Silicon Graphics, Incorporated

Bruce R Garrett

Andrew Lewis Johnston

Stephen Derek Smithson

Steve Dean

David C North

Roger W Ramseier

Paul Wiley

A printed circuit card carrier permits exchange of a card during continuous operation of electronic equipment, and thus without the need to remove an upper part of the enclosure to gain access to the card for upward removal from a motherboard connector. The carrier includes a movable printed circuit card holder that slides along the carrier, perpendicularly towards and away from the motherboard. An actuator accessible from outside the equipment and the holder are coupled together such that motion of the actuator is directed into perpendicular sliding motion of the holder. This either removes the printed circuit card from the motherboard connector or installs it into connector, depending on the direction of motion of the actuator. The carrier is particularly adapted for cards meeting the PCI standard.

Method and assembly for installation or removal of printed circuit card

An electrical connector (,) includes a cable dock (,) having a first connector (,) and a backshell assembly (,) having a second connector (,). The second connector (,) is adapted for engagement with the first connector (,). The electrical connector (,) also includes a locking element (,) coupled to the cable dock (,) and a latch (,) coupled to the backshell assembly (,). The latch (,) is operable to engage the locking element (,) and, in response to movement of the latch (,) relative to the backshell assembly (,), engage the first connector (,) with the second connector (,).

Electrical connector with latching backplate assembly

Growing community of inventors

Newark, CA, United States of America

Bruce R Garrett