Abstract: A socket that secures bare and minimally packaged semiconductor devices substantially perpendicularly relative to a carrier substrate. The socket includes intermediate conductive elements and a member which moves the intermediate conductive elements between an insertion position and a biased position. After placement of the intermediate conductive elements into an insertion position, a semiconductor device may be inserted into a receptacle of the socket with minimal insertion force. Movement of the member to a biased position facilitates biasing of the intermediate conductive elements against a bond pad of the semiconductor device. The intermediate conductive elements establish an electrical connection between the semiconductor device and the carrier substrate. A first embodiment of the socket includes a member which moves transversely relative to the remainder of the socket. In a second embodiment of the socket, the member moves vertically relative to the socket body.

Abstract: The front system has an upper and a lower end piece (5) which are fastened to the upper and lower front corner region (3), respectively, of the printed circuit board assembly (3). An upper and/or a lower lever pull handle (19), which is fitted to the upper and/or lower end piece respectively, is used for levering the printed circuit board assembly into and out of the mounting rack. A latching mechanism (25) is provided to fix the lever pull handle in the appropriate position when the printed circuit board assembly has reached the point where it has been fully inserted into the mounting rack. A switching element (31) is integrated in the upper and/or lower end piece in such a manner that the switching element is actuated by the lever pull handle when it is in its fixed position. By this means, the printed circuit board assembly can be electrically enabled.

Abstract: A board connecting structure for connecting an auxiliary circuit board to a main circuit board via a connector inside a case is described. A plate is connected to the auxiliary circuit board and a latch is hinge-coupled to the plate. The latch has a prong that fits into a groove formed in the case. One or more slight bumps and corresponding dimples are formed at surfaces of the plate and the latch. The clicks into place in the dimple, as the latch is rotated. At the same time, the prongs of the latch moves into the grove in the case so that the auxiliary circuit board is held in place. The auxiliary circuit board is easily installed into and removed from the connector.

Abstract: A computer system has a bus, a connector for a circuit card, and a clamp configured to selectively prevent removal of the circuit card from the connector when the clamp is engaged. The computer system has circuitry connected to monitor the engagement status of the clamp and to regulate delivery of power to the connector based on the engagement state of the clamp.

Abstract: A PC Card slot which can enhance the safety, operability and assembly efficiency of a device by removing and locking a plurality of PC Cards by the use of only a single operating knob. In the case of the aforementioned PC Card slot, a lock portion, which is able to abut against a PC Card, is formed in an operating knob, which is provided on a lever operating stick, and is further used as a lock mechanism for preventing a PC Card from coming off the PC Card slot.

Abstract: An apparatus for restricting a card within a card cage. The apparatus includes a clamping mechanism for frictionally restricting the facing sides of the card so as to restrict the card within the card cage and an actuating mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism for actuating the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: An add-in circuit card is secured in an electronic device. A clamp is movably coupled to the electronic device and is configured to releasably engage the card upon movement of the clamp from a card engagement position to a card disengagement position. A switch may control electrical power to the card, the switch operated by the clamp such that movement of the clamp between the engagement and disengagement positions closes and opens the switch.

Abstract: A circuit card ejection device for removing a number of circuit cards from a corresponding number of electrical connectors. An elongate panel is attached to an edge of a number of circuit cards opposite an edge having an edge connector. A first position is defined when the number of circuit cards are seated in and in electrical contact relationship with the corresponding number of electrical connectors. A first ejector lever is pivotally coupled to a first pair of sockets and a second ejector lever is pivotally coupled to a second pair of sockets located at a first and second end respectively of the panel where the plane of each one of the number of circuit cards is positioned between the first pair of sockets and between the second pair of sockets.

Abstract: A PC Card ejection mechanism includes a common selector for selecting a PC Card for ejection. The common selector may also be capable of selecting a holding position for holding the PC Cards in place. The common selector is coupled to a spring-loaded shaft with a radial extension at the other end. The radial extension engages a pivoting actuator arm which pushes the PC Card out of the PC Card stack. In the holding position, the common selector engages a flap that holds the PC Cards in place. Optionally, the ejection mechanism could include a solenoid and electrically activated pin holding an extension on the shaft to prevent movement of the shaft, thereby locking it. The ejection mechanism alone or in conjunction with a locking mechanism can also be used to hold and/or lock and unlock a removable disk drive.

