Patent Publication Number: US-2021195781-A1

Title: Movable locks with card retainers

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices, including computing devices, may include expansion cards, system cards, or other components which may provide additional or enhanced functionality to the electronic device. Such components may be engaged with or installed into the electronic device through the use of expansion slots or other connectors. Such slots or connectors may sometimes be disposed within the electronic device and/or be attached to a system board of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example movable lock with a card retainer. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of another example movable lock with a card retainer. 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the example movable lock of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another example movable lock with a card retainer. 
         FIG. 3B  is a perspective exploded view of the example movable lock of  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an example system board assembly having an example movable lock with a card retainer. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top view of the example system board assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4C  is a top view of the example system board assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4D  is a perspective view of the example system board assembly of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is top view of another example system board assembly having an example movable lock with a card retainer. 
         FIG. 6A  is perspective view of an example electronic device having an example movable lock with a card retainer. 
         FIG. 6B  is another perspective view of the example electronic device of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is another perspective view of the example electronic device of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices, including computing devices, may include expansion cards, system cards, or other components which may provide additional or enhanced functionality to the electronic device. In some situations, such components may be used to supplement existing components of the device, e.g., increase the storage capacity of the electronic device. Such components may be engaged with or installed into the electronic device through the use of expansion slots or other connectors. Such slots or connectors may sometimes be disposed within the electronic device and/or be attached to a motherboard, a riser card, or other type of system board of the electronic device. Such components may have an edge connector having pins such that, upon the edge connector, and thus the component itself, being engaged with a connector or slot of the electronic device, the pins on the edge connector may be engaged with complementary pins in the slot or connector, thereby enabling electronic communication between the system board and the system card or component. 
     In some situations, the edge connector of the system card or component may be disposed on a single edge, or portion thereof of the component. Thus, upon installation, the system card or component may only be constrained by the engagement of the edge connector with the slot or connector of the system board, thereby leaving the other edges of the system card free or cantilevered from the system board. This may create an insecure attachment of the system card to the system board, wherein the system card may wobble, vibrate, or otherwise move or loosen from the connector or slot. 
     In some situations, a free end, i.e., and end of the system card not engaged with the connector or slot, may be fixed or constrained to the system board or another component of the electronic device by a fastener so as to provide a more secure attachment of the system card to the device. Such fasteners may directly or indirectly secure the free end of the system card to an aperture or other fastening or attachment feature of the system board or other component. However, in some situations it may be desirable to be able to fix or securely attach different system cards having differing sizes and/or lengths to the system board. Such differently-sized system cards may each engage with the same slot or connector of the electronic device, but the free end of each system card may reside in a different location, e.g., relative to the system board to which the system card is attached. Therefore, in order for a system board of an electronic device to be able to receive and accommodate system cards having different sizes in a secure fashion, the system board may need to have multiple fastening or attachment features in different locations, each corresponding to a possible size of a system card to be used. 
     In some situations, when installing a system card to a system board of an electronic device, regardless of the size of the card, it may be difficult to handle, attach, and/or install the fastener for the free end of the card to the corresponding attachment feature. This may be due to the small size of the fastener, the attachment feature and or connector or slot being in a hard-to-reach location, or the location being hard to access with a fastening tool. Such difficulty may result in the fastener being dropped and/lost during the installation process. Therefore, it may be desirable for an electronic device, or a system board thereof, to have a simple way of securely fastening a system card or supplemental component to the system board that may minimize difficulty and the potential for lost components. It may be further desirable to have a way of securely fastening system cards with different lengths or sizes to a system board. 
     Implementations of the present disclosure provide an apparatus that may securely attach a system card or other supplemental component to an electronic device, or a system board thereof. Further, examples described herein may be able to securely attach differently-sized system cards or components and may also be implemented so as to make the installation process easier and/or minimize the possibility of lost components. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an example movable lock  100  having a card retainer  106  is illustrated. The movable lock  100  may further include a lock bar  102 , and a pivot  104  disposed at a first end of the lock bar  102 . The card retainer  106  may be disposed on the lock bar  102  at a second end of the lock bar  102 , opposite the first end. The card retainer  106  may include a card notch  108  sized to receive an edge of a system card. The pivot  104  may be a post, tab, or other protrusion extending from a bottom surface  102   b  of the lock bar  102 . In some implementations, the pivot  104  may enable the movable lock  100  to rotate or pivot, e.g., along direction  105 , relative to a component to which the movable lock  100  may be attached. In some implementations, the pivot  104  may be fixed to the lock bar  102  and may be movably engaged with the component, and in other implementations, the pivot  104  may be movably attached to the lock bar  102  and may be fixed to the component to enable such rotation of the movable lock  100 . 
