Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of installing and removing devices in a computer, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for installing, retaining, and removing plug-in cards in computer circuit board expansion slots. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Typical computer systems include a motherboard for mounting at least one microprocessor and other application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), such as memory controllers, input/output (I/O) controllers, and the like. Most motherboards include slots for additional adapter cards to provide additional function to the computer system. Typical functions that a user might add to a computer include additional microprocessors, additional memory, fax/modem capability, sound cards, graphics cards, or the like. The slots included on the motherboard generally include in-line electrical connectors having electrically conductive lands which receive exposed tabs on the adapter cards. The lands are connected to wiring layers, which in turn are connected to a bus that allows the cards to communicate with the microprocessor or other components in the system. Computer systems use many different types of buses to link the various components such as a “local bus” which connects one or more microprocessors to the main memory, the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus for sound cards and modems, the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus for graphics cards, SCSI adapters, and sound cards, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) for pointing devices, scanners, and digital cameras, and Fire Wire (IEEE-1394) for digital video cameras and high-speed storage drives. 
     Problems with the system may occur when a particular slot on a motherboard is unoccupied. When the system tries to establish I/O with the non-existent card via a bus, system operation may slow down or stop completely while the system waits for a response. To prevent this from occurring, the slot may be occupied by a terminator card which responds to queries from the system and prevents the problems that may occur when a slot is left vacant. It is often difficult to install and remove such cards and several devices currently exist to facilitate insertion and removal of the cards. 
     An important aspect in computer system design is providing adequate cooling for microprocessors to prevent performance degradation that may occur when the temperature of the components rises above a certain level. Computer systems are currently available wherein a microprocessor is mounted in a cartridge that includes heatsink fins to disperse heat from the microprocessor as air flow from cooling fans passes by the fins. The cartridge plugs into a slot on the motherboard similar to adapter and terminator cards. This device is known as the Single Edge Contact (SEC) cartridge. When a microprocessor is mounted in a structure, such as a SEC cartridge, adjacent to an expansion slot containing a terminator card, it is desirable for air flow to continue to be directed past the heatsinks. 
     Another important aspect in computer system design is ease of installing and removing cards in expansion slots. Oftentimes, the cards do not include any surrounding structure and it is very difficult to grasp the cards during removal and installation. Further, the cards may be damaged as force is exerted using fingers or other devices positioned on the card and/or its components. Several devices in the prior art address this concern. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,510 pertains to a cylindrical bar adapted to rest on rail surfaces of a card rack that provides a fulcrum for prying a card from a slot by engaging the blade of a screw driver. U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,622 pertains to a PC board cartridge for holding a PC board with a connector within. The cartridge includes a pivotally mounted handle that applies equal forces across the connector during removal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,470 teaches a computer system which allows a user to remove or install cards without removing the computer&#39;s cover. 
     None of the known devices provide a device which simultaneously addresses the concerns of directing airflow past heatsink structures, facilitating insertion and removal of the card, and supporting terminator and adapter cards in the slots. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is used in a computer system that includes a circuit board having a slot, a system processor, a card having tabs positionable in the slot, a computer bus operably connected between the system processor and the slot, a retaining module including a handle portion and a supporting frame, and a wall portion substantially covering one side of the supporting frame. The supporting frame is sized to support the card during insertion and removal of the tabs in the slot. The supporting frame includes an edge that may be used as the handle portion. The retaining module may also include a mounting platform for the card. Fastening structure may be positioned on the mounting platform, on the supporting frame, or on the edge of the supporting frame. Various types of fastening structure may be utilized to hold the card in the retaining module including a peg that engages a hole in the card and a flexible clip that holds the card in place in the retaining module. 
     To install the card in the retaining module using one embodiment of a fastening structure, the card is first positioned over the mounting platform to align any holes in the card with the corresponding pegs. As the card is slid down the peg, the edge of the card moves along a tapered portion of the flexible clip, thereby bending or flexing the flexible clip away from the edge of the card. When the edge of the card slides past a stepped portion of the flexible clip, the flexible clip returns substantially back to its former position, thereby overlying the edge of the card and retaining it in the module. 
     To install the retaining module/card combination in the slot, the user grasps the handle portion and inserts the tabs on the card into the slot using the retaining module as a guide. A computer system may include a cartridge overlying the slot, and the retaining module is sized and shaped to fit within the cartridge to guide the card as it is being inserted and to stabilize the card in the slot once it is installed. The handle portion may also be used to remove the retaining module from the cartridge by grasping the handle portion and applying force in a direction to remove the retaining module from the cartridge. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features, and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retention module; 
     FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of the retention module and a card for positioning in the retention module; 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a fastener; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the card retention module being inserted in a cartridge on a motherboard; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing use of a portion of the card retention module for removing the card retention module from a cartridge on a motherboard. 
