Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/320,064 filed Dec. 28, 2005, titled “System and Method for Installing and Retaining I/O Connector Without Tools,” and having the same inventors as the above-referenced application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Technical Field  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a system and method for installing and retaining an input/output connector without tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for adding a transceiver to a module without tools by means of a retention beam that applies pressure to the transceiver, resulting in a coupling of the transceiver to a circuit board included in the module.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Customers require a computer system to be scalable and serviceable. Providing a customer with the ability to add functionality as needed in a quick, cost effective manner, is very important, especially for server architectures. In addition, providing the ability for the customer to service the computer system himself has cost advantages over a manufacturer&#39;s representative servicing the computer system.  
         [0006]     A computer system may be scalable from both a software standpoint and a hardware standpoint. From a software standpoint, a software company may load an entire software suite onto a customer&#39;s computer system, and then activate particular features of the software suite based upon customer requirements.  
         [0007]     From a hardware standpoint, however, scalability is not as straightforward. Depending upon the type of computer system, a customer may “overbuy” their current needs in anticipation of growth. For example, if a customer requires two ports of a 100MB Ethernet switch, the user may buy an eight port Ethernet switch because of the low additional cost of the additional ports.  
         [0008]     A challenge found is that for more expensive computer system technologies, overbuying is not a cost effective alternative. For example, in fiber optic computer systems, each fiber optic transceiver is relatively expensive, and a customer typically purchases only the amount of transceivers that the customer requires at the moment. However, a challenge found with this approach is that a customer requires particular tools to install additional transceivers due to the transceiver module&#39;s configuration, which results in poor serviceability.  
         [0009]     What is needed, therefore, is a system and method for easily installing transceivers into a module without the use of tools, resulting in increased serviceability.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0010]     It has been discovered that the aforementioned challenges are resolved using a system and method for adding a transceiver to a module without tools by means of a retention beam that applies pressure to the transceiver, resulting in a coupling of the transceiver to a circuit board included in the module.  
         [0011]     A user removes a module (e.g., optical pass through module) from a computer system. The module includes two main sections, which are a housing and a front bezel. The front bezel attaches to the housing by means of a bezel latch. In order to remove the front bezel from the housing, the user depresses the bezel latch and slides the front bezel off of the housing, all without the use of tools.  
         [0012]     When the user removes the front bezel, a retention beam is exposed. In one embodiment, the retention beam is secured to the housing on one side via a latch mechanism, and on the other side via a hinge. In another embodiment, one side of the retention beam may be inserted into a housing opening and latched at the other end. In yet another embodiment, the retention beam may latch to the housing at both ends.  
         [0013]     When the retention beam is in a “closed” position, the retention beam applies pressure to one or more transceivers that, in effect, couples the transceivers to a circuit board. In order to add or remove transceivers to the module, a user begins by unlatching the retention beam and rotating the retention beam to an “open” position, all without the use of tools. Once in the open position, the user places a transceiver onto a mounting area, which may include a mounting socket.  
         [0014]     After the transceiver is correctly placed onto the mounting area, the user rotates the retention beam back to the closed position, which secures the transceiver and couples the transceiver to the circuit board. The user re-attaches the front bezel to the housing by sliding the front bezel onto the housing until the bezel latch latches. In turn, the user reinstalls the module into the computer system and connects the transceivers to applicable cabling.  
         [0015]     The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     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.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram showing a first step in adding a transceiver to a computer system without the invention described herein;  
         [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a diagram showing a process for removing a circuit board from a module without the invention described herein;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a diagram showing a process for removing a circuit board from a module without the invention described herein;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a diagram showing a process for attaching a transceiver to a circuit board without the invention described herein;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a diagram showing a module that is configured using the invention described herein;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a diagram showing a front bezel detached from a module housing and exposing a retention beam that secures one or more transceivers to a circuit board;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram showing an unlatched retention beam that allows a user to insert one or more transceivers into a module without a tool;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram showing a transceiver inserted onto a mounting area;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a diagram showing a retention beam latched in a closed position, which couples one or more transceivers to a circuit board;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram showing a front bezel latched to a module and two transceivers protruding from the front bezel&#39;s transceiver openings; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing steps taken in adding a transceiver to a module using the invention described herein.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     The following is intended to provide a detailed description of an example of the invention and should not be taken to be limiting of the invention itself. Rather, any number of variations may fall within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims following the description.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram showing a first step in adding a transceiver to a computer system without the invention described herein. A user&#39;s computer system includes a module, such as module  100 , that houses one or more transceivers. For example, module  100  may be an optical pass through module that supports up to four fiber optic transceivers. As can be seen in  FIG. 1A , one transceiver (transceiver  125 ) is protruding from one of module  100 &#39;s transceiver openings. The other transceiver openings (openings  130 - 140 ) do not yet include a transceiver.  