Abstract: An electronic device for inserting an electronic card. The device has a fixed housing with a slot at the back for a connector and a slot at the front for engaging the card. A gripping device carries the electronic card. The gripping device includes a receptacle into which the card is inserted at its front end, with the back of the receptacle covering the card insertion slot. The gripping device also cooperates with an extraction device placed along the card. The extraction device includes a shoulder that comes into contact with the back end of the card to extract the card.

Abstract: A power supply module (100) for use with a card cage (10) for conditioning card cage input power and transmitting DC power to a backplane (20) of the card cage. The module (100) is adapted to be inserted into a card-receiving region (14) of the card cage from the front, and is removable therefrom. Connectors (70) on the leading edge (66) of the circuit card (102) of the module (100) self-engage with complementary connectors (30) of the backplane to establish power and signal connections therewith upon full insertion of the power supply module into a power module site (34) of the card-receiving region (14). The power supply module includes remote operator shut-off capability, overvoltage protection, overcurrent protection, overtemperature protection, temperature and voltage monitoring, and provides for orderly powering-up and powering-down of the card cage and for initializing critical data storage in the event of power failure.

Abstract: An insertion and withdrawal device for a plug-in assembly, provided for insertion into a sub-rack. A plunger is disposed in a holding bracket of the device for the purpose of actuating a microswitch. A space, that permits a switching process of the microswitch prior to separation of the plug connector, is provided between a press-down shoulder of the pivoting lever and the front surface of a profiled rail.

Abstract: An injector/ejector system that provides for easy insertion and removal of a printed circuit board module into and out of a mainframe. The injector/ejector system is defined by a unitary lever arm and two curved finger extensions oppositely situated and which is attached to a front panel of a circuit board module proximate to an exterior corner of the circuit board module. The lever is attached with a shoulder screw assembly to the module and operates through a cutout notch in the front panel that extends approximately 4.0 mm from the edge of the front panel. The grasping end of the lever arm is formed in such a manner that when the module is in the installed position, the grasping surface of the lever is approximately 3.7 mm away from the surface of the front panel, thus allowing the operator to insert his/her fingertip between the front panel of the module and the lever, thus permitting actuation of the ejection process by the operator's fingertip.

Abstract: A low-temperature fired ceramic circuit substrate fired at a temperature ranging between 800.degree. and 1,000.degree. C. includes a plurality of insulating layers each formed of a low-temperature fired ceramic, an Ag conductor layer formed internally of the substrate, an Au conductor layer formed on a surface of the substrate, and an Ag--Pd layer formed between the Ag and the Au conductor layers, the Ag--Pd layer being composed of 100 parts metal composition consisting of 70 to 95 parts Ag and 5 to 30 part Pd by weight, and 2 to 10 parts lead borosilicate glass by weight. As the result of the above composition of the ceramic circuit substrate, its fabrication process can be simplified, and a defect rate in a connection between the Ag and Au layers after repeated firing is rendered approximately zero, which ensures high reliability for the connection.

Abstract: A computer system is provided which allows a user to remove or install feature cards without removing the cover to entire computer. A computer cover is provided with rectangular openings which correspond in alignment and size to an electrical connector on the system board. The feature card can then be mechanically attached to the computer cover, or a frame member, with a pivot and guide member. A handle is provided which will allow the user to apply pressure to the card, via the guide member in order to insert or remove the feature card from the connector on the system board. The guide member is constructed such that a vertical force is applied between the card and connector to ensure proper alignment when inserting and removing the adapter card.

Abstract: A latch for retaining printed circuit boards (PCB) or other types of daughter cards (29) in a card file (11) is disclosed. Two latch mechanisms (43a and 43b), one located adjacent the outer corner of each card, engage latch slots (35) when the cards (29) are correctly installed. Each latch mechanism (43a and 43b) includes a latch housing (45), a plunger assembly (47) mounted in the latch housing (45), and large coil springs (49a and 49b) that create a force in a direction parallel to the direction of card installation. The large coil springs (49a and 49b) urge the plunger assembly (47) away from the direction of card installation and out of alignment with an opening (77) in the latch housing (45). The plunger assembly (47) includes a plunger housing (53), a latch pin (55), a smaller coil spring (59), and a latch pin retraction lever (57).

Abstract: A lever mechanism (1) for clamping a panel (3) to a housing has a support block (2) which, in use, is attached to a panel (3). A first lever (4) is pivotally connected to the support block (2), and arranged so that, in use, it can engage with the housing when in a first position and disengage from the housing when in a second position. A second lever (9) is pivotally mounted on the first lever, and arranged to hold the first lever in its first position by engagement with the support block. A spring or springs (8) biases the first lever towards the second position and/or biases the second lever towards the position in which it engages with the support block. The first lever (4) is mounted for translational movement relative to the support block (2) against the action of a further spring (15) to provide, in use, a predetermined clamp load between the panel (3) and housing.

Abstract: A personal computer comprises a housing having a bottom wall. A plurality of functional components are arranged side by side on the bottom wall of the housing. A fixture plate is arranged on top of the functional components and secured to the functional components and the bottom wall by means of screws. The functional components are held between the fixture plate and the bottom wall.

Abstract: A personal computer comprises a housing having a bottom wall. A plurality of functional components are arranged side by side on the bottom wall of the housing. A fixture plate is arranged on top of the functional components and secured to the functional components and the bottom wall by means of screws. The functional components are held between the fixture plate and the bottom wall.

Abstract: An improved IC card construction eliminates the need for a frame thereby increasing the space available within the IC card and the available substrate or PCB surface area making possible the use of additional integrated circuits or other electronic components. The frameless IC card of the invention includes a housing comprising top and bottom covers having interconnected longitudinal side margins providing a rigid IC card housing structure.

Abstract: A fastening assembly for mounting a main circuit card a fixedly spaced distance from a mounting wall, and for aligning a subsidiary connector of a subsidiary circuit card to a main connector mounted on a top surface of the main circuit card is provided. The fastening assemby comprises a pin and a support button. The pin has a bottom portion that passes through mounting apertures within a main connector mounted to a top surface of a main circuit card that extend from the center axis at most a first distance, and wherein the bottom portion extends from the center axis at least a second distance.

Abstract: An improved terminal block for permitting the connection of inputs and outputs of an electronics mainframe module, such as a VXI mainframe module, to external devices, such as devices under test. The improved terminal block includes insertion and ejection levers to ease the connection and disconnection of the terminal block to the module. A ledge of the insertion and ejection lever engages an insertion beating surface on a front panel of the module during the insertion process and is then rotated in the appropriate direction until the terminal block is securely connected to the module. The ledge of the insertion and ejection lever engages an ejection beating surface on the front panel of the module during the ejection process and is then rotated in the appropriate direction until the terminal block is disengaged from the module. The levers can also be shaped in such a manner to permit top and bottom cable routing apertures, as well as a back side cable routing aperture.

Abstract: A circuit board insertion and extraction apparatus. The present invention is a circuit board inserter and extractor apparatus particularly suited for use with circuit boards utilizing high insertion force connectors requiring in excess of 50 lbs of force. The handle of the inserter/extractor has novel insertion and extraction surfaces which cooperate with corresponding surfaces fabricated as part of a card guide. As the circuit board is inserted into the card guide, the handle is automatically positioned so that the user can press the bottom of the handle to insert the circuit board. The handle and card guide interface is designed to provide a large positive force to extract the circuit board from the card guide until the circuit board is unseated from the associated high insertion force connectors. Additionally, the present invention is advantageously designed to eliminate the need for fixtures or separate hardware to install the handle onto the circuit board thereby saving assembly line time and money.

Abstract: A device for removing a plug-in module adapted for insertion into a module rack is provided where the module rack has a front profile rail including a front strip and a front face, the front strip having a front edge. The plug-in module comprises a retaining block for securing the plug-in module to the front profile rail; a printed wiring board equipped with electronic components and screwed to the retaining block; and a front panel secured to the retaining block. The device includes a two-armed bell crank having a long lever arm and a short lever arm and being pivotally secured to the retaining block by a pivot pin. The long lever arm of the bell crank constitutes an actuation handle for the device.

Abstract: In a terminal assembly for electronic and electric equipment, the terminal member is formed into the shape of letter-C by being provided with a middle piece, and first and second arms extending from two opposite ends of the middle piece at an acute angle and at an obtuse angle, respectively. The first and second arms are fitted into a retaining window of a casing to secure the terminal member onto the casing. The first arm is reduced in thickness from its middle part toward its free end or is otherwise increased of its flexibility so as to form a spring portion. A terminal screw is threaded into the middle piece toward the first arm at an oblique angle. A connecting electrode of a circuit board received in the casing resiliently engages the spring portion of the terminal member.

Abstract: A docking module for removable disk drives provides, in one embodiment, space for two such disk drives within a standard half-height bay. The docking module provides cammed insertion and removal together with hot swappability of disk drives. The bay is provided within a housing member. A door is rotatably mounted on the housing member and configured to serve as a lever arm. An engagement portion for urging a disk drive into the bay protrudes from the door. A slide is mounted within the housing member and connected to the door such that rotation of the door causes the slide to move forward and back within the housing member. A tab on the inner end of the slide engages the disk drive to urge the disk drive out of the bay. Alternative embodiments provide ten or more disk drives at a density of two drives per half height bay.

Abstract: The hold down apparatus securely engages a unit onto a tray. The tray includes an opening having a front block on the underside of the tray at the opening. The front block also includes a pin. The apparatus comprises a housing having an internal space and is placed in the unit such that the housing space is opened to an opening in the bottom of the unit. A control shaft extends from outside the apparatus and into the housing space to the backplate of the housing. The portion of the control shaft in the housing space is threaded. The external portion of the control shaft is accessible from the front of the unit. An L-shaped pawl has a foot and a rise, the foot of the pawl having a notch in the front edge of the foot.

Abstract: A system for controlling staggered connection timing of an adapter module so that live insertion, or "hot swapping", may be performed with the adapter module, has a connector with staggered pins, i.e., some pins being longer than others for initial contact with mating pins of a mating connector. The system further has a latch for controlling the timing of the connection of the staggered pins. As an adapter module is inserted into a housing, the latch allows the adapter module to be in one of three positions: (1) an entirely disconnected position where none of the pins of the adapter module are connected to the pins of the housing connector; (2) a "stopped", or partially connected, position where the longer of the staggered pins are connected between the housing and adapter modules connectors; and (3) a "fully-engaged" position wherein all pins of the connectors are engaged.

Abstract: A front panel for mounting a printed circuit board in a card cage. A central frame is formed with an integral extrusion from which integral printed circuit board mounting brackets can be formed on one surface of the central frame. Ejector assemblies mount at each end of the central frame and include an extruded mounting bracket that attaches to the central frame, an extruded ejection handle with legs that straddle the mounting frame and a solid handle portion with a pivot that mounts to a solid pin captured in the assembled structure. Rotating the extraction handle causes the legs to bear against the card cage and fully extract the printed circuit board from a back plane. When adjacent printed circuit boards are fully seated, the extraction handles align parallel the central plane and can support identifying labels in a clear and secure fashion.

Abstract: A self-adjusting insertion/extraction apparatus is disclosed for inserting and extracting a printed circuit (PC) board into and from an electrical connector mounted at the base of a PC board rack, the apparatus being configured to function effectively regardless of limited variations in the height of the PC board. The apparatus includes a lever and a pawl pivotally secured to the PC board, at an edge of the board opposite the connector. A spring resiliently couples the lever to the pawl such that pivoting the lever from a raised position to a lowered position yieldably biases the pawl into engagement with the PC board rack, to insert the board into the rack connector. Further, raising the lever from its lowered position to its raised position moves a portion of the lever into engagement with the rack, to extract the board from the connector. Limited variations in the height of the board are accommodated by corresponding flexing of the spring.

Abstract: A rack comprises a plurality of lower guide rails arranged side by side to form the bottom thereof, and a plurality of upper guide rails arranged side by side to form the top thereo, for accommodating a plurality of electronic modules such as modems. Each of the modules includes a rectangular casing, lower and upper side edges of which are rounded or chamfered. The lower and upper guide rails are in vertical register with each other, respectively, and are vertically spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to a vertical height of the case. Each of the lower and upper guide rails has a pair of ridges coextended in parallel with each other and defining therebetween a guide path for complementarily and slidably receiving the corresponding side of the casing, whereby an outer width of the guide rails can be generally equal to a thickness of the casing due to the rounded or chamfered sides thereof.

Abstract: In a computer system requiring the CPU board to be installed and removed from the top of the chassis, there is included a CPU board installation and maintaining lever supported for movement from the base of the chassis and perpendicularly to the board when the board is installed. The board has an opening of a dimension to allow the board on installation and removal to passed over the lever into a position where contact with the lever will move the board into and out of its operative position without the need to use hardware on its installation and removal. Also included is a bracket having holding surfaces securing a speaker to the bracket and the bracket to the chassis, the latter holding surfaces allowing the bracket to assume a first position in the chassis and a second position away from the base of the chassis to create a suitable space for the installation and removal of the board to and from the chassis.

Abstract: Device for receiving integrated circuit cards. The devices used until now in practice do not sufficiently protect the individual cards in all operating modes. The present device is intended to allow the cards to be locked. For this purpose, a locking mechanism (16) is provided, having at least one bar (9) which is designed as a lever (20, 21, 22) and can be moved out of a locking position into an unlocking position and vice versa and which is preferably held in its locking position with the aid of a holding device (23). The holding device (23) may, for example, be a torsion spring (36). In the case of another embodiment, the locking mechanism (16) may additionally have a closable blocking device (44) which acts on one of the abovementioned levers and can be moved out of a blocking position, preventing a movement of the relevant lever (21, 22), into a release position, releasing a movement of the lever (21, 22), and vice versa.

Abstract: A desktop computer is provided with an expansion card/riser card module which includes a housing within which a riser card and a plurality of associated expansion cards are removably supported and electrically coupled to one another. The module, and thus the riser and expansion cards it carries, may be quickly and operatively coupled to the computer motherboard simply by pushing the module housing downwardly onto the board in a manner matingly inserting a connection edge portion of the housing-supported riser card into a corresponding motherboard connection socket. The module may be quickly removed from the motherboard simply by pulling upwardly on the module to disconnect the riser card from the motherboard socket. In an alternate embodiment of the module, this disconnection is facilitated by a leveraged removal latch structure carried by the module housing and forcibly engageable with the motherboard to lift the module upwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A device for installing and removing a removable computer component, such as a data storage drive or computer card, into or out of a computer housing. The device features a drive sled to which the data storage drive is mounted. A stationary carrier tray is secured to the computer housing. Interlocking angled tracks on the drive sled and the carrier tray secure the two structures together. To promote easy coupling of the drive's electrical interface connectors, the front end of the drive sled has a floating guide plate with forward-projecting locating pins, which pins are used to align the electrical connectors held by the floating guide plate. A rack and pinion mechanism is provided. The rack is disposed on the top of the carrier tray while the pinion is located on the underside of the drive sled. As the drive sled slides onto the carrier tray, the lever-actuated pinion gear engages the rack and consequently displaces the drive sled relative to the stationary carrier tray.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a personal computer apparatus and a device for removing a direct access storage device from a personal computer. More particularly, this disclosure describes a tool for easily removing an electromechanical storage device such as hard disk drive which is directly attached to the bus structure provided by a planar board or motherboard of a personal computer system.

Abstract: A card cage formed of mating, identical halves provides parallel slots for circuit boards carrying snap-on retainer clips with integral pawl-like clasps which lock over ridges on the exterior of the card cage. The clip is released from the cage by squeezing the clasps with one hand before withdrawing the circuit board. Slotted side brackets capture mating ribs on the card cage halves to assemble and mount the card cge to a wiring clost panel.

Abstract: A wedge clamp activator and circuit card extractor is provided for selective tightening and loosening of a wedge clamp on an electrical apparatus. The actuator includes a shaft for rotating the screw of the wedge clamp. The shaft is provided with pivot pins. A lever mounted to the pivot pins enables rotation of the actuator and the wedge clamp screw to which the actuator is attached. The lever includes a fulcrum dimensioned for engagement with a rigid support on the electrical apparatus. The lever may be translated into a position where the fulcrum engages the support. The lever may then be rotated about the fulcrum for extracting the circuit to which the wedge clamp is mounted from the electrical apparatus.

Abstract: An injector/extractor for circuit boards is disclosed. The device includes a slideably engagable locking member adapted to engage a locking pin mounted on a circuit board to prevent accidental release of a circuit board from a chassis.

Abstract: A connector device comprises a housing and a connector body coupled to one end of the housing. One hard disk drive package is inserted in the inner space of the housing which is constituted by first and second decks. When the hard disc drive package is not inserted in the inner space of the housing, two memory cards are inserted in the first and second decks, respectively.

Abstract: A circuit board injector/ejector device for use with a circuit board to be accommodated in a rack housed in an enclosure comprises a body adapted to be secured to a front plate secured to the circuit board and a lever pivotally mounted on the body. The device is adapted to assist in providing the force necessary to effect a multiplicity of pin and socket connections at the rear of the circuit board when the circuit board is introduced into a rack and to assist in providing the force necessary to effect disconnection of the multiplicity of pin and socket connections at the rear of the circuit board when the circuit board is withdrawn from the rack.

Abstract: An electronic device package accommodatable in an electronic device casing. When a high density multipin connector is caused to mate with a connector mounted on the casing, the former is once brought to a stop just before mating with the latter and, therefore, prevented from rapidly mating with the latter. This eliminates the damage to the body of the connector and the deformation of the pins of the connector.