Patent Abstract:
According to embodiments of the invention, an assembly having first and second components may be provided. The first component may include one or more connectors corresponding to one or more through-holes of a circuit board. The second component may include one or more receptacles to fixedly receive the connectors, wherein the first and second components are adapted to be located on opposing sides of the circuit board in an assembled position. In some embodiments, the first and second components may include electrical connectors soldered to the circuit board. In some embodiments, the connectors may include one or more pawls and the receptacles may include one or more ratchets. In other embodiments, the connectors may be threaded members and the receptacles may be threaded apertures.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The field of the invention relates generally to electronic components, and more specifically, to securing opposing electronic components to a circuit board. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Computer systems typically include a combination of computer programs and hardware, such as semiconductors, transistors, chips, circuit boards, storage devices, and processors. The computer programs are stored in the storage devices and are executed by the processors. A common feature of many computer systems is the presence of one or more circuit boards. Circuit boards contain a variety of components mounted to a board. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to embodiments of the invention, an assembly having first and second components may be provided. The first component may include one or more connectors corresponding to one or more through-holes of a circuit board. The second component may include one or more receptacles to fixedly receive the connectors, wherein the first and second components are adapted to be located on opposing sides of the circuit board in an assembled position. In some embodiments, the first and second components may include electrical connectors soldered to the circuit board. In some embodiments, the connectors may include one or more pawls and the receptacles may include one or more ratchets. In other embodiments, the connectors may be threaded members and the receptacles may be threaded apertures. 
         [0004]    According to other embodiments, a method may be provided for securing opposing components to a circuit board. The method may include an operation of placing a first component having one or more connectors on a first side of a circuit board having one or more through-holes corresponding to the connectors. The method may also include an operation of placing a second component having one or more receptacles to fixedly receive the connectors on a second side of the circuit board, wherein the first side of the circuit board and the second side of the circuit board are opposing sides. In other embodiments, the method may also include an operation of soldering electrical connectors located on the first and second components to electrical connectors located on the circuit board. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a top view of an assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the assembly in an exploded position, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of an assembly in an assembled position with a partial cross-section, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  is a zoomed view of area  206  of  FIG. 2B , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2D  is an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 2C . 
           [0011]      FIG. 2E  is a top view of a connector, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2F  is a top view of a receptacle, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method of securing opposing components to a circuit board, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    In the drawings and the Detailed Description, like numbers generally refer to like components, parts, steps, and processes. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The growing demand for computer systems to have increased capabilities in ever smaller sizes motivates the creation of new ways to assemble the large quantity of components that make up a computer system. These new ways of assembly require designing computer systems that fit into a smaller area but at the same time maintaining or improving functionality and allowing the system to operate at a safe temperature. Dual or single in-line memory modules (DIMMs or SIMMs) are examples of component that due to the ever increasing number of memory modules present in modern computer systems, create an ever increasing need to assemble the memory modules is smaller spaces while maintaining cooling performance of the modules. Traditionally, memory modules, along with most other components, were mounted on a single side of a circuit board, however, an assembly that utilizes both sides of the circuit board provides designers with more options to create designs that may increase the number of components within a given computer system. 
         [0016]    Another issue may arise when mounting in-line memory module connectors with multiple electrical connections to a single side of a circuit board. The connectors may have a large number of electrical connectors, such as those used in surface-mount technology (SMT). When these connectors are soldered to a circuit board there is the potential for the circuit board, the connectors, or both to warp due to heating. Embodiments of the invention provide a system for securing two components to opposing sides of a circuit board that provide more options to mount a greater number of components to the circuit board while also providing resistance to any tendency the circuit board or the components may have to warp due to heat. Embodiments of the invention accomplish this by utilizing two in-line memory module connectors mounted on opposing sides of a circuit board. The connectors may include complimenting connectors that pass through holes in the circuit board and connect to each other to secure the connectors to the board. This configuration functions as a type of clamping assembly that secures the connectors to the circuit board. In some embodiments this configuration may have a tendency to resist warping due to heat. 
         [0017]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1A  depicts the top view of an assembly  100 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The assembly  100  may be an element of a computer system such as a mainframe, server, or personal computer. For example, the assembly  100  may be a motherboard. The assembly  100  may include a circuit board  102  and one or more components  104   a  and  104   b,  such as connectors for in-line memory modules. The components  104   a  and  104   b  may include any number of electrical connectors  106   a  and  106   b,  respectively, in a position to facilitate an electrical connection, such as SMT, to the circuit board  102  when the components  104   a  and  104   b  are mounted to the circuit board  102 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the assembly  100 , according to an embodiment of the invention. Along with the components of  FIG. 1A  mentioned above, the assembly  100  may also include one or more components  104   c  and  104   d,  which may also be connectors for in-line memory modules. Like components  104   a  and  104   b,  the components  104   c  and  104   d  may include any number of electrical connectors  160   c  and  106   d  in a position to facilitate an electrical connection, such as SMT, to the circuit board  102  when the components  104   c  and  104   d  are mounted to the circuit board  102 . The component  104   c  may be mounted to the circuit board  102  opposite the component  104   b  and the component  104   d  may be mounted to the circuit board  102  opposite the component  104   a.    
