The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
May. 21, 1996
Bassam Elkhoury, Longmont, CO (US);
Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ensures that circuit cards of a computer system are properly oriented and fully inserted into their slots before allowing the computer system to power-up. Each card has two electrically connected key fingers on the card edge, while each slot has first and second contacts adapted to engage the two key fingers when the card is fully seated on the slot. One contact of the first slot is connected to a known voltage, while the second contact is connected to the first contact of the next slot. The second contact of the next slot is in turn connected to the first contact of the subsequent slot. Thus, upon a complete engagement of the cards onto the slots, all contacts are connected in a series arrangement. The final contact is connected to an insertion detector which turns on the computer system power supply only when the voltage of the last contact equals the known voltage, indicating that all circuit cards are fully seated on the slots. Additionally, each circuit card has a card edge with asymmetrical segments which form a mechanical key for ensuring proper orientation of the circuit card on the slot.