JP7436925B2 - Computers and how to install expansion cards in them - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a computer having a front panel, a rear panel, and a main board. The main board has an expansion card slot, and expansion cards are installed in the expansion card slot with the front facing the front panel.

Expansion cards are typically plugged into dedicated slots on the main board for connection to the main board. The expansion card is electronically and mechanically connected to the main board by means of a pluggable plug-in connection. However, such a plug-in connection is usually insufficient to properly secure the expansion card within the computer housing.

To secure the expansion card within the computer housing, the prior art almost always uses an additional retaining member attached to the computer housing. For example, as in US patent application US2011/0128710A1, the holding member includes a rail into which an expansion card can be inserted. Additionally, complex mechanical clamping mechanisms may be provided within the retaining member to secure the expansion card, as in US Pat. No. 5,914,854.

These described retaining members require space for installation within the computer housing, which is hardly available, especially in very compact housing models. Furthermore, installing the retaining member within the housing represents an additional assembly step, which is typically performed after installing the main board and before installing the expansion cards within the computer.

It is therefore an object of the invention to simplify the installation and fixing of expansion cards in computers.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by attaching to the front of the expansion card a retaining device that secures the expansion card to the front panel of the computer. In this regard, the retaining device includes a pedestal that is attached to the expansion card and a bolt that is inserted into a hole provided for this purpose in the front panel.

The expansion card to be installed is connected to the expansion card slot of the main board via a plug-in connection. A plug-in plug connection is provided, for example, on the underside of the expansion card. The pluggable bayonet connection occupies only this side section.

The retaining device is fixedly attached to the front of the expansion card. In one embodiment, the pedestal of the retainer is secured to the expansion card by a screw. In another embodiment, the pedestal is secured to the expansion card by a plurality of screws. For this purpose, the front side of the expansion card includes a screw hole in which a screw is fixed.

The pedestal is, for example, a flat metal sheet on the front of the expansion card. In one embodiment, the platform has a substantially rectangular shape. In one embodiment, the long sides of the platform are arranged vertically. In various embodiments, the platform has one or more curves or protrusions. The area of the pedestal may be smaller than the area of the front surface of the expansion card such that the pedestal covers only a portion of the front surface.

For example, the bolt is a metal bolt fitted to the front of the pedestal. In one embodiment, the metal bolt has a rounded cylindrical shape.

The bolt can be inserted with a precise fit into a hole provided for this purpose in the front panel of the computer. In the case of a rounded metal bolt, the hole has a rounded shape with a diameter that is at least larger than the metal bolt.

In this part and below, a front panel of a computer is understood to be the front panel of a computer housing surrounding the described assembly including a main board and an expansion card. In this part and below, front is always referred to as the side of the individual component oriented in the direction of the front panel. The same is true for the back panel of the computer and the back of the individual components.

One advantage of the described retaining device, which is attached directly to the expansion card, is that it requires little space. In embodiments where the pedestal is attached directly to the expansion card, the retention device requires little additional space within the computer housing compared to the expansion card.

Since the retention device is attached to the expansion card, no further assembly steps are required to secure the retention device when assembling the computer. Therefore, no space is required within the computer housing to install the retaining device. The holding device need not be externally accessible.

In one embodiment, the pedestal includes a curved portion that is shaped to match an edge of the expansion card and defines the location of the pedestal on the expansion card.

In one embodiment, the curvature is unilateral and affects the entire width of the platform. For example, the lower end of the pedestal is curved such that the pedestal is located at the front of the expansion card and its lower end is located at the edge between the front and bottom of the expansion card. In one embodiment, the curved portion is vertical and connects two flat sections of the pedestal located on the front and bottom surfaces of the expansion card.

When the holding device is attached to the expansion card with screws, the position of the screw hole on the front surface of the expansion card and the position of the curved portion of the base uniquely define the position of the base.

In one embodiment, the bolt includes a blind mating element on its front face. Here, the end face is the side of the bolt facing away from the expansion card. The blind fitting element makes it possible to easily and reliably insert the bolt into the hole provided for this purpose in the front panel of the computer housing. In one embodiment, the blind mating element includes a tapered or pointed surface of the bolt. For example, the blind mating element has the shape of a truncated cone.

In one embodiment, the bolt includes a rubber member. The entire bolt or the front part of the bolt may be formed from a rubber material. The rubber member is attached to the platform via a metal socket, for example, so that the bolt includes a metal member and a rubber member. The metal member is, for example, riveted to the base.