         [0030]     When a user wishes to add a transceiver to module  100 , the user removes module  100  from the computer system, and removes cover  120  from housing  122 . In order to perform this step, the user uses a tool, such as a screwdriver, to remove screws  105  and  110 . Once screws  105  and  110  are removed, the user may remove cover  120  from housing  122 , which exposes a circuit board included in module  100  (see  FIG. 1B  and corresponding text for further details).  
         [0031]      FIG. 1B  is a diagram showing a process for removing a circuit board from a module without the invention described herein. To continue with the transceiver addition process discussed in  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B  shows four screws (screws  150 - 165 ) that a user removes in order to remove circuit board  170  from housing  122 . Again, a user must use a tool (e.g., screwdriver) to perform this step. Once screws  150 - 165  are removed, the user removes circuit board  170  from housing  122  in order to add a transceiver (see  FIG. 2A  and corresponding text for further details regarding circuit board removal).  
         [0032]      FIG. 2A  is a diagram showing a process for removing a circuit board from a module without the invention described herein. Once a user removes screws that secure circuit board  170  to housing  122  ( FIG. 1B ), the user is able to remove circuit board  170  from housing  122 . In turn, transceiver  125  and mounting areas  200 - 220  are exposed. As such, a user may insert one or more transceivers onto mounting areas  200 - 220  (see  FIG. 2B  and corresponding text for further details regarding transceiver mounting steps).  
         [0033]      FIG. 2B  is a diagram showing a process for attaching a transceiver to a circuit board without the invention described herein. In order to attach transceiver  230  to circuit board  170 , a user places transceiver  230  onto mounting area  200 . Once placed, a user secures transceiver  230  to circuit board  170  using a tool (e.g., screwdriver) and screws  240 - 260 . After transceiver  230  is secured to circuit board  170 , a user reassembles the module by reversing the steps discussed in  FIGS. 1A-2A .  
         [0034]      FIG. 3A  is a diagram showing a module that is configured using the invention described herein. Module  300 &#39;s configuration allows a user to add or remove transceivers without the use of tools.  
         [0035]     Module  300  includes two main sections, which are housing  310  and front bezel  320 . Housing  300  includes a circuit board that couples to transceivers, such as transceiver  325 , which protrude from one of front bezel  320 &#39;s transceiver openings. Front bezel  320  also includes transceiver openings  330 - 340  for a user to add three more transceivers to module  300 . As one skilled in the art can appreciate, module  300  may be manufactured to support more or less than four transceivers.  
         [0036]     Front bezel  320  attaches to housing  310  by means of bezel latch  322 . A user depresses bezel latch  322  and removes front bezel  320  from housing  310  as a first step to add a transceiver to module  300  (see  FIG. 3B  and corresponding text for further details).  
         [0037]      FIG. 3B  is a diagram showing a front bezel detached from a module housing and exposing a retention beam that secures one or more transceivers to a circuit board. A user detaches front bezel  320  from housing  310  by depressing bezel latch  322  and sliding front bezel  320  off of housing  310 , all without the use of tools.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3B  shows retention beam  350 , which is secured to housing  310  on both sides. In one embodiment, one side of retention beam  350  is hingeably attached (attached via a hinge) to housing  310 , and the other side is latched to housing  310 . In another embodiment, one side of retention beam  350  may be inserted into an opening in housing  310 , and latched at the other end. In yet another embodiment, retention beam  350  may be latched to housing  310  at both ends.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3B  shows retention beam  350  in a “closed” position. When in a closed position, retention beam  350  applies pressure to transceiver  325  that, in effect, couples transceiver  325  to a circuit board that is included in housing  310 . In order to add or remove transceivers to module  300 , a user unlatches retention beam  350  and rotates retention beam to an “open” position (see  FIG. 4A  and corresponding text for further details). Module  300 , housing  310 , front bezel  320 , and bezel latch  322  are the same as that shown in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0040]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram showing an unlatched retention beam that allows a user to insert one or more transceivers into a module without a tool.  FIG. 4A  shows retention beam  350  in an “open” position, which exposes transceiver  325  and mounting area  400 . Mounting area  400  includes mounting pins that couple to a transceiver when a transceiver is mounted. In one embodiment, mounting area  400  may include a mounting socket for mounting the transceiver. Transceiver  325  and retention beam  350  are the same as that shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , respectively.  
