Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a tool includes a carrier having a substantially pentagonal planar face configured to engage a rectangular side portion of a substantially cuboidal adapter card; at least one lower retaining member comprising a planar surface extending from a lower edge of the carrier, wherein the planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; and at least one upper retaining member comprising a second planar surface extending from an upper portion of the carrier, wherein at least a portion of the second planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The density of the placement of internal components in server computers has rapidly increased in response to the demands for increased performance of the server computers. This increase in component density has led to a near-overcrowding condition in many server computer boxes. Therefore, further optimization of server components and server component placement (and to a lesser extent desktop and workstation computers) is dictated in order to satisfy the demands for more performance from these computers. 
         [0002]    Recently, in an attempt to satisfy this need, system designers have started providing connectors for adapter cards inside the middle of the system; whereas they have typically been installed in the rear of systems. Indeed, the peripheral component interconnect (PCI) specification that governs the design of adapter cards specifies features that mate and interface with the rear system chassis walls. However, these mounting features are typically not adequate for installation of these cards internally in server computers. Additionally, structural support for these cards does not exist when they are installed internal to the computer rather than at a chassis wall. 
         [0003]    For these PCI cards which are not mounted next to the rear system walls, there is an additional need for a method to handle the card to aid in the installation and removal of the card within the constraints of the adjacent system hardware. Although several attempts have been made in the industry that help in the installation, removal, and retention of adapter cards in the rear of a system (near a rear wall of the chassis), none has been identified that applies to cards installed internally to the system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, a tool includes: a carrier having a substantially pentagonal planar face configured to engage a rectangular side portion of a substantially cuboidal adapter card; at least one lower retaining member comprising a planar surface extending from a lower edge of the carrier, wherein the planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; and at least one upper retaining member comprising a second planar surface extending from an upper portion of the carrier, wherein at least a portion of the second planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, a system includes: a tool, comprising: a carrier having a substantially pentagonal planar face configured to engage a rectangular side portion of a substantially cuboidal adapter card; at least one lower retaining member comprising a planar surface extending from a lower edge of the carrier, wherein the planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; at least one upper retaining member comprising a second planar surface extending from an upper portion of the carrier, wherein at least a portion of the second planar surface is oriented perpendicular to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier; and one or more side guides coupled to at least one side edge of the carrier and oriented substantially parallel to the substantially pentagonal planar face of the carrier, wherein each side guide is characterized by a shape substantially conformal to a corresponding feature of a computer chassis, and wherein the shape of each side guide is configured to guide the carrier toward and away from an adapter card slot of the computer chassis via the corresponding feature of the computer chassis. The system also includes the computer chassis having the one or more corresponding features. 
         [0006]    Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a tool, according to one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a tool and an adapter card, according to one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a front view of a tool without an adapter card, according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a rear view of a tool without an adapter card, according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic diagram of a computer system with a chassis, according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a method for placing an adapter card on a system board of a computer system, according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. 
         [0014]    Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc. 
         [0015]    It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless otherwise specified. 
         [0016]    According to one general embodiment, a tool includes a carrier for supporting an adapter card, at least one lower retaining member extending from a lower portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, and at least one upper retaining member extending from an upper portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier. The carrier is adapted to securely hold the adapter card during movement of the carrier and during placement of the adapter card in a computer system. 
         [0017]    In another general embodiment, a system includes a tool and a computer system chassis having a feature for aligning the tool with a system board of the computer system. The tool includes a carrier for supporting an adapter card, at least one lower retaining member extending from a lower portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, at least one upper retaining member extending from an upper portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, and a positioning member extending from the carrier for aligning the tool. The carrier is adapted to securely hold the adapter card during movement of the carrier and during placement of the adapter card in a computer system. 
         [0018]    According to one general embodiment, a method for placing an adapter card on a system board of a computer system includes aligning a tool having an adapter card secured therewith to a slot on a system board of a computer system using a positioning member and seating the adapter card into the slot on the system board. The tool includes a carrier for supporting the adapter card, at least one lower retaining member extending from a lower portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, at least one upper retaining member extending from an upper portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, and the positioning member coupled to the carrier. 
         [0019]    As used herein, an “adapter card” is meant to mean any card, circuit, circuit board, etc., having circuitry thereon or therein that is insertable in a slot in a computer system. 
