Dell USA L.p.

Other

Dell Products Inc.

Oracle International Corporation

Steven L Sands

R Steven Mills

Ty R Schmitt

Jerry D Gandre

Arthur Lopez

Andrew Lafayette McAnally

Timothy C Dearborn

Richard Steven Mills

Timothy M Radloff

Ralph Warren Jensen

George Thomas Holt

Blake West

Clifford A Gibbons

Leslie N Keller

Eric B Holloway

Bilal I Agha

Kenneth A Hass

David M Pryal

A cable management apparatus that limits the degree of travel of a FRU (e.g., server, other computing device, power supply, etc.) out of a storage rack to an amount just necessary to service one or more particular components of the FRU (e.g., fan bay, etc.) free of having to power down the FRU which provides a more cost effective maintenance strategy for users. As a result, the disclosed cable management apparatus advantageously allows for the use of shorter cables between the FRU and other devices (e.g., other FRUs, switches, power supplies, etc.), improved airflow through the FRUs and the storage rack, reduced complexity of the cable management apparatus, simplified installation and manipulation of the apparatus, and the like.

Cable management for rack-mounted computing devices

A single peripheral device bay including a frame can receive a variety of different adapter plates, and thereby accommodate the maximum number of devices for each of a variety of different types and/or sizes of peripheral devices when the adapter plates are chosen for the particular type and/or size of device. Such a peripheral device bay includes a frame that can be permanently attached to the chassis of a computer system or an external enclosure. The removable adapter plates are attached to the frame so as to accommodate different devices. Because the peripheral device bay can be permanently attached to the chassis or enclosure, it can provide either with additional structural stability.

Peripheral device bay with adapter plates

A system and method for use in a computer system that includes a circuit board having a slot, a system processor, a card having tabs positionable in the slot, a computer bus operably connected between the system processor and the slot, a retaining module including a handle portion and a supporting frame, and a wall portion substantially covering one side of the supporting frame. The supporting frame is sized to support the card during insertion and removal of the tabs in the slot. The supporting frame includes an edge that may be used as the handle portion. The retaining module may also include a mounting platform for the card. Fastening structure may be positioned on the mounting platform, on the supporting frame, or on the edge of the supporting frame. Various types of fastening structure may be utilized including a peg that engages a hole in the card and a flexible clip that retains the card in the retaining module.

Card retaining module for expansion slots

A lock assembly for retaining computer peripheral devices in a housing. The lock assembly includes a spring-loaded lock bar that is movable between an unlock and a lock position. The lock bar is secured in the lock position by engaging a lock pin in one end of the lock bar. The lock pin is coupled for linear movement to a rotateable lock cylinder. A key is used to rotate the lock cylinder between lock and unlock positions. The key may be removed and stored in a secure place after locking the lock assembly to prevent unauthorized removal of peripheral devices from the housing. Brackets are mounted on opposing sides of the housing to retain the lock bar and to provide guide slots for controlling movement of the lock bar between lock and unlock positions.

Linear security mechanism for enclosure

A lock and release mechanism is disclosed which includes an elongated bendable member which engages a lock tab such that when the lock tab is disengaged with the chassis an electronics module can be moved into a plurality of positions, including a service position, a closed position and a removal position. Such a mechanism advantageously provides latch and release functionality using a single part.

Computer mother board multi-position chassis drawer latch and release mechanism

An expansion card retention system and method. In one embodiment, the expansion card retention system includes an expansion card retaining unit which has a vertical axis, an extended member, and a vertical-axis extended member pressure application device operably connected to the extended member. In another embodiment, a data processing system includes the expansion card retention system. In yet another embodiment, the method includes securing an expansion card via the application of a wedging force.

Expansion card retaining device

A chassis retaining system for securing a chassis supporting electronic equipment such as a computer system to a rack. The chassis retaining system includes a handle and a securing device with a retaining surface. The securing device is coupled to the handle, and the retaining surface is movable with respect to the handle. The chassis retaining system further includes a user interface device coupled to the handle and to the securing device. The user interface device is movable with respect to the handle. The user interface device is engageable by a user to move the retaining surface from a first position with respect to the handle wherein a surface of the electronics rack in which a chassis is mounted retains the retaining surface, to a second position wherein the surface of the electronics rack does not retain the retaining surface.

Chassis retaining system for an electronics rack

A computer, and a hard drive assembly for use in the computer, according to which a mounting member, having a plurality of light sources mounted thereon, is disposed in the chassis of the computer. One or more hard drive assemblies are provided, each including a carrier mounted in the chassis, a plurality of light pipes mounted on the carrier and extending through the carrier, and a hard drive unit mounted in the carrier. One end of each light pipe registers with a corresponding light source to transfer the light from the light sources through the light pipes and the carrier for providing a visual indication at the other end of each of the light pipes.