     The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of retaining module  100  for retaining a card such as an expansion card, an adapter card, or a terminator card, in a computer system is shown. Retaining module  100  includes support frame  102 , shown in FIG. 1 having a four-sided, rectangular shape. However, support frame  102  may be sized and shaped as required to accommodate a variety of card shapes and sizes. Wall portion  104  substantially covers one side of support frame  102  to prevent air flow from passing through retaining module  100  as explained hereinbelow. Edge  106  extends around and overhangs at least a portion of the perimeter of support frame  102 . Edge  106  stabilizes retaining module  100  when it is inserted in a cartridge in a computer system. Edge  106  may also be used as a handle to facilitate inserting and removing retaining module  100 . These features are further described hereinbelow. 
     Retaining module  100  includes one or more mounting platforms  108  as required to aid in supporting a card and to provide clearance between components and/or wiring on a card and retaining module  100 . It is recognized that various shapes and sizes of mounting platform  108  are suitable for use with the present retaining module  100 . Mounting platform  108  may also be located at various positions relative to support frame  102 . Further, mounting platform  108  may be constructed independently of other portions of retaining module  100  and attached to any portion of retaining module  100  using any suitable attachment method such as a bonding process. Alternatively, mounting platform  108  may be formed integrally with support frame  102  and/or other portions of retaining module  100 . 
     Various fastening structures may also be positioned on mounting platform FIGS. 1 and 1A show U-shaped mounting platform  108  extending around three sides of the outer portion of support frame  102 . One or more side portions of mounting platform  108  include fastening structure, shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a  as one or more pegs  110  and flexible clips  112  for supporting and retaining card  114  on mounting platform  108 . Peg  110  engages a corresponding opening or hole  116  in card  114 . Card  114  is supported by base portion  118 , which has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of hole  116  in card  114 . Base portion  118  prevents further movement of card  114  toward mounting platform  108 , thereby preventing damage to any components or wiring that may be located near the edge of card  114 . It is also recognized that card  114  may not have any components or wiring near its outer edge. In this situation, base portion  118  is not required and the edges of card  114  may rest directly on mounting platform  108 . Peg  110  may be formed independently of base portion  118  and attached to base portion  118  using any suitable attachment means. Alternatively, peg  110  may be formed integrally with base portion  114  through various known manufacturing processes such as injection molding. Fastening structure may also be included on other portions of retaining module  100  instead of or in addition to fastening structure on mounting platform  108 . 
     Flexible clip  112 , shown in more detail in FIG. 1B, includes tapered portion  120  adjacent stepped portion  122 . Flexible clip  112  is located on mounting platform  108  so that the outer edge of card  114  slides along tapered portion  120  as card  114  moves along peg  110 . Stem portion  124  of flexible clip  112  is constructed of resilient material that flexes when lateral force is applied to tapered portion  120 . Stem portion  124  returns substantially to its former configuration when the force is released. To remove a card  114  from retaining module  100 , lateral force is applied to tapered portion  120  to move stepped portion  122  away from the edge of card  114 . Stem portion  120  returns substantially to its unflexed position when force is released. It should be noted that various fastening structures known in the art are suitable for use in addition to or instead of peg  110  and flexible clip  112 . Frictional forces may be used as another alternative instead of or in addition to other fastening structures for retaining card  114 . For example, edge  106  or support frame  102  may be sized and constructed of suitable material to engage edges of card  114  and retain card  114  through frictional force. 
     Card  114  includes tabs  126  that carry electrical signals to and from components on card  114  from electrical lands in a slot  130 . The particular embodiment of retaining module  100  shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A is useful for inserting card  114  in cartridge  206  as shown in FIG.  2 . Each cartridge  206  overlays an expansion.slot (not shown) in motherboard  208 . Motherboard  208  is the main circuit board inside a computer system which holds one or more processing units, memory, and expansion slots and connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer system. Each cartridge  206  is also capable of receiving one of various devices including combination microprocessor/heatsink structures  210  and retaining module/card structures  212 . The devices have exposed tabs  126  that mate with the expansion slot  130  (FIG.  1 A). Thus, it is important in the present invention for tabs  126  to be exposed and for the structure of retaining module  100  not to interfere with inserting tabs  126  in the expansion slot  130 . 
     Devices known as Single Edge Contact (SEC) cartridges  206  shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are used in computer systems, such as those currently available from Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif., having the Deschutes microprocessors and Slot  1  or Slot  2  interfaces. The Slot  1  interface accommodates two central processing units (CPUs), namely, 333-MHz Pentium II microprocessors that run at 66 MHz bus clock. The Slot  2  interface accommodates up to four CPUs, namely 350-450 MHz Pentium II microprocessors that run using a 100 MHz system bus. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a Slot  2  interface having four SEC cartridges  206 . The Deschutes microprocessors are mounted in cartridge  206  using combination heatsink/microprocessor structure  210  that includes fins  214  to disperse heat from the microprocessor as air flow from cooling fans (not shown) passes by fins  214 . 
