Patent Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for securing an electronic component in an interface slot. In an embodiment of the apparatus, a pivoting latch may be provided, that in a first position retains the electronic component in an interface slot. The apparatus may further include a push point of the latch for movement of the latch to a second position. The apparatus may further include a guide at the push point of the latch for receiving a tool.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure generally relates to electronic components, and in particular, to securing electronic components in an interface slot. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Modern electronic devices, such as computer systems, use electronic components. Often these components are made to fit into specific interface slots. Such electronic components may allow the electronic device to operate or be used to improve or expand on the capabilities of the electronic device. Securing these electronic components in the interface slots may be required to prevent loss of these capabilities or prevent system failures. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    An apparatus and method are provided for securing an electronic component in an interface slot. In an embodiment of the apparatus, a pivoted latch may be provided, that in a first position retains the electronic component in an interface slot. The apparatus may further include a push point on the latch for movement of the latch to a second position. The apparatus may further include a guide at the push point of the latch for receiving a tool. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, a method is provided for releasing an electronic component from an interface slot. The method may include, placing a tool in a guide at a push point of a latch in a first position, the latch in the first position retaining the electronic component in the interface slot. The method may further include, applying pressure to the tool, the pressure sufficient to move the latch to a second position. In the second position the latch may allowing the electronic component to be removed from the interface slot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements or steps. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1A  shows a schematic representation of an electronic component positioned to be installed into a receptacle according to one embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  shows a schematic representation of an electronic component installed in the receptacle of  FIG. 1A , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic representation of a top section of a latch, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic representation of a top view of the push point of the latch in  FIG. 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    In many systems such as electronic devices, for example a computer system, electronic components (herein after component) may be attached or retained using latches. These latches may be pivoted such that they may move to engage the component to be retained by them. The pivoting movement of the latches may be rotational or sideways to engage or disengage the components. A common component that uses a latch for retention is memory. For example, a type of memory, a dual in-line memory module (DIMM), may be inserted into interface slot and one or more latches may be used to retain the DIMM in place. The latches may insure the DIMM does not lose electronic connection with elements in the interface slot and prevent the DIMM from shifting if the electronic device containing the DIMM is moved around. The use of latches for retaining components is common and these latches may be designed to be engaged by a human finger. The finger may apply pressure on a specific point of the latch to move the latch or cause the latch to engage or disengage with the component. 
         [0012]    As electronic devices have grown in complexity and power they have also often been designed to be reduced in size. These demands on the electronic devices and computer systems have made real estate within them a luxury. With more components often installed into a smaller space accessing latches for retaining components, either to install, remove, or access may be difficult. The latch may be designed to interact with a human finger that may not be able to reach between other elements or components inside the electronic device to interact with the latch. Embodiments of the presented disclosure may make it possible for a user to interact with the latch, such as engaging the latch in a first position or disengaging the latch in a second position, without the direct contact of a human finger and thus, possibly reducing space concerns inside the electronic device for accessibility. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are schematic representations of an electronic component  10  positioned to be installed into an interface slot  110  and latches  120  positioned to retain the electronic component  10  once installed, according to an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1A , the electronic component  10  is oriented for installation in an interface slot  110  with an arrow  130  indicating the direction of insertion, according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated example, the latches  120  are in lowered position to permit the electronic component  10  to be installed in the interface slot  110 . 
         [0014]    The illustrated embodiment of the electronic component  10  may include a multiplicity of electronic devices  2   a  through  2   h  (collectively hereafter referred to as 2) which are mounted on a circuit board  30 . The circuit board  30  may have a connector  35 . In various embodiments, the circuit board  30  may be a printed circuit board (PCB), printed wiring board (PWB), etched wiring board, or other body for mounting and electrically connecting electronic devices. In various embodiments, the electronic device mounted to the circuit board  30  may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: microprocessors, capacitors, resistors, inductors, semi-conductor elements, integrated circuits, chip carriers, or any electric devices designed or modified for mounting on a circuit board  30 . 
         [0015]    Connector  35  may be used to interface the electronic component  10  with other electronics, allowing for the transfer of information, and may optionally provide a conduit for electric power to the electronic component  10 . In one embodiment, the connector  35  may be a computer bus interface connector, one example of which is a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) style edge connector. In another embodiment, the connector  35  may be a computer memory edge connector, communication socket, or a board-to-board connector. In another embodiment, the connector  35  may be of an optical type. One embodiment of the electronic component  10  may be a memory module. In other embodiments, this electronic component  10  may be a graphics card, network card, expansion card, adaptor card, interface card, server component, server blades, or other electronic component. It is contemplated that additional forms of connector  35  or electronic component  10  may be employed and still remain within the scope and spirit of the presented embodiments of the invention. In the various embodiments, the interface slot may match the connector type of the component. These interface slot types may include, but are not limited to, computer bus interface slots, memory module slots, DIMM memory module slots, or PCI interface slots. 
