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:
Jul. 02, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1999
Mark Wayne Mueller, Austin, TX (US);
Peter Matthew Thomsen, Austin, TX (US);
Lucinda Mae Walter, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A circuit card capable of live insertion into an activated electronic system includes a terminal edge from which an edge connector extends a first length. An input decoupling capacitance resides across the edge connector. A backplane within the activated electronic system receives the circuit card, wherein the backplane includes at least one voltage plane, a backplane receptor, and card guide receptor means. The backplane receptor electrically couples the edge connector to the voltage plane when the edge connector engages the backplane receptor. Card guide means are provided for guiding and connecting the circuit card into the backplane, and include at least one conductive member for engaging the card guide receptor means. The conductive member extends a second length from the terminal edge, wherein the second length is greater than the first length. At least one conductive path electrically couples the conductive member across the input capacitance. A voltage supply applied to the card guide receptor means ensures that during insertion of the circuit card into the backplane, but prior to the backplane receptor engaging the edge connector, the input capacitance will pre-charge through the conductive member, thereby preventing arcing and voltage dropout.