     When a heatsink/microprocessor structure  210  is not installed in one or more of the expansion slots, a terminator card, such as card  114  (FIG.  1 ), is inserted in the expansion slot to alleviate problems that may occur when an expansion slot is left vacant. In the Slot  1  and Slot  2  interface systems, the terminator cards are fairly large and require supporting structure to stabilize and retain them in SEC cartridge  206 . This support is provided in the embodiment of retaining module  100  shown in FIG. 1 by support frame  102  and edge  106 . As shown in FIG. 2, the combination retaining module/card structures  212  are sized to slip into and out of SEC cartridge  206 , and yet fit snugly enough within SEC cartridge  206  to reduce or even prevent movement of card  114  in the expansion slot. In this embodiment, retaining module  100  also facilitates proper installation of card  114  as it serves as a guide through cartridge  206 . 
     When a terminator card is positioned in a vacant expansion slot, it is desirable for air flow to be directed past heatsink fins  214 . In the embodiment of retaining module  100  shown in FIGS. 1 through 2, wall portion  104  and edge  106  are designed to force air flow from cooling fans (not shown) past fins  214  of heatsink/microprocessor structure  210  by blocking air flow through retaining module  100 . This is useful in situations where card  114 , such as a terminator card, does not include many active components and therefore requires little or no air flow for cooling. In situations where card  114  does require cooling, wall portion  104  may cover only a portion of one side of support frame  102 , or wall portion  104  may not be required. Additionally, depending on cooling requirements, the length and/or width of edge  106  may be reduced along one or more sides to allow air flow past card  114 . 
     An important feature of the present retaining module  100  is edge  106  on the upper periphery of support frame  102 . This portion of edge  106  functions as a handle to facilitate inserting and removing card  114  from a cartridge, such as SEC cartridge  206 . The dimensions and shape of retaining module  100  allow clearance between card  114  and the upper portion of edge  106  when card  114  is positioned in retaining module  100 . As shown in FIG. 2, this clearance creates a cavity that allows fingers or other suitable device to be used as a handle  216  for grasping edge  106  and support frame  102 . Handle  216  facilitates installing and removing retaining module  100 . 
     In FIG. 3, when retaining module  300  is inserted intermediate cartridges  302  and  304  that are occupied by other devices such as heatsink/microprocessor structure  306  and retaining module  308 , it may be difficult to access handle  216  (FIG. 2) in retaining module  300 . In this situation, one option is to remove the device, shown in FIG. 3 as retaining module  308 , occupying cartridge  304  adjacent intermediate retaining module  300  to gain access to handle  216 . Alternatively, edge  106  may be modified or additional structure may be added so that retaining module  308  does not have to be removed first. One,alternative is to reduce the width of edge  106  on the upper periphery over a short length to allow access to handle  216  using a small implement. Another alternative is to grasp intermediate retaining module  300  along the sides of support frame  314  to remove intermediate retaining module  300  from cartridge  312  at least enough to gain access to handle  216 . Note that finger-tip size indentations or raised ridges may be added near the upper portion of the sides of support frame  314  to improve the user&#39;s grasp. It is recognized that the foregoing examples are just a few of the variety of alternatives that are possible to help remove retaining module  300  from cartridge  312  and the foregoing examples are not intended to limit the present invention to specific configurations. 
     The present retaining module  100  is constructed on non-conductive materials such as plastic or rubber. Various manufacturing processes may be used to fabricate the components individually and attach them together in the desired configuration, or to form the components in integral units. 
     Advantageously, the present invention provides retaining module  100  that protects the card as it is installed and removed. The handle  216  provides structure for a user to grasp instead of potentially damaging the card or its components by putting fingers or other tools directly on the card itself. The handle  216  also allows the user to gain a firmer grasp and to apply force evenly when installing and removing the card. The present invention is thus expected to improve reliability and the useful life of adapter and terminator cards. When a card, such as a terminator card, requires little or no cooling, the present invention contributes to system reliability by forcing air flow from cooling fans toward cartridges containing microprocessor and heatsink structures instead of allowing the air flow to pass by the terminator card. 
     Other embodiments of retaining module  100  can be sized and shaped for use in computer systems in addition to computer systems with Slot  1  and Slot  2  interfaces. While the invention has been described with respect to the embodiments and variations set forth above, these embodiments and variations are illustrative and the invention is not to be considered limited in scope to these embodiments and variations. Accordingly, various other embodiments and modifications and improvements not described herein may be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Technology Category: 5