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:
Oct. 02, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 28, 1999
Winnie C. Leung, San Francisco, CA (US);
Kenneth Kitlas, San Jose, CA (US);
Anita Patel, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus to vertically mount a first printed circuit board into a high-density connector on a second circuit board using one or more torque-limiting screws. A suitable support structure or support surface may be mounted on the second circuit board with the top of the support structure lying below the high-density connector in such a manner as to align the connecting edge on the first circuit board with the longitudinal opening in the high-density connector when the first circuit board is placed on the top surface of the support structure. One or more torque-limiting screws may be mounted on appropriated edges of the first circuit board. One or more grooved channels, preferably equal in number to the torque-limiting screws on the first circuit board, may be provided on the top of the support structure. The torque-limiting screws on the first circuit board are oriented in line with the corresponding grooved channels when the first circuit board is placed on the top of the support structure. The connecting edge on the first circuit board gets inserted into the high-density connector on the second circuit board when the torque-limiting screws are fastened into the grooved channels. The use of one or more torque-limiting screws and a suitable stable support structure may generate a high insertion force over a short insertion distance without overtightening the screws and may also prevent damage to the delicate high-density connecting edge of the first circuit board due to over-insertion. A simple mechanism to insert and remove one circuit board from the other may thus be achieved.