Patents by Inventor Bruno Centola
Bruno Centola has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6884096Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an electronic printed circuit board within a electronic chassis is disclosed. The PCB includes at least one connector and the chassis backplane includes at least one connector adapted for electrically connecting to the PCB connector when the PCB is latched within the chassis. The apparatus comprises a lever and a rod. The lever includes a first pivot means that is rotated about the edge of the chassis. The lever is movable between a first position and a second position to allow the connector mounted on the back end of the PCB to engage the backplane connector by actuating the lever downward, or to disengage the PCB connector from the backplane connector by actuating the lever upward. The rod is pivotally coupled to the PCB by a rod pivot and pivotally coupled to the lever by a lever pivot that enables movement of the rod along the same plane in which the lever is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Denis G. Roman, Jean-Pierre Suzzoni
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Publication number: 20040219811Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an electronic printed circuit board within a electronic chassis is disclosed. The PCB includes at least one connector and the chassis backplane includes at least one connector adapted for electrically connecting to the PCB connector when the PCB is latched within the chassis. The apparatus comprises a lever and a rod. The lever includes a first pivot means that is rotated about the edge of the chassis. The lever is movable between a first position and a second position to allow the connector mounted on the back end of the PCB to engage the backplane connector by actuating the lever downward, or to disengage the PCB connector from the backplane connector by actuating the lever upward. The rod is pivotally coupled to the PCB by a rod pivot and pivotally coupled to the lever by a lever pivot that enables movement of the rod along the same plane in which the lever is actuated.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Bruno Centola, Denis G. Roman, Jean-Pierre Suzzoni
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Patent number: 6674643Abstract: A thermal connector to transfer heat from one PCB to another, without interfering with the convenient removal and replacement of the PCBs and without increasing the force required to connect or deconnect the PCBs. The thermal connector comprises a first part, fixedly attached to one PCB and thermally coupled to the end portion of a first heat pipe (thermally coupled to the device to be cooled) and a second movable part, adapted to firmly grasp the end portion of the first pipe and a second heat pipe thermally connected to a cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez
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Patent number: 6670559Abstract: An electromagnetic shield device for printed circuit boards (PCBs) which, in one embodiment, is made of conductive material and comprised of two parts. In another embodiment, the device is a singular element. In both examples, press-fit or compliant pins may be used to electrically couple the device to the PCB's ground layer. Alternatively, projecting pins or flat conductive plates can be used to provide this coupling. The device is also adjustable to accommodate PCBs of varying thicknesses. The device provides for added PCB stiffness while assuring prevention of electromagnetic radiation from the PCB's edge.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez, Patrick Michel, Jacques Feraud
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Patent number: 6633490Abstract: An electronic board assembly carrying connectors on each side of its lower edge which is adapted to withstand the relatively strong forces required to insert or remove the assembly, e.g., from a backplane board, and yet provide many electrical contacts along the interconnection sites. The electronic board assembly comprises two symmetrical elementary PCBs electrically coupled together, each carrying a connector on its external lower edge. In one embodiment, these two PCBs are coupled together by a flexible adhesive insulative layer and maintained by mechanical devices such that the distance between these two connectors is set to a predetermined distance (to align precisely with the backplane board). The mechanical device used to maintain a predetermined distance between the two connectors of the assembly may comprise a U-shaped member, the upper part of this member being strategically inserted between these connectors.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez, Christian Ouazana
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Publication number: 20030030986Abstract: A thermal connector to transfer heat from one PCB to another, without interfering with the convenient removal and replacement of the PCBs and without increasing the force required to connect or deconnect the PCBs. The thermal connector comprises a first part, fixedly attached to one PCB and thermally coupled to the end portion of a first heat pipe (thermally coupled to the device to be cooled) and a second movable part, adapted to firmly grasp the end portion of the first pipe and a second heat pipe thermally connected to a cooling system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez
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Patent number: 6498730Abstract: An apparatus and method for inserting and extracting printed circuit boards from a housing using screwing devices. A connector on the printed circuit board includes two tapped holes that cooperate with two threaded shafts held by the housing. The threaded shafts are operatively coupled to a common control shaft in such a way that rotating the control shaft in turn rotates the threaded shafts. Depending upon the rotation direction, the threaded shafts either screw or unscrew within the tapped holes so that the printed circuit board coupled to the connector is inserted or extracted.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez, Christian Ouazana
