Patent Abstract:
An exemplary bracing structure is provided for selectively securing either one expansion card or two expansion cards, all the expansion cards selected from a group consisting of differently sized expansion cards. The bracing structure includes a main body and a fixing frame. The main body has a fixing end. The fixing frame is configured for fixing one end of a selected one expansion card in position in the bracing structure. The fixing frame is detachably fixable to different positions on the main body according to the selected one expansion card. In two of the different positions, the fixing frame maintains different distances from the fixing end.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to an electronic device having a bracing structure for securing any of differently sized expansion cards. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Nowadays expansion cards which follow the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus are commonly used in electronic devices such as servers, storages and printers, to expand the functions of the electronic devices. However, these expansion cards have different sizes. Taking a typical printer as an example, there are three types of expansion cards employed in the printer: a Full Height/Full Length Card (“FH/FL card” for short) which has a full height and a full length, a Full Height/Half Length Card (“FH/HL card” for short) which has a full height and a half length, and a Low Profile Card (“LP card” for short) which has a half height and a half length. Because of the different sizes of the expansion cards, it is necessary to provide different bracing structures for each expansion card, such as a larger bracing structure for the FH/FL card and a smaller bracing structure for the LP card and the FH/HL card. Typically, both these types of bracing structures need to be accommodated in the printer to obtain the multiple functions of the printer. However, disposing different bracing structures appropriate to different expansion cards not only occupies a lot of space inside the printer, but may also adversely influence other components inside the printer. For example, access to the other components inside the printer may be restricted. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, is a bracing structure for conveniently securing any of different expansion cards therein. What is also needed is an electronic device having such a bracing structure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, assembled view of a bracing structure securing an FH/FL card therein, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the bracing structure and FH/FL card of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows another aspect of the parts of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an isometric, assembled view of the bracing structure of  FIG. 1  securing two FH/HL cards therein, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partly exploded, isometric view of the bracing structure and FH/HL cards of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an isometric, assembled view of the bracing structure of  FIG. 1  securing an FH/HL card and an LP card therein, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a partly exploded, isometric view of the bracing structure and FH/HL and LP cards of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an electronic device  1  in accordance with a first embodiment is shown. The electronic device  1  includes a bracing structure  100 , which secures an FH/FL card  200  therein. The bracing structure  100  includes a main body  10 , two interface converters  20 , a fixing board  30 , a fixing frame  40 , and a guiding element  50 . The electronic device  1  can be for example a server, a storage or a printer. The bracing structure  100  mounted in the electronic device  1  is used for securing one or more PCI expansion cards, such as the FH/FL card  200  of the first embodiment. The FH/FL card  200  is fixed in the bracing structure  100  by the fixing board  30 , one of the interface converters  20  and the fixing frame  40 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is a left one of the interface converters  20  which is used for such fixing. 
         [0015]    The FH/FL card  200  has substantially a rectangular construction, and the fixing board  30  is employed to assist the bracing structure  100  in securing the FH/FL card  200 . A length of the FH/FL card  200  is smaller than that of the main body  10 . Four fixing holes  201  are defined at four corners of the FH/FL card  200 , and a connecting foot  202  extends from a long lateral side of the FH/FL card  200 . The fixing board  30  is fixed on a short side (hereinafter, “first end”) of the FH/FL card  200 . That is, the fixing board  30  extends along a widthwise direction of the FH/FL card  200 . 
         [0016]    The main body  10  includes a long board  11 , a first short board  12 , a second short board  13 , a third short board  14 , a long vertical board  15 , a short vertical board  16 , and a blocking sheet  17 . The first short board  12 , the second short board  13  and the third short board  14  each extend perpendicularly inward from a long inner edge of the long board  11 . The first, second and third short boards  12 ,  13 ,  14  are arranged in that sequence along the lengthwise direction of the long board  11 . The long vertical board  15  bends vertically up from a long outer edge of the long board  11  far away from the three short boards  12 ,  13 ,  14 . The short vertical board  16  bends vertically up from an end of the long board  11  and an outer edge of the first short board  12  far away from the second short board  13 . The blocking sheet  17  bends perpendicularly outward from one end of the short vertical board  16  far away from the long vertical board  15 . The short vertical board  16  and the blocking sheet  17  cooperatively form a fixing end  18  of the main body  10 . 