         [0041]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram showing a transceiver inserted onto a mounting area. Module  300  previously included transceiver  325 . A user adds transceiver  420  to module  300  without the use of any tools by placing transceiver  420  onto mounting area  400 . Once added, the user secures transceivers  325  and  420  by rotating retention beam  350  to a closed position (see  FIG. 5A  and corresponding text for further details). Module  300  and transceiver  325  are the same as that shown in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0042]      FIG. 5A  is a diagram showing a retention beam latched in a closed position, which couples one or more transceivers to a circuit board. Once a user places transceiver  420  onto a mounting area ( FIG. 4B ), the user rotates retention beam  350  to a closed position, which applies pressure to transceivers  325  and  420  and, as a result, couples transceivers  325  and  420  to a circuit board included in module  300 . Module  300  is the same as that shown in  FIG. 3A . Retention beam  350 , transceiver  325 , and transceiver  420  are the same as that shown in  FIG. 4B .  
         [0043]      FIG. 5B  is a diagram showing a front bezel latched to a module and two transceivers protruding from the front bezel&#39;s transceiver openings. Once a user installs an additional transceiver to module  300  ( FIG. 5A ), the user attaches front bezel  320  to housing  310  by sliding front bezel  320  onto housing  310  until bezel latch  322  latches. Once latched, module  300  provides two transceivers ( 325  and  420 ) that protrude from front bezel  320  for a user to use. In turn, the user reinstalls module  300  into a computer system and connects transceivers  325  and  420  to applicable cabling. Module  300 , housing  310 , front bezel  320 , bezel latch  322 , and transceiver  325  are the same as that shown in  FIG. 3A . Transceiver  420  is the same as that shown in  FIG. 4B .  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing steps taken in adding a transceiver to a module using the invention described herein. The process of installing a transceiver into a module commences at  600 , whereupon a user removes the module from a computer system (step  610 ). For example, a user may have a fiber optic computer system that includes optical pass thru modules. In this example, the user removes the optical pass thru module from the computer system in order to add a fiber optic transceiver to the optical pass thru module.  
         [0045]     At step  620 , the user removes the module&#39;s front bezel from the module housing by depressing a bezel latch and sliding the front bezel off of the housing (see  FIG. 3B  and corresponding text for further details). Once the front bezel is removed, a retention beam is exposed to the user. In one embodiment, the retention beam secures to the housing on one side of the retention beam, and latches to the housing on the other side of the retention beam.  
         [0046]     At step  630 , the user unlatches the retention beam and places the retention beam in an “open” position (step  640 ). The open position allows the user to add or remove transceivers to the module. For example, the retention beam may be hingeably attached to the housing and, in this example, the user rotates the retention beam to a position that exposes mounting areas to add additional transceivers (see  FIG. 4A  and corresponding text for further details).  
         [0047]     The user inserts a transceiver onto a mounting area at step  650 . The mounting area includes mounting pins that couple to electrical connections on the transceiver. After the transceiver is inserted, the user rotates the retention beam to a closed position and latches the retention beam to the housing (step  660 ). When the retention beam is latched, the retention beam applies pressure to the transceiver, which ensures contact between the transceiver&#39;s electrical connections and the circuit board&#39;s mounting pins.  
         [0048]     Once the user latches the retention beam to the housing, the user attaches the front bezel onto the housing using the bezel latch (step  670 ), and installs the module back into the computer system (step  680 ). The transceiver adding process ends at  690 .  
         [0049]     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those with skill in the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim element is intended, such intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such limitation is present. For non-limiting example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim elements. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim element by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim element to inventions containing only one such element, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an”; the same holds true for the use in the claims of definite articles.

Technology Category: g