Abstract: A method for the fabrication of electrical contacts using metal forming, masking, etching, and soldering techniques is presented. The method produces a plurality of specialized electrical contacts, capable of use in an interposer, or other device, including non-permanent or permanent electrical connections providing contact wipe, soft spring rates, durability, and significant amounts of travel.

Abstract: A group of identical bezel plates having bilateral symmetry interchangeable, in a compound bezel assembly, with at least one other group of identical bezel plates having bilateral symmetry to produce multiple, bilaterally symmetrical, compound bezel configurations with different appearances using a minimal number of component plates; and method and apparatus for providing a venting bezel assembly with a plenum chamber formed between component plates.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising: a plurality of vertically stacked modular housing units, each modular housing unit comprising a plurality of data storage media receiving devices; a data storage media handling device adapted to laterally displace media between the media receiving devices; a vertical lift mechanism attached to the data storage media handling device and adapted to vertically displace the handling device along a vertical displacement path extending adjacent to the vertically stacked modular housing units and comprising a drive assembly fixedly positioned with respect to the modular housing units and a linkage mechanism connected between the drive assembly and the handling device.

Abstract: A self-actuating damper for each slot of a multi-slot printed circuit board assembly cage allows proper air-cooling without regard to the presence or non-presence of card board assemblies in the slots. The damper of each slot is automatically held in the closed position when the respective slot is empty. An actuation hook implemented on each of the card board assemblies engages the actuator of the damper as card board assembly is aligned with the slot and automatically actuates the damper to an open position as the cell board assembly is inserted into the slot.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising: a plurality of vertically stacked modular housing units, each modular housing unit comprising a plurality of data storage media receiving devices; a data storage media handling device adapted to laterally displace media between the media receiving devices; a vertical lift mechanism attached to the data storage media handling device and adapted to vertically displace the handling device along a vertical displacement path extending adjacent to the vertically stacked modular housing units and comprising a drive assembly fixedly positioned with respect to the modular housing units and a linkage mechanism connected between the drive assembly and the handling device.

Abstract: A bolster plate is attached to a printed circuit board and acts as a stiffener that reduces bending in the overall assembly during the attachment of an integrated circuit chip to the printed circuit board under a heavy applied load. The bolster plate is provided with a shim that compensates for bending of the bolster plate under load, thereby preventing damage to the integrated circuit chip. The dimensions of the shim may be selected according to computer model results representing bow deformation in the bolster plate without the shim.

Abstract: An electrical contact is designed with a plurality of spiraling legs such that when compressed, the spiral legs create a rotation of the top of the contact resulting in a wiping action to the contacting device or pad. The resulting micro-spider contact may be used for a wide variety of non-permanent or permanent electrical connection purposes including use in construction of an interposer.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of electrical contacts using metal forming, masking etching, and soldering techniques is presented. The method produces a plurality of specialized electrical contacts, capable of use in an interposer, or other device, including non-permanent or permanent electrical connections providing contact wipe, soft spring rates, durability, and significant amounts of travel.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of electrical contacts using metal forming, masking, etching, and soldering techniques is presented. The method produces a plurality of specialized electrical contacts, capable of use in an interposer, or other device, including non-permanent or permanent electrical connections providing contact wipe, soft spring rates, durability, and significant amounts of travel.

Abstract: An active heat sink structure includes at least one heat sink. Each heat sink includes a heat sink base having a top surface with a top surface periphery, a top surface center at a central portion of the top surface, and an oppositely disposed bottom surface. The top surface is preferably flat. The heat sink may be described in relation to a first reference line lying in the top surface and a second reference line lying in the top surface and perpendicular to the first reference line. Where there is more than one heat sink, the heat sinks lie adjacent to each other along the first reference line. A plurality of air flow paths are defined on the top surface of the heat sink base, preferably by fins extending perpendicular to the top surface. Substantially all of the air flow paths direct a flow of air from the top surface center toward the top surface periphery and substantially parallel to the second reference line.

Abstract: A media exchange device having a removable media handling device is disclosed herein. The media exchanging device may comprise a plurality of library modules, a first module, a media handling device, and an error detector. The first module is located adjacent the library modules and is removable from the library modules. The media handling device is movable between the library modules and the first module. The error detector is operatively associated with the media handling device. The error detector has a first state and a second state, wherein the error detector is in the first state when no errors are detected in the media handling device by the error detector, and wherein the error detector is in the second state when an error is detected in the media handling device by the error detector. The media handling device is adapted to move to the first module when the error detector is in the second state.