Rubber members have properties such as higher flexibility and elasticity than metal members. The rubber member thus facilitates easy and safe insertion of the bolt into the hole. Furthermore, the elastic rubber member dampens vibrations and shocks. For example, bolts dampen vibrations caused by moving parts such as rotating ventilation equipment. The bolt thus reduces the transmission of vibration or resonance effects at the transition between the expansion card and the computer housing.

In one embodiment, the main board is fixed to the support element at the bottom and rear of the main board. The support element is, for example, a metal sheet.

In one embodiment, the support element is characterized in that it comprises a horizontal section to which the main board is fixed, and a vertical section perpendicular thereto and inserted into the rear panel of the computer.

The horizontal section is, for example, a metal sheet fixed to the underside of the main board, which in this case is also horizontally oriented. The expansion card slot is located on the top of the main board.

The vertical section of the support element is, for example, a second metal sheet arranged perpendicularly to the horizontal section of the support element. Metal sheets have high electromagnetic compatibility with other components of the computer.

The two sections are arranged in such a way that the horizontal section forms the bottom and the vertical section forms the rear part of a virtual open Quader. The two sections are firmly connected to each other, for example by a riveted or screwed connection.

Additionally, the vertical section is that of the rear panel of the computer housing. In one embodiment, the vertical section includes the entire rear panel of the computer housing. The vertical section thus includes structures typical of rear panels of computer housings. These include, for example, expansion card slots, ventilation openings, and openings for various connectors, such as USB, HDMI, VGA, or Ethernet connectors.

In one embodiment, the front panel includes a U-shaped hole that receives a bolt. In this case, the diameter of the rounded part of the hole is slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt, so that the bolt can be inserted into the hole easily and reliably.

In another embodiment, a mounting aperture is formed in the front panel of the computer housing to facilitate the installation of an expansion card, the mounting aperture adjacent the straight side of the U-shaped hole. In one embodiment, the mounting aperture has a rectangular shape.

Expansion cards may be installed and removed through the mounting opening in the front panel without opening the rear panel. To do this, unplug the expansion card and main board.

In one embodiment, an expansion card that is plugged into the top of the main board can be separated from the main board by lifting upward. For this purpose, the hole accommodating the bolt shall have an upward opening so that the hole is connected to the mounting opening. As a result, the hole is U-shaped, the rounded edges of which accommodate the bolt and the straight sides adjacent to the mounting opening. A hole is then positioned in the front panel directly below the mounting opening.

The mounting opening is sized to allow easy insertion and removal of expansion cards.

In one embodiment, the mounting opening is covered with a cover element. The cover element closes the mounting opening during operation of the computer.

The cover element consists of a flat front side and four narrow sides. In one embodiment, the front surface of the cover element has a substantially rectangular shape. The cover element has at the front edge four narrow sides arranged perpendicular to the front surface. Via the sides, the cover element can be snapped onto and thus fixed onto four mounts provided for this purpose at the edge of the mounting opening.

The cover element may include ventilation openings. In one embodiment, the cover element includes a ventilation device to ventilate the housing. The cover element is made, for example, of a metal sheet. Metal sheets exhibit high electromagnetic compatibility.

In one embodiment, the cover element has opposing latching elements that secure the bolt in the U-shaped hole.

In one embodiment, the opposing latch element is a resilient metal member that rests on the side of the cylindrical bolt from above and forces the bolt downwardly into the U-shaped hole.

The opposing latch element is, for example, part of the lower part of the cover element.

In one embodiment, the front panel of the computer is covered by an additional panel. The additional panel functions to provide additional protection to the front panel of the computer housing, for example from liquids or dust.

The invention further includes a method of installing an expansion card in a computer. The method is characterized by the following steps.

・Attach the main board to the supporting element.

The support element has a vertical section and a horizontal section, which are perpendicular to each other. The horizontal section includes, for example, a metal sheet. The main board may be horizontally aligned outside the computer housing and may be fixed with the bottom on the horizontal section. For this purpose, the main board may be screwed to the support element. In one embodiment, the support element has threads suitable for this purpose.

-Install the expansion card into the slot on the main board.

The main board has slots for expansion cards. Since the expansion card is inserted into this slot, it is electrically and mechanically connected to the main board. The expansion card is thus further connected to the support element via the main board. In addition to this, the expansion card may furthermore be attached to the vertical section of the support element, for example by means of a screw connection or a plug-type plug-in connection.

- With the assembly containing the main board and expansion card installed, slide the support element into the insertion opening provided for this purpose on the back of the computer. The bolts are inserted into holes in the front panel of the computer from the back.

