Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Mathew J Palazola

Daniel D Gonsalves

James M Carney

William A Izzicupo

Joseph M Spano

Robert S Antonuccio

Mark R Pugliese

Christopher E Chiodo

David E Desilets

Thomas E Stewart

Robert Antonnucio

Paul S Montgomery

Kenneth Kitlas

James F Testa

William Leslie Dailey

Jonathan A Colprit

Mark Richard Pugliese

Herbert F Pfeifer

Computer system housing

The invention relates to a computer system and method thereof characterized by high airflow and low acoustic noise by separating the enclosure of the system into two sections, in which in one section cooling fans are arranged between power supply units and disk drives, the power supply units being located at the back of the section and the fans, as to the disk drives, serving as exhaust fans, and in the other section inlet fans are arranged to cool selected hardware electrical elements, such as CPU modules, PCI and graphics cards, wherein the placement of the inlet fans is selected to minimize pre-heated air and fan airflow paths are controlled and directed by an air dam to maximize the cooling effect, and noise damping material is employed in mounting the rack for the disk drives, the disk drives and fans and in forming the side walls of the enclosure.

Computer with high airflow and low acoustic noise

Cabinet for electronic equipment such as a computer system

A PCI card is inserted through an I/O opening in a computer panel. On one edge of the card is a cover from one end of which projects a tab. A resilient gasket is attached to the panel to create a flexible EMC seal around the opening. Preferably the gasket is formed of tin-plated beryllium copper. The gasket has alternate staggered spring fingers oriented opposite to the direction of insertion of the PCI card. To retain the gasket the panel is formed with slots at either end and an outward struck projection at the middle. The gasket is formed with a tongue at either end to be inserted in one of the slots and a punched-out opening to receive the projection.

Modular EMC PCI card gasket

An apparatus for securing a conductor to a circuit board. The conductor is configured for being soldered to the circuit board through a first aperture in the board. The apparatus includes a conductor supporting portion having a second aperture therethrough. The conductor supporting portion is configured for coupling to the circuit board. The second aperture substantially aligns with the first aperture when the conductor supporting portion is coupled to the circuit board to permit the conductor to be inserted through both the first aperture and the second aperture. The apparatus includes a tab portion configured for coupling to the conductor supporting portion. A portion of the conductor is thus held substantially immobile between the conductor supporting portion and a first edge of the tab portion when the tab portion is coupled with the conductor supporting portion, thereby preventing the conductor from being broken at the portion of the conductor when the conductor is flexed.

Strain relief apparatus and methods therefor

A composite computer housing protects electronic components against shock and vibration. The housing has a midplane which divides the housing into a chassis section and a mainboard section. The chassis section holds hard disk drives. The mainboard section holds a mainboard, cards, a processor unit and other electronic components. A composite side cover assembly, having multiple layers, encloses the housing and provides a shell to inhibit flexion of the housing. The side cover presses against any number of the electronic components in the mainboard section to minimize vibration of these components and to enable the electronic components to provide internal support to the housing.

Rugged computer housing

A structural foam, injection molded superstructure is attached to a motherboard by means of threaded inserts. The superstructure is formed with guide ways for CPU processor modules, and also for the edges of PCI cards. Features of the structure include cam levers on the CPU modules to install and extract the modules. A metal transverse vertical retaining bracket is attached to the superstructure to hold sides thereof parallel and prevent splaying of the free, open end of the superstructure upon extraction of CPU processor modules. The assembly provides stiffness to the motherboard.

Motherboard stiffener and guide for processor modules and PCI cards

An insert is installed at a corner and two adjacent edges of an enclosure for electronic equipment so that a signal light, such as an LED, may be observed from two sides of the enclosure. The insert has a prism to refract light in both directions from an LED or similar signal light supported on the insert in a fixed position relative to the prism. The corner of the prism is rounded to function as a lens. The corner of the enclosure is cut away at the upper edges of the converging sides and the cut-away area filled with the lens. An apron depending from the insert may be welded or otherwise adhered to the interior of the enclosure.

Prism to provide visibility of a signal light in two directions

An improved attachment mechanism for attaching the motherboard in a computer system to its chassis is disclosed. The attachment mechanism includes a rail that engages at least two opposing edges of the motherboard and a hook mechanism that engages a catch formed in the chassis. The hook mechanism is secured to a central portion of the motherboard. The rail and hook mechanism cooperate to securely couple the motherboard to the chassis without requiting the use of extensive usable space on the motherboard. The described arrangement permits the motherboard to be quickly and easily installed and released.

Printed circuit board attachment mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Glochester, MA, United States of America

Mathew J Palazola