Abstract: A self-actuating damper for each slot of a multi-slot printed circuit board assembly cage allows proper air-cooling without regard to the presence or non-presence of card board assemblies in the slots. The damper of each slot is automatically held in the closed position when the respective slot is empty. An actuation hook implemented on each of the card board assemblies engages the actuator of the damper as card board assembly is aligned with the slot and automatically actuates the damper to an open position as the cell board assembly is inserted into the slot.

Abstract: An active heat sink structure includes at least one heat sink. Each heat sink includes a heat sink base having a top surface with a top surface periphery and a top surface center, and an oppositely disposed bottom surface. The heat sink may be described in relation to a first reference line lying in the top surface and a second reference line lying in the top surface and perpendicular to the first reference line. Where there is more than one heat sink, the heat sinks lie adjacent to each other along the first reference line. A plurality of air flow paths are defined on the top surface of the heat sink base, preferably by fins extending perpendicular to the top surface. Substantially all of the air flow paths direct a flow of air from the top surface center toward the top surface periphery and substantially parallel to the second reference line. An air-flow source such as a fan directs air into the plurality of air flow paths from a location at about the top surface center.

Abstract: A ejection mechanism is provided for disengaging a riser card from a backplane board of a computer system. The mechanism includes an elongate lever having an upper manipulation region, a lower abutting region and a pivot point located between the upper and lower regions. The elongate lever is mounted on a riser card at the pivot and generally extends downward a sufficient distance as to contact the backplane board upon rotation of the lever, and extends upward a sufficient distance to create sufficient leverage for disengaging the riser card. The lever is configured to have a more narrow cross-section at the lower abutting region to facilitate movement of the lower region along the backplane board towards the riser card. To operate the ejection mechanism, the user will apply a pulling force to the upper manipulation arm in a direction away from the riser card.

Abstract: An ejector latch mechanism is used to detachably mount a printed circuit board in a bus on the chassis of an active system. The ejector latch mechanism includes a switch component proximate an edge of the printed circuit board, and a latch pin mounted on the printed circuit board in a position that is removed from the corner and proximate the edge. A pivotable latch body is hingedly mounted to the printed circuit board for selective movement into open and closed positions. A hook is pivotally mounted to the latch body for selective engagement against the latch pin when the latch body is in the closed position. A signal provided by the switch component is used to notify the active system of pivotal movement in the latch body so that the active system can save electronic states of the printed circuit board and implement a graceful shutdown as appropriate for replacement of the printed circuit board without disruption of other system operations.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising: a media picker displacement path having a first end and a second end; a first media picker assembly mounted in the picker displacement path; a second media picker assembly mounted in the picker displacement path; a plurality of data storage media access locations located along the picker displacement path; the first media picker assembly being displaceable along the path from the first end to a point of interfering contact with the second media picker assembly; the second media picker assembly being displaceable along the path from the second end to a point of interfering contact with the first media picker assembly; the storage system having a normal running operating mode wherein the first media picker assembly is stationarily positioned at the first end of the displacement path and the second picker assembly is selectively positionable along the remainder of the path; the storage system having a fall back running operating mode wherein the second media picker assembly is s

Abstract: A system to guide a media handler used by an automated media exchanger is disclosed. The automated media exchanger is of the type that uses an imaging apparatus to identify media located in the automated media exchanger. The imaging apparatus images a guidance target that is affixed to a predetermined location relative to media within the automated media exchanger. The guidance target comprises a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge define boundaries of reflective difference. A first axis intersects the first edge at a first point and the second edge at a second point. The distance between the first point and the second point corresponds to a location on a second axis. The system measures the distance between the two points to correlate the location, relative to the second axis, where the target was imaged. The location of the imaging apparatus and, thus, the media handler, may, be readily determined relative to the media.

Abstract: A data storage system comprising: a media picker displacement path having a first end and a second end; a first media picker assembly mounted in the picker displacement path; a second media picker assembly mounted in the picker displacement path; a plurality of data storage media access locations located along the picker displacement path; the first media picker assembly being displaceable along the path from the first end to a point of interfering contact with the second media picker assembly; the second media picker assembly being displaceable along the path from the second end to a point of interfering contact with the first media picker assembly; the storage system having a normal running operating mode wherein the first media picker assembly is stationarily positioned at the first end of the displacement path and the second picker assembly is selectively positionable along the remainder of the path; the storage system having a fall back running operating mode wherein the second media picker assembly is s