment, the LED module includes light emitting diodes  192 , 194 , 196  and  198 . The light emitting diodes  192 , 194 , 196  and  198  are colorized light emitting diodes, respectively. The light emitting diodes  192 , 194 , 196  and  198  emits predetermined light according to a state of the M.2 adaptive card  100  or the state of a computer to remind users. For example, blue light is emitted when the M.2 adaptive card  100  is under normal operation. Red light is emitted when the temperature of the M.2 adaptive card  100  is high. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4 . In an embodiment, the M.2 adaptive card  100  includes a light guiding device  400 . The light guiding device  400  is disposed above the opening  150  of the main body  101 . In an embodiment, the M.2 adaptive card  100  includes a fixing member  180 . Fixing parts  420  are disposed on two ends of the light guiding device  400 . The light guiding device  400  are fixed to the opening  150  of the main body  101  via bonding or screwing in embodiments. 
     In an embodiment, a height of a light guiding portion  430  configured in the center of the light guiding device  400  is higher than that of the fixing part  420  configured at the two ends of the light guiding device  400 . Then, the light guiding device  400  is easily engaged in the opening  150  of the main body  101 . 
     In an embodiment, after the light guiding portion  430  of the light guiding device  400  is disposed in the opening  150  of the main body  101 , a gap is exited between the light guiding portion  430  of the light guiding device  400  and the opening  150  of the main body  101 . Then, airflow passes through the opening  150  of the main body  101  to cool the first M.2 device  130 . Moreover, a plurality of air holes  460  are formed on the main body  101  to improve the heat dissipation efficiency. 
     In an embodiment, the light guiding device  400  is made of a light guiding material, such as acrylic and glass. The light guiding device  400  is active luminescence or passive luminescence. In an embodiment, the light guiding device  400  is electrically connected to a light control device to transmit light. In an embodiment, the light guiding device  400  guides the light from the light emitting diodes  192 , 194 , 196  and  198  of the LED module of the M.2 adaptive card  100 . Then, light patterns are shown on the light guiding device  400 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3B . In an embodiment, the M.2 adaptive card  100  further includes a first fool-proof baffle  162  and a first fool-proof notch  160 . Then, the M.2 adaptive card  100  would not be plugged into another connecting slot of the motherboard  200 , such as a memory slot  210  or a memory slot  230  by mistake. 
     The M.2 adaptive card  100  includes tenon fixing openings  164 ,  166 ,  168  and the first fool-proof baffle  162 . The positions of the tenon fixing opening  164 , the tenon fixing openings  164 ,  166 ,  168  and the first fool-proof baffle  162  correspond to that of a standard memory slot tenon  212  and a memory slot tenon  213 . 
     The number of clips of an adaptive card slot tenon  222  of an adaptive card slot  220  is one less than that of the memory slot tenon  212  and the memory slot tenon  213 . As a result, when the M.2 adaptive card  100  is plugged into the standard memory slot  210  or the memory slot  230  by mistake, the memory slot tenon  212  or the memory slot tenon  213  located at sides of the memory slot  210  or the memory slot  230  are interfered with the first fool-proof baffle  162 . Then, the M.2 adaptive card  100  would not be engaged into the memory slot  210  or the memory slot  230 . As a result, it avoids that the M.2 adaptive card  100  is plugged into the standard memory slot  210  or the memory slot  230  by mistake. Please refer to  FIG. 4 , the first fool-proof baffle  162  is protruded from the main body  101  to further avoid that the M.2 adaptive card  100  is mistakenly inserted in the standard memory slot  210  or the memory slot  230 . 
     In an embodiment, the adaptive card slot  220  formed on the main body  201  is parallel to the memory slot  210  and the memory slot  230 . The adaptive card slot  220  further includes a second fool-proof baffle  240 . When the second fool-proof baffle  240  is matched with the first fool-proof notch  160  of the main body  101 , the M.2 adaptive card  100  is inserted into adaptive card slot  220  correctly. When a memory card, such as a Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM), is mistakenly inserted towards the adaptive card slot  220 , the second fool-proof baffle  240  avoids the further plug of the memory. 
     In an embodiment, the main body  101  further includes a fool-proof notch  163 . As a result, it avoids that the M.2 adaptive card  100  is mistakenly inserted reversely into the adaptive card slot  220 . 