The expansion card is secured to the computer housing by inserting the bolt into the hole.

In addition to the horizontal section, the support element includes a vertical section at the rear. This vertical section covers the insertion opening after insertion. The vertical section is therefore also the section of the rear panel of the computer housing. In one embodiment, the vertical section includes the entire rear panel of the computer housing.

The described method facilitates assembly of an assembly including the main board, expansion cards, and any other components of the computer outside the computer housing. This facilitates access to the parts during assembly.

The entire assembly mounted on the support element is then inserted into the computer housing from the rear. The retainer bolts are inserted into holes in the front panel of the computer housing when the assembly is pushed. Because of this retainer bolt, no further assembly steps are required to install the expansion card after it is pushed in. Therefore, there is no need to maintain extra space within the computer housing for accessibility or installation of expansion cards. This allows more efficient use of space, especially in small computer housings.

The present invention provides another method of attaching an expansion card to a computer. The method is characterized by the following steps.

・Remove the side cover from the side opening of the side panel of the computer housing.

The side panel is a panel of the computer housing that is located between and connects the front panel and the back panel. The side panel includes a side opening. In one embodiment, the side opening occupies the entire surface of the side panel. When the computer is in operation, the side panel is covered by a side cover.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the side cover locks the additional panel to the front panel of the computer. Therefore, side covers shall be removed before additional panels.

- Remove the cover element from the mounting opening.

Any additional panels shall be removed from the front panel of the computer first. The cover element is then removed from the mounting opening.

- Insert the expansion card into the computer through the side opening.

Preferably, the expansion card is inserted through the side opening. In another embodiment, the expansion card is inserted through a mounting opening in the front of the computer housing.

The mounting aperture is arranged such that the slot for inserting an expansion card is easily accessible through the side aperture.

After insertion, the expansion card is placed over the designated slot on the mainboard, and the bolt protrudes from the computer housing through the front mounting opening.

-Install the expansion card into the slot on the main board. At the same time, the bolt of the retainer is inserted into the hole in the front panel of the computer from the top of the mounting opening.

For this purpose, the hole has a U-shape, the straight sides of which are connected to the mounting opening. The hole is located in the front panel of the computer housing below the mounting opening.

Expansion cards are installed by plugging them into slots on the main board.

The mounting opening allows simultaneous insertion of an expansion card into the slot and insertion of a bolt into the hole.

In one embodiment, the expansion card is additionally attached to the back panel of the computer. For this purpose, expansion cards are, for example, screwed onto the rear panel of the computer. Alternatively, the expansion card may be attached to the back panel of the computer by a plug-in connection. In order to attach the expansion card to the rear panel, side openings allow access to the expansion card.

- Cover the mounting opening with a cover element. Here, the opposing latching elements secure the bolt.

The counter-latch element is, for example, a spring element on the lower part of the cover element.

Again, the front panel of the computer may be covered with a cover element.

・Cover the side opening with the side cover.

The side cover locks the front panel in place so that it cannot be removed from the front panel without opening the side cover while the computer is operating.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows:

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a support element with a main board and expansion card assembly attached thereto; FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a support element without assembly; FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a retention device. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a computer including a support element and an assembly mounted thereon; FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a computer with a covered mounting opening; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a computer, with the front panel covered by a panel; FIG.

In the figures, similar or clearly identical elements are designated with the same reference symbols. The figures and their proportions are not to scale.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a support element 1. FIG. The support element 1 has a horizontal section 2 and a vertical section 3. The vertical section 3 is attached to the horizontal section 2 on its rear side.

The support element 1 is shown in detail in FIG. Vertical section 3 is perpendicular to horizontal section 2 and is part of the rear panel of the computer housing. The horizontal and vertical sections are, for example, metal sheets.

Vertical section 3 includes ventilation openings 3A. Furthermore, the vertical section includes a slot 3B for an expansion card and an opening 3C for a connector.

The horizontal section has a thread 4 (an internal thread or a threaded shaft), and the thread 4 fixes the main board 5 with a screw 6 (a threaded shaft or internal thread). The main board is shown in Figure 1.

The main board 5 is horizontally aligned and located in the horizontal section 2 of the support element 1. The main board 5 is fixed to this section with screws 6. In another embodiment, the main board 5 is additionally fixed to the back side of the vertical section 3.

The main board 5 includes a slot into which an expansion card 7 is plugged. The expansion card 7 is, for example, a graphics card. The expansion card 7 is arranged perpendicularly to the main board 5 and perpendicularly to the vertical section 3 of the computer housing.

