International Business Machines Corporation

Donald Lee Thompson

Roy A Rachui

Chung H Lam

Byron Lee Krauter

Scott R Stiffler

Steven W Mittl

Kenneth Carl Larsen

Robert F Sechler

Benjamin Michael Kreuz

Linda A Miller

Francis Anthony Kuchar, Jr

A system and method for front service access to a component or subassembly in a computer system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a frame having a front face is provided, as well as a plate configured to move into and out of the front face of the frame. The plate includes a first portion and a second portion coupled to one another via a linking element. A component cage is mounted on the first portion of the plate. The first portion of the plate is moved out of the front face of the frame and is rotated downward via the linking element. In this position, the cage is readily accessible.

Cage assembly for front service access and method of use

An electronic switch circuit switches out bad decoupling capacitors on a high speed integrated circuit chip. The circuit comprises a control device that operates in the subthreshold or off device state to detect leakage in a decoupling capacitor. This control device operates in a low impedance state if the capacitor is good and in a high impedance sate if the capacitor is bad. A feedback circuit is connected from an internal node of the capacitor to a gate of the control device so that once a state of the capacitor is detected it can be stored on the gate of the control device. A single external signal source shared by a group of capacitors activates the control device to detect leakage in the capacitor. The circuit operates to switch out capacitors that fail during normal operation.

Electronic switch for decoupling capacitor

A retention device for retaining the forward edge of a PCI or ISA adapter card in a computer frame is provided. The retention device has a channel mounted to the frame opposite a rearward edge of the card. The channel has upper and lower panels which define a slot for receiving the forward edge of the card. A finger is pivotally mounted to one end of the channel and has grooves on a lower surface for engaging grooves on an upper surface of the forward edge. The finger is movable between an engaged position for capturing the forward edge to retain it from moving, and a disengaged position for releasing the forward edge and allowing the card to be removed from the slot.

PCI and ISA adapter card guide pincher

A thumbscrew apparatus for fastening a first device to a second device. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a screw attached to the second device and a first cylinder screwed onto the screw for fastening the first device to the second device. The first cylinder has an outboard end with a one-way slot feature that allows a screwdriver to be used to loosen the first cylinder while inhibiting the use of the screwdriver to tighten the cylinder. In a second embodiment, the shaft of the screw has a first portion smaller in diameter than a second portion. The first portion also has a thread pitch smaller than that of the second portion. A second cylinder contained within the first cylinder is screwed onto the second portion of the shaft while the first cylinder is screwed onto the first portion. A pin is used to lock the first cylinder to the second cylinder such that both cylinders are turned at the same revolution. However, since the pitch of the second portion of the shaft is greater than that of the first portion, the second cylinder moves faster along the axis of the screw than the first cylinder. Hence, when both cylinders are being turned in the loosening direction, the second cylinder pushes the screwdriver out of the one-way slot of the outboard end of the first cylinder before the first cylinder reaches the end of its travel.

Backbracket thumbscrew assembly

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Donald Lee Thompson