     In an embodiment, the port  170  includes a plurality of first part terminals  172  and a plurality of second part terminals  174 . The first M.2 connector  110  is electronically connected to the first part terminal  172 . The second M.2 connector  120  is electronically connected to the second part terminal  174 . The first part terminal  172  and the second part terminal  174  are not electrically connected with each other. 
     In an embodiment, the adaptive card slot  220  for the M.2 adaptive card  100  is similar to the memory slot  210  and the memory slot  230 . The adaptive card slot  220 , the memory slot  210  and the memory slot  230  are arranged on the main body  201  in parallel. In order to reduce an operation temperature of the M.2 adaptive card  100  effectively, a memory heat-dissipation module  310  is disposed on the motherboard  200 . 
     In an embodiment, the memory heat-dissipation module  310  is a heat-dissipation fin group or a heat-dissipation fan. In an embodiment, the memory heat-dissipation module  310  is fixed above the memory slot  210 , the memory slot  230  and the adaptive card slot  220 . The memory heat-dissipation module  310  cools the memory and the M.2 adaptive card  100  simultaneously from above. Then, the operation temperature of the M.2 adaptive card  100  is reduced. The memory slot  210 , the memory slot  230 , the adaptive card slot  220  are DDR, DDR2, DDR3 slot or an improvement of DDR, DDR2, DDR3 slot, which is not limited herein. In an embodiment, the adaptive card slot  220  is an improvement of a computer slot to be matched with the M.2 adaptive card  100 , such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) and a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E). 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing an adaptive card and an assisting device in an embodiment. In the embodiment, the M.2 adaptive card  100  further includes an assisting device  500 . In an embodiment, the assisting device  500  is a heat sink for the M.2 device, such as an air-cooled heat sink and a water-cooled heat sink. In an embodiment, the assisting device  500  is a cable fixer, a nameplate, a line regulator or a support for a fan, which is not limited herein. The assisting device  500  is fixed to a standard first M.2 fixing hole  106  and an extending hole of the circuit board via a bolt conformed to the M.2 specification. 
     In an embodiment, the assisting device  500  is a heat dissipation device. The assisting device  500  includes a main portion  502 . The main portion  502  is extended toward a connecting hole of the first M.2 connector  110 . A first fixing through hole  505  is formed on the main portion  502 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, the assisting device  500  is fixed to the main body  101  when a first fixing bolt  504  passes through one of the first M.2 fixing holes  106  and the first fixing through hole  505 . The first fixing through hole  505  is configured corresponding to one or more fixing holes of the first M.2 fixing hole  106  on the main body  101 . Various assisting devices  500  are fixed to the main body  101  via the first fixing bolt  504  fixed to a corresponding first M.2 fixing hole  106 . 
     In an embodiment, the first the first M.2 device  130  is also fixed to the first M.2 fixing hole  106  of the main body  101  via the first fixing bolt  504 . 
     In an embodiment, the first M.2 fixing hole  106  and the second M.2 fixing hole  108  are through holes formed on the main body  101 . The assisting device  500  further includes a first extending part  508 . The first extending part  508  is extended outwardly from the main portion  502 . A second fixing through hole  507  is formed on the first extending part  508 . The second fixing through hole  507  is configured corresponding to the second M.2 fixing hole  108 . The second fixing bolt  506  passes through the second fixing through hole  507  to the first surface  102  of the main body  101  from. Then, the assisting device  500  is fixed to one of the second M.2 fixing holes  108  of the main body  101 . As a result, the assisting device  500  is fixed on the main body  101  more stably. In an embodiment, the assisting device  500  is a heat dissipation device. The main portion  502  is the main portion of the heat dissipation device. The first extending part  508  is an extending part of the first heat dissipation device. The heat dissipation device is fixed at the first M.2 fixing hole  106  and the second M.2 fixing hole  108  of the main body  101  steadily. 
     According to the adaptive card and the motherboard with the adaptive card in embodiments of the disclosure, the M.2 device can be configured more. The M.2 devices are easily detached. The heat dissipation efficiency and the operation efficiency of the M.2 device are improved. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not for limiting the scope. Persons with ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments described above.