Retention mechanism for high mass add-in cards

• US 20040190268A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tan, Guixiang, Noble, Scott, Wu, Yinan, Hill, Brent A., Lynch, John M., Ling, Yun, Willis, Daniel S., Cottrell, Cary D., Tong, Thai Dan
• Application Number:
  US10/404,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190268A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/748
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K

Abstract

An electronic system includes a system board, a connector mounted on the system board, an electronic card attached to the connector, the card overhanging the connector at least on an inward end of the card, and a guide secured to the system board and spaced from the connector, wherein the guide is adapted to inhibit lateral movement of the card.

Claims

1. An electronic system, comprising:

a system board;

a connector mounted on the system board;

an electronic card attached to the connector, the card overhanging the connector at least on an inward end of the card; and

a guide secured to the system board and spaced from the connector, wherein the guide is adapted to inhibit lateral movement of the card.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide is adapted to provide a side constraint which substantially prevents lateral flexing of the card at a point where the guide contacts the card.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide contacts one or more side surfaces of the card.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the guide contacts two opposed side surfaces of the card.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide is positioned along a bottom edge of the card.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide is positioned along a back edge of the card.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide is position along a top edge of the card.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide is positioned at a corner of the card.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the guide includes an alignment feature adapted to align the guide with the connector.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the alignment feature includes arms adapted to mate with the connector.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the alignment feature includes a keying feature.

12. A method, comprising:

providing a system board;

mounting a connector on the system board;

attaching an electronic card to the connector, the card overhanging the connector at least on an inward end of the card; and

securing a guide to the system board spaced from the connector; and

inhibiting lateral movement of the card with the guide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein inhibiting lateral movement of the card comprises providing a side constraint with the guide which substantially prevents lateral flexing of the card at a point where the guide contacts the card.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein inhibiting lateral movement of the card comprises contacting one or more side surfaces of the card with the guide.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the guide contacts two opposed side surfaces of the card.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the guide comprises positioning the guide along a bottom edge of the card.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the guide comprises positioning the guide along a back edge of the card.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the guide comprises positioning the guide along a top edge of the card.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein securing the guide comprises positioning the guide at a corner of the card.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing the guide with an alignment feature adapted to align the guide with the connector.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the alignment feature includes arms adapted to mate with the connector.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the alignment feature includes a keying feature.