Stacked electronic integrated card assembly with multi-function shared interface

• US 6,461,170 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nixon, Brent, LoForte, Steven, Oliphant, David, Madsen, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Application Number:
  US09/859,903
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.1, 439/638, 439/945, 439/946, 361/686, 361/737
• US Class Current: 439/76.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0273 having extensions for peripherals, e.g. LAN, antennas details of antennas H01Q1/2275
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0282 Adapters for connecting cards having a first standard in receptacles having a second standard

Abstract

A computer card assembly for removeable insertion into a receiving/expansion slot of a host computer is presented. The computer card assembly facilitates the removal and recombination of at least one electronic card in an electronic card interface tray that includes a shared interface. An electronic card interface tray includes an external shared interface that can facilitate larger jacks and opposing sidewalls which together form bays or slots within the computer card assembly. The electronic card is sized to be received within a bay of the card tray to facilitate insertion of the computer card assembly into the host expansion slot. The electronic card supports the standard host interface while sharing and external interface, such as a network interface, with other cards within the computer card assembly.

Claims

1. A computer card assembly capable of removeable insertion with a host computer having a receiving slot therein, said computer card assembly comprising:

(a) at least two electronic card sized smaller in at least one dimension than said receiving slot of said host computer, said electronic cards further each including a shared interface interconnect, and a host interface for physically and electrically coupling with said host computer in said receiving slot; and

(b) an electronic card interface tray including;

(i) an external shared interface, the external shared interface providing a detachable electrical connection between said shared interface interconnect of said electronic cards with electronics external to said host computer; and

(ii) opposing sidewalls which together form at least two internal electronic card bays for receiving said at least two electronic cards therein, said electronic interface tray with said at least two electronic cards therein having external boundaries physically compatible for insertion within said receiving slot of said host computer.

2. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said opposing sidewalls form two internal electronic card bays for receiving a first electronic card and a second electronic card in a stacked arrangement.

3. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 2, wherein said first electronic card and said second electronic card include a first shared interface interconnect and a second shared interface interconnect, respectively, for internally physically and electrically coupling with a first shared interface interconnect and a second shared interface interconnect of said external shared interface.

4. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic card interface tray further comprises a sidewall separator spanning between said opposing sidewalls thereby forming a first internal electronic card bay above said sidewall separator and a second internal electronic card bay below said sidewall separator.

5. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 4, wherein:

a) said opposing sidewalls further include first opposing card guide rails within said first internal electronic card bay and second opposing card guide rails within said second internal electronic card bay; and

b) said first and second electronic cards further include opposing guide grooves corresponding with said first and second opposing guide rails, said opposing guide rails for receiving and retaining said first and second electronic cards within said first and second internal electronic card bays, respectively.

6. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 2, wherein said first and second electronic cards are symmetric and interchangeable between said two internal electronic card bays.

7. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic card interface tray further includes standard interface guide rails on external faces of said opposing sidewalls for interfacing with corresponding grooves within said receiving slot of said host computer.

8. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic interface tray and said at least one electronic card therein and conform to a PCMCIA interface standard.

9. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 8, wherein said PCMCIA interface standard is of Type III.

10. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said external shared interface extends only partially between said opposing sidewalls forming a shared interface cutout and said at least one electronic card extends into said shared interface cutout.

11. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 10, wherein said at least one electronic card extending into said share interface cutout further includes a dedicated interface unique to said at least one electronic card.

12. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said external shared interface further includes at least one jack external to said host computer complying with an RJ-11 specification.

13. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein said external shared interface further includes at least one jack external to said host computer complying with an RJ-45 specification.