     In some implementations, the card retainer  106  may include a boss  132  extending from a top surface  102   a  of the lock bar  102 . The top surface may be opposite from the bottom surface  102   b.  The boss  132  may define a bottom portion of the card notch  108 , while the card retainer  106  may include another post, tab, or other protrusion defining a top portion of the card notch  108 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2B , perspective and side views of another example movable lock  200  having a card retainer  206  are illustrated. Example movable lock  200  and card retainer  206  may be similar to example movable lock  100  and card retainer  106 , described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example movable lock  200  and card retainer  206  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of example movable lock  100  and card retainer  106 , as they are described above. Movable lock  200  may include a lock bar  202  and a pivot  204 , which may enable the movable lock  200  to rotate or pivot along example direction  205 , relative to a component to which the movable lock  200  is attached. 
     In some implementations, card retainer  206  may include a retainer nut  210 . Retainer nut  210  may be rotatably disposed on a top surface of the lock bar  202  so as to rotate relative to the lock bar  202 , e.g., along direction  207 . The retainer but  210  may include and/or define a card notch  208 . The card notch  208  may include a height, size, and/or other structure suitable to receive and engage with an edge of a system card. For example, card notch  208  may have a height  209 , which may be large enough to receive an edge of a system card within the card notch  208 . In some implementations, retainer nut  210  may include a top portion  210   a,  and a bottom portion  210   b,  spaced from the top portion  210   a.  The spacing between top and bottom portions  210   a  and  210   b  may define the card notch  208 . In some implementations, the bottom portion  210   b  may extend radially from the retainer nut  210  further than the top portion  210   a,  thus defining a shelf or ledge upon which an edge of a system card may be disposed or supported. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3A  a perspective view of another example movable lock  300  having a card retainer  306  is illustrated. Example movable lock  300  and card retainer  306  may be similar to other example movable locks and card retainers, described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example movable lock  300  and card retainer  306  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example movable locks and card retainers, as they are described above. Referring additionally to  FIG. 3B , an exploded perspective view of example movable lock  300  is illustrated. Movable lock  300  may include a lock bar  302  and a pivot  304 . Additionally, the card retainer  306  may include a retainer nut  310 . In some examples, the retainer nut  310  may include a substantially rounded or cylindrical shape. In further implementations, the retainer nut  310  may include a tubular or hollow shape, having an inner bore. In further implementations, the retainer nut  310  may define a card notch  308 , which may be a window, opening, or cutout extending radially from an outer surface of the retainer nut  301  to the inner bore. The card notch  308  may be sized and structured so as to receive and engage with an edge of a system card. In some implementations, the retainer nut  310  may include a pair of tabs  316  extending radially from the retainer nut  310 , adjacent the card notch  308 . In some examples, the tabs  316  may be disposed opposite one another. In other examples, the retainer nut  310  may include a single tab  316  extending radially from the retainer nut  310 . The tabs  316  may be oriented relative to the card notch  308  such that, if the card notch  308  is engaged with an edge of a system card, the tabs  316  may abut against the edge of the system card so as to add stability and security to the engagement. 
     In some examples, the card retainer  306  may further include a support sleeve  312 , which may be disposed within the retainer nut  310 , or the inner bore thereof. The support sleeve  312  may include a curved or rounded outer surface  312   a  such that, when the support sleeve  312  is assembled or disposed within the retainer nut, the outer surface  312   a  of the support sleeve  312  is disposed adjacent to, at the rear of, or within the card notch  308 . Thus, when the card notch  308  is engaged with an edge of a system card, the outer surface  312   a  of the support sleeve  312  may engage and support a rounded opening on the edge of the system card. 
     In some implementations, the card retainer  306  may further include a fastener  314 . The fastener  314  may be a screw, bolt, pin, or other mechanical fastener that may attach the retainer nut  310  to the lock bar  302 . In some implementations, the fastener  314  may extend through the retainer nut  310 , the support sleeve  312 , and the lock bar  302 . In other implementations, the fastener  314  may additionally extend through the lock bar  302  so as to protrude from a bottom surface of the lock bar  302 . The fastener  314  may thus engage with an attachment feature disposed beneath the movable lock  300  and/or the lock bar  302 . In some implementations, the attachment feature may be on a system board and the fastener  314  may fix the lock bar  302  in position relative to the system board. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4A , a perspective view of an example system board assembly  401  is illustrated. The example system board assembly  401  may have an example movable lock  400  with a card retainer  406 . Example movable lock  400  and card retainer  406  may be similar to other example movable locks and card retainers, described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example movable lock  400  and card retainer  406  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example movable locks and card retainers, as they are described above. 