Computer and hard drive having a multiple drop light pipe

An aperture in a mounting rail for receiving a retaining pin for securing or locking a carrier that is slid into a carrier bay on the mounting rail. The carrier holds a computer system hard disk drive. The retaining pin extends through the mounting rail aperture and engages a surface on the carrier when the carrier is in a secured position to secure or lock the carrier in the carrier bay. In one example, the mounting rail aperture is located on top of the mounting rail and is formed by an aperture frame that is supported by stiffening ribs. The retaining pin is moved to a secured or locking position by a key actuated cam. The key actuated cam moves a locking bar attached to the retaining pin.

Mounting rail retaining pin aperture

An electronic system includes a chassis with attachment features which may interchangeably accept and secure a connector assembly and paralleling board assembly. The connector assembly may be used in a lower cost nonredundant power supply configuration while the paralleling board assembly may be used in multiple power supply configurations. The power supply may be interchangeably connected to the connector assembly and the paralleling board assembly.

Electronic system implementing redundant and nonredundant power supply

A fan carrier for mounting a fan in a protective housing of electronic equipment. The fan carrier includes a frame for securing a fan having a flange with a front side and a back side. The fan carrier also includes a first securing device connected to the frame. The first securing device has a first surface. The fan carrier further includes a second securing device connected to the frame. The second securing device has a first surface movable as to the frame. When a fan is secured to the frame, the first surface of the first securing device retains the flange and the first surface of the second securing device retains the flange.

Fan flange retention in a fan carrier

The pushbutton switch of the present invention includes one or more normally open contact switches and a moveable base plate having a handle and moveable to either a disabled or an operational position by a force applied to the handle. One or more pushbuttons are included wherein each pushbutton is individually depressable to operate a respective one of said normally open contact switches to a closed condition when the moveable base plate is in the operational position. A cover plate having apertures corresponding to the pushbuttons and to the handle of the moveable base plate is included wherein the pushbuttons and the handle are accessible through the apertures. Two or more fasteners are used to slideably couple the moveable base plate to the cover plate. One or more detents are used to hold the moveable base plate in either the disabled or the operational position.

Pushbutton switch with disabling capability

A card stabilizer for stabilizing an expansion card inserted in a female edge connector. The card stabilizer consists of a frame member sized to extend around the female connector, locking device for locking the frame member relative to the female connector and a guide disposed on the frame member for receiving at least one end portion of the expansion card and to prevent movement and hence electrical disconnection of the expansion card in the female edge connector.

Expansion card stabilizer for a circuit board edge connector

The present invention provides a simple, compact and cost effective locking device that simultaneously secures a multiple of hard disk drive carriers or cartridges in a disk drive housing. The disk drive housing includes at least two disk drive carrier bays in a disk drive carrier opening for housing associated disk drive carriers. The locking device of the present invention secures the disk drive carriers into the disk drive carrier bays and therefore into the disk drive housing. The locking device includes a moveable locking bar assembly located inside the disk drive housing and spanning the disk drive carrier bays and comprises a locking bar and at least two locking pins projecting from the locking bar, one locking pin for each of the disk drive carriers, wherein the locking bar is moveable to either a locked or an unlocked position. A cam mechanism is positioned for engaging and camming the locking bar assembly so as to move the locking bar assembly to either the locked position or the unlocked position and a key lock assembly actuates the cam mechanism. The key lock assembly is attached to the disk drive housing and is accessible from the exterior of the disk drive housing. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the locking bar is a substantially flat, rectangular-shaped bar and the locking pins are planar with the locking bar, and in the second embodiment of the present invention, the locking bar is a substantially flat, rectangular-shaped bar and the locking pins project perpendicular of the locking bar.

Locking apparatus including key actuated movable locking bar for disk

A chassis for containing a circuit board and a method of mounting a circuit board to a chassis. The chassis includes: (1) an outer chassis portion having a conductive material and having a plurality of associated pairs of integral circuit board mounts and outer chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, the circuit board mounts protruding toward an interior of the outer chassis portion and (2) an inner chassis portion having a plurality of associated pairs of integral spring members and inner chassis apertures formed in a substantially planar wall thereof, the plurality of circuit board mounts registerable with the plurality of inner chassis apertures to allow the plurality of circuit board mounts to pass through the plurality of inner chassis apertures as the wall of the inner chassis portion is brought into proximity with the wall of the outer chassis portion, the wall of the inner chassis portion substantially occluding the outer chassis apertures and the wall of the outer chassis portion substantially occluding the inner chassis apertures to form an electromagnetic interference ('EMI') shield, the plurality of circuit board mounts and the plurality of spring members cooperable to mount a circuit board to the chassis and to provide a grounding path from the circuit board to the chassis for electrical currents associated with the circuit board.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Steven L Sands