Silicon Graphics, Incorporated

Bonnie Kay Dobbs

Stephen A Bowen

Stephen Cermak, Iii

Rodney A Ruesch

David Paul Gruber

Thomas Alex Crapisi

Jeffrey Scott Cogner

Jeffrey S Conger

Apparatus and methods for reducing circuit board flexing is presented. The apparatus is fastened to a printed circuit board to provide rigid support for reducing bending and flexing. In one embodiment, a rigid frame is provided that is adapted to be fastened to one or more components and to be fastened to a printed circuit board. The frame is adapted to elevate the attached component from the PCB surface allowing components to be mounted on the PCB therewith. The frame is adapted to occupy minimal printed circuit board surface area so as not to displace electronic components. In another embodiment, an elongated truss-like stiffener is provided that is adapted to be fastened to one side of the printed circuit board and adapted to span the printed circuit board. The elongated stiffener is adapted to have an open structure to minimize cooling flow disturbance and weight. The elongated stiffener includes a plurality of legs forming a truss-like structure. The stiffener supports the printed circuit board to resist bending and flexing stresses. In yet another embodiment, a combination of one or more stiffeners and one or more frames are provided such that the printed circuit board resists bending and flexing stresses.

Printed circuit board stiffener

A printed circuit board apparatus, configurations and methods are presented which provide for close spacing between the HUB and multiple processors as well as a common configuration for two or four processor boards. A printed circuit board is provided with conductive apertures and portions corresponding to an efficient Packaging allowing for the attachment of the processor-chip on one side of the printed circuit board, and the HUB and other supporting electronic components on the other side of the printed circuit board. This configuration allows for the close spacing of the electrical conductors of the HUB and the processors without the limitations imposed by the physical dimensions of the respective hardware. Additionally, a symmetric packaging of the conductive apertures and portions about a centerline of the printed circuit board allows for a simple design modification to allow for a two two-processor board to be manufactured from a similarly configured four-processor board.

Printed circuit board component packaging

Growing community of inventors

Bloomer, WI, United States of America

Bonnie Kay Dobbs