Card connector dampening assembly

• US 7,566,238 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Earl W., Tracy, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon; Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRARDI, VANESSA MARY
• Application Number:
  US11/490,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 439/382, 439/2, 439/384, 439/630
• US Class Current: 439/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/185 Mounting of expansion boards
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/83 connected with pivoting of printed circuits or like after insertion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0271 Arrangements for reducing stress or warp in rigid printed circuit boards, e.g. caused by loads, vibrations or differences in thermal expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0133 Elastomeric or compliant polymer elastomeric conductor H05K2201/0314
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10189 Non-printed connector
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2045 Protection against vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1417 having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards H05K7/1461 takes precedence

Abstract

A card connector dampening assembly comprises a connector coupled to a printed circuit board and configured to receive an electronic card connected therewith and a dampening member disposed at least partially between the printed circuit board and the electronic card.

Claims

1. A card connector dampening assembly, comprising:

a connector electrically coupled to a printed circuit board and configured to receive an end of an electronic card and communicatively couple the electronic card connected therewith with the printed circuit board; and

a dampening member disposed at least partially between the printed circuit board and the electronic card, wherein installation of the electronic card into the connector maintains at least a portion of the dampening member in a compressed state, wherein the dampening member has a length and a width substantially corresponding to a length and a width of the electronic card.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dampening member comprises a foam-based dampening member.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dampening member comprises at least one relief cavity for a component of the printed circuit board.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the dampening member is adhered to the printed circuit board.

5. A card connector dampening assembly, comprising:

a connector electrically coupled to a printed circuit board and configured to receive an end of an electronic card and communicatively couple the electronic card connected therewith with the printed circuit board; and

a dampening member disposed at least partially between the printed circuit board and the electronic card, wherein installation of the electronic card into the connector maintains at least a portion of the dampening member in a compressed state, wherein the connector comprises a ninety degree connector.

6. A card connector dampening assembly, comprising:

a connector means electrically coupled to a printed circuit board means and configured to receive an end of a card means and communicatively couple the card means connected therewith with the printed circuit board means; and

a means, disposed at least partially between the printed circuit board means and the card means, for dampening vibration between the card means and the printed circuit board means, wherein installation of the card means maintains at least a portion of the means for dampening vibration in a compressed state, wherein the connector means comprises a ninety decree connector means.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the dampening means comprises at least one relief means for a component of the printed circuit board means.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the card means is disposed in a parallel orientation relative to the printed circuit board means.

9. A method for manufacturing a card connector dampening assembly, comprising:

providing a printed circuit board having an electronic card communicatively connected thereto via a connector;

disposing a dampening member at least partially between the printed circuit board and the electronic card;

providing the dampening member having at least one relief cavity for at least one component of the printed circuit board; and

moving an end of the electronic card toward the printed circuit board to compress the dampening member such that at least a portion of the dampening member is maintained in a compressed state while the electronic card is connected to the printed circuit board.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising disposing a foam-based dampening member between the printed circuit board and the electronic card.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising adhering the dampening member to the printed circuit board.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a ninety degree connector on the printed circuit board for receiving the electronic card.

13. A portable electronic, device, comprising:

a connector electrically coupled to a printed circuit board and configured to communicatively couple an electronic card connected therewith with the printed circuit board; and

a dampening member disposed between the printed circuit board and the electronic card, the dampening member substantially preventing wear between electrical contacts of the connector and mating edge connector traces of the electronic card and substantially preventing movement of the electronic card relative to the printed circuit board, wherein the dampening member comprises a length and width substantially corresponding to a length and a width of the electronic card.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the dampening member comprises at least one relief cavity corresponding to a location of a component extending from the printed circuit board.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the dampening member comprises at least one relief cavity configured to substantially prevent a compressive force from being applied to a component extending from the printed circuit board.

16. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a connector that electrically couples to a printed circuit board and receives an end of an electronic card to communicatively couple the electronic card with the printed circuit board; and

a dampening member disposed on the printed circuit board and at least partially between the printed circuit board and the electronic card, an end of the electronic card being moved toward the dampening member to apply a compressive force to the dampening member to fixedly secure the dampening member between the printed circuit board and the electronic card, wherein the dampening member is adhered to the electronic card or to the printed circuit board.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the dampening member comprises at least one relief cavity corresponding to a location of a component extending from the printed circuit board.

18. A card connector dampening assembly, comprising:

a connector attached and electrically coupled to a printed circuit board to receive an end of an electronic card and communicatively couple the electronic card to the printed circuit board; and

a dampening member disposed at least partially between and contacting both the printed circuit board and the electronic card, wherein installation of the electronic card into the connector maintains at least a portion of the dampening member in a compressed state, and wherein the dampening member comprises at least one relief cavity for a component of the printed circuit board.

19. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a connector electrically attached to a printed circuit board and receiving an end of an electronic card to electrically couple the electronic card connected therewith to the printed circuit board; and

a dampening member disposed at least partially between and contacting both the printed circuit board and the electronic card, the electronic card being moved while in the connector to apply a compressive force to the dampening member when the electronic card is installed in the connector, the dampening member comprising at least one relief cavity corresponding to a location of a component extending from the printed circuit board.