     System board assembly  401  may include a system board  422 . System board  422  may be a part or component of an electronic device, in some examples. In further implementations, the system board  422  may mechanically and electrically support other components of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, processors, memory, system cards, resistors, capacitors, and/or other types of components. In some implementations, system board  422  may be include conductive traces or pathways etched into the board. Further, the system board  422  may be made of silicon and the conductive traces may be copper. In some implementations, the system board may be a printed circuit board/assembly (PCB/PCA), and in further implementations, the system board  422  may be a motherboard, daughterboard, expansion card, or other type of circuit board. 
     In some examples, the system board assembly  401  and/or the system board  422  thereof, may include a card connector  420  attached to the system board  422 . The card connector  420  may be a component suitable to operably engage, i.e., mechanically and electrically, a system card, accessory card, expansion card, or other component, with the system board  422 . In some examples, the card connector  420  may have an opening  420   a  to receive and engage with an edge, or edge connector, of a system card. The system board  422  may include an attachment feature or plurality of attachment features, in some implementations. Each of the attachment features may be aligned with the opening  420   a  of the card connector  420 . System board assembly  401  may further include a system card  418 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates system card  418 , or a first end  418   a  thereof, as being inserted into the card connector  420 , or, more specifically, the opening  420   a  thereof. System card  418  may be inserted into the card connector  420  along example direction  411 , in some examples, and may be swung or rotated downwards toward the system board  422 , e.g., along direction  413 , to fully engage the system card  418  with the card connector  420 . In some implementations, the first end  418   a  of the system card  418  may include an edge connector comprising pins. The pins may electrically and mechanically engage with the opening  420   a  of the card connector  420  so as to enable electronic communication between the system card  418  and the system board  422 . Once the first end  418   a  of the system card  418 , or the edge connector thereof, is engaged with the card connector  420 , a second end, or free end, i.e., an end or edge of the system card  418  not engaged with the card connector  420 , may be aligned with one of the attachment features of the system board  422 . In some implementations, the system card  418  may enhance or provide additional functionality to the system board assembly. In further implementations, the system card  418  may be or may include a storage drive, processor, or other component. In yet further implementations, the system card  418  may be a memory stick or card. In yet even further implementations, the system card  418  may be a M.2 specification expansion card. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4B-4C , top views of the example system board assembly  401  are illustrated. For clarity, only the movable lock  400  and part of the system card  418  are illustrated in these figures.  FIG. 4B  illustrates the system card  418  as being fully engaged with the card connector  420  at the first end, and having the second end, or free end, be cantilevered from the card connector  420 . Thus, the free end or second end is not secured to the system board  422 , and therefore poses the risk of moving or vibrating out of place inadvertently. In order to avoid such a situation, the movable lock  400  may be employed to secure the second end of the system card  418 . 