         [0020]    According to one embodiment, the adapter card may have a rear input/output (I/O) bracket removed, since the bracket, per peripheral component interconnect (PCI) specification, travels below the level of the system board into which the adapter card is inserted, in some embodiments. The adapter card  200  may also be installed onto a tool  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. A bottom portion  202  of the adapter card  200 , and particularly a bottom edge  204  of the adapter card  200 , may be placed in a lower retaining member  104  of a carrier  112  of the tool  100 , in one approach. The lower retaining member  104  may be a slot, a groove, a protruding member, etc., or any other feature which is able to hold at least a portion of the adapter card  200  in place during movement of the tool  100  in one direction (e.g., up, down, etc.), and preferably in all directions, according to several embodiments. Also, in one approach, a top portion  206  of the adapter card  200  may be rotated upward so that the adapter card  200  is about parallel with the tool  100 , and so that a top edge  208  of the adapter card  200  is engaged by an upper retaining member  102  of a carrier  112  of the tool  100 . The upper retaining member  102  may be a latch, a slot, a groove, a protruding member, etc., or any other feature which is able to hold at least a portion of the adapter card  200  in place during movement of the tool  100  in one direction (e.g., up, down, etc.), and preferably in all directions, according to several embodiments. Additionally, in some embodiments, the tool  100  may include a handle portion  106  for easier movement and/or positioning of the tool  100  and/or the adapter card  200 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, a tool  100  includes a carrier  112  for supporting an adapter card. The carrier  112  may have a height of at least about that of an adapter card  200 , with the height being measured in a direction parallel to the adapter card  200  from an end of the adapter card  200  having electrical contacts thereon to the opposite end of the adapter card  200 . The tool  100  may also include at least one lower retaining member  104  extending from a lower portion of the carrier  112  for securing the adapter card  200  to the carrier  112 , and at least one upper retaining member  102  extending from an upper portion of the carrier  112  for securing the adapter card  200  to the carrier  112 . The carrier  112  securely holds the adapter card  200  during movement of the carrier  112  and during placement of the adapter card  200  in a computer system. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 , in one approach, the tool  100  may also include a handle portion  106  coupled to the carrier  112  near or at the upper portion of the carrier  112 . The handle portion  106  is for positioning the tool  100 . The tool  100  may also include a positioning member  110  on at least one of the carrier  112  and the handle portion  106  for aligning the tool  100  with a chassis  506  in a computer system. In some further approaches, the positioning member  110  may extend from at least the carrier  112  or the handle portion  106  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), and the positioning member  110  may be engageable to a feature  504  of the chassis  506  in the computer system, as described in more detail below. 
         [0023]    According to another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the tool  100  may include side guides  114 , which may be engageable with features  508  of the chassis  506  in the computer system. Of course, in addition to or in place of these guidance devices and/or members, any combination of member on the tool  100  and feature of the chassis  506  may be used to align the adapter card  200  with a connector on a system board  502 . 
         [0024]    In another approach, the at least one lower retaining member  104  may include a slot (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) for securing the adapter card  200 . The slot may provide unilateral and univertical resistance of movement for the adapter card  200 . In other words, the slot may inhibit the adapter card  200  from moving downward and from moving side-to-side in a latitudinal direction of the tool  100 . 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the at least one upper retaining member  102  may include either a latch or a clip for securing the adapter card  200 , wherein the latch or clip is positionable to allow the adapter card  200  to be secured to the carrier  112 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the tool  100  may also include at least one lateral retaining member positioned at or near a side portion of the carrier  112  for securing the adapter card  200  to the carrier  112 . For example, a protruding member may be insertable into and/or through the adapter card  200  for retaining the adapter card  200 . 
         [0027]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram shows the adapter card  200  as it is installed in the tool  100 , according to one embodiment. As can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the tool  100  may include ribbing, structural members, or any other feature as would be known to one of skill in the art to provide additional support and/or rigidity to the tool  100 , according to one embodiment. The handle portion  106  of the tool  100  may be wider near an upper portion than it is near a lower portion, thereby allowing for easier gripping by a user of the tool  100 , according to one embodiment. 
         [0028]    Also, as can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the lower retaining member  104 , which is shown retaining the lower edge  204  of the adapter card  200 , may be aided by one or more additional lower retaining members  108 , which may be similar in design to the lower retaining member  104  or may be differently constructed. For example, the one or more lower retaining members  104 ,  108  may be a ledge on which the adapter card  200  rests, a slot into which the adapter card  200  fits, a ridge which interacts with a portion of the adapter card  200 , etc. 
         [0029]    With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , the upper retaining member  102  can be seen gripping an upper portion and upper edge  208  of the adapter card  200 , according to one embodiment. The upper retaining member  102  may also be aided by additional upper retaining members (not shown), in some embodiments. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram of a front side of the tool  100  is shown without an adapter card installed, according to one embodiment. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the lower retaining member  104  can be clearly seen, and in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , it is a slot into which the adapter card may slide. In addition, an additional lower retaining member  108  is shown, according to one embodiment, as a ledge onto which an adapter card may rest. Also seen in  FIG. 3  is the upper retaining member  102 , which in this embodiment, is shown as a latch which is positionable such that an adapter card may be installed and removed from the tool  100 . In addition, the tool  100  is shown with a handle portion  106  which may be used to position the tool  100 , with or without an adapter card installed, according to some embodiments. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 4 , a schematic diagram of a rear side of the tool  100  is shown without an adapter card installed, according to one embodiment. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the lower retaining member  104  can be seen, but portions thereof are obscured by the tool  100 . Also seen in  FIG. 4  is the handle portion  106  which may be used to position the tool  100 , with or without an adapter card installed, according to some embodiments. Also indicated in  FIG. 4  is a positioning member  110 , which may be used to position the tool  100  with respect to a chassis, wall, or any other member of a computer system into which an adapter card  200  held by the tool  100  is to be installed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the positioning member  110  is a T-shaped member defining at least one lateral slot, but any member, as would be known to one of skill in the art may be used, such as a ridge, a tab, a groove, a physical indicator, etc. In preferred embodiments, the positioning member  110  may be designed such that it aligns with one or more features of a computer system into which an adapter card  200  is to be installed, and/or the positioning member  110  may be engageable with one or more features of a computer system into which an adapter card  200  is to be installed. 