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Publication number: 20020071255Abstract: An apparatus and method for inserting and extracting printed circuit boards from a housing using screwing devices. A connector on the printed circuit board includes two tapped holes that cooperate with two threaded shafts held by the housing. The threaded shafts are operatively coupled to a common control shaft in such a way that rotating the control shaft in turn rotates the threaded shafts. Depending upon the rotation direction, the threaded shafts either screw or unscrew within the tapped holes so that the printed circuit board coupled to the connector is inserted or extracted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez, Christian Ouazana
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Publication number: 20020071260Abstract: An electronic board assembly carrying connectors on each side of its lower edge which is adapted to withstand the relatively strong forces required to insert or remove the assembly, e.g., from a backplane board, and yet provide many electrical contacts along the interconnection sites. The electronic board assembly comprises two symmetrical elementary PCBs electrically coupled together, each carrying a connector on its external lower edge. In one embodiment, these two PCBs are coupled together by a flexible adhesive insulative layer and maintained by mechanical devices such that the distance between these two connectors is set to a predetermined distance (to align precisely with the backplane board). The mechanical device used to maintain a predetermined distance between the two connectors of the assembly may comprise a U-shaped member, the upper part of this member being strategically inserted between these connectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez, Christian Ouazana
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Publication number: 20020071265Abstract: An electromagnetic shield device for printed circuit boards (PCBs) which, in one embodiment, is made of conductive material and comprised of two parts. In another embodiment, the device is a singular element. In both examples, press-fit or compliant pins may be used to electrically couple the device to the PCB's ground layer. Alternatively, projecting pins or flat conductive plates can be used to provide this coupling. The device is also adjustable to accommodate PCBs of varying thicknesses. The device provides for added PCB stiffness while assuring prevention of electromagnetic radiation from the PCB's edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Bruno Centola, Claude Gomez, Patrick Michel, Jacques Feraud
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Patent number: 6404650Abstract: A system is provided for positioning a plurality of cards in an electronic module intended to be plugged into a backplane. The system includes a spacing element comprising a succession of spacers of increasing section (diameter). Spacers are arranged end to end and are preferably cylindrical. The difference of section between successive spacers forms a kind of stair step or shoulder. These successive steps position the electronic cards parallel to one another, with a predetermined spacing which corresponds to the spacing of the backplane connectors. Fastening means, such as a nut, are associated with the steps for maintaining the cards. The cards are bored so that the spacing element can be inserted and the nuts applied. The size of the hole in each card is such that the surface around the hole can be pressed against the corresponding shoulder by means of the nut installed on the opposite side.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1999Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Henri Boniface, Bruno Centola, Jean-Marc Legrand
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Patent number: 6217368Abstract: The present invention relates to cable-to-card connectors and more particularly to a system for simplifying plugging and unplugging operations and for preventing any risk of bending pins and damaging contacts first, by guiding the cable and receiving connectors and second by multiplying the operator's insertion/extraction force. The system comprises a pair of guiding posts one on each side of the cable connector and a push-pull unique central screw making the link between guiding posts and the cable connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dominique Baron, Jean Conde, Bruno Centola
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Patent number: 6176728Abstract: The connecting device includes a securing plate and locking spring attached to the cable connector of the cable-to-card connectors. The connecting device is pressed, when the connectors are mated, by the front portion of the cable connector against the host machine chassis which in turn is pressed flat against the adapter card brackets. In a preferred embodiment the connecting device is attached on the front portion of a standard cable connector with removable fastener, in particular with a locking spring. In another embodiment, the connecting device is an integral part of the cable connector.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1998Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yves Bonnet, Jacques Cresp, Jean-Pierre Suzzoni, Jean-Marie Limon, Bruno Centola, Dominique Baron
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Patent number: 6053761Abstract: The present invention relates to cable-to-card connectors and more particularly to a system for simplifying plugging and unplugging operations and for preventing any risk of bending pins and damaging contacts first, by guiding the cable and receiving connectors and second by multiplying the operator's insertion/extraction force. The system comprises a pair of guiding posts one on each side of the cable connector and a push-pull unique central screw making the link between guiding posts and the cable connector.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dominique Baron, Jean Conde, Bruno Centola
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Patent number: D314747Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1988Date of Patent: February 19, 1991Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Bruno Centola, Antoine Pantani