         [0017]    The second short board  13  is located between the first short board  12  and the third short board  14 . The three short boards  12 ,  13 ,  14  and the long board  11  cooperatively form an approximately E-shaped construction. Alternatively, the main body  10  can be an elongate plate or have another desired shape according to actual requirements. A plurality of connecting holes  131 ,  141  are defined in the second short board  13  and the third short board  14 , respectively, to connect the fixing frame  40  to the main body  10  at either the second short board  13  or the third short board  14 , as selected. 
         [0018]    The other end of the short vertical board  16  far away from the blocking sheet  17  is perpendicularly connected to the long vertical board  15 . A horizontal slot  161  is defined in the short vertical board  16  and the blocking sheet  17 , to reduce the weight of the main body  10 . A connecting hole  171  is defined in the blocking sheet  17 , for connecting the blocking sheet  17  to the fixing board  30 . A vertical first slit  151  is defined in the short vertical board  16  at a joint of the long vertical board  15  and the short vertical board  16 . A vertical second slit  152  is defined in a middle portion of the long vertical board  15 . A transverse width of each of the first slit  151  and the second slit  152  is substantially equal to a thickness of a protruding end  32  of the fixing board  30 . Thus, each of the first slit  151  and the second slit  152  can receive the protruding end  32  of the fixing board  30  therein, if and as required. In the present embodiment, the first slit  151  receives the protruding end  32  of the fixing board  30  therein. A plurality of connecting holes  153  is defined in the long vertical board  15 . 
         [0019]    The two interface converters  20  are fixed to the long vertical board  15  through the connecting holes  153 . One interface converter  20  is fixed to part of the long vertical board  15  between the first short board  12  and the second short board  13 , and the other interface converter  20  is fixed to another part of the long vertical board  15  between the second short board  13  and the third short board  14 . When received in the bracing structure  100 , the FH/FL card  200  can be connected to either one of the interface converters  20  according to a position of the connecting foot  202  of the FH/FL card  200 . Each interface converter  20  includes a card slot  21  and a card strip  22 . An opening of the card slot  21  faces away from the long vertical board  15 , and is substantially parallel to a surface of the long board  11 . The connecting foot  202  of the FH/FL card  200  is inserted into the card slot  21  via the opening. The card strip  22  is substantially vertical to the card slot  21 . A height of the card strip  22  is bigger than that of the long vertical board  15 , so that the FH/FL card  200  can electrically connect to other components (not shown) via gold fingers (not labeled) arranged at a top of the card strip  22 . 
         [0020]    The fixing board  30  is fixed on the short vertical board  16  at the fixing end  18  of the main body  10 , to fix the first end of the FH/FL card  200  to the bracing structure  100 . The fixing board  30  has substantially a long strip shaped construction, and has a transverse width (i.e. height) equal to that of the short vertical board  16 . The fixing board  30  includes a bent plate  31  positioned at an end thereof, the protruding end  32  positioned at the other end thereof, and a pair of intermediate, spaced connecting pieces  33 . 
         [0021]    A connecting cutout  311  is defined in the bent plate  31 . The connecting cutout  311  enables a screw (not labeled) to be used to secure the bent plate  31  on the blocking sheet  17 , thereby limiting movement of the fixing board  30  along directions perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the long board  11 . A height of the protruding end  32  is substantially equal to a height of the first slit  151  (and the second slit  152 ). Accordingly, the protruding end  32  can be received in the first slit  151 , and movement of the protruding end  32  can be limited because of the substantially equal height of the protruding end  32  and the first slit  151 . Thereby, not only is movement of the fixing board  30  along the lengthwise direction of the long board  11  limited, but also movement of the fixing board  30  in vertical directions is limited. Each of the connecting pieces  33  extends from a bottom side of a main body of the fixing board  30 , in a direction opposite to a direction in which the bent plate  31  extends from the main body of the fixing board  30 . Each connecting piece  33  has a connecting hole  331  defined therein. The two connecting holes  331  correspond to two of the mounting holes  201  of the FH/FL card  200  which are at the first end of the FH/FL card  200 , and enable the first end of the FH/FL card  200  to be secured to the fixing board  30  by screwing. 