     The movable lock  400  may include a lock bar  402 , a pivot  404 , and a card retainer  406 . The pivot  404  may be directly rotatably or pivotably attached to the system board  422 , or an intermediary component (providing an indirect attachment to the system board  422 ), such that the movable lock  400  may be able to pivot or rotate relative to the system board  422 , and thus the system card  418 . Once the system card  418  is engaged with the card connector  420 , the movable lock  400  may be pivoted, e.g., along direction  415 , relative to the system card  418  and system board  422 , about the pivot  404 , so as to engage the card retainer  406  with an edge  418   b  of the second end of the system card  418 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates the card retainer  406 , and thus the movable lock  400 , as being engaged with the system card  418 . The card retainer  406  may have a card notch that is sized to receive and engage with the edge  418   b.  Additionally, in some examples, the card notch may have a rounded surface within the notch to engage with a rounded opening  418   c  or cutout on the edge  418   b  of the second end of the system card  418 . Yet further, in some examples, the card retainer may have a retainer nut with tabs  416 . Upon the card retainer  406  becoming engaged with the edge  418   b,  the tabs  416  may abut against the edge  418   b,  thereby providing a stable and secure engagement between the second end of the system card  418  and the card retainer  406 . The engagement of the card retainer  406  with the system card  418  may enable the movable lock  400  to provide a secure installation to the system card  418  within the system board assembly  401 . Referring now to  FIG. 4D , a perspective view of the system board assembly  401  is illustrated wherein the movable lock  400  is securing the system card  418  in place. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a top view of another example system board assembly  501  having an example movable lock  500  with a card retainer  506  is illustrated. Example movable lock  500  and card retainer  506  may be similar to other example movable locks and card retainers, described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example movable lock  500  and card retainer  506  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example movable locks and card retainers, as they are described above.  FIG. 5  illustrates the movable lock  500  of system board assembly  501  as being in two possible configurations, which are represented by movable lock  500   a  and movable lock  500   b.  Further, system board assembly  501  illustrates a card connector  520  as being operably engaged with each of two different system cards  518 , represented as first system card  518   a,  having a first length  519   a,  and second system card  518   b,  having a second length  519   b.  Second length  519   b  is shorter than first length  519   a.  Since system cards may come in a variety of sizes and/or lengths, it is desirable that movable lock  500  be able to secure system cards of different lengths. Thus, movable lock  500  may be pivotable or rotatable about pivot  504  relative to the system board and system card, e.g., along pivot direction  517 . 
     When using the first system card  518   a  with first length  519   a,  movable lock  500   a  may be in a first position relative to the card connector  520  and system board. When disposed in the first position, the card retainer  506   a  of the movable lock  500   a  may engage with an edge  524   a  of a second end or free end of system card  518   a  in order to secure the system card  518   a.  When engaged with the edge  524   a,  tabs  516  on the card retainer  506   a,  or a retainer nut thereof, may be oriented so as to be substantially parallel to and abut against edge  524   a.    
     When using the second system card  518   b  with second length  519   b,  movable lock  500   b  may be in a second position relative to the card connector  520  and system board. I.e., movable lock  500  may be movable along pivot direction  517  so as to be aligned with an edge of the system card  518  that is being utilized. When disposed in the second position, the card retainer  506   b  of the movable lock  500   b  may engage with an edge  524   b,  illustrated in phantom, of a second end or free end of system card  518   b  in order to secure the system card  518   b.  When engaged with the edge  524   b,  tabs  516  on the card retainer  506   b,  or a retainer nut thereof, may be oriented so as to be substantially parallel to and abut against edge  524   b.  It should be noted that card retainer  506 , or a retainer nut thereof, is pivotable relative to the lock bar  502  so as to be able to align the tabs  516  with the edge of the system card  518  in use. Stated differently, when using a system card of a first length  519   a,  the card retainer  506   a  will have a first orientation relative to the lock bar  502   a.  When adapting the movable lock  500   b  for use with a system card of a second length  519   b,  the card retainer  506   b  will have a second orientation, e.g., adjusted along direction  507 , relative to the lock bar  502   b  so as to align the tabs  516  for engagement with the edge of the system card. Further, while  FIG. 5  illustrates two potential positions of the movable lock so as to be able to secure two different length system cards, it is contemplated that any number of different length system cards could be accommodated. For example, the lock bar  502  could employ a level of adjustability in length, e.g., through a telescoping or other adjustable action, so as to adapt the movable lock  500  to be able to secure a system card having a length other than as illustrated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6A , a perspective view of an example electronic device  603  having an example system board assembly  601  is illustrated. System board assembly  601  may include an example movable lock  600  with card retainer  606 . Example movable lock  600  and card retainer  606  may be similar to other example movable locks and card retainers, described above. Further, the similarly-named elements of example movable lock  600  and card retainer  606  may be similar in function and/or structure to the respective elements of other example movable locks and card retainers, as they are described above. 
     Electronic device  603  may include a chassis  626 , with system board assembly  601  being disposed, at least partially, within the chassis  626 . For the sake of clarity, the chassis  626  is illustrated as being transparent in  FIG. 6A-6C  so as to clearly illustrate the system board assembly  601  within. The electronic device  603 , in some examples, may be a computing device such as a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer or laptop, a tablet, smartphone, mini-PC, computer tower, or other type of computing device. In other implementations, the electronic device  603  may be an imaging device such as a printer, scanner, copier, multi-function imaging device, additive manufacturing device (3D printer), or other type of imaging device. In yet other examples, the electronic device  603  may be any device that may have a system card installed within. The chassis  626  may be or may be a portion of a housing, frame, case, enclosure or other structural or aesthetic component of the electronic device  603 . 