The expansion card 7 includes a ventilation device 8 for ventilation and cooling. The holding device 10 is attached to the front surface 9 of the expansion card 7. The retaining device 10 is attached to the front side 9 of the expansion card by two screw connections 11 .

The holding device 10 of the first embodiment of the computer is shown in detail in FIG.

The holding device 10 includes a stand 12 and a bolt 13 . Two screw coupling parts 11 are provided on the base part 12. The platform 12 has a projecting section 14 containing a metal socket 15 for the bolt 13. Via the two bends 14A and 14B, the projecting section 14 is integrated into the rest of the platform 12.

In this embodiment, the bolt 13 includes a cylindrical rubber member attached to the platform via a metal socket. The flexible elastic rubber cushions the transmission of vibrations or shocks between the expansion card 7 and the computer housing.

The face of the bolt 13 has a blind fitting element 16. Such a blind fitting element 16 ensures safe and easy insertion of the bolt 13. In this embodiment, the blind fitting element 16 has the shape of a truncated cone on the end face of the bolt 13.

Further, the base portion 12 has a curved portion 17 that defines the position of the base portion 12 on the expansion card 7. The shape of the curved portion 17 matches the lower end of the front surface 9 of the expansion card 7. Therefore, the base portion 12 can be fixed to the expansion card 7 in only one posture so that the position of the curved portion 17 and the lower end of the expansion card 7 match.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a computer. It comprises the above-described embodiment of a support element on which a main board 5 and an expansion card 7 are mounted, as shown in FIG. Additionally, the computer includes a front panel 18. Other components of the computer not related to the invention are partially ignored in the figure.

Front panel 18 includes a rectangular mounting opening 19 used in installing expansion card 7 . A pedestal 20 is provided at the edge of the mounting opening 19 to which the cover element can be mounted. Below the mounting opening 19, a U-shaped hole 21 adjoins the mounting opening 19. The straight sides of the U-shaped holes are adjacent to the mounting openings 19.

When assembling the computer, when the assembly is inserted from the back of the computer, the bolt 13 is inserted into the U-shaped hole 21 from the back. For this purpose, the holes 21 in the front panel 18 shall be appropriately positioned.

After inserting the bolt 13 into the U-shaped hole, the expansion card 7 is fixed to the front panel 18. After installation in the computer, the expansion card 7 either directly abuts the front panel 18 or is at a small distance from the front panel.

If the expansion card 7 is removed or replaced during operation of the computer, it is not necessary to remove the entire support element 1 with the assembly mounted through the rear of the computer housing. Rather, the expansion cards 7 are individually inserted for installation and removed for removal through side openings, not shown, in the side panels of the computer housing. The side panel is the wall of the computer housing that is located between and connects the front panel and the back panel.

In another embodiment, the expansion card 7 is inserted and removed through the mounting aperture 19.

After the expansion card 7 is inserted, it is plugged into a slot provided on the main board 5 for the expansion card 7 from above. At the same time, the bolt 13 is pushed into the U-shaped hole 21 from above through the mounting opening 19 to further secure the expansion card 7.

In operation, the mounting opening 19 in the front panel 18 is closed with a cover element 22, as shown in FIG. The cover element 22 has a rectangular front surface 22A. In this embodiment, the cover element 22 is made of metal. The cover element 22 is provided with a narrow side 22B at the edge of the front face, facing rearwardly and perpendicularly to the front face, so that the cover element 22 forms a parallelepiped with the open rear face. The side part 22B can be snapped onto the base part 20 at the edge of the mounting opening 19 to secure the cover element 22 in this configuration.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cover element 22 includes two ventilation devices 23, which provide ventilation and cooling of the computer.

The cover element 22 furthermore comprises in its lower part a counter-latch element 24 which presses from above against the side of the cylindrical bolt 13 and thereby fixes it to the front panel 18 . In this embodiment, the opposing latch element 24 is a resilient metal blade fixedly connected to the cover element 22.

Furthermore, the front panel 18 includes additional openings, such as ventilation openings 18A, or insertion slots 18B, or openings for connections 18C.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through the computer according to the described embodiment from the side. The expansion card 7 is plugged vertically onto the main board 5, which is fixed horizontally on the horizontal section 2 of the support element 1. For this purpose, the support element includes a plurality of threads 4.

The vertical section 3 of the support element is inserted into the rear panel 25 of the computer housing. The vertical section 3 is composed of a plurality of openings that connect the main board to the outside.

