Small-frame computer with overlapping add-in cards
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer module for electrically coupling a motherboard with at least first and second add-in cards, the computer module comprising:
- a first riser electrically coupled with the motherboard and electrically coupled with the first add-in card at a first card elevation above the motherboard;
a second riser electrically coupled with the motherboard, and electrically coupled with the second add-in card at a second card elevation above the motherboard;
the first and second risers oriented facing toward each other, the first and second risers being sufficiently distant from each other, and the first and second card elevations above the motherboard being sufficiently different from each other, so that the add-in cards will extend from the risers generally parallel to the motherboard, and will at least partly overlap each other over the motherboard; and
a frame having at least first, second, and third frame sides, the second frame side generally opposite the first frame side, the third frame side connecting to and holding the first and second frame sides;
wherein the first riser is connected to and held by the first frame side, and the second riser is connected to and held by the second frame side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer module for electrically coupling a motherboard with add-in cards comprises risers connected to the motherboard and oriented facing toward each other, where the risers are connected to the add-in cards at different elevations above the motherboard, so that the add-in cards are parallel to the motherboard and overlap each other. The computer module includes a frame that can be rotated or adjusted to accommodate the need to connect with motherboard slots in various locations.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A computer module for electrically coupling a motherboard with at least first and second add-in cards, the computer module comprising:
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a first riser electrically coupled with the motherboard and electrically coupled with the first add-in card at a first card elevation above the motherboard; a second riser electrically coupled with the motherboard, and electrically coupled with the second add-in card at a second card elevation above the motherboard; the first and second risers oriented facing toward each other, the first and second risers being sufficiently distant from each other, and the first and second card elevations above the motherboard being sufficiently different from each other, so that the add-in cards will extend from the risers generally parallel to the motherboard, and will at least partly overlap each other over the motherboard; and a frame having at least first, second, and third frame sides, the second frame side generally opposite the first frame side, the third frame side connecting to and holding the first and second frame sides; wherein the first riser is connected to and held by the first frame side, and the second riser is connected to and held by the second frame side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer module for electrically coupling a motherboard with an add-in card, the motherboard having at least first and second motherboard connectors, the computer module comprising:
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a frame which is adjustable to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration;
a riser electrically coupled with the motherboard, and electrically coupled with the add-in card, the riser connected to and held by the frame and oriented so that the add-in card will extend from the riser generally parallel to the motherboard;wherein, in the first configuration, the riser is held by the frame so as to be positioned near the first motherboard connector, so that the riser is electrically coupled with the motherboard through the first motherboard connector; and in the second configuration, the riser is held by the frame so as to be positioned near the second motherboard connector, so that the riser is electrically coupled with the motherboard through the second motherboard connector.
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10. A method for electrically coupling a motherboard with at least first and second add-in cards, the method comprising:
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providing a first riser; electrically coupling the first riser with the motherboard, electrically coupling the first riser with the first add-in card at a first card elevation above the motherboard; providing a second riser;
electrically coupling the second riser with the motherboard, electrically coupling the second riser with the second add-in card at a second card elevation above the motherboard;orienting the first and second risers facing toward each other, positioning the first and second risers sufficiently distant from each other on the motherboard, and elevating the first and second cards above the motherboard so that the card elevations are sufficiently different from each other, so that the add-in cards will extend from the risers generally parallel to the motherboard, and will at least partly overlap each other over the motherboard; providing a frame having at least first, second, and third frame sides, the second frame side generally opposite the first frame side, the third frame side connecting to and holding the first and second frame sides, the frame adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration by changing the length of the third frame side so that, in the first configuration, the first frame side is positioned near the first motherboard connector so that the first riser can electrically couple with the motherboard through the first motherboard connector, and in the second configuration, first frame side is positioned near the second motherboard connector so that the first riser can electrically couple with the motherboard through the second motherboard connector;
connecting the first riser to the first frame side;connecting the second riser to the second frame side; and adjusting the length of the third frame side to transition the frame into one of the first configuration or the second configuration.
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Specification