Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Company

Michael Leslie Wortman

Stephan Karl Barsun

Bryan David Bolich

Steven F Manzi

Christopher Gregory Malone

Andrew Michael Cherniski

Harold Miyamura

Jeremy Ian Wilson

Richard A Miner

Douglas Davies

A method for a standalone open frame in one example is configured to support a rack-mount electronic component of a predetermined size selected from any of a plurality of predetermined sizes. The standalone open frame is configured to securely engage the rack-mount electronic component through employment of at least one set of rack-mount adapters that is configured for the predetermined size of the rack-mount electronic component.

Standalone open frame

A standalone open frame of an apparatus in one example is configured to support a rack-mount electronic component of a predetermined size selected from any of a plurality of predetermined sizes. The standalone open frame is configured to securely engage the rack-mount electronic component through employment of at least one set of rack-mount adapters that is configured for the predetermined size of the rack-mount electronic component.

A computing device module for receipt within a computing device chassis includes an enclosure and a handle movably coupled to the enclosure. The handle moves between an extended position and a retracted position. The handle includes at least one opening configured to permit at least one hand digit to extend through the at least one opening when the handle is in the retracted position.

Computing device module

A bracing apparatus is disclosed that has a component located within an opening in a cantilevered end of a heatsink. The component has a form factor that is expandable for stabilizing the heatsink at a given elevation relative to a printed circuit board. The bracing apparatus includes a tensioning device located within an opening in the component. When deployed, the tensioning device causes the component to expand. Also included in the bracing apparatus is a coupling medium for coupling the component to the printed circuit board.

Expandable bracing apparatus and method

An apparatus in one example comprises a plurality of levers that convert a lesser input force to a greater output force for support of a heatsink component coupled with an electronic component.

Levers for support of heatsink component

An assembly comprising a housing and a circuit board is designed to facilitate a simplified method of assembling the circuit board into the housing, along with a simplified method of coupling the signals on the circuit board to other circuits. The circuit board is guided into place by a pair of slots, with each slot located proximate an end of the housing. The housing includes a support member that has a deflection/retention feature that extends above a plane formed by the circuit board after the board has been assembled to the housing. The assembly is assembled by first partially inserting one end of the board into a slot and pressing the other end of the board toward another slot, with a curved guide deflecting the board downward and into the other slot. When both ends of the circuit board are inserted into the slots, the deflection/retention feature is in contact with the board and flexes the board upward. As the board is pressed forward, a second curved guide engages the board and urges the board downward toward its final position. As the board clears the deflection/retention feature, it snaps into place. When the assembly is attached to the system that it will eventually be a part of (such as a computer system), tapered alignment posts on one connector are aligned with corresponding holes proximate the another connector, thereby simplifying the process of coupling electrical signals to the circuit board.

Housing assembly having simplified circuit board assembly, retention, and electrical connection features

A low profile actuator assembly for controlling PCI card removal from the chassis bay of a hot pluggable computer. The assembly includes a housing, a switch and a latch body. The housing is adapted for mounting to the bay and is defined by a top, bottom, and a front. The switch is coupled to the housing bottom and is operable in a first state and a second state. In this regard, the first state is indicative of a power-on condition, whereas the second state is indicative of a power-off condition. The latch body is connected to the housing and is operatively associated with the switch. More particularly, the latch body is linearly slidably between a retention position and a release position. In the retention position, the latch body is extended relative to the housing front and causes the switch to operate in the first state. Conversely, in the released position, the latch body is retracted relative to the housing front and causes the switch to operate in the second state. In one preferred embodiment, the assembly further includes a push button coupled to the housing adjacent the latch body for prompting a powering down condition.

Low profile PCI hot plug actuator assembly

A method of color-coding a blade and a bladed system is disclosed. The bladed system has a plurality of slots. In particular, the method facilitates selecting at least one slot for inserting therein the blade. One of a plurality of core colors is associated with each slot of the bladed system, whereas each core color indicates which type of blade can be inserted in the corresponding slot. One of the core colors is associated with the blade. In the bladed system, a slot which has an associated core color which matches the core color of the blade is selected. The blade is inserted in the selected slot.