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of the assembly  100  in an exploded position, according to an embodiment of the invention. The component  104   b  may include connectors  202   a,    202   b  and  202   c  located on a surface of the component  104   b  facing the circuit board  102 . The connectors  202  may correspond to through-holes  203   a,    203   b  and  203   c  of the circuit board  102 . The component  104   c  may include receptacles  204   a,    204   b,  and  204   c  located on a surface of the component  104   c  facing the circuit board  102 . The receptacles  204  may also correspond to the through-holes  203  of the circuit board. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of the assembly  100  in an assembled position with a partial cross-section, according to an embodiment of the invention. The components  104   b  and  104   c  may be mounted to the circuit board  102 . The connector  202  of component  104   b  may be located within the through-hole  203  of the circuit board  102 . Also, the receptacle  204  of component  104   c  may be located within the through-hole  203  of the circuit board  102  and may receive the connector  202  in a mated position. Also, in various embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C , the connectors and receptacles may not come in contact with the circuit board, thereby limiting any interference that the circuit board may otherwise have on the mating of the components. The area  206  of  FIG. 2B  is shown in a zoomed view in  FIG. 2C . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2C  is a zoomed view of area  206  of  FIG. 2B , according to an embodiment of the invention. This view shows a partial cross section of components  104   b  and  104   c  and the circuit board  102 . The view also shows the connector  202  located within the through-hole  203  and mated with the receptacle  204 . The connector  202  may be a cylindrical member and include a chamfered collar  208  located on the outer surface of the connector  202  and at the end of the connector  202  furthest from the component  104   b.  Other embodiments may have a connector of various shapes and sizes. For example, a connector may have plural flat sides such as a square, hexagon or any other similar shape. Other embodiments may have a collar  208  located at any other position along the length of the connector  202  other than the end of the connector  202  furthest from the component  104   b.  The receptacle  204  may be a hollow cylindrical member with one or more chamfered ridges  210  located on the inner surface of the receptacle  202 . Other embodiments may have a receptacle of various shapes and sizes. For example, a receptacle may have plural flat sides such as a square, hexagon or any other similar shape. In various embodiments, a connector and a receptacle need not be the same shape so long as any difference in shape does not inhibit the mating of a connector and receptacle. The collar  208  may be chamfered in a direction opposite of the chamfering of the ridges  210  so that when the connector  202  and receptacle  204  are joined it may be relatively easier to insert the connector  202  into the receptacle  204  than it may be to separate them. The collar  208  of the connector  202  may be referred to as a type of pawl, and the ridges  210  of the receptacle  204  may be referred to as a type of linear ratchet. Other embodiments may have the location of the collar  208  and the ridges  210  reversed such that the collar  208  is located on the receptacle  204  and the ridges  210  are located on the connector  202 . Other embodiments of the invention may include any suitable type of connector and receptacle other than those shown in  FIG. 2C . For example, a connector may include a threaded fastener such as a screw or bolt while a corresponding receptacle may include a threaded aperture to receive the screw or bolt. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2D  is an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 2C . In the shown embodiments, the receptacle  204  does not include a portion located within the through-hole  203 . For example, the receptacle  204  may be an aperture in the component  104   c.  As in  FIG. 2C , the ridges  210  may be located on the inner surface of the receptacle  204 . The connector  202  may pass through the through-hole of the circuit board  102  in order to mate with the receptacle  204 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2E  is a top view of a connector  202 , according to an embodiment of the invention. In the shown embodiment, the collar  208  or pawl may be located on only a portion of the outer circumference of the connector  202 . The collar  208  shown in  FIG. 2E  includes two quarter sections where the collar  208  is present and two quarter sections where the collar  208  is not present, but in alternative embodiments the size and quantity of present and non-present sections may differ. The connector  202  may be fixed or it may be coupled to a component  104  in a way that allows the connector  202  to be rotated about its axis. For example, a connector may be accessible from the opposite side of a component on which it is located and may be rotated with the use of a tool such as a screwdriver. In other embodiments, a connector may have a portion that extends beyond the opposite side of a component and includes an element that facilitates manual rotation such as an appendage or tab. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2F  is a top view of a receptacle  204 , according to an embodiment of the invention. In the shown embodiment, the ridges  210  or ratchet may be located on only a portion of the inner circumference of the receptacle  204 . The ridges  210  shown in  FIG. 2E  includes two quarter sections where the ridges  210  are present and two quarter sections where the ridges  210  are not present, but in alternative embodiments the size and quantity of present and non-present sections may differ. The receptacle  204  may be fixed or it may be coupled to a component  104  in a way that allows the receptacle  204  to be rotated about its axis, similarly to the previously mentioned examples regarding the connector  202 . The combination of the connector  202  of  FIG. 2E  and the receptacle  204  of  FIG. 2F  may allow the connector  202  and receptacle  204  to unlock by rotating either the connector  202  or receptacle  204  and thereby allow the components  104  to disconnect. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method of securing opposing components to a circuit board, according to an embodiment of the invention. The process may begin at block  302 . Block  304  may contain the operation of placing a component, such as a connector for an in-line memory module, on a circuit board. This component may have connectors corresponding to through-holes of the circuit board. When the component is placed on the circuit board the connectors may enter the through-holes of the circuit board. Block  306  may contain the operation of placing another component, such as a connector for an in-line memory module, on the side of the circuit board opposite the side where the first component was placed. This component may have receptacles for receiving the connectors when the receptacles and connectors are in a mated position. When the component is placed on the circuit board the receptacles mate with the connectors thereby securing both components to the circuit board. 
         [0026]    Block  308  may contain a deciding operation that determines if one or more of the components are to be electronically connected to the circuit board. If one or more components are to be electronically connected to the circuit board, then one or more electrical connectors of the components is soldered to one or more electrical connectors of the circuit board. Upon completion of the operation of block  310 , the operation may proceed to block  312  where the process may end. Returning to block  308 , if there are no components that are to be electronically connected to the circuit board then the process moves to block  312  where the process may end. 
         [0027]    The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8