         [0022]    The fixing frame  40  is mounted on the third short board  14 , for securing an opposite second end of the FH/FL card  200  which is far away from the short vertical board  16 . The fixing frame  40  includes at least four side plates. In the illustrated embodiment, there are a securing plate  41 , a fixing plate  42  vertically connected to the securing plate  41 , and two connecting plates  43  connected to the securing plate  41  and the fixing plate  42  respectively. The securing plate  41  can be fixed on the third short board  14  by screws (not labeled), which are extended through the connecting holes  141  of the third short board  14  and engaged with the securing plate  41 . A plurality of through holes  421  are defined in the fixing plate  42 , for connecting the guiding element  50  to the fixing plate  42 . A plurality of connecting holes  431  are defined in the connecting plates  43 . A screw (not shown) can be passed through the connecting hole  431  of one of the connecting plates  43 , to connect that connecting plate  43  to the long vertical board  15  of the main body  10 . 
         [0023]    The guiding element  50  is employed to assist securing of the second end of the FH/FL card  200  to the bracing structure  100 . The guiding element  50  includes two major surfaces at opposite sides thereof. A pair of mushroom-shaped elastic fixing posts  51  is formed on one of the side surfaces of the guiding element  50 , and a longitudinal guiding slot  52  is defined in the other side surface of the guiding element  50 . In addition, a U-shaped locking clip  53  is attachable to an end of the guiding element  50 . Each elastic fixing post  51  includes a bifurcated, generally mushroom-shaped head, which can be deformed radially inwardly. Thus the elastic fixing post  51  can be deformably and detachably engaged in a corresponding through hole  421  of the fixing frame  40 , thereby fixing the guiding element  50  on the fixing frame  40 . The guiding slot  52  extends along a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the long board  11 . Thereby, the FH/FL card  200  can be easily inserted into the main body  10 , with the second end of the FH/FL card  200  sliding along the guiding slot  52 . When the locking clip  53  is attached to the guiding element  50 , the locking clip  53  blocks an entrance end of the guiding slot  52 , and thus can prevent the second end of the inserted FH/FL card  200  from moving back away from the long board  11 . 
         [0024]    When the FH/FL card  200  is assembled to the bracing structure  100 , the fixing board  30  fixed on the first end of the FH/FL card  200  is positioned adjacent to the fixing end  18 , and the second end of the FH/FL card  200  is positioned adjacent to the fixing frame  40 . The FH/FL card  200  is slid toward the long vertical board  15 , with the second end of the FH/FL card  200  sliding along the guiding slot  52  of the guiding element  50 , until the connecting foot  202  of the FH/FL card  200  is inserted into and engaged with the card slot  21  of the corresponding interface converter  20 . In this position, the bent plate  31  of the fixing board  30  abuts against the blocking sheet  17  of the main body  10 , with the connecting cutout  311  and the connecting hole  171  aligned with each other, and the protruding end  32  of the fixing board  30  is received in the first slit  151  of the short vertical board  16 . A corresponding screw (not labeled) is passed through the connecting cutout  311  and the connecting hole  171 , to fix the first end of the FH/FL card  200  to the bracing structure  100 . The locking clip  53  is attached to the guiding element  50 , and prevents the second end of the FH/FL card  200  from moving back away from the long board  11 . As such, the two ends of the FH/FL card  200  are fixed to the bracing structure  100 , and the FH/FL card  200  is ready for a next stage in an assembly process such as an impact test. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , these show the bracing structure  100  used to secure two FH/HL cards  300 , in accordance with a second embodiment. In this embodiment, two fixing boards  30  are employed to assist the bracing structure  100  in securing the FH/HL cards  300 , respectively, the fixing frame  40  is fixed at a middle of the bracing structure  100  and distant from the long vertical board  15 , and the guiding element  50  (of the first embodiment) is omitted. The two FH/HL cards  300  are a first FH/HL card  310  and a second FH/HL card  320 . Each FH/HL card  300  has substantially a rectangular construction. Four fixing holes  301  are defined at four corners of each FH/HL card  300 , and a connecting foot  302  extends from a long lateral side of the FH/HL card  300 . A width of the FH/HL card  300  is substantially equal to that of the FH/FL card  200  (of the first embodiment), and a length of the FH/HL card  300  is substantially half of that of the FH/FL card  200 . A respective one of the fixing boards  30  is fixed on a short side (hereinafter, “first end”) of each FH/HL card  300 . That is, each fixing board  30  extends along a widthwise direction of the corresponding FH/HL card  300 . A first one of the fixing boards  30  is fixed at the fixing end  18  of the main body  10  for securing a first end of the first FH/HL card  310 . The second fixing board  30  is fixed at a middle portion of the main body  10  for securing a first end of the second FH/HL card  320 . 
