Abstract: An information handling system includes a chassis having a guide slot and a printed circuit board placed in guide slot of the chassis. The guide slot includes at least two opposing channels aligned adjacent the printed circuit board with a guide tab formed in one of the opposing channels. A daughter card electrically couples to the printed circuit board when placed in an attached position. The daughter card includes a first edge and a second edge that slides between the opposing channels of the guide slot such that the card aligns to couple to the printed circuit board. The card also includes a first detent formed in either the first edge or the second edge. The first detent releaseably interacts with the guide tab formed in the opposing channels such that the guide tab contacts the first detent when the card is placed in an intermediate position.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a chassis having a guide slot and a printed circuit board placed in guide slot of the chassis. The guide slot includes at least two opposing channels aligned adjacent the printed circuit board with a guide tab formed in one of the opposing channels. A daughter card electrically couples to the printed circuit board when placed in an attached position. The daughter card includes a first edge and a second edge that slides between the opposing channels of the guide slot such that the card aligns to couple to the printed circuit board. The card also includes a first detent formed in either the first edge or the second edge. The first detent releaseably interacts with the guide tab formed in the opposing channels such that the guide tab contacts the first detent when the card is placed in an intermediate position.

Abstract: A method of accessing a motherboard in a computer system includes, during sliding of a card along a guide slot in the system, automatically interacting a first detent formed along an edge of the card with a guide tab when the card reaches an intermediate position to support the card in the intermediate position detached from the motherboard. The detachment of the card and the motherboard is sufficient to permit access to the motherboard while the card remains coupled to a system chassis. Interacting the guide tab with the detent may include extending a portion of the guide tab into the detent to provide lateral support for the card. The guide tab may be a metallic leaf spring and may be affixed to the chassis and may provide an electrical contact to a ground contact in a second detent to ground the daughter card when its attached to the motherboard.

Abstract: A computer system having a computer housing, a printed circuit board within the housing having at least one connector for receiving an expansion card, a power control switch for controlling power to the connector, and an actuator device that is movably coupled to the printed circuit board so that movement of the actuator relative to the printed circuit board causes the actuator to activate the power control switch. The actuator is further capable of transmitting light emitted from a connector status indicator on the printed circuit board from a first point along the length of the actuator to a second point along its length.

Abstract: A removable fan bay for a computer system or information handling system is provided that permits the hot swapping of individual fans of the fan bay. The removal of the fan bay enclosures results in the removal of all of the fans of the fan bay. The fan bay is held in place by a securing mechanism that includes a latch and a receiving bracket. The latch includes a retractable handle. When the handled is placed in the raised position, a shoulder in the latch disengages from the receiving bracket, permitting the latch to be released from the receiving bracket and permitting the fan bay to be removed from the chassis of the computer system.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a chassis having a guide slot and a printed circuit board placed in guide slot of the chassis. The guide slot includes at least two opposing channels aligned adjacent the printed circuit board with a guide tab formed in one of the opposing channels. A daughter card electrically couples to the printed circuit board when placed in an attached position. The daughter card includes a first edge and a second edge that slides between the opposing channels of the guide slot such that the card aligns to couple to the printed circuit board. The card also includes a first detent formed in either the first edge or the second edge. The first detent releaseably interacts with the guide tab formed in the opposing channels such that the guide tab contacts the first detent when the card is placed in an intermediate position.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a chassis having a guide slot and a printed circuit board placed in guide slot of the chassis. The guide slot includes at least two opposing channels aligned adjacent the printed circuit board with a guide tab formed in one of the opposing channels. A daughter card electrically couples to the printed circuit board when placed in an attached position. The daughter card includes a first edge and a second edge that slides between the opposing channels of the guide slot such that the card aligns to couple to the printed circuit board. The card also includes a first detent formed in either the first edge or the second edge. The first detent releaseably interacts with the guide tab formed in the opposing channels such that the guide tab contacts the first detent when the card is placed in an intermediate position.

Abstract: A removable fan bay for a computer system or information handling system is provided that permits the hot swapping of individual fans of the fan bay. The removal of the fan bay enclosures results in the removal of all of the fans of the fan bay. The fan bay is held in place by a securing mechanism that includes a latch and a receiving bracket. The latch includes a retractable handle. When the handled is placed in the raised position, a shoulder in the latch disengages from the receiving bracket, permitting the latch to be released from the receiving bracket and permitting the fan bay to be removed from the chassis of the computer system.