14. A PCMCIA Type III computer card assembly comprising:

(a) at least two electronic cards sized smaller in at least one dimension than said PCMCIA Type III specification, said at least two electronic cards further each including a shared interface interconnect, and a host interface physically and electrically compatible with a host interface of said PCMCIA Type III specification; and

(b) an electronic card interface tray including;

(i) an external shared interface, the external shared interface providing a detachable electrical connection between said shared interface interconnect of said electronic cards with electronics external to said PCMCIA Type III computer card; and

(ii) opposing sidewalls which together form at least two internal electronic card bays for receiving said electronic cards therein, said electronic interface tray having external boundaries physically compatible with said PCMCIA Type III specification.

15. The PCMCIA Type III computer card assembly, as recited in claim 14, wherein said opposing sidewalls form two internal electronic card bays for receiving a first electronic card and a second electronic card in a stacked arrangement.

16. The PCMCIA Type III computer card assembly, as recited in claim 15, wherein said first electronic card and said second electronic card include a first shared interface interconnect and a second shared interface interconnect, respectively, for internally physically and electrically coupling with a first shared interface interconnect and a s second shared interface interconnect of said external shared interface.

17. The PCMCIA Type III computer card assembly, as recited in claim 14, wherein said electronic card interface tray further comprises a sidewall separator spanning between said opposing sidewalls thereby forming a first internal electronic card bay above said sidewall separator and a second internal electronic card bay below said sidewall separator.

18. The PCMCIA Type III computer card assembly, as recited in claim 17, wherein:

a) said opposing sidewalls further include first opposing card guide rails within said first internal electronic card bay and second opposing card guide rails within said second internal electronic card bay; and

b) said first and second electronic cards further include opposing guide grooves corresponding with said first and second opposing guide rails, said opposing guide rails for receiving and retaining said first and second electronic cards within said first and second internal electronic card bays, respectively.

19. The computer card assembly, as recited in claim 14, wherein said electronic card interface tray further includes standard interface guide rails on external faces of said opposing sidewalls for compliance with said PCMCIA Type III specification.

20. The PCMCIA Type III computer card assembly, as recited in claim 14, wherein said external shared interface further includes at least one jack complying with an RJ-xx specification.

21. A communication card assembly for communication between a host computer and an external network, said communication card assembly comprising:

(a) at least two electronic cards, each including a shared interface interconnect, and a host interface for physically and electrically coupling with said host computer; and

(b) an electronic card interface tray including;

(i) an external shared interface, the external shared interface providing a detachable electrical connection between said shared interface interconnect of said electronic cards with electronics external to said host computer; and

(ii) opposing sidewalls which together form at least two internal electronic card bays for receiving said electronic cards therein, said electronic interface tray with said at least one electronic cards therein having external boundaries physically compatible for insertion within a receiving slot of said host computer.

22. The communication card assembly, as recited in claim 21, wherein said opposing sidewalls form two internal electronic card bays for receiving a first electronic card and a second electronic card in a stacked arrangement.

23. The communication card assembly, as recited in claim 22, wherein said first electronic card and said second electronic card include a first shared interface interconnect and a second shared interface interconnect, respectively, for internally physically and electrically coupling with a first shared interface interconnect and a second shared interface interconnect of said external shared interface.

24. The communication card assembly, as recited in claim 21, wherein said electronic card interface tray further comprises a sidewall separator spanning between said opposing sidewalls thereby forming a first internal electronic card bay above said sidewall separator and a second internal electronic card bay below said sidewall separator.

25. The communication card assembly, as recited in claim 24, wherein:

a) said opposing sidewalls further include first opposing card guide rails within said first internal electronic card bay and second opposing card guide rails within said second internal electronic card bay; and

b) said first and second electronic cards further include opposing guide grooves corresponding with said first and second opposing guide rails, said opposing guide rails for receiving and retaining said first and second electronic cards within said first and second internal electronic card bays, respectively.

26. The communication card assembly, as recited in claim 21, wherein said electronic card interface tray further includes standard interface guide rails on external faces of said opposing sidewalls for interfacing with corresponding grooves within said receiving slot of said host computer.

27. The communication card assembly, as recited in claim 21, wherein said electronic interface tray and said at least one electronic card therein and conform to a PCMCIA interface standard.