         [0026]    The first end of the first FH/HL card  310  is fixed to the bracing structure  100  in the same way as the first end of the FH/FL card  200  (of the first embodiment). The first end of the second FH/HL card  320  is fixed by the second fixing board  30  and the fixing frame  40 . The fixing frame  40  is mounted on the second short board  13 . The fixing plate  42  of the fixing frame  40  is adjacent to an opposite second end of the first FH/HL card  310 , and one of the connecting plates  43  is adjacent to an end of the second short board  13  far away from the long vertical board  15 . The second fixing board  30  is fixed on a side of the fixing frame  40  opposite to the side having the fixing plate  42 . Detailedly, the bent plate  31  of the second fixing board  30  is attached to the corresponding connecting plate  43 , the protruding end  32  of the second fixing board  30  is received in the second slit  152 , and the connecting pieces  33  of the second fixing board  30  extend in a direction away from the fixing end  18 . 
         [0027]    When the two FH/HL cards  300  are assembled to the bracing structure  100 , the fixing frame  40  is firstly fixed on the second short board  13  by screws (not shown in  FIGS. 4-5 ), which are extended through corresponding connecting holes  131  of the second short board  13  and engaged with the securing plate  41 . The two FH/HL cards  300  are inserted into the two card slots  21  of the two interface converters  20 , respectively, with the connecting feet  302  of the FH/HL cards  300  engaging in the card slots  21 . The first FH/HL card  310  is positioned spanning from the first short board  12  to the second short board  13 . The second FH/HL card  320  is positioned spanning from the second short board  13  to the third short board  14 . Finally, the bent plate  31  of the first fixing board  30  abuts against the blocking sheet  17  of the main body  10  and is secured in position by a screw (not labeled); and the bent plate  31  of the second fixing board  30  abuts against the corresponding connecting plate  43  of the fixing frame  40  and is secured in position by a screw (not labeled). Thereby, the first ends of the FH/HL cards  300  are secured to the bracing structure  100 . Because of the half length of the FH/HL cards  300 , unlike with the FH/FL card  200  of the first embodiment, the assembly of the bracing structure  100  and the FH/HL cards  300  does not require that the second ends of the FH/HL cards  300  be secured before a next stage in an assembly process. The assembly of the bracing structure  100  and the FH/HL cards  300  is ready for the next stage, such as an impact test. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , these show the bracing structure  100  used to secure one FH/HL card  300  and an LP card  400 , in accordance with a third embodiment. In this embodiment, one fixing board  30  and another fixing board  30   a  are employed to assist the bracing structure  100  in securing the FH/HL card  300  and the LP card  400 , respectively, the fixing frame  40  is fixed at a middle of the bracing structure  100  and adjacent to the long vertical board  15 , and the guiding element  50  (of the first embodiment) is omitted. The fixing board  30   a  has a shape and construction similar to the fixing board  30 . The main differences between the two fixing boards  30 ,  30   a  are that a length of the fixing board  30   a  is smaller than that of the fixing board  30 ; correspondingly, a pair of connecting pieces  33   a  of the fixing board  30   a  are closer to each other than are the connecting pieces  33  of the fixing board  30 ; and a bent plate  31   a  of the fixing board  30   a  has a different configuration from the bent plate  31  of the fixing board  30 . 