     The system board assembly  601  may include a system board  622 , and a card connector  620  attached to the system board  622 . In some implementations, the system board  622  may include an attachment feature or a plurality of attachment features. In some examples, the system board  622  may include two attachment features: a first attachment feature  628   a  and a second attachment feature  628   b.  Each of the attachment features (referred to collectively as attachment features  628 ) may be aligned with an opening of the card connector  620 . The attachment features  628  may be aligned as an array in series with the opening of the card connector  620  such that a second or free end of a system card engaged with the card connector may be aligned with one of the attachment features  628 , despite the fact that the card connector  620  may accept system cards of differing lengths. In some examples, each attachment feature  628  may include an attachment boss extending from the system board  622  and an attachment aperture extending at least partially through the attachment boss. In some implementations, the attachment boss may extend from the side of the system board  622  on which the card connector  620  and the movable lock  600  is disposed (a top side), and in other implementations, the attachment boss may extend from the opposite side of the system board  622  (a bottom side). 
     In the illustrated example, movable lock  600  may have a lock bar  602 , a pivot  604 , and a card retainer  606 .  FIG. 6A  illustrates movable lock  600  as being rotatably attached to the system board  622 , and movable between alignment with first attachment feature  628   a  and alignment with second attachment feature  628   b,  e.g., along pivot directions  617 . In other words, the movable lock  600  is pivotable relative to the system board  622  such that the card retainer  606  may be aligned with either of the two attachment features  628 . Depending on the size of the system card to be used with the electronic device, the movable lock  600  may be moved to one position or the other. Card retainer  606  may include a boss extending from a top surface of the lock bar  602 , an aperture extending through the boss  632  and the lock bar  602 , and a fastener  614 . When assembled, the fastener  614  may be spaced from a top surface of the boss so as to define a card notch. The fastener  614  may extend through the boss  632  and the lock bar  602  and into the attachment boss of one of the attachment features to fix the movable lock  600  in place relative to the system board  622 . In examples wherein the attachment bosses extend from the bottom side of the system board, the movable lock  600  may further have a support boss  630  extending from a bottom side of the lock bar  602  to provide support to the movable lock  600  between the lock bar  602  and the system board  622 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 6B , another perspective view of example electronic device  603  is illustrated, wherein a system card  618   a  of a first length is engaged with the card connector  620 . In the illustrated example, the system card  618   a  extends away from the card connector  620  such that a second end or free end, or an edge thereof, of the system card  618   a  is aligned with one of the attachment features  628 . Specifically, system card  618   a  has a first length such that the second end is aligned with attachment feature  628   a.  As such, movable lock  600  can be pivoted about the pivot  604  so as to align the card retainer  606  with attachment feature  628   a.  At this point, the card retainer  606  is also aligned with the edge of the second end of system card  618   a,  and the card retainer  606 , or the card notch thereof, can engage with the edge of the second end. In some examples, in order to secure the system card  618   a  to the system board  622 , the edge of the second end, or a rounded opening thereof, can be abutted against the shank of the fastener  614 , and the fastener  614  can then be tightened so as to clamp or pinch the second end of the system card  618   a,  as well as tighten the card retainer  606  to the attachment feature  628   a  of the system board  622 . In other words, tightening the fastener  614  not only secures the card retainer  606  to the second end of the system card  618   a,  but also fixes the movable lock  600  in place relative to the system board  622  by engaging with the attachment boss and attachment aperture of the attachment feature  628   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 6C , another perspective view of electronic device  603  is illustrated, where a system card  618   b  of a second length, different than the first length of system card  618   a,  is engaged with the card connector  620 . Similar to described above regarding securing the system card  618   a,  the system card  618   b  extends from the card connector  620  such that the second end or free end, or an edge thereof, of the system card  618   b  is aligned with one of the attachment features  628 . Specifically, in the illustrated example, the system card  618   b  has a second length such that the second end is aligned with attachment feature  628   b.  As such, movable lock  600  can be pivoted about the pivot  604  so as to align the card retainer  606  with attachment feature  628   b.  Similar to  FIG. 6B , the fastener  614  can be tightened so as to both securely hold the system card  618   b,  as well as to fix the movable lock  600  relative to the system board  622 . Thus, the movable lock  600  can provide a simple way to securely fix a system card in place on a system board, while still being able to accommodate system cards of differing sizes.