         [0032]    Now referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , in one embodiment, the positioning member  110  on the rear side of the tool  100  may engage into a slot  504  on a chassis  506  of a computer system to ensure that the card (which is being held by the tool  100 ) is aligned with a connector on a system board  502 , while the card is slid downwards into the computer system. In this way, a simple vertical push down on the handle portion  106  of the tool  100  may seat the adapter card  200  into the slot on the system board  502 , according to one embodiment. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, removal of a card from a computer system may also be aided by the use of a tool. Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , removal of a card from a computer system, according to one embodiment, may involve engaging a tool  100  with a card  200 , lifting up on the handle portion  106  of the tool  100  while it is in the computer system, and compelling the card  200  to become disengaged from the connector on the system board  502 . Then, in a continuing embodiment, with the card  200  still held in the tool  100 , a user may push against the upper retaining member  102 , rotate the card  200  away from the tool  100 , and disengage the card  200  from the lower retaining member  104 . 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a system includes a tool  100  and a computer system chassis  506  having a feature  504  for aligning the tool  100  with a system board  502  of the computer system. The tool  100  includes a carrier  112  for supporting an adapter card, at least one lower retaining member  104  extending from a lower portion of the carrier  112  for securing the adapter card  200  to the carrier  112 , at least one upper retaining member  102  extending from an upper portion of the carrier  112  for securing the adapter card  200  to the carrier  112 , and a positioning member  110  extending from the carrier  112  for aligning the tool  100 . The carrier  112  may have a width and a height similar to that of an adapter card  200 , only a width similar to that of the adapter card  200 , only a height similar to that of the adapter card  200 , or may have dimensions independent of the adapter card  200 . 
         [0035]    In a further embodiment, the carrier  112  may comprise a handle portion  106  at or near the upper portion of the carrier  112 . The handle portion  106  is for positioning the tool  100 . 
         [0036]    In one approach, the positioning member  110  may be engageable with the feature  504  of the computer system chassis  506 . In another approach, the at least one lower retaining member  104  may include a slot for securing the adapter card  200 , and the slot may provide unilateral and univertical resistance of movement for the adapter card  200 . In other words, the slot may inhibit movement of the adapter card  200  in the downward and sideway directions in the latitudinal tool direction. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the at least one upper retaining member  102  may include either a latch or a clip for securing the adapter card  200 , and the latch or clip may be positionable to allow the adapter card  200  to be secured to the carrier  112 . 
         [0038]    According to another approach, the tool  100  may also include at least one lateral retaining member positioned at or near a side portion of the carrier  112  for securing the adapter card  200  to the carrier  112 . 
         [0039]    Now referring to  FIG. 6 , a method  600  for placing an adapter card on a system board of a computer system is shown according to one embodiment. The method may be performed in any desired environment, and may include some descriptions and embodiments included herein. Of course, additional operations may be performed in addition to those described below. 
         [0040]    In operation  602 , a tool having an adapter card secured therewith is aligned to a slot on a system board of a computer system using a positioning member. 
         [0041]    In operation  604 , the adapter card is seated into the slot on the system board. 
         [0042]    The tool includes a carrier for supporting the adapter card, at least one lower retaining member extending from a lower portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, at least one upper retaining member extending from an upper portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier, and the positioning member coupled to the carrier for aligning the tool. The carrier may have a height similar to that of the adapter card. 
         [0043]    In one approach, the tool may also include a handle portion coupled to the carrier at or near the upper portion of the carrier, and the handle portion may be for positioning the tool. 
         [0044]    In more approaches, the at least one lower retaining member may include a slot for securing the adapter card. The slot may resist movement of the adapter card in the downward and sideway directions. 
         [0045]    In additional embodiments, the at least one upper retaining member may include either a latch or a clip for securing the adapter card. The latch or clip may be positionable to allow the adapter card to be secured to the carrier. 
         [0046]    In another approach, the tool may also include at least one lateral retaining member positioned at or near a side portion of the carrier for securing the adapter card to the carrier. 
         [0047]    In one approach, the method  600  may further include optional operation  606 , where the adapter card is disengaged from the tool by operating at least one upper retaining member of the tool. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, the adapter card may remain secured to the tool after being seated into the slot on the system board. 
         [0049]    In one approach, the method  600  may further include optional operation  608 , where the positioning member is engaged to a feature in a chassis of the computer system to align the adapter card to the slot on the system board. 
         [0050]    Also, systems may implement and include additional embodiments and approaches not specifically described herein, but would be apparent to one of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0051]    While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.