Tandem Computers Incorporated

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Randall J Diaz

Joerg U Ferchau

Hoa V Pham

Perry L Hayden, Sr

Robert E Smith

Kenneth A Kotyuk

Victor D Trujillo

Melvin J Phillips

Josonando Joson

An apparatus for receiving cables includes a chassis assembly including a base with a defined opening, and a bulkhead coupled to the base and located adjacent to the defined opening. The bulkhead includes a plurality of apertures capable of receiving an increased number of ports. A method of forming an electronic assembly, includes forming a chassis assembly from a metal sheet. The chassis assembly includes a base with a defined opening. The method further includes forming bulkhead on the base and adjacent to the defined opening. The bulkhead includes a plurality of apertures for receiving ports.

Electronic assembly for standard rack enclosures

A method and apparatus for blind alignment of electronic circuit boards. A receptacle with two vertical flanges and one horizontal flange is positioned relative to an electrical connection. A circuit board having a notch on a leading edge is proximally positioned to the receptacle. As the notched edge is moved toward the receptacle, the flanges guide the board into a registered position relative to the electrical connection. The method and apparatus may be used in any number of alignment situations including those as disparate as robotic assembly operations and assembly by untrained consumers and end-users.

Blind alignment method and apparatus for circuit boards

A bracket (28) secures a header (12) to a PWB (22) and includes a face plate (32) having an opening (34) sized to receive a portion (33) of the header. The face plate, and header therewith, is secured to the PWB by mounting tabs (44) secured to and extending from the face plate. Each mounting tab is relatively thin and has its narrow-width peripheral edge portion (56) adjacent to the surface (24) of the PWB. The edge portion has an opening (54) sized to accept a rivet (62) to affix the bracket to the PWB. The edge portion contacts a ground pad (66) on the PWB to provide grounding of the PWB through the bracket. The bracket includes centering tabs (48) which engage the edges (62) of the chassis openings (10) to properly position the header in the opening.

Connector bracket for printed wiring board

An electronic assembly includes an electronic module mountable to a backplane having a ground plane for grounding and EMI shielding. The electronic module includes a conductive chassis having a floating chassis board. Interface connectors are mounted to the chassis board and to the backplane and mate with one another when the electronic module engages the backplane. A grounding clip is mounted to the chassis board and is used to engage an alignment pin extending from the backplane. The grounding clip includes a laterally extending resilient arm which grounds the clip to the chassis. The alignment pin is electrically connected to the backplane ground plane and the grounding clip is electrically connected to the chassis board ground plane so that both ground planes are grounded to the chassis through the grounding clip. The backplane includes a ground pad which circumscribes the interface connectors and is connected to the ground plane. A conductive gasket mechanically and electrically couples the chassis with the ground pad so that the chassis, conductive gasket, ground pad and ground plane provide an effective EMI shield surrounding the interface connectors.

Electronic assembly with improved grounding and EMI shielding

A packaging system for components of a computing system includes an external, modularized, ecto-skeletal support frame for supporting a plurality of uniformly, horizontally dimensioned cabinets in stacked arrangement. The support frame is formed from a plurality of support shelves that form the support platforms for the cabinets. Separating and support shelves are support sleeves, that can be of variable lengths in order to accommodate the varying vertical dimensions of the cabinets held by the support frame.

Packaging system

An electronic module configured to removably receive a power cord is provided with an interlock mechanism that prevents the power cord from being attached or removed while the module is in a power-on or current-drawing condition. The electronic module includes an on/off switch that, when in its on state, places the electronic module in a power-on condition. A guard mechanism is mounted to the electronic module, proximate the power switch, and is movable from a first position that captures and holds the power cord in connected condition with the electronic module, or prevents connection with the electronic module, to a second position permitting removal or connection of the power cord. Movement of the guard mechanism from the first position to the second position is permitted only if the power switch is in an off state.

Electronic module switch and power and interlock system

A system interconnects electronic modules with one another, to a power supply and to signal lines through a printed circuit board. The modules are electrically connected to traces on the printed circuit board using blind mateable connectors. EMI shielding plates are mounted to the circuit board at the I/O connectors for the external cables. Guide elements, such as pin and socket guides and printed circuit board edge guides, are mounted to the circuit board to guide the blind mateable connectors. The syustem eliminates the numerous cables which would otherwise be required. The printed circuit board is mounted within the system housing and acts as an air duct barrier to aid proper air circulation. The circuit board also acts as a structured element helping to stabilize the housing and various module supports and serves as a mounting structure for various elements, such as cooling fans.

Electronic module interconnection system

A system interconnects electronic modules with one another, to a power supply and to signal lines through a printed circuit board. The modules are electrically connected to traces on the printed circuit board using blind mateable connectors. EMI shielding plates are mounted to the circuit board at the I/O connectors for the external cables. Guide elements, such as pin and socket guides and printed circuit board edge guides, are mounted to the circuit board to guide the blind mateable connectors. The system eleminates the numerous cables which would otherwise be required. The printed circuit board is mounted within the system housing and acts as an air duct barrier to aid proper air circulation. The circuit board also acts as a structured element helping to stabilize the housing and various module supports and serves as a mounting structure for various elements, such as cooling fans.

An apparatus for controlling the connection of an electrical module to an electrical receptacle. The module is provided with a power switch having a movable switch activator for inhibiting a flow of current to the electrical module when the switch activator is in a first position and for flowing a current to the electrical module when the switch activator is in a second position. The switch activator has a side portion which extends from a surface of the module when the switch activator is in the second position, but which does not extend from the surface of the module when the switch activator is in the first position. A lock member is disposed on a surface of the module and is slidable to a retracted position when the switch activator is in the first position. The lock member extends from the module and abuts against the side portion of the switch activator when the switch activator is in the second position. When the lock member is in the retracted position, the module may be readily connnected to or disconnected from the receptacle. When the lock member is extended, the module is prevented from being positioned in the prescribed orientation for connecting to the electrical receptacle, or, when the module and receptacle are already connected, the lock member extends into a bounded opening in the surface of the receptacle and the module cannot be disconnected from the receptacle.

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Gilroy, CA, United States of America

Randall J Diaz