摘要:
A computer system is provided which includes features enhancing its serviceability. In a described embodiment, a computer has a chassis which includes option card module latching structures and a drive bay module pivot structure. The latching structures provide convenient access to a system board of the computer. The pivot structure provides convenient access to storage media devices in a drive bay module of the computer.
摘要:
A supportive ground clip for a computer system board mounted in a computer chassis and a method for installing a grounded printed circuit board in a computer shassis using the supportive ground clip. The supportive ground clip includes a base member for providing a grounding connection with the chassis, flexible support members attached to opposite ends of the base member and ascending vertical members attached to the flexible support members for mounting the supportive ground clip to the computer system board. Each of the flexible support members includes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with the bottom side of the computer system board and each of the ascending vertical members includes a contact point for providing a grounding connection with the top side of the computer system board. The first and second flexible support members are shaped such that compressive forces exerted on the supportive ground clip support the computer system board within the chassis. To install the computer system board, at least one electrically conductive grounding clip is mounted in an aperture provided in the board such that the grounding clip is positioned to engage grounding pads electrically connected to the board's components and such that at least part of the grounding clip extends below the board. The board is then slideably installed within the chassis and supportably mounted above the base by engaging the grounding clips and the base.
摘要:
A memory expansion board capable of holding up to 16 Mbytes of memory devices, using primarily 1 Mbit chips, in 2 Mbyte module increments, on a single IBM PC/AT compatible size board. The circuit board is so designed that when the memory expansion board is populated by modules and placed in a computer system it does not interfere with any of the other expansion slots within the computer system, all of the expansion slots being normally spaced apart. The memory expansion board also includes a means of protecting the memory expansion board and modules from damage due to misalignment when inserting the board and/or modules. When certain of the modules are inserted rotated 180 degrees the circuit board cannot be properly installed in the system board because of physical interference. Lastly, the memory expansion board includes a means for providing reduced length addressing memory lines to memory devices appearing on opposite sides of a circuit board.
摘要:
A card edge connector for printed circuit boards is disclosed which employs a double-decker design. The connector may have the same length and width as conventional connectors used on Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) personal computers but is deeper. Conventional 8- and 16-bit ISA accessory circuit boards may be plugged into a corresponding socket which is also disclosed herein until they reach a stop upon which they rest, working as they would in an ISA personal computer. 32-bit Extended Industry Standard Architecture accessory circuit boards have a second row of connectors and a notch so they slide farther down into the socket, lining up with a second row of contacts. This design uses less physical space for connectors, allowing more room for logic circuitry on the motherboard.
摘要:
A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using specially designed drive unit support and a reconfigurable front bezel. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation. When the bezel is secured to the outer side of the front housing wall an opening in the bezel body outwardly overlies the housing wall opening. A frame portion of the bezel is provided with a snap-in blank off plate to cover a portion of the housing wall opening unoccupied by drive units, and the frame portion may be removably installed on the bezel body in mutually perpendicular orientations to accommodate the selected desktop or tower configuration of the computer housing.
摘要:
A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with a group of the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using a specially designed drive unit support and latch structures. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit in the group thereof can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation. As a particular drive unit is inserted in either orientation, a resilient latch structure is deflected by the drive unit and then releasably locks it into place. The latch structure is defined by two perpendicular, spring-loaded latch members which are cammingly interconnected in a manner such that a drive-releasing movement of one of the latch members simultaneously forces the other latch member through its drive-releasing movement.
摘要:
A print ribbon handler for an impact type printer maintains the ribbon at a constant slant angle from the horizontal. A ribbon guide surface having threaded grooves is provided to guide the ribbon up and down at a constant vertical rate of change with respect to the horizontal/printhead travel back and forth across the printing span to keep the ribbon at the constant slant angle.
摘要:
A computer system is provided which includes features enhancing its serviceability. In a described embodiment, a computer has a chassis which includes option card module latching structures and a drive bay module pivot structure. The latching structures provide convenient access to a system board of the computer. The pivot structure provides convenient access to storage media devices in a drive bay module of the computer.
摘要:
A computer may be easily user re-configured between desktop and tower housing orientations, with the computer's front side drive units being horizontally disposed in each orientation, using specially designed drive unit support and a reconfigurable front bezel. A square opening is formed in the front exterior wall of the housing, and the support apparatus includes spaced apart channel structures extending inwardly into the housing from the four sides of the wall opening, with opposing pairs of the channel structures being adapted to slidably receive corresponding projections on opposite side edge portions of the drive units. In this manner, each front side drive unit can be supported at the opening in a first orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a desktop orientation, or a second orientation in which the drive unit will be horizontally oriented with the computer in a tower orientation. When the bezel is secured to the outer side of the front housing wall an opening in the bezel body outwardly overlies the housing wall opening. A frame portion of the bezel is provided with a snap-in blank off plate to cover a portion of the housing wall opening unoccupied by drive units, and the frame portion may be removably installed on the bezel body in mutually perpendicular orientations to accommodate the selected desktop or tower configuration of the computer housing.
摘要:
In a computer processor module/heat sink assembly, a spring clip member is used to resiliently hold a heat-generating die portion of the processor against the heat sink. Spaced retaining pins are secured to the processor module and extend through holes in the heat sink, with outer end portions of the retaining pins being captively retained in slots in the spring clip member, and portions of the clip member adjacent the outer pin ends being resiliently deformed toward the outer side of the heat sink to thereby resiliently press the processor die portion against the underside of the heat sink. The clip member may be quickly installed on and removed from the outer pin ends without the use of tools of any sort. In an alternate embodiment of the processor module/heat sink assembly, the retaining pins are secured to the heat sink and extend through holes in the processor module, with outer ends of the pins being captively and removably secured to the spring clip which is positioned on the outer side of the processor module.