         [0029]    The LP card  400  has substantially a rectangular construction. Four fixing holes  401  are defined at four corners of the LP card  400 , and a connecting foot  402  extends from a long lateral side of the LP card  400 . A width of the LP card  400  is substantially smaller than that of the FH/HL card  300 , and a length of the LP card  400  is substantially equal to that of the FH/HL card  300 . The length of the fixing board  30   a  is substantially equal to the width of the LP card  400 . The fixing board  30   a  is fixed on a short side (hereinafter, “first end”) of the LP card  400 . That is, the fixing board  30   a  extends along a widthwise direction of the LP card  400 . The fixing board  30   a  is fixed at a middle portion of the main body  10  for securing the first end of the LP card  400 . 
         [0030]    The first end of the FH/HL card  300  is fixed to the bracing structure  100  in the same way as the first end of the first FH/HL card  310  (of the second embodiment). Compared with the fixing position of the fixing frame  40  in the second embodiment, the fixing frame  40  has been moved towards the long vertical board  15  along a direction parallel to the second short board  12  to be fixed adjacent to the long vertical board  15 . The first end of the LP card  400  is fixed to the bracing structure  100  in much the same way as the first end of the second FH/HL card  320  (of the second embodiment). 
         [0031]    When the FH/HL card  300  and the LP card  400  are assembled to the bracing structure  100 , the fixing frame  40  is firstly fixed on the second short board  13  adjacent to the long vertical board  15 . The FH/HL card  300  and the LP card  400  are inserted into the two card slots  21  of the two interface converters  20 , respectively. The FH/HL card  300  is positioned spanning from the first short board  12  to the second short board  13 , in the same way as the first FH/HL card  310  of the second embodiment. The LP card  400  is positioned spanning from the second short board  13  to the third short board  14 . Finally, the bent plate  31  of the fixing board  30  abuts against the blocking sheet  17  of the main body  10  and is secured in position by a screw (not labeled), for securing the FH/HL card  300 ; and the bent plate  31   a  of the fixing board  30   a  abuts against the corresponding connecting plate  43  of the fixing frame  40  and is secured in position by a screw (not labeled). Thereby, the first ends of the FH/HL card  300  and LP card  400  are secured to the bracing structure  100 . Because of the half length of the FH/HL card  300  and LP card  400 , unlike with the FH/FL card  200  of the first embodiment, the assembly of the bracing structure  100  and the FH/HL card  300  and LP card  400  does not require that the second ends of the FH/HL card  300  and LP card  400  be secured before a next stage in an assembly process. The assembly of the bracing structure  100  and the FH/HL card  300  and LP card  400  is ready for the next stage, such as an impact test. 
         [0032]    In summary, the main body  10  includes the three short boards  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and the fixing frame  40  capable of being fixed at three different positions on the second and third short boards  13 ,  14  according to the different sizes of the expansion cards. When the FH/FL card  200  is assembled to the bracing structure  100 , the fixing frame  40  is located on the third short board  14 , to provide sufficient mounting space for the FH/FL card  200 . In addition, the FH/FL card  200  is held in the guiding slot  52  of the guiding element  50  to strengthen the stability of the assembly of the bracing structure  100  and the FH/FL card  200 . When two FH/HL cards  300  are assembled to the bracing structure  100 , the fixing frame  40  is fixed on the second short board  12  in the middle portion of the bracing structure  100  and distant from the long vertical board  15 , to define two mounting spaces. One of the mounting spaces spans from the first short board  12  to the second short board  13 , and the other mounting space spans from the second short board  13  to the third short board  14 , for receiving the two FH/HL cards  300 . When the FH/HL card  300  and the LP card  400  are assembled to the bracing structure  100 , the fixing frame  40  is fixed on the second short board  12  in the middle portion of the bracing structure  100  and adjacent to the long vertical board  15 , to define two mounting spaces. The length of the fixing board  30   a  is equal to the width of the LP card  400 , and the mounting spaces receive the FH/HL card  300  and the LP card  400 . 
         [0033]    The above-described configurations obviate the need for providing different bracing structures for differently sized expansion cards. Thereby, space inside an associated electronic device can be saved, the cost and time required to design such electronic devices can be reduced, and the cost and time required to manufacture such electronic devices can be reduced. 
         [0034]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7