Abstract: The spacing between the printhead of an inkjet printer cartridge and the print medium is dynamically controlled by an apparatus that slightly rotates the carriage that holds the cartridge. In one embodiment, the rotation is effected by actuation of a cam that resides between the rotatable carriage and a fixed part of the printer. The printhead-to-paper spacing is thus optimized for highest print quality.

Abstract: A computer system having a computer housing, a printed circuit board within the housing having at least one connector for receiving an expansion card, a power control switch for controlling power to the connector, and an actuator device that is movably coupled to the printed circuit board so that movement of the actuator relative to the printed circuit board causes the actuator to activate the power control switch. The actuator is further capable of transmitting light emitted from a connector status indicator on the printed circuit board from a first point along the length of the actuator to a second point along its length.

Abstract: The spacing between the printhead of an inkjet printer cartridge and the print medium is dynamically controlled by an apparatus that slightly rotates the carriage that holds the cartridge. In one embodiment, the rotation is effected by actuation of a cam that resides between the rotatable carriage and a fixed part of the printer. The printhead-to-paper spacing is thus optimized for highest print quality.

Abstract: A hard drive is accessed by providing a chassis, mounting a slider for reciprocating into and out of the chassis, and mounting a hard drive housing for rotating in the chassis. The hard drive housing has a hard drive opening. The housing and the slider are connected so that the slider reciprocates out of the chassis to support the housing in response to the access opening of the housing being rotated out of the chassis, and so that the slider reciprocates into the chassis for storage, in response to the access opening being rotated into the chassis.

Abstract: A computer system including a chassis having a printed circuit substrate mounted thereon. A plurality of microprocessors are mounted on the printed circuit substrate. A first one of the microprocessors is mounted in an in-line configuration with respect to a second one of the microprocessors. A heat dissipating device is mounted on each one of the microprocessors. The heat dissipating device mounted on the first one of the microprocessors includes a first heat dissipating body positioned at a first elevation above a mounting surface of the printed circuit substrate. The heat dissipating device mounted on the second one of the microprocessors includes a second heat dissipating body positioned at a second elevation above the mounting surface of the printed circuit substrate. A fan is mounted on the chassis adjacent to the printed circuit substrate for directing a stream of air over at least a portion of the first and the second heat dissipating bodies.

Abstract: A rising rate integral spring drive belt system for driving a carriage carrying an inkjet printhead is quieter and more economical than earlier systems. An integral spring drive belt of a resilient material is secured to the carriage and driven by a motor to selectively move the carriage across the printzone. The belt is of a resilient elastomeric material. The belt has an integral spring portion with two segmented members defining a void therebetween and a web member coupling together the two segmented members. The remainder of the belt has a constant spring constant, while the spring portion has a higher spring constant which varies with the degree of tension experienced by the belt. The variable spring constant allows the spring portion to more readily respond to and damp periodic belt tension vibrations to provide a quieter, more economical printing mechanism. A method is provided driving an inkjet printhead carriage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for applying an intermediate transfer surface, in the form of a liquid layer, on a support surface as may be used in a phase change ink printing system. The apparatus includes an applicator assembly for distributing the liquid layer onto the support surface to produce the intermediate transfer surface and an apparatus for metering the liquid layer uniformly on the support surface. The applicator assembly has a contact medium for removing foreign matter from and delivering the liquid onto the support surface. Preferably the contact medium is a liquid impregnated web that is periodically incremented to present a clean web surface in contact with the support surface. The metering apparatus is a hydrodynamic blade that uniformly distributes the liquid intermediate transfer layer over the support surface.

Abstract: An aerosol reduction system collects stray ink aerosol generated by inkjet printheads includes ventilation and collection components. During printing and purging, the printhead ejects ink to generate a desired ink droplet and a by-product comprising floating ink satellites. The aerosol collection system may be either passive or active, with the passive devices relying upon carriage motion to bring the collection elements into contact with the aerosol collection location. The passive systems have collection elements mounted on the carriage, including a rigid electrostatic filter, a billowing sail shaped filter geometry, or electrically charged plates. The active systems use some additional mechanism to bring the aerosol and the collection location together, such as the carriage-mounted aerosol removal or extraction fans illustrated. The collection location of these active systems may be mounted at the carriage, or well behind the carriage.