Color-coding technique for slot selection in bladed systems

An integrated positioning and locking device is disclosed. The integrated positioning and locking device is well suited for installing an assembly onto a chassis. In particular, the integrated positioning and locking device has a latch formed in an external wall of the assembly. The latch latches against the chassis. Moreover, the latch includes a lip which points externally from the external wall. In addition, the integrated positioning and locking device further includes an inner wall for blocking access through the external wall to an internal region of the assembly when the assembly is in an installed position on the chassis. Furthermore, the integrated positioning and locking device has a T-shaped boss integrated into the inner wall for positioning the assembly relative to the chassis to facilitate placing the latch into a latched position for locking the assembly in the installed position.

Integrated positioning and locking device

A hinged-bezel system for use with electronic devices housed in equipment enclosures. The system, comprising a comb, a clamp plate, and a hinged bezel, extends the pivot of a hinge outward from the face of a equipment enclosure to allow full access to components within the equipment enclosure, through the front face of the equipment enclosure, without removing the hinged bezel. Additionally, the system allows the electronic device to be fully anchored to the equipment enclosure. The comb, mounted to the front face of the equipment enclosure, securely fastens to the clamp plate, which is attached to the front sidewall of the electronic device along with the hinged bezel.

Hinged-bezel system for use with electronic devices

A method of assembling a circuit board into a housing to form an assembly is disclosed. The method includes inserting a first end of the circuit board into a first slot of the housing, flexing the circuit board over a deflection/retention feature, inserting a second end of the circuit board into a second slot of the housing, and pressing the circuit board into place until the circuit board clears the deflection/retention feature and snaps into place. The circuit board thereafter returns to a substantially flat state. Moreover, inserting a first end of the circuit board into a first slot of the housing and inserting a second end of the circuit board into a second slot of the housing each include simplifying initial alignment of the circuit board into the slot by first contacting a lower surface of the slot that extends farther from a front of the housing than an upper surface of the slot.

Method of assembling a circuit board into a housing

A bezel that includes a number of unitary EMI-shield-and-snap-retention features molded onto an inner surface of a bezel. The EMI-shield-and-snap-retention features partially fasten an EMI shield to the bezel, while also fastening the bezel to a snap attached to an equipment enclosure. Each feature contains two flanged and tapered guide strips flanking one or more ramp-shaped pieces. As the EMI shield is placed flat along the interior of the bezel, the flanged sections of the guide strips lie over top of the EMI shield, pressing the EMI shield against the interior of the bezel. As the bezel closes against the equipment enclosure, the tapered sections of the guide strips guide the snap up the ramp-shaped pieces. The snap gains tension ascending the ramp-shaped pieces. When the snap crests the ramps, tension is released in the snap, causing the convex tip of the snap to stay secured to the ramp-shaped pieces.

Integrated EMI-shield-and-bezel-retention feature for use with electronic devices

A combination of EMI-shield-retention features molded onto a bezel for an equipment enclosure. The features collectively fasten a notched and cutout EMI shield to the inner surface of the bezel without requiring any tools or fasteners. Several &minus;Z-retention features provide surfaces for the EMI shield to lie flat against the inner surface of the bezel, while several X, Y-retention features protrude through holes and notches cut in the EMI shield to further retain the EMI shield. Finally, &plus;Z-retention features along one edge of the bezel provide flanges for the EMI shield to slide under, while &plus;Z-retention features, on the opposite edge of the bezel from the flanges, snap over top of the EMI shield.

Snap-on-EMI-shield-retention system for use with electronic devices

A wireform bracket provides a simple, elegant, low-cost solution for managing a large number of cables, while also allowing ample airflow at the back of a computer system. A wireform bracket in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of bends, with each bend proximate a connector on the backplane of a computer system when the wireform bracket is attached to the back of the computer system. As cables are connected to the back of the computer system, each cable is fastened to the nearest bend using a tie-wrap, or some other cable fastening method known in the art. The present invention minimizes potential strain at the connectors by shifting any strain to the point at which the cable is attached to the wireform bracket, while also minimizing the disruption of airflow in the area immediately behind a computer system. In one embodiment, a wireform cable is formed from a &frac18; inch thick piece of steel wire, though other materials and thicknesses may be Mused. This embodiment includes eight bends and is ideally suited for use in a computer system having six PCI slots. Those skilled in the art will understand how to apply the teachings herein to adapt the present invention for use in other configurations.

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Sacramento, CA, United States of America

Michael Leslie Wortman