         [0016]    In the illustrated embodiment, a proximal end of the electronic component  10  is the end with the connector  35 . A distal end of the electronic component  10  is the side opposite proximal end. In various embodiments, the distal end of the electronic component  10  is the end of the component that may have force applied to it for installing the electronic component  10  into an installed position. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1B  shows the same embodiment with the electronic component  10  having been inserted in interface slot  110  and the latches  120  are shown being moved into a locked position to secure the component in the interface slot. Here, the latches  120  may snap into notches  105  formed within the component  10  to lock it into place with interface slot  110 . Other embodiments of the interface slot  110  may employ varying numbers of latches  120 . In other embodiments, the latches  120  may connect with the electronic component  10  using clips, pins, or hooks. In other embodiments, the electronic component may have fewer or more connection points, such as the notches  105 , shown in the illustrated example. The connection points on the electronic device  10  may include, but are not limited to, holes, recesses, retainers. In various embodiments, the retention method may be reversed between the electronic component  10  and the latch  120 . For example, the latch  120  may have a notch or a hole that a hook or a retainer may interact with on the electronic device  10 . The latch  120  may be moved by applying pressure to one end or point as described below. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic representations of a top section of a latch  220 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The top section depicted is opposite the bottom section of the latch  220  where the pivot point or connection may be for the latch. The top section of the latch may have a push point  221 . The push point  221  may be a section of the latch that when pressure is applied the latch may pivot. In various embodiments, the push point  221  may activate a release of the latch  220 . For example, pressure used on the push point  221  may transfer through the latch  220  to release connectors locking the latch into position either on the component being retained by the latch or in elements of the electronic device the latch is in contact with. In various embodiments, this release may include mechanical elements such as springs or actuating elements. In various other embodiments, the release activated may be obtained by bowing caused by the pressure at the push point  221  of the latch  220 . In various embodiments, the push point  221  may be the part or section of the latch designed for interaction with a human appendage, such as a finger, to move the latch into or out of locked position. In various embodiments, the push point may be known as the pivot arm, lever point, pressure point, or moment arm. 
         [0019]    The illustrated embodiment may also have a guide  225  located at the push point  221  of the latch  220 . The guide  225  may be of a size or shape to allow for an object, or tool, to be inserted into it such that pressure or force used on the tool may be transferred to the push point  221  of the latch  220  and thus the latch  220  may be moved or released using the object. In various embodiments, a different pressure amount, direction, or angle may be used to reverse the movement of the latch. In such embodiments, sufficient pressure may be added to a tool in the guide  225  to move the latch  220  from the second position of release to the first position of retaining the electronic component  10  in the interface slot  110 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic representations of a top view of the push point  221  of the latch  220 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The guide  225  can be seen positioned in the push point  221 . In the illustrated embodiment, the guide  225  is located centrally on the push point  221  and is an oval with an opening width of W 2 . In various other embodiments, the guide may be of various other shapes. For example, the guide may be, but is not limited to, circular, triangular, square, rectangle, or a polygon. In various embodiments, the guide  225  may not be located centrally on the push point. For example the guide  225  may be located more towards the end of the push point  221  to provide better leverage for pressure applied to a tool inserted into the guide  225  to change the latch  220  position or cause the latch  220  to release. The depth of the guide may vary between embodiments. In various embodiments, the guide may pass entirely through the push point  221 . In other embodiments, the guide may be a depression in the push point. For example, the guide may be only 0.5 mm deep or some other depth. The opening width W 2  of the guide  225  may be less than the width W 1  of the push point  221 . 
         [0021]    The guide  225  may be of a size and shape to match the anticipated tool used to apply pressure to the push point  221  of the latch  220 . For example the guide  225  may be designed to accept the end of a pen. In such embodiments, the guide  225  may be circular and have an opening width W 2  of 5 mm and a depth of 1 mm or more. This opening width W 2  may be large enough to accept the end, or tip, of a pen used by an individual to exert pressure on the push point  221  of the latch  220  to change position or release the latch  220 . In other embodiments, the guide  225  may be “X” shaped with an opening width W 2  of only 2 mm to accept the end of a P0 size Philips screwdriver. In various embodiments, the opening width W 2  may be between 1 mm, the size of a small rigid wire, and less than 13 mm, the size of a small finger. In various embodiments, the guide  225  may be squared off at the bottom or may be concave depending on the tool designed to be accepted by the guide  225 . Some guides  225  may be designed to handle a variety of possible generic tools, such as, but not limited to pens, small screwdrivers, or rigid metal wires. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method  300  for releasing the electronic component  10  from the interface slot  110 , according to an embodiment. The method  300  may start in block  301 . In block  310 , the latch  220  may be in a first position retaining the electronic component  10  in the interface slot  110 . The tool, previously described, may be placed in the guide  225  located at the push point  221  of the latch  220 , as also previously discussed. In block  320 , sufficient pressure may be applied to the tool such that the pressure on the tool may move the latch  220 . In block  330 , the latch  220  may move to a second position allowing the electronic component  10  to be removed from the interface slot  110 . The method may then end in block  350 . 
         [0023]    In various embodiments, the latch  220  moving to the second position may include displacement of the electronic component  10  from the interface slot  110  such that electronic communication may discontinue. In various embodiments, the pressure sufficient to move the latch  220  to the second position may include the pressure on the push point  221  that may release connectors locking the latch  220  into position either on the electronic component  10  being retained by the latch  220  or in elements of the electronic device the latch  220  is in contact with. In various embodiments, the method may be reversed such that sufficient pressure may be added to a tool in the guide  225  to move the latch  220  from the second position of release to the first position of retaining the electronic component  10  in the interface slot  110 . 
         [0024]    While this disclosure has described the details of various embodiments shown in the drawings, these details are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7