The expansion card 7 includes a ventilation device 8 for cooling. The expansion card 7 is fixed to the front panel 18 via a holding device 10. The retaining device 10 is attached to the expansion card by means of a screw connection 11. For this purpose, bolts 13 are inserted into holes 21 provided for this purpose in the front panel 18.

The front panel 18 further includes a mounting opening 19 that is closed by a cover element 22 . The cover element 22 includes a ventilation device 23 for ventilating the computer. The front panel 18 is covered with a cover 26, which protects the computer from, for example, dirt and liquids from the environment.

Since the side cover locks the additional cover 26 when closed, the side cover must be removed first and then the additional cover.

When assembling the computer of this embodiment, the entire assembly consisting of the expansion card 7 and the main board 5 was mounted on the support element 1, and the latter was inserted into the opening 25A of the rear panel 25 of the computer.

If the expansion card 7 is subsequently installed or removed, the side cover, not shown, must first be removed, and then the additional cover 26 and the cover element 22 on the side panel of the computer housing. must be

1 Support element 2 Horizontal section 3 of support element 1 Vertical section 3A of support element 1 Ventilation opening 3B Insertion slot 3C Opening for the connector 4 Thread 5 of horizontal section 2 Main board 6 Screw connection of main board 5 with thread 4 Part 7 Expansion card 8 Ventilation device 9 for the expansion card Front side 10 of the expansion card 7 Holding device 11 Threaded connection 12 of the holding device 10 with the expansion card 7 Base part 13 Bolt 14 Projecting sections 14A, 14B of the platform section 12 With the projecting sections Bend 15 of base 12 Metal socket 16 for bolt 13 Blind mating element 17 for bolt 13 Bend 18 of base 12 Computer front panel 18A Ventilation opening 18B Slot 18C Opening for connector 19 Front panel Mounting opening 20 at 18 Base 21 at the edge of mounting opening 19 U-shaped hole 22 in front panel 18 Cover element 22A Front side 22B of cover element 22 Sides 23 of cover element 22 Ventilation device 24 at cover element 22 Opposite Latch element 25 Computer rear panel 25A Opening 26 in rear panel 25 Cover

Claims (13)

A computer comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a main board having an expansion card slot, and an expansion card attached to the expansion card slot and having a front surface facing the front panel, the computer comprising:
a retaining device is attached to the front panel for securing the expansion card to the front panel;
The holding device is
a base fixed to the expansion card;
a bolt inserted into a hole provided in the front panel ;
The pedestal includes a curved portion that conforms in shape to an edge of the expansion card to fix the position of the pedestal to the expansion card . The computer according to claim 1, wherein the base is fixed to the expansion card with a screw. 3. A computer according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the bolt includes a blind fitting element on its front side. 4. The computer according to claim 1 , wherein the bolt includes a rubber member. 5. A computer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the main board is fixed to a support element at the bottom and rear of the main board. 6. The computer of claim 5 , wherein the support element includes a horizontal section to which the main board is fixed, and a vertical section perpendicular to the horizontal section and inserted into the rear panel of the computer. 7. A computer according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel has a U-shaped hole for receiving the bolt. 8. The computer of claim 7 , wherein a mounting aperture is formed in the front panel to facilitate mounting of the expansion card, the mounting aperture adjacent a straight side of the U-shaped hole. 9. The computer of claim 8 , wherein the mounting opening is covered with a cover element. 10. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the cover element includes an opposed latching element that locks the bolt into the U-shaped hole. 11. A computer according to any preceding claim, wherein the front panel is covered with a cover. 7. A method for installing an expansion card in a computer according to claim 6 , comprising the following steps:
attaching the main board to the support element;
installing the expansion card into a slot on the main board;
inserting the support element, together with an assembly including the main board and the expansion card attached to the main board, into an insertion opening purposefully provided in the rear panel of the computer;
bolts are inserted into holes in the front panel of the computer from the back;
The method, wherein the vertical section of the support element covers the insertion opening. 11. The method of installing an expansion card in a computer according to claim 10 , comprising the steps of:
removing a side cover from a side opening in a side panel of the computer housing;
removing the cover element from the mounting opening;
inserting the expansion card into the computer through the side opening;
installing the expansion card into a slot on a main board, a bolt being inserted from above into a hole in a front panel of the computer through the mounting opening;
covering the mounting opening with the cover element, the opposing latching element securing the bolt;
covering the front panel of the computer with a cover;
covering the side opening with the side cover.

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