International Business Machines Corporation

David Charles Olson

Michael T Peets

Lannie R Bolde

Robert P Phillips, Iii

John G Torok

William Louis Brodsky

David L Edwards

John J Loparco

Ryan Elsasser

Wade H White

Mitchell Zapotoski

James Edward Tersigni

Jac Anders Burke

Jeffrey Scott Wolfe

Gregory M Johnson

Randall G Kemink

Katie L Pizzolato

Ronald L Hering

Brian Werneke

Enrique C Abreu

James Hennekens

A cable assembly is used to connect elements of a computing system. The cable assembly may include a first cable and a connector. The first cable includes an external portion having a first conductor, an electromagnetic (EMC) shielding jacket for the first conductor and a connector disposed at an end of the first conductor. Further, the first cable includes an internal portion comprising a second conductor and a connector disposed on an end of the second conductor. However, the internal portion lacks an EMC shielding jacket for the second conductor. The external portion of the first cable and the internal portion of the first cable form a continuous cable. The connector device comprises a shield area configured to electrically couple with a chassis of a node of a computer system and a retainer configured to physically couple the cable assembly with the chassis. The connector is configured to electrically couple the external portion of the first cable with the chassis, and wherein the external portion of the first cable meets the internal portion of the first cable at the connector device.

Hybrid cable assembly

A cassette for insertion and removal of an edge-connected printed circuit card connectable to a server chassis is disclosed. The cassette includes a housing comprising a bottom wall having at least one elongated slot and a catch formed thereon. The cassette further includes a connector sub-assembly overlying the bottom wall having an edge connector socket formed thereon and configured to receive the edge-connected printed circuit card. The cassette further includes a guide sub-assembly underlying the bottom wall having a spring latch formed thereon. The spring latch is operable in a first state to engage the catch to prevent movement of the connector sub-assembly and the guide sub-assembly relative to the housing. The spring latch is operable in a second state to clear the catch to permit the connector sub-assembly and the guide sub-assembly to slide in unison in the at least one elongated slot.

Printed circuit card assembly connectable to a server chassis

Hybrid cable assembly having shielded and unshielded portions

An apparatus for providing a stiffener and cooling to a printed circuit board includes a printed circuit board coupled to a top surface of a stiffening cooling structure, where a lower surface of the printed circuit board is opposite the top surface of the stiffening cooling structure. One or more channels of the stiffening cooling structure defined by the top surface of the stiffening cooling structure, a bottom surface of the stiffening cooling structure, and one or more support members, where the one or more support members are positioned between the top surface of the stiffening cooling structure and the bottom surface of the stiffening cooling. One or more apertures in the top surface of the stiffening cooling structure directs airflow from the one or more channels of the stiffening cooling structure to one or more components disposed on a top surface of the printed circuit board.

Stiffener cooling structure

One aspect of the invention discloses an apparatus for mating computing device structures. The apparatus comprises one or more rotatable latches, the one or more rotatable latches each including a respective screw mechanism housed within the one or more rotatable latches. The apparatus further comprises one or more spring assemblies, the one or more spring assemblies each including a respective thread assembly housed within the one or more spring assemblies. The respective thread assemblies comprise threading that is capable of receiving a corresponding screw mechanism of the one or more rotatable latches.

Latch and spring assembly

A method, system, and apparatus for cooling one or more devices through use of a cooling plate. An example system includes multiple heat generating devices coupled to a cooling plate, each through an individual thermal interface unit. The thermal interface unit includes a compressible solid pad with at least one surface having a plurality of projections carrying a flowable material. The thermal interface units are pressed between the heat generating devices and the cooling plate so that the flowable material is completely enclosed.

Customized thermal interface to optimize mechanical loading and thermal conductivity characteristics

A system for burn-in testing of integrated circuits employs a cooling module with an aperture that accommodates a standard size holder for various chips, the holder being placed in the mouth of the aperture, in contact with a flexible seal. When the module is raised to make contact from below with a socket on a test board, the seal confines the cooling fluid and contacts on the upper surface of the holder are pressed against a set of corresponding contacts on the test board.

Method and device for cooling/heating die during burn in

A fixture and process for assembly of semiconductor modules. Each module comprises a substrate and a cover attached to the substrate. The fixture comprises a baseplate adapted to accept the substrate and a spring-loading device containing a shape memory alloy spring engaging the cover. The shape memory alloy spring exerts a lesser force at room temperature and an elevated force at the bonding temperature of the bonding agent used to attach the cover to the substrate. The process comprises the steps of (a) loading she module into an assembly fixture and aligning a shape memory alloy spring over the module at room temperature; (b) placing the fixture and module into a heating chamber; (c) heating the fixture and module to a temperature sufficient for bonding and above the shape memory alloy spring transition temperature range so that the spring exerts an elevated force on the module; and (d) cooping the fixture and module below the transition temperature so that the spring exerts a lesser amount of force on the module, and disengaging the springs at the lower temperature.

Process and apparatus for improved module assembly using shape memory alloy springs

Preferred embodiments for methods of removing an integrated circuit (&ldquo;IC&rdquo;) from a substrate, where the IC is attached to the substrate by multiple solder connections are disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the inventive methods provides the steps of heating the IC and substrate to the reflow temperature for the solder connections and pulling the IC from the substrate by means of a vacuum force. Another preferred embodiment of the inventive method provides the step of shearing the IC from the substrate after the substrate and IC are heated, but before solder reflow temperature has been reached, and where the shearing force may be programmed through a computer controlled servomotor. Preferred embodiments of certain apparatus applying the inventive methods for removing an integrated circuit from a substrate are also disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus includes a vented pallet to hold the substrate and IC and through which the vacuum force is applied to pull the IC from the substrate without the use of physical clamping or contact forces applied to the substrate or IC. In a further preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus, shear elements are provided and used with a programmable servomotor for precisely controlling the forces applied to the substrate and IC as a function of time, temperature and translational distance.

Method and apparatus for removing known good die

A shaving or shearing blade utilized in dressing solder joint chip technologies without the use of heat or a copper block wicking process. In essence, any solder debris resulting from the solder shaving process as implemented by the shaving blade is removed through the intermediary of a vacuum arrangement located as an integral structure in the shaving blade so as to inhibit the potential formation of electrical shorts or causing solder damage in subsequent replacement chip joins or other assembly operations.

Shaving blade for chip site dressing

Apparatus and method is provided for separating electrical connections, such as, solder connections, between two surfaces in which electrical connections are relatively weak and thus can be readily separated. The preferred application of the disclosed process and apparatus is its use in separating semiconductor devices from its device carrier after the devices have been through burn-in tests. The unique process and apparatus allows multiple uses of device carrier for testing and/or burning-in devices.

Growing community of inventors

Lagrangeville, NY